Dover Downs Poker Room Closed
Dover Downs Poker Room Closed Point
DOVER — Now under new management, Dover Downs has closed its poker room.
The casino, which became part of Twin River Worldwide Holdings Inc. at the end of March, moved its poker tables to the casino floor last week.
Been going here for years, new ownership as of 2 months ago. They closed down the poker room, fired everyone without notice, jacked up the prices of ever food venue, eliminated all the promotions, turned a very nice casino/hotel into an empty garbage pit. The slots stopped paying at all, the table games are as close to criminal as you can get. Get a taste of Vegas in Delaware when staying at the 4-star Dover Downs Hotel & Casino. In addition to a casino with live table games, sports betting and 2,700 slot machines, the hotel is home to a horse racetrack, indoor pool and sauna, and Balinese-inspired spa. Dover Downs Casino closes poker room Jun 8th, 2019 by Matt Bittle Comments: DOVER — Now under new management, Dover Downs has closed its poker room. The casino, which became part of Twin River.
Despite rumors the entire poker staff had lost its jobs, only one person was laid off, according to casino management.
“Today is our first day of poker on the floor, so we do have poker! There will be NO poker room on the third floor anymore. The Poker tables now on the Casino floor answer to table games and no longer operate as a separate entity,” Nicholas Polcino Jr., the new vice president and general manager, said in a statement Friday.
“All other personnel (Poker Director is no longer with the company) that could be transferred to table games were transferred. The employees that only had poker experience have been given the opportunity to learn other games as well so they are able to transfer between various games if they desire.”
As a result of the closure poker tournaments were canceled several weeks ago, according to casino staff.
Located on the third floor, the room formerly used for poker once served as a place for individuals to watch simulcast horse racing.
A spokeswoman for Twin River initially denied the poker room was closing. A second spokeswoman later confirmed the room would no longer host table games.
The deal with Twin River, a Rhode Island-based company that operates casinos and hotels in Rhode Island and Mississippi and a horse track in Colorado, was announced in July just weeks after lawmakers approved tax relief for the state’s three casinos.
The merger included Dover Downs’ 500-room hotel and banquet hall. Dover International Speedway remains owned by Dover Motorsports, which split off from the gaming company in 2002.
Supporters said the changes — lowering the slot tax rate 1 percent, cutting the table game tax rate almost in half and suspending the $3 million table game license fee — were necessary to help protect jobs and the nine-figure sum the state annually receives from the casinos.
State Sen. Trey Paradee, a Dover Democrat who was one of the chief backers of casino tax relief, said Friday he would be disappointed if layoffs follow the merger but believes the legislation approved last year was good policy.
“We really put them in the position (where) they were just treading water,” he said.
The casino, the only public corporate gambling establishment in Delaware, lost money in two of the last five years and made a net profit of $30,000 in 2018.
At the end of 2018, Dover Downs had 1,388 employees, 906 of whom were full-time.
Several top executives with Dover Downs were let go or retired earlier this spring.
Staff writer Matt Bittle can be reached at 741-8250 or mbittle@newszap.com.Follow @MatthewCBittle on Twitter.
DOVER — All three of Delaware’s casinos will reopen with strict limits Monday as part of the next big step in Delaware’s reopening process. Chiefly, only slots will be available for gaming and all visitors must have their temperatures checked before entering.
The establishments have been closed since mid-March due to coronavirus, but with Gov. John Carney lifting more prohibitions in the state of emergency June 1, the three are among the many businesses taking customers again soon.
The casinos at Dover Downs, Delaware Park and Harrington are limited to 30 percent capacity. Guests must wear face coverings, practice strict social distancing and complete medical screenings and temperature checks upon arrival.
Employees also will wear masks and have their temperatures checked.
Amenities like table games and the sportsbooks will be closed at all three establishments, as will additional attractions like retail stands, bars and Dover Downs’ hotel. The casinos will each be open from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Each casino was required to submit a plan for reopening to the Division of Small Business before welcoming customers back, something all three did.
The establishments also have some of their own precautions in place: Dover Downs is only allowing guests to enter through the casino valet entrance in The Colonnade, Harrington is mandating they complete a short questionnaire before entering and Delaware Park is limiting access to Delaware residents with a rewards club card.
There will be limited dining and drink options. At Dover Downs, Garden Café will serve lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sweet Perks Too will be open during all hours of operation. All food is takeout but may be consumed in Garden Café seating with social distancing.
Beverage service on the casino floor will be available.
Delaware Park’s self-serve options will be closed, and food and beverage outlets will be limited. More information is available at delawarepark.com/dining.
Harrington will open Onion Jack’s by reservation only, as well as Bolo’s and the Grab-and-Go.
“We are very much looking forward to welcoming our guests back to the property,” Nick Polcino, vice president and general manager of Dover Downs, said in a statement. “We are committed to continue working closely with the state to ensure the health and safety of both our employees and our guests remain a top priority as we move forward in this new phase. We have missed our team and seeing our loyal guests each day and are excited to see them return next week.”
Staff writer Matt Bittle can be reached at 741-8250 or mbittle@newszap.com.Follow @MatthewCBittle on Twitter.
Helpful Coronavirus links
Delaware Division of Health Coronavirus Page
CDC: About the Coronavirus Disease 2019
CDC: What to do if You Are Sick
Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center
AP News Coronavirus Coverage
Reopening Delaware: Resources for Businesses
Delaware Phase 2 guidance
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