Thursday around noon isn’t typically a hot hour at the Rivers Casino sportsbook on the North Shore. Except for one day a year that’s special for basketball fans near and far.
This week, the place was buzzing as Michigan and Colorado State got the first round of the NCAA tournament started with their 12:15 p.m. matchup in Indianapolis. And that buzz only figures to grow as the weekend progresses, with Pittsburgh playing host to the tournament for the first time since sports gambling was legalized in late 2018.
Even as the all-important first basket – an outcome you can place a wager on these days – was scored by Colorado State’s Dischon Thomas to loud hoots and hollers, bettors from around the country had filled two thirds of the seats beneath the dozen-plus, jumbo-sized TVs in the sportsbook’s lounge area.
