Casinos ...er... Racinos In Delaware
Delaware Gambling
Delaware Casinos
Delaware Pari-mutuel
I'll bet you thought that because most forms of gambling in Delaware are illegal, that you couldn't have any fun there.
Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Casinos in Delaware are called "racinos." There are many exciting games of chance, but very simply, they must be played at horse racing tracks. Once there, you will not only enjoy the thrill of para-mutual betting on your favourite horses, but can enjoy some of your time with slot machines of every description. If poker is your passion, the slot machines merely replace a dealer. And as any gambler will tell you, sometimes that's a blessing in disguise.
Racinos offer much more than just putting a few bucks on a nag to win. Have you ever played an Exacta? That's picking two winners in two races on the same ticket. Usually a nice payoff. How about a Superfecta? You have to pick eight horses in races 8, 9 and 10. The payoff here can be thousands, or tens of thousands of dollars. It only costs a buck to play. Whoever said that, "horse racing is the sport of kings," has never been to a racino in Delaware.
Let's take Delaware Park Racetrack and Slots in Wilmington for example. This exciting, fast paced gaming center is 78,520 square feet of thrills. It has two racetracks, 150 video poker machines and 2500 video lottery terminals. You can play the machines for just a quarter. And if winning makes you hungry, you're in the right place. It features eight different dining places, from a snack bar to an elegant sit-down steak or lobster dinner, and even a New York style deli in case you're just in the mood for a sumptuous corned beef or rare roast beef sandwich. (With pickle of course)
In 2001, just three racinos produced 565 million dollars in state revenue. Actually it was 8% of the state budget. It was used for housing, education, transportation and social services. You'll never hear the grumbling anti-gambling crowd mention that. They would rather pay it out of their pockets in the form of higher taxes?
Of course Bingo and lotteries are legal. Local churches and social organizations need all the help they can get.
Since gambling has become such a saviour to cash-starved states, there is always more and more pending legislation promoting a wide variety of new gaming operations. Right now in Delaware there is a proposal for two new slot casinos, and a bill requiring race tracks to turn over unclaimed winnings to state. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
It doesn't matter whether you come to Delaware in your car, prefer a bus, a limo, or an airline, a visit here should be very high on your priority travel list. With a little investigating, you or perhaps your travel agent could get a current list of fine hotels that offer shuttles to and from the airport and to the various racinos.
So, whenever you are in that "down the stretch they come" kind of mood, remember to make Delaware the first state--not the last.
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