Following Gov. Tom Wolf’s call for a statewide shutdown of non-essential business activities to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Penn National Gaming, Inc. announced the immediate suspension of construction on its planned Hollywood Casino Morgantown and Hollywood Casino York.
Both Category 4 facilities, Hollywood Casino Morgantown, a $111 million project, was expected to open in November of this year, while Hollywood Casino York, a $120 million project at the York Galleria Mall, was expected to open by the end of the year. Category 4 facilities, also known as “mini casinos,” are authorized to operate up to 750 slot machines and 40 table games.
“We fully support the Governor’s effort to try to stem the tide of this unprecedented public health threat,” Jay Snowden, president and CEO of Penn National Gaming, said. “We also believe it’s prudent to revisit any and all capital expenditure commitments in order to help preserve liquidity in light of the impact of COVID-19 on our business.”
Snowden said the company will continue to consult with Wolf’s office as well as necessary health authorities to determine when construction can begin again.
“In the meantime, we appreciate the patience, understanding and support of our community leaders in Morgantown and York, as well as our local construction teams,” he said.