Over the hill and through the woods, a threat looms for Sands Bethlehem casino
Off Exit 106 of one of New York’s main east-west arteries, through more than a mile of dense forest illuminated by newly installed streetlights, a two-lane road leads to the tallest building in three counties.
There, an 18-story glass casino, hotel and entertainment complex pokes out just above the tree line, giving visitors their first glimpse of a $1.2 billion investment in tiny Sullivan County that threatens to shake up the gambling market in the Lehigh Valley.
Over the hill and through the woods, if you will, to the Resorts World Catskills casino is where Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem could potentially lose a portion of its most lucrative market: those driving or busing in from New York City. Those Big City gamblers arguably have made the more than $800 million Sands the most successful casino in Pennsylvania.
At 80 miles from New York City, the Sands still will be the closest casino with table games to the nation’s most populous city when Resorts World Catskills opens Feb. 8 — but only by about 10 miles. The new casino, which is opening several weeks ahead of schedule to capitalize on the Chinese New Year (when gambling is tradition), believes it can re-route the trips of downstate residents and Asian gamblers who typically head to Bethlehem.
Read more: http://www.mcall.com/business/mc-biz-resorts-world-catskills-impact-sands-bethlehem-20180111-story.html