Penn National Gaming to Dominate Pennsylvania’s Casino Market
The coming two weeks are expected to be exciting for casino players in Pennsylvania, United States. A lot is happening in the state’s gambling scene, highlighted by the expansion of industry giant Penn National Gaming.
Leading casino operator Penn National Gaming has just acquired gambling and hospitality company Pinnacle Entertainment. The USD$3 billion deal involves the takeover of 12 new facilities, increasing Penn National’s number of employees from 19,000 to more than 30,000.
Plans for Two More Casinos in Pennsylvania
The Hollywood Casino at the National Race Course and The Meadows in Western Pennsylvania are a part of the agreement. Penn National is now in the application process for two more Hollywood Casinos: one in Morgantown and another in York. Both facilities will feature a vast variety of table games, slot machines, restaurants, lounges and stage spaces for entertainment.
“We had competitors who were looking to come into the state and capture the surrounding markets, so we looked at our takeovers in York and Morgantown as both an offensive and defensive opportunity,” said Jeff Morris, VP of Public Affairs and Government Relations at Penn National.
Morris sees York as a defensive location since it is only 45 minutes away from the Hollywood Casino at the National Race Course, meaning the York casino will probably get the overflow. Morgantown, on the other hand, targets the Western suburbs. The current investment levels of each location lie between USD$110 and $120 billion per space.
About Penn National Gaming
Penn National Gaming was founded in 1972 and has since established its status as Pennsylvania’s gaming giant. It currently operates 40 gambling facilities in 18 jurisdictions across America. The company is known for its gaming and racing facilities as well as its excellent range of slot machines.