The two tribes operating casinos in Connecticut saw the first increases in wagering on slot machines in two years. This is the first time that betting did not decline for several years.
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation reported last week that in December $446.33 million were wagered on slots at the Foxwoods Resort Casino. That’s a 3 percent increase from the year before. The casino still saw slot revenues fall 4 percent that same period.
The Mohegan Tribe, operator of the Mohegan Sun, reported $600.37 million in slots wagers, a 5 percent increase over the year before. Slot revenues were also up 7 percent from 2013, to $48.99 million.
The two mega-casinos have battled to fend off competition from neighboring states during a period when discretionary spending declined.
A spokesman for the Mohegan Sun gave credit to falling gasoline prices right in the middle of the holidays, creating a discretionary spending boomlet. The Sun was not yet ready to call the spike anything other than a single occurrence, certainly not a trend.
In a continuing effort to diversify and develop new sources of revenue, both Indian casinos have been branching into retail as well as pursuing casino licenses in nearby Massachusetts.
Beginning last month the Mohegan Sun partnered with an aviation company, Blade, in providing direct helicopter flights between the resort and downtown Manhattan.
