Happy Valley Casino To Offer Free Table Game Dealer School in State College
Posted on: August 31, 2025, 12:27h.
Last updated on: August 31, 2025, 02:56h.
- A table game dealer school is opening in State College, PA
- The school comes ahead of the spring 2026 opening of the Happy Valley Casino
A new school is opening near the main campus of Penn State University in State College, PA.
Only miles from where 40,000 undergraduates undergo their studies in nearly 300 major programs, a school at the Nittany Mall will begin training students on how to deal cards later this year. With the Happy Valley Casino set to open next spring, the forthcoming “mini-casino” that will be permitted to house up to 750 slot machines and an initial allotment of 30 live dealer table games needs skilled croupiers.
This school isn’t just about dealing cards — it’s about launching careers in a high-growth, high-energy industry,” said Eric Pearson, general manager at Happy Valley Casino. “We’re preparing people not only to succeed in gaming, but to thrive.”
In June, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board signed off on New York-based Saratoga Casino Holdings acquiring a 60% stake in the casino near PSU. SC Gaming OpCo, LLC, the entity led by well-known Pennsylvania businessman Ira Lubert, won the gaming license through a $10 million competitive bid in September 2020.
Lubert qualified to participate in the Category 4 auction because he holds a 3% ownership stake in Rivers Casino Pittsburgh. Only casino companies and individuals with a significant holding in a current Pennsylvania slot machine license were able to bid on the Category 4 licenses.
Dealer School Details
Enrollment for the Happy Valley Casino dealer school opens Oct. 1. No experience is necessary, with the only qualifications being that the applicant is at least 21 years old and able to be deemed suitable under the PGCB’s eyes to obtain a dealer license.
The 12-week school begins on Dec. 15 and Jan. 5. Both day and evening classes will be available.
“I began my career as a table games dealer at just 21, and each step along the way has led to meaningful growth and opportunity. Today I’m proud to be leading the entire Table Games Department at Happy Valley Casino,” said Steve Rinaldi, director of table games.
What began as an exciting, people-focused job cheering players on, building energy at the table, and earning great tips turned into a career filled with meaningful relationships and lasting opportunities. It’s given me the stability to grow, support my family, and build a life I’m proud of. If you’ve got personality, we’ll teach you the rest. This industry can change your life,” Rinaldi added.
Students will learn blackjack, roulette, and craps. The Happy Valley Casino website says, “Every job’s a jackpot.”
Casino Construction
Construction is underway at the Nittany Mall, where Happy Valley Casino will reimagine an anchor space that was previously a Macy’s department store. The casino is expected to employ about 300 people.
Casino reps have told the PGCB that the $120 million investment will include about 600 slot machines and 22 tables upon opening. The property will not offer an on-site sportsbook, though mobile sports betting is available in Pennsylvania (as is iGaming with online slots and table games).
The Happy Valley Casino will also feature a full-service restaurant, grab-and-go food, and a bar.
Last Comments ( 5 )
DJ, thanks for the additional info. What little I know about the Happy Valley project comes form reading the various posts on casino.org. I have no special insight into casino operations, nor do I work for a casino. I'm just a guy in his 60's that's been fascinated by the casino industry since my first trip to Las Vegas in the 1980's. Yes, the sheer size of some of the properties on the Las Vegas Strip are mind-blowing, but what has truly mesmerized me for the past 40 years is that once a casino opens, it almost impossible to close it. Casinos are a money-printing operation. And between you, me, and the lamppost, what's most amazing is that these places aren't successful because they're run by brilliant experts, nope, they're successful despite the fact that they're run by some of the most inept executives ever. If any of these morons ever had to work a legitimate job, they'd be standing at the corner, holding a coffee can, begging for change. You strike me as a guy that has his ducks in a row, so you probably already know this, but two groups of people that always come out smelling like a rose are casino operators and politicians. You mention that the PGCB is scrambling to determine if an out-ot-state is eligible to hold a majority interest in a PA Category 4 casino. Psst, if they're not, some middle-of-the-night sleight-of-hand will result in a modification to the regulations such that they now are. Happy Valley Casino will have a ribbon cutting at some future date. Politicians will proclaim that it was their actions that brought this project to fruition; one that will revitalize the local economy and create jobs for dozens of workers. And if Happy Valley does soil the sheets in 2028, absolutely none of this terrible thing will sully the reputation of those politicians. In short, the various powers that be will wash each other's backs, grease each others palm's, and the project will continue to move forward. And most unfortunately, the sincere concerns and opposition that you and many other local residents have to this project have not factored into any of this by even a single iota. There are forces at work that are way above our levels within greater society. And when there's lots of money flowing into all the right pockets, those are the forces that control everything. And while I still think that Happy Valley will ultimately be successful, if it isn't, you, your neighbors, and your community will be the collateral damage; forced to deal with the aftermath. And for that, I am sincerely sorry.
LL - Always a pleasure my friend. So let's go: See into the future? Perhaps not, but see what others haven't? Absolutely. Search for the Public Filings on the PA Gaming Control Board (PGCB) website. Then look separately at all docs filed under Docket Numbers 13371-2025 , 13774-2025, 13775-2025 and 13792-2025. Now (and for extra credit) look at most of the 105 local Letters to the Editor at SayNoCasino org. Continuing on, 1) The casino developer in central PA who severed ties with Bally's Corporation has already grabbed for the white flag by hoping the PGCB will approve their plea to sell out a majority interest in the unwanted casino many months prior to its grand opening. Please know that the PGCB is now scrambling to determine if an out-of-state casino company in Saratoga Springs, NY is even eligible to hold a majority interest in a PA Category 4 casino. Especially since that potential future owner presently has NO existing casino license presence in PA. 2) Those bus charters? That was in the last century and before $25 table game minimums. Those not working 9 to 5 here will drive ten miles to save a nickel on a gallon of gas. Will they spend hours in a casino? Not likely. 3) Ikea? Sure, everyone in Happy Valley would wholeheartedly welcome them. Except no decision-maker at Ikea or any other major retailer would build their newest anchor store in the dying Nittany Mall owned by Namdar Realty Group. Find and review Namdar's nationally well-known business model. Finally, 4) You are correct. The great majority of people within a two-hour driving radius of State College absolutely share my beliefs and the Happy Valley Casino will fail by 2028.
DJ, can you let me know what the winning numbers will be in the Billion Dollar Powerball drawing on 9/1/25? You're so sure that this casino will be bankrupt and boarded by 2028 that you surely must be able to see into the future and know these things before everyone else. Not sure exactly where to begin, but let’s go: 1) Casinos rarely go out of business. If the current ownership of Happy Valley can't walk and chew gum at the same time, it will be known to all very quickly. When they raise the white flag of desperation, it is almost 100% certain that another group of investors or an established casino company will buy the assets of Happy Valley at fire-sale prices and continue to keep it open and functioning. Gambling is the heart of their existence. Buying Happy Valley at an extremely attractive (i.e. low) price, they're more than willing to gamble on the fact that with a more experienced management team (specifically theirs), they'll turn Happy Valley around and make a killing on their investment. 2) It sounds like this next one may be a difficult concept for you to grasp, but not every occupation involves a tidy 9:00am to 5:00pm workday. Plenty of people work part-time, have flex hours, free-lance, work retail or medical, or are retired. Every casino in the country is aware of that. Yes, the activity in casinos is very slow during the morning, and gradually picks up during the course of the day. Casinos are quite adept at making sure they have sufficient staffing for all hours of the day. A location of a nationally known casino company is about a 20-minute drive from my house. It has every feature of the properties this chain has at their resorts on the Strip in Las Vegas - albeit scaled down. For example, it doesn't have 3000 hotel rooms, and doesn't need 3000 hotel rooms because they'd never have that many people staying there. I prefer going there during the day precisely because it is so slow, and far less noisy. And when I'm there, most of the people I see are fellow retirees. I guessing that Happy Valley is already fully aware that casinos are slower during the day, and they probably already have plans in place to address this and entice people to visit during these periods. Easy enough to find a mailing list of folks over age 55 with good credit ratings. Boom, there's one targeted mailer right there. Coordinate with regional bus companies to run charters within a 90-minute drive of Happy Valley. Get those people in the door, signed up for a player’s card, give them some free slot play and a discounted meal. Boom, there's another targeted mailer right there. 3) You believe that Happy Valley will ultimately fail as a business venture and the regional governmental authorities are woefully unprepared for this eventuality. You seem especially concerned about this because Happy Valley is a casino. You may not be an anti-casino crusader, and have no objections to the casino business, but just don't want a casino located down the street from you or so close to the Penn State campus. All 100% perfectly legitimate concerns. But what if Ikea wanted to convert that Macy's into one of their stores? Come 2028 they're nowhere near meeting their projected sales targets, close that location, and every one of those employees is now unemployed. Would you be as much against Ikea coming to town as you are with Happy Valley? 4) I have absolutely zero familiarity with your area, but if the great majority of people within a two-hour driving radius of Happy Valley share your beliefs, you are correct - Happy Valley will fail. There are bunches of people that have no desire to ever step into a casino, regardless of the enticements offered. I just think that number is much smaller than you think it is, and Happy Valley will be happily functioning in 2028 and for many years following that.
Happy Valley is located approximately 3 hours from the nearest large city, and its population is over 80% white. I am frequently told that the Happy Valley Casino is needed in State College because there isn't anything else that is exciting to do here (unless you are a die-hard Penn State sports fan or you like going to bars that are overrun with drunk college students every night). The cost of living here is high relative to the surrounding areas, housing and food are particularly expensive, and healthcare options are limited. Penn State has trouble attracting and retaining skilled staff even when paying salaries many times higher than what a casino can offer. In my experience, the people who have the best experiences in State College are those who get their education here and then pursue a career elsewhere. Those who have the means to leave this town usually do so.
The Happy Valley Casino does not plan to have a sportsbook. From the casino floor, folks will have to continue betting on the Penn State Nittany Lions by using their phones. A bit disappointing to the diehard Penn State football fans in Happy Valley. In State College a win means a win -- and that's final and not changeable. A perfect example is when Penn State's head football coach James Franklin says, "We'll take the "W" and it's now in the history books." A ribbon-cutting ceremony at ANY grand opening in Happy Valley is viewed as a "win" with zero public focus on a future closure caused by the failure of that brand-new venue. Most especially relevant in our cheerful college town, no thought is ever placed on the possibility of any grand opening in 2026 being followed by a failed business closure (of the casino) by 2028. That would not be in keeping with the "win" focus of our college town. The casino will be open 24/7. That is about 12 hours too long every day. The casino floor will be consistently empty from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. because folks have to go to work in the morning. The casino will closed by 2028 and in the history books. Back to football, we could seldom if ever mention "against the spread" in the old days -- but we can now. Over 100,000 fans cheered the Nittany Lions on to victory against Nevada yesterday. The spread was 44.5 and Penn State's winning margin was just 35 points. Oops, good thing there's gonna be no sportsbook!