Foxwoods Casino Details Reopening Plans, Will Clean Chips and Swap Out Playing Cards More Frequently
Posted on: May 7, 2020, 09:31h.
Last updated on: May 7, 2020, 10:30h.
Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, is revealing some of the health protection measures it’s implementing that will allow the property to safely reopen once deemed appropriate.
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Chairman Rodney Butler took ABC’s Nightline?through the massive resort this week. For the first time since the casino opened more than 20 years ago, it is closed.
Unbelievable,” Butler said of the slot machines being turned off. “They should be clinging and clanging right now.”
One of the largest casinos in the world, Foxwoods has four casinos – Fox Tower, Grand Pequot, Great Cedar, and Rainmaker. Combined, they offer approximately 4,500 slot machines.
Under the Mashantucket Pequot’s gaming compact, the tribe shares 25 percent of its slot machine win with the state. They do not share any revenue generated from the resort’s more than 250 table games.
In 2019, the Connecticut government received $108 million from Foxwoods’ slots. The state’s other tribal casino – Mohegan Sun – shared over $137 million with the state.
Reopening Strategy
Butler says 99 percent of Foxwoods’ workers are currently laid off.
“We have no gaming income,” Butler said. “There’s no tax base here on the reservation. So, it’s costing us a couple of million a week just to stay closed.” Of course, the tribe is eager to reopen, and is discussing ways to protect employees and guests once it resumes operations.
Brian Hayes, vice president of analytics and slot operations at Foxwoods, says playing cards will be swapped out every one to four hours. Traditionally, the cards have been exchanged once a day. Hayes additionally explained that the casino is reviewing ways to efficiently and effectively sanitize chips.
Other health safety measures will include increased frequency of cleaning high-touch areas, such as elevators, handrails, and bathrooms. Social distancing measures will remain in place, with vacant seats in- between gamblers likely.
Ready to Party?
Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun have both been closed since March 16. They did so of their own accords, as being located on sovereign territory, the tribes are not required to adhere to state orders from Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D).
Foxwoods has canceled reservations through May 24. Mohegan Sun says it will remain closed through at least May 12.
MGM Resorts’ Park MGM property in Las Vegas recently said on its Strip marquee, “When it’s over, we’ll celebrate together.” But Butler isn’t so sure guests will come rushing to Foxwoods once the property reopens.
A lot of this is going to be dictated by the medical professionals. but more importantly, the psychology of people and how comfortable they’re going to feel going back out in the public,” Butler said.
On a typical day, the chairman says Foxwoods welcomes 15,000 to 20,000 people, plus the 5,000 people who arrive to work.
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Last Comments ( 19 )
Hope to open soon great place and very clean. See you soon
This is something I'm really looking forward to. It has been just over two months since I took my last early morning ride down I-95 for the Sunday morning poker tournament. I miss the players, dealers, cage workers, waitresses, and supervisors who I've gotten to know since the early fall of 2018. Not only have I enjoyed their company, but I will also be forever grateful to them for the kindness and acceptance they showed to me as I began my public "coming out" as a transgender woman alongside them at the tables. I know that the table games will be among the last to be restored, but this news is like that first sliver of light you see on the horizon at sunrise. :-)
I will be there when it reopens, my husband and I plan on staying a few nights. Enough already, let’s open up and play.
i work at the casino & i can speak for a lot of people when i say, some are so worried about returning to their "regularly scheduled programs" rather than the health of themselves & their families. opening the casino is NOT a good idea. encouraging large crowds of people who come from all over the place is NOT good. i hope the states stay closed for AS LONG AS POSSIBLE & my prediction is everything is going to open early due to the pressure.... the numbers are going to go sky high again, & things are going to close all over again. gambling & partying is never more important than the health of society!! you will see soon, trust me.
I don't know what Richard K. is smoking but trust me I had the virus and it's NO scam...My husband and I are anxiously awaiting the reopening so we can celebrate our 33 year anniversary on May 30.I hope you get the OK to do so soon..
Hi im gratefulgary its a great place to relax and camp
I am surprised the tribal community is allowing the government kill the business, enough already!
I for one am eagerly awaiting your reopening, it’s time to start moving ahead, we all know this can be done safely. In fact I would feel more comfortable at the casino with the plans you have in place than I do when I have to go out to the grocery store. Let’s do this together !
Please. Clean it up and open up We are All paiciently wait ,I plan to make it reopen ing day we can hardly wait
I really miss going to Foxwoods. My Daughter and I shared many wonderful days there. She left this world in 2015 and I often went to remember good times together. Sometimes I just ride out there to look at the place. I hope to be able to visit again soon...
There was a group of 10 of us from Maine that had a trip planned there for the first week of May for 3 nights and had to cancel out so we have now rebooked for October and will now probably have 15 people going We are in hopes that you are open by then. I would suggest keeping the slot play tiers open until the end of the year vs October 1, 2020 as some people will not be able to even get there by the beginning of October...........and where we are gonig a few days after that, we should not be penalized and lose our tier status.
I completely agree. Please open the country. Enough already?
I am patiently waiting for your opening day. I will be there.
I feel so bad for all the wonderful people that work there that I know from being a customer and I am also out of work as I am self employed hairdresser in Mass. This is so horrific but what about the people that have it or have died. It is something we just have to deal with in our life. I am being selfish and bored now but can't wait to visit my favorite " spin bar" and play my video poker with my friendly bartenders. God Bless Everyone and let's hope this will end SOON !!
THIS VIRUS IS A SCAM ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. CHINA AND THE AMERICAN DEMOCRATES HATE OUR PRESIDENT SO MUCH THAT THEY ARE DESTROYING THE AMERICAN ECONOMY IN AN ATTEMPT TO TAKE OVER THIS COUNTRY.