Happy Valley Casino’s top executive out less than two months after grand opening
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Eric Pearson left roughly two months after the casino opened.
- Happy Valley Casino reported $3.6 million in gaming revenue in May.
- Assistant GM Jennifer Johnson is overseeing daily operations while a new GM awaits.
Happy Valley Casino’s top executive is out roughly two months after the business opened its doors and on the heels of a first full month when its $3.6 million in revenue trailed all four of Pennsylvania’s other mini-casinos.
Majority owner Saratoga Casino Holdings said former CEO and general manager Eric Pearson was integral in launching the gaming venture and that his departure was anticipated.
“From the outset, the plan included Eric transitioning to new opportunities following the successful launch of the property,” Saratoga told the Centre Daily Times in a written statement. “His extensive experience and knowledge of opening casino operations were invaluable in helping establish a strong foundation for Happy Valley Casino.”
A text message left Monday morning with Pearson was not returned. When contacted about the change, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board spokesperson Doug Harbach said it was a “business decision” by Saratoga and the casino.
It’s unclear when Pearson stopped working for the casino; his LinkedIn page notes he was employed there through June 2026. Day-to-day operations are currently being overseen by assistant general manager Jennifer Johnson, which Saratoga said would ensure continuity for its employees and guests.
The New York-based casino operator said it is awaiting final licensing approval from the Gaming Control Board for its new general manager and that it looks forward to sharing more information once that process is complete.
Harbach said the agency cannot disclose any details on the process.
Pearson served in the position for nearly six years, guiding the business through all the regulatory and legal hurdles that came with opening. Speaking with the CDT the day before the casino opened for the first time, Pearson said it was a “real big deal for me.”
“For me, I have sort of like a ‘Proud Papa’ kind of view on it,” Pearson said in late April. “I’m incredibly proud to have created nearly 400 jobs, a lot in the hospitality sector.”
He often mentioned his mother was a cocktail waitress in casinos, a job that allowed the family to have insurance and his mother to help get him to and from school.
“That’s a real thing that I feel I want to do for the next generation, so they can benefit and create those experiences and improvements in their family that I got the benefit of growing up to,” Pearson said. “I wouldn’t be here today doing this if not for my mom having that job.”
Pearson faced opponents of the casino in the years leading up to the opening, hosting a community meeting in 2024 with some of those who raised concerns about gambling addictions, increase in crime and more.
Revenue reports published by state gaming regulators showed Happy Valley Casino made $3.6 million in gaming revenue in May.
The four other mini-casinos in Pennsylvania — Hollywood Casino Morgantown, Hollywood Casino York, Live! Casino Pittsburgh and Parx Shippensburg — generated between roughly $3.98 million and $10.71 million during that same time.
During their respective first full month of operation in slots and table games, those same casinos generated between roughly $3 million and $6.74 million. Happy Valley Casino’s first month bested only Parx Shippensburg.
Neither Happy Valley Casino nor College Township — which stands to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue — sounded the alarm after just one month.
“We anticipated there would be seasonality to our business, and the current results are not unexpected,” Johnson, the assistant general manager, told the CDT in an email last week. “Happy Valley Casino opened at the start of what we expect to be the slowest period of the year, before major regional events such as Penn State football weekends and Arts Fest that are expected to drive additional visitation.
“In addition, we have not yet fully ramped up our marketing efforts. We have additional promotions, giveaways, and customer engagement initiatives planned, and our player database is still in its infancy. As that database grows, we will have more opportunities to drive repeat visitation and business growth.”
Other mini-casinos in Pennsylvania — located in more populous counties with heavier density in surrounding counties — have generally seen their monthly slot/table revenue grow after opening. But, typically, locations have seen less than a 20% increase in average monthly revenue from their first full month to their first full fiscal year.
It has yet to be seen how special events, such as home Penn State football games, could affect the casino’s top line.
“Given the property’s early stage and the factors above, we remain confident in our long-term outlook,” Johnson said.
Just weeks after Happy Valley Casino’s April 27 opening, a woman’s death in the parking lot drew scrutiny to the casino, though State College police said the woman died of natural causes. The casino did not publicly address the incident.
Happy Valley Casino is located at the Nittany Mall and open daily, from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., with table games available from 4 p.m. to midnight.
