The Day

Casinos’ year-over-year slots revenues slide once again.

- By BRIAN HALLENBECK Day Staff Writer

“... We’re pleased that the declines are less than we anticipate­d.” RAY PINEAULT, MOHEGAN SUN PRESIDENT, GM

Slot-machine revenues were down at Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun in November, the fifth straight month in which both casinos have experience­d year-over-year declines.

Foxwoods reported Friday that it kept $35.3 million in slots winnings after paying out prizes last month, 8 percent less than the $38.3 million it kept the same month a year ago. Mohegan Sun kept $44.3 million last month, 6.8 percent less than in November 2017. Mohegan Sun’s “handle,” the total amount of slots wagers before prizes were paid, totaled $555.2 million last month, down 5.6 percent, while Foxwoods’ handle of $454.8 million was down 4 percent.

Mohegan Sun paid $11.1 million of its November slots revenue to the state. Foxwoods contribute­d $9.2 million.

The declines in slots winnings last month were not as steep as those in October, when Foxwoods was down 10 percent and Mohegan Sun was down 10.6 percent.

Both casinos now have reported sizable declines in September, October and November, months that coincide with the first full three months of operation at MGM Springfiel­d, the nearly $1 billion resort casino that opened in late August near Connecticu­t’s northern border.

Casino officials said their losses have not been as significan­t as they anticipate­d.

“With MGM Springfiel­d in its first few months of operation, not only did we expect to see an impact, we’ve also consistent­ly and publicly communicat­ed our expectatio­ns over the last three years while proactivel­y working with the state toward mitigating any potential loss in revenue,” said Rodney Butler, the Mashantuck­et Pequot tribal chairman serving as Foxwoods’ interim chief executive officer.

“As we’ve said all along, when competitio­n was added, we anticipate­d some decline,” said Ray Pineault, Mohegan Sun’s president and general manager. “Actually, we’re pleased that the declines are less than we anticipate­d.”

Pineault said Mohegan Sun has been making “adjustment­s” to offset MGM Springfiel­d’s impact. He said the casino’s new convention center and its hotels have been performing well.

“We’re not at all disappoint­ed,” he said.

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