- The new Happy Valley Casino opened Monday, marking Pennsylvania’s 18th operating casino.
- The casino had been planned since 2020 and has created nearly 400 local jobs.
- It contains around 600 slot machines and 30 table games.
STATE COLLEGE, Penn. – Happy Valley Casino officially opened on Monday, just a five-minute drive from the campus of Penn State.
The project has been in the works since 2020 when Penn State alumnus Ira Lubert won a bid for a “mini-casino” license for $10 million. The casino was originally intended to be sponsored by Bally’s before Lubert reached an agreement with Saratoga Casino Holdings.
After a couple of testing days required by the state, the casino made its grand opening on Monday, with operating hours from 10 AM to 2 AM.
The casino features 600 slot machines and 30 table games, many of which are legal blackjack, which is sure to be at the heart of all operations. Betting minimums are expected to be around $15 for most games.
Nearly 400 jobs have been created by the casino, the majority of which are full time positions, according to general manager Eric Pearson. The casino has a 12 week Dealer School, which produced 96 current workers and will continue to operate over the summer.
The 18th casino to open in the state, Happy Valley Casino, is expected to be a fan and (student) favorite for legal blackjack in Pennsylvania.