Saratoga Casino Holdings LLC has secured a gaming license from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, marking a critical regulatory achievement for the company as it prepares to launch the Happy Valley Casino in central Pennsylvania. This approval includes Pennsylvania among the states where the New York-based operator holds non-tribal casino licenses, alongside New York, Mississippi, and Colorado, and positions the company as the main owner of the new venue near State College.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board confirmed awarding the license last week, formalized through a separate vote. Saratoga Casino Holdings now officially guides the project to align with its anticipated opening schedule.
CEO Sam Gerrity highlighted the decision’s importance in a company statement, expressing pride in receiving the Pennsylvania gaming license and emphasizing the milestone as a step in expanding their gaming industry diversification. He mentioned their commitment to operating top-tier gaming facilities and building strong relationships with customers, team members, and communities.
The journey to the Happy Valley Casino license began years ago. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board initially awarded the Category 4 casino opportunity to SC Gaming, owned by Ira Lubert, in September 2020. This decision led to extensive litigation, concluded after four years when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the board’s ruling, allowing the project to move forward.
Post court decision, Lubert sold a majority stake of the project to Saratoga Casino Holdings, officially granting them a 60% ownership and managerial control during a June meeting of the gaming control board. Earlier this year, the companies signed a framework agreement detailing Saratoga’s role in developing and managing the casino at the Nittany Mall.
SC Gaming paid about $10 million for the Category 4 slot machine license fee in 2020. In 2021, they announced a partnership with Bally’s, which ended in 2024. Lubert stated that the termination wouldn’t affect the casino’s planned opening.
Construction has commenced at the site, occupying a long-vacant Macy’s department store space at the Nittany Mall near Penn State University. The project is estimated at $120 million and aims to stimulate redevelopment in the area.
Developers planned a phased construction schedule. Back-of-house areas should be completed by late December, a backup generator installed by mid-January, and work on food, beverage, and gaming areas by early March, with full construction finishing by the end of March.
Upon opening, Happy Valley Casino is expected to feature 600 slot machines and 30 table games. Approved table games include Craps, Roulette, Mini Baccarat, Face Up Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Spanish 21, and Blackjack. Live poker won’t be offered initially, though it could be considered later. There are no immediate plans for sports betting or iGaming at launch.
As a Category 4 facility, Happy Valley Casino falls under Pennsylvania’s “satellite casino” categorization, permitting between 300 and 750 slot machines and up to 40 table games, with potential expansion to 750 slots based on demand. The smoke-free venue aims to open in April 2026 as the 18th casino in the state.
Dining options will include Aces Social, a sports-themed restaurant and bar, and Lucky Break Café, offering pizza, hamburgers, coffee, ice cream, and sandwiches, along with additional quick-serve dining and a central bar open 24/7.
Saratoga Casino Holdings currently owns and operates properties in Saratoga Springs, New York; Black Hawk, Colorado; and Natchez, Mississippi, managing around 175,000 square feet of gaming space, more than 2,100 slot machines, table games, a poker room, a sportsbook, hotels, dining venues, meeting spaces, and entertainment offerings.
For the State College region, the project is expected to promote economic activity, create new jobs, and increase tax revenue, though gaming facilities near university campuses have historically faced public scrutiny. As development continues, Happy Valley Casino signifies a major expansion for Saratoga Casino Holdings and a notable addition to Pennsylvania’s gaming landscape.
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: SCCGManagement.com