Like an anxious Black Friday shopper, Frank Wheeler arrived at SugarHouse Casino at 8 a.m. on Thursday in anticipation of the grand opening. Five hours later, he streamed in with thousands of excited patrons to see Philadelphia’s first casino.“It’s good, I like it,” the Wynnefield resident said as he puffed on a cigar at one of several slot machines where smoking is allowed.Customers swarmed all 1,600 slot machines and 40 table games, frustrating those who couldn’t find a spot. Lower Northeast resident Janice Hayes skipped work to come with her fiance.“We go to Parx Casino a lot. This one is a lot closer, so we might be coming here,” she said.Not everything went smoothly. Eva Smith had to stop playing the Triple Stars slot machine after it malfunctioned.“I put $50 in there. I played some and got a $36 balance and it wouldn’t work,” she said as she watched a technician work.Mary Moleski and her mother, Bridget Christopher, of the Northeast, came to be a part of history. Moleski’s father worked at an industrial building on Delaware Avenue for 38 years, long before gaming came to the waterfront.“I think it’s good for the area and to build it up,” Moleski said.
