Westmoreland Mall casino granted gaming license

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Wednesday granted a license to the company developing a mini casino at Westmoreland Mall.

The 100,000- square- foot project, known as Live! Casino Pittsburgh, will cost $ 150 million to develop. According to a news release from the developers, the casino will feature 750 slots and electronic games, 30 table games, “nationally recognized restaurants” and live entertainment.

The casino is expected to provide 500 permanent jobs in addition to 960 construction jobs. It will be located in the former Bon-Ton in the mall.

The casino should make the mall a destination location, Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce President Chad Amond said, something that is especially valuable at a time when brick- and- mortar retail is in decline.

“In today’s world, the malls are struggling all around southwestern Pa., the commonwealth and the country,” Mr. Amond said. He expects the casino will generate tax revenue and tourism for the county.

Casino executives have estimated the location, situated along Route 30 east of Greensburg, will generate $ 1.8 million annually in gaming taxes for Hempfield

Township.

The project is spearheaded by Stadium Casino LLC, owned by the Marylandbased Cordish Companies. The company is also developing a larger casino in Philadelphia. It bid $ 40.1 million at a gaming board auction in January 2018 for the right to develop the small satellite casino, which is one of five of that size currently planned in Pennsylvania. Another is under development in Big Beaver, Beaver County.

The Category 4 licenses allow casinos to operate between 300 and 750 slot machines and 30 table games, though the casino may petition to add 10 more table games after a year of operation.