Published on: June 18, 2026, 10:56 AM.

Updated on: June 18, 2026, 11:11 AM.

• Happy Valley Casino earned $3.6 million in its inaugural full month of operation
• Located just a few miles from Penn State University’s Main Campus

The eagerly awaited Penn State football season is just around the corner for Happy Valley Casino, which faced challenges in attracting players during its initial full month.

On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board disclosed that Happy Valley Casino recorded a gross gaming revenue (GGR) of $3,567,771 for May. The Category 4 mini-casino opened on April 27, following regulatory testing days on April 24 and 25.

Most of Happy Valley’s revenue was derived from its 600 slot machines, contributing $3.1 million. The live dealer games generated under $500,000.

Despite extensive marketing efforts and promotions, Happy Valley ranked 17th out of 18 physical casinos in Pennsylvania for the month of May in terms of GGR.

Parx Casino led the state with in-person GGR exceeding $52.5 million.

Challenging Start

How does Happy Valley Casino’s initial performance stack up against other Category 4 casinos in Pennsylvania?

Live! Casino Pittsburgh, the first mini-casino in Pennsylvania, opened in December 2020, and recorded a GGR of $7.1 million in its first full month, despite the pandemic. This facility transformed a Bon-Ton department store into a casino.

Hollywood Casino Morgantown, a brand-new building located near the Pennsylvania Turnpike, opened in January 2022 and garnered $4.5 million from players in its debut month.

The only Category 4 casino to perform worse than Happy Valley in terms of GGR was Parx Casino Shippensburg, which opened during February’s 28-day month and achieved over $3.2 million in GGR, despite Happy Valley having three additional operating days in its first full month.

Officials at Happy Valley, a venture led by Penn State alum Ira Lubert, who sold a controlling interest to Saratoga Casino Holdings prior to its opening, remain optimistic. The $120 million investment, located in the former Macy’s anchor store at Nittany Mall, is expected to thrive, especially when Penn State University’s academic year begins and game day draws over 100,000 fans to the college town.

Record Highs

The PGCB reported that May set a record for total statewide GGR, with players wagering nearly $625.5 million at casinos, online platforms, sportsbooks, and video gaming terminals. This marked a 4% increase compared to last year.

This total represents the highest monthly gaming revenue collected from all games regulated by the agency, including slots, table games, internet gaming, and sports betting. The previous record was set in January 2025 at $623,092,053,” stated the PGCB.

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course was the top performer, with GGR of $115.5 million, while its iGaming segment accounted for over $75.3 million in revenue.