I like the high ceilings and good air filtration... you don't have to breathe in second-hand smoke. When in the non-smoking section, you don't even get a whiff of cigarettes... a definite plus. In older casinos, there's no getting away from the smoke. I also like the fact that it's not overly decorated, another plus away from older garish casinos. There's plenty of food choices to make and if you just want a quick bite without waiting, there's the open food court... Great idea. I also prefer the short drive to the Sands... only 45 minutes as opposed to over 2 hours to AC. The employees at the Sands are very courteous, friendly and respectful. My only complaint is the music is TOO LOUD... it's enough to drive me out of there before I want to leave. It's so unnecessary and annoying to have that music playing at those blasting levels!!!! The one thing that I do miss from AC is progressive poker games... I wish the Sands would add them to the casino. Other than that, I do enjoy Sands but sans the din (without the racket).

Loved the commute! It takes me 2-1/2 hours to get to Atlantic City. Only 1 hour to get to the Sands. And no traffic! Wasn't really enthralled with the Casino. The Sands went the cheapest way possible -- no decor. It's just a big warehouse with all exposed steel beams and heating ducts and a bunch of slot machines plopped on the floor. No ambiance at all. It was difficult to tell the difference between the parking garage and the interior of the casino. But once you begin to play, you really don't notice your surroundings that much. The machines are all brandy new and beautiful. No old, decrepit, broken down slots here. But the downside is that they allow smoking through most of the casino, and while it is nice to sit down at a pristine new slot machine, it's disgusting when you are surrounded by stinky, overflowing ashtrays. Your hands and clothing also reek of cigarettes after playing. GROSS!!! While they do not allow table games in Pennsylvania yet, they did have really cool virtual blackjack and virtual roulette. I actually enjoyed the virtual roulette so much better than real roulette, as I didn't have to scramble to try to place my bets while reaching over other players and knocking peoples chips all over the place. And the payouts are automatically generated by computer, so the game moves along much faster. I hope they keep these virtual setups even after they get real table games. There are not enough restaurants to support the crowd, and it's not like AC where you can just go out the door to the next casino and eat there. You are pretty much stuck at the Sands no matter what. The restaurants are also poorly run. We stood on a long line waiting for a table, while we counted no less than 6-8 empty tables at all times. That's just aggravating. Also, everywhere we looked there seemed to be patrons having heated discussions with waiters and restaurant managers with complaints ranging from poor service, to poor food and billing errors. Very unprofessional. The food was mediocre, and when I asked for chopped chicken livers at the Carnegie Deli, the waitress made a face like she was going to hurl and said "Ugh. We don't serve that here." I saw very little evidence of comps. I got only $5 for signing up for a Sands card -- AC offers so much more. But then the Sands has no adjacent casinos competing for your business. Basically, I would not return to the Sands unless they had Poker, as my husband plays Poker and I play the slots, and until Poker is available, there is no reason to go. However, once they get Poker it will be a tough call. If I had an entire weekend to play, I would definitely go to Atlantic City. So much more to do there! But I have been caught in too many traffic jams on the Garden State Parkway where my 2-1/2 hour trip home from AC turned into 5 hours, and that is real torture. It's nice to know that you can jump in your car at 3 pm on Saturday, drive to Bethlehem, and be home by 10 or 11.

I live 7 min. away and we are there all the time. I really don't know why we go there so much, but we do. First of all, I don't get any free slot play anymore, although my husband does--what is with that? We also ate at the Carnegie Deli and we were not impressed. It took 3 tries to get the correct bill total when using comps and a gift card. What a mess! I wrote an email to the casino concerning the problem, no response. The decor of the place is horrible and it looks like a plane hanger. We've been to slots in the neighboring states and even others in PA and you can really tell the Sands cheaped out when they built this building. I hardly ever leave in the plus column and I feel fortunate if I break even. Seriously, I just go for the entertainment, such that it is. The bands on the whole are pretty good, but the area where the stage is is way too small, and is very crowded. Again, poor use of the space. At least the place is employing people and the area looks better than it did. Hey, Mr. Addelson, finish the blasted hotel before you go building something else in FL, darn it!!!

My husband and I go to the sands all the time. We just love it there. We recently have a new found love for it when my husband won a brand new car! Couldn't ask for more than that!!

