The vast majority are Chinese with Korean and Vietnamese players also coming in significant numbers. The month was the slowest May for slot machine revenue since 1997 for Foxwoods and since 2002 for Mohegan Sun.Īlthough not reporting specific figures on patrons, Foxwoods and Mohegan both say that Asian gamers constitute 20-25 percent of the casino visitors. Both casinos have lost more than 15 percent of their slot revenue over the past five years. The latest figures for slot machine revenue - released for May - show Mohegan down 7 percent and Foxwoods down 9 percent for the year. Those investments, along with Asian-specific entertainment and marketing, paid dividends from the beginning, but they are especially vital now as Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun report overall drops in gaming revenue. As the heavy Asian populations in New York and Boston responded in strong numbers, the casinos rolled out more tables and eventually separate gaming areas for the Asian market.
Since their openings in the 1990s, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket offered games such as baccarat, sic bo and pai gow that attract Asian gamers. “We are happy about that, but we are not taking it for granted.” “There’s no question it has held up better,” said Anthony Patrone, senior vice president of marketing at Mohegan Sunin Uncasville. While the economy drains Connecticut’s casinos of valuable revenue, their investments in Asian gamers hedge those losses.
