Connecticut’s two tribal casinos both posted July slot revenue decreases of more than 11 percent, marking 13 consecutive months in decline.
For the month, Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE), which operates Mohegan Sun, on Thursday said it recorded slot revenues of $46.7 million, down 15.1 percent from $55 million in July 2018.
The amount slot bettors wagered in July, known as the “handle,” was $570.2 million, down 14.1 percent compared to the year-ago period.
Mohegan, which like Foxwoods Resort Casino is required by a state gaming compact to pay 25 percent of its slot revenues to the state of Connecticut, said it contributed $11.6 million to the state last month.
Meantime, Foxwoods, operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, on Thursday posted July slot revenues of $38 million, down 11.2 percent vs. $42.8 million in the same month last year.
Its handle in July was $479.2 million, down 10.3 percent from the $534.4 million wagered a year ago.
Foxwoods said it contributed $9.8 million to the state last month.
The two federally recognized tribes say they are committed to building a $300 million casino and entertainment complex in East Windsor to recoup lost gaming revenues from MGM Springfield, which opened last August.
But there’s an ongoing debate at the state Capitol about where to build the state’s third casino.
A bipartisan group of state lawmakers from district’s representing the two casinos are pushing a bill that would legalize sports betting and authorize Mohegan and Foxwoods to jointly open gaming facilities in Bridgeport and East Windsor.
Other rumored proposals, however, are looking for the Mohegan and Mashantucket tribes to ditch plans for the East Windsor casino and purchase downtown Hartford’s XL Center to leverage the aging arena as a gaming and entertainment complex. But the tribes are not interested in abandoning the East Windsor project.
MGM Resorts International has since sued the U.S. Department of Interior in a renewed bid to block the tribes from building an off-reservation casino in East Windsor or pursuing rights to another one in Bridgeport.
