Connecticut casinos report slight slots revenue growth in March amid renovations at both venues

Connecticut's Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resorts Casino reported their numbers for March 2022, resulting in a modest increase year-over-year in slot-machine revenue. 

Mohegan Sun reported it kept $44.7 million in slots revenue, a 2.8% increase over the $43.4 million it kept the same month the previous year. Foxwoods kept $30.4 million last month, a 2.4% increase over the $29.7 million it won last year. 

As the casinos pay 25% of their monthly slots to the state, March saw Mohegan Sun contributing $11.2 million and Foxwoods leaving $7.6 million to Connecticut. 

When it comes to online gaming revenue, Mohegan Sun saw $8.1 million while Foxwoods’ kept $10.2 million. Off the total, both properties pay 18% to the state, contributing $1.4 million and $1.8 million respectively in March. 

Sports betting saw Mohegan Sun keep $3.5 million and Foxwoods $2.5 million. The Connecticut Lottery Corp. generated $717,667. Each paid 13.75% of their gross gaming revenue to the state, with Mohegan Sun as the main contributor in March, paying $484,418. 

The lottery’s retail sports betting locations generated $827,609 in gross gaming revenue. The lottery paid $113,796 of it to the state. 

After the financial results for March were announced, Mohegan Sun confirmed it has taken the initiative of expanding through a $15 million investment destined to the construction of a VIP lounge and other amenities, including upgrades of its two most luxurious hotel suites and improvements to Mohegan Sun Golf Club in Baltic. 

Work has begun on the VIP Lounge & Bar, which will be located next to the Ballo restaurant and take up part of the space formerly occupied by Seasons Buffet, which closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Rockwell Group, the architectural firm responsible for much of Mohegan Sun’s interior, has been retained to design the 6,5000-square-foot lounge, which will include dining and a central fireplace. It is expected to be completed by late fall. 

An additional restaurant offering is being developed for the Casino of the Earth area.

Renovations are also underway inside the 3,500-square-foot Royal Suites on the top floors of the Sky Tower hotel. More than $3 million is being spent on the suites, each of which has two master bedrooms, two jacuzzis, butler service, living rooms and panoramic views of the Thames River.  

A three-year multiphase renovation of the golf course calls for the redesign of parts of the course and the purchase of more than $1 million in new turf equipment. The first phase, which is underway, involves the elimination of certain bunkers, the improvement of others and the removal and replacement of trees.

The partially-covered patio outside Mohegan Sun's Summer Entrance, where bands perform during the summer, also will undergo improvements this year and in 2023. Proposed changes include the addition of a permanent outdoor bar, a deck, a music stage and a redesigned activities area.

In an official statement, Jeff Hamilton, Mohegan Sun’s president and general manager, said: “Our premium customers have always been an important part of our business. We think our high-end amenities give us a competitive advantage”.

Mohegan Sun’s decision to invest in renovating its spaces comes at the heels of Foxwood’s 30th anniversary expansion announcements, which will include a new VIP Players Lounge located in the former Veranda Café,  the opening of CardVault, a first-of-its-kind retail experience designed for buying, selling, trading, grading and consigning sports cards and collectibles, and more.