Last Thursday, Wind Creek Hospitality, which is owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement that will see Wind Creek Hospitality acquire Pennsylvania’s Sands Bethlehem casino-resort for $1.3 billion. The deal is still yet to be closed mainly because it is subject to regulatory review as well as many other customary closing conditions.
Currently, Wind Creek Hospitality owns and operates nine gaming and entertainment facilities spread out across six different United States jurisdictions and the Caribbean three of which are leading casino resorts located in the Tribe’s Alabama reservation lands.
The Sands Bethlehem casino-resort, that is going to be integrated into Wind Creek Hospitality’s already neat and growing portfolio, is considered to be a best-in-class, Las Vegas-style resort. This is further affirmed by its location – it is based in the middle of Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley which is approximately 80 miles away from New York City. The casino resort’s amenities include a 282-room AAA four-diamond hotel, numerous food and beverage outlets, a multi-purpose event centre, a 150,000 square foot retail mall as well as a 183,000 square foot casino floor that features approximately 3,000 slots and electronic table games.
“Sands Bethlehem has become one of the leading regional entertainment and gaming destinations in the United States and we are extremely proud of the positive contributions the property has made for Bethlehem … and eastern Pennsylvania,” Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire mogul who leads Sands, said in a statement.
Sheldon Adelson has been opposing the legalization of online gaming and online poker. However, as it stands, online gaming is on the verge of being legalized both nationwide and in the state of Pennsylvania and this does not really favour the mogul’s business framework. The casino is among the most successful of the 12 Pennsylvanian casinos despite the fact that it is the smallest establishment in Las Vegas Sands Corp. extensive portfolio.
Customers of Sands Bethlehem casino-resort have been assured by the casino’s management that the sale will not affect the operations of the casino in any way. Players are therefore still assured of being able to enjoy their favourite casino games without any interruption.