July 6, 1969
The first motorsports event at Dover Downs’ motor speedway - a NASCAR Grand National Series (now Sprint Cup Series) race called the Mason-Dixon 300 - is held, and Richard Petty, one of the all-time great racers in the sport, wins the race.

November 19, 1969
The first harness card takes place.

1969 – 1974
A thoroughbred meet is held each spring in addition to the wintertime harness meets, which continue today.

1971
Dover Downs expands its NASCAR racing schedule to two races per year and continues with a spring and fall Sprint Cup Series race annually.

February 4, 1973
Dover Downs harness racing posts an all-time record for attendance (5,971) and on-track handle ($515,177).

1970s
The influence of extended racing competition from surrounding states, primarily the Meadowlands in New Jersey, Atlantic City casinos and state lotteries in Delaware and Pennsylvania, takes its toll on the horse racing industry in Delaware.

1986
A 3,200-seat auto race grandstand addition begins 16 consecutive years of facility expansion continued until 2001 – unequaled by any other NASCAR track.  Dover adds a fall NASCAR Nationwide Series event to its annual schedule.

May 31, 1994
The Delaware General Assembly passes legislation authorizing slot machines at pari-mutuel horse racing facilities.  The Delaware Horse Racing Redevelopment Act is passed to revitalize the horse racing industry in Delaware, granting the state’s three horse tracks the right to install 500 slot machines.  Dover Downs retains Caesars World Gaming Development Corporation to help design and build the Las Vegas style video lottery casino. 

1995
Dover Downs International Speedway becomes NASCAR’s first concrete paved superspeedway.

December 13, 1995
Dover Downs, Inc. receives authorization to conduct video lottery operations as a “Licensed Agent” under the Delaware State Lottery Code.

December 29, 1995
The casino known as Dover Downs Slots, a state-of-the-art gaming facility, officially opens its doors with 500 video lottery (slot) machines under the supervision of the Delaware State Lottery. Proceeds from slots revenues are split among the state, horseracing purses and the track.  Site becomes first and only facility in the country to feature a NASCAR track and a casino.

1996
Dover Downs Entertainment, Inc., parent company of all Dover Downs activities, begins trading on New York Stock Exchange under symbol “DVD.”

1998
Dover Downs Slots undergoes its first of four casino expansions to increase slot machines in increments of 500.

2001
Sixteenth year of auto grandstand expansion places seating capacity at 135,000 - the largest seating capacity of a sports facility in the Mid-Atlantic region and the seventh largest in NASCAR. Dover Downs International Speedway holds the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event after terrorist attacks of September 11th on New York City, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. wins the race and takes the American flag for a victory lap around the track.

December 2001
Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. is incorporated in the State as a wholly owned subsidiary of Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE-Symbol: DVD).

March 31, 2002
DVD completes a tax-free spin-off of its gaming operations. Immediately following the spin-off, Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. becomes an independent public company.

April 1, 2002
Dover Downs’ name officially changes to Dover Motorsports, Inc.  The gaming and entertainment part of the operation splits away from motorsports, thus Dover Downs essentially becomes two separate, publicly traded companies.  Harness racing, slots, various entertainment and the newly built hotel known as Dover Downs Hotel and Conference Center falls under the umbrella of Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE-Symbol: DDE).  Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE-Symbol: DVD) oversees Dover International Speedway events and its other motorsports venues including Nashville Superspeedway, Memphis Motorsports Park and Gateway International Raceway (St. Louis).

April 2002
Dover Downs Hotel and Conference Center opens with 232 rooms, indoor pool, sauna, fitness center, 18,000 square-foot Rollins Center ballroom, and Michele’s Gourmet Restaurant.  (Michele’s was named after Mrs. John Rollins, Sr.).  Additional construction includes building a 425-seat buffet restaurant and renovating the enclosed harness racing grandstand with state-of-the-art simulcast facility.

November 27, 2002
Delaware’s Clean Indoor Air Act becomes law and the casino subsequently goes 100% smoke free.

