Regulators in Pennsylvania say they are delaying their decision on whether to license a Category 4 mini-casino in a shopping center near State College and the campus of Pennsylvania State University.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board issued a scheduling order July 12 that invites any party petitioning to intervene in the license application until August 26. The application was filed by Philadelphia investor Ira Lubert, a Penn State alumnus who has established Gaming OpCo LLC as the entity that would be licensed to operate the Category 4 casino.
Category 4 casinos, commonly known as mini-casinos, were established under Pennsylvania’s 2017 gaming expansion law to address underserved areas for casino locations. Category 4 casinos are limited to 750 slot machines and 30 table games on opening, with the opportunity to petition to add another 10 tables after opening.
The project, slated for a former Macy’s store at the Nittany Mall in Centre County, has met with opposition due to its proximity to the Penn State campus, and is subject to a lawsuit from The Cordish Companies, which has two casinos in the state. The Cordish lawsuit claims the board improperly accepted the licensing bid from Lubert, who is planning to develop the casino in partnership with Bally’s Corporation.
The board’s order says it will consider any petitions to intervene at its October 19 meeting. It will hold one more public meeting after that before voting on the license, pushing the final decision at least until November 16.
