Delaware Park Casino Renovation Expected to Be Ready This Fall

Work is currently in progress on a $10 million renovation of the casino floor at Delaware Park Casino & Racing, which is located in Stanton, Delaware, just southwest of Wilmington.

In November 2021, the Delaware Park Casino was sold to Canadian private equity firm Clairvest Group and Rubico Gaming for more than $90 million after being owned for nearly four decades by the Rickman family. The racino’s new owner is Thomas Benninger, a former Caesars Entertainment board member and founder of Global Leveraged Capital, a private investment and advisory firm. As a result, the racino is undergoing a major renovation of its gaming space which will be completed this fall. The casino floor will feature a high-end baccarat and blackjack pit, more pod-style slot cabinet configurations, and new food and beverage offerings. The Rickman family retained ownership of the White Clay Country Club which was previously part of the Delaware Park complex. (Image: Delaware Park Casino & Racing)

In March, Terry Glebocki, a casino veteran, was made the new CEO of the racino by its new owners. She had previously been the CEO of Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, where she had successfully helped to turn its fortunes around. Now, she is setting out to achieve the same success at the racino in northern Delaware, with numerous updates and improvements.

Updates Needed

Glebocki, the president and general manager of Delaware Park Casino & Racing, announced last month that the property would be going through a $10 million renovation. The goal is to bring an updated and modern look for existing guests and draw new audiences to the casino, making it a premier destination in the region. This renovated experience will feature fresh slot machines, custom fixtures, chandeliers and lighting, gaming furniture, carpeting and murals with vaulted ceilings. Additionally, the VIP bar is being expanded. Glebocki remarked that the rejuvenation will bring a hint of Las Vegas and Atlantic City to Delaware. The project is scheduled to finish in the fall of this year.

At Delaware’s three brick-and-mortar casinos, the property holds about 1,900 video lottery terminals and 40 table games, and has a poker room, as well as a sportsbook. The video lottery terminals use simulated lottery games to determine a win or loss for the spin. From the gross proceeds from the machines, the racinos keep around 44%, and the state takes 38%. 11% of the profits from the machines is used for horse racing purses, while the remaining 8% is used for vendor fees. From their table win, the racinos share 15% with the state lottery, and 5% of the table win goes to track purses. Market Leader.

Market Leader

With only one month of the state’s fiscal year 2023 left to report, Delaware Park Casino has emerged as the highest grossing casino in terms of gross gaming revenue (GGR). The casino has reportedly earned about $148.8 million from its VLTs and $61.2 million from its table games, amounting to a combined total of near $210 million. Bally’s Dover has made a strong effort to compete, generating an estimated GGR of around $198.1 million. Harrington Casino’s GGR for the 11-month period is reported to be $124.2 million since Bally’s purchase of the racino in 2019.