Louisville, Kentucky-based Churchill Downs Incorporated recently announced it has taken over management of Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin in Farmington, Pennsylvania from Eldorado Resorts Inc. for $100,000 cash. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board approved the arrangement on March 6.
Eldorado Resorts will retain ownership of the property, located one mile from Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington. Opened in 2013, the casino offers 600 slot machines and 27 table games.
Churchill Downs management has not indicated what changes, if any, are planned at Lady Luck. One of the state’s two resort casinos, its’ the lowest revenue generator of Pennsylvania’s 12 casinos, posting $32.3 million in 2018 gambling revenue, a decline from the previous year.
Churchill Downs now operates casinos in eight states. Analysts said the transaction is part of a move by Churchill Downs to have a presence in Pennsylvania’s sports betting industry. Churchill Downs previously acquired Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Erie County from Eldorado. It also owns and operates TwinSpires.com, the largest legal online horseracing wagering platform in the US.
Eldorado owns Lady Luck Casino properties in Black Hawk, Colorado, Caruthersville, Missouri and Vicksburg, Mississippi.
