PGCB renews Sands Bethlehem licence
The state’s gambling regulator has voted to renew the licence of Sands’ casino in Pennsylvania.
US.- The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced that it has unanimously voted to renew the Category 2 Casino Operator’s Licence of Sands Bethworks, which operates Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, located in Northampton County, Pennsylvania.
The seven-member Board determined that Sands Bethworks, LLC had fulfilled the obligations under its previously-approved casino operator’s licence and therefore qualified to have its licence renewed for a five-year period. The decision to renew the licence 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 licence renewal was granted in April 2014. The public was also permitted to provide testimony on the casino and its impact on the community. The Board also received testimony from local government officials, community groups and the Pennsylvania State Police, along with Bureaus within the Gaming Control Board.
Since its opening in May 2009, Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem has generated nearly US$4 billion in gross revenue from the play of slot machines and table games resulting in a return to the Commonwealth of over US$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 people.
