Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin gets license renewal
Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin’s gaming license was unanimously renewed last week for another three years by the state’s gaming board.
The casino was opened in July 2013 by Isle of Capri Casinos, which invested $60 million in the venture in partnership with the four-star Farmington resort, Nemacolin Woodlands. The casino features 600 slot machines, roughly 30 gaming tables. It is one of 12 casinos in Pennsylvania.
The decision to renew the license of Lady Luck follows a public hearing held in September at the Wharton Township municipal building where casino personnel provided exhibits and testimony on it impact in the community. The hearing also included testimony from local government officials, community groups, law enforcement, and others, which was considered by the seven-member board in rendering its decision on Wednesday.
“We appreciate the time and the effort put forth by the Gaming Control Board and its staff throughout the renewal process,” said Jill Alexander, a spokesperson for Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. in St. Louis. “And thank our staff for their hard work and dedication delivering a guest experience that our customers expect.”
Since it opened, Lady Luck Casino has generated $112 million in gross revenue, with a return of $53 million in gaming revenue from the state. Last month, however, slot revenue totaled just over $2.18 million, a 7.85 percent decline, the gaming board said. Rivers Casino and the Meadows Casino also reported declines of slot revenue in November.
Lady Luck is a Category 3 or resort casino, something it only shares with Valley Forge Casino Resort. To play at Lady Luck, you must be either an overnight guest at the resort, a patron of the Nemacolin amenities, a holder of a resort membership, or a visitor who makes a $10 purchase, such as a meal on the property.
Muriel Nuttall, executive director of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce, said the board’s decision to renew Lady Luck’s license benefits all business because it brings more people — and revenue — into the county.
“Since its inception, the Fayette Chamber has been proud to speak on behalf of Lady Luck,” said Nuttall, adding the casino also helps generate “prime beneficial” business opportunities.
For the second quarter of fiscal 2017 that ended Oct. 23, Isle of Capri, which has 13 other properties in addition to Lady Luck, had earnings of 54 cents a share, up from 14 cents a share for the same period a year earlier. The company attributed the income jump to record performances at its four Missouri properties and in Iowa, it said in a statement.