Mohegan Sun vs Foxwoods comparisons

LONG post alert!



This past weekend, I visited Mohegan Sun.

I had no intention of making a formal / detailed report the way some people here do, but here's some notes about both facilities and casinos.

Connecticut has two casinos, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, situated about 8 miles apart in Eastern CT. For whatever reason, the MGM at Foxwoods has it's own website, even though it is connected and uses the same casino chips.

My family tends to prefer Mohegan Sun. The architectural design, right down to the floor tiles, is like night-and-day between the two casinos. The hotel lobby, retail areas and casino have very free-form design with no right angles except where a wall meets a floor.

I tend to descibe them this way:

Foxwoods is very industrial looking, like it was designed by someone who designs shopping malls and coporate headquarters. Don't get me wrong. Foxwoods uses a lot of Indian influences in it's design. But, and this comes from somebody who has no knowledge on the subject and did no research, Foxwoods always gives me the feeling of New Mexico / Arizona / Navajo Indian designs that were added almost as an afterthought.

I do recall reading somewhere why the Mashantucket Pequot tribe uses the lone fox and tree with fire in its logo.
Admin note: removed image: www.djteddybear.com/images/foxwoods_logo.JPG
Yet, I do not see any of those design elements used architecturally. Heck, there's a statue of an archer, but no fox!


Mohegan Sun, on the other hand, is what I call "the white man's opinion of what an Indian resort should look like." While it too may use some Indian designs that are not native to the Mohegan tribe, nothing strikes me as being such. Quite the contrary.

I have read that their logo is supposed to be a stylized sun:
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That sun logo, or creative versions of it, are used all over as design elements in the carpeting, wallpaper, even the ceilings.

I have photos, somewhere, which shows some of this amazing design work. I'll post them here in a couple days.


The differences in Foxwoods' shopping mall/corportate HQ feel vs Mohegan's Indian feel can even be seen in their property maps.

Foxwoods property map, shows how angular everything is, and how little imagination, or artistic license is used:
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Mohegan Sun property map, clearly shows the free-form design used, both architecturally, and in the map design itself:
Admin note: removed image: www.djteddybear.com/images/mohegan_sun_property_map.JPG]
Sorry for the bad resolution. click here for the original PDF.


Personally, I think the Foxwoods map should be rotated 180 degrees, since that is the orientation when approaching by car. Mohegan sun needs to be rotated clockwise about 60 degrees to get the correct approach orientation. But because the map is so stylized, I'll let that go.


But there's more. About two years ago, The MGM at Foxwoods expansion opened. It's not indicated at all on the property map. Not even something that says "This way to MGM at Foxwoods." Even the website makes little mention of it. Oh, there are links back and forth, but the websites two seem to be for seperate facilites, even though they are under one roof and use the same casino chips. Interestingly, the MGM at Foxwoods website, doesn't offer a property map. Then again, it's just a small casino with a limited number of tables and slots, some retail and restaurants, and convention space which lines the walkway to Foxwoods.

Also, note that on the Foxwoods map, there appears to be four rooms labeled 'Casino'. The Great Cedar and Festival Slots casinos are just slot rooms.

By contrast, there are three casinos at Mohegan Sun. But to the casual observer walking thru the facility, there are only two casinos, on opposite ends of the retail area. Casino of the Wind is the newest addition, and is more like an extension added to the Casino of the Sky. Each casino has design and decor that matches it's name.



Now on to some personal observations from my trip to Mohegan Sun this past weekend.



Hotel rooms and Pool:

The beds were excessivly comfortable. What I mean was, they were SO soft and luxurious, I felt that the lacked support. The pillows were equally soft yet fluffy.

The result was, while I enjoyed laying on the bed, I found it difficult to fall asleep.

I checked my brother's room and his bed and pillows were the same.

The room ammenities were fine. There was a hair dryer, coffee maker, plenty of towels and soaps, etc. It also had a fully stocked honor bar type fridge, but no extra fridge for out own stuff. The only unexpected items were two water bottles next to the ice bucket.


Until last year, I never used the pools at casino resorts before. Seemed to me to be such a waste of limited casino time. But I started a year ago, and kinda enjoy it.

