Bethlehem PA casino NEW

[luigi1]

A business client phoned me earlier in the day and said that this may well put another nail into AC's coffin. The recent numbers coming in from AC shows they had one of the worst months ever for April. Meanwhile Pa and their casinos have seen a 48% increase last month and that is an increase of 17% for the same month a year ago.
From my understandin the $700+ million Bethworks casino was quite busy, not early on but as the day went on crowds kept arriving. It also appears that they have the same arrangment as other Pa casinos, 9/6 JOB, DDBL and other similar pay tables. I will say slots are king in these places, video poker is not as well received. Bethworks is another barrier that will prevent many from going to AC. From the south you have Delaware, Philly and Harrahs Chester casino, up north there are the Pocono casinos and now Bethworks near the border in mid state. In another year or so Maryland will be coming online with their slot casinos and Delaware will be adding table games and sports betting. AC faces many challenges and I dont know how they are going to survive the non beach vacation months.
 
Pa and their casinos dont have the massive hotels attached so their comps and other give-a-ways are targeted to "free play" and daily drawings. I have the Meadows 20 minutes from the house and on any give day-hour-minute the place is busy. I personally have not had any success in the Pa casinos on their VP, a few small wins on KOB joker poker but that is about it.
 
I will be down AC in another 3 weeks and I dont know what to expect because I hear their casinos are basically empty except for the weekends. My rooms at the Trop are comped for the entire stay and The Showboat (Harrahs) basically gave me $30.00 rooms for a few days. I travel there 3 times a year from 450 miles away so it isnt like I am there to take advantage of every perk but seeing these deals for mid June in a bearch resort town should tell us all something about how bad it really has become.
 
B

Are you involved in the casino industry? You had some very good info. Thank you for your post. The new Beth casino should pump some vitality in the area. I believe the first day there were over 20,000 visitors. I personally have never been to AC, so I cannot comment about it. I have heard it has gone downhill. I live about 4 hours from Vegas and we have quite a few Indian casinos around me.

[bmar]

No I dont have direct business ties with any casino but I am involved with the hospitality industry with a group who handles management operations, start ups and other things. One of the things that we look at are the trends within the industry with the purchase or new building of smaller limited services hotels. We knew 3 years ago that AC was going to be nailed by the Pa casinos. When the Delaware casinos went online in 1993 there was a drop off at AC but Delaware doesnt cme close to what Pa is doing and there are 3 more licenss that need to be approved with 2 more casinos in Philly and one other possibly just north and west of the city. Since Delaware will be offering table games I will bet that Pa will follow, which may just be the end for 4 to 5 casinos in AC.
 
The other subject that is very touchy is the matter of smoking and the rules AC passed last year. We all knew that when they went 100% smoke free that those who smoked would never return, in fact even when they went 25% people found Pa more accomodating and they never retunred to AC.
For AC going downhill is up for debate, the casinos are still open and they still offer much more than anything along the east coast. I look at this way if someone wants to visit just to play slots they have to deal with traffic, many toll roads, paking fees, crowds etc, in Pa they drive less than an hour from home without any of the headaches stated above.
 
B

[havmick]

I just got back from my first visit to the Sands. Has an ok feel to it, best decor of the PA casinos I've been to. Not Vegas glitzy but what is? One big open floor. Get off of I-78 and your there in 5 mins. Parking garage to elevator and your on the casino floor, no long walkways. Good number of the virtual table blackjack machines starting at $5.
 
Only game I played is DDB on a game king. In quarters it's 8/5.

[luigi1]

I just got back from my first visit to the Sands. Has an ok feel to it, best decor of the PA casinos I've been to. Not Vegas glitzy but what is? One big open floor. Get off of I-78 and your there in 5 mins. Parking garage to elevator and your on the casino floor, no long walkways. Good number of the virtual table blackjack machines starting at $5.
 
Only game I played is DDB on a game king. In quarters it's 8/5.

[luigi1]

So what you are saying..Bethsands could be successful even thought it only has slots? They did well over the Memorial weekend. Curiosity factor aside...do you think it will fly???

[havmick]

So what you are saying..Bethsands could be successful even thought it only has slots? They did well over the Memorial weekend. Curiosity factor aside...do you think it will fly???
 
I think it will do very well even after the novelty of a new place wears off. As I believe you said AC is in big trouble. Locals have no reason to go there unless they want to enjoy the beach or real table games. The age demographic that keeps the slots in action typically aren't interested in either, let alone the 3 hour bus ride down and back.
 
I think Mount Airy will be in big trouble too since the Sands opened. All they have going for it is the hotel and the vp tables really declined. I was up there about a month ago, ddb in quarters was down to 7/5, it was 9/5 when they opened year and a half ago.

[JIMDUECE`SWILD]

BETHSANDS WILL DO VERY WELL BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE I KNOW WHO LIVE AROUND NEW YORK AND PLAN ON GOING. I WAS TALKING TO MY FRIENDS FROM NY LAST WEEKEND IN A.C. AND TELLING THEM BETHSANDS IS ABOUT 1 HOUR TO1½ DRIVE FROM NY (depending on were they live ).
BETHSANDS ALREADY HAVE THERE CASINO BUS COMPANIES LINED UP TO BRING IN PEOPLE IN FROM DIFFERENT AREAS.

[JIMDUECE`SWILD]

I went to the Sands in Bethlehem today. They have about 300 poker machines. The JOB 7/5 in the 25¢,50¢,and $1 mult- denom. machines. they also have JOB in 8/5 in the $1, $2, and $5 machines. the Deuces wild machines are 20-WR ,12-5ok, 9-STRFL,4-4ok & FL,3- STR...
They have about 6 Bally`s poker machine with 9/6 JOB. The Deuces Wild are 25-WR, 15-5ok, 9-STFL, 3-4ok & fl.
They have a poker bar but the drinks are NOT free during your play.