First a little background on me. I grew up in the Lehigh Valley and moved away when I turned 18. I am now 38. Most of my family still lives there and I get back usually once to twice a year. I currently live in Columbia, SC and the nearest casino is Cherokee in N.C. I won't go there simply because it's awful with terrible paybacks and is a very smoky place. I've been to the Sands four times in the past 8 months. The first time was over 4th of July in 2009. I played penny and 2 cent slots. I dropped about $80 in 45 minutes. As I was getting ready to leave I decided to drop another $40 in and hit within 5 minutes for $525. I cashed out and thanked the Sands for helping to pay for my vacation. I went a total of three times in December of 2009 over Christmas. The first time I went and again played penny slots and lost $100 in about 30 minutes. OK that wasn't fun. Went back later in the week to eat at Emeril's Burgers and More (B.A.M). After dinner the wife and I played penny slots and after putting $40 in I hit for $570. I cashed out and left. I went back two days later to take my mom to the new Carnegie Deli (it's awesome BTW). I won $100 before we ate. After we ate we played some more and I went to a "Wolly Mammoth" penny slot. I put $80 into the machine and within 5 minutes I hit for almost 70,000 credits ($700). Again, I cashed out. I did go into the high roller room and put $100 into a Wheel of Fortune $1 machine. I spun whatever spins $100 gave me and didn't win a penny. Now am I just totally lucky to win over $1,500 in three separate trips this year? I'm sure luck has a LOT to do with it as this is slots not poker or BJ. That being said, I've always found the trip to "winning" at slots is when you get up (double your original investment or more) cash out, walk away, and say "thank you very much" to the casino and enjoy the rest of your day. With table games coming in 2010 I am quite excited to see what the Sands will turn into. The restaurants are pretty good at this place. The atmosphere is kind of dead, but I think the table games will change that.

Save your money! I think the cocktail serveres who are far and few to find, should be handing out free no-doze pills to keep you awake! The machines do not pay out! At one point 38 spins on the slot machine 36 times the front wheel drew a blank space taking you completely out of the interest of playing the machines. In the last 6 months I have seen 2 jackpots go off. It is nothing to spend $100 in a machine and within 10 minutes it's gone. The place is like a funeral parlor. No-action. No winners. Nothing! You have a better chance of jumping off the bridge and surviving the fall than hitting a win on the slots. I can see the same thing happening as it has in AC. You get tired of losing every time you visit. Just stay home and drink a beer it will be far more enjoyable and more exciting than this place. How do the sands executives sleep at night? This is just legalized robbery at its best.

We were in the area and decided to stop in. Only $5 bonus play for first time club cards! Sheesh. No atmosphere at all. It's like an airplane hangar. The place is beautiful, but there is no noise, no energy. It feels flat. And, no fun. Most machines we played are "death marchers"; blank... blank... blank... cherry... blank... blank.... We ate at Carnegie Deli, which is no bargain but the food is good and plentiful; $18 for a corned beef Reuben, but it was quality lean corned beef and lasted for 3 filling meals.

I was really looking forward to going to this place! I should have read the reviews first then they wouldn't have taken all my money!! It took hours to get a drink, the slot selection just sucked and it really wasn't that neat of a place! This place makes me never want to gamble again!! If you want to have fun, don't waste your time!!! SERIOUSLY DON'T GO !!!!!!

This has got to be the WORST slot parlor I've ever laid foot in. Someone from the casino "corporate" must have done great market research and found that people in this area will just throw away money if there is even an inkling that they MIGHT get something back. I agree with the other posts, all the free play in the world does not keep people coming back .... paying out does. I live about 5 minutes from the place and go to walk around ... and every once in a while I put some money in knowing that I will NOT be getting anything back. I am pleasantly surprised when I get to play even the slightest bit more than I have put in. Overpriced Food + mediocre slot selection + very bad payouts = a place that is not fun to visit. At least back when the casinos were run by the movers and shakers, they at least tried to make it seem like you had a chance to win something.

I go here every month even though I am a table game player, (which I hope to see at the sands in near future.) I do play roulette on the machines, I think there is a good selection of machines and find there are always machines available. I love the selections in the food court. I am also happy that I am sent credit money each month to use. The ride there is so easy too and it's much closer for us then going to AC. I also like that there are many workers to help, and I find them all to be pleasant. I will continue to visit each month and must say there is nothing to enjoy outside the casino though, but that's ok with me too. One thing I have to say is I found a bit cheap of the casino is the lanyard, the springy stretchy wire that holds your players card. They charge $2.00 for it in the gift shop where other casinos will give it to you free...

