“As we have all seen brick-and-mortar retail shops have taken slumps in recent years, as internet-driven retail commerce has grown and then skyrocketed in the age of COVID, shopping malls in particular have been hit hard and this includes the Nittany Mall.” “I see an opportunity for the commonwealth and a local community in need of additional economic engines,” Lubert said.

were questioned about the project.Įric Pearson, an Adjunct Professor at Penn State’s School of Hospitality Management, was on hand for the hearing and was named as the casino’s prospective CEO and general manager.ĭuring the hearing, Lubert said as a resident and business owner of State College, the area is very important to him and he hopes reinvigorating the property will draw in new businesses, create jobs and help the local economy. On Wednesday, the Gaming Board held its final licensing hearing in which representatives of SC Gaming and Bally’s Corp. 16, 2021, and written comments were accepted through June 12, 2022.

While Bally’s said that construction could start on the casino in the first half of 2021, that didn’t happen as the Gaming Board conducted a background investigation into the application and collected public input on the casino plan from local residents, community groups and public officials.Ī public hearing was held in College Township on Aug. announced it had signed an agreement with Lubert to develop the planned $120 million mini-casino.

Pennsylvania mini casinos