After the first full month of table games at all three Delaware gambling venues, the Department of Finance released numbers showing that July's revenues lagged behind projections.
The state forecast that it would receive $29 million in table games revenue this fiscal year—an average of about $558,000 per week. In July, the state received roughly $1.7 million from table games, or $426,000 per week.
“It's definitely too early to start making judgments," said deputy lottery director Vernon Kirk. "There's just not enough raw data."
The numbers from Harrington Raceway and Casino are noteworthy because the venue has been operating table games for two full months. From June to July, the amount wagered dropped 18.5 percent, and the state’s share of revenue coming from the venue fell 15 percent.
“We're not sure what impact the State Fair has had on Harrington's numbers,” Kirk said. The fair took place during the last two weeks of July.
The state and its racinos are preparing to bring back sports betting as well. The Delaware Lottery office anticipates the resumption of National Football League parlay betting August 6. The NFL’s slate of preseason games begins August 8.
Next week, DFM News will have more on the early financial results from table games and will examine the ongoing effort to bring even more casinos to the state. Some legislators and developers say casino expansion will increase gambling revenue in Delaware, while opponents argue that building new casinos will endanger existing ones.