So I used the pool at Mohegan Sun. It's an indoor pool with, as expected, a somewhat unusual shape. I went at 6:15am - trying to get in and out before it got overrun by kids. There was also an outdoor patio area. There was a bar with snack available. There was also a small table with coffee, tea and fixings, complimentary. I thought that was a nice early morning touch.

Then I jumped into the pool. YIKES! It was an indoor pool, but NOT heated! I lasted about 30 seconds before going to the hot tub. I normally don't even bother with the hot tub, but since I was determined to get wet...

While in the tub, I was talking to people who repeated some things I had been hearing for a while: Mohegan Sun beats Foxwoods older facilities, but is neck-and-neck with the new MGM facility. Maybe we'll go there next time.



Casino:

Like I mentioned, I didn't plan on writing a review, so I didn't take notes.

I only played craps, poker and a few minutes of BlackJack. At the time I looked, Monday around 10am, $15 BJ was the cheapest I saw. My wife was playing $15 BJ, but grandfathered at $10. Almost every craps table at that time was $5. On Sunday, the craps were all $5 when we got there at 10am, but steadily, all but one rose to $10.

I planned to play Pai Gow Tiles, but when I looked, Sunday around 4pm, the cheapest was $50. Yeah, I know there are a lot of pushes, and the dealer advantage is minor, it was still too much for me. Besides, the Asian gaming section was packed. I don't think I would have gotten a seat.

While walking around the Asian area, I noticed a mini (midi?) Bacarat table that was reserved and empty. It had a sign saying "Macau Style". I also saw an empty large / dogbone table that also said "Macau Style". I started a thread about this: https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/general/1917-what-is-macau-style-bacarat/



Restaurants:

We only had Sinday Dinner and Monday Lunch together.

I had some granola bars, so I didn't need lunch on Sunday, but instead got an item that I've had before and love.

Michael Jordan has a small line of restaurants. At Mohegan Sun he has the MJ Steakhouse, and next door the MJ Sports Bar. Even though they use the same kitchen, the menus are different - except the one item I was interested in was on both, but with different names, and 50¢ cheaper at the sports bar. Go figure. I verified that it was the same item before I sat down.

Garlic bread, cut and stacked like Jenga blocks, and drenched in a Bleu Cheese sauce. When I got it Sunday, it wasn't as drenched as I remember, but they brought more sauce when I asked, and it wasn't served hot. Whatever. It was still great.

For dinner, we went to Bobby Flay's Bar Americain (Yeah, that's how it's spelled). It's an upscale place. Entrees were in the $35-$50 range. Side dishes were al carte. They were out of a few menu items. We got one of the last bread baskets that included rolls and cornbread sticks. The cornbread sticks were GREAT. Then they ran out of rolls. How does a restaurant run out of rolls? Our reservation was only 8:20pm. I think the last seating is 10:00! But we were able to get more cornbread sticks, and that's what they served people seated after us. We also felt the food was adequate, but not worth the price.

Monday morning, I had breakfast alone. I wanted something simple and fast, and decided to get something I get all the time. A croisant sandwich at Dunkin Donuts. The DD was on the far side of one casino. The poker room that I would be going to next was on the far side of the other casino. Whatever. I could use the walk. The DD only had donuts and beverages! So it was back to walking, where I ended up at the Chief's Deli - right outside the poker room. Sigh. I had a sausage, egg and cheese on a bagel. Cooked fresh for $5. It was quite good. Another patron recommended I get the potatoes for another $2. Those were rather dissapointing.

Lunch with the gang, we ended up at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana. We ordered a chicken & garlic pizza for $26! I think it was the most expensive pizza we ever ate. But it was quite good, and worth the price. And after 4 of us ate it, there was still some left over.




All in all, we had a great time. And I'm down only about $120. (I still didn't get a financial report from the wife....)

I live about 1 1/2 hrs from both casino's, MS is fifteen minutes closer so usually I will go there but I prefer Foxwoods because of the better quirks, free slot play(wife play's them), free shows, free rooms every month.

We will be staying overnite at the end of the month. I'll play some $1-$2 NL holdem cash games while the wife plays some slots.

We stayed at the MGM last month but probably would recommend staying at Foxwoods or the Sun.

