This time last year, the word on the street was that MGM Resorts Internationalplanned on buyingSands Bethlehem Casino. Given how eager MGM was to get into Pennsylvania and its potential online gambling industry, it made total sesnse. Especially considering Sheldon Adelson, the Sands Corp CEO, is notoriously anti-gambling.
That deal eventually collapsed. However, Sands did end up finding a buyer. And it is a group that may seem a bit out of left field.
Alabama tribe strikes $1.3 billion Bethlehem deal
The buyer in the deal is Wind Creek Entertainment. The group, which is an affiliate of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama, agreed to buy the Pennsylvania casino for $1.3 billion.
The Justice Department’s reversal is widely regarded as a victory for Sheldon Adelson, the Sands Casino chairman and influential Republican donor who spent millions lobbying to curb online. © 2020 Wind Creek Bethlehem Gambling Problem? Call 1.800.Gambler. New Jersey players already know that our online casino features an incredible variety of gambling options, from real money slots to table games and live sports betting options galore. Read more Register now and you’ll receive up to $250 in matching bonus money on your first deposit.
Tribal Chair and CEO of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians Stephanie Bryan offered some insight into why the group is expanding via an official press release:
“The quality of the property and dedication of the team members to genuinely engage with customers was evident from the first time we visited the property. The addition of this fantastic team and property to our portfolio furthers our desire to secure a long and prosperous future for our tribe. We look forward to working with our new team members and the community to cement Wind Creek Bethlehem’s position as the premier entertainment destination in the northeast. We are proud of our ability to become valued partners with communities surrounding our Wind Creek Hospitality properties.”
Wind Creek currently owns nine casino and racetrack properties in the US and the Caribbean. Alabama is home to most of them, however, the group also has properties in:
- Aruba
- Curacao
- Florida
- Nevada
Wind Creek is also in the midst of building a property in Mississippi just north of Biloxi. None are really of the same caliber as Sands Bethlehem though. For starters, this is the first property in the portfolio with table games. The Alabama properties use bingo-based slotgames. The designation means the casinos run tax-free, easily generating revenue for the tribe.
Wind Creek is now the fourth group to acquire a Pennsylvania casino since December.
What is Wind Creek up to exactly?
While MGM’s motives to buy Sands seemed pretty clear, Wind Creek is a different story.
It certainly is not the first tribe from out of the Keystone State. Mohegan Sun opened up Mohegan Sun Pocono, for example.
So far, with its limited gaming portfolio though, it does seem like Wind Creek has no connection to any online gambling operators. Moreover, given Adelson’s anti-online stance, it is not like the company is inheriting a pre-existing plan.
The sale also casts Sands’ recent misstep in bidding on a mini-casino in a different light. Could Wind Creek be buying one property, intent on opening a mini-casino as well?
Sands now back to a destination business model
While Wind Creek is expanding in new and interesting ways, Sands is streamlining. Sands Bethlehem was always out of character with the rest of the Sands portfolio. In fact, it was the only regional casino in the company.
The Sands model is to build opulent casino resorts in destination towns. While Sands Bethlehem certainly benefitted from a proximity to New York City, it was never more than a regional property.
That is not to say it is not lucrative. Buying Sands Bethlehem makes sense in that it is one of the most financially successful casinos in the state. What is unclear is what else Wind Creek plans to take advantage of besides another revenue stream.
Photo by Andy Borysowski / Shutterstock.com
The Board of Recreation provides recreational trips for senior citizens. These are advertised in the Hawthorne Press.
2020
- January 13 - Woodbridge Mall
- February 24 - Willowbrook Mall
- POSTPONED - CANCELLED for March 30 - Wind Creek Casino, Bethlehem, PA
- April 20 - Palisades Mall - CANCELLED
- May 18 - Rockaway Mall - CANCELLED
- June 15 - Woodbridge Mall
- July 28 - Hunterdon Playhouse*
These trips leave from the corner of Grand Avenue and McKinley Avenue. They depart at 9:30 am and return at approximately 2 pm. For further details, please call Patti at 973-427-1231.
Special trips, such as to the Sands Casino, will be offered on a quarterly basis.
The next trip will be to the Wind Creek Casino (formerly Sands Casino) in Bethlehem, PA has been cancelled and will be rescheduled at a later date perhaps in late spring/early summer.
These special trips (to the Sands Casino) are offered on a quarterly basis. Please call Patti at 973-427-1231 to reserve a spot. The coach bus leaves from the corner of Grand Avenue and McKinley Avenue at 8:30 am. After 5 hours at the casino, the bus returns to Hawthorne. There is no cost for this Hawthorne senior adult trip.
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*Please call Patti at 973-427-1231 for further details.