PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia’s first casino is open for business.

The City of Brotherly Love became the largest U.S. city with a casino Thursday when the SugarHouse Casino opened its doors after years of community protests and delays.

More than 1,000 gamblers turned out for the afternoon opening to play the casino’s 1,600 slot machines and 40 table games.

A small group of anti-casino protesters turned out for the opening. Casino-Free Philadelphia plans to continue protests it hopes will affect business at the casino on the Delaware River waterfront.

With the SugarHouse opening, Philadelphia passes Detroit as the nation’s largest city with casino gambling.