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We Kent Wait

Several important new initiatives and projects are making the county better than ever. Here are just a few.

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Waiting Tables

Dover Downs isn’t rolling the dice. It’s preparing for new gaming now.

Even with passage of legislation to bring table gaming to Delaware, residents face a wait of at least four months before pluncking their chips down on any schematic of green felt, says Ed Sutor, president and CEO of Dover Downs Hotel & Casino.

“Training for black jack dealers takes 12 weeks, and 16 weeks of training are required for craps,” says Sutor. “We’ll hire approximately 750 dealers for all shifts, and there are also executives, directors and shift managers to be hired as well.”

Sutor did not wait for the green light from the state Legislature to begin the prep work, however. He is working with the state departments of labor and economic development to direct federal stimulus money toward offsetting the cost of dealer training, which can run anywhere from $1,200 to $1,600 per dealer.

“We’re also working with Delaware Technical and Community College to set up the dealer training programs and with consulting groups to write regulations governing the games themselves,” he says.

Table gaming is labor-intensive, which is good news for employment in the state. Sutor, who spent 20 years in Atlantic City before moving to Delaware 10 years ago, says one big advantage that Delaware has for gaming is a pool of people who are naturally friendly.

“The temperament here is the state’s best asset,” he says. “Administration and supervision is so much easier here because people are simply nicer. They’re easier to train, and they understand what good customer service is all about.”
 

Page 2: Home Field Advantage | Kent looks to Milford for a new athletic complex that will become an economic boon to the county.