New Casino Opening by Penn State Plans Soft Launch Around Blue-White Game

Happy Valley Casino is at the Nittany Mall at 2877 E. College Ave. in College Township, just outside State College. The location is a few miles from Beaver Stadium.

The test days are required by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to ensure all operations and procedures meet gaming regulations before the casino’s opening. The test days are open to the public.

All proceeds from the two-day event will go to the State College Food Bank and the YMCA of Centre County.

“The test days are an exciting milestone for our team,” Eric Pearson, general manager of Happy Valley Casino, said in a news release. “We’re proud to welcome the community inside for the first time, not only to showcase what we’ve built, but also to give back to two incredible local organizations that make a meaningful impact every day.”

The opening date for Happy Valley Casino will be announced following the test period.

Happy Valley Casino is owned by Saratoga Casino Holdings LLC and SC Gaming. The facility will open with 600 slot machines and will have 30 table games.

The facility will not open with a live poker offering, sports betting or iGaming, but officials have said those options have been discussed.

The casino will be home to Aces Social, a sports-themed restaurant and bar. A second eatery, Lucky Break Café, will offer items like pizza, hamburgers, coffee, ice cream, and sandwiches.

SC Gaming paid about $10 million for a Category 4 Slot Machine license fee on Sept. 3, 2020.

In 2021, SC Gaming announced that it would partner with Bally’s on the casino, but the agreement was terminated in September 2024. Ira Lubert, who owns SC Gaming, said at the time that the Bally’s termination of the deal wouldn’t have an impact on the opening of the casino.

In March 2025, Saratoga Casino Holdings LLC and SC Gaming signed a framework agreement to develop and manage the Category 4 casino at the Nittany Mall.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $120 million. When the facility opens, it will be the 18th casino in Pennsylvania.