Two years ago, the lawmakers in Pennsylvania made a decision that they would seek to explore ways that can expand the casino industry in the state. They decided to approve new satellite casinos thanks to the Expanded Gaming Act.
This move allows about 10 mini casinos into the state. Surprisingly, the problem now is that there are no bidders for the licenses on ground. At the moment, Penn National is one of the few companies that have expanded their reach in the state. In Morgantown, they opened a satellite casino and are looking forward to opening more.
In March this year, they got a much-needed approval from the Hollywood Casino Morgantown. This move has further inspired them to move for another one. Penn National has been given the green light to launch another casino in Hollywood Casino York – this is a small satellite that’ll appear close to the York Galleria Mall.
The PGCB (Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board) approved a facility worth $120 million a few days ago. This facility will run under a Category 4 license. In addition, it will offer a number of games including 750 slot machines and 30 table games.
It didn’t come as a shock to many when the news hit the airwaves that the PGCB approved the application from Penn National unanimously. According to Calvin Ayre, the operator has a solid footing in the state. Because no company came forward for the license auction held in September – the state has found it hard to move forward with the plans they’ve laid out.
Mount Airy was close to making a move last month. Unfortunately, its application did not scale through because they lacked the funds to finance the project.
The Chief Executive Officer of Penn National, Timothy Wilmott, was pleased when he heard the news of the approval. He stated
“We are very pleased with today’s unanimous approval by the PGCB and look forward to opening the doors at Hollywood Casino York as soon as possible,” He also added, “The property will be ideally located to draw customers from south-central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland, while also protecting our existing market share at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.”
The venue will host about 500 slot machines, 24 table games with extra options that will be added later on. Besides, a sportsbook will also be added, including a restaurant, an entertainment facility, a coffee and a bar house.
From the look of things, the casino has the capacity to provide 200 full-time jobs for people living in the area. However, it will take more than 12 months to complete the massive project.
Some people are expressing concerns because of the underage people who might visit the gambling facilities. According to John Finamore – the National Senior Vice President of Regional Operation of Penn – said there’s no need to worry about underage people as there would no entrance to the casino from the mall.
During a discussion with the PGCB, he said
“There won’t be an entrance from the mall into the casino. The only way to get into the property is through the porte-cochere entrance. There’s one entry point.”
