The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) recently approved a transaction under which PCI Gaming Authority d/b/a Wind Creek Hospitality (WCH), an instrumentality of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, will acquire the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, Penn.
The closing of the transaction comes after approximately 14 months of regulatory review and other customary closing conditions.
“We are pleased with the decision of PGCB and anticipate moving quickly to close the transaction,” Wind Creek President and CEO Jay Dorris said. “I look forward to welcoming all the Sands Bethlehem employees to the Wind Creek family.”
The Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem will be integrated into the WCH portfolio as Wind Creek Bethlehem. The resort includes a 282-room AAA Four Diamond hotel, a 183,000 square foot casino floor featuring 3,000 slots and electronic table games, 200 table games, numerous food and beverage outlets, a 150,000 square foot retail mall and a multi-purpose event center.
“We are thankful for the strong foundation that Las Vegas Sands provided for us over the past decade,” Sands President and COO Brian Carr said. “It is exciting to now shift our focus to the future as we begin the process to rebrand the property to Wind Creek Bethlehem.”
WCH anticipates expanding the property to include the construction of a 300-room hotel adjacent to the casino. WCH also plans to renovate the existing No. 2 Machine Shop Bethlehem Steel site.
“The purchase of the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem is a valuable addition to the Tribe’s existing gaming portfolio,” Poarch Band of Creek Indians Tribal Chair and CEO Stephanie Bryan said. “This investment will expand and complement our already extensive Wind Creek Hospitality brand’s offerings, and bring added economic growth to the Lehigh Valley.”