Hamburg Casino
Hamburg Gaming overview
Hamburg Gaming is a Racino property that is part of the Buffalo Raceway at the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg, New York.
Buffalo Trotting Association Inc owns the facility. Delaware North is the operational partner. In all, Hamburg hosts Video Lottery Terminal gaming, live and simulcast harness racing, and a variety of food and beverage options.
- Casino Esplanade Hamburg Hamburg traditionally ranks high in the Quality of Life ranking is widely regarded as one of the world’s most liveable cities. Part of Hamburg charm, no doubt, is the way this city combines modernity and classical elegance with great ease.
- Hamburg Gaming 5820 South Park Avenue Hamburg, NY 14075 (716) 646-6109 (800) 237-1205. Gaming Floor: 8am - 10pm, daily. Gaming; Racing; Dining; Promos & Events.
The Buffalo Raceway opened in 1942 at the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg, NY with a half mile race track and grandstand. In the 1960’s the raceway was sold by its owners to Sportservice Corporation. Sportservice installed a stone dust surfaced racing strip to allow winter racing in 1971. Plus, renovations also included a new clubhouse and glass enclosed grandstand.
Hamburg Casino has made some changes of late. There are some new slots and they have brightened the playing area. You no longer have to stand in line at the Players Club to get your Perks. Rob Puhalski, general manager of Hamburg Gaming, as the casino reopens in Hamburg, Wednesday, Sept. The Hamburg Gaming management team and employees have been busy preparing for reopening.
The Buffalo Raceway added simulcast racing in the 1980s.
In 1990 the Erie County Agricultural Society acquired the property. The latest owners added more than 900 Video Lottery Terminals in March 2004 and the facility became Fairgrounds Gaming.
An additional $250,000 in improvements were made in 2010 and Fairgrounds Gaming moved into a new building. In August of that year it became known as Hamburg Casino. Several track improvements have been made in the years since. In fact, the facility is now known as Hamburg Gaming.
Hamburg Gaming is located right off US-62 near the New York State Thruway. It is close to the cities of Buffalo, Fort Erie, and Niagara Falls.
VLTs and more
Hamburg Gaming boats 55,000 square feet of gaming space with more than 940 Video Lottery Terminals.
The VLTs on the property include:
- New York Lottery games
- Video poker
- Progressives
- Penny machines
Some of the most popular slot titles at the facility include:
- Michael Jackson
- Wheel of Fortune Extreme
- Titanic
Patrons must be 18 to enter gaming floor and play at Hamburg Gaming. The facility offers live harness racing and pari-mutuel wagering from January to July. However, simulcast wagering is available year round.
Hamburg’s online casino plans
Hamburg Gaming may seem like a small Racino and harness racing facility. However, the organization is an early iGaming adopter as well. In fact, Hamburg Gaming offers a moblie app for iOs and Android users with free-to-play online casino games in addition to promotions and information about the facility.
The app is run in partnership with Bally Technologies and hosts a variety of Bally’s games.
In the first quarter of 2018, New York lawmakers were not considering legalizing online casino games. However, should they do so in the future, the Hamburg Gaming app suggest this Racino would be ready for it.
The next step: Hamburg online poker
New York legislators were considering legalizing and regulating online poker in the first quarter of 2018. Hamburg Gaming has no poker room, or connections to the online poker industry.
However, the casino gaming mobile app suggests they are early iGaming adopters. Plus, they could have an interest in the additional revenue stream an online poker room could provide.
County Fair and more
In addition to live and simulcast racing and a huge selection of VLT’s, Hamburg Gaming is directly connected to the Fairgrounds Event Center. Plus, it is part of the Erie County Fairgrounds, which hosts one of the country’s largest and longest-running county fairs.
Additional services on the property include:
- Free Parking
- Coat Check
- Free non-alcoholic beverage service to guests playing any slot machine
- Valet Parking
- Touch-screen play
- Cash/ticket in-ticket out machines
Food and beverage options at Hamburg Gaming include:
- Tim Horton’s
- Midway Buffet
- Blue Ribbon Grill
- Cyclone Bar
- Winner’s Circle Cafe overlooking the track
Free Rewards
Hamburg Gaming offer free membership into its Player Rewards Club. Players earn points for using all video poker or gaming machines.
VIP benefits include:
- complimentary coat check
- members-only promotions
- free play
With New York Governor Andrew Cuomo allowing for casinos to reopen across the state in a minimal capacity, Hamburg Gaming has released their reopening guidelines.
Hamburg Gaming announced that they will reopen doors to gamers on Wednesday, September 9, but have some new guidelines and safety precautions to adhere to CDC and NYS Reopening Guidelines.
Called 'Play it Safe,' the gaming facility will undergo extensive rounds of cleaning throughout the day.
“The health and safety of our guests and employees is our top priority. We will focus on that with our Play It Safe program, which Delaware North has successfully implemented in reopening other casinos,” said Rob Puhalski, general manager of Hamburg Gaming for operator Delaware North. “We’ve worked closely with the state to ensure we are taking appropriate safety measures to reopen.”
Elements of the 'Play it Safe' program include:
- Guests are asked to adhere to social distancing protocols while waiting to enter.
- All incoming guests will be required to present identification as a record of their visit for contract tracing purposes.
- All guests will be required to wear a mask or other face covering during their visit. Guests will need to provide their own masks.
- Temperature screening and health check of guests takes place upon entering the facility.
- An on-site Clean Team has been created, and its members are equipped with Ecolab® multi-surface cleaner and disinfectant to conduct ongoing sanitization of all surfaces. They will help to protect guests by dispensing hand sanitizer and cleaning video gaming machines and other surfaces on request.
- Social distancing protocols are in place throughout the facility.
- Touchless service and payment options will be available at food and beverage outlets once open.
- Hand-sanitizing stations have been added at the entrance and throughout the facility.
- We have upgraded our air filtration systems to meet New York State guidelines.
- Some service offerings may be limited or unavailable to help maintain safe social distancing and health and safety guidelines.
Hamburg Gaming will reopen at 25% capacity with a reduced number of active video gaming machines at least 6 feet apart and employees and guests required to wear face coverings.
Hamburg Casino Open
Hamburg Casino Reopening
Gaming hours will be from 8 a.m. to 4 a.m., and valet parking, coat check, scooter rentals and wheelchairs will not be available.