Casino Open Pa

On January 4, 2021, Bally’s Corporation announced that it will open a category four casino in Centre County, Pennsylvania. This will be a “mini casino” with up to 750 slot machines and 30 table games, and it will fill a geographical gap in a state where most casino properties are located close to its borders.

Bethlehem Sands Casino Sands Bethlehem is considered as one of the top gaming experience in Pennsylvania. The casino is located inside the Sands resort. It possesses a 140,000 sq ft gaming floo. Open 24/7/365, the property features more than 30 live action table games; approximately 750 slot machines; and a High Limit room Live! Casino has committed to serve as a transformative.

The $120 million project is in partnership with Ira Lubert, a Pennsylvania casino real estate developer whose portfolio includes Rivers Casino Pittsburgh and Valley Forge Casino Resort. The projected date of completion is mid-2022.

What To Expect From The Bally’s Pennsylvania Project

The Bally’s casino in Centre County will be located smack dab in the center of the state, within a 15-mile radius of Unionville Borough in Fleming, PA. Construction is predicted to begin in 2021, and it’s expected to take about one year to complete.

So, right off the bat, that means hundreds of construction jobs as well as hundreds of permanent casino jobs. When those numbers become clearer, you can expect a major announcement from Bally’s. The job creation alone creates a significant injection of opportunity into the area.

What Is A Category Four Casino?

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) issues four types of land-based casino licenses in the state. Category one is a racino (race track with casino games), two is a stand-alone casino, three is a casino resort, and four is a “satellite casino.” These categories dictate how many games a property can legally feature on its casino floor.

As a category four satellite casino, Bally’s in Pennsylvania can have no more than 750 slot machines and 30 table games upon launch. Ten more table games can then be added after the first year.

And it seems like Bally’s will be going for the maximum number of allowed games. Further, they will almost assuredly receive a retail sports betting license and offer an on-site sportsbook lounge as well, adding to the growing list of Pennsylvania sportsbooks.

Bally’s Online Sportsbook And Casino In Pennsylvania

Bally’s will need to apply for a separate license to launch an online casino or sportsbook in the state of Pennsylvania. But they’ve made it clear that they plan to do exactly that.

According to George Papanier, CEO and President of Bally’s Corporation: “Regional, land-based casinos remain the cornerstone of our portfolio diversification strategy, providing the necessary support for the growth, development and success of our future sports betting and iGaming initiatives.”

Translation: Bally’s sports betting and casino apps are coming soon.

A major hurdle to launching an online gambling platform in Pennsylvania is the requirement to partner with a land-based property. Bally’s has that covered with the upcoming Centre County location. But they could also launch once the land-based casino begins construction.

For example, BetMGM launched in Pennsylvania in partnership with Hollywood Casino Morgantown – despite the land-based property still under construction.

Therefore, there’s a somewhat likely scenario where Bally’s online sportsbook and casino will be available before the launch of the land-based Bally’s property.

Bally’s Is Back

Bally’s was a Caesars Entertainment property for 15 years until October 2020, when Twin Rivers Worldwide Holdings bought the brand for $20 million.

Since then, the company changed its name to Bally’s Corporation, and the Caesars-owned Bally’s properties will change their name accordingly in the upcoming months.

However, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Bally’s Corporation will buy Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel and Casino as well as other branded properties. That will be added to its portfolio of 14 existing casinos across the US, including Bally’s Atlantic City.

As Bally’s CEO and President George Papanier put it: “Expanding our rapidly growing, national footprint into the attractive Pennsylvania gaming market represents yet another major milestone for Bally’s and a great way to cap off a truly extraordinary year.”

Last updated Jan. 12.

The uncontrollable spread of COVID-19 has made it very difficult for the US casino industry to function in most states. Across the country, casinos are limiting the number of customers on their floors or are closing their doors to casual and experts bettors in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Casinos were particularly hard hit in the spring, when most were forced to shutter. On March 19, the American Gaming Associationissued a release on the crisis. AGA President and CEO Bill Miller said:

With a spike of coronavirus cases in the fall and winter of 2020, casinos are once again being forced to shut down in many states. Most casinos remain open in some respect, but that will likely change.

Though many gamblers will turn to horse betting, online casinos and online poker, our staff at PlayUSA wants to keep you up to date with a list of casino properties that have suspended operations in the wake of this global pandemic.

Alabama casinos

Wind Creek casinos in the state are open with some restrictions.

