February is here – Valentine’s Day, President’s Day and lots of monthly promotions and events. But First,
The News
Mohegan Sun Gets Most awards in 2019 New England Casino AWARDS
MGM Springfield opened with an awesome display in August. Tiverton Casino & Hotel opened in September as it’s parent company added a hotel to Twin River Casino. And with all the new places and properties to consider, Mohegan Sun still asserted it’s dominance in New England.
Mohegan Sun was voted Best Nightlife, Dining Options, Dining Value, and best dining option under $15 with Bobby Flay’s Burger Palace. The two favorite restaurants were Ballo & Hash House A Go Go, both at the Sun. Entertainment venues large & small, Best Slots, Best Video Poker and Best Table Games all went to Mohegan Sun as well, finishing off with best rewards club with Momentum Rewards.
Foxwoods showed well with Best Hotels, Favorite Bars with Centrale & Play Bar, and Best Fine Dining with David Burke Prime. Foxwoods received the vote for Best Racebook / Sportsbook, even with Rhode Island casinos having exclusivity on sports betting. Gambling was also a high consideration with good video poker, table games, and the Casino That was the luckiest.
Other honorable mentions included MGM Springfield with it’s Walk-up Bar, Wicked Noodles Restaurant, it’s Fine Dining, and it’s Table Games. The MLife Rewards club was a close second to Mohegan Sun’s Momentum.
Twin River showed a stronger presence this year with it’s new hotel, Nightlife, Dining (third behind Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun) it’s Lighthouse Bar, and lucky slots. Oxford Casino tied TR for best slots in third place. Plainridge Park, the slots-only casino in Massachusetts, received votes for their small entertainment venue Revolution Lounge and good video poker.
For all the results, click on 2019 New England Casino Awards – And The Winners Are…..
Rhode Island Casinos Continued to Ride the Sports Betting Train
Soon after Twin River opened a make-shift sportsbook in November as the only New England casino to offer sports betting, TR’s other Rhode Island Casino – Tiverton Casino & Hotel – opened it’s small sportsbook. Twin River then opened a larger space in the old Wicked Good Bar & Grill as the “Sportsbook Bar and Grill.” This was phase two of Twin River’s sports betting venture, with phase three including the final large sportsbook area.
Gamblers placed nearly $683,000 in wagers on professional sports during the first week of legalized sports betting alone in Rhode Island. Now, legislators are hoping to capitalize on its success and take the activity to the next level. A high-ranking senate lawmaker has introduced a bill that could pave the way for mobile sports wagers. The lawmaker’s bill wants to allow for the creation of an app that would allow anyone in the state to place wagers on sporting events from anywhere in the state. However, it adds that the individuals would first need to create an account in person at the Lincoln facility or at the casino in Tiverton in order to verify the gambler’s age.
The Ocean state can’t stop drooling from the revenue potential – especially when operators must pay 51% of their take back to to the state.
TIVERTON PROVING IT’S WEIGHT IN GOLD
On September first, Newport Grand Slots ceased to exist, being shutdown and moved to the new casino/hotel in Tiverton. Since then, the town’s take from gambling at the Twin River Tiverton Casino Hotel that opened 4½ months ago on Sept. 1 has passed the half-million dollar mark, with slot machine and table game revenue to the town totaling $552,810 to date. Paul Grimaldi, public information officer for the state Department of Revenue, said the revenue has doubled since the casino license was moved from the former Newport Grand slots parlor to the Tiverton Casino Hotel. The city of Newport had refused to approve the addition of table games at Newport Grand in 2012 causing revenue and visitors to dwindle, unlike the addition of table games at Twin River casino which helped to draw many players away from Connecticut’s casinos, especially Foxwoods.
OXFORD CASINO HOTEL, OXFORD MAINE, SHOWS STEADY GROWTH
The only New England casino that saw a steady increase, albeit slight, was Oxford Casino Hotel in Oxford, Maine. The Oxford Casino Hotel is owned and operated by Churchill Downs Inc. and has 970 slot machines and 28 table games. The new hotel is four stories, with 107 rooms and there are three dining options at the property. Approved by voters in 2010, it opened in 2012, and then expanded in September 2012. It was originally owned by Black Bear Development, but was the sold to Churchill Downs Inc. for in July 2013.
The town of Oxford received nearly $1.91 million from table games and slot machines at Oxford Casino in 2018, according to the Maine Gambling Control Board. That’s $180,156 more than the year before.
