A casino in Pennsylvania near Penn State has found a new partner—Saratoga Holdings.
The casino project worth more than $100 million, which is planned to open by July 2026 near the University of Pennsylvania, has found a new partner. It became the company Saratoga Casino Holdings from New York. Previously, the project involved Bally’s Corporation, but in the fall of 2023, it withdrew from the partnership, focusing on opening a casino in Chicago.
The casino was spearheaded by SC Gaming OpCo, a company founded by real estate developer and Penn State alumnus Ira Lubert, who previously chaired the university’s board of trustees. Saratoga will take over the development and management of the facility, which will be housed in the former Macy’s department store building in the Nittany Mall. The Category 4 license allows 300-750 slot machines and up to 30 tables for table games, but the latter will cost an additional $2.5 million.
Such significant investments show that the project’s authors are confident in its success despite the growth of the iGaming industry. This trend is relevant to almost the whole world, starting from Asia or Africa and ending with the United States. Most Americans also do not visit land-based casinos but prefer to play online.
Modern popular online casinos, and in particular their regional versions like Indian 1Win, Canadian Mostbet, or African Parimatch, are famous for thousands of games. Such a diverse catalog can not be found even in the best land-based casinos in Las Vegas and Macau, not to mention the smaller casinos scattered across the various states. These games are available from home, on computer screens, or on phones.
No wonder even the best casino resorts in the world may soon begin to experience a shortage of customers. And multi-million dollar investments in this business today no longer seem so promising.
Saratoga is a family business that operates casinos and racetracks in New York, Colorado and Mississippi. The project in Pennsylvania will be their fourth facility. Details of the partnership were not disclosed, but Saratoga CEO Sam Gerrity said the collaboration with SC Gaming will combine the companies’ strengths to create an “unrivaled gaming experience.” The casino will occupy a single-story, 532,000-square-foot building. In addition to gaming areas, plans call for a betting parlor and beverage outlets. The facility is just 6.5 miles from Penn State’s campus, drawing mixed reactions. Many Center County residents, including State College, oppose the project, but local officials have not moved to block construction.
Ira Lubert, who received the casino license in 2020 after an auction bid of $10 million, is confident of success. He recalled his experience: in 2012, he was involved in creating the Valley Forge casino under challenging conditions after the 2008 financial crisis. “This project will be a source of pride for both the city and the state,” Lubert said.
Lubert is an influential figure in the Penn State community. In 2011, he voted to fire legendary coach Joe Paterno amid a sexual abuse scandal and later donated $10 million to the renovation of Beaver Stadium.
Construction was long delayed due to changing partners and controversy. Now, SC Gaming and Saratoga will begin active work. By the fall of 2024, College Township expects an economic impact report on the casino, but developers are already predicting an opening in the first half of 2026.
About the casino: A casino with 300-750 machines and 30 tables will be built at Nittany Mall by 2026. Saratoga is the new partner in the project, replacing Bally’s. Locals
have criticized the idea, but authorities have not blocked construction. Initiator Ira Lubert attributes the success to the experience of creating the Valley Forge Casino. The project promises to become not only a gambling site but also a point of attraction, although controversy over its feasibility continues.