Mini Casino in Center County Gets Go Ahead

Jane ShawBy Jane Shaw Senior Editor Updated: 07/31/2024
Jane Shaw Jane Shaw Senior Editor See Full Bio

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Nittany Mall, Center County Mini Casino

It has been reported that Centre County’s Nittany Mall is set to welcome a mini-casino following a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling in favor of the project. The court’s unanimous decision recently ended nearly four years of legal wrangling, allowing the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and Penn State alum Ira Lubert to proceed with construction plans.

The Supreme Court’s ruling dismissed objections from competing bidder Stadium Casino RE, clearing the last BIG legal obstacle for the casino’s development. Lubert, who won the $10 million casino license, is now free to move forward without further litigation concerns. Though Lubert has not announced a specific start date for construction, the gaming board suggests forfeiting the license fee is unlikely.

Optimism About Potential of Casino

Local officials, including College Township Assistant Manager Mike Bloom, expressed optimism about the casino’s potential to rejuvenate the mall and create jobs. The future general manager/CEO of the casino indicated that construction would likely take about 12 months once it commences.

Doug Harbach, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board also commented on the decision of the court. He said,

We are pleased that this project can move forward and begin to generate tax dollars and provide employment in the future.

Officials have also commented on the variety of benefits that the new venue will bring to the area.

Financially, the casino is projected to generate approximately $1.6 million in gaming revenues for College Township in its first year.

This promises significant economic benefits for the local community. It means that there will be more money to invest in a range of services that will benefit members of the community.

In addition to this, the casino could create a range of new jobs for locals, which would have a big positive impact on employment levels and opportunities. This includes construction jobs while the casino is being built as well as permanent positions in a range of sectors once it opens its doors. This is set to bring huge benefits to the local area.

According to reports, the mini-casino will operate around the clock, and it will feature 750 slot machines, 30 table games, a sports betting area, a restaurant, and a bar. As a non-smoking facility, it aims to attract a diverse clientele. 

Increased Entertainment for the Community

The new facility will also bring the added benefit of increased entertainment for the community, as it will provide locals with a new and exciting venue for entertainment.

Another benefit that the local community will enjoy is increased visitor numbers, as the casino could attract people from nearby areas or further afield. This will benefit the local economy, and it could be a real boon for other local businesses.

With the legal hurdles now out of the way, officials involved with the casino project can focus on moving forward with its construction. At present, firm details about the timeline and operational details have yet to be announced, and information will be released by officials in due course.

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