Penn National's Hollywood Casino at the Meadows gets license renewed for 5-year period

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board unanimously voted on Wednesday to renew the Category 1 Racetrack Casino operator’s license of Washington Trotting Association, a subsidiary of Penn National Gaming that operates Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington County.

The seven-member Board determined that Washington Trotting Association, Inc. had fulfilled the obligations under its previously approved casino operator’s license and therefore qualified to have its license renewed for an additional five-year period.

According to the announcement, the decision to renew the license was based on a process utilized by the Board that enables both the operator and the public to provide information relevant to the renewal decision. A public input hearing was held on March 15 of this year in the casino’s host municipality, North Strabane Township.

At the hearing, personnel of Hollywood Casino at The Meadows submitted exhibits and presented testimony on various aspects of the facility’s operation since its last license renewal was granted. The public was also permitted to provide testimony about the casino and its impact on the community.

In reaching its decision, the Board also received information from local government officials, community groups, and the PA State Police, along with the Gaming Control Board’s Office of Enforcement Counsel, Bureau of Investigations and Enforcement, Office of Compulsive, and Problem Gaming, and Bureau of Casino Compliance.

Additionally, a public hearing was held in Harrisburg on Wednesday to permit Board members to further question Washington Trotting Association, Inc. representatives about any remaining issues prior to voting on the renewal.

Recently-rebranded Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, formerly known as The Meadows Racetrack and Casino, is operated by Penn National, which first took over the facility in 2019. It has more than 2,500 slot machines, over 65 table games, and a poker room with 14 tables. Its sportsbook was rebranded as a Barstool Sportsbook this year.

The venue, which employs 660 persons, has generated $3.5 billion in gross revenue from the play of slot machines, table games and sports wagering, resulting in a return to the Commonwealth of approximately $2 billion in gaming tax revenue.