Las Vegas Sands Corporation became Pennsylvania’s eighth active casino operator last month, when the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem opened the doors to its casino.

The casino opened its 3,000-machine slot floor, four restaurants, a food court, a pub and two entertainment lounges. In addition to the slots, which are expected to draw heavily on a North Jersey/New York market that is relatively close, a major draw is expected to be the Chop House, a new restaurant by famed chef Emeril Lagasse.

The legendary Sands logo—the same one that was on the iconic Las Vegas property and the Sands Atlantic City—now graces the middle of an industrial bridge, apparently left over from the property’s former life as the Bethlehem Steel Works.

Much more of the property’s history will eventually be on display when the entire resort is unveiled. The master plan includes a hotel, a retail center, a convention complex and an industrial museum that will display blast furnaces and other equipment from the legendary steel plant. Those plans are currently waiting out the economy.

“Those projects will continue as soon as the economy turns and the credit markets improve,” said Bob DeSalvio, president of the Sands Bethlehem, in an interview with Philadelphia’s ABC TV affiliate. “We thought that was a prudent step to take, but we will also honor our commitment to build out those facilities when the timing is right.”

Local government officials were on hand to welcome the new casino. The city of Bethlehem stands to earn $1 million this year in host fees, and $9 million annually when the full project is up and running.

By Casino Connection Staff