Saratoga Casino Receives Pennsylvania Gaming License Ahead of Planned Casino Opening

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Casino Holdings LLC (SCH) announced on Dec. 22 that it was granted a gaming license by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. 

In March 2025, SCH announced that it had signed a framework agreement to develop and manage a Category 4 casino to open near the Nittany Mall in State College, Pennsylvania. That casino, named Happy Valley, is currently being built and is scheduled to open sometime around spring of this year. The casino is expected to include slot machines, table games, a full-service restaurant, and several quick-serve dining options.

“As a third-generation, family-run business with more than 80 years in the horse racing industry and 20 years in casino, hotel, and entertainment operations, we are extremely proud to receive our Pennsylvania gaming license,” said Sam Gerrity, CEO of SCH. “This milestone further expands our diversification within the gaming industry and reflects our long-standing commitment to operating best-in-class gaming facilities. Our strategy is centered on building strong relationships with our customers, team members, and the communities we serve.”

SCH now holds gaming licenses for non-tribal casinos in four states, including New York, Mississippi, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. The company owns and operates the Saratoga Casino Hotel in Saratoga Springs; Saratoga Casino Black Hawk in Black Hawk, Colorado; and Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel in Natchez, Mississippi.

Combined, SCH properties include approximately 175,000 square feet of casino gaming space with over 2,100 slot machines, table games, a poker room, and a sportsbook. SCH also offers multiple entertainment options including restaurants and bars, a harness track, two hotels, over 6,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space, and a nightclub.