A New York company that will manage Happy Valley Casino near Penn State University has been granted a gaming license by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
Saratoga Casino Holdings LLC was granted the license on Wednesday.
“As a third-generation, family-run business with more than 80 years in the horse racing industry and 20 years in casino, hotel, and entertainment operations, we are extremely proud to receive our Pennsylvania gaming license,” Sam Gerrity, CEO of Saratoga Casino Holdings, said in a news release.
The company now holds gaming licenses for casinos in New York, Mississippi, Colorado and Pennsylvania.
Last month Happy Valley Casino received approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to operate slot machines and table games.
The mini-casino is expected to open in April at the Nittany Mall, 2877 E. College Ave. in College Township, just outside State College. The location is just a few miles from Beaver Stadium.
Saratoga Casino Holdings is partnering with SC Gaming on the casino. Last month, an official with SC Gaming provided the board with the following timeline for Happy Valley Casino:
The back of the house is expected to be completed on Dec. 24.The backup generator installation is expected to be finished on Jan. 13.The food and beverage, and gaming areas are expected to be completed on March 9.Construction of the casino is expected to be complete on March 30.
The casino will be home to Aces Social, a sports-themed restaurant and bar.
A second eatery, Lucky Break Café, will offer items like pizza, hamburgers, coffee, ice cream and sandwiches.
The casino will open with 600 slot machines.
The casino will have 30 table games, including Craps (2), Roulette (3), Midi Baccarat (3), Face Up Pai Gow Poker (2), Three Card Poker (2), Mississippi Stud (2), Ultimate Texas Hold‘em (2), Spanish21 (2) and Blackjack (12).
The casino will not open with a live poker offering and won’t add one within the first year, though it could be an option later, an official with SC Gaming told the board last month.
There are no active plans for sports betting or iGaming at the moment, but officials said those options are constantly discussed.
SC Gaming paid bout $10 million for a Category 4 Slot Machine license fee on Sept. 3, 2020.
In 2021, SC Gaming announced that it would partner with Bally’s on the casino, but the agreement was terminated in September 2024. Ira Lubert, who owns SC Gaming, said at the time that the Bally’s termination of the deal wouldn’t have an impact on the opening of the casino.
In March, Saratoga Casino Holdings LLC and SC Gaming signed a framework agreement to develop and manage the Category 4 casino at the Nittany Mall. Upon completion of the transaction, Saratoga Casino Holdings will acquire a majority interest in the property.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $120 million.
When the facility opens, it will be the 18th casino in Pennsylvania.