2003
Dover Downs Hotel and Conference Center receives first of five consecutive AAA Four Diamond Awards.  The News Journal recognizes Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. and Dover Motorsports, Inc. as No. 1 in “Community Involvement” for the first of three consecutive years.

May 30, 2003
A committee created by the Delaware House of Representatives issues a favorable assessment as to the merits of conducting sports wagering in the State through its video lottery agents.  The Committee concludes that sports gaming is feasible in the State, outlines proposed structures for its implementation and provides various financial projections.  Enabling legislation would need to be passed by the Delaware General Assembly to establish sports gaming operations.

First Qtr 2004
Dover Downs Slots constructs 11,000 sq. ft. of additional casino space – called The Promenade and The Terrace Lounge - within its existing casino complex and installs 500 machines raising the number of slot machines to 2,500, the maximum allowable by Delaware law. 

December 28, 2005
Management agreement with Caesars World Gaming Development Corporation expires and is not renewed.

January 1, 2006
Dover Downs Slots and Dover Downs Hotel and Conference Center change their names to merge as one identifiable property under the name Dover Downs Hotel & Casino.

January 2006
State law is enacted to increase the number of slot machines allowable at the three licensed Delaware racinos from 2,500 to 4,000.  Legislation also allows casinos to expand operating hours to 24 hours a day (closing only on Sunday mornings from 6 a.m. to noon, Easter and Christmas).

March 30, 2006
Company announces $52 million Phase II hotel expansion project to open by October 2007.

April 2006
In its annually published “Best in the Business” Report, The News Journal names Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. and Dover Motorsports, Inc. “Best Place to Work” and “Overall Company to Watch.”

May 1, 2006
Ground breaks on $52 million Phase II hotel expansion project to add 191,500 sq. ft. of hotel space, 268 additional rooms including 44 luxury suites, 11 spa suites and a 6,000-sq.-ft. full-service spa, projected for completion in October 2007.
 
June 3, 2006
Largest jackpot at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino hits for $375,179.81 on a Wheel of Fortune Progressive machine, on NASCAR Sunday.

June 30, 2006
4,000 sq. ft. of existing space on the fourth floor is converted to Trackview Slots with 200 new slot machines, bringing the total number of slots to more than 2,700.

July 2006
Ca$hola, the first multistate progressive in the United States, is launched at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, linking two other approved racinos in Delaware plus racinos in Rhode Island and West Virginia.

Early September 2006
Dover Downs Hotel & Casino files plans with the Dover Planning Commission to add 75,000 sq. ft. to main floor casino for additional slots, restaurants, casino nightclub, retail shops and office space in its Phase VI casino expansion plan, projected for completion in summer 2008. The Dover Planning Commission subsequently approves the plan.

September 2006
Dover Downs Hotel & Casino is named “Best of the East” by Meetings East Magazine – and judged to be Delaware’s premier meeting destination from votes cast by 22,000 meeting planning professionals.

October 2006
Dover Downs Hotel & Casino announces it will install Shufflemaster multiplayer video lottery terminals in first quarter 2007, including Let It Ride, Blackjack, Baccarat, and Three Card Poker. Games combine a “virtual” video dealer and exciting player interaction with fully-automated table game play. Delaware is the first state in the Northeastern region to receive these games, ahead of Atlantic City and even Las Vegas; only California and North Carolina feature the games.

February 2007
Free FunPlay online game system is introduced at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino. The FunPlay online gaming system features casino-style and casual games that can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere there is a computer, just for fun … money is neither wagered nor lost.

March 30, 2007
The Company confirms plans for its Phase VI casino expansion project to add 68,000 sq. ft. to the casino at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino.

May 2007
Dover Downs Hotel & Casino breaks ground on a $56 million Phase VI expansion project to add a new main casino entrance, a 20,000-sq.-ft gaming floor with 500 additional slot machines, Fire & Ice (casino lounge with seating for 200), three branded restaurants, retail shops and a gourmet coffee cafe.  Project is forecasted for completion by fall 2008.

July 2007
Dover woman hits Cashola multistate progressive jackpot for $318,770.55, the second largest jackpot at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino.

