October brought in significant revenue winnings for Connecticut casinos this year. Beating their revenue numbers for the same month in 2020 and 2019, a successful 2021 may indicate a post-pandemic return to normal for casinos in CT.
Mohegan Sun October revenue reported
After paying out the month’s prizes, the Mohegan Sun reported that it kept a total of $44.3 million in revenue from its slot machines.
Jeff Hamilton, the president and general manager of Mohegan Sun, said,
“It was a great month. We celebrated our 25th anniversary. Our entertainment returned, we got back to a normal calendar.”
Shows at Mohegan Sun Arena helped generate business
After a long period of reduced capacity for safety during the pandemic, the Mohegan Sun Arena began scheduling shows again in 2021, which likely helped increase slot revenue.
The Arena was able to host five sold-out shows in October, bringing tons of business to the casino. Two shows were by Harry Styles, two by Sebastian Maniscalco, and one by Blake Shelton.
Foxwoods October revenue reported
Owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Foxwoods Resort Casino also reported high revenue winnings. The casino’s overall winnings from slot machines are $31.7 million after prizes are paid out.
October proved to be a successful month for Foxwoods even outside of their revenue gains. USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards gave the Connecticut casino the Best Casino Outside of Las Vegas award during the month.
Foxwoods has won the award for the second year in a row and for the third time. In the same way, they also won the spot in both 2018 and 2020.
Promising Connecticut casino revenue indicates a post-pandemic upturn
While COVID-19 pandemic certainly impacted casinos in Connecticut since capacities had to be reduced on casino floors and in dining spaces. Drops in both domestic and international travel also reduced business.
October may prove to be the turning point for CT casinos, though, since October 2021, revenue for both Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods has shown an increase year over year.
Last year, October revenue for Foxwoods was reported at $26.1 million. With this October’s $31.7 million in revenue, the casino has seen a 21.5% increase year over year.
October revenue last year for Mohegan Sun reports at $35.8 million, which means the casino saw a 23.6% increase year over year compared to the $44.3 million it reported this October. This year’s October revenue for Mohegan Sun even beat out its registered October 2019 revenue of $43.7 million.
Mohegan Sun’s Jeff Hamilton recalled the uncertainty of last October’s business, saying,
“Last October, we were in the second wave of the pandemic, and consumer confidence was really, really low.”
But Hamilton sounds hopeful that the solid revenue increases are here to stay.
“It’s not just one month,” He said. “We’ve had a fairly strong performance over the last six months.”
Sports betting in Connecticut was instituted in October
In October, Connecticut joined the ranks of states that offer legal sports betting. Early in the month, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun introduced on-site sports betting with fanfare and ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Governor Ned Lamont even placed the state’s first legal bet in history.
Online sports betting also became available in the state in October. Both Connecticut casinos had online sports betting platforms launch on October 19th.
While no revenue data for online sports betting is available yet for either casino, Gov. Lamont is hopeful for the platforms’ success. He said in a statement:
“Connecticut has proven to be a leader when it comes to the gaming economy going back decades, and that legacy will continue with the launch of these new online options for all eligible residents.”
How revenue from casinos in CT helps the state
According to the Connecticut State Department of Consumer Protection, casinos in Connecticut contribute 25% of their slot winnings to the state. That contribution only calculates on winnings, which refers to the total revenue after awards.
For October’s casino revenue, Foxwoods contributed a total of $7.9 million to the state of Connecticut, and Mohegan Sun contributed a total of $11.1 million.
Businesses have indeed suffered losses during the lengthy COVID-19 pandemic, and casinos have been no exception. 2021 has proven to show an upturn in casino revenue, though, which will benefit casinos, their employees, and the state.
With revenue, they are steadily rising, and sports betting is beginning to impact casino revenue. Connecticut casinos are hopeful for prosperous times moving forward.