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New casino near Penn State clears regulatory milestone, will open in April smoke-free

Wednesday, November 19, 2025 8:51 PM
Photo: SC Gaming and Saratoga Casino Holdings (courtesy)
  • Geoff Rushton, StateCollege.com

Happy Valley Casino representatives on Wednesday revealed updated renderings and details for the new gambling venue at the Nittany Mall.

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The new look at the category 4 casino, scheduled for an April grand opening, came during a hearing in Harrisburg in which the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board unanimously approved authorization for the facility to operate 600 slot machines and issuance of a certificate to operate table games. The casino still needs to request issuance of a slot machine license, which is expected to occur in December.

Here’s what general manager Eric Pearson and attorney Michael Fabius of Ballard Spahr shared about the 94,000-square-foot casino, which will be a 24/7, smoke-free operation in the former Macy’s anchor spot in the College Township mall.

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