Fairmount Park Casino Shifts to Live Dealer Tables as Part of Collinsville Upgrade
Accel Entertainment completed a $3 million expansion at Fairmount Park Casino & Racing that introduced live table games including blackjack, roulette, Ultimate Texas Hold ’Em, and I Luv Suits; the project replaced earlier electronic table game offerings and added roughly 35 positions to the staff roster while the venue prepared for the 2026 thoroughbred racing calendar that runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays through October.
Expansion Details and Game Lineup
Construction crews finished the work in time for the new tables to open alongside the return of live racing; players now find staffed pits where dealers handle each hand or spin instead of the automated terminals that previously occupied the same floor space, and the transition brings the Collinsville property closer to full-service racino operations that combine wagering on horses with traditional casino play. Observers note that the chosen titles cover a range of player preferences, from classic blackjack and roulette to the poker variant Ultimate Texas Hold ’Em and the specialized I Luv Suits game, giving the room variety without requiring additional floor renovations beyond the initial build-out.
Job Creation and Operational Changes
The added positions cover dealer roles, floor supervisors, and supporting staff needed to run continuous live table shifts; management scheduled training sessions so new hires could meet state gaming standards before the tables opened, and the increase in personnel supports extended evening hours that the property hopes will draw larger crowds once racing resumes. Data from similar conversions at other Midwest racinos shows that live tables tend to keep visitors on site longer than electronic versions alone, which in turn helps the racing side of the business by increasing food, beverage, and pari-mutuel handle during the same visit.
Racing Season Schedule and Purse Increase
Live racing at Fairmount Park begins again in 2026 on the first Tuesday in May and continues every Tuesday and Saturday until the final card in late October; the $500,000 purse boost that accompanies the new gaming floor is funded through a portion of the table game revenue and is intended to attract higher-quality thoroughbred fields for those race dates. Track officials allocated the extra money across stakes and overnight races alike, which should raise average payouts per race and encourage more owners and trainers to ship horses to Collinsville instead of competing tracks in neighboring states.
Because the table games operate in the evenings after the last race concludes, the combined schedule creates a full day of activity that starts with morning workouts, moves into afternoon racing, and finishes with nighttime casino play; this rhythm mirrors patterns already established at other Illinois racinos and gives Fairmount Park a chance to compete directly for regional visitors who might otherwise travel across the river to St. Louis gaming options.
Attendance and Revenue Goals
Management expects the live tables to lift overall foot traffic during non-racing hours and on race nights alike; early internal projections indicate that the $3 million investment should pay for itself within the first two full years once both the gaming and racing revenue streams stabilize. The move also positions the property as the first full racino in the Collinsville market since the April 2025 casino launch, confirming its status under current state regulatory frameworks that allow live table games only at licensed racing facilities.
Conclusion
With the new tables in place and the 2026 racing dates locked in, Fairmount Park Casino & Racing now operates with both live dealers and live horses under one roof; the combination of the $500,000 purse increase, 35 additional jobs, and expanded evening offerings supplies the operational tools needed to support thoroughbred racing while meeting player demand for traditional table games in the Collinsville area.