Arizona casinos

Most Arizona casinos are open subject to general COVID restrictions in the state. Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort is currently closed.

Arkansas casinos

Arkansas casinos are open, with some restrictions.

Latest report on Arkansas casinos here.

California casinos

California is currently under a stay-at-home order and capacity restrictions in most regions. However, most California tribal casinos are currently open with a variety of restrictions that don’t always line up with state guidelines. More on that here.

Colorado casinos

Casinos in Colorado mostly remain open, but some such as Ute Mountain Casino Hotel have opted to close temporarily. Table games are shut down in some other casinos. More on that at PlayColorado.

Connecticut casinos

The state’s two casinos, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort, are both open with restrictions. As of the week of Dec. 1, Foxwoods announced even further restrictions and temporary closing of some hotel areas.

Latest report on casinos in Connecticut here.

Delaware casinos

The three Delaware casinos are currently open with some restrictions

Delaware Park
Dover Downs
Harrington Casino and Raceway

Florida casinos

All of Florida’s casinos are currently open with varying restrictions.

Idaho casinos

Most Idaho casinos remain open.

Illinois casinos

All casinos in Illinois remain closed as of Nov. 20 under an order from Gov. JB Pritzker. Visit PlayIllinois for more updates.

Indiana casinos

Indiana casinos mostly remain open, with some restrictions. Visit PlayIndiana for more updates.

Iowa casinos

All Iowa casinos are currently open, but with restrictions.

Kansas casinos

Kansas casinos remain open for now.

Kentucky racing

There are no casinos in Kentucky.

Louisiana casinos

Most Louisiana casinos remain open, but at limited capacity.

More information here on casinos in Louisiana.

Maine casinos

Maine casinos are open but must close earlier than usual due to a curfew that has been set by the Governor. The curfew currently does not have a set end date. More on casinos in Maine here.

Maryland casinos

Maryland casinos are open, with restrictions. However, infections in Maryland via casinos have drawn some scrutiny.

Massachusetts casinos

Massachusetts’ three casinos — Plainridge Park, MGM Springfield, and Encore Boston Harbor — are all open, with restrictions. More from PlayMA here.

Michigan casinos

Michigan’s three commercial casinos have reopened after being closed for the second time around.

MGM Grand
Greektown Casino
MotorCity Casino

Some tribal casinos have also closed their doors for now.

Minnesota casinos

Native American tribes with casinos remain open for now, with restrictions. More here.

Mississippi casinos

All 26 of the state’s casinos remain open.

Missouri casinos

Missouri casinos are all open, with varying restrictions.

Montana casinos

Some of Montana’s tribal casinos are closed. There are restrictions that limit capacity in casinos in the state.

Nevada casinos

Casinos in the state and in Las Vegas remain largely open, but at reduced capacity. These include Palazzo, for example, where rooms are closed seven days a week but the casino floor remains open. The Mirage began a full-scale mid-week closures to its hotel, casino and all amenities on Jan. 4. More from PlayNevadahere and more on Las Vegas specifically can be found here.

New Hampshire casinos

There is no word yet on when casinos in New Hampshire will reopen.

New Jersey casinos

Atlantic City casinos continue to stay open, with restrictions. Of course, online casinos in New Jersey, are still running.

New Mexico casinos

Worsening conditions in New Mexico have led to almost all casinos being closed. More here.

New York casinos

All New York casinos, both commercial and tribal, remain open for now.

North Carolina casinos

The only two casinos in North Carolina, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino are currently open.

North Dakota casinos

Tribal casinos are generally open in North Dakota, although it is on a case by case basis.

Ohio casinos

Ohio casinos remain open, but are subject to a curfew.

Oklahoma casinos

Almost all Oklahoma casinos are currently open.

Oregon casinos

Most tribal casinos in Oregon remain open, with restrictions. Chinook Winds Casino in Lincoln City is one that has closed temporarily.

Pennsylvania casinos

PA casinos were allowed to re-open as of Jan. 4 after a short closure period, and most did in fact re-open that day or in subsequent days. River Casino Philadelphia remains closed at least untill Jan. 15. Updates From PlayPennsylvania here.

Rhode Island casinos

The two Rhode Island casinos, Twin River Casino in Lincoln and Tiverton, re-opened on Dec. 21.

South Dakota casinos

Many South Dakota casinos have closed because of worsening COVID cases in the state, but a few remain open.