Sands Bethlehem License Renewal Hearing Held This Week
Sands Bethlehem, the second-most profitable casino in what is now the second-largest gambling market in the nation, Pennsylvania, was the subject of a licensing renewal hearing this week and two major topics emerged as a result.
At Monday’s meeting with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, Sands defended its record at keeping out would-be gamblers who are not above the legal age of twenty-one, and it also said that, as competition for gambling revenue in the region continues to heat up, it sees a future in which expansion of its Bethlehem property is an absolute imperative.
Sands president would like to see stiff penalties for underage gamblers
After being fined $56,000 for four instances so far in 2013 in which underage gamblers were permitted to enter and place wagers on the Sands’ casino floor, president of Sands Bethlehem, Robert DeSalvio, is calling upon state lawmakers to enact harsher penalties on those who commit this crime, pointing out that keeping up with those who attempt to get into the casino without being of age is a major drain on Sands’ resources and staff members.
Noting that many underage gamblers utilize either fake ID’s or those belonging to someone else, DeSalvio told the Allentown Morning Call, “I know we’ve had to pay our penalties in the form of fines. But I’m frustrated that our security staff has to constantly keep up with fraudulent IDs, fake IDs and IDs from brothers, nephews and cousins.”
“It’s a technology arms race and the fakes are getting better. I think for a first offense, a person should lose their license for a year. I think that would be an excellent deterrent,” DeSalvio continued.
Existing penalties for those who illegally gamble in Pennsylvania casinos amount to small fines, hardly enough of a discouragement, DeSalvio said. Sands Bethlehem paid fines for similar breaches in 2010 and 2012; the property has also been penalized for serving alcohol to minors, reported The Morning Call.
Casino sees need to expand in the future and offer more competitive amenities
Also at the hearing held this past Monday at Bethlehem City Hall, DeSalvio stressed the need for Sands Bethlehem to remain competitive as land-based casino expansion continues to make headlines up and down the East coast of the United States.
Though Pennsylvania has emerged as a leader in the U.S. gambling industry, that position could be threatened as nearby New York and Maryland both look at constructing new brick and mortar casino resorts. A public referendum is set to happen in the Empire State on November 5, the results of which will determine whether seven additional casinos will be constructed there, a plan that has received much public support from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Land-based casinos also face revenue loss as neighboring New Jersey gears up to launch its real-money online gambling industry on November 26. Though the market for regulated online gaming has yet to be tested in a populous state (thus far only Nevada offers real-money online betting, and there only online poker is permitted), it is expected to be a huge revenue-generator for the Garden State, with outside estimates putting the yearly take in the $1 billion range.
For Sands to stay relevant, DeSalvio said that the property would like to expand onto adjacent land.
“The more that we can get built out in the surrounding area, the more insulation we have to the threat of the regional gaming market,” said DeSalvio, without going into great detail about the company’s future expansion plans, which would likely include adding more gaming space, restaurants and retail, as well as the possibility of a conference center being added on.
