Caernarvon Township’s Proposed Satellite Casino

Wyoming-headquartered casino and racetrack operator Penn National Gaming’s proposed satellite casino in Caernarvon Township, which initially faced much opposition from residents, is now receiving an outpouring of support.

In a recent hearing scheduled by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), the Hollywood Casino Morgantown project received 156 signatures in favor of building the casino in the township premises. 71 written comments were submitted to the PGCB by the attendees, of which 53 were in support of the satellite casino project.

Penn National Gaming’s proposed project – Hollywood Casino Morgantown – is a $111 million commercial venture. It is being designed as a 86,000-square-foot casino, located just off the Pennsylvania Turnpike between Interstate 176 and Route 10, on a 36-acre site. The casino is expected to feature 750 slot machines and 30 tables games at the start, with more games being added in upcoming years. With sports betting legal in Pennsylvania, insiders believe there is a possibility of sports being included in the list of upcoming games. The casino is also expected to feature an entertainment lounge, a premium bar-cum-restaurant and a food court.

The proposed casino has been in the pipeline since early 2019 and since then it has generated both opposition and support from residents of Caernarvon Township. The biggest detractors of the project are the religious and moral institutions of the locality.

In an interview with local press, VP of Public Affairs & Government Relations at PNG, Jeff Morris issued a statement regarding the opposition for the project,  “The majority of the criticism is coming from those with a moral or religious opposition to gaming in general, and we appreciate and respect their opinions.” In the same interview, he confirmed that should the project go live and the casino be built, it would bring massive employment and economic opportunities for locals.

An estimated 275 construction & interior design jobs are expected to be created, plus 250 more casino and hospitality jobs post-construction. Additionally, the proposed casino is expected to bring thousands of dollars in both gambling and sports betting revenues for the township, especially from places like Philadelphia, which have a robust history of gambling and sports betting. In addition to this is also the estimated $1.6 million/year in tax revenue the township is expected to earn once the satellite casino is operational. Industry experts and authorities who are in support of the project believe this massive inflow of revenue will help Caernarvon Township and by extension Berks County, be more actively involved in philanthropic activities.

As of now, no decision has yet been made regarding Penn National Gaming’s petition. But if all goes well, the casino may open its doors as early as October 2020.