Hearing set to decide fate of Nittany Mall Casino
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THE FORMER Macy's store at the Nittany Mall is expected to be the home of a Centre County casino. (CHRIS MORELLI/The Gazette)
STATE COLLEGE — The proposed Nittany Mall Casino could take another step closer to becoming reality.
With the project in limbo, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will have a hearing for the proposal. The hearing is slated for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Strawberry Square Complex in Harrisburg. The hearing will be a big step in terms of approving or denying the proposed casino’s applications.
The hearing will be live streamed through the PGCB website. A recording of the event will also be available on the website following the hearing.
Plans for the casino have been in the works for a few years.
In September 2021, College Township approved a land development plan for the proposed casino in the former Macy’s property at the mall. Few major modifications are planned for the exterior of the 94,000- square-foot building, which inside is expected to have 750 slot machines, 30 table games and sports betting, along with a restaurant, bar and multioutlet quick-serve food and beverage area.
Investor and former Penn State trustee Ira Lubert had a winning bid of $10 million at a September 2020 auction for a new license for a Category 4 casino that would be located in Centre County.
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In January, Bally’s Corporation announced it had signed an agreement with Lubert to develop the planned $123 million mini-casino.
The casino is expected to breathe new life into the Nittany Mall. By going into the former Macy’s location, the casino would become an anchor, along with Dunham’s Sporting Goods, Gabe’s and Rural King.
If approved, the casino would become a large employer in Centre County. Development and construction are projected to create — in the short-term — 350 direct full-time-equivalent jobs and 170 indirect jobs. Additionally, there will be a net onetime economic impact of $43.6 million for College Township and $61.4 million for Centre County.
The casino is expected to employ 350 to 400 full-time-equivalent positions, offering a “very competitive compensation and benefits package.”
A report projects $121.6 million in direct and indirect annual economic impact within the township economy. In Centre County, the study estimates $164 million annual economic impact, supporting 740 jobs.
Host municipalities and counties receive 2% of a casino’s slot machine revenue and 1% of table game and sports book revenues. The impact study estimates the gaming revenues and taxes would yield $1.6 million for College Township in the first year of operation and $2 million at stabilization. If license approvals are granted, construction of the casino is expected to take about one year.
At the present time, the Macy’s signage has been removed and paper has been placed on all the doors and windows.