Good write ups DJ

Tony

Quote: DJTeddyBear

Also, note that on the Foxwoods map, there appears to be four rooms labeled 'Casino'. The Great Cedar and Festival Slots casinos are just slot rooms.

They added table games in the Great Cedar casino about a year ago. I have to give them credit for actually replacing slots with tables; at most casinos, the opposite happens.

I visited Fox and Sun last year on my east coast vacation and found the Sun to be way easier to get to, right off the freeway, and easier to get around for us seniors. Both are big casinos and FOX is just way to big and difficult to get from one end to the other. Plus the cocktail waitresses are better looking at the Sun.

Quote: JB

They added table games in the Great Cedar casino about a year ago. I have to give them credit for actually replacing slots with tables; at most casinos, the opposite happens.

Really? When I was there in November, staying for the first time in the Great Cedar hotel, there was no mention of it. I would have had to walk thru what I thought was a slot room to find out.

In fact, I DO recall mentioning at one table I was at how Foxwoods casinos are too far apart. It's one of the nice things about AC. Get up and change scenery real quickly and easily. You'd think that the dealer would have overheard my comment and mention the change...

I'll check it out if we do end up there on 7/4.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

Really? When I was there in November, staying for the first time in the Great Cedar hotel, there was no mention of it. I would have had to walk thru what I thought was a slot room to find out.

In fact, I DO recall mentioning at one table I was at how Foxwoods casinos are too far apart. It's one of the nice things about AC. Get up and change scenery real quickly and easily. You'd think that the dealer would have overheard my comment and mention the change...

I'll check it out if we do end up there on 7/4.

They're just inside the entrance/exit on the "Rainmaker Trail" side; if you enter from one of the other entrances, it would be easy to mistake the entire area as slots-only, especially considering that it used to be.

Quote: JB

They're just inside the entrance/exit on the "Rainmaker Trail" side; if you enter from one of the other entrances, it would be easy to mistake the entire area as slots-only, especially considering that it used to be.

That kinda explains it.

We were there because the wife won an entry in the WPT. Included was the hotel room in Great Cedar. Our room was only on the 3rd floor, but near the Rainmaker end, so it was easier for me to just walk to the end of the hall, then down the emergency exit to get to the casino and poker room. I'd then exit out of the poker room, cross the driveways to the Great Cedar lobby and banquet area where the tournament was.

So in 5 days, I think I only passed that way once or twice, and, apparently, didn't turn my head far enough to see it.




But I took a closer look at the Foxwoods property map, and paid attention to the icon key, to come to the conclusion that Foxwoods is even more f-ed up than I had previously thought!

Admin note: the following image removed: www.djteddybear.com/images/foxwoods_property_map_key.JPG

The Grand Pequot Casino, which always had table games and slots, only shows the Keno icon. To their credit, that IS where they pull the Keno numbers.

The Festival Slots Casino, which always was nothing but slots, has none of these icons.

The Great Cedar Casino, only has the slots icon, leading someone like me that might bother to check, to believe that they still only have slots!

Only the Rainmaker Casino is shown correctly with both the slots and table games icons.


Maybe that's why MGM at Foxwoods isn't included on the map. They can't find anyone who can update it correctly!

I personally prefer Mohegan sun when it comes to playing. I am a huge fan of the setup of the casino of the earth. The live music playing at the wolf den is a nice to listen to when sitting at the tables! Also i really like the hotel design at mohegan, it is very attractive and is nice to explore when i am out of money haha.

I am a huge fan of michael jordans steakhouse as well, each and every time I am there i feel obligated to get the cowboy (my favorite steak)

In addition i have always gotten rated very well at mohegan, where in my last trip to foxwwods i was hardly rated at all.

All in all i do like both facilities but if i had to choose i would go with mohegan sun.

