The Tunica-Biloxi Gaming Authority, the unincorporated governmental agency of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, owners and operators of the Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville, Louisiana, has signed a one-year consulting contract, followed by a five-year management term, with the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority. The MTGA operates Mohegan Sun in Connecticut and Mohegan Sun Pocono in Pennsylvania, and, under a management and investment contract, is responsible for the turnaround of Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City in the last four years.
The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe has more than 1,200 members who primarily live in Louisiana, Texas and Illinois. TBGA Executive Director Marshall Ray Sampson Sr. said, “We are looking forward to working with MTGA because of the valuable experience they will bring to our operations. They will improve our customer experience, which is our highest priority.
Tribal Chairman Joey P. Barbry noted, “In the state of Louisiana, we are known for our food, fun and optimum level of service that is unmatched anywhere else in the country. With the help of the MTGA, we will be able to reinforce this concept, exceed expectations of Louisiana as a whole and showcase Marksville as a premier gaming and entertainment destination.”
MTGA President Bobby Soper added, “This is an important day for MTGA and for Indian Country as a whole, as our agreement with the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe provides further evidence of Indian country’s willingness to work together and share gaming expertise to attain the mutual benefits of self-sufficiency and diversification. We are excited to be bringing our expertise and culture to Louisiana to help the tribe improve Paragon’s financial performance, while continuing to diversify our own revenue streams.”
In the second fiscal quarter ended March 31, the MTGA posted profits of $27.7 million, compared with $14.6 million for the same quarter last year. Also in the same period the MTGA’s revenue across all operations increased by 7 percent to $331.8 million.
The Cowlitz Indian Tribe of Washington state is working with the MTGA on its $500 million casino, scheduled to open in 2017. In addition, the Korean government recently awarded the MTGA a license to develop and build a first-of-its-kind integrated resort at Incheon International Airport.