September 2007
Hotel opens 268 new rooms, officially classifying Dover Downs Hotel & Casino as the largest hotel in Delaware with 500 rooms.  Michele’s reopens after a planned three-month remodel.

September 17, 2007
Dover Planning Commission unanimously approves a conceptual master plan submitted by Dover Downs Hotel & Casino including a parking garage, increased video lottery complex, addition of new horse paddock, expansion of the Rollins Center and the addition of a 500-room hotel tower.

October 11, 2007
Dover Downs Hotel & Casino announces that Public House Investments, LLC, the Philadelphia-based company with renowned operations in New York, N.Y., Denver, Colo. and Philadelphia, Pa., signed a lease to operate a Public House restaurant as part of The Colonnade casino expansion project. 

November 6, 2007
Dover Downs Hotel & Casino announces that Dave Magrogan Group, owners of Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House and Kildare’s Irish Pubs in Pennsylvania, signed a lease to operate a Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House within The Colonnade.

December 29, 2007
Toppers Spa/Salon opens its doors for business.

February 1, 2008
Power Jackpots casino progressive jackpot is officially launched at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino.

February 21, 2008
Dover Downs Hotel & Casino announces that Marabella’s Italian restaurant, founded by seasoned restaurateur, Gabe Marabella, who owned and operated several restaurants in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey, will operate a 120-seat restaurant within The Colonnade.

February 28, 2008
Dover Downs Hotel & Casino announces that Áreas USA, an international retail services company, will open four shops within 3,500 sq. ft. of The Colonnade including Godiva Chocolatier, Swarovski, Fashions of The Colonnade, and The Colonnade Marketplace.
 
March 2008
Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. and Dover Motorsports, Inc. receive the “Economic Development Leadership Act” from the Central Delaware Economic Development Council.

March 4, 2008
Dover Downs Hotel & Casino announces that Guinness World Records certified the world’s largest crab cake to be that which was presented, in conjunction with Handy International, Inc. of Crisfield, MD, at the inaugural Diamond State BBQ Championship held at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino on October 21, 2006.

April 15, 2008

Dover Downs Hotel & Casino announced as winner of Delaware Today’s 2008 Best of Delaware Awards for Best Wine List Downstate and Best Restaurant Makeover Downstate for Michele’s restaurant.

May 2, 2008

Dover Downs Hotel & Casino is recognized for excellence by The Horizon Interactive Awards, a leading international interactive media awards competition, with a Silver award for the Self Promotion/Corporate Identity category.

July 2008

Casino Player’s Best of Gaming Issue awarded Dover Downs Hotel & Casino 22 Best of Gaming honors by the readers of Casino Player magazine, the nation’s leading consumer gaming magazine.  Dover Downs Hotel & Casino received honors in the racinos division, with nine first-place wins including best overall hotel casino, best hotel, best suites, best rooms, best race/sportsbook, best comps, best hosts, best overall entertainment and best gourmet for Michele’s restaurant.

July 12, 2008

The Colonnade casino expansion opens to the public.  Highlights include more than 400 additional slot machines, Public House restaurant, Marabella’s Italian restaurant, Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House, a casino lounge – Fire & Ice at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, Sweet Perks Too gourmet coffee café, Fashions of The Colonnade designer merchandise shop, The Marketplace logo store, Swarovksi and Godiva Chocolatier.

July 25, 2008

A very fortunate Laurel, Md., man won a whopping $1,034,190.88 on the multistate progressive game, Ca$hola™.  The jackpot is the largest ever for Dover Downs Hotel & Casino and the largest Ca$hola jackpot in Delaware history. 

Today
* Largest hotel in Delaware with 500 rooms
* Third highest harness racing purses in the country
* Only harness track in the world surrounded by NASCAR track
* Only casino in the world with adjoining NASCAR track
* 1,100 employees (DDE), 150 employees (DMI)
* More than 2,700 video lottery (slot) machines, increasing to 3,200 in July 2008
* Casino Player magazine’s “Best of Gaming Award” winner, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
* Delaware Lottery’s customer survey report top overall scorer, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
* AAA Four Diamond Award, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
* “Best of the East” Award by Meetings East Magazine, 2006

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