The silence inside the permanent structure of The Meadows Racetrack & Casino in North Strabane was perhaps the biggest thing to separate it from the temporary casino nearby as officials led a recent media tour of the new facility's shell.

That particular difference will end once the permanent building opens in the spring, containing thousands of noisy machines and gamblers. But visitors will notice plenty of other distinctions that the racetrack-casino's officials hope will make the experience all the more appealing, among them:

• More than twice as many slot machines, with 3,900 envisioned within weeks of opening.

• Twice as many dining options, including a steak house, another restaurant, food court and snack bar.

• An indoor parking garage with 1,200 spaces connected to the racetrack-casino, in addition to 3,500 surface spaces.

• A combination of race wagering and slots operations, with large windows facing the track's home stretch from the new facility's dining areas. Simulcasting and horse-betting operations will be located downstairs from the gaming floor.

• A 24-lane bowling alley, also located downstairs.

• Live entertainment from more spacious bar areas.

The Meadows is investing $132 million, including the cost of slot machines, in the 350,000-square-foot structure that is about 75 percent complete.

Its exterior already dwarfs the size of the two temporary, bubble-like, synthetic structures that have served as a successful temporary casino since June 2007. After the permanent facility opens in April or May, officials say, surface parking will take the place of the temporary structures.

The expansion comes at a time when most gambling operators around the country are in retrenchment, laying off workers and postponing projects because of the impact of the recession.

There have been no such considerations at The Meadows, as there have been no cutbacks by the players themselves, notes General Manager Mike Graninger.

"We have a good address -- people in Western Pennsylvania aren't leveraged like others," he said. "They budget their food and entertainment dollars wisely."

The Meadows has been generating more revenue every month -- $19.3 million in November -- than it did in the same month of 2007. It is also providing the highest average daily revenue per machine, $352, of any of the seven casinos operating in Pennsylvania.

Unlike the West Virginia casinos it competes with, The Meadows will carry no special theme with its decor, according to Kyle Tuttle, senior vice president for LPCiminelli, the construction manager. Its primary colors will be "grape juice" and "Yosemite Sam," or more commonly, purple and tan.

"It's just about clean, really safe fun," Mr. Tuttle said of the atmosphere being created.

In addition to slots on the first floor and race wagering reached downstairs by escalator, the massively broad building has a second floor that will include party suites and a steak house overlooking the track.

One other difference from West Virginia is the lack of table games at The Meadows.

The new facility has been constructed with the idea that a group of slot machines in the center of the casino will be relocated to other areas and replaced with 40 gaming tables -- for blackjack, craps and roulette -- if the Pennsylvania Legislature eventually allows them. A poker room would be created downstairs.