Wind Creek Bethlehem is the latest brick and mortar casino in Pennsylvania to join the growing number of legal online casinos in the Keystone State. Patrons can now access internet slots and table games from within the casino.
On Thursday, Pala Interactive and Wind Creek Hospitality announced the launch of their new partnership and the offering of online gambling. Pala Interactive content will be added to Wind Creek’s existing free-to-play social casino. Pala, in turn, is providing Wind Creek with online player account management and its real money casino.
A Look at the Details
Wind Creek President and CEO Jay Dorris said “Pala Interactive has been a great partner supporting our needs throughout the preparation for this launch.” He went on, “We are impressed by the quality of their online 
gaming platform, their knowledge and guidance related to all matters necessary to securing regulatory approval, supplier content, payment, and other relevant supply agreements. Together, we are positioned to deliver our customers a state-of-the-art online gaming experience and we look forward to a long term and successful relationship.”
According to Wind Creek, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board approved of a July 24 launch of the online casino. Wind Creek also looks forward to the introduction of sports betting to its offerings. This next phase will be offered in conjunction with Scientific Games and Betfred USA Sports. Wind Creek Hospitality hopes to roll out its sports betting platform in the Fall of this year.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board originally approved of an online gambling license in October of 2018 when the property was owned by Las Vegas Sands Corp. as Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. The company’s Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson was a long-time opponent of online gambling. He only agreed to pursue the online gambling license as part of the $1.3 billion sale of the property to Wind Creek Hospitality which closed on May 31 of 2019.
State of Online Gambling in Pennsylvania
Wind Creek has introduced online gambling much later than some of Pennsylvania’s other casino names . Richard McGarvey, Spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board confirmed that Wind Creek is the ninth casino to offer online gambling in the state. The first was Bucks County gambling hall, Parx Casino which launched online gambling on July 17 of 2019. Mount Airy Casino Resort located in Monroe County launched its online gambling platform on November 6 of 2019 including online slots, poker, and tables. This casino partnership operates under the PokerStars name online.
As of June, Pennsylvania reported online gambling revenues of roughly $50 million, down from $55 million in May. This is due in large part to the shutdown effects of Covid-19 and the closures of the state’s brick and mortar gambling halls. Wind Creek Bethlehem reopened to the public in late June. Capacity is limited per state health guidelines and several restrictions are present to ensure guests and casino workers stay socially distant. However, the state has seen revenues double since March when it was reporting just under $25 million in online gambling revenue.