With malls across the country losing big-name department stores like Sears, J.C. Penney, and others that are struggling, some mall operators are considering filling those vacant anchor spots with mini-casinos, according to a new report.
Casinos located near malls have been common for years, like the Maryland Live casino located in the parking lot of the Arundel Mills mall near Baltimore, USA Today reported. However, the report from USA Today found that some are skipping the neighbor faze and moving into malls.
A Live! Casino became the newest anchor at Westmoreland Mall near Pittsburgh in 2020, and others are making the same jump.
A license was granted to open a mini-casino in a former Macy’s space in a mall near Penn State University. The veteran gaming operator, Bally’s Corporation, has signed on to develop and run the project that will feature slot machines, table games, sports betting, restaurant space, and more.
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Bally’s Corporation made headlines recently following its acquisition of Fox Sports North.
A Hollywood Casino is also set to be opened in a former Sears space in York. But the openings are not just happening in Pennsylvania, as in New York, a former Bon-Ton department store will be turned into a video gaming venue by Resorts World.
In the last year a number of department stores have filed for bankruptcy, closing numerous locations across the country. With malls looking for options to stay open casinos could be the solution.
