Coordinates: 40°36′53″N75°21′33″W / 40.6148°N 75.3591°W

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Wind Creek Bethlehem offers a wide variety of slot machines. Our slots range in denomination from 1¢ to $100. For immediate service, all of our slots are equipped with bill acceptors that allow you to add credits on your machine without leaving your seat. Wind Creek Bethlehem offers many unique game themes and Jackpot progressive machines.

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The Wind Creek Bethlehem (formerly Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem) is a casino hotel located in the Bethlehem Works development site in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is owned and operated by Wind Creek Hospitality, an entity of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

• 3Facilities
• 4Events

History[edit]

The property is one of five stand-alone casinos that was awarded a slots license by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on December 20, 2006.^[1] It was developed by the Las Vegas Sands corporation. The casino was slated to open in July 2008, but demolition took longer than expected due to the heavy concrete foundations of the old steel building. Its opening was delayed until the second quarter of 2009. The first concrete for the complex, which is located on the former Bethlehem Steel land on the south side of the city, was poured on November 15, 2007.

It opened on May 22, 2009. While the Las Vegas Sands owned several properties, this was the only casino in the United States to carry the Sands brand in its name, since the original Sands Hotel in Las Vegas was demolished and replaced with The Venetian, and the Sands Atlantic City was closed and demolished.

In the winter of 2009–2010, the casino was granted a license for table games which allowed the casino to expand to include 180 table games, including poker, blackjack and craps.^[2] Table games began operation on July 18, 2010. The Sands Hotel opened on May 27, 2011.

Following the addition of table games, the casino has become a popular destination for Asian Americans from New York City, who frequently travel to the casino on motorcoach buses operated by Chinatown bus lines. More than 3,000 riders a day traveled by bus to the casino from Asian American neighborhoods in New York City. The casino has the busiest motorcoach business of any casino in Pennsylvania.^[3]

Sands had offered $45 in free play vouchers for slot machines to riders who paid $15 for a bus ticket. This offer led to the creation of an underground market where Asian American bus riders from New York City, often low-income or homeless people, would sell their free play vouchers upon arriving at the casino and would hang around Bethlehem for the day without gambling before returning by bus to New York City. Casino patrons would buy the free play vouchers in bulk at a discount and use them in the video poker machines, which have a lower house advantage, and attempt to make a profit. On March 31, 2014, in an effort to end this practice, the video poker machines at Sands stopped accepting the free play vouchers given to bus riders.^[3]

It was the only property in the company to end 2014 with a profit, doing better than Sands' Vegas and Asia properties.

In November 2016, a planned expansion of the gaming floor, along with, two additional restaurants was announced.

In March 2018, it was announced that the property would be sold to Wind Creek Hospitality for $1.3 billion.^[4][5] Wind Creek Hospitality had plans for a $190-million expansion to the property that would add a 300-room hotel and possibly an indoor water park.^[6] The sale was completed in May 2019,^[7] and the property was renamed as Wind Creek Bethlehem in July 2019.^[8]

Wind Creek Event Center[edit]

The Wind Creek Event Center was designed by Howard Kulp Architects of Salisbury Township. The event center features 14,000 sq ft (1,300 m²) of flexible multipurpose space, which accommodates meetings, conventions, and a variety of entertainment events.^[9][10] The venue can house 3,800 in a general admission setting and 2,500 in a reserved seating setting.^[11] Operated by Live Nation Mid-Atlantic, it was opened on May 16, 2012 as the Sands Bethlehem Event Center, with a concert by Incubus.^[12]Janet Jackson performed to a sold-out crowd at the venue in November 2017 for her State of the World Tour.^[13]Britney Spears performed at the venue in July 2018 on her Piece of Me tour.^[14]

Facilities[edit]

Gaming[edit]

The casino features over 3,000 slot machines, 200 table games, and several electronic table games. Sands spent $26 million in 2009 to add 119 table games: 41 blackjack tables, four craps, four roulette, four three-card poker, fourteen mini-baccarat, four midi-baccarat, three pai gow poker, two pai gow tiles, one Big Six, two Let It Ride, two Caribbean stud, four Texas Hold'em Bonus, one Casino War, one sic bo and 12 poker tables. Later a 30-table poker room was built off of the main floor. Table games began operation on July 18, 2010.^{[citation needed]}

Dining[edit]