The Race For Sports Betting Is On in New England
Maine, Connecticut and Massachusetts are all starting to move towards legislating sports betting. Here is the update:
Maine – several bills to sanction and regulate sports betting are headed for debate in this session of the Legislature. The bills offer a range of approaches to handling sports wagers. Some would give casinos in Bangor and Oxford permission to offer sports betting, while others would grant that permission to the state’s American Indian tribes. Other measures would establish regulations for placing bets online. Troy Jackson is sponsoring two bills to regulate online and mobile gaming. Kirby said his legislation would, among other things, prohibit gambling on Maine collegiate teams, minor league teams, high school teams and certain other sporting events. Rep. Benjamin Collins, D-Portland, sponsor of the bill aimed at helping Maine’s tribes, said it’s likely a compromise measure will emerge that involves casinos, off-track-betting parlors, the harness race industry and, hopefully, the tribes.
Connecticut – The newly elected Governor of Connecticut, Ned Lamont, has recently said he wants his state to get involved in sports betting. If it weren’t for ongoing negotiations between the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes, who own Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun, respectively., sports betting might have already been legal. The tribes feel they have the “exclusive right” to legal sports gambling in Connecticut, while OTB and Lottery associates believe they should let it on the action. A bipartisan bill has been submitted to the Connecticut Senate that would allow sports betting at casinos, providing exclusive rights to operate sportsbooks at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods. Online bets for sports events will also be permitted, but will also have to be made through the casinos, much like the legislative template in Rhode Island
Massachusetts – Governor Charlie Baker on Thursday proposed legalizing sports gambling in the state, presenting a plan that would allow fans to bet on games at casinos or on their smartphones. The plan would make Massachusetts the first state to allow companies to operate online sports betting without a financial relationship to an existing casino. That could open up the market to new businesses, since companies could secure licenses without the participation of the established gambling industry. However, it would allow for the existing and future casinos – Plainridge Park, MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor – to set up their own individual infrastructure for sportsbooks.
Plainridge Park Casino was the first casino to open in Massachusetts according to the Massachusetts EXPANDED GAMING ACT in 2011. It is currently limited by statute to 1,250 slots, but is now asking the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to loosen that limitation.
Plainridge would like to add table games with live dealers and is arguing that it needs a level playing field to compete with Rhode Island’s casinos in Lincoln and Tiverton. Back in 2011 the argument for limiting the one “slots parlor” was the fear of saturating the market. But so far only three casinos have been licensed in the Bay State and Rhode Island’s expansions have been game changers for the regional market and as of now, all casinos include table games except Plainridge.
After enjoying their best December, Plainridge is holding their own against the brand new MGM Casino in Springfield, when it comes to profitability. But the future opening of Encore Boston Harbor scheduled for late 2019 would be a much greater threat to Plainridge than MGM.
NEWS SHORTS
- MGM Purchases Empire City Casino and Yonkers Raceway – According to Joseph Spector, Albany Bureau, “MGM Resorts closed on its $850 million purchase of Empire City Casino and Yonkers Raceway. The deal was finalized after the state Gaming Commission on Monday approved the transfer of the licenses for gaming and horse racing from the Rooney family to MGM.” The racino with 5,200 video-lottery terminals is only 15 miles from Times Square in Manhattan.
- TRMG purchases three casinos in Black Hawk – According to Rosy Modglin of Entertainment News, “Twin River Worldwide Holdings Inc., the owner of Rhode Island’s Twin River Lincoln and Twin River Tiverton casinos, announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire three casinos in Black Hawk, Colorado – the Golden Gates, Golden Gulch, and Mardi Gras casinos – from a subsidiary of Nevada-based gambling operator Affinity Gaming, who used to own Stratosphere and Arizona Charlie’s properties. in Vegas. By adding the three Black Hawk properties, Twin River will extend its footprint in Colorado where it already operates the Arapahoe Park horse racing track in Arapahoe County and a network of Off-Track Betting facilities.”
- According to By STEPHEN SINGER of the Hartford Courant, “The joint venture of the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes lobbying for the casino to compete with MGM Springfield has launched a new campaign to win state legislation, unveiling a name for the proposed East Windsor gambling site “Tribal Winds Casino.” It is expected to support 2,000 construction jobs, 2,000 positions to staff the facility and 1,000 indirect jobs supporting vendors. In addition, the casino is expected to generate as much as $75 million a year in tax revenue to Connecticut.”
GAMBLING PROMOTIONS
FOXWOODS RESORT CASINO, Mashantucket CT
CELEBRATE 27 YEARS OF THE WONDER OF IT ALL – Norwegian Cruise Line® Giveaways • $27 Food and Beverage Offerings • $27 Extreme Adventures • and much more!
