Live! Casino and Hotel Celebrates 5 Years of Community Partnerships

The casino has donated over $72 million to the city and supported local organizations and events since opening in 2021.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Live! Casino and Hotel Philadelphia celebrated its 5th anniversary on February 18, 2026, highlighting its $72 million in donations to the city and support for local organizations and events like the Mummers Parade and youth sports fields. The casino has also paid $390 million in taxes to Pennsylvania, $200 million in wages, and $173 million to minority-, veteran-, and women-owned businesses. City leaders praised the casino's commitment to diversity and community partnerships.

Why it matters

The Live! Casino's investments and partnerships have had a significant impact on the South Philadelphia community, supporting local organizations, upgrading neighborhood infrastructure and amenities, and providing economic opportunities. As the city prepares to host major events for the country's 250th anniversary, the casino's continued involvement will be important for the local economy and community.

The details

Over the past 5 years, the Live! Casino and Hotel has donated over $72 million to the City of Philadelphia, with funds going towards upgrades at sites like the Murphy Recreation Center, George Sharswood School, and the annual Mummers Parade. The casino has also paid $390 million in taxes to the state, $200 million in wages to its over 2,000 employees, and $173 million to local minority-, veteran-, and women-owned businesses. The casino has welcomed 13 million guests and hosted over 2,000 events, paying out nearly $7 billion in winnings.

  • Live! Casino and Hotel Philadelphia opened its doors in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic on February 11, 2021.
  • The casino celebrated its 5th anniversary on February 18, 2026.

The players

Live! Casino and Hotel Philadelphia

A casino and hotel complex that opened in South Philadelphia in 2021, making significant investments and partnerships in the local community.

Kenyatta Johnson

The President of the Philadelphia City Council, who presented the casino with a proclamation honoring its 5th anniversary.

Mark Squilla

A Philadelphia City Councilmember representing South Philadelphia, who joined Kenyatta Johnson in presenting the proclamation.

Mark Kapczynski

The president of the Whitman Council, who recalled how the casino's investment in lighting up local youth baseball fields was a significant community improvement.

Thoai Nguyen

The CEO of SEAMAAC, a South Philadelphia refugee-founded agency that received a $375,000 donation from the casino to build a new headquarters.

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What they’re saying

“We committed to being a true partner with the City of Philadelphia and our surrounding neighbors in the stadium district. And we worked every day to honor that promise and today we are incredibly proud of the impact of some of these stats.”

— Joe Billheimer, Executive Vice President of Cordish Gaming Group

“We talked about doing something that has never been done in Philadelphia. That's a commitment for 50 percent minority participation, not only on the construction jobs, but also for procurement and staff. I'm proud to say today, we have exceeded those goals.”

— Kenyatta Johnson, City Council President

“Up until now, we have only leased or rented our space. This gift from Live! Casino and Hotel will allow SEAMAAC to set very firm roots and we're looking forward to having a home in Southeast Philadelphia to continuing to serve tens of thousands of Philadelphians.”

— Thoai Nguyen, CEO of SEAMAAC

“For the first time ever, the kids from the neighborhood could play into the summer nights on well-lit, safe fields. No one would ever step up to help us. We got some city money here and there and from the state but no private money and this was such a great relationship to make that come to fruition”

— Mark Kapczynski, President of Whitman Council

What’s next

The Live! Casino and Hotel Philadelphia will continue to be a major community partner as the city hosts several high-profile sporting events in 2026, including the NCAA Tournament, World Cup soccer, and the MLB All-Star Game.

The takeaway

The Live! Casino's significant investments and community partnerships over the past 5 years have had a transformative impact on South Philadelphia, supporting local organizations, upgrading neighborhood infrastructure, and providing economic opportunities. This model of private-public collaboration can serve as a blueprint for other businesses looking to be true community partners.