Summary:
- Pennsylvania regulators gave the green light to 600 slot machines and table games for the new Happy Valley Casino at the Nittany Mall.
- The project includes two in-house dining spots, a 24/7 gaming floor, and a free Dealer School.
- Construction is on track for a March completion and April grand opening.
Plans for the new Happy Valley Casino took a big step forward this week as representatives shared updated renderings and fresh details about the project at the Nittany Mall.
The presentation came during a hearing in Harrisburg, where the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board unanimously approved the casino to operate 600 slot machines and granted a certificate for table games. A separate slot-machine license request is expected in December.
General manager Eric Pearson and attorney Michael Fabius walked through how the 94,000-square-foot space is shaping up. The casino will run around the clock, won’t allow smoking, and will take over the old Macy’s spot in College Township.
Food options will include two in-house eateries. Aces Social will serve as the sit-down restaurant and hangout with big TVs, though Pearson said he “wouldn’t call it a sports bar”. The menu will cover a wide range of comfort dishes. Lucky Break Cafe will offer quick, grab-and-go choices, including pizza, burgers, sandwiches, ice cream, and coffee.
In other words, the kind of spot where players can get something fast and get back to the floor. Both venues will be run by the casino rather than outside operators.
“Our Best Guess”: Smaller Start for the Casino
On opening day, the casino plans to launch with 600 slot machines, even though category 4 casinos can eventually run up to 750. Pearson said the smaller start is intentional.
“This initial order is our best guess” he said, explaining that the team wants to see firsthand what local players gravitate toward before expanding. About 86% of the machines will be low-denomination, with the rest split between medium and high.
The casino will also open with 30 table games across four pits. Fabius said the casino paid the required $2.5 million fee Wednesday morning.
The lineup will include blackjack, roulette, craps, midi baccarat, Spanish 21, and several poker-style games. Since table games are new to the area, Pearson said many dealers will be trained from scratch.
The casino as also set up a free 12-week Dealer School, which has already gathered over 250 applications and counting. Pearson said the team acknowledges the importance of the first dealers coming in:
We only have one chance to make a first impression and we want to make that as best as we possibly can.
Construction remains on schedule, with completion expected March 30 and an April grand opening planned. The project’s path hasn’t been easy, but for now, the casino says it’s focused on preparing for opening day and hiring roughly 300 employees to run the operation.
About the Author
