Bally's Dover Casino Resort becomes second Delaware gambling venue to resume 24-hour operations

Bally’s Dover Casino Resort has resumed its 24-hour gambling operations as of July 8, 2024. This move follows the lead of Delaware Park Casino, which reintroduced continuous gaming earlier this year.

Previously, Bally’s Dover operated 24 hours from Thursday at 8 a.m. through Monday at 4 a.m., with a break from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. Monday through Thursday. The newly reinstated schedule now includes 24/7 access to all slot machines and select table games such as blackjack, craps, and roulette, based on customer demand.

“We are thrilled to bring back the convenience and flexibility with our 24/7 table game operating hours,” said Nicholas Polcino, Vice President and General Manager of Bally’s Dover. “This change reflects our dedication to enhancing the guest experience and meeting the needs of our diverse and vibrant community.”

As part of the expansion to round-the-clock operations, Bally’s Dover has significantly increased its workforce. Polcino noted that the casino hired 140 new team members in the second quarter and early July, bringing the total staff count to 744 as of July 16.

The resort features a variety of amenities, including a hotel, dining options like Royal Prime Steakhouse and Sugar Factory, bars with live music, and the Rollins Center, which will host performances by comedian Mike Epps in August and singer LeAnn Rimes in November.

Before the pandemic, Delaware casinos operated around the clock, but restrictions imposed in March 2020 led to temporary shutdowns. When casinos were allowed to reopen approximately 10 weeks later, they faced capacity limits and were restricted to slots only, with table games prohibited. Although restrictions gradually eased, staffing challenges complicated efforts to extend hours.

Currently, Bally’s Dover and Delaware Park are both offering 24/7 gaming. Harrington Raceway & Casino, another venue, operates 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays. According to Matt Sparacino, Director of Public Relations at Harrington Raceway, the casino was also open 24/7 before the pandemic.