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Delaware Park Casino reopened its doors on Jan. 25, holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The opening ceremony featured guest speakers, glittery costumes and feathers, confetti, and showgirls.
It took the developers one year and $10 million to renovate a Stanton casino, previously known for its dark carpets, orange lights and long rows of slot machines. The new look was inspired by the glamour of modern Las Vegas.
According to an article by Delaware Online, Terry Glebocki, president and general manager of Delaware Park Casino & Racing, announced: “We’re bringing Vegas inspiration right here in Delaware.”
Delaware Park’s year-long renovations are finally over
The recent renovation started in early 2023. The $10 million makeover includes the following upgrades:
- A glass menagerie of chandeliers
- About 1,500 new gaming machines spread out across the floor, with an entire lounge devoted to the slot maker Aristocrat
- A new suite of high-roller games
- A bank of baccarat and blackjack tables
- Video blackjack tables with a televised female robo-host
New food options include:
- Slow-cooked brisket cheesesteaks and bowls of Vietnamese pho
- “Pan-Asian” food from a new late-night fast-casual spot called Foo Noodle.
- The in-house brewery, 1937, extended options
Delaware Park released renderings in July 2023 to show a little preview of the new gaming floor.
The renovations started a little over a year after Delaware Park changed ownership. The Rickman family managed the racetrack and casino for almost four decades. They sold the facility to a joint venture between Rubico Gaming and a private equity firm, Clairvest Group.
The owners hired Glebocki in 2023 to lead the renovation process of the aging property. She was previously the CEO of Atlantic City’s Ocean Casino Resort.
It’s been a good year for Delaware Lottery casino revenue
2023 was a good year for the state lottery, which includes revenue from Delaware casinos, Delaware Park, Bally’s Dover and Harrington.
Director at Delaware Lottery, which oversees all casino gaming at the three state racetracks, Helene Keeley, told NBC10:
“We are back without a doubt. We transferred $240 million to the general fund, that’s after expenses. That’s pure profit to the state. We may be small, but we’re mighty. We may not be Pennsylvania, Maryland, or New Jersey, but we have the heart here.”
Keeley also emphasized that Delaware casinos investing in themselves remains important due to the proliferation of gaming in nearby and bigger states. That’s why the upgrades satisfy the state leaders, as casinos keep people working, and the state keeps up with its neighbors.
