Share 
Happy Valley Casino and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board confirmed to PlayPennsylvania that the property officially opened its doors on Monday morning, becoming the 18th casino in the Commonwealth and marking the long-awaited arrival of gaming to the State College area near Penn State.
Located inside the former Macy’s at the Nittany Mall, the $120 million project has been years in the making, overcoming legal challenges and regulatory hurdles before finally reaching the finish line.
The property held two test days late last week to prepare for the opening. General manager Eric Pearson told PlayPennsylvania on Monday morning:
“We had an amazing turnout for our test days on Friday and Saturday. I didn’t really know what to expect, as I had heard that the other casinos’ test days had a wide variety of experiences from an attendance standpoint.
“I figured that our test days coinciding with the Blue & White Weekend would drive some additional traffic, and I’m sure that it did, but the majority of the guests I spoke with were from the local Central Pennsylvania community.”
What players can expect on the gaming floor
Happy Valley Casino enters the market as a Category 4 mini-casino, but it still brings a sizable gaming footprint.
At launch, the property features around 600 slot machines, with plans of reaching 750, and approximately 30 table games, including blackjack, roulette, and craps.
Pearson said the dealer school the property provided in the months leading up to the open paid off. The test days provided invaluable experience for the new dealers, he said.
“Since our workforce is nearly entirely local, we didn’t have a big pool of experienced casino workers to draw from, so we had to ‘grow our own’ so to speak.”
“It was a challenge that our leadership team tackled exceptionally well, and I’m so proud to have been a part of bringing nearly 400 good jobs to Centre County.”
The venue offers a smoke-free gaming environment along with full-service dining and bar option
Long road to opening for Happy Valley Casino
The path to opening wasn’t straightforward.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) initially awarded the license in 2020, but the project faced delays tied to legal challenges and the broader approval process. It wasn’t until recently that construction accelerated and a firm opening timeline came into focus.
The test days were a key final step before full approval, a standard requirement for new properties in Pennsylvania. Pearson called the soft-opening a “great success,” and pointed out some processing kinks and extended wait times, which isn’t out of the ordinary.
Ownership and development take shape
The project is operated by SC Gaming and backed by experienced leadership, with Saratoga Casino Holdings securing a majority stake ahead of opening, which became official in January.
That partnership proved critical in getting the project across the finish line, bringing operational expertise to a property that had been in development for several years.
Impact on Pennsylvania’s gaming market
With Happy Valley Casino now open, Pennsylvania’s land-based casino count reaches 18 properties, continuing the steady expansion that followed the state’s 2017 gaming law.
The addition is expected to draw strong regional traffic and generate millions in annual gaming revenue while expanding access to legal gambling in central Pennsylvania.
Unlike larger destination resorts, Happy Valley Casino is designed as a regional draw, targeting both local residents and the significant Penn State population throughout the year.
A new era for State College gaming
The opening of Happy Valley Casino represents more than just another gaming option. It fills a geographic gap in Pennsylvania’s casino map.
After years of anticipation, regulatory approvals and construction milestones, central Pennsylvania finally has its own gaming venue.
With its debut, the Keystone State’s already robust gaming industry takes another step forward.