Mohegan Sun is probably one of the best casinos i have ever been in. It just has a...relaxing....vibe to it. The "natural" elements, from the wood-lashed fire tower to the onyx mountain to the waterfall, just set me at ease whenever i am there.

another major bonus are the dealers, specifically at the craps tables. my friends and i were playing a $5 table, and they announced the min was going to $10. we all went to throw an extra nickel on the pass line, but the stickman said "it's okay, you're all grandfathered in at $5. this isn't Foxwoods" baaa-zing!
on the other hand, at Foxwoods, they upped the min to $5, and my friend didn't hear. he dropped $5 on the pass line, and the dealer said "it's now $10 minimum. you just heard me say that 2 minutes ago." my friend replied "actually, i DIDN"T hear you say that." i think the dealer actually said "yes you did". needless to say we didnt last there long, and were welcomed at MS with smiles and friendliness.

i also highly recommend the Michael Jordan Steakhouse to anyone who goes - the best steak i ever had, and the One Pound baked potato was enough for 3 people. when you order a side of asparagus, you get like 40-50 stalks. all sides are meant to be shared, so keep that in mind.

Thanks DJ for such a comprehensive report, and also those who added to it. The 3 times I've been to each casino have always amazed me: MS for its relaxing atmosphere and Foxwoods for its incredible size. I had the same opinion of those beds on my last stay 2 years ago. I'm from W. Mass., and it's probably good that those places weren't yet born when I was growing up and then spent 7 college years in Boston.

Quote: nullzero00

i also highly recommend the Michael Jordan Steakhouse to anyone who goes - the best steak i ever had, and the One Pound baked potato was enough for 3 people. when you order a side of asparagus, you get like 40-50 stalks. all sides are meant to be shared, so keep that in mind.

my wife got us a reservation there last time, and I had a hunch [that I kept to myself] that it wasnt going to be run well at all. To my surprise it was quite the contrary and we had a great meal. I would definitely go back. Pricey though.

Quote: odiousgambit

my wife got us a reservation there last time, and I had a hunch [that I kept to myself] that it wasnt going to be run well at all. To my surprise it was quite the contrary and we had a great meal. I would definitely go back. Pricey though.

yeah it was pricy, but then again a lot of the celebrity chef restaurants are as well.
it was always a "special occasion" to go there, so it was worth it.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

I only played craps, poker and a few minutes of BlackJack. At the time I looked, Monday around 10am, $15 BJ was the cheapest I saw. My wife was playing $15 BJ, but grandfathered at $10.

There are 4 or 5 $5 blackjack tables 24/7 at Mohegan Sun.
They all have CSMs, and are (I think) H17 though (all the other tables are 6 deck S17 AFAIK).

Quote: weaselman

There are 4 or 5 $5 blackjack tables 24/7 at Mohegan Sun.
They all have CSMs, and are (I think) H17 though (all the other tables are 6 deck S17 AFAIK).

There are 12 of these $5 tables at Mohegan Sun. They've been moved 3 times and are currently by the Sky valet. You are correct about the rules and the number of decks.

Foxwoods and MGM Grand have several $5 tables every week day until around noon and many times they can be found on weekends as well. They are 8 decks dealt from a shoe and have the same rules as MS with two very minor exceptions that should not concern most players.

From a card counting perspective, there are pros and cons at both casinos.

The $5 BJ tables might be a new feature.

FYI: I LOVE the Mac & Cheese the MJ Steakhouse has. I sometimes go there by myself just for that when I'm at MS.

The last time I was there, I noticed that it is one of the few items that is also available next door at MJ's Sports Bar.

Nut here's the kicker. It costs $8.50 at the sports bar. The steakhouse is too fancy to have cents in the prices, so it's listed there for $9!

Quote: nullzero00

Mohegan Sun is probably one of the best casinos i have ever been in. It just has a...relaxing....vibe to it. The "natural" elements, from the wood-lashed fire tower to the onyx mountain to the waterfall, just set me at ease whenever i am there.

another major bonus are the dealers, specifically at the craps tables. my friends and i were playing a $5 table, and they announced the min was going to $10. we all went to throw an extra nickel on the pass line, but the stickman said "it's okay, you're all grandfathered in at $5. this isn't Foxwoods" baaa-zing!

