Bally's Dover
A Delaware casino resort and harness-racing complex formerly known as Dover Downs.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Bally's Dover is a casino resort, hotel, harness-racing venue, and entertainment complex in Dover, Delaware. The property was historically known as Dover Downs and developed alongside Dover Motor Speedway, a separate one-mile automobile-racing circuit. The harness track and speedway opened together in 1969, establishing the site as a motorsports and horse-racing destination in central Delaware. The property entered casino gaming after Delaware enacted legislation in 1994 permitting slot machines at the state's horse-racing tracks. Dover Downs Slots opened on December 29, 1995, with Caesars World initially managing the casino. The venue later became independently managed when the Caesars agreement expired in 2004. Its gaming operation expanded over time from slot machines into table games, which Delaware authorized in 2010, and later into online gambling and sports wagering. Dover Downs also broadened its hospitality business. A major hotel expansion completed in 2007 added 268 rooms, including suites and spa suites, bringing the property to 500 rooms and making it the largest hotel in Delaware at the time. A spa and salon opened that same year. A $56 million casino expansion completed in 2008 added additional slot machines, a porte-cochere, an atrium lobby, and the Colonnade shopping area. The property includes dining venues, bars, entertainment facilities, meeting rooms, banquet areas, and the Rollins Center, an approximately 18,000-square-foot multipurpose ballroom. The casino resort offers more than 2,000 slot machines and approximately 30 table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, poker variants, and other card games. Its race and sports book supports live and simulcast horse racing as well as sports betting on professional and eligible collegiate competitions. Live harness racing is traditionally conducted during the Delaware racing season, while simulcasting extends across the year. The poker room has been closed, with no reopening plan identified in the available reference material. Ownership and corporate identity changed substantially in the late 2010s and early 2020s. In 2019, Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment completed a reverse merger with Twin River Worldwide Holdings, which subsequently adopted the Bally's Corporation name. Dover Downs shareholders received a minority stake in the combined company. In June 2021, Bally's sold the property's land and buildings to Gaming and Leisure Properties in a sale-and-leaseback transaction, while Bally's continued operating the resort under a long-term lease. The property adopted the Bally's Dover name in November 2021 as part of the broader corporate rebranding. The motor-racing circuit remains separately owned by Speedway Motorsports, so Bally's Dover refers primarily to the casino, hotel, harness track, and associated resort facilities.
History
Bally's Dover originated as part of a combined racing development in Dover, Delaware. The harness-racing track and the adjacent automobile-racing speedway opened in 1969. The two venues created a distinctive sports and wagering destination, although they have separate ownership structures today. The speedway is not part of Bally's Dover and is owned by Speedway Motorsports. The property's casino history began after Delaware changed its gaming laws in 1994 to allow slot machines at horse-racing tracks. Dover Downs opened Dover Downs Slots on December 29, 1995. Caesars World managed the initial casino operation. This marked the site's transition from a racing-focused venue into a broader gaming and hospitality business. Dover Downs later took over casino management in 2004 after the Caesars agreement ended. During the 2000s, the property invested heavily in lodging and resort infrastructure. A hotel expansion completed in autumn 2007 added 268 rooms, including 52 suites and 11 spa suites. The expansion brought the hotel to 500 rooms and made it Delaware's largest hotel at that time. Toppers Spa/Salon opened on December 29, 2007. The resort then completed a reported $56 million casino expansion in 2008. The project added 500 slot machines, a porte-cochere, an atrium lobby, and the Colonnade upscale shopping area. Delaware authorized table games in 2010, allowing Dover Downs to broaden its casino offering beyond slot machines. The property subsequently offered games such as blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, and multiple poker-style table games. In late 2013, Dover Downs also entered online gambling, extending its business beyond the physical resort. Its operating mix later included sports wagering, horse-racing simulcasts, dining, bars, live entertainment, retail, spa services, and convention facilities. The resort's hospitality infrastructure includes a 500-room hotel, fitness and pool facilities, concierge services, restaurants, lounges, and more than 40,000 square feet of function space. The Rollins Center is an approximately 18,000-square-foot ballroom used for concerts, comedy, conferences, conventions, banquets, and other events. Performers associated with the venue have included Tracy Lawrence, Boyz II Men, Howie Mandel, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, and the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Corporate ownership and branding changed in the late 2010s. In 2002, Dover Downs Entertainment had separated the horse track and casino business from its former parent through a spin-off, creating Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment; the former parent changed its name to Dover Motorsports. In 2019, Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment completed a reverse merger with Twin River Worldwide Holdings, a casino operator that later became Bally's Corporation. Dover Downs shareholders received a minority interest in the combined company. In June 2021, Bally's sold the land and buildings of the Dover property to Gaming and Leisure Properties for $144 million and leased the assets back for $12 million per year, according to the cited reference material. Bally's continued to operate the resort. In November 2021, the property was renamed Bally's Dover as part of Twin River's wider corporate rebranding. The current resort therefore combines the legacy of Dover Downs with Bally's casino branding, while the adjacent motor-racing facility remains a separate business.
