MASHANTUCKET, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Foxwoods Resort Casino and MGM Grand at Foxwoods today reported to the Connecticut State Division of Special Revenue that slot revenue for the month of December was $45.1 million. This amount represents an increase of 1.2 percent in slot win and 6.3 percent in total slot handle as compared to December of 2009. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, the casino’s owner, also reported a $12 million payment to the State of Connecticut for December of 2010. This contribution increases the total dollar amount given to the State of Connecticut to approximately $3.12 billion since January 1993, when slot machines were first introduced at Foxwoods.
“We are encouraged by December’s results and particularly the strong pace of business on New Year’s Eve,” said Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprises (MPGE) President Scott Butera. “We do, however, recognize that it is time for us to evolve as an enterprise and provide even more amenities and entertainment options that continue to appeal to our customers.”
News of Foxwoods’ increased slot revenue comes on the heels of disappointing news for Atlantic City which just reported an average decline of 12.8 percent in slot win as compared to December of 2008 for all eleven properties, more than half of which are reporting a loss of more than 18 percent. This marks the 28th consecutive month the New Jersey destination has experienced a decline.
Foxwoods continues to provide unmatched benefits to its guests with their Dream Rewards program, providing members with even more benefits at North America’s largest resort casino, including overnight accommodations at one of four award-winning hotels; tickets to concerts and special events; upscale dining experiences; golf memberships; spa services; invitations to monthly special events and promotions, and more. Foxwoods recently upped the ante for its loyal patrons and unveiled “Free Skate Tuesdays” during which Dream Card holders skate for free at The Grand Rink at MGM Grand at Foxwoods. And coming soon, Dream Card holders can expect even more benefits, courtesy of Foxwoods and one of Broadway’s most highly anticipated productions, “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” taking place at Times Square’s Foxwoods Theatre. Sign up for a Dream Card now and receive 2 free tickets to a selection of upcoming live shows – to enroll, visit www.Foxwoods.com or any Dream Rewards location at Foxwoods.
A number of nationally-renowned entertainers and concerts will come to Foxwoods and MGM Grand at Foxwoods in 2011. The B-52s “Roam” into the MGM Grand Theater on January 21, while Led Zeppelin legend Robert Plant and his Band of Joy perform on January 28. In February, pop music sensation Enrique Iglesias will perform at the MGM Grand Theater stage on the 3rd; “Jerry Maguire” star Jay Mohr will appear at the Fox Theater on the 5th; and country superstar Toby Keith will play at the MGM Grand Theater on the 11th.
On the sports entertainment side, Foxwoods will host a boxing event on January 15 at Fox Theater featuring bouts between USA Boxing Connecticut and New England, showcasing top boxers from around New England competing to qualify for the 2012 Olympic trials in Colorado Springs. That same night, MGM Grand Theater welcomes the crew from Orange County Choppers, as seen on the Discovery Channel’s popular reality TV show, who will build an OCC Greenie bike live on stage. The interactive event also features music from OCC Live Band; exclusive video footage; and a Q&A with fans.
On the gaming and poker front, Foxwoods hosts the Mega Stack Challenge XIX in February – a unique highlight of which will be the first-ever reunion of the “November Nine,” the nine final players in November 2010’s World Series of Poker. In April, the Foxwoods Poker Classic will once again descend upon the award-winning property, with Mega Stack returning again in May.
In yet another example of Foxwoods Resort Casino and MGM Grand at Foxwoods bringing a Big Apple favorite to New England, the renowned Fay Da Bakery recently opened its doors in Foxwoods' Rainmaker Square. The Asian patisserie, whose rise to fame began when the first location opened its doors in downtown Manhattan in 1991, brings with it an authentic menu of breads, cakes, cookies, and bubble teas. This is the first and only location outside the New York City metro area. Fay Da is the latest in a long line of notable NYC-based entities that have chosen Foxwoods Resort Casino as a home for their very first location outside of the New York City metro area – others include Junior’s, the veritable Brooklyn-based deli which has become world famous for its signature cheesecake; and Comix Comedy Club, rated the #1 comedy club in all of Manhattan by Zagat.
About Foxwoods and MGM Grand at Foxwoods
North America’s largest casino, Foxwoods Resort Casino® is located at the Mashantucket Pequot Indian reservation in the midst of the rolling hills of southeastern Connecticut, easily accessible from Boston, New York, Hartford, and Providence. Owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, Foxwoods has something for everyone as the East Coast’s premier entertainment destination. Four award-winning hotels offer accommodations to suit every budget, along with luxury butler-serviced villas, extensive retail offerings, and more than 30 dining establishments featuring everything from world-class gourmet cuisine to casual fare. Six casinos offer non-stop gaming excitement with more than 6,600 slots and 360 table games; 97 poker tables in the only WPT World Poker Room™ on the East Coast; a High Stakes Bingo hall; and Ultimate Race Book. The renowned Norwich Spa at Foxwoods and the tranquil oasis of G-Spa provide the perfect escape to recharge the mind, body, and soul. Meetings and convention goers will find more than 115,000 square feet of meeting space, including the largest column-free ballroom in the northeast, MGM’s 50,000 square foot Premiere Ballroom. Two acoustically-perfected theaters offer weekly entertainment for all ages. The original state-of-the-art Fox Theater, seating 1,400, was opened in 1993 by the legendary Frank Sinatra. The majestic 4,000-seat MGM Grand Theater hosts an impressive variety of weekly headline entertainment. Conveniently located adjacent to Foxwoods is Lake of Isles™, featuring two 18-hole championship golf courses designed by Rees Jones and a state-of-the-art Golf Academy. Foxwoods supports responsible gaming, and plays a leadership role in the Connecticut Council of Problem Gambling, of which it was a founding entity. For more information, call 800-FOXWOODS or visit www.foxwoods.com.
About the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
The Mashantucket Pequots are a native Algonquin people in southeastern Connecticut, having endured centuries of conflict, survival, and continuity on and around one of America’s oldest Indian reservations, established in 1666. As the first native people within the borders of the continental United States to suffer attempted genocidal massacre by Puritan Colonists in 1637, the Pequots and their repatriation is an unprecedented story of restoration exhibited in detail at the Tribe’s world-class Museum and Research Center (www.pequotmuseum.org). Today the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation owns the largest resort casino in the world, Foxwoods Resort Casino (www.foxwoods.com), along with several other economic ventures including the Lake of Isles Golf Course (www.lakeofisles.com), a joint-venture partnership establishing the MGM Grand at Foxwoods, and Foxwoods Development Company dedicated to world-class resort development throughout the United States and Caribbean. All together, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation remains one of the State of Connecticut’s highest tax payers and largest employers. Likewise, the Tribe provides significant financial contributions to state and local nonprofit organizations that support neighboring communities.