College Township Prepares Impact Study for Nittany Mall Casino

College Township is taking proactive steps to assess the potential effects of the upcoming Nittany Mall mini-casino by initiating a comprehensive impact study. The $120 million casino, opening in 2026, will house 750 slot machines, 30 table games, and a sportsbook in the State College area, necessitating a thorough understanding of the development’s social and economic footprint.

The Casino Should Not Cause Significant Disruptions

News outlet Centre Daily Times reported on a new draft request for quote (RFQ) for a casino impact study to the Township Council proposed by assistant township manager Mike Bloom. The impact study will cover a range of local effects, including socio-demographic shifts, local infrastructure demands, and potential social issues such as gambling addiction, bankruptcy, and mental health dangers.

What College Township is doing is taking a look at some of those social demographic impacts that are potentially coming.

Mike Bloom, College Township assistant township manager

The study will also examine service impacts on police, fire, and emergency medical services in addition to local infrastructure impacts such as traffic flow, sanitation, and street maintenance. One of the significant components of the study will be tourism and tax revenue generation, measuring both one-time construction economic impacts and ongoing revenues from the operation of the casino.

The new study follows a 2021 report by Econsult Solutions, Inc., commissioned by casino operator SC Gaming, which concluded the casino would have a negligible impact on police services and road maintenance while bringing in significant tax revenues for College Township. However, the Township’s study aims to closely examine these parameters before and after the casino opens.

Public Opinions Remain Mixed

Construction on the casino, planned to occupy the former Macy’s space at the Nittany Mall, likely won’t start until early 2025. Despite Bally’s recent exit from the SC Gaming partnership, the project should proceed as planned. Proponents of the project see it as a way of reviving the mall, bringing new jobs, and revitalizing the surrounding area.

However, the casino is not without its critics, who have voiced concerns regarding the project’s social costs. Council member Eric Bernier requested in-depth research on how the casino might affect Penn State’s students. Few high-profile casinos have a leading university within walking distance, further complicating the venue’s potential impact.

It’ll be difficult to find a comparable community with a category-four casino, particularly if we’re asking for information on a student population.

Eric Bernier, Township Council member

The council hopes to attract consultants with experience in similar projects elsewhere, including outside Pennsylvania, seeking various opinions despite regional differences. The Township Council anticipates reviewing a final version of the RFQ at its next meeting and will award the study to a qualified consultant team at that time.