- 2021
Real estate sale and leaseback
[1]Gaming and Leisure Properties acquires the land and buildings, while Bally's leases and operates the property.
- 2021
Property adopts Bally's Dover name
[1]The former Dover Downs property is renamed Bally's Dover in November.
- 2019
Reverse merger with Twin River
[1]Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment combines with Twin River Worldwide Holdings, later Bally's Corporation.
- 2013
Online gambling initiative begins
[1]Dover Downs enters the online gambling market in late 2013.
- 2010
Table games are introduced
[1]The casino adds table games after Delaware authorizes that form of gaming.
- 2008
Casino expansion is completed
[1]The resort adds slot capacity, a new entrance and lobby configuration, and the Colonnade retail area.
- 2007
Hotel expands to 500 rooms
[1]A 268-room expansion and the opening of a spa and salon strengthen the property's resort positioning.
- 2004
Independent casino management begins
[1]Dover Downs assumes direct management after the Caesars management agreement expires.
- 2002
Dover Downs gaming business becomes independent
[1]Dover Downs Entertainment spins off the horse track and casino as Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment, while the former parent becomes Dover Motorsports.
- 1995
Dover Downs Slots opens
[1]The casino opens on December 29, initially under Caesars World management.
Products and positioning
A regional gaming and hospitality resort combining casino entertainment, harness racing, sports wagering, lodging, dining, events, and access to the wider Dover motorsports destination.
Gaming · 1995
Casino
The casino is the resort's principal gaming operation, with more than 2,000 slot machines and approximately 30 table games. The table-game portfolio includes blackjack, craps, roulette, Spanish 21, baccarat, three-card poker, pai gow poker, high card flush, heads-up poker, and Mississippi Stud. The poker room is identified as closed in the available reference material.
Hospitality · 2007
Hotel
Bally's Dover operates a 500-room hotel with rooms oriented toward the racetrack or Dover area. Amenities described in the reference material include room service, concierge services, a fitness room, an indoor swimming pool, and a full-service spa. The hotel also supports the resort's conference, banquet, and convention business.
Racing and wagering · 1969
Harness racing
The property includes a 0.625-mile harness-racing track. Live harness racing is conducted from approximately November through mid-April, while the venue also provides year-round simulcasts of harness and thoroughbred races.
Sports wagering
Race & Sports Book
The Race & Sports Book supports wagering on live and simulcast horse racing, as well as single-game and parlay betting on professional and eligible college sports. The listed sports include auto racing, baseball, basketball, boxing and mixed martial arts, football, golf, hockey, and soccer.
Events and entertainment
Rollins Center
The Rollins Center is an approximately 18,000-square-foot multipurpose ballroom. It hosts concerts, comedy, musical performances, conferences, conventions, banquets, and other private or corporate events as part of the resort's non-gaming offering.
Food, beverage, and leisure · 2008
Dining, nightlife, and retail
The resort includes upscale and casual restaurants, a coffee shop, a buffet, bars, nightclubs, and entertainment venues. The Colonnade provides upscale shopping within the resort complex.
Brand decisions
2021
Sale-and-leaseback with Gaming and Leisure PropertiesM&ABackground
Bally's separated ownership of the resort's real estate from operation as part of a casino real-estate transaction.
Action taken
Gaming and Leisure Properties acquired the land and buildings and leased them back to Bally's for continued operation.
Aftermath
Gaming and Leisure Properties became the real-estate owner, while Bally's remained the operating company.
