Delaware Racino Reopens After “Technical Difficulties”

Harrington Raceway & Casino in Delaware (l.) abruptly shut down on December 27 due to “technical difficulties” which officials still haven’t explained. The property reopened on New Year’s Eve.

In Delaware, Harrington Raceway & Casino reopened on New Year’s Eve but officials still have not offered an explanation about the technical issues that caused the racino to abruptly close on December 27.

The harness racetrack and casino, owned by the Delaware State Fair, posted on social media the property was shutting down due to unspecified “technical difficulties” causing a “temporary disruption” to gaming and computer systems.

The post stated, “We are working diligently to investigate the source of the disruption, confirm its impact on our systems and restore full functionality to our affected systems as quickly as possible.” Casino officials said they were dedicating significant resources to resolving the issue, including bringing in cybersecurity specialists.

Several patrons, however, posted concerns about their personal information being compromised.

Delaware Lottery Director Helene Keeley said at about 12 noon on Tuesday, December 17, Harrington Raceway Chief Executive Officer Patti Key informed her the property was closing because of technical issues. In a statement, Keeley said, “Harrington Raceway is a private company and we are confident they will make the proper decisions for its business and its customers.”

Patrons who visited the casino over the holiday weekend said they still had issues with some gaming machines, such as slots misreading their players’ club cards and malfunctioning ATM machines and voucher redemption kiosks.

Casino officials said free play and other comps that expired at the end of 2022 would be honored through January 31.

One of three commercial casinos in Delaware, Harrington Raceway & Casino offers 1,400 slot machines, 30 table games, a 100-seat poker room and a sportsbook.