HARRISBURG (TNS) — The developer of a planned Bally’s mini-casino near Penn State University has been awarded a Category 4 slot machine license by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
SC Gaming OpCo LLC was awarded the license to construct a Category 4 casino in College Township, Centre County. The casino will be located at the Nittany Mall at 2901 E. College Ave.
Businessman Ira Lubert won the auction for the license on Sept. 2, 2020 for a little over $10 million. Lubert then filed an application with Pennsylvania Gaming Control Boardin January 2021 to locate the casino in a 94,000-square-foot space at the Nittany Mall. The proposed space formerly housed a Macy’s department store. The Macy’s store closed in early 2020.
Since then, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board said it conducted an in-depth background investigation along with the collection of public input from citizens, community groups and public officials. A public input hearing was held in College Township on August 16, 2021 and written comments were received through June 12, 2022. On Wednesday, a final hearing was held before the vote to award the casino license.
A Category 4 Slot Machine License permits an entity to operate between 300 and 750 slot machines. The entity could also petition for permission to operate up to 30 table games for an additional fee of $2.5 million with the capability of adding an additional 10 table games after its first year of operation.
Bally’s Corporation will open with 750 slot machines, 30 table games, sports wagering, a stage for live music and special events, and quick serve food and beverage outlets.
Upfront construction costs are estimated at $35 million, according to the gaming control board. The facility expects to support 350 full-time equivalent construction jobs. The casino expects to eventually employ 350 people as well. In January 2021, Bally’s said the cost of the new casino would cost $120 million. In September 2021, College Township conditionally approved the preliminary/final land development plan for the casino.
No target date for opening has been set by Bally’s, but a representative for the casino told the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board it would expect construction to last approximately 12 months once construction has begun.
The new Bally’s casino will be the 18th casino to open in Pennsylvania and the fifth mini-casino in the state. The state’s 17th casino and fourth mini-casino, Parx Casino Shippensburg in Cumberland County, is expected to open Thursday, pending regulatory approval.
The Nittany Mall has more than 40 tenants, according to its website. The building that housed the former Macy’s store is owned by Philadelphia-based 2901 ECA Associates LLC, a Pennsylvania based Limited Liability Corporation and not by the mall.
