Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Casino project to be completed in 2021
For those looking forward to challenging Lady Luck in Berks County, you will have to wait until later next year.
Like many construction projects during the coronavirus pandemic, the Hollywood Casino Morgantown has stalled. Located along Route 10 near the intersection of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Interstate 176, the Category 4 casino was supposed to have been completed later this year.
However, Wyomissing-based Penn National Gaming Inc. suspended construction in March for the project in Caernarvon Township and another mini-casino near York.
“We anticipate resuming construction at both Morgantown and York later this year with a projected opening day for both in the second half of 2021,” Penn National spokesman Eric Schippers said.
The gaming company was also hit hard by the pandemic, having to close all 41 of its properties. As of Thursday, the company has since reopened 90% of them, including two in Pennsylvania.
“It was a combination of when we were allowed to resume (construction), as well as when we were able to shift our focus from the immediate goal of reopening our properties which were all closed due to COVID-19,” Schippers said.
The $111 million facility is to be built on a 36-acre plot of land. The 81,425-square-foot building will have 750 slot machines and 30 table games plus room for 10 more table games, which is the limit allowed for a Category 4 license. Plans also call for a sports and race book and a signature restaurant.
The facility is expected to generate about 250 new local jobs, according to Penn National.
Penn National is also building a casino in a vacant anchor space at the York Galleria Mall.
Elsewhere, Cordish Gaming Group is currently building a mini-casino in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, while Parx Casino has one on the drawing board for Shippensburg, Cumberland County.
On Wednesday, businessman Ira M. Lubert won the latest auction to build a mini-casino. The Penn State Board of Trustees member is planning it for a site near State College.