Updated: Mercer County Casino Bid Invalidated
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Turns out that there will not be a mini-casino in Mercer County, Pa., fighting for customers in a mini-casino that is expected to be built in Lawrence County, Pa.
Wednesday afternoon the executive director of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, Kevin O’Toole, announced that the $9.9 million bid submitted by Las Vegas Sands Corp. for a Category 4 casino in Hempfield Township, Pa., near the town of Greenville, intruded upon the reserved area in Lawrence County previously secured for a Category 4 license won by Mount Airy #1 LLC.
Given that the bid was invalidated, the gaming board is to reconvene Thursday to award the fourth Category 4 casino auction to the second and only other bidder, Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment Inc., O’Toole said.
Mount Airy offered $21.19 million two weeks ago to win the bid for the third license. Its mini-casino is expected to be built near New Castle, Pa.
Sites in York and Westmoreland Counties were chosen during the first two auctions which were held last month.
The operation of four mini-casinos was authorized by the commonwealth under the Category 4 Slot Machine License approved last year. This enables the license holder to operate between 300 and 750 slot machines. And they can petition for permission to initially operate up to 30 table games with the capability of adding 10 more table games after one year of operation.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
