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First Legislative Haring for Two More Delaware Casinos

Don Rush

DOVER, Del. (AP) - A proposal for more casinos in Delaware is getting its first hearing in the legislature.

A House committee on Wednesday will consider a proposal by Democratic Rep. Dennis Williams of Wilmington for two new casinos, one in New Castle County and one in Sussex County.

The bill is similar to one sponsored by Williams that died two years ago amid opposition from Delaware's three existing racetrack casinos.

Leaders of horse owners associations whose members race at those tracks and receive a share of gambling revenue also opposed the earlier measure, but Williams says the horse owners seem more amenable to the latest proposal.

Williams believes new casinos can draw more out-of-state gamblers to Delaware and create hundreds of jobs. 

Others have said the regional gambling market is already saturated.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.