Year over year, big difference in Mohegan Sun's October slots revenue
Mohegan — In October, Mohegan Sun’s slot-machine revenue was up 23.6% over the same month the previous year, the latest sign of a post-pandemic return to normalcy in the southeastern Connecticut casino business.
Mohegan Sun reported Monday it kept $44.3 million in slots revenue after paying out prizes last month, up from the $35.8 million it kept in October 2020 and up slightly over the $43.7 million it kept in October 2019, before the pandemic.
Foxwoods Resort Casino's October slots report had yet to be released Monday evening.
A year ago, the state was experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases and both casinos were operating at well below full capacity, their theaters dark and their restaurants’ hours of service limited.
But things have changed. Last month's Mohegan Sun Arena lineup, for example, featured two shows by Sebastian Maniscalco, two by Harry Styles and one by Blake Shelton, all of which sold out.
“It was a great month,” Jeff Hamilton, Mohegan Sun’s president and general manager, said of October 2021. “We celebrated our 25th anniversary, our entertainment returned, we got back to a normal calendar. Last October, we were in the second wave of the pandemic and consumer confidence was really, really low.”
“It’s not just one month," Hamilton said of Mohegan Sun's rebound. "We’ve had a fairly strong performance over the last six months."
Although Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods began accepting on-site sports wagers Sept. 30, no monthly data on sports betting revenue were available Monday. The information may be forthcoming later this week, according to the state Department of Consumer Protection.
Hamilton said Mohegan Sun’s sportsbook has taken close to 100,000 bets. He said the availability of sports betting has driven traffic to the casino.
Mohegan Sun, Foxwoods and the Connecticut Lottery Corp. launched online sports betting platforms Oct. 19. The lottery also has begun taking wagers at a half-dozen retail locations.
Mohegan Sun contributed $11.1 million of its October slots revenue to the state.
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