Harrah's Chester Casino Opens a Day Early

CHESTER, Pennsylvania – As reported by the Phoenixville News: "Got slots? Apparently, yes.

"Due to a successful two-day test run over the weekend, Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack
Harrah's Chester Casino is now officially open with over 2,700 slots.  took the region by surprise when it opened its 100,000-square-foot casino floor a day early. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board gave the go-ahead about 11 a.m. Monday.

"'I think the real key areas were observed and the board thought the facility was ready to open up,' said Doug Harbach, spokesman for the gaming board, which monitored everything from floor plans to security to systems operations during the test days.

"'We knew how well the weekend went and we were hopeful we would get authorization from the gaming board, and sure enough, we did,' said Vince Donlevie, senior vice president and general manager of Harrah's Chester.

"The 'soft' opening Monday began with about 100 hopefuls waiting to enter, said Donlevie. Word must have quickly gotten around as the floor steadily filled up throughout the day.

"By 8 p.m. or so, approximately 2,000 to 2,500 people had already checked out the new casino, with even more coming after evening TV media coverage aired, said Advertising and Public Relations Manager Jason Birney.

"…The 2,700-plus slot machines now in operation represent the culmination of years of work. From its humble beginning as the proposed low-key Chester Downs to the rehabilitation of the former Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. site, every stage of the nearly $430 million development has been just one step closer to the jackpot: An annual $10 million in gaming revenues for Chester and an estimated annual $6 to $7 million for the county.

"The facility is currently operating from 9 a.m. to 4 a.m. daily, but Birney said it is looking to begin 24-hour operations soon.

"'It's an exciting time for all of us,' said Donlevie. 'We've got a large group of people who worked very hard at bringing this thing to fruition, so I'm happy for them to see that all their hard work is being rewarded.

"'It's a great time for the city of Chester. It's a great time for Harrah's. I think it's the starting of the next chapter in the history of the city of Chester and I think it's a very, very positive chapter that's starting.'"