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Happy Valley Casino posted $2.5 million in gaming revenue in July. That was up slightly from $2.4 million in June but still one of the weakest monthly totals ever recorded for a Pennsylvania mini-casino.
That slow start matters beyond the casino floor. Weak business has already contributed to job cuts, reduced hours, and higher prices at casino eateries. It is also shrinking the revenue College Township had expected to receive from the property.
July Revenue Improved Only Modestly
The Nittany Mall casino opened more than three months before the report. July still ranked as the third-worst monthly total ever posted by a Pennsylvania mini-casino.
The venue got only a limited boost from the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. The festival drew nearly 60,000 visitors from at least 50 miles away between July 8 and 12. There were temporary extended table game hours during that time. Yet, the casino’s monthly revenue increased by only about $99,000 from June.
Parx Shippensburg Outperformed It With Fewer Games
A notable comparison came from Parx Shippensburg. The casino generated about $3.6 million in July revenue, according to the source report. Parx Shippensburg had 105 fewer slot machines and 18 fewer table games.
That was roughly 44% more than Happy Valley Casino brought in. For Pennsylvanians, this comparison suggests Happy Valley’s larger gaming floor has not yet translated into stronger early revenue.
Local Revenue Expectations Are Being Revised Lower
College Township receives 2% of slot revenue and 1% of table games revenue from the casino. The township had initially expected about $762,000 this year. At the current pace, it could receive less than $450,000.
Township Manager Adam Brumbaugh said the township planned conservatively and budgeted to use only $150,000 of that expected share.
Saratoga Casino Holdings CEO Sam Gerrity said operational changes at the property were made because of business conditions. He added,
“these decisions were not made lightly and reflect the evolving needs of the business.”
The next revenue reports will show whether Happy Valley Casino can build on July’s small increase or its early underperformance continues.
Source: As reported by centredaily.com.
