Delaware North Companies and Jumer's Announce Purchase Agreement

ROCK ISLAND, Ill., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Delaware North Companies, a global hospitality company that owns and operates several U.S. casinos and gaming venues, the Jumer family and Jumer's Casino officials today announced that Delaware North is acquiring the Jumer's Casino & Hotel located in Rock Island, Ill., for $180 million. The agreement is subject to general conditions, including the approval of the Illinois Gaming Board.

Since opening in December 2008, Jumer's Casino & Hotel has become a premier casino resort in Illinois' Quad Cities market and remains one of the leading destination casinos in the Midwest. Jumer's has been privately owned by the D. James Jumer Trust and operated by The Rock Island Boatworks, Inc.

Jumer's features a Las Vegas-style casino that features an art-moderne design. It offers more than 1,100 slots and 24 table games, as well as a live poker room, high-limit slot area and a VIP lounge. Amenities include a 205-room hotel with an indoor pool and fitness center, salon and day spa, events center with meeting rooms for up to 600 people, four restaurants, a nightclub, a sports bar and lakeside fire pit.

"This casino resort was the vision of the Jumer family. The family has great pride in the property and it has done a wonderful job overseeing its evolution over the last two years. Jumer's Casino & Hotel has everything we look for in a gaming destination and will be an excellent addition to our expanding portfolio of gaming assets," said William Bissett, president of Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment.  

Ron Wicks, president and CEO of Jumer's commented, "Our strong performance in a difficult economic environment underscores the strength of our casino product offering and quality management team. These two factors are the reason that the Jumer's property is the market leader in the Quad Cities region."

Delaware North owns and operates several gaming and entertainment venues in New York, Florida, Arkansas and West Virginia. In addition, its Gaming Hospitality Group provides hospitality and food service at the Choctaw Casino Resort in Oklahoma.

Bissett said Delaware North will integrate its core business systems and processes, such as its highly regarded customer service program, GuestPath®, and its environmental management program, GreenPath®, into the operation. He said Delaware North will also explore opportunities to enhance the marketing of the venue in the region.

"We are hopeful to close the transaction before the end of the year and look forward to coordinating with the city of Rock Island to continue to promote Jumer's Casino & Hotel as an exciting entertainment destination. We look forward to a smooth transition over the next few months," Bissett said.

About Jumer's Casino & Hotel

Jumer's began operation in Rock Island, Ill., in March 1992 at the foot of 18th Street in downtown Rock Island. It was one of the first riverboat casino operations in Illinois. It operated as Jumer's Casino Rock Island from March 1992 until the operation moved to its current location at the intersection of I-280 and Hwy 92 in Rock Island in December 2008. Jumer's constructed a new casino/hotel complex and renamed the operations Jumer's Casino & Hotel.

About Delaware North Companies

Delaware North Companies is one of the world's leading hospitality and food service companies. Its family of companies includes Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Delaware North Companies International and Delaware North Companies Boston, owner of TD Garden. Delaware North Companies is one of the largest and most admired privately held companies in the world with revenues exceeding $2 billion annually and 50,000 associates serving half a billion customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.DelawareNorth.com.  

SOURCE Delaware North Companies