The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has scheduled a public hearing on November 1 to take testimony from local residents and business people on the plan of Penn National Gaming to build its first mini-casino at the York Galleria mall in Springettsbury Township.
Penn filed a plan with the board earlier this month outlining a $120 million project to convert a former Sears location at the mall into Hollywood Casino York. The company won the license with a bid of more than $50 million, the first license granted under last year’s gaming expansion law that created Category 4 casinos, which are satellite locations operated by current licensees offering a maximum of 750 slot machines and 30 table games.
Penn’s bid for the mini-casino, viewed as a strategic move to protect the business at its flagship Hollywood Casino at Penn National Gaming outside of Harrisburg, was by far the largest fee paid for a Category 4 license.
The hearing on Penn’s plan will be held at 10 a.m. at the township building. The board is encouraging testimony from both advocates of the plan and from those who are against the proposed casino. individuals who are for and against the proposed casino. The deadline for registration to speak at the hearing is noon on Oct. 30.
The board also has begun accepting requests from residents, public officials and community groups who wish to provide oral or written testimony on the plan. Mailed comments must be postmarked no later than Oct. 30.
Penn will offer oral arguments and respond to board questions at a later date.
The plan submitted to the board calls for Hollywood Casino York to open within 12 to 18 months with about 500 slot machines and 20 table games. Along with a casual restaurant and sports bar, a small entertainment lounge and a grab-and-go restaurant.
