Delaware Park Casino Renovation Expected to Be Ready This Fall

Posted on: July 6, 2023, 10:24h. 

Last updated on: July 6, 2023, 08:33h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

A $10 million renovation of the racetrack’s casino floor is underway at Delaware Park Casino & Racing in Stanton, Del., southwest of the Wilmington capital.

Delaware Park casino racino renovation
The casino floor at Delaware Park is undergoing a major renovation. The owners of the racino hope to have the overhaul finished this fall. (Image: Delaware Park Casino & Racing)

Announced last month, the Delaware Park Casino’s overhaul of its main gaming space will result in a high-end baccarat and blackjack pit, more pod-style slot cabinet configurations, and new food and beverage offerings.

Delaware Park found a new owner in November 2021 after being owned for nearly four decades by the Rickman family. The racino was sold to Canadian private equity firm Clairvest Group and Rubico Gaming for more than $90 million. Thomas Benninger, a former Caesars Entertainment board member who founded Global Leveraged Capital, a private investment and advisory firm, controls Rubico Gaming.

The Rickman family retained ownership of the White Clay Country Club, which was formerly part of the Delaware Park complex.

The new owners of the racino brought on casino veteran Terry Glebocki in March to run the place. The former Ocean Casino Resort CEO turned around the fortunes of the Atlantic City property and is now planning to do the same with the northern Delaware property she’s overseeing.

Updates Needed

In a press release, Delaware Park’s ownership group explained the $10 million renovation budget is geared toward modernizing the casino with fresh slots and updated fixtures. The project includes custom chandeliers and lighting, gaming furniture, carpeting, vaulted ceilings, and murals.

The casino’s VIP bar is also being expanded. Glebocki, who is the president and general manager of Delaware Park, says the refresh will bring Las Vegas and Atlantic City a bit closer to home for the casino’s regional guests.

The renovation will usher a new look and future for Delaware Park Casino & Racing, bringing notes of Las Vegas and Atlantic City to Delaware,” Glebocki said. “Our goal is to make the property more modern and comfortable for our existing guests as well as to attract new audiences, making our casino a premier destination in the region.”

Delaware Park began the $10 million renovation last month, and is expected to have the overhaul completed sometime this fall. The property currently has about 1,900 slot machines and 40 table games, plus a poker room. The casino additionally features a sportsbook.

Slot machines at Delaware’s three brick-and-mortar casinos are technically video lottery terminals that determine whether a spin wins or loses based on simulated lottery games. The three racinos, Bally’s Dover, and Harrington Raceway & Casino operate the games on the Delaware Lottery’s behalf.

The racinos keep about 44% of the gross proceeds the machines win. The state takes 38%, with 11% allocated to horse racing purses and the remaining 8% for vendor fees.

The racinos also share about 15% of their table win with the state lottery. Another 5% goes to track purses.

Market Leader

Delaware Park Casino is the top casino in terms of gross gaming revenue (GGR) in the state.

With one month still to report in the state’s 2023 fiscal year, Delaware Park generated GGR of more than $148.8 million from its VLTs and about $61.2 million from its table games. That makes for a combined haul of roughly $210 million. Bally’s Dover’s GGR from its slots and tables during the same 11 months was approximately $198.1 million, and Harrington’s GGR totaled $124.2 million.

Bally’s has been narrowing the gap with Delaware Park since the Rhode Island-based firm acquired the racino in 2019.