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Table games in Delaware

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01-20-2010 , 08:10 PM

MrAce777

adept

Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 833

I'm not sure there was a thread made about legalizing table games in Delaware. I did catch something on the news that lawmakers are considering legalizing table games. They do offer sports betting, slots, and lottery. I don't live in Delaware but it does spike my interest that there's a possibility that more competition will arrive for Atlantic City (did I mention I live in NJ?).

http://cbs3.com/local/table.games.ga...2.1437770.html

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01-21-2010 , 12:47 AM

pokerman1

centurion

Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 171

I think a bill legalizing table games in Delaware was approved at the same time as sports betting. The table games are just not up and running yet. I think Delaware is having problems putting in place a proper system to regulate the games. I'm not sure why. I recently spoke with someone from Delaware Park, and he told me he thinks PA. will have table games running before Delaware.

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01-22-2010 , 12:26 PM

Lottery Larry

Home Poker Pimp

Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 19,603

This AP article showed on the Philly Inquirer website today

Quote:

Delaware House approves table games

DOVER, Del. - A bill that would add table games such as poker, blackjack and craps to Delaware's gambling options was approved by House lawmakers on Thursday.

Lawmakers considered several amendments before approving the bill on a 27-5 vote with little discussion. The measure now goes to the state Senate.

Gov. Jack Markell, who proposed table games as a way to help boost state revenue, said he was pleased with the House action and looked forward to Senate approval of the measure.

The bill would authorize card and dice games at slot machine casinos in Delaware, which already offers a state lottery, slots, and betting on horse races and professional football games. It also would create a state lottery commission to regulate and oversee table games, and a new division of gaming enforcement.

In response to a question from a Republican lawmaker, Mike Barlow, Markell's legal counsel, said the administration believes table games are an allowable exception to gambling restrictions in the state constitution because chance would be the dominant factor in winning or losing.

"It's a question that we've given a lot of thought," said Barlow, who was involved in similar discussions regarding Delaware's sports betting scheme.

And arrrgghhhh on this part! Dammit.... stop lumping in poker with table games!

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Officials estimate that the state would net at least $40 million in additional revenue in the first year of table gaming, which would be offered only at venues with slot machine licenses. There currently are three slots casinos in Delaware, but some lawmakers want to increase the number to five.

The Democratic-led House defeated Republican attempts to revise the proposed revenue split with casinos. As written, the bill gives casinos 66 percent of the gross table game revenue, with 29 percent going to the state and 4.5 percent to horse racing purses.

Markell defended the proposed revenue split as "a good deal for taxpayers."

Rep. Deborah Hudson, R-Greenville, offered an unsuccessful amendment that would have increased the state share to 47.5 percent once a casino exceeded its projected table game revenue in any fiscal year. Hudson noted that revenue from slot machines has far exceeded the amount expected when lawmakers approved them in 1994, but that it took 14 years before the revenue split with casinos was adjusted.

"We are in control of this monopoly," Hudson said. "We should be equal partners with the players in this monopoly."

But some fellow Republicans argued that the casinos will bear much of the cost of getting table games up and running, and that increasing the state share as Hudson proposed would amount to penalizing a casino for being successful.

"It's not free enterprise; it's a state-mandated monopoly," she responded

I don't know how they'd pull this off, with PA's deal being much lower in percentage splits.

Anyone in DE have thoughts as to what will happen to the charity poker rooms, as a result?

Last edited by Rich Muny; 01-22-2010 at 05:47 PM. Reason: Fixed quote tag and added letter D to elaware after quote tag

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01-28-2010 , 02:20 PM

vtpoker2005

stranger

Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1

Delaware will have poker up and running by April and table games by the end of the summer. There is strong opposition to adding two additional casinos in the state. Personally, I think the state is not big enough for 5 casinos; three is enough.

As far as the charity poker rooms... They will loose their luster with the older crowd. In Delaware, anyone at least 18 yrs of age can go into these "charity" poker rooms and play cash games.

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01-29-2010 , 07:43 PM

drnorman

newbie

Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lottery Larry

This AP article showed on the Philly Inquirer website today. And arrrgghhhh on this part! Dammit.... stop lumping in poker with table games! I don't know how they'd pull this off, with PA's deal being much lower in percentage splits. Anyone in DE have thoughts as to what will happen to the charity poker rooms, as a result?

I may not understand this dynamic, having only moved from NY to DE this month, but what does PA percentage splits have to do with what DE does in establishing such splits? I understand that gamblers are willing to travel for a juicy game but is the difference in splits likely to affect their behavior in this regard?

Frankly, even though table games have been discussed in both states for years, it is amazing to me that they are apparently moving toward activation within months. NY is really missing the boat by consistently failing to catch up with what appears to be a tidal wave of change in public approval of gambling in this country.

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01-29-2010 , 09:05 PM

Lottery Larry

Home Poker Pimp

Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 19,603

Quote:

Originally Posted by drnorman

I may not understand this dynamic, having only moved from NY to DE this month, but what does PA percentage splits have to do with what DE does in establishing such splits?

Lower charges by the state should = lower rakes that have to be charged, to make a profit for the casino.

Tourists and local may not care, but poker players tend to be aggressive about finding cheaper games, from what I've seen.

Perhaps not, I'm not a casino/poker room manager.

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