Grand Opening Set for Table Games in Harrington, DE

According to their website, table games are set to open this Friday Night.

Harrington Raceway and Casino

I'll be there on Sunday

I've got an eye on this, but no way this weekend for me. For a couple of reasons.

Quote: Niblick

According to their website, table games are set to open this Friday Night.

Harrington Raceway and Casino

I'll be there on Sunday

That link is to an events page, on the racetrack side of the website.

Interestingly, there's no mention of it on the casino side of the site!

You are exactly correct; I thought the no mention on their casino side of the site to be extremely curious.

I'm actually surprised that they are opening before Delaware Park. I've been to both venues and Delaware Park seemed to be closer to opening than Harrington.

Guess I'll find out on Sunday.

Just saw this on AC's website - it's official - 10am Friday, Harrington offers the table games. Surprisingly Harrington hasn't mentioned much at all - I think that until Dover gets them, not many people in DC/MD/VA will even be aware - usually Dover is the only casino that advertises down here. Surprising, given the proximity to DC (2-2.5 hrs) that there isn't more press about table games.

Press of AC Article

-B

Quote: toastcmu

Surprising, given the proximity to DC (2-2.5 hrs) that there isn't more press about table games.

Traffic must bear to take that long to go 78 miles.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

Interestingly, there's no mention of it on the casino side of the site!

Delaware is doing a terrible job of the publicity for this. The DC market, at least, is being ignored and I suspect Baltimore and Philly but can't be sure there weren't ads there. But, as noted, the website isn't even being utilized properly!

edit: google maps can't find the address of 15 west rider rd! But it came up with this from DC to Harrington:

Driving directions to Harrington, DE
86.3 mi – about 2 hours 1 min

Quote: SanchoPanza

Traffic must bear to take that long to go 78 miles.

Well, to get to Harrington, one must go over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge - and now that it's summer, and that's the only route to Ocean City from the DC area - 2 to 2.5 can seem like a quick trip if you time it wrong. :)

-B

I just read where Delaware Park is projecting a June 18th startup; Dover Downs is projecting a June 21st.

Dover shows a table pit layout on their website. 23 blackjack tables, 2 mini-bac, 2 pai-gow poker, 4 craps, 4 roulette, 4 3cp tables. Interesting mix.

Dover Table Game Layout

The pit layout is 2/3 down the page.

One thing I did not realize that currently, Delaware state law prohibits comp alcohol drinks.

Quote:

Does Delaware Park give 'comp' drinks to its players? State law prohibits us from providing complimentary alcohol, but we do offer free soft drinks and coffee.

-B

Quote: toastcmu

One thing I did not realize that currently, Delaware state law prohibits comp alcohol drinks.

I didn't realize it either; I thought it was just casino policy. FWIW Dover Downs used to have a $2.00 well drink special 4-6PM on Saturdays in the Racebook...but they didn't really advertise it, you had to ask.

The craps table will include Big 6/8. Field 2/12 both pay double.

It looks like they aren't letting players bank in Pai Gow Poker.


On the flip side, BJ pays 3:2 and dealer stands on ALL 17s.

Do you know if Surrender is going to be allowed?

Quote: Niblick

I just read where Delaware Park is projecting a June 18th startup; Dover Downs is projecting a June 21st.

Where did you see this? DP's website still says Summer 2010.

Quote: am19psu

Where did you see this? DP's website still says Summer 2010.

Nevermind, it just took an extra 10 min of Google searching. Link

Quote: Niblick

According to their website, table games are set to open ... I'll be there on Sunday

You know we are waiting for that Report! [g]

My wife and I briefly stopped by Harrington on Saturday (to pick up Sunday's race program)and we went there on Sunday.

My report:

1. Poker Room is located near the Racebook and was quite active (including some incident of which I have precious little detail).
2. High limit (BJ min was $25.00; remember, this is Harrington) is located in between the main slots area and the Racebook. While we were there, things seemed to be reasonably active.
3. Main table game area is in the middle of the slots in between buffet and cashier:

a. Games are predominantly Blackjack or some variant thereof (ie. Blackjack Switch and that kind of thing). My interest is primarily Blackjack so I saw a lot but, as for the other games, very little registered.
b. Blackjack minimums on Saturday were $10; on Sunday they were $15...go figure.
c. Blackjack rules were S17, DAS, No surrender allowed.
d. They had something there I had never seen before called the Shufflemaster I-Table with minimums of $5.00. These are not the video Shufflemaster but an actual table with dealer. There are no chips; cards are used but everything you do is on a touch video screen. Cards are deal from an auto shuffler and I think they are screened when they come out (e.g. dealer had an ace showing, did the insurance bit, looked at his video screen and declared 'Dealer does not have Blackjack')
e. They had a couple of craps tables and a Big Six.
f. Main table area was jammed with people so I didn't play.
g. Video Shufflemasters still exist w/$5.00 minimum.
h. Dealers appeared to be very friendly; everyone is clearly doing their level best. I asked one of the bosses observing blackjack tables if surrender was allowed and he told me he honestly didn't know. There is still a lot to be learned.
i. Most Blackjack tables had cards dealt from a shoe; I saw some auto shufflers in use but right now I can't recall if any of the auto shufflers were in use on the blackjack tables.