Things may be south in the vicinity of the Thames River and Long Island Sound:
"Indian casinos struggle to get out from under debt
Updated: Saturday, 21 Jan 2012, 1:43 PM EST
Published : Saturday, 21 Jan 2012, 1:43 PM EST
STEPHEN SINGER
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority has $505 million in loans outstanding and another $250 million due April 1, Keith Foley, an analyst at Moody's Investors Service, recently told investors. The gaming authority, parent company of casinos in Uncasville, Conn., and Wilkes-Barre, Pa., also has about $21 million in interest payments due Feb. 15, he said.

Mohegan Sun announced this month that fourth-quarter net income rose significantly, to $46.7 million, compared with a net loss of $26.3 million in the same period in 2010. But it also said it failed to reach an agreement to refinance debt, though lenders waived a possible default. . . .

Foxwoods Resort Casino in eastern Connecticut seeks to restructure debt, and the Mescalero Apache tribe restructured $200 million in bonds last year for casino resort property in New Mexico. A spokeswoman said Foxwoods is in debt talks, but would not provide details.

An advantage that Indian-run casinos have over their commercial counterparts is that they cannot file for bankruptcy and creditors can't foreclose on their properties because tribal governments are sovereign, said Clyde Barrow, director of the Center for Policy Analysis at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. . . .

Declining or stagnant revenue is bad news for Connecticut state government, which takes 25 percent of what the casinos pull in. State revenue from the two casinos reached their peak in 2007 at more than $411 million, said Kevin Lembo, Connecticut's comptroller who tracks state revenue from all sources. That's declined to $342 million in the state's budget year that ended last June 30, down $69 million, or 17 percent.wtnh-tv

Quote: SanchoPanza

Declining or stagnant revenue is bad news for Connecticut state government, which takes 25 percent of what the casinos pull in. State revenue from the two casinos reached their peak in 2007 at more than $411 million, said Kevin Lembo, Connecticut's comptroller who tracks state revenue from all sources. That's declined to $342 million in the state's budget year that ended last June 30, down $69 million, or 17 percent.wtnh-tv

The started losing after Twin Rivers, RI expanded in 2008. And now the dominoes continue, as MA casinos are probably going to frighten Twin Rivers into adding tables:

http://articles.boston.com/2011-12-30/metro/30569272_1_table-games-casino-proposals-legalization-of-casino-gambling

Connecticut's comptroller, Kevin Lembo, has been in office a year and still isn't always clear about the casinos' agreement with the state. Both casinos pay the state 25 per cent of their gross slot revenue not "25 per cent of what the casinos pull in". In return, if slot machines are allowed anywhere else in Connecticut that agreement is null and void. There are about 14000 slot machines between the two casinos.

I believe the decision to add table games at Twin River and Newport Grand will be decided by Rhode Island voters in November.

Rhode Island voters will decide this fall whether the Newport Grand slot parlor should be allowed to offer table games like poker and blackjack.

Governor Lincoln Chafee signed the legislation into law Wednesday, the last step needed to place the referendum on the fall ballot. There is already a referendum this fall on authorizing a casino at the Twin River slot parlor in Lincoln.

The state constitution requires casino proposals to be approved by voters statewide and in the host community.

Now that Maine has one casino offer table games and another due in a few months there will soon be more options in NE. Went to Hollywood Casino in Bangor. They are experiencing growing pains after being opened for about a month. Deals cant quickly and accurately calculate BJ payout, they all deal slow. Place was packed with peo-ple two deep waiting for a seat to play and there were three unused tables, and they wouldn’t open up any of the additional ones.

I can check them off the list and add them to the been there, done that pile.

Back to Fox and MS. I prefer Fox since I get two free rooms a week at the MGM grand and the rooms are outstanding!! MS is nice and cozy and the Wolf Den sometimes has great groups. I saw The Band Perry there one night and a Blues Brothers tribute that was fantastic, and didn't even need to leave the table. MS is a little dimly lit for me in the gaming are.

At Fox the Grand Cedar is the only smoke free gaming section for table games. I usually do well there after 10PM.

Also there is a shortcut bridge from the Bingo Are to the Fox Theater section. It is not very heavily traveled and at the bingo end you will find El Pollo Loco and Panera. It comes out next to the buffet near the Rainmaker casino (the archer shooting an arrow in the sky). The Atrium there has some pretty good bands, but sometimes are too loud to be able to hear at the tables.

