Pennsylvania Slot Machine License Contenders (Part II)

Bethlehem is the second contender for a slot machine license, and many think that they stand a very good chance of getting it. Experts say that they and Mt. Airy will most likely be the two locations that end up opening the slot machine casinos. There are many benefits to operating in Bethlehem, the least of which is its location. They are talking about putting the new slot machine casino in the old steel factories, which would clean up that area of the city. Bethlehem needs the slot machine casino, as all it is now is rusted steel property that will need to be demolished without the casino.

''We have a unique site in a great location and we have the best operator in the industry,'' said Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan. ''It's not just the most impressive site in the Valley, it's the most impressive in the state.''
However, there is a big uprising in the town as the Moravian Church and Citizens for a Better Bethlehem believe that bringing in slot machines to their town would destroy its historic atmosphere. The opposition in Bethlehem to the slot machines is probably one of the strongest in the state, which does not help their case. As far as Governor Rendell is concerned, you couldn’t pick a better place to bring the slot machines, as they will do exactly what he wants them to do – revitalize the state.

The Las Vegas Sands wants to open a $350 million slot machine casino in Bethlehem, and use existing buildings to do it, but opponents say that they don’t need the revenue and they can’t trust them to save the buildings. Las Vegas is one of the biggest slot machine casino companies in the world, with $1.7 billion in yearly revenues. They want to bring in 3,000 slot machines, a hotel, a movie theatre, restaurants, etc. With their location, the slot machine giant can expand which is what is really nice. Their first phase is just the slot machines and some extras. The second phase would bring in apartments, a museum, etc. When finished it would be the second biggest slot machine casino in the state, if Pocono Manor is approved as well.

The main concern seems to be the opposition to the slot machines and with Las Vegas Sands having casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Macau, how much time would actually be spent towards making Bethlehem a successful casino?

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