And that is all I have to report.

I'm sorry I didn't take notes.

FWIW On Sunday, in the ten races we played, we won 3 exactas and one win/place.

Quote: Niblick

My wife and I briefly stopped by Harrington on Saturday (to pick up Sunday's race program)and we went there on Sunday.

thanks, I missed this but fortunately am subscribed. I am going to find out what it is like mid-week.

I anxiously await your report.

I wonder out loud what the minimums will be during the week; and I wonder if there is any difference in the minimums on midweek raceday versus off day. At the very least, if you go midweek, the tolls are $1.00 (weekends they are $2.00).

Have a good time.

FWIW And while Delaware is now up and running, Pennsylvania is holding meetings.

I was able to check this out today. I'll blog about it some time later, but here's the rundown on the games somewhat. My comments below each subject.

>>>

POKER

didn't check it out

CRAPS

there were 4 tables, 3x4x5x. In the field bet, boxcars paid triple. When I got there mid-morning only one table was going, with a $5 minimum. By mid-day 2 tables were going upped to a $10 minimum. Pretty sure there werent enough dealers around for 4 tables, but just guessing as not enough players to get more going when I was there. Craps was the only game I played.

ROULETTE

one table

MINI BACCARAT PROGRESSIVE

saw one table, no dealer, I don't think they had a dealer for it. Remember this is all new this week.

FORTUNE PAI GOW PROGRESSIVE

saw one table, no dealer, I don't think they had a dealer for it.

THREE CARD POKER PROGRESSIVE

saw one table, no dealer, I don't think they had a dealer for it.

FOUR CARD POKER PROGRESSIVE

did not see this

CASINO WAR PROGRESSIVE

saw at least one table that some people were playing at.

ULTIMATE TEXAS HOLD 'EM PROGRESSIVE

saw at least one table, maybe some people were playing, memory faulty.

BONUS LET IT RIDE PROGRESSIVE

saw one table, no dealer, I don't think they had a dealer for it.

i - TABLE PROGRESSIVE

"i" definitely means an electronic table. See below. did not see this in particular.

PERFECT PAIR BLACKJACK

didnt see

IN BET BLACKJACK

didnt see

BLACKJACK SWITCH

saw it, 2 tables going? memory faulty

ROYAL MATCH 21

didnt see

BIG SIX WHEEL

not sure, something was indeed big six

BLACKJACK

paid 3 to 2, dealer stood on 17, not my game so that's all I found out

i - MINI BACCARAT

all electronic games were set up for BJ as far as I know, memory may be failing; no one was playing them and I wondered if they were really ready to go.

CRAPLESS CRAPS

didnt see

BAD BEAT

didnt see

[SUMMARY]

I didnt try to take good notes so much, so may have just missed something. Area for table games still dwarfed by slots. I'd say there were 3 dozen tables or so for dealers to deal various games, in addition to the 4 craps tables. Dealers were friendly. Some evidence they want to be competitive with what I know about it [3x4x5x free odds, paying triple on boxcars in the field bet, 3-2 Blackjack]. I would have lost a bet if somebody had bet me I'd find these things or not. Other overall experience saving for blog.

I really want to try visiting this place, but I have great fear of traffic on the Bay Bridge after getting caught in a 3-hour backup coming back from the beach one year. Any idea what bridge traffic is like during the summer if you go over on a Saturday morning and come back Saturday night?

Quote: cappo

I really want to try visiting this place, but I have great fear of traffic on the Bay Bridge after getting caught in a 3-hour backup coming back from the beach one year. Any idea what bridge traffic is like during the summer if you go over on a Saturday morning and come back Saturday night?

Pretty awful going out, a little better if you can get up pretty early. Maybe not so bad coming back.

Don't know if this will help but when I go to DE from PA (I95 to 495 to Route 1/Toll Road) on Friday evenings, unlike previous years, I am not seeing much traffic. For example, Friday evening on July 4th weekend I drove completely unimpeded (went from the DE/PA state line to Milford in less than one hour).

I can tell you this, your fear of Bay Bridge traffic is justified.