Why do all the bridges in Lehigh County have a “100” rating? Because of the tax money pouring in from Sands Bethlehem. That’s causing some serious envy in Mercer County, which wants a mini-casino. “It’s almost an unfair advantage,” sputters Mercer County 
Commissioner Matthew McConnell. Mercer has ailing Shenango Valley Mall, where former Macy’s and Sears stores stand empty. A casino in an ex-department store? Stanley Ho did it in Macao, so why not follow the example in Pennsylvania? “The Macy’s space is almost 110,000 square feet, and Sears is about 65,000 square feet, so there’s certainly some available space out there,” says realtor Jim Sarvas.
The area suffers from a lack of off-season attractions, so civic leaders are hoping a casino would be a quick fix. “The tourism board feels it would help to become an all-season destination,” says Mercer County Visitors & Convention Bureau CEO Peggy Mazyck. “What we’re doing is sending letters out to the casino owners, and saying all of the things we have that would be attractive.” She might have a tough sell if lawsuits keep piling up against the mini-casino law. The latest is from Las Vegas Sands … ironic if you consider that Sands was seen to hand in a bid for the southern Pennsylvania mini-casino concession that went to Penn National Gaming. For its part, the equally litigious Penn argues that “The sole 25-mile buffer, however, is insufficient to protect Hollywood [Penn National], the company argues, because that rasino is alone and in the middle of the state.” (Even so, we’re pulling for “Hollywood Springettsbury.“)
Penn, despite its lawsuit against the commonwealth, has until Friday to get its colossal $50 million bid on York County into the kitty. It then has six months to file an application, lest it forfeit the 50 mil. It gets 75% of its dough back if regulators disapprove the bid. The no-refund provision is there to prevent Penn or other companies from squatting on licenses to deter competition. Still, if Penn is willing to overpay lavishly for Yoe, there’s nothing to stop it from carpet-bombing Pennsylvania with $50 million bids wherever a casino opportunity arises.
* In spite of a downward trend in revenue, Dan Gilbert‘s casinos in Ohio are deemed a financial success, grossing $2.8 billion in four years (less whatever management fees were 
paid to Caesars Entertainment). Players have grumbles about the Jack Entertainment loyalty program, especially since they can no longer accrue points toward visiting Las Vegas. And Gilbert has never come through with the brand-new casino he promised Cleveland. However, he did put $90 million into Jack Thistledown, mainly to spruce up the façade. An Amazon fulfillment center across the road from Thistledown is expect to, er, jack up business — which is good because Thistledown is the weakest of Gilbert’s three properties. Gilbert hasn’t been the most impressive of casino operators but he seems to be on an upward learning curve.
