Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut reports slot revenue down 15% in August
oxwoods Resort Casino announced Thursday $30.8 million in slot revenue for the month of August. The figures see revenue down from the $36.5 million in July, although revenue was up 3.8% over the $29.6 million reported in August 2020.
The casino has reported $7.7 million in direct payment to the state of Connecticut in accordance with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation’s long-standing slot revenue contribution agreement. Since 1993, the tribe has deposited over $4.4 billion of Foxwoods’ slot revenue into the state’s budget fund, at 25% of their slot winnings.
Foxwoods wasn’t the only casino in the state to post revenue down in August. After seeing figures climb in July, operations also cooled off for Mohegan Sun, which kept $43.7 million last month, down from $49.9 million in July, according to The Day. It is also down 4.2% from the $45.6 million the casino kept in August 2020. Mohegan Sun made payments of $10.9 million to the state last August, 2021.
Both tribes are looking forward to launching sports betting operations in the state, which are set to launch on October, according to Max Reiss, a spokesman for Gov. Ned Lamont. “All operations will start at the same time,” he said.
In September, Foxwoods is partnering with DraftKings to launch Connecticut’s first sports betting bar. Both parties announced two hiring days at the casino on September 8 and September 14.
While the Mohegan Tribe has already been granted federal authorization to offer online and on-site sports wagering and online casino gaming in the state, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is expecting similar approval to be secured soon.
The Connecticut Lottery, plus both tribes, conform the three entities allowed in the state to launch sports wagering operations. While Foxwoods Casino secured an agreement with DraftKings, Mohegan Sun Casino did so with FanDuel; and the CT Lottery selected RSI.
“This expansion will allow us to enhance investments in support of our tribe, to contribute additional revenue to the State of Connecticut, and to provide a new level of entertainment for our guests,” said Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Chairman Rodney Butler last week.
“We will continue to work with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection to make sports betting and iGaming available as soon as we are legally allowed to do so in Connecticut,” he added.
Earlier this month, the Foxwoods casino reinstated its mask mandate for employees, despite over 75% of staff being fully vaccinated. The measure follows CDC's new guidelines. Guests who have had both doses of the vaccine are also encouraged to wear masks, but will not be required to put them on.