Delaware's three casinos post 5.4% revenue drop for September

Delaware's three commercial casinos generated a combined $34.4 million in revenue for September, a 5.4% decline from the same month last year, according to figures released by the Delaware Lottery.

The decline was broad based. Video lottery terminals (VLTs), the slot-style machines regulated by the state lottery, accounted for the bulk of the total at $30.8 million, down 4.7%. Table games, which include blackjack, roulette and other dealer-run games, produced $3.6 million, down 11.3%.

How each casino performed

Delaware Park recorded the highest revenue of the three properties and was the only one to hold broadly steady, bringing in $15.2 million. Its VLT revenue rose slightly, up 0.5% to $13.2 million, though table games there fell 5.6% to $2 million.

Bally's Dover posted the second-highest revenue but suffered the sharpest fall of the three, with takings down 10% to $10.7 million. VLTs at the casino dropped 9.7% to $9.7 million, and table games declined 12.6% to $1 million.

Harrington Casino reported the lowest revenue in September, down 8% to $8.4 million. VLT revenue there fell 6.4% to $7.9 million, while table games suffered the steepest drop of any property or category, down 26.2% to $542,742.

Why it matters

Delaware's casino market is small compared with neighbouring states such as Pennsylvania and New Jersey, but its monthly figures offer a useful gauge of regional gambling trends along the US East Coast. A sustained drop across all three properties, rather than a single outlier, suggests the softness in September reflects broader consumer patterns rather than a problem specific to one operator.

Table games falling faster than VLTs at every casino is notable. Table games tend to draw a different customer base, often associated with higher-spending visitors, so a sharper decline there can signal weaker discretionary spending among that segment specifically.

The bigger picture

September's result follows a similar pattern seen in August, when Delaware's casinos reported a 2.6% drop to $43.8 million, according to CDC Gaming Reports, which first published the lottery figures. The state's casino revenue has fluctuated significantly over the past year, with a 26.5% jump in May followed by a 21% fall in June, pointing to volatility rather than a single clear trend.

Readers interested in how US states regulate and tax casino gambling can find more context in our guide on where online casino gambling is legal in the US, which covers the patchwork of state rules that also shapes land-based markets like Delaware's.