Pa. gaming board approves new casino in Morgantown

[freemexy]

Penn National Gaming Inc. will soon be building a new Hollywood Casino in Morgantown.

At a hearing Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board unanimously approved the plans for a $111-million casino in Caernarvon Township, Berks County, just off the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Interstate 176. It’s the first new casino license approved by the gaming board in five years.no purchase required casinos

Penn National officials said the new casino, dubbed Hollywood Casino Morgantown, could open in late 2020. The company operates the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in East Hanover Twp., Dauphin County.The company’s Morgantown casino project engendered strong opinions among supporters and critics. More than 200 people attended a public hearing on the plans in March, with critics outnumbering supporters at the hearing.

Local elected officials and business leaders hailed the project’s new jobs and the potential of other businesses emerging because of the casino. Some neighbors also said they welcomed the casino because it would offer a boost to the local economy.

Critics argued a casino isn’t a good fit for the Morgantown area and the rural communities at the intersection of Berks, Lancaster and Chester counties. Some argued the casino will bring more gambling addiction and potentially more crime to the Twin Valley area. Opponents also worried about a spike in traffic on local roads.

David M. Barasch, the gaming board’s chairman, said that supporters and opponents all had a chance to express their views on the project.“The board has considered the various views throughout this process," Barasch said.Attorney Adrian King, representing Penn National Gaming, pushed back against concerns of crime related to the Morgantown casino project. He didn’t discount the possibility of an uptick in crime in the Morgantown area, but he said any significant new development - such as a shopping center - would likely produce an increase in crime. He noted that in 10 years, there’s never been an arrest for prostitution at Penn National’s Hollywood Casino in Grantville.