• Buddy V's
• Burgers and More by Emeril (BAM)
• Carlo's Bake Shop(also known as Carlo's Bakery)
• Chopstick
• Croissanterie
• Emeril's Fish House
• Steelworks Buffet & Grill
• The Market Gourmet Express Food Court, currently including:
  • Bananas
  • Casa Java
  • Far East
  • GreenLeafs
  • Mo Burger
  • South Philly Steaks & Fries
  • Villa Italian Kitchen

Nightlife[edit]

• Molten
• Coil Lounge
• Vision Bar

Shopping[edit]

The Outlets at Wind Creek Bethlehem is an indoor shopping mall that connects the casino and the hotel.^[15] The outlet center, which opened on November 1, 2011 and is located under the Minsi Trail Bridge, comprises 133,000 sq ft (12,400 m²) of retail space and includes a food court, near the casino entrance.

Events[edit]

Lehigh Valley Food & Wine Festival[edit]

The hotel hosts the yearly Lehigh Valley Food & Wine Festival, held at the end of May/early June to benefit the culinary and hospitality program at Northampton Community College.^[16]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Wind Creek Slot Machines

1. ^'PA Gaming Control Board Approval'(PDF). PA Gaming Control Board. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
2. ^'PA Gaming Control Board Renews Slots License For Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem - Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board'. gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
3. ^ ^abAssad, Matt (April 12, 2014). 'Sands Casino cracks down on bus riders'. The Morning Call. Allentown, PA. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
4. ^Radzievich, Jon Harris, Nicole. 'Sands Bethlehem casino to be sold to Alabama Indian tribe for $1.3 billion'. Lehigh Valley Business Cycle. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
5. ^'Las Vegas Sands selling Bethlehem casino for $1.3 billion'. lehighvalleylive.com. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
6. ^Backover, Justin; Lewis, Will (January 15, 2019). 'Sands Bethlehem expansion plans include 300-room hotel, possible water park'. Allentown, PA: WFMZ-TV. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
7. ^Harris, Jon (May 31, 2019). 'The deal is complete: Sands Bethlehem casino is now owned by Wind Creek Hospitality'. The Morning Call. Allentown, PA. Retrieved 2019-07-20.
8. ^Gore, Leada (July 16, 2019). 'Sands Casino renamed by Poarch Creek, now known as Wind Creek Bethlehem'. The Birmingham News. Retrieved 2019-07-20.
9. ^'Venue - Sands Bethlehem Event Center'. Sands Bethlehem Event Center. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
10. ^'Sands Event Center to expand, with new balcony, before 2nd anniversary | Howard Kulp Architects'. www.hkulparchitects.com. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
11. ^Moser, John J. (February 12, 2012). 'Sands Bethlehem Event Center: Here's what it looks like, what's ahead, and why it will succeed'. The Morning Call. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
12. ^Olanoff, Lynn (May 16, 2012). 'Sands Bethlehem Event Center holds grand opening before Incubus concert'. The Express-Times. Advance Publications. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
13. ^Moser, John (November 10, 2017). 'Janet Jackson seeks respect, wins with hits, at Sands Bethlehem Event Center'. The Morning Call. Retrieved November 13, 2018. But it also wasn’t a surprise when, after all that, Jackson told the sold-out crowd, “Get the point? Good, let’s dance,” and spent most of the rest of the 34-song show doing a litany of hits.
14. ^Moser, John J. (July 18, 2018). 'Britney Spears' Vegas-style show borders on boring at Sands'. The Morning Call. Allentown, PA. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
15. ^Darrow, Chuck (November 1, 2011). 'Sands opens shopping mall'. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
16. ^'Lehigh Valley Food & Wine Fesitval'. Lehigh Valley Food & Wine Festival Website. Retrieved 2017-08-23.

Introduction to Alabama Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2019

Alabama slot machine casino gambling consists of four casinos with Class II bingo-style gaming machines where players on the casino floor compete with one another. These four casinos include one pari-mutual wagering racino and three tribal casinos.

No theoretical payout limits exist nor are return statistics publicly available.

This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.

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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Alabama*

The minimum legal gambling age in Alabama depends upon the gambling activity:

• Land-Based Casinos: 21
• Poker Rooms: 21
• Bingo: 18
• Lottery: Not available
• Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18

There is no state lottery available in Alabama.

