NEW SLOTS AT THE SANDS

By Matt Assad OF THE MORNING CALL

November 21, 2009

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After months of talking about it, officials at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem decided they didn't want to wait even one extra minute to open the casino's new section of gambling floor.

So at the stroke of midnight tonight, they'll throw down the barriers and fling open a casino expansion that includes 250 new slot machines, two new restaurants and the Infusion lounge.

Sunday marks the casino's six-month anniversary, when Sands can legally expand gambling.

''We're ready to go,'' said Sands President Robert DeSalvio. ''Why would we wait even one minute?''

To be sure, Sands once had much higher hopes. When the casino opened May 22, DeSalvio said he planned to add 2,000 slot machines in the new section, which has been behind a curtain at the rear of the main gaming floor.

But the global recession intervened and revenues from the existing 3,000 machines fell below projections, so Sands elected to add 250 machines.

The daily take of $219 per machine Sands had last month is well below the $300 Wall Street gaming analyst Robert LaFleur of Susquehanna Financial Group predicted before the casino opened. It's even below the $255 Sands projected it could do with 5,000 machines.

Still, DeSalvio said the new section will help the casino grow, even if it's not happening as fast as he had hoped.

What visitors will see in the expansion area is a wide open gaming floor -- with room to add table games later -- that includes the new machines, plus about 400 machines moved from other parts of the casino.

In addition, they'll find a third lounge. Infusion is to be a more intimate, quieter bar specializing in ''infused'' fruit and alcohol drinks with names like High Voltage, Monkey Wrench, Nuclear Reaction and Sledge Hammer.

Perhaps the two biggest draws for the new portion will be the restaurants. Emeril Lagasse will open his Burgers and More eatery, his first-ever burger joint, featuring gourmet burgers, hand-cut fries, onion rings, salads, shakes and malts. You can even build your own burger, if you're willing to part with $14.50.

A few paces away, Manhattan deli owner Sandy Levine will open a third location for his Carnegie Deli, which is known for its massive pastrami, corned beef and brisket sandwiches, named after stars like Woody Allen and stuffed with at least a pound of meat.

''If you can put your mouth around one of our sandwiches, then we made a mistake,'' Levine said Friday as he prepared for the opening. ''We don't give you a knife and fork for nothing.''

The 150-seat deli, like the one in Manhattan, is decorated with a collection of autographed photos. But this deli has a distinctly Pennsylvania theme that includes Dan Marino, Sylvester Stallone, Joe Frazier, Mike Ditka and George Lucas.

If fact, Sands decided it couldn't even wait until midnight to open the restaurants. Because the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board only forbids gambling expansion for six months, both restaurants will open today at 6 p.m.

Sands tonight will remove the barriers to reveal the nearly 40,000-square-foot section of floor that's been hidden behind a red curtain since opening.

A ceremonial grand opening -- to include an appearance by Lagasse and Levine -- is scheduled for Dec. 1.

In the meantime, Sands will continue planning how it will again shuffle its gaming floor to fit 80 to 100 table games, such as poker, roulette and craps, once Pennsylvania legislators approve them.

Though that's expected to happen soon, it remains unclear how soon table games will show up in casinos.

But DeSalvio is certain of one thing.

''Once they're legal,'' he said, ''we'll have them the minute we're allowed.''