Pennsylvania To Compete With Atlantic City

May 18, 2009 - Written by Meagan

Atlantic City just might be replaced as the top destination for gamblers by the state of Pennsylvania, or at least that seems to be their end game. Pennsylvania has opened Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, it's first step towards becoming a competitor to Atlantic City. The casino will open it's doors Friday, and will most likely draw a large amount of customers in it's first months. However the itinerary for the start of this week consists of last minute chores.

The casino will be visited by the Gaming Control Board this Monday, who will be trying the 3,000 slot machines that were recently installed. The testing going on Monday will be only those who have been invited and the money made will be donated to charity. There will also be a testing day Wednesday, the revenue will also go to chairity since casinos who have not been approved cannot legally keep the money.

Money, however, is not the main concern during these beginning test days, working out any kinks that show up from the machines will be the main focus. Once the testing day on Wednesday is over, all of the effort will be in preparing the casino for it's grand opening on Friday, for which the head count expected is in the thousands.

This casino is not the only one being built, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are expecting new casinos as well. Atlantic City's money generated from it's casinos is at an all time low, so perhaps Pensylvania will stand a chance to knock it from it's gambling haven title.