Place your bets: New gambling hall to open in Cumberland County, PA

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Place your bets: New gambling hall to open in Cumberland County, PA
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Parx Casino is set to open near Shippensburg in early February.

The 73,000-square-foot casino is at 250 S. Conestoga Drive, Shippensburg Township. Part of Shippen Towne Center, the building once housed a Lowe’s home improvement store.

Owned by Greenwood Racing Inc., the "mini casino" had been in development for years. Greenwood paid $8.1 million in 2018 to obtain a license to open a Category 4 casino in the region. Parx Casino Shippensburg serves as a "satellite" location of Greenwood's Parx Casino Bensalem.

Here is everything you need to know about the newest casino in central Pennsylvania, and the first in Cumberland County, just over the Franklin County line.

When will the casino open, and what will the hours be?

Friday, Feb. 3 is opening day for Parx Casino Shippensburg. The doors will open at 10 a.m. — as long as the casino passes Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board testing.

The casino will be open 24/7 on weekends, from 10 a.m. on Friday through 2 a.m. the following Monday morning.

Monday through Thursday, the casino will be open 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.

What games can you play at the casino?

The casino will have 500 slot machines and 48 electronic table games.

Like other Category 4 casinos in Pennsylvania, guests won’t find poker, roulette or other live table games.

Will the casino have food and drinks?

The 100-seat restaurant, Liberty Bar and Grill, will operate alongside the casino. Described as a first-class, family-friendly bar and dining destination, it will have an external entrance and an entrance inside the casino. Guests can dine and drink there even if they don't patronize the casino.

The menu will include stone-baked pizza, burgers, sandwiches and dishes such as chicken parmigiana, spaghetti and meatballs, fish and chips and more. The restaurant will have a full bar and a wide selection of beers.

Can you bet on sports at the casino?

Yes. Guests can bet on college and professional sporting events at sports wagering kiosks.

How will the casino impact the local economy?

A consultant's report showed an estimated economic impact of $43 million every year.

In addition, Shippensburg Township Commissioner Steve Oldt previously said taxes generated by the casino would be a "significant help" to the township. The township is a destination as the home of Shippensburg University, but the university takes up 65% of the taxable land in the township yet does not pay taxes to it. 

Learn more about Parx Casino Shippensburg at parxcasino.com/shippensburg/.