'I started in this business bussing tables when I was 16 years old. Once the 24/7 operation is a go, he said the casino is estimated to employ 350 to 400 full-time employees. He served in that role under Lubert at the Valley Forge Casino, too.ĭuring his presentation to the board, Pearson estimated the project would create 350 full-time construction jobs and 170 more indirect full-time jobs. Online sports betting arrived in 2019.Įric Pearson, an adjunct instructor at Penn State, is the casino's prospective CEO and general manager. Online gaming was among the expansion approved in 2017. Table games including poker, roulette and blackjack were legalized in 2010. Plans include a retail sportsbook, live music and event space, and quick-serve food and drinks.Ĭasino developments in Pennsylvania began when state law enacted in 2004 permitted slot machines at horse racing tracks. Under its Category 4 license, SC Gaming intends to operate 750 slot machines and, with an additional $2.5 million fee, 30 table games. The casino is planned to occupy about 94,000 square feet of space once belonging to Macy's in the mall along Route 26. Wednesday's unanimous board vote, barring any appeals, brings an end to the licensing process. The township finalized the land development plan in December.

A formal application was filed in January 2021. The Gaming Control Board accepted Lubert's winning bid of $10,000,101 in September 2020 to pursue the project.

State law prevents issuance until any appeals are exhausted.

Initial construction is estimated at $35 million and is expected to take about 12 months once the license is formally issued. I believe that the Category 4 casino I intend to construct at Nittany Mall will reinvigorate the property and draw new businesses to the property itself and the surrounding area,' Lubert said. 'I intend to use the same formula I used at Valley Forge here. He said the project helped revitalize King of Prussia and believes the casino will entice additional retail and hospitality businesses in the State College area - one he said benefits from year-round tourism and not just visits on college football game days at Beaver Stadium. 3.Īt the board's hearing Wednesday, Lubert spoke of how he began work on the Valley Forge project coming out of the 2008 economic crisis and likened it to present conditions with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pennsylvania's 17th casino, Parx Casino Shippensburg, had its soft opening this week with a grand opening set for Feb. The location is in College Township, Centre County, less than a 10-minute drive from the university's campus and downtown State College.

Penn gaming casinos