Two Connecticut Casinos Make it to top 10 List for USAToday

A USAToday Reader’s Choice survey this week gave the top ranking to the Mohegan Sun among its 10 Best US Casinos, an honor it won last year as well. Number two in the survey went to Connecticut’s other tribal casino, Foxwoods Resort Casino, placing the erstwhile arch rivals about as close to each other in ranking as they are on the map. Foxwoods opened in 1993 and the Sun in 1996.

USAToday wrote: “The Mohegan Sun comprises three hotel towers with a combined 1,563 guestrooms and suites. Mohegan tribal stories come to life throughout the hotel’s design. Rooms are outfitted with the latest technologies, like lightning fast WiFi and intelligent thermostats. Other amenities include a fitness center, pool and Mandara Spa.”

The Sun has three hotel towers and a total of 1,563 rooms. “Mohegan tribal stories come to life throughout the hotel’s design,” writes USA Today. It boasts more than 5,000 slots, 300 gaming tables and 33 tables of poker.

There were three tribal casinos on the list, with Pechanga Casino in Temecula, California, the largest casino resort on the West Coast, being the third.

Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE) recently became the first tribal casino to join the Las Vegas strip, as an operator of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.

The survey placed New York’s del Lago Resort and Casino fourth, the recently opened Encore Boston Harbor, fifth. The $2.6 billion Massachusetts casinos is seen as a major competitive threat to the two top casinos, and it is bidding to dominate the entire New England market that also includes Rhode Island’s two casinos.

Curiously, however, when tribal casinos were ranked, Foxwoods came out on top and Mohegan Sun only finished fifth.

The Mohegan Sun recently launched, the Aspire high-end hotel on floors 31-36 of Sky Tower. The luxury experience includes private valet and check in, butler service and access to Thirty Three, a gourmet food and beverage venue that has blackjack tables, flat-screen TVs and a panoramic view from 33 stories.

The Mohegan Sun Arena, which seats 10,000, which is home base for two sports franchises, and hosts more than 100 concerts annually, recently earned the “Arena of the Year” award at the 2019 Academy of Country Music Awards.

Mohegan Sun President & General Manager Ray Pineault issued this statement: “At Mohegan Sun, we strive for excellence when it comes to guest satisfaction, hotel cleanliness, providing top-notch amenities and staying ahead of the curve throughout all of our Mohegan Sun’s luxury hotel levels: Aspire — Thirty Three incredible offerings, from gaming and entertainment to dining and nightlife, and so much more.” He added, “All three recognitions are truly a testament to the hard work and dedication of our amazing team here in southeastern Connecticut.”

The full list was as follows: