Commercial Gaming

Penn State Football Isn’t the Only Thing Struggling in Happy Valley—So Is Its Casino

Posted on: October 19, 2026, 10:40h.

Last updated on: October 20, 2026, 07:42h.

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Devin O'Connor Devin O'Connor is a senior reporter for Casino.org, covering politics, casino business, and gaming news. Devin came on board with Casino.org in 2014...
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Key Points

Happy Valley Casino in State College posted its weakest month yet in September, generating just over $2 million despite Penn State hosting three home football games
The $120 million mini-casino ranked last among Pennsylvania’s 18 casinos, falling far short of an earlier projection of $5.5 million in monthly revenue
Statewide, retail slot revenue rose 2.4% in September, but table-game revenue plunged 18%, with 10 casinos reporting year-over-year declines

Penn State football is enduring a difficult year under first-year head coach Matt Campbell. The college town’s local casino is also underwhelming in year one.

Penn State football Happy Valley Casino — Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Matt Campbell looks on during the White Out against the USC Trojans at Beaver Stadium on Oct. 10, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania. Along with PSU football, the nearby Happy Valley Casino is struggling. (Image: Getty)

Happy Valley Casino opened in April at the Nittany Mall, located just three miles east of Penn State University’s main campus in State College. The $120 million investment took the mall’s anchor space formerly occupied by Macy’s.

Since its spring debut, the Category 4 mini-casino has struggled to attract steady play. Category 4 properties allow licensees to operate between 300 and 750 slot machines and an initial allotment of 30 table games for an additional $2.5 million fee.

September was Happy Valley Casino’s worst month yet, with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) reporting today (Oct. 19) that the casino generated monthly revenue of only a little more than $2 million.

Football No Touchdown for Casino

Happy Valley Casino reported September gross gaming revenue (GGR) of $1.6 million from slot machines and $423,434 from table games. Out of 18 operating casinos in Pennsylvania, Happy Valley ranked last in monthly revenue generation.

September was expected to showcase the casino’s long-term viability. Despite Penn State hosting three home games—including a homecoming matchup that drew over 100,000 fans to Beaver Stadium—the casino won an average of just $68,000 per day. By comparison, Hollywood Casino York, another Category 4 facility, generated more than $10.5 million in GGR for September, averaging $352,855 daily.

When Penn State alumnus and former trustee Ira Lubert applied for the State College gaming license, a College Township-commissioned feasibility study projected the venue would generate $66.1 million in first-year revenue, or roughly $5.5 million per month.

College Township faced backlash from hundreds of community members who told the local government the societal drawbacks would outweigh the benefits. College Township’s hands had long been tied, however, because the township failed to opt out of Cat. 4 casino bidding before a state deadline in 2017, meaning it could no longer singlehandedly block a casino development.

Penn State refused to take a position on the casino, but accepted a $10 million donation in 2024 from Lubert for its Beaver Stadium renovation. Richard Sokolov, who is the vice chair of the university’s board of trustees, is an investor in the Happy Valley Casino.

Statewide September Struggles

Happy Valley was not the only Pennsylvania gaming property to face headwinds in September.

Statewide, PGCB figures showed retail slot revenue grew 2.4% year over year, adding $4.7 million. However, in-person table game revenue dropped 18% to $60.2 million—a $13.3 million decline that offset retail slot gains.

Major venues across the state also experienced slumps: Parx Casino saw retail GGR fall 7% to $42.6 million, Wind Creek Bethlehem declined 9% to $36.2 million, and Rivers Casino Pittsburgh dropped 13% to $23.6 million.

Overall, 10 of Pennsylvania’s 18 casinos posted year-over-year GGR declines in September 2026.

Devin O'Connor is a senior reporter for Casino.org, covering politics, casino business, and gaming news.

Devin came on board with Casino.org in 2014. He lives in Arlington, Va.

Conversation (3 comments)

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Andrew October 22, 2026

Many local residents expected Happy Valley Casino to provide a destination resort experience. People are now realizing that a Category 4 casino is little more… Many local residents expected Happy Valley Casino to provide a destination resort experience. People are now realizing that a Category 4 casino is little more than a slot machine parlor. Happy Valley Casino has limited table game options and hours, high minimums for the table games that are available, minimal sign-up bonuses for new players, no sportsbook, no online gambling app, limited restaurant hours, a reduced restaurant menu with increased prices, and almost no live entertainment. It has reportedly even stopped offering complimentary alcoholic beverages to the people playing its slot machines. Why would Penn State football visitors spend their limited time in Happy Valley gambling in a slot machine parlor when they came here to watch football -- particularly when they can gamble in better casinos available closer to home on non-football weekends, or on gambling apps on their smartphone from anywhere at any time of their choosing?

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D.J. October 19, 2026

The casino's initial developers and Saratoga Casino Holdings, LLC leadership have completely ignored the single point of eventual failure the casino will experience about 12… The casino's initial developers and Saratoga Casino Holdings, LLC leadership have completely ignored the single point of eventual failure the casino will experience about 12 months after the grand opening in May 2026. The community members of State College never wanted a casino just four miles away from the main campus of Penn State University. Strong community opposition has continued to be unwavering since 2021 and it remains that way today. See for yourself at the SayNoCasino.org website. The future reason for empty chairs in front of the slot machines is the same reason the parking lot will be consistently vacant. Penn State students will continue to enthusiastically bet on sports and casino games with their phones. Oh, and the casino's leadership continues to have no plans to put a sportsbook in the unwanted Happy Valley Casino either! Penn Staters are not about to spend their evenings in front of a slot machine at the ill-conceived and unpopular casino in State College built inside a former Macy's department store. The folks in their Penn State student peer groups will predictably roll their eyes immediately when hearing of a wasted weekend night spent at a casino, so don't expect to see any Penn State students rolling the dice at a craps table. “Seven out, line away, pay the don’ts!" Folks who are foolish enough to roll those dice at the Happy Valley Casino better learn EVERYTHING about every word of that before even thinking about approaching a craps table. Actually, "learn" is an understatement because they really need to be conversant about those specific details. Similarly, anyone who gambles away their hard-earned money at a slot machine also better become familiar with random number generators and the term “near misses.” If they plan to spend hours playing slots they better be subject matter experts and completely up-to-speed about random number generators. Just watch as this all becomes an inconvenient truth and the still unwanted Happy Valley Casino closes up shop for good. Really good that is.

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Dan October 19, 2026

Choosing to build an unwanted casino in State College, PA was a terrible business decision. When the Happy Valley Casino eventually fails, those same business… Choosing to build an unwanted casino in State College, PA was a terrible business decision. When the Happy Valley Casino eventually fails, those same business decision-makers will be disappointed as they realize they pursued an unrealistic dream of finding casino success in Happy Valley. They forgot to factor in that in 2026 bragging about online sports gambling successful is thrilling. Telling your friends you spent hours in a casino will only result in watching them roll their eyes. These days it would be "not cool" to brag about spending your weekend evenings at a casino. Celebrating online wagering success is way more cool! There will be smiles and high-fives from all in the room! Casino gambling? Not so much! Also, parents of Penn State students never anticipated their kids would develop a gambling addiction. Not even once! Interestingly enough, those family bailouts to undergrads will probably only take place once or twice. Parents will say "We didn't send you to Penn State for this!" When the casino's regular customers eventually lose their 401k's, retirement accounts, savings accounts, and favorable FICO credit scores those folks do not bounce right back, recover their losses and hope to become prosperous again. Nobody gets rich twice in State College . Maxed out credit cards do not go unnoticed now and they never did. Watch for a closure announcement from the unwanted Happy Valley Casino sooner than anyone expected.

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