A Hidden Treasure
An outdoor slot patio adds to Delaware Park Casino’s longstanding reputation as a multifaceted gaming facility with so much to offer so close to home.
In an industry as competitive as gaming, rival casinos constantly vie for attention in the marketplace and gaming enthusiasts are eager to check out the latest “new kid on the block.” There’s the risk of historically successful destinations suddenly becoming overshadowed, but that’s clearly not the case with Delaware Park Casino in Wilmington. Delaware Park has been adapting to the times and embracing change, all while staying true to tradition, throughout its almost 100 years as an entertainment hub for guests of all ages and interests.
“We’ve been here so long that I think sometimes it’s easy to forget the hidden treasures that are in your own backyard,” says Terry Glebocki, a 35-year industry veteran who became president and general manager of Delaware Park in early 2023. “By making changes and bringing new events here, we’re reminding people that we’re an entertainment choice.
“One of the goals when I got here was to modernize the space without losing the character and the charm,” she continues. “It was time to breathe some new life into the property and to create an enhanced space where our guests can fully enjoy the excitement that they’ve come to expect.”
Delaware Park opened in Wilmington in 1937 as a racetrack, then added slot machines 30 years ago and table games 15 years ago. It has since completed several major projects, including: a $10 million renovation of the first-floor casino; updating and renaming the on-site brewery to High Steaks Brewery; the addition of a high-limit table room and high-limit slot room; reimagining the event spaces; and remodeling Del Cap, a bar and grill located in the racing area as well as creating RBar, an upscale bar adjacent to high-limit slots.
The most recent change is the addition of an outdoor slot patio scheduled to open in late summer. Spanning nearly 10,000 square feet, the space will house more than 250 slot machines and include 6-foot-high openings that run the width and length of the patio on all four sides.
“One of the things it will permit is outdoor slot play in a smoking-friendly atmosphere, but it’s really important to note that we remain committed to a smoke-free indoor casino,” Glebocki adds. “Nothing will change there. With the addition of the outdoor patio we’ll be able to offer the best of both worlds—a smoke-free indoor casino and a brand new outdoor slot patio that allows smoking. The outdoor slot patio is open-air, and one of the things we have learned from COVID is people do enjoy outside opportunities. The space has great ventilation; there are exhaust fans and giant fans embedded in the ceiling.”
Glebocki has been a frequent visitor to the patio throughout its construction. Once it’s open to the public, she expects it to be a huge hit with guests. The year-round space will welcome guests 365 days per year; the 50-plus heaters in the ceiling will make it comfortable even in the dead of winter, while fans and cross-breezes will tamp down the heat in the dog days of summer.
“I am confident that everyone is going to find it enjoyable, because there is so much open air and breezes coming through,” she says. “Even on the hottest days, without the fans being in place during construction, I would go out there and easily detect a 10- to 15-degree temperature difference just from being in the shade in that room.”
Whether players are looking to strike on slots indoors or out, they can expect a product that is more diverse than any Glebocki has seen throughout her career.
“People who haven’t come here before are shocked by the quality and variety of the slots that we offer,” she says. “You don’t have a problem getting on your favorite game, and that’s not what I’ve experienced in other jurisdictions. People usually mill around other casinos and wait for someone to get up so they can get on the machine. That could happen with some of our newest themes, but as soon as we see that, we’re able to get more of that product on the floor quickly. Our slot product is very adaptable to the recent trends.”
Another component that makes Delaware Park unique is the seasonal live horseracing season, which has expanded with family-friendly activities and debuted the inaugural Delaware Derby this year. The property also offers sports betting, several acclaimed dining options, and special events throughout the calendar, such as the Reggae Festival this past June, which brought in 25,000 visitors. Once again during the upcoming holiday season, the outdoor paddock will be transformed into “The Festival of Lights,” a winter wonderland with a walk-through light display, photo opportunities with Santa, vendors, and food trucks.
In addition to those amenities, Delaware Park is staffed with friendly, courteous employees, many of whom have been part of the team for decades.
“I often compare it to a Cheers atmosphere, where everybody knows your name,” Glebocki says. “We have a very dedicated and long-tenured workforce, and they know our guests, they know their names, and they interact with them really well. We recently celebrated 15 years of table games at Delaware Park, and we have 50 employees who have been here since the first year that we introduced tables. I think that’s incredible. A number of employees have been here over 40 years, and that just doesn’t happen in other places.”
With all of the updates that Delaware Park has seen since Glebocki’s arrival, one might assume that it’s time to rest, but that’s not the case. She interacts frequently with guests to find out what else can be changed or added, and she is currently tasking her colleagues to develop new ideas for innovations in 2026.
“I’m excited about the changes and the progress we’ve seen here at Delaware Park,” she says. “I’m inspired by the sense of community, not just with our guests but also with our team members. My team works tirelessly to provide exceptional service and to create memorable experiences.
“At Delaware Park,” she continues, “we’re proud of our history, but we’re also excited about our future and about welcoming more and more people to experience what we have to offer. We’re close, we’ve got great gaming options, and we’ve got great restaurants. There’s a lot of excitement right in your backyard.”
Delaware Park Casino & Racing
777 Delaware Park Blvd.
Wilmington, DE 19804
(302) 994-2521
delawarepark.com
777 Delaware Park Blvd.
Wilmington, DE 19804
(302) 994-2521
delawarepark.com
Photo by Alison Dunlap
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life, July 2025
