Pa. casino opening hotel; others may follow

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) — Nearly a year after the arrival of table games in Pennsylvania, a few of the state’s casinos are adding “stay” to “play.“

They’re building luxurious hotels meant to entice high-rolling patrons to linger longer and gamble more.

Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem was showing off its long-awaited 300-room hotel this afternoon.

At least one other Pennsylvania casino, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, anticipates breaking ground on a hotel this year. And a third, Mount Airy Casino Resort in the Poconos, hopes to double the size of its existing hotel to meet high demand for rooms.

Analysts say hotels are a logical next step in the development of Pennsylvania’s thriving 5-year-old casino industry.