Delaware Casinos Generate $44.4M, Up 30.4% Year-on-Year in November

Delaware’s three casinos have reported $44.4 million in revenue for November, up from the previous year’s figure of $34.1 million and representing a year-on-year increase of 30.4%.  

 The figures, published by the Delaware Lottery, revealed that of this total, slots accounted for $40.1 million, up 34.1% year-on-year from $30 million. Table games also increased year-on-year, generating $4.2 million, up 3.3% from $4.1 million.  

 Casino operators were not the only ones celebrating a good November result in Delaware. One poker player won a record-breaking $500,000 hand when landing a seven-card straight flush at Bally’s Dover over the Thanksgiving weekend. The jackpot was the largest table progressive jackpot in the casino’s history.  

 While Bally’s celebrates the record jackpot, the company is welcoming achievements elsewhere. In New York, Bally’s was one of three casino operators to be recommended for a casino license for its Bronx application. The other two are Hard Rock and Resorts World in Queens.  

Growth Across the Sector 

All three of the state’s casinos showed significant revenue growth. The market leader, Delaware Park, which accounts for just under 44% of total casino revenue, recorded a 37% rise from $14.2 million last November to $19.5 million this year.  

 Slots accounted for $17 million of the casino's total revenue, representing a 40.1% increase. Table games also increased by 19% year-on-year to $2.5 million.  

Harrington Casino also produced a big year-on-year rise, of 31.3% from $8.2 million to $10.8 million. Slots at the casino increased 33.7%, while table games were up 10% year-on-year.  

 Bally’s Dover grew its revenue to $14.1 million, up 21.6% on last year. Slots revenue increased 27.3% to $13.3 million. In contrast, table games declined by 30.1%, dropping to $811,794 in November.  

Record-Setting $500,000 Poker Win at Bally’s Dover  

In the same month that Bally’s Dover hit 37% revenue growth, it was also the setting for a headline-grabbing poker win.  

 A guest at the resort hit a staggering seven-card straight flush progressive jackpot over the Thanksgiving weekend, winning $525,325. Additional side-bet payouts of $40,000 for the straight flush bonus and $3,000 for the top flush bonus brought the total to $568,325 in a single hand, making it the biggest table game progressive jackpot win in the casino’s history. 

 The player, who is from New Jersey, chose to remain anonymous, but the General Manager at Bally’s Dover, Nick Polcino, expressed delight at the win. 

 “This is the kind of unforgettable moment that makes gaming at Bally’s Dover so exciting. Seeing a guest walk away with a jackpot of this magnitude is thrilling for our entire team. We’re proud to be the place where magic happens,” he said.  

New York Casinos Threat to Delaware Gaming 

Meanwhile, Bally’s Dover may face significant competition from another Bally’s operation over the next few years. Bally’s Corporation has announced the finalization of a $1.1 billion term loan amendment to refinance debt and fund fees tied to its New York State casino licenses.  

 The financing means that Bally’s can move ahead with its $4 billion Ferry Point casino in the Bronx, alongside other approved New York sites in Queens.  

 While the new casinos are good opportunities for Bally’s and the two other successful bidders, Hard Rock and Resorts World, they also raise concerns for neighboring states, including Delaware. Officials are concerned that the introduction of new casinos in New York could divert players from regional markets, potentially affecting revenue for Delaware’s resorts and other nearby operators, particularly neighboring state New Jersey.   

 Bally’s Corporation says that it will use a portion of its loan to cover licensing fees for its Bronx complex, which occupies a former Trump Organization golf course.