Pennsylvania gaming officials reject Mount Airy's mini-casino proposal

Friday 22nd November 2019

According to the state's gaming board, Mount Airy was unable to obtain the funding required to open a Category 4 casino in Beaver County.

"We are very disappointed that Mount Airy Casino Resort will not be moving forward with our proposed Category 4 casino in Beaver County," Todd Greenberg, chief operating officer and general manager for the Monroe County casino, said in a statement.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Wednesday decided to reject a proposal by Mount Airy Casino Resort to open a mini-casino near the Ohio border

"Unfortunately, external factors such as increased competition from new casinos and nearby destination resorts had a larger impact on our revenues than originally anticipated. This additional competition combined with other recent developments such as the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's recent ruling on the local share assessment had a negative impact on our ability to procure financing for the Beaver County project," the statement reads.

The company announced its intent to build a gaming complex along more than 100 acres near Interstate 376 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike in August 2018. The proposed casino was slated to feature 750 slot machines, 30 table games and three restaurants in Big Beaver in August 2018. Casino officials had a land-sale agreement in place for the undeveloped property.

Daniel Camp, chairman of the Beaver County Board of Commissioners, said he was disappointed in Wednesday's decision.

"It's disappointing that representatives from Mount Airy held up prime property in Big Beaver borough that could have been developed into different uses for so long," Camp said. "It is a hit to the county."

Camp said the county hasn't had any contact with Mount Airy officials since the weeks following the announcement, other than the public hearing held in Big Beaver last December.

There's a bright side to the project folding, he said.