With an opening planned for next spring in the Nittany Mall, Happy Valley Casino is offering a free Dealer School for individuals interested in full-time or part-time jobs in the casino industry.
The program will provide flexible day and evening classes with hands-on training in table games including blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat and more, as well as helping students gain people skills, game knowledge and insight into the business of casinos, according to a news release.
Enrollment for the 12-week program will open Oct. 1 at hvcasino.com. There is no cost to participate and students will be paid for their time while training, according to the release.
“This school isn’t just about dealing cards—it’s about launching careers in a high-growth, high-energy industry,” Eric Pearson, Happy Valley Casino general manager, said in a statement. “We’re preparing people not only to succeed in gaming, but to thrive in it.”
Classes will begin Dec. 15 and Jan. 5. Training will include simulations and small-group instruction designed to prepare students for the casino floor on day one.
Happy Valley Casino is expected to employ up to 300 people, according to the release.
“I began my career as a table games dealer at just 21, and each step along the way has led to meaningful growth and opportunity,” Steve Rinaldi, director of table games, said in a statement. Today, I’m proud to be leading the entire Table Games Department at Happy Valley Casino,” said . “What began as an exciting, people focused job cheering players on, building energy at the table and earning great tips turned into a career filled with meaningful relationships and lasting opportunities.”
Casino owner SC Gaming, which is led by investor and Penn State alumnus Ira Lubert, won an auction to apply for a category 4 “mini-casino” license in 2020 and received license approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board in 2023, but a legal challenge from a competing bidder held up the estimated $120 million project until the state Supreme Court dismissed the case in 2024.
The company has since partnered with Saratoga Casino Holdings LLC on development and management of the casino after Bally’s withdrew from the project. The PGCB in June gave conditional approval to Saratoga’s eventually taking on majority ownership of the casino.
Happy Valley Casino will operate 24 hours a day in the 94,000-square-foot anchor spot formerly occupied by Macy’s at the mall. It will be permitted to have up to 30 table games, 750 slot machines and a sportsbook.
At a hearing for Saratoga’s ownership in June, Pearson indicated the casino does not plan to have a sportsbook at opening. In filings with the PGCB, the casino stated it plans to initially have 600 slot machines and increase to 750 over time.
The casino will also include a full-service sports-themed restaurant and bar with an entertainment stage and a multi-outlet quick-serve food court.
Some community members have maintained their long-running opposition to the project, based on worries about gambling addiction, especially among students at nearby Penn State, an influx of crime and skepticism that the casino would be an economic boon. Pearson met with residents last fall to discuss their concerns.
Supporters have said that legal online options already make gambling widely available in Pennsylvania and that the region would experience an economic boost from a new entertainment venue, citing projected tax revenue for the township and county and new jobs.
College Township Council in May commissioned Convergence Strategy Group to conduct an independent impact study that “provides a relevant and accurate assessment of the potential social, demographic, economic and other impacts associated with the casino,” Assistant Township Manager Mike Bloom wrote in a memo.
“The report will also offer clear and actionable recommendations for the Township to consider during its development of potential future policies, programs and projects that serve to mitigate any negative impacts and maximize any benefits that come from being the host community to this Category 4 Mini-Casino,” Bloom wrote
