Artist's rendering of the Wind Creek Bethlehem in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Image: Wind Creek Hospitality

Business Deals | Openings & Closings | Regulation

Poarch Band of Creek Indians joins commercial gaming industry in Pennsylvania

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians has secured regulatory approval to acquire and operate a commercial casino in Pennsylvania.

Wind Creek Hospitality, the tribe's gaming and entertainment arm, is buying the Sands Bethlehem for $1.4 billion. The deal was approved by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board at a public meeting on Wednesday.

The property will now be known as Wind Creek Bethlehem. The tribe plans to invest $190 million on a new 276-room hotel tower, a 42,000 square-foot event space and a 105,000 square-foot indoor water and adventure park.

“We believe we are in the process of acquiring a great casino resort,” Wind Creek Vice President of Business Development Arthur Mothershed said at the meeting, LehighValleyLive.Com reported. “What we’d like to end up with is a great resort destination.”

The Poarch Band joins the Mohegan Tribe in operating a commercial facility in Pennsylvania. The Mohegans own and operate Mohegan Sun Pocono in Wilkes-Barre, about 70 miles north of the Bethlehem property.

Wind Creek Hospitality runs three gaming facilities on the Poarch Creek Reservation in Alabama. Additionally, the firm operates commercial racetracks in Alabama and Florida, manages a casino in Nevada for the Washoe Tribe and recently acquired two gaming resorts in the Caribbean.

"The purchase of the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem is a valuable addition to the tribe's existing gaming portfolio," Chairwoman Stephanie Bryan said in a press release. "This investment will expand and complement our already extensive Wind Creek Hospitality brand's offerings, and bring added economic growth to the Lehigh Valley."