This is not a casino - it's a slot parlor, so don't get your hopes up too high.
They do have a convenient enclosed parking area, although it can be tricky to navigate.

Inside is a large, rectangular, high ceiling open area where all the slots are arranged with ample aisle room to walk around. Being a slot connoisseur for many, many years, I was very disappointed in the selection of machines.

A majority of the slots are the new low denomination (penny and nickel) video and multi reel and loaded with gimmicks machines where you are encouraged to play the maximum bet, usually around 2 or 3 dollars and are set up to offer low paybacks.

There are very few 'traditional' 3 reel spinning slots of 50 cents and 1 dollar. The selection of high roller slot machines are no better. Unfortunately, this is the trend of the new corporate-owned casinos. They are only interested in extracting as much money as possible from their patrons with no regards for building loyalty or providing a decent gaming experience. I found them much less payout friendly than Atlantic City, which is not that great either.

The food and customer service is about average. In all, this facility is good for locals to pass their time and dream a bit, but it is not for the serious player.

I was at the casino for the 1st time and i was pleasantly surprised how nice it was inside. The machines were good, not that i won alot on them but i played quite a while on my money. I did win one of the hourly raffles they give. It was a $500 gift certificate to Lowes. I was in total shock since i have NEVER won a raffle at any casino.

The employees there are very pleasant and the food court was also very nice. You have a varity of foods to eat and the prices are not bad at all. I was thrilled to have Nathan's there.... The casino itself smelled very nice i was skeptic from one review i read on here prior to going. I was Shocked i didnt smell the smoking section at all and i was playing in it and it was NOT that bad at all.. YES i would go back again that's for sure

Have been to the Sands twice since I am close. The place leaves me cold. The machines do not pay. Never saw anyone hit a jackpot. If you want people to come you need to give them something to come for like a win once in awhile. All the free play in the world makes no difference. The video table games are lame. Walking past the BJ table and the video girl is saying "play with me Baby", give me a break people. If you sit at a slot you can spend a lot of money in a very short time. A little give and take would be helpful and keep people there longer. Most of my friends agree.
Hope they pass the table law in PA.
On a plus, I found the people that work there to be very friendy, esp. those at the bar and the valet guys. Ate at both resturants and both were fine.

You can not get lost in this place. Machines were up to date, very clean, fun to play, and I left with more than I brought with me. I play at alot of casinos in Pa. Del. WV. NJ. and Vegas and do not by far win all the time. Having a good time and being treated well makes my trip worthwhile. I definitely will return. This is a new casino and those working there are proud of this addition in their community. Nothing is 100 percent but I'm sure it will even get better with time. To the naysayers, if you constantly lose don't blame others for your misfortune, get a 4 leaf clover and start all over again.

From the outside its obvious the place is still under construction. Little to no signage. Still looks like rusted steel mill from the outside. Hotel is under construction as is additional gaming space. Interior keeps a bit of the steel mill theme. Simple, tasteful and machines are very widely spaced. Very wide aisles prevent people from bumping into each other. Machines all new and there is a good variety.

Only two sit down restaurants: Emiril's - very,very expensive and an Irish Pub which is reasonably priced with a 2 hour wait at 6PM on a Saturday and they do not take reservations. Food court is better than most, good variety and reasonably priced. No buffet.

Staff was reasonably friendly, waitress service very uneven depending on your location on the gaming floor. Alcohol is free - major advantage over competitors Mohegan Sun @ Pocono and Mt. Airy where liquor is free to only premium card members. Needs more restaurants and I'll bet when the place is done they will have them and much more. Off to a better than decent start.

Surrounding area is grim, very grim. I hope the casino/hotel sparks local development. Stark difference from bucolic Mt. Airy setting and open spaces of Mohegan Sun @ Pocono. Completed hotel better have extraordinary amenities for anyone to want to stay overnight in this neck of the rust belt.

Very open and easy to get around, good selection of slots. Food was very good and employees were helpful.

No charge for drinks at the machines was a plus. Alot of future additions are planned Hotel,shops etc. I do not expect to win everytime I gamble but having a good time means alot. I enjoyed this casino and expect it only to get better with time. I will return.

I live in the area so I was exposed to the years of hype which preceded the opening of this casino a couple of months ago. Maybe that's why visiting it for the first couple of times was so disappointing.

