First Delaware table game numbers are in

Delaware Park and Dover Downs begin table games over next two weeks. Pa table games are close and Md. gets ready for slots

The state of Delaware made $42,960 for the first week of table games at Harrington race track and casino.  That’s based on $1.2 million in bets.  Those who gambled won $1.12 million back. 

The state lottery office, which runs the casinos, posts monthly numbers of winnings.  Wayne Lemons, state lottery director, said the numbers are based on the period of May 24-30th.  The first 3 days were considered a soft launch where the state reviewed how the games would work.  Full time 24 hour table games began May 28th.

The second year of NFL sports betting will begin in August.  Lemons says the state lottery office will once again offer parlay betting at the the beginning of the NFL exhibition season.  The first game is slated for August 8th with all teams beginning their exhibition games the following week. 

Delaware Park will be the second racino to begin table games.  Their period of review begins Monday.  They hope that if the state gives the okay they can begin full time table games on June 18th at noon.

Dover Downshad 24 gaming tables delivered last week.  They expect their state period of review to begin June 21st.  Full time table games should roll out on Friday June 25th.  That casino is working on adding a poker room by mid-July.

All three racinos claim they’ll each add 350 new jobs because of table games.  Dover Downs says many of those new hires are from Delaware.   The three venues are the only places in Delaware to offer slots or table games.  The state legislature has gone back and forth on whether to add two more casinos, one in Wilmington and another in Sussex County.  Last week, House Majority leader, State Representative Pete Schwartzkopf(D-Rehoboth) believed he didn’t have the votes to authorize non-racino venues.  He has said he’ll pull a bill off the table for now and hopefully reintroduce it next January. 

On the May 21st edition of First the Delaware racinos said they needed to be in the table games business before Pennsylvania or Maryland began their version of table games.

Some Pennsylvania casinos will start testing table games July 6 with many going online to the public as early as July 8.  Penn National Gaming, Inc., which will operate the Hollywood casino off I-95 in Perryville, Md. says it will have its slot machines up and running by September 30th.