Pajama Party Brunch BRUNCH, LIQUID SUNDAY STYLE – Centrale Fox Tower. 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM • Every first Sunday until April 7. Throw on your cutest/sexiest PJ’s and party at Centrale Fox Tower with drinks and a DJ. $20 General Admission – Includes choice of Mimosa or Bellini toast at noon. $45 VIP – Includes access to the brunch buffet and choice of Champagne, Mimosa, or Bellini toast.
WIN A NORWEGIAN CRUISE VACATION – EARN ENTRIES FEBRUARY 8 – MARCH 6
DRAWING MARCH 7, 7:00 PM. Qualify by playing your favorite Slots, Table Games, Bingo, Keno, Race Book, and Poker with your Foxwoods Rewards Card. For every two (2) Points earned, receive one entry into the drawing.
3x Tier Credits – FEBRUARY 8 • MARCH 8 • BEGINNING AT 6AM. Tier up faster with TRIPLE TIER CREDITS. Earn TRIPLE TIER CREDITS on slots, table games, keno, poker and race book.
Earn 2X Rewards Points – Monday, February 11 • Beginning at 6AM. Simply play your favorite Slots, Table Games, Keno, Race Book, and Bingo
$2,000 Hot Seat – YOUR CHANCE TO WIN $2,000 EACH HOUR. Wednesday, February 20 • 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Presidents Day Poker – $100,000 GUARANTEED. FEBRUARY 16 – 18. Full Schedule
President’s Day Bingo – SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16. Doors Open at 7:00AM • Games Begin at 10:30AM
Chinese New Year | Year of the Pig – Celebrate the Year of the Pig at Foxwoods with Mystery Cash, Prize Drawings, and more
Winter Deep Freeze Poker Challenge – $300,000 GUARANTEED!
ONGOING PROMOTIONS – SPECIAL MILITARY OFFERS & DISCOUNTS, High Hand Poker Frenzy, Young & Fun Days, 55+ Offers
HOLLYWOOD Casino, Hotel & Raceway, BANGOR ME
Hollywood Legends Rewards – Sundays 1PM – 4PM. Patrons age fifty and older can swipe their Marquee Rewards card at our promotional kiosk to be eligible for our Hollywood Legends Promotional Game, where you can win up to $100 in Free SlotPlay.
Poker Stay & Play – ACCUMULATE 6 HOURS OF CASH PLAY IN THE POKER ROOM AND RECEIVE A SPECIAL ROOM RATE. Sundays through Thursdays.
Early Bird – your chance to win Free SlotPlay based on your tier. February 2 from 1PM – 4PM we’ll call one winner every 10 minutes.
ONGOING PROMOS: QUEEN OF HEARTS PROGRESSIVE, BIRTHDAY BASH, Midweek Moolah, Jackpot Party, 50 PLUS REWARDS KIOSK – Every Sunday 1PM – 4PM,
MGM SPRINGFIELD, Springfield MA
Scratch It Rich – Swipe & Win. Receive one additional swipe for every 350 slot points or 500 tier credits from table play daily. All points earned on slot machines will be multiplied 2x. $80,000 Saturday Drawings. Finale Drawing is February 23. Be one of five winners at 10:00 p.m. for a chance at the Grand Prize of $5,000 FREEPLAY.
Chinese New Year – February 9. The year of the Pig with Traditional Lion Dance, starting at 3 p.m. on Armory Square, the Asian American Culture Center’s energetic dance troupe will perform the ceremonial dance featuring five authentic lion costumes. Don’t miss the Money God who will be handing out red envelopes with monetary gifts inside signifying great wealth ahead.
$30,000 Blackjack Tournament – On Mondays in February, beginning at 10:00 a.m. each day, M life Rewards members can win up to $5,000 in promotional chips, plus have the chance at claiming the million dollar prize.
President’s Day Lincoln MKC Giveaway – Monday,February 18. Earnings Begins February 1. Earn one entry for every slot point or tier credit from table play until President’s Day, Monday. February 18 at 6:59p.m. Monday Drawings, February 18 at 2:00p.m. Be one of five hourly winners from 2:00p.m. to 6:00p.m. for a change to win FREEPLAY or promotional chips. Grand Finale, February 18 at 7:00p.m.
ONGOING PROMOS: MILITARY & VETERANS PROGRAM
MOHEGAN SUN Resort Casino, Uncasville CT
Gimme Some Sugar Giveaway – February 1st – March 31st. Swipe your Momentum card once a day at any promotional kiosk and you could sweeten your luck with Momentum Dollars or up to $1,000 in Free Slot Play. Triple your chances of winning each day. Play your favorite games to earn extra swipes. Earn 10 Momentum Dollars to get a second swipe! Earn another 10 Momentum Dollars and get a third swipe!