Property sale price. $144 million (June 2021)
2021
Rebranding from Dover Downs to Bally's DoverStrategyBackground
Twin River Worldwide Holdings adopted the Bally's Corporation identity, prompting property-level branding changes.
Action taken
The former Dover Downs property was renamed Bally's Dover in November 2021.
Aftermath
The resort retained its casino, hotel, racing, dining, and events operations under the Bally's brand.
2019
Reverse merger with Twin River Worldwide HoldingsM&ABackground
Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment pursued a combination with a larger casino and racetrack operator.
Action taken
The company completed a reverse merger with Twin River Worldwide Holdings, later renamed Bally's Corporation.
Aftermath
Dover Downs shareholders retained a 7 percent stake in the combined company, and the property became part of Bally's expanding portfolio.
2013
Move into online gamblingStrategyBackground
The emergence of regulated online gambling in Delaware offered a digital extension to the property's physical casino business.
Action taken
Dover Downs began a venture into online gambling in late 2013.
Aftermath
The business expanded its gaming strategy beyond the Dover resort campus.
2010
Introduction of table gamesProduct launchBackground
Delaware authorized table games at casino properties, allowing Dover Downs to diversify beyond slot machines.
Action taken
The casino added approximately 30 table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, and poker-style games.
Aftermath
Dover Downs became a more diversified casino operation with both electronic and live dealer gaming.
2008
Casino and resort expansionOtherBackground
The property continued expanding its gaming floor and visitor amenities after establishing its slot-machine casino.
Action taken
Dover Downs completed a reported $56 million expansion that added 500 slot machines, a porte-cochere, an atrium lobby, and the Colonnade retail area.
Aftermath
The expansion increased gaming capacity and added arrival, shopping, and resort functions.
Expansion cost. $56 million (2008)
2007
Major hotel expansionOtherBackground
Dover Downs sought to increase its lodging capacity and strengthen its position as a full-service resort.
Action taken
The property added 268 rooms, including suites and spa suites, bringing total capacity to 500 rooms.
Aftermath
The hotel became the largest in Delaware at the time, and the resort added spa services.
1995
Launch of Dover Downs SlotsProduct launchBackground
Delaware legislation allowed slot machines at horse-racing tracks, creating an opportunity to add casino gaming to the established harness-racing venue.
Action taken
Dover Downs opened its slot-machine casino on December 29, 1995, initially using Caesars World as manager.
Aftermath
The property evolved from a racing venue into a broader casino and hospitality resort.
Recent events
- 2021
Bally's sells Dover property real estate to Gaming and Leisure Properties[1]
M&A
Gaming and Leisure Properties acquired the land and buildings in a sale-and-leaseback transaction, while Bally's retained operating responsibility.
- 2021
Dover Downs is renamed Bally's Dover[1]
Leadership change · Other
The property adopted the Bally's Dover name as Twin River's corporate rebranding to Bally's Corporation took effect.
- 2019
Dover Downs completes reverse merger with Twin River[1]
M&A
Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment completed a reverse merger with Twin River Worldwide Holdings, later known as Bally's Corporation. Former Dover Downs shareholders received a 7 percent stake in the combined company.
- 2013
Dover Downs enters online gambling[1]
Product launch
Dover Downs began moving into online gambling in late 2013 as Delaware developed regulated internet gaming.
- 2010
Table games added after Delaware authorization[1]
Product launch · Regulation
The casino expanded beyond slot machines by introducing table games after Delaware permitted them at casino properties.
- 2008
Dover Downs completes casino expansion[1]
Product launch
The property completed a reported $56 million expansion that added slot machines, a new arrival area, an atrium lobby, and the Colonnade shopping area.
- 2007
Hotel expansion brings property to 500 rooms[1]
Product generation
An expansion added 268 rooms, including suites and spa suites, and a spa and salon opened at the hotel.
- 2004
Dover Downs assumes casino management[1]
Other
Dover Downs took over management of its casino after the management agreement with Caesars expired.
- 1995
Dover Downs opens slot-machine casino[1]
Product launch
Dover Downs Slots opened after Delaware authorized slot machines at the state's horse-racing tracks. Caesars World initially managed the casino.
Sources1 sources
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