Gaming News

Pennsylvania casinos facing stiff competition

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania -- As reported by Republican & Herald: "Casinos in eastern Pennsylvania face stronger competition for gambling dollars with the opening this spring of Sands Casino in Bethlehem and the addition of 4,500 slot machines to the Aqueduct race track in Queens, N.Y., industry analysts said Tuesday at a trade conference.

"Competition and tight credit will be watchwords for the gaming industry in Pennsylvania and nationwide during the next few years, said speakers at several forums sponsored by the Pennsylvania Gaming Congress.

"The Bethlehem casino is viewed as competing for customers in northern New Jersey. But a Luzerne County casino executive isn't worried about competition on his home turf.

"'I think there will be some cannibalization (of customers),' Robert Soper, CEO of Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Plains Township, said. 'Our bread and butter customer comes from Northeast Pennsylvania. (Sands Casino) is not overlapping with our primary market.'

"Mohegan Sun played a prominent role as a host of the annual event, while trustee-run Mount Airy Casino Resort in Paradise Township was conspicuous by its absence..."

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