Mini-casino plans dashed

Mount Airy Casino’s plans for a Big Beaver mini-casino facility are no more with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board denying its application on Wednesday. The project was intended to bring gambling to Lawrence and Beaver County.

Mount Airy’s application for the Category 4 mini-casino was reportedly denied due to monetary issues. The company did not have the funding required to build a gambling establishment in the region.

application for the Category 4 mini-casino was reportedly denied due to monetary issues

Chief operating officer and general manager Todd Greenberg expressed Mount Airy’s disappointment at the board’s rejection. He thanked the residents of Beaver County as well as stakeholders for their efforts, saying everyone has been “generous and gracious”.

External factors impacted revenues

According to Mr Greenburg, external factors caused the company to have less revenues than expected for the project. Increased competition via new casinos and destination resorts nearby yielded lower earnings than anticipated.

increased competition via new casinos and destination resorts nearby yielded lower earnings

A local share assessment ruling by the state’s Supreme Court also had a negative impact on the company’s ability to obtain financing for the Big Beaver mini-casino project.

Big Beaver disappointed

Daniel Camp, chairman of the Beaver County Board of Commissioners, called the board’s move “a hit to the county”. He added: “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.”

According to Camp, the county now needs to make sure it works with developers and groups that will make the property into something great for the region. Beaver County officials spoke to Mount Airy once since the announcement of the project. This was back in December 2018 during a hearing in Big Beaver.