Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board renews license for Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today unanimously voted to renew the Category 2 Casino Operator's License of Sands Bethworks, LLC, operator of Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem located in Northampton County.

The seven-member Board determined that Sands Bethworks, LLC had fulfilled the obligations under its previously-approved casino operator's license and therefore qualified to have its license renewed for a five-year period.

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 in April of this year in the casino's host municipality, the City of Bethlehem, where personnel of Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem submitted exhibits and presented testimony on various aspects of the facility's operation since its last license renewal was granted in April 2014. The public was also permitted to provide testimony on the casino and its impact in the community.

The Board also received testimony from local government officials, community groups and the PA State Police, along with Bureaus within the Gaming Control Board.

Additionally, a public hearing was held in Harrisburg today to permit Board members to further question Sands Bethworks, LLC representatives about any remaining issues prior to voting on the renewal. A PowerPoint presentation provided at the meeting is available on the Board's web site, www.gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov, under the Board Meetings tab.

Since its opening in May 2009, Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem has generated nearly $4 billion in gross revenue from the play of slot machines and table games resulting in a return to the Commonwealth of over $1.6 billion in gaming tax revenue. Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem currently operates over 3,000 slot machines and 245 table games, while employing over 2,400 persons.

The next meeting of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 27, 2018 in the PGCB's Public Hearing Room located on the second floor of Strawberry Square in Harrisburg.