The Poarch Band of Creek Indians continues to expand its gaming empire beyond the tribe's homelands in Alabama.
Wind Creek Hospitality, the tribe's gaming and entertainment arm, plans to acquire Sands Bethlehem, a commercial casino in Pennsylvania, for $1.3 billion. The deal is subject to regulatory review. "The quality of the property and dedication of the team members to genuinely engage with customers was evident from the first time we visited the property," Chairwoman Stephanie Bryan said in a press release on Thursday. Wind Creek runs three gaming facilities on the tribe's 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 Poarch Band isn't the only tribe with gaming interests in Pennsylvania. The Mohegan Tribe owns and operates Mohegan Sun Pocono in Wilkes-Barre Sands Bethlehem is about 70 miles south of Mohegan Sun. The 159,000 square-foot property is currently owned by Las Vegas Sands Corp. of Nevada. "Sands Bethlehem has become one of the leading regional entertainment and gaming destinations in the United States and we are extremely proud of the positive contributions the property has made for Bethlehem, the Lehigh Valley and Eastern Pennsylvania," Sheldon G. Adelson, the company's chairman and chief executive officer, said in the press release. Read More on the Story: