Betting on Bethlehem explores the social, economic, and developmental impact of the Sands Casino on the local South Bethlehem, PA community.

During the 20th century, Bethlehem was a center of industrial production, being home to the second largest steel producer in the country: Bethlehem Steel. After the closing of Bethlehem Steel in the late 1990s, the city suffered great economic loss and social ramifications; including increased unemployment, loss of identity, and diminishing social programs.

In 2004, following Pennsylvania’s legalization of gaming, Bethlehem, in partnership with the Sands Casino corporation, successfully placed a bid to wine one of the nine gaming licenses available in the state. After great debate, the city welcomed the development of the Sands Casino on the site of the old steel plant, in the hopes for economic revitalization and ancillary development.

A decade after the casino’s opening, student filmmakers began to study the impact it has had on the local, South Side community. They conducted extensive research and talked to gambling experts, local politicians, Sands Casino representatives, Bethlehem residents, and many others. What they found through their research was a vastly complicated story surrounding the casino’s impact on the community. The biggest takeaway, however, was that no matter the belief of each individual, Bethlehem residents are extremely passionate about their community and have a full stake in its future. The film seeks to demonstrate this passion and marry these perspectives, embracing the complexity of the matter and exposing both the successes and disappointments which resulted from the casino’s development.

While the film’s story has a narrow focus on the local Bethlehem community, its implications are broad. Today, casinos are popping up all over the nation, particularly in post-industrial communities. The events that take place in Bethlehem are reflective of a larger national story regarding the sustainability and longevity of this kind of development.