Firm Wins Right To Build Mini-Casino In Westmoreland County
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HARRISBURG, Pa. (KDKA/AP) - A company that has a pending plan to build a casino in Philadelphia has won the right to put up a mini-casino in Westmoreland County in the second auction of new licenses authorized by the state.
Stadium Casino submitted a winning bid Wednesday of $40.1 million. The mini-casino is slated to be built in the Derry Township area.
Westmoreland County Commissioner Ted Kopas says the proposed casino couldn't come to a better place at a better time.
"Legalized gaming brings with it economic development opportunities, certainly enhances out tourism efforts around here and provides a recreation opportunity for our residents," said Kopas.
But Wednesday's announcement seemed like a bolt right out of the blue for people living in Derry.
"In Derry, wow that's a surprise, because there's not much around Derry," said resident Don Hantz.
"I'm excited, but I'd be curious to see how this is going to work out for the town, 'cause the town definitely needs something," another resident said.
Not all are excited about the news.
"There's the people that can't afford it the most, get hooked on it, and I think, well, personally, I'm just not for it," said George McElhoes, another Derry resident.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is auctioning the rights to 10 new mini-casinos. The mini-casinos can have 750 slot machines and owners can pay another $2.5 million to operate 30 table games.
Penn National won the first license two weeks ago, bidding $50.1 million to put a mini-casino in a part of south-central Pennsylvania that includes the city of York.
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