The PGCB Says More Time Is Required Before Considering Request

By John Isaac,
Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac is an editor with many years of experience in the gambling industry. He writes expert articles on card games like blackjack and poker. In addition, he is also well aware of the US gambling laws and the Indian and Dutch gambling markets. You can rely on verified information and insightful details.

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Last updated: October 19, 2022

Bally’s State College casino hearing, which was supposed to take place last month, has been pushed further to an unknown date for the general public. The hearing was in relation to a competing gaming operator’s request for intervention. The PGCB (Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board) said that more time is required before taking into consideration the request to intervene.

Bally’s plan is to transform the Nittany Mall’s closed Macy’s department store into a Category 4 “mini-casino.” A sportsbook, 30 table games, and as many as 750 slot machines would be available at the proposed venue in time to come.

Many who reside in the State College community have been vocal in their opposition to the gaming development. The College Township Council changed its mind about supporting the casino due to the community outcry.

Councilors in the College Township are evaluating their legal options to stop the $123 million development. Last month, the local government opted not to spend taxpayer money to carry out an exhaustive review into what kinds of adverse effects and societal problems a casino may bring Happy Valley.

According to Doug Harbach, who is a spokesperson for the PGCB, the board needs more time, which is why the intervention matter request of the State College casino was taken out of the meeting held last month.

Majority of Those in the State College Community Are Against the Bally’s Initiative

The majority of those in the State College community who have spoken out concerning the Bally’s initiative has been against it. All but about 100 of the almost 5,000 emails and letters sent to the PGCB were against the casino.

When the time is right, the PGCB will evaluate the benefit of the Bally’s project and vote on providing a gaming license to the Rhode Island-based firm. The State College project hearing earlier scheduled was intended to examine Cordish Companies’ request to be involved in the process.

The Cordish Companies is a U.S-based real estate development and entertainment operating company. Its headquarters can be found on the 6th floor of the Pratt Street Power Plant in Baltimore, Maryland.

Cordish Claims Against Bally’s and Ira Lubert

In September 2020, during the fifth Category 4 auction round of the state, Cordish, which runs live casinos in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, was outbid by Bally’s. However, Bally’s wasn’t the highest bidder. Ira Lubert, a former trustee and alumni of Penn State, was the highest bidder. Ira Lubert was eligible to bid because he owns 3% of Rivers Casino Pittsburgh. Rivers Casino Pittsburgh is the holding company for Pennsylvania’s BetRivers online casino.

After he secured College Township for a mini-casino, Ira Lubert teamed up with Bally’s for the project. He won the auction stage with a bid of $10 million. Cordish alleges that Bally’s and Lubert formed a partnership before the auction round and, as a result, made a bid as an entity that is unqualified. The September 2020 auction round was only open to companies that hold gaming licenses and important stakeholders in current casinos.