State College Community Speaks Out in Opposition of Bally’s Casino Near Penn State
Posted on: January 23, 2023, 02:07h.
Last updated on: January 23, 2023, 04:15h.
If there are State College residents who support allowing Rhode Island-based Bally’s Corporation to redevelop the former Macy’s department store at the Nittany Mall into a casino, Casino.org hasn’t heard from them.
We have, however, fielded hundreds of comments from concerned Centre County citizens who think gambling should stay far away from Penn State University Park.
Bally’s partnered with Penn State alumnus and former university trustee Ira Lubert. The alliance was made soon after he won the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s (PGCB) September 2020 auction for a Category 4 satellite casino. Lubert outbid Baltimore-based Cordish Companies, which operates two casinos in Pennsylvania — Live! Casino Hotel Philadelphia and Live! Casino Pittsburgh, the latter being a Category 4 property.
Lubert and Cordish qualified to participate in the September 2020 auction because they held ownership stakes in a slot machine license in the Commonwealth. Lubert owns a 3% stake in Rivers Casino Pittsburgh.
Bally’s didn’t qualify, as the company doesn’t have any vested interest in a Pennsylvania slot license. Cordish contends that Lubert orchestrated a scheme with Bally’s before the auction that ran afoul of the state’s bidding rules. As such, Cordish believes the state should dismiss Lubert and Bally’s Category 4 license application.
The PGCB will hear from Cordish during its meeting scheduled for this Wednesday, January 25. The hearing will also include comments from Bally’s reps and the PGCB’s Office of Enforcement Counsel.
State College Opposition
Pennsylvania greatly expanded gaming in 2017. The law authorized iGaming, retail and online sports betting, video gaming terminals at truck stops, fantasy sports, and Category 4 casinos.
The law provided townships and municipalities with the right to opt out of being considered for a Category 4 development — commonly referred to as “mini-casinos” and “satellite casinos.” More than 1,000 local governments did just that. But somewhat surprisingly, because of its close proximity to Penn State, where more than 46K undergrads live and study, College Township remained in the bidding pool.
It’s a decision the College Township council has since expressed regret about. That’s after the local community spoke out in considerable opposition to allowing a casino to come to Centre County.
During PGCB’s public input period, the state received more than 5,000 letters expressing disagreement with Bally’s plan based on a multitude of concerns. Since the public input period closed, the Penn State community has turned to media outlets covering the controversial matter, with Casino.org being one such source, to keep their voices being heard.
Casino.org has received hundreds of emails and comments expressing antagonism to the Bally’s State College project. Our January 14 coverage garnered 151 comments in opposition alone. The news story collected just one comment in support. To read the comments, click here.
Public Opinion Considered
The PGCB has promised the local opposition that the state will weigh the community feedback in making its final decision as to whether to grant Bally’s an operating license for College Township.
But since College Township didn’t opt out of the Category 4 bidding before the state’s August 2019 deadline, it’s unclear whether the PGCB would be willing to deny Bally’s a gaming license simply on the grounds of public opposition.
A likelier path to halting Bally’s project comes from Cordish. Regardless of which direction the gaming board takes, a legal appeal is likely. Title 4, which consists of the state’s gaming laws, directs the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to handle PGCB licensing appeals.
If the PGCB signs off on the Bally’s State College casino, Cordish is likely to appeal. But if the PGCB decides to terminate Bally’s plan because of the Cordish allegation or simply because the public seemingly opposes the development, Bally’s would be expected to appeal that decision.
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I am not opposed to letting adults who wish to gamble do so; however, having a gambling casino so near Pennsylvania’s largest concentration of 18-21 year olds is a very bad idea, and I hope we can persuade the company to find another location.
State College may be a small town but we take seriously the huge responsibility of so many thousands of college students living and studying here. A casino would pull down any community, but it is especially dangerous and harmful to young adults. We strongly oppose the development of a casino in our community because of the harm to individuals who fall for the 'entertainment', the additional resources it would require from our police/hospitals/ etc..., the lowering of our real estate values, and the introduction of a whole array of undesirable support businesses that supply quick cash to addicted gamblers. We request that the PGCB deny Bally's operating license in College Township, State College!
I’ve lived in State College since 1986. There are many things our area could benefit from, but a casino is not one of them. There’s a lot of talk about jobs, but currently it’s hard to find a business without a “help wanted” or “now hiring- all positions” sign in the window. There’s a lot of claims that it will bring people to town - we get a great many people here for sporting events and concerts who are interested in visiting restaurants and stores around town. Casinos don’t attract tourists looking to spend money in town, they attract people looking to spend money in a casino. Lastly, studies show most casino patrons are often those who can least afford to be there. I realize College Township wants the increase in tax revenue, but at what cost? We could have an IKEA, an indoor skydiving venue, a roller rink, an IMAX theater - all would be more welcome than the proposed casino. NO THANK YOU, Bally’s.
I applaud casino.org for recognizing the exceptionally strong opposition among the State College community to the proposed casino here in Centre County. Penn State is home to 48,000 undergraduates. I can understand why a casino would want access to this vulnerable population. Students often lack the maturity and real world experience to gamble responsibly. The danger is that many students could use poor judgment and end up deeply in debt before they even graduate from college. Their lives could be ruined even before they start a career. All so some very wealthy investors can get wealthier. Because of Penn State, Centre County traditionally has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state. We are not a county that desperately needs new jobs, particularly when the price will be so high. Hopefully the PA Casino Commission will do what is right for the County, not for the wealthy outside investor who could care less about our community.
State College and the surrounding community is a lovely family oriented and farming area. We love Penn State and the students who live here part of the year. We have absolutely no desire to have a casino in our midst. We don't want the elements the casino will attract. We currently are not afraid to be out after dark and do not want the organized crime the casino will bring to our neighborhoods. Please, say NO to the casino at Nittany Mall.
I contend that the PGCB is in a position to save College Township from their blunder in not opting out when they had the opportunity to do so. They have subsequently come to their senses, but no longer have the ability to correct their mistake. The PGCB has an obligation to see that gambling ventures do no harm and permitting a casino to operate in close proximity to Penn State University will potentially be harmful to countless impressionable young students.
Thanks for your great article. Gaming commission please stop the Casino at The Mall. Thanks.
The article by Devin O'Connor discussing the community's opposition to a casino at the Nittany Mall is much appreciated. We continue to be strongly opposed to a casino knowing the sure heartbreak it would bring so needlessly. Don and Peggy Myers
This would be a travesty to Penn State and the community if it is allowed to go forward. It is clear from the numerous opposing comments the local community does not want the casino. The Gaming Board should act accordingly.
Gambling establishments do NOT belong near colleges and universities.
I oppose the casino. Studies have shown that gambling harms individuals and also destroys communities. Please consider the facts and prohibit the casino.
The State College community's opposition to hosting a casino less than 5 miles from the 48,000 students at Penn State University Park is very strong - much stronger, in fact, than the Gettysburg community's opposition to the proposed casino near the battlefield memorial that was previously denied multiple times. If the PGCB will not deny the Nittany Mall Casino's license on the basis of public opposition as well, it will call into question whether the PGCB still serves the public interest or whether it has been completely captured by the gambling interests that it is supposed to regulate.
"During the PGCB’s public input period, the state received more than 5,000 letters expressing disagreement with the Bally’s plan on a multitude of concerns." FIVE THOUSAND letters in opposition. What's left to say?
This business has no compelling reason to do business in this town!
I firmly believe the allowance of a casino would ultimately be detrimental to our community. It may bring in more jobs, but it would invite more crimes, broken families, and disruption to the community as a whole.