The proposal for a Category 4 mini-casino in College Township near Pennsylvania State University has received local approval. College Township Council last week unanimously approved a land development plan for what is tentatively called Nittany Casino, at the Nittany Mall in Centre County, near State College and the Penn State campus.
The proposed casino still awaits licensing by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. The casino license was won by Penn State alumnus Ira Lubert and his SC Gaming, LLC, at the first auction open to bidders outside of current casino licensees. Category 4 casinos, limited to 750 slots and 40 table games, were originally available only as satellites to current Category 1 (racino) and Category 2 (stand-alone casino) licensees. Lubert has reached a deal with Bally’s Corp. to build and operate the casino.
The casino is planned for a 94,000-square-foot building that formerly housed a Macy’s anchor store at the mall. It would include a casino, a sportsbook, a sports-themed restaurant and bar with live entertainment, and a multi-outlet food court. The construction budget is $123 million.
Under the current township ordinance for new development, 365 linear feet of new sidewalks would be required for the new property. The developer proposed 215, but also plans to add more than 1,000 feet of other pedestrian pathways as well as ADA ramps, Councilman Rich Francke noted at the approval hearing.
