Penn National Gaming has been awarded regulator approval for the development of its $111m, inclusive of licence fees for slot machines and table games, Hollywood Casino Morgantown.
Securing the unanimous go-ahead at a recent Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board hearing, the organisation is to soon begin construction of its category four property on a vacant 36-acre site in Caernarvon Township, Berks County.
Hollywood Casino Morgantown is to be an 89,500 square foot facility and is set to encapsulate 750 slot machines and 30 table games, with the ability to accommodate an additional ten of the latter should it require.
Furthermore, the entity will also see the construction of a new sports and race book, a signature restaurant, an entertainment lounge and a food hall.
The facility is expected to generate approximately 250 new local jobs and more than 275 construction jobs, with a construction timeline that is anticipated to be approximately 18 months.
Timothy Wilmott, chief executive officer for Penn National Gaming, said of the awarding: “We are very pleased with today’s unanimous approval and appreciate the diligence of the PGCB and their staff.
“We look forward to beginning the development of Hollywood Casino Morgantown promptly following receipt of all requisite approvals. The property will be ideally located to draw customers from the heavily populated suburbs to the west of Philadelphia, while also protecting our existing market share at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.”
Penn National was awarded the Commonwealth’s first and fifth category four licenses on January 10th and April 4th, 2018, respectively.
As a result the company is authorised by law to operate up to 750 slot machines and 40 table games, and tax revenue is dispersed at the state, county, and local level, with Caernarvon Township to receive two per cent of gross tax revenue on slot machines and one per cent from table games.
Wilmott added: “Hollywood Casino Morgantown will become an economic engine in Caernarvon Township and in Berks County, which has been our home for over 45 years.
“We have already met with local workforce development organisations to begin the process of identifying our future team members, and look forward to creating roughly 250 new permanent jobs and 275 constructions jobs right here in our backyard.”
