Owner Las Vegas Sands Corporation inked a deal to sell Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ Wind Creek Hospitality for $1.3 billion in 2018. The transaction closed in spring 2019. As a result, the reign of former owner  Sheldon Adelson, who was strongly opposed to online gambling, came to a close.

The sale is still not final, but we do have a new name for what is currently known as Sands Bethlehem Casino. That moniker is getting kicked to the curb once the $1.3 billion sale to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians is complete.

Say hello to Wind Creek Casino Resort!

City of Bethlehem approved name change

Poarch Band of Creek Indians operates several southern casinos and resorts under its company, Wind Creek Hospitality. The Sands purchase is its first northeast casino and the first in a market with regulated online gambling.

The Bethlehem Planning Commission approved Wind Creek Hospitality’s request to change the name on the iconic iron crane adorning the entrance of the casino on Thursday. The group put in for the name change even though they are still missing a very important approval.

Both Sands Corp. and Wind Creek Hospitality filed paperwork with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) to approve the transfer of casino license on Feb. 21, per Lehigh Valley Live.

As of now, PGCB has not set a date to hear the two casinos’ application. The next PGCB meeting takes place on April 17, which is the earliest they will be heard.

Wind Creek has expansion plans in mind for casino

The sign is not the only thing that will be changing in the coming months. Once the company takes control, it will immediately begin a $190 million expansion of the property. The most noteworthy addition is 300 new hotel rooms.

That is not to say customers at the property have to say goodbye to everything. The company is also taking control of the popular outlet mall, the events center, and the historic blast furnaces. Not long after news broke on the sale, Wind Creek started working with local officials to preserve the steel mills that are an iconic part of the property.

May have to contend with competition…from Sands

One of the biggest competitive advantages Sands has over other PA casinos is its proximity to New York City. It’s less than 90 miles from the city, which makes it the closest resort-style casino for the area.

That may not last though. Multiple gaming companies are lobbying New York state officials for a casino in the five boroughs. One of those companies is none other than Sands Bethlehem’s previous owner, Sands Corp. Should Sands succeed in getting a Big Apple casino, it will be immediate competition for Wind Creek Casino. And with a prime location in the city, the safe bet is that the property would take a big chunk out of the PA casino’s profits.

However, that project currently remains a longshot, so Wind Creek should retain its status as one of the top-three revenue-generating casinos in the state. Sands Bethlehem recently fell to third place behind Rivers Casino for the first time. The new influx of money into the property and excitement around the new look and feel of the property could be exactly what it needs to reclaim the number-two spot.

Summary: Sands Bethlehem Casino to be sold to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to become the Wind Creek Casino Resort.

Sands Casino Bethlehem Pa Hotels

The Sands Bethlehem Casino is one of the most successful in the state of Pennsylvania. The Las Vegas Sands Corp., the company behind the brand, is set to sell to the casino to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. The acquisition will cost a total of $1.3 billion and has yet to be completed. Once finalized, the property will no longer be known as the Sands Bethlehem but will be called the Wind Creek Casino Resort.

Sands Bethlehem Online Casino

Approved Name Change

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians may not be familiar to residents of Pennsylvania, but the tribe is very well-known in the south as a casino and resort operator. The tribe operates under the name Wind Creek Hospitality and want to use that name with the Sands Casino.

With the acquisition of the Sands Casino, the Wind Creek Hospitality group will enter the northeast gaming market for the very first time. It will also be the first time the group is operating in a state that offers online gambling in a regulated market.

Last week, the group was approved by the Bethlehem Planning Commission to change the name from the Sands to the Wind Creek Casino. The group has yet to earn the transfer of casino license approval from the Gaming Control Board but went ahead and sough the name change from the Planning Commission.

The Gaming Control Board has to hear the application of the two casino operators, the Sands Corp. and Wind Creek Hospitality. The transfer paperwork was filed back in late February and has yet to be heard by the Board. The Board doesn’t seem to ever be in a huge hurry to complete applications, as has been seen in the past with other considerations, including online gaming.

Plans for Expansion

As the Wind Creek Hospitality company takes over control of the Sands Casino, they will begin an expansion process. The group plans on spending $190 million to expand on the property’s offering. The expansion will include 300 new hotel guest rooms. The plans may also include an indoor water park.

On top of the casino acquisition, the Wind Creek group will be in control of the nearby outlet mall and events center.

Wind Creek wants to begin as quickly as possible with the casino project. Once the final approval has been given, officials will begin the construction process to get the ball rolling on the new guest rooms. With the project, as many as 400 jobs will be created on top of the 2,500 employees that are already working at the venue.

Sands Casino Bethlehem Pa Jobs

Currently the Sands Casino is the closest venue to New York City, so it stands to be profitable for the Wind Creek Hospitality group. The resort style casino is the closet option for visitors as well as residents of NYC.

For now, Wind Creek will be the best option in the region, staying on top in PA as well as a top choice for New York. However, the venue could potentially see competition as gaming operators are currently asking lawmakers in New York for a casino in the five boroughs of the state. Several operators are hoping to enter the NY market including Sands Corp.

Sands Casino Bethlehem Sale News

If Sands were to get licensing in New York, then they would become a competitor to their former venue, soon to be taken over by Wind Creek.