On Thursday, Philadelphia became the largest U.S. city with a casino when Pennsylvania’s 10th gambling hall opened despite years of community protests and delays.

SugarHouse Casino attracted a rough crowd of over a thousand people to the Delaware River waterfront for a chance to play among its 1,600 slot machines and 40 table games. For entertainment, a string band played.

“SugarHouse is the place to be in Philadelphia,” Wendy Hamilton said, General Manager of the SugarHouse.

Lawmakers and officials praised the creation of around 900 jobs and other economic benefits that came with the project.

The casino went through test runs of the games on Monday and Wednesday with proceeds going to charity, before the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board gave it permission to open. 

Source: Associated Press