Sands Casino applies for Pennsylvania online licence

Sheldon Adelson’s Sands Resort Casino Bethlehem is among the last-minute operators to apply for an online gambling licence from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

However the apparent contradiction of this move with Adelson’s vehement opposition to online gambling has a logical explanation – Sands is busy trying to complete a $1.3 billion deal which will see it acquired by Alabama company Wind Creek Hospitality, and an online licence is part of the agreement.

Sands explains its position in a footnote to the application, saying:

“Sands submits this petition in the interest of Wind Creek so that, if approved, and after Wind Creek acquires the purchased interests, Sands can conduct interactive gaming in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

Las Vegas Sands spokesman Ron Reese emphasised his company’s position by adding that if the sale to Wind Creek did not complete Las Vegas Sands has no intention of operating any online gambling activity.

What remains unclear is whether Wind Creek will ultimately reimburse Sands for the $10 million online gambling licence fee once the acquisition is finalised.

By the end of Monday, when the window for discounted licence fees closed, a total of nine Pennsylvanian operators had submitted applications for all three licence categories.

Six casinos applied for licenses on Monday: Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem; Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course; Valley Forge Casino Resort; Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack; Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh and SugarHouse Casino in Fishtown.

Three casinos applied last week: Parx in Bensalem, Mt. Airy in the Poconos, and the yet-to-be-built Stadium Casino in South Philadelphia (see previous report).

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