Schenectady

If seeing is believing, then state Gaming Commission member John Poklemba seemed impressed by the progress being made on Rivers Casino in Schenectady.

"What we've heard here preliminarily has been very promising, and we want to make sure we can see with our own eyes what they've told us they've progressed so far," said Poklemba Monday afternoon before he and other officials joined executives from gaming operator Rush Street Gaming of Chicago on a tour of the Erie Boulevard facility. "I think we want to make sure the integrity of the project is maintained in all forms."

The $330 million casino is the major attraction of the $480 million mixed-use development on the former Alco site that includes a harbor with 50 boat slips.

Before the news conference, Greg Carlin, CEO of Rush Street Gaming, said the casino could open in February.

All along, he and others have said that the gambling hall would open in the first part of 2017. Poklemba said he believed Rivers Casino would be the first of those under construction in the state to welcome patrons.

Carlin later told reporters that "we're a little bit ahead of construction schedule and things are going well," thanks in a large part to the mild winter.

Mary Cheeks, general manager of Rivers Casino & Resort at Mohawk Harbor, said training for dealers will begin in October.

"Our strategy is to train as many people as we can and then from there start the hiring process," said Cheeks.

She estimated that they could hire upwards of 120 people for jobs at the casino.

Rush Street will run the 50,000-square-feet gambling hall, which will feature 66 table games and 1,150 slot machines. The 150,000-square-foot main facility also will feature a steakhouse, entertainment lounge, restaurant with light fare, spa and banquet hall. A 150-room hotel and parking garage will be attached to the casino.

The 60-acre site on Erie Boulevard will also include a second hotel, condos and apartments, and retail and office space for tech firms.

Last week, the Planning Commission approved the site plan for a 4,000-square-foot coffee shop and bank.

Poklemba also talked about casino regulations and the monitoring that will take place once the facility is open.

"We believe we've taken the best aspects from every state that is now regulating the industry and included them in our regulations," he said. pnelson@timesunion.com • 518-454-5347 • @apaulnelson