As Happy Valley Casino moves beyond the excitement of its grand opening, the public deserves an honest discussion about whether the project is meeting the expectations presented to Centre County residents.
The casino was developed by Ira Lubert, who continues to hold a significant 40% ownership interest in the property. Another investor, Richard “Rick” Sokolov, vice chair of Penn State’s Board of Trustees, maintained a relatively low public profile during much of the project’s development but participated in the May 8 grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony. Their continued investment underscores the importance of the casino’s long-term success which is now increasingly questionable.
Leadership changes are also noteworthy. Eric Pearson served as the casino’s original general manager. Public records posted on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s website suggest that Peter Longi, a veteran gaming executive with recent leadership experience at Sahara Las Vegas, has been selected to lead the Happy Valley Casino once all required regulatory licensing approvals are complete. It is reasonable to ask majority owner Saratoga Casino Holdings what circumstances prompted a leadership change so soon after opening and what challenges new management has been asked to address.
Very recent reports of significant staffing reductions since mid-June have also generated understandable concern. Stable employment was a central promise made during the approval process. If workforce reductions have occurred, employees and prospective applicants deserve transparency about the casino’s long-term outlook and future staffing plans.
Another issue receiving far too little public attention is the casino’s complimentary alcohol service until the 2 am closing time nightly. Pennsylvania casinos may provide complimentary alcoholic beverages to actively gambling patrons in accordance with state law and regulations. While responsible service practices are required, public discussion rarely focuses on the importance of preventing impaired driving or encouraging patrons to plan safe transportation home.
Happy Valley Casino should ultimately be judged not by grand opening celebrations or optimistic projections, but by measurable economic performance, stable employment, responsible operations, and openness with the community. Those all appear to be increasingly doubtful.
Dan Materna,
Howard
