‘We hear you,’ SC Gaming CEO tells Nittany Mall casino opponents, announces community meeting

With opponents of the Nittany Mall casino continuing to urge developers to halt plans, SC Gaming’s CEO made clear Thursday that the casino will be happening, but offered up a chance to have a dialogue with community members and address concerns about the project.

Company CEO Eric Pearson was in attendance at Thursday’s College Township Council meeting to deliver an update on the future $120 million casino. It came about a week after Bally’s Corp. announced it dropped out of its nearly four-year partnership with Penn State alumnus Ira Lubert-owned SC Gaming, citing a shift in corporate strategy.

“If you are open to having a dialogue, I want to have that with you,” Pearson told a packed room of residents, some of whom displayed “no casino” flyers that were passed out before the meeting started. “I understand that we don’t agree on everything, but I’m a part of this community just like you are and it’s important to us that you are heard.”

Before his update, 11 residents addressed the council during public comment — 10 against the casino and one unsure. Over the years, opponents have raised concerns about gambling addictions and the casino placing a potential strain on first responders.

“There are currently over 48,000 Penn State students, virtually all of whom will be legally allowed to gamble in the casino before they graduate,” Andrew Shaffer said. “The gambling addiction rate among college students is at least 6%, and many studies show rates that are considerable higher. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, 20% of addicted gamblers will attempt suicide. It is statistically inevitable that students will become addicted to gambling in Mr. Lubert’s casino and then die by suicide.”

Shaffer, who has been a leader of opposition efforts to the casino, finished his remarks and was met with a round of applause from the audience.

Resident Susan Werner also spoke at the meeting and requested that the council members include the casino project as a referendum for the upcoming election so they can get the feedback of the township’s electorate.

The board of supervisors, which approved the land development plan for the proposed casino in 2021, did not respond to the request.

In his update, Pearson said that despite Bally’s dropping out, SC Gaming is still going to construct the casino in the former Macy’s location. The timeline for the casino’s development will remain relatively unchanged — construction is set to start during the first quarter of 2025, which is slightly earlier than Bally’s estimate of the first half of 2025.

An official opening date for the casino is still expected to fall sometime in the first half of 2026.

“This casino is coming, and I’m going to be running it,” Pearson said.

Pearson’s hope is that the casino will help breathe new life into the mall, revitalize the Dale Summit area and create around 300 to 400 new Centre County jobs.

He also addressed the casino’s opponents directly, offering them a near-immediate chance to address their concerns with him one-on-one, less than 24 hours after Thursday’s meeting ended.

“It is very important to (SC Gaming) that you understand that we hear you, and that we openly want to have a dialogue,” Pearson said. “So, tomorrow I have asked the township for use of this room. We’ve secured it between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. — I will be back here and I welcome anyone who wants to come talk to me about the project. I want to hear your concerns specifically.”

He said he’ll hold “as many of those sessions” as needed.

Supervisor Eric Bernier expressed his surprise at Pearson’s offer to speak with residents on Friday, and called it a “really good opportunity” for township residents.

The 24/7 nonsmoking casino is planned to have up to 750 slot machines, 30 table games, a sports betting area, a sports-themed restaurant and a bar.

While the casino has been in the works for years, it was allowed to officially move forward this summer after after a ruling from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

The next College Township meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3.

This story was originally published September 20, 2024 at 10:07 AM.