The state’s newest casino, the Happy Valley Casino in Centre County, is already generating Millions of dollars in revenue as officials hope it will also provide a substantial boost to the regional economy.
The Happy Valley Casino at the Nittany Mall was years in the making, and along the way the subject of several reports on the projected revenue.
Now after its first month of operation, the State’s Gaming Control Board is reporting the casino’s revenue from slot machines ,and table games.
Slots is the big money generator. With the bets in the first month totaling just over $6.5 million dollars, and the payouts at close to $5,8 million dollars.
The Gaming Control Board says the slots gross revenue for the first month is close to $714 thousand dollars.
For table games at the casino, the revenue for the first month is listed at nearly $122 thousand dollars.
At the casino opening, management telling us, the revenue numbers will be a factor in possible future expansion
“After we’ve been open for a year, we’ll have the ability to add ten additional table games, if the demand is there for it. We’re opening with six hundred slot machines,and we’ll have the ability to have a maximum cap of 750”
Portions of the casino revenue, by law, dedicated to several funds, and taxes. And the casino has other money makers including food and beverage options.
What also is being closely watched, the casino’s impact on the regional economy
“We just have the Nittany Mall Area we’re trying to revitalize, you know the casino is there, there’s a lot of investment we’re really looking for other entrepreneurs in the community, you know to help us create a bigger critical mass of energy and offerings”
Accordring to ownership, construction and related cost of the Happy Valley Casino over $120 million dollars