Slot Machines Will Affect Bethlehem

Usually when a town brings in slot machines they are in a desperate state and have exhausted all other options. Bethlehem is the exception to the rule, they are bringing it in to revitalize the town – but they are not going to sacrifice the charm that the town already has, just to bring slot machines in.

They are planning on working with the architecture that is already in place so that the slot machine casino does not stand out around it, but some are still not convinced that this will help and are concerned that the slot machines will be gaudy and stand out. But along with the slot machine casino, there will be a museum to enlighten visitors to the steel industry’s history.

By bringing in the museum to go with the slot machine casino, the town will assuredly find an increase in their monetary worth. Since the steel works closed down, the town has seen a drop in their real estate market – a 2% drop since 1994. The slot machine casino has gotten the approval of the mayor of Bethlehem, if for no other reason than the improvement of real estate value it will give them.

The slot machine casino will also be required to pay the city what is called a “host fee” which will bring in the larger of $10 million a year to Bethlehem or 2% of their revenue. Opponents felt the slot machine casino would stick out in their town, and felt that it was too close to Lehigh University and several churches.

Some think that although the slot machine casino will change the town in many ways, it won’t ruin the town. Others think that the problem with bringing in the slot machine casino is that they won’t feel the need to invest in the town because they are not from it. Many business owners don’t worry about that, because they say that the slot machine casino is going to bring in tourists and once they see Bethlehem, they believe they will keep coming back.

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