Rivers Casino, Rush Street Gaming Assisting Employees in Paying Down Student Debt
Posted on: May 15, 2025, 12:39h.
Last updated on: May 15, 2025, 12:56h.
- Rivers Casino and Rush Street Gaming have debuted new employee benefits
- Rivers workers can receive financial assistance in paying down their student loans
- Tuition assistance is also available
Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming, which operates Rivers-branded casinos in Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, is assisting employees and their dependents in receiving education without being weighed down with excessive student loan debt.
On Wednesday, Rush and Rivers announced educational benefits for their thousands of casino and hospitality workers. Eligible full-time team members now qualify to receive up to $1,000 per year to pay off their student loan debt. The company will fully pay the $1,000 annual benefit, making it essentially free money for employees.
A release from Rush said more than 100 team members had already signed up for the benefit within the program’s first week.
Education is invaluable, but debt can be stressful,” said Dawn Reynolds Pettit, chief human resources officer of Rush Street Gaming and Rivers Casino. “We’re proud to help team members crush those college loans, achieve their financial goals sooner and invest in their future. As an industry leader in offering this benefit, we’re committed to helping our team members make their student loan debt a thing of the past.”
Rush Street has five casinos in its portfolio — Rivers Casino Des Plaines in Illinois, Rivers Casino Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady in New York, and Rivers Casino Portsmouth in Virginia. Rush employs approximately 6,000 team members at the five properties.
Scholarship Program Begins
In addition to the $1,000 annual student loan gift, Rush Street Gaming and Rivers Casino have announced a new scholarship program for team members and their dependents.
The Bill Keena Scholarship, named after Rush’s longtime chief operating officer who retired last year after 30 years with the organization, allows Rush and River team members at the managerial level and below to receive financial assistance to pursue higher education at a college or vocational school. The scholarship program is available not only to employees but also their dependents.
“Bill Keena remains a staunch advocate for Rivers and Rush Street team members, supporting both their personal goals and professional growth,” said Tim Drehkoff, CEO of Rush Street Gaming and Rivers Casino. “This scholarship honors Bill’s legacy and our commitment to team members. We’re proud to offer this scholarship alongside the others available to our team members and their families. Our mission is to support the growth and enrichment of lives, careers, and communities.”
The Bill Keena Scholarship has been initially funded with $7 million. The Rush release said the program is already supporting over 500 students.
Scholarship recipients can receive up to $5,000 a year in tuition assistance. Rush additionally operates the Rivers Casino’s Table Games Dealer School at no cost for company employees. The croupier programs are offered at all five Rivers Casinos.
Top Workplace
Rush Street Gaming and Rivers Casino have been regularly named a “Best Place to Work” and “Top Workplace.” Company officials say that’s because Rush has an employer-matching 401(K) program, comprehensive and affordable health insurance, competitive wages, and market-based salary increases.
Rush says almost half of its workforce are minorities, and over four in 10 are women.
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