LUCKY SEAT FEBRUARY – Monday, February 4th 2019, 12:00pm. Weekly until Monday, February 25th 2019. ONE TABLE WILL BE RANDOMLY SELECTED EACH HOUR TO WIN. MONDAYS | NOON – 9:00PM $300 to one lucky seat / $100 to all other active players at the table. FRIDAYS | NOON – 10:00PM $300 to one lucky seat $150 to all other active players at the table
TRIPLE STATUS POINTS DAYS – February 17th.
Double Momentum Dollars & Double Status points– February 8th
ONGOING PROMOTIONS – TURN 21 AT MOHEGAN SUN, FOREVER YOUNG WEDNESDAYS
OXFORD CASINO & Hotel, Oxford ME
Valentine’s Day Buffet – Thursday, February 14, 2019. 5:00pm – 9:00pm $24.95 per person
President’s Day Buffet – Monday, February 18, 10:30am – 3:00pm. Regular price $12.95 per person. Earn 500 tier points between 8:00am and 2:00pm and get a President’s Day buffet!
The Great 250K Giveaway – Earn entries 10X faster on SUNDAYS – Every 50 Tier points will earn you an extra entry!
Thursday Dinner Buffet – Earn 500 tier points between 5:00am and 7:00pm to get a FREE Thursday Dinner buffet
ONGOING PROMOTIONS: 2018 Birthday Bash, Fat Stacks of Cash, SATURDAY – Super 6, SUNDAY – 16X Multiplier TUESDAY – 15X Multiplier, WEDNESDAY – 15X Multiplier & Seniors Day, THURSDAY – Missile Madness, Every Thursday. 3:00pm – 8:00pm &– Free Lunch Buffet (100 pts earned), FRIDAY – Mega High 5 , Prime Rib Buffet, Weekend Breakfast Buffets
Plainridge Park Casino & Raceway, Plainville MA
PROSPECTORS PLUNGE – Wednesdays in February, Win up to $500 in Free SlotPlay every hour during our Prospectors Plunge Bonus Slot Tournaments. Complete the Bonus Spins within 15 minutes after the top of the hour. The Top 10 High Scores will be awarded Free SlotPlay Prizes.
GREEN IS THE COLOR OF LOVE – February 1 – 23. From 4PM – 9PM, 5 winners will be selected every hour to win up to $1,000 Free SlotPlay.
MONEY GRAB MACHINE – February 9th – 16th, 4PM – 9PM. 5 winners will be selected every hour to step into our Money Grab Machine! Grab your share of Free SlotPlay in 30 seconds.
SILVER FRAME GIVEAWAY – February 10th. 1PM – 6PM. Earn 100 tier points on February 10 to claim a 5 x 7 Silver Frame in the Promo Zone.
CHOCOLATE BAR GIVEAWAY – February 14th in the Promo Zone.Earn 100 tier points on February 14 to claim your Chocolate Bar in the Promo Zone. Each bar contains a Golden Ticket of up to $1,000 Free SlotPlay
ONGOING PROMOTIONS – 50+ REWARDS, P OF DIAMONDS
Twin River Casino & Hotel
Twin River STAYCATION – Rates Starting at:$145*/night (Sun – Thu) $235*/night (Fri – Sat). Includes: Hotel Room (King, 2 Queen, Murphy or ADA Room), $50 Food & Beverage Gift Card (applicable at any outlet including Fred & Steve’s), $20 Free Play. Call 800.874.3669
CASINO EVENTS
February 9 – BLACK WOLVES VS. Rochester KnightHawkes, NLL Lacrosse at Mohegan Sun Arena, 7:00PM
February 15th – KC & the Sunshine Band, 8:00PM, Twin River Event Center
February 15 -17 – CONNECTICUT OUTDOOR EXPO at Earth Expo & Convention Center, Mohegan Sun
February 17th – Royal Rosé – all things Rosé with tastings, live music, Insta-Worthy moments
February 17 – BLACK WOLVES VS. Philadelphia Wings, NLL Lacrosse at Mohegan Sun Arena, 3:00PM
February 22-24 –SOUTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT HOME & GARDEN SHOW at Earth Expo & Convention Center, Mohegan Sun
February 23rd – CES MMA, 7:00pm, at Twin River Event Center
February 24 – BLACK WOLVES VS. Toronto Rock NLL Lacrosse at Mohegan Sun Arena, 1:00PM
ENTERTAINMENT
February 8 – Adam Corrola at the Fox Theater, Foxwoods, 8:00PM
February 8 – Brett Young at the Grand Theater, Foxwoods, 8:00PM
February 9 – Aziz Ansari: Road to Nowhere at the Grand Theater, Foxwoods, 7:30PM
February 9 – Preacher Lawson at the Fox Theater, Foxwoods, 8:00PM
February 9 – Jimmy Dunn at The Loft, Plainridge Park, 8:00PM
February 15 – Gin Blossoms at the Fox Theater, Foxwoods, 8:00PM
February 15 – An Evening of Love, Featuring KEITH SWEAT • SILK • LLOYD • BOBBY VALENTINO • MYA at the Grand Theater, Foxwoods, 8:00PM
