Not sure if anyone knew about this, but there’s a casino opening in Bethlehem. Yeah. Seriously. Turns out they’ve been building it for over a year now…who knew? The project we’ve all been patiently waiting for to finish, finally has. You may not be one of the scores of old people waiting for them to open their doors tomorrow morning at 8AM, but the Sands is definitely something worth checking out this weekend.

Unfortunately for me a friend of mine is getting married in Ohio this weekend. I love weddings (READ: I love the open bar at the reception) so normally this wouldn’t be a problem, but she didn’t even have to decency to check and see if any casinos were opening this weekend in Bethlehem. How rude, right? So I’m relying on all of you to check it out and tell me about it. Look at you, all grown up, going off to the casino without your old man. Is it OK that I’m living vicariously through you this weekend? It better be, because I expect a full report on Monday’s Weekend Recap comment board…that and I want 15% of all your winnings. Have fun!

In just a few days the Sands Bethlehem Casino and Resort will open it’s doors to the public. I had the opportunity to take a sneak peek tour of the casino, and I gotta say, I’m very impressed. When I toured the casino about a month ago I was skeptical that it would come together in time…but it did. Here are some pictures I snagged from the casino floor.

According to Sands Bethlehem President Robert DeSalvio, it is expected that around 5 million visitors will walk through the casino’s doors. Around 50% of those visitors are expected to come from the NYC and NJ areas. What are your thoughts on what this influx of tourists and visitors will do to Bethlehem and the rest of the Lehigh Valley? Personally, I’m a little bit nervous. I love Bethlehem. I love it’s character, it’s history, and it’s people. Only time will tell what kind of impact the Sands Bethlehem Casino will have on the Lehigh Valley, but it’s safe to say that starting this Friday, things will never be the same again.

If you’ve been to Bethlehem’s Southside within the past couple of years you’ve probably noticed the huge construction project that is currently underway. Scheduled to open on May 22 this year, the Sands Casino & Resort Bethlehem has been under construction since May 14, 2007. Local residents are split on what type of impact the Casino will have on the Valley, but for or against the Sands project one thing is for certain, Bethlehem’s Southside will never be the same.

I had the opportunity to take a hardhat tour of the work in progress casino and was able to see firsthand some of the bars and clubs that the local scene will soon be flocking to. Even if gambling is not your thing, the floor of the Sands casino will have a lot to offer. At the center of the gaming floor is “Coil”, a large round bar surrounded by slot machines. The pictures below may not do it justice, but take my word for it…”Coil” is massive, one of the biggest bars I’ve ever seen. If live entertainment is your thing you’re going to want to check out “Molten”, where you’ll find VIP seating and a stage for bands and other performers. Looking for a break from the gaming action? Head to “Infusion”, a trendy ultra lounge off the gaming floor. If you get hungry in the middle of a hot streak, there are plenty of options for you to choose from. “Emeril’s Chop House” will be serving up traditional steak house fare with a kick like only Emeril Lagasse can bring. The “St James Gate” is an Irish Pub themed restaurant named after the Irish brewery that has been home to Guinness since 1759.

There’s still a lot of work to be done to make sure everything is ready in time for the Grand Opening on May 22. But construction crews are working hard to meet that deadline. So, what do you all think? Like what the casino has to offer? Disappointed? More importantly, will you be there opening day?