Dover Downs latest to add table games

Dover Downs is the last of Delaware’s three casinos to roll out table games like black jack, craps and roulette. But, at least for the next few days, it won’t be official.

It was a pretty good crowd for a Monday afternoon at Dover Downs Hotel and Casino.

And there was a pretty good reason for that: table games.

Dover Downs is the last of Delaware’s three casinos to roll out table games like black jack, craps and roulette with live dealers. But, at least for the next few days, it won’t be official.

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Like Harrington Raceway and Delaware Park before it, Dover Downs must go through a period of live training. The low-limit wagering began Monday and will likely continue through Wednesday (noon to 8 p.m.). Poker won’t be available until next month as construction continues on some upper-floor poker rooms.

If state lottery officials give the go-ahead, Dover Downs will officially start around-the-clock table games Friday.

“The third time’s the charm,” said Dover Downs President Ed Sutor. “Although we’re the third to open, I think we have one of the best facilities. So we expect to be right at the top when all things are said and done.”

Harrington Raceway (Memorial Day weekend) was the first casino in the state to offer table games, followed by Delaware Park (last Friday).

With all three of the state’s casinos on line, Delaware has accomplished its goal of offering table games before Pennsylvania, where they’re scheduled to begin next month.

“We’ll only have like a month advantage on some of the casinos over there,” Sutor said. “But psychologically, yes, we wanted to be ahead of them. We wanted to know that they’re following up on us.”

State officials estimate table games will bring $40 million in additional tax revenue to the state in the first year. Sutor says with more than 1,000 new jobs added in just the last month, the financial ripple effect will be felt in communities throughout Delaware.