Delaware Gives Table Game Bill Green Light
Written by Roger S | Monday, February 1st, 2010
Thursday marked the day when Delaware’s state senate passed a bill to allow table games at casinos. It is generally expected that the bill will include games such as poker, blackjack, craps and roulette. These games will be allowed at the three casinos currently running legally in Delaware and are expected to generate much needed funds into the state’s budget.
There has been surprisingly very little opposition to the passing of this bill first introduced by Democratic governor Jack Markell. It entered the State House on January 21st, passing 27-5, before coming before the State Senate on Thursday and passing 15-4.
Governor Markell signed the bill into law, marking it as official just before the weekend.
The announcement deals yet another blow to Atlantic City which is already experiencing a drop in revenue each year. Some analysts have predicted that revenue on table games may decrease as much as 15% due to Delaware’s new bill, as well as similar ones passed by neighboring states. Pennsylvania passed laws to legalize table games in the state several weeks ago.
“Atlantic City gets hit both by Delaware and Pennsylvania because they sit within the heart of our feeder markets,” said Cory Morowitz, a gambling advisor. “When Delaware gets table games, they will draw a lot from the D.C.-Baltimore corridor.”
Nevertheless, Atlantic City has put on a brave face in public by declaring that the bill will not affect its casinos in the least as they offer an entirely different brand of gaming, with a much wider choice for players. “We continue to believe that the variety of product and quality of non-gaming amenities we have bode well for Atlantic City’s future,” said Joseph Corbo, the president of the Casino Association of New Jersey.
The state lottery commission is yet to announce exactly which table games will be allowed to be offered by Dover Downs, Delaware Park and Harrington Raceway and Casino. However, it is generally expected that poker, the mostly popular game of all card games, will undoubtedly be included in the line up.
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· Written by Roger S · Filed Under Poker Gossip · Comments Off
