Despite the struggling economy, Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem is getting the attention of not just the local community, but the entire state of Pennsylvania.
As of August, Sands is the fourth busiest casino in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board disclosed on Sept. 2 that out of the nine casinos in Pennsylvania, Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem grossed the fifth highest terminal revenue, which is the gross revenue left in the machines after winners are paid.
The terminal revenue of the Sands Casino for Aug. 2009 was $20,235,659. This revenue surpassed that of another newly built casino in Pennsylvania, The Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, which was expected to do much better than Sands.
However, both casinos contributed to a 19.8 percent increase in gross revenue, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. The total revenue of all the slot machines at the nine casinos in Pennsylvania was $186,936,232.
This translates into Sands paying winners back 93 percent of all money waged-thus, the casino retained 7 percent of what was played, according to an article in The Morning Call on Aug. 24.
So, what else keeps the casino so popular? Three thousand slot machines, including electronic table games; four upscale restaurants, including Emeril's Chop House; two bars, Coil and Molten; a parking garage that can hold 3,400 cars; and an open bar while gaming, which is what many individuals appreciate most.
These features are just a few of what Sands has to offer, according to Robert DeSalvio, President of Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.
On Aug. 24, the casino expanded its smoking area from 25 percent to 50 percent of the floor due to high customer demand. All of the restaurants and 50 percent of the casino floor are now non-smoking.
"We welcome all guests, over the age of 21, to come and enjoy the live, free entertainment as well as the unique dining and gaming experience," DeSalvio said via e-mail.
Rob Shannon, '10, said he has visited the casino twice so far this year and left with more money than he bet on games like virtual three-card poker and blackjack.
"The casino is a great place to have fun and mix things up from the normal Lehigh activities and nightlife," said Shannon.
"Even though there are no table games, the virtual blackjack, poker and roulette games are just as good," said Shannon.
"Regardless of how into gambling someone is, the free drinks the casino provides you with while you play is definitely worth the visit."
Due to the economic downturn, the completion of the hotel, retail space and convention space associated with the casino was put on hold. But plans are still in the works to fill up the vacant space in the future, according to DeSalvio.
"We are reviewing retail options for the mall portion of a project that's current still on hold, and we will have a large 46,000 square foot multi-purpose event room, which can be used for meetings, trade shows, concerts, and banquets," DeSalvio said.
It is not yet known when construction on the rest of the resort will begin again, but DeSalvio hopes it happens soon.
"Once the rest of the resort is done, I think it will be a great place to rent out for school functions like date parties, or community service functions," said Brooke Blythe, '10.
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