The company that operates the Mohegan Sun, one of the largest casinos in the world, will now be running two casinos near Niagara Falls.
Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE), which operates the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut and its subsidiary casino in Pennsylvania, has been selected by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) to be the service provider and to run the day to day operations of its Niagara Bundle, which includes Fallsview Casino Resort, Casino Niagara, and the 5,000-seat Niagara Falls Entertainment Centre, now under construction adjacent to the casino. The arrangement becomes effective the summer of 2019. OLG chose MGE after a competitive procurement process.
OLG will provide strategic oversight of the bundle, including approvals concerning material operational changes.
The Fallsview Casino has 2.5 million square feet, including 200,000 SF of gaming space, with 3,000 slots and 100 table games. Casino Niagara has 1,500 slots and at least 40 tables.
Kevin Brown, chairman of the Mohegan tribe, commented, “We are honored to have been selected as the service provider by OLG in what was a very competitive process. This procurement marks Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment’s advancement as a leader in commercial gaming and integrated resort experiences around the world, while promoting greater economic development and tourism in the Niagara region through our outstanding gaming, entertainment, and resort offerings.”
OLG President and CEO Stephen Rigby greeted the selection: “Selecting Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment is the latest step OLG is taking in our land-based gaming modernization, which is investing in communities and providing customers with new and exciting entertainment options.” He added, “By leveraging the success of the Niagara casinos and integrating with the wide mix of entertainment and tourist offerings in the area, Mohegan will help ensure the long-term competitiveness of the Niagara gaming market—particularly in relation to markets across the border.”
Anthony Casdia, MGE’s senior vice president of business intelligence, explained MGE’s plans for the properties: “As a brand known for our all-encompassing entertainment destinations, we are excited to work with OLG, the City of Niagara Falls, Canadian Niagara Hotels Inc., Niagara Falls Entertainment Partners and other local stakeholders in supporting a twin-anchor strategy that is critical to the success of tourism throughout the Niagara region.” He added, “The Niagara Falls Entertainment Centre will be used to create unique experiences for the benefit of the Niagara Region, create more jobs, and encourage economic growth. As the operators of one of the most successful arenas in the U.S. over the last 15 years, Mohegan Sun Arena, we are eager to put our experience to work and establish Niagara Falls Entertainment Centre as one of Canada’s top-ranked venues.”
The Mohegan Sun has also extended the reach of its Momentum loyalty program through partnerships with the $4.2 billion Baha Mar Casino in Nassau, the Bahamas, the largest casino in the Caribbean, which has 2,300 hotel rooms, 20 restaurants, a golf course, and convention center; and MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately owned cruise line.
Other partnerships in the region that members who have earned points, called “Momentum Dollars” can now access include Ocean House Management Collection’s hotel properties in Massachusetts; Six Flags amusement park in Agawam and Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, both in Massachusetts. Other amenities available to card holders are discounts with Samuel Adams, a brewery based in Boston; the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League; Blue Back Square, a shopping and live entertainment venue in West Hartford; and a theater, the Hartford Stage.
Of course, the Momentum program operates in other casinos that the Sun operates, including Mohegan Sun Pocono in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania’ Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey and ilani Casino Resort in Ridgefield, Washington.
The fact that some of these attractions are nearer to Springfield, Massachusetts than they are to Connecticut highlights the fact that while the newly opened MGM Springfield is taking away some patrons from the Mohegan Sun, the Sun is reaching into MGM territory as well.
The MGM Springfield has its own loyalty program, M life Rewards.
Momentum benefits available to Sun customers on MSC Cruises are comparable to benefits available to members of the cruise line’s own loyalty program, MSC Voyager’s Club and includes discounts, priority embarkation and disembarkation and spa visits. Oh and yes, MSC Cruise ships have slot machines and table games.
