Members of the public will have a chance to weigh in on the casino a company wants to run in the Nittany Mall, in College Township, Centre County, during a hearing the state Gaming Control Board has scheduled for 4 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Penn Stater Conference Center.
In 2017, municipalities in Pennsylvania could decide whether they wanted to allow mini-casinos in their borders. College Township did not opt out.
In 2020, former Penn State trustee Ira Lubert successfully bid on what’s known as a Category 4 casino. Bally Corporation announced it was partnering with Lubert on the $120 million project.
According to information received by College Township, the casino would be located where Macy’s had been before closing and could have 750 slot machines, 30 table games, a restaurant and entertainment facilities.
The application submitted to the state gaming board lists Lubert as the president of SC Gaming OpCo. LLC, and Ara Kervandjian, Robert E. Poole and Richard S. Sokolov as vice presidents.
According to the state gaming board, the meeting on the proposed casino from SC Gaming OpCo will be livestreamed, and people can submit comments in person or online. The agency’s website, gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov, will have more information about the project, including how to testify or submit testimony, on July 21.
The board will hold another public hearing at a later date in Harrisburg where members of the board can also ask questions of the applicant and Enforcement Counsel.
While written comments will be accepted through the board’s website, they can also be submitted by email, fax or mail:
E-mail:boardclerk@pa.gov
Fax:717-265-7416
Mail:PA Gaming Control Board
P.O. Box 69060
Harrisburg, PA 17106
Attention: Board Clerk
The deadline for registering to speak or to submit written testimony is noon on Aug. 12.