The legal nature of gaming machines in Alabama has been contentious but has appeared to have settled down since 2016. Here’s a brief timeline:

• August of 2010: Victoryland temporarily closes.
• October of 2010: The state of Alabama had arrested Victoryland owner Milton McGregor along with ten state senators and lobbyists.
• 2012: Victoryland reopens with bingo-style gaming machines.
• 2013: Victoryland owner Milton McGregor acquitted of all charges.
• 2013: Victoryland raided and 1,615 gaming machines seized by the state.
• 2015: Court dismisses all civil forfeiture charges.
• 2016: Victoryland reopens to a large crowd.

It’s interesting to note the judge’s statement about dismissing the civil forfeiture charges. The judge stated, in part, that the state had belatedly targeted Victoryland while ignoring other facilities with gaming machines.

*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.

Slot Machine Private Ownership in Alabama

Private ownership of a traditional Class III slot machine in Alabama is illegal. However, it is legal to own a Class II competition-style bingo gaming machine privately.

Gaming Control Board in Alabama

Alabama has four racing commissions located in Birmingham, Greene County, Macon County, and Mobile County. Each commission regulates pari-mutuel wagering and simulcast betting in their local municipality.

Regulation of tribal casinos in Alabama is by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988, a federal law.

One of the requirements of the IGRA for Class III Vegas-style gaming is that the state not prohibit such gambling. Alabama’s state constitution bans all forms of gambling, but subsequent exceptions were made for pari-mutuel racing in 1971 and charitable bingo in 1980.

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians cannot offer Class III Vegas-style slot machines because they are not otherwise available in Alabama. The same situation exists for table games. If either became available in Alabama, the federal IGRA allows the Poarch Band to attempt to negotiate a tribal-state compact. They currently have no such compact.

Casinos in Alabama

There is one non-tribal racino, three American Indian tribal casinos, and one international cruise ship based in Alabama with electronic gaming machines. All three land-based casinos have Class II bingo-style gaming machines.

The largest casino in Alabama is Quincy’s 777 Casino and Victoryland Greyhound Park having over 1,000 gaming machines and no table games.

The second-largest casino is Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Wetumpka having over 2,500 gaming machines and no table games.

Commercial Casinos in Alabama

Non-tribal casinos in Alabama with gaming machines include one racino and one cruise ship. The pari-mutuel wagering facility with simulcast betting and a separate casino with Class II bingo-style gaming machines is Quincy’s 777 Casino at Victoryland Greyhound Park in Shorter, located 25 miles east of Montgomery.

The Carnival Fantasy cruise ship with its onboard casino departs from Mobile, Alabama, to the Caribbean and the Panama Canal. When cruising in international waters, it offers Class III Vegas-style slot machines and table games to players at least 18 years of age.

Tribal Casinos in Alabama

There are three American Indian casinos in Alabama with Class II competition-style gaming machines owned and operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, including:

1. Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Atmore located 50 miles northeast of Mobile.
2. Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Wetumpka located 20 miles northeast of Montgomery.

Other Gambling Establishments

As an alternative to enjoying Alabama slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Alabama is:

• North: Tennessee Slots
• East: Georgia Slots
• South: Florida Slots
• West: Mississippi Slots

Wind Creek Wetumpka Slot Machines

Each of the links above will take you to my state-specific blog for that neighboring state to Alabama.

Our Alabama Slots Community Facebook Group

Are you interested in sharing and learning from other slots enthusiasts in Alabama? If so, join our new Alabama slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.

There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with other players about slots gambling in Alabama. Join us!

Payout Returns in Alabama

No theoretical payout limits exist for land-based casinos in Alabama. Its racino does not make actual return statistics publicly available, either through the state or otherwise.

Wind Creek Atmore Slot Machines

Without a tribal-state gaming compact, tribal casinos do not have a legal limit for their payout returns. Further, federal law does not require them to provide return statistics.

Summary of Alabama Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2019

Alabama slot machine casino gambling consists of four land-based casinos with Class II bingo-style competition gaming machines and one casino cruise ship to international destinations.

No theoretical return limits exist nor are actual payout statistics made publicly available.

Annual Progress in Alabama Slot Machine Casino Gambling

Over the last year, there have been no significant changes in the gaming industry in Alabama.

On March 25, 2018, Milton McGregor died at the age of 78. He had established the Victoryland and Birmingham Race Course pari-mutual wagering facilities.

Archive: Alabama Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2018

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