February 16 – Steve Martin and Martin Short: “Now You See Them, Soon You Won’t” at the Grand Theater, Foxwoods, 7:00PM
February 16 – Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra at the Fox Theater, Foxwoods, 8:00PM
February 17 – El Gran Combo & La Sonora Poncena at the Grand Theater, Foxwoods, 7:00PM
February 21 – Flogging Molly at the Fox Theater, Foxwoods, 7:30PM
February 22 – Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness at the Fox Theater, Foxwoods, 7:30PM
February 22 – Jim Gaffigan at the Grand Theater, Foxwoods, 8:00PM
February 23 – Jim Gaffigan at the Grand Theater, Foxwoods, 7:00PM & 9:55PM
February 24 – Jim Gaffigan at the Grand Theater, Foxwoods, 7:00PM
March 3 – Darci Lynne at the Grand Theater, Foxwoods, 7:00PM
January 12 – Dancing With the Stars! – A Night To Remember at Mohegan Sun Arena, 7:30PM
January 12 – Moms of Comedy: Kerri Louise, Christine Hurley & Kelly MacFarland at The Loft, Plainridge Park, 8:00PM
January 13 – Dancing With the Stars! – A Night To Remember at Mohegan Sun Arena, 7:30PM
January 18 – A$AP ROCKY at Mohegan Sun Arena, 8:00PM
January 18 – Jess Hilarious at Aria Ballroom, MGM Springfield, 8:00PM
January 20 – BOWZER’S ROCK N’ DOO-WOP PARTY VOLUME XVIII at Mohegan Sun Arena, 3:00PM
OTHER CASINO ENTERTAINMENT VENUES include:
- The Wolf Den, Mohegan Sun – Located in the center of the action, in Casino of the Earth, offers full beverage service, a state-of-the-art sound system, intimate seating and top performances by headliners. For complete schedule, click HERE.
- Hollywood Bangor now offers two venues for live weekend music – 99 Hops House & the Sound Stage. Click Here for schedule. Summer Concert Series at the Darling Waterfront Pavillion is walking distance from Bangor Hollywood Casino
- Newport Grand offers Free shows by Tribute bands almost every weekend. Click HERE for schedule.
- Twin River Casino Lighthouse Lounge – right in the middle of the downstairs casino. Shipyard Pub – Upstairs in Non-smoking.
- Tiverton Casino – Center Bar
- Plainridge Park Casino – the Revolution Lounge offers entertainment on the weekends
- MGM Springfield – Commonwealth Bar & Lounge
- Foxwoods – Atrium Lounge – Live bands on the weekend, specialty cocktails and great time.
Visiting New England’s Casinos?
New England
Curious about casino expansion in our region? Then there’s only one place to go – visit us at NETimeGambling! For specific casino details, visit the websites of all seven casinos: Connecticut – Foxwoods Resort/Casino & Mohegan Sun Resort/Casino; Rhode Island – Tiverton Casino Hotel (opening September 1st 2018) & Twin River Hotel/Casino; Massachusetts – Plainridge Park Casino & Raceway, MGM Springfield & Encore Boston Harbor (opening Fall 2019); Maine – Oxford Casino & Hollywood Bangor Hotel, Casino & Raceway.
Robin T Aubin (Binbin)
“NETimeGambling is a non-monetized blog created for my personal interest and passion in the gambling industry – its history, and its ongoing evolution – mixed with my love for New England. Come share my passion and visit us.”
I have taught middle school chorus and director middle school drama for 41 years, and I will be retiring this year to pursue travel with my wife and to further expand my side interest of the gambling industry which I became fascinated in over twenty years ago. The goal of NETimeGambling is to provide a service and resource for any recreational gambler visiting New England’s expanding casino market and interested in gambling tips, news and advice.
Follow us on twitter at @NETimeGambling.com, and on Facebook at @netimegambling. Come join the New England Casinos facebook group and chat about experiences at our 8 NewEngland Casinos, soon to be 9 in 2019. Feel free to enhance our community with your gambling experiences, casino loyalty programs, resort experiences and thoughts concerning New England’s expansion.
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