First of all, I expected something built on a truly grand scale. I've been to Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, and I expected it to be AT LEAST as nice as that, but it doesn't even approach the grandness factor of MS. When I walk into a casino--any casino--for the first time, I expect to feel as if I've been transported to another world. The Bethlehem Sands casino doesn't do that. Well, let me rephrase that. It didn't transport me to a world where I wanted to be!

If you're 65 or older, you might like the atmosphere. (Trust me, you'll fit right in with the rest of the clientele.) But for a younger individual, the Sands leaves a lot to be desired. Yes, there are restaurants and bars, but basically, this is just a ginormous room filled with every kind of slot machine under the sun, and that's all folks! Oh wait, I forgot, it's smoky, too. (As a former smoker, that's not something I appreciated.) If slots, drinks and ciggies are enough to keep you entertained, then you may enjoy this place. But for those with discerning tastes, accustomed to sophistication, don't expect a lot if you visit. This was obviously built by Sands to lower standards than anything they would have built in Vegas or any other cosmopolitan locale (i.e. Hong Kong, Macau, etc.). In short, it could have been a lot more than what it is.

played slots for two hours, spent 300.00 won 10 units once 2 units twice. Not one waitress showed up to take our drinks. We went to valet and it cost 7.00. About 70 people waiting for their cars to get out of there. 30 minutes later, I get my car the rest of the people STILL waiting and pissed at me for getting my car before them ( no idea how that happenned). The casino is nothing more than a barn with slots. Borgata has it beat by a mile, don't waste your time or money. i've been to casinos all over the world, this was the worst.

Despite the less than stellar reviews I have read about the Sands, I like to check things up and form my own opinion.

Well, I visited the Sands this past Friday, and here's my opinion of the place..
Nice from the outside, parking decent, inside doesn't look bad. For a place that just opened, I would expect alot more smiles and "can I help you with anything" attitude.

They should have followed the Borgatas(AC) grand opening operations, which was in my opinion flawless. Lots of help standing around and not helping without being asked.Drink service so so.

I was there from about 9pm till 3am, and did not see ONE jackpot go off. If you're a video poker player, forget it. The best Jacks or Better you can find is 8/5 $1 machines. Quarters are 7/5. They have blackjack tables with virtual dealers, which I've never seen before, but had no desire to play. Fun level was nill compared to the Borgata. This place just doesn't do it for me...

We expected a slot parlor not a glitzy Vegas or AC casino, and it was better than expected.

We've visited other slot parlor's in other states and this was definitely nicer. Drink service was fast, the casino was clean, and employees were very helpful.

It was very crowded and empty penny machines were hard to find, but it was a holiday weekend, so we expected it to be crowded. The slots were similar to those in AC and seemed looser then AC (where we go about once a month).

It was a shorter ride than the ride south on the GSP, especially on a summer holiday weekend. All in all, we really enjoyed our visit and will definitely go back.

After being in over 100 casino in 20 states and 15 countries, and just staying at Venetian and Palazzo "My favorite Las Vegas Casino" this May, I was looking forward to Bethelem.

Drove from Philadelphia to Bethelem in 1-1/2 hours and the signs were poor, my Club Grazie did not work, and even getting in from the parking garage, it? was poorly marked.

The slot area was poorly arranged and the machines were of older style, poor paying , and were not very inviting.

Even though a smoking area was set up, peaple were smoking all over the casino. There were plenty of staff but they were not helpful. I had to wait over an hour to get a drink and eventually gave up and had to get my own. So If you want a Vegas Style Casino in Pennsylvania I recommend Harrah.s in Chester.

What a bust.

Atlantic City has NOTHING to be afraid of from this disappointing destination.

Don't waste a trip, there isn't any fun here.

Casino was nice. Slot employees were very helpful. Needs actual table games though. no video ones.

YES Lots of seniors but the employees were very helpful. They helped my mom get her player card without standing in line,I got my drink in 5 minutes and it had lots of different types of slot machines.
I will go back even thought I lost !!!!!!!!

I was expecting something different. The Sands Casino in Atlantic City was geared more towards a fun and party atmosphere. This place is senior citizen heaven - it has very little Video Poker, it is impossible to get a drink and it had way too many people in it. Unless you are a local - it is a waste of a trip.

I also thought the employees were not very good - none of them looked happy - they looked like they could not wait until their shift ended and that is what it made it bad for me. I could have won $5000.00 and I still will most likely never go back.