HARRISBURG, Pa. — Wind Creek Casino can operate for another five years after securing a gaming license renewal Wednesday from the state Gaming Control Board.
In order to renew their operating license, a casino’s management must prove to the board they are essentially a good corporate neighbor, which complies with state regulations, shows “good character, honesty and integrity,” and betters the community which hosts it, according to a statement from the board.
The Gaming Control Board held a pair of hearings ahead of the vote. The first, in Bethlehem earlier this year, gave representatives of Wind Creek and state gaming regulators a chance to provide evidence to the board.
During the hearing, Wind Creek gave a presentation about their operations, with a focus on contributions to community groups, plans to redevelop more former Bethlehem Steel land, and updated efforts to prevent parents from leaving minors unattended on casino grounds.
Compliance officers responsible for enforcing gaming laws at Wind Creek also testified to what kind of issues they have seen over the last five years, and told the board they said they saw no reason to block their license renewal.
The second hearing, in Harrisburg Wednesday morning, gave board members a chance to ask direct questions of casino representatives before voting on whether to renew their license. Members of the body ultimately voted unanimously to grant Wind Creek’s application.
The casino now called Wind Creek has brought in more than $7 billion in revenue from gambling since its 2009 founding as Sands Bethlehem, according to the gaming control board.
Over that same period, the casino paid roughly $2.9 billion into the Commonwealth’s coffers, state regulators said.