I play both, and here is my summary. Fox nice for gaming and rooms, MS is better for entertainment and restaurants. Stay away form Hollywood Casino in Bangor, at least for another year until they work out the bugs.

I'm heading to New Haven, Connecticut for a Wedding later this month. Might be able to buy a few hours away from the wife for some Craps play.

Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods?

Quote: CrapsForever

Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods?

When originally faced with this choice years ago, Foxwoods was considered 'smokey' by some reviewers... that tipped the scale for me. Never tried the place.

I-95 East of New Haven is quite a traffic jam on weekends.... Beaches and the Casinos are main culprits. I would advise I-91 North to Weathesfield, and take Route 3 across the CT River to Route 2 East. Follow Route 2 to Norwich, and go South on I-395 to Route 2A... The Sun has its own exit. Total travel time should be 90-100 minutes. Consider this long-way as being shorter on the weekends: I've tested this with friends, and save from 15 to 30 minutes, more if an accident on 95.

Quote: JB

They added table games in the Great Cedar casino about a year ago. I have to give them credit for actually replacing slots with tables; at most casinos, the opposite happens.

It's because of the agreement with Connecticut. The gov't gets a piece of all slot revenue by either casino, but the casino gets to keep 100% of the table proceeds, so you'll see slots get replaced by tables quite often at both casinos.

And for the debate for which casino, hands down it's MS. I live on Long Island and take the high speed ferry to New London and it's only 10 minutes away from the ferry. Plus the lobby, shopping and restaurants are all laid out better and it's just a nicer hotel.

That said I will drive 3 1/2 hours to AC everytime. I don't trust any casino that doesn't have a state run watchdog looking over their shoulders with the threat of pulling their gaming license. Whenever there is money involved and alot of it I want some assurance that it's a fair game and I do not feel the slots and even some of those multishoe table games are on the up and up. About the only game I can trust is roulette. Those two have a monopoly on gaming in Conn. and they choose their own rules, why anyone would want to game under those conditions is beyond me.

Quote: NickyDim

... That said I will drive 3 1/2 hours to AC everytime. I don't trust any casino that doesn't have a state run watchdog looking over their shoulders with the threat of pulling their gaming license.

I was going to say: "Then cross AC off your list. There are no commission representatives in the casinos anymore."

Trouble is, although it's been discussed here, as well as at my poker league, I couldn't find and news media about it. Maybe I'm just doing a bad search....

For what it's worth, there HAVE been changes in AC that are attributed to the eased regulatory status. For one thing, poker rooms now allow straddles and have expanded the offerings of games.

Quote:

The Technical Services Bureau (TSB) ensures the integrity of electronic gaming equipment used in New Jersey. The Bureau consists of an Engineering Unit, Field Inspections Unit, Investigations Unit, and Technical Support Unit. These units work together to ensure gaming products are fair and that they are operated in compliance with regulations.

A major priority for the TSB is the review, approval, and inspection of slot machines. Last year Atlantic City casinos generated over $3.5 billion in revenue, of which approximately 70% came from slot machines. In order to ensure the integrity of these games and the revenue that they generate, every slot machine must be approved by our slot lab and then must undergo an inspection on the casino floor prior to its use.

TSB site
Maybe no commission reps in the casinos, but they are subject to inspections and can always threaten to pull their license if they suspect foul play. Maybe it's just my imagination, but I feel like it's a fairer wager when I'm in AC or LV than any Indian casino.

Quote: 98Clubs

I-95 East of New Haven is quite a traffic jam on weekends.... Beaches and the Casinos are main culprits. I would advise I-91 North to Weathesfield, and take Route 3 across the CT River to Route 2 East. Follow Route 2 to Norwich, and go South on I-395 to Route 2A... The Sun has its own exit. Total travel time should be 90-100 minutes. Consider this long-way as being shorter on the weekends: I've tested this with friends, and save from 15 to 30 minutes, more if an accident on 95.

Thanks for the info! I thought the drive from New Haven would be closer to 60 minutes.

I've never seen $5 blackjack at Foxwoods; I've seen $5 craps and roulette, but only in the early morning. In just sort-of slow hours, like Thursday afternoon, it's only ante games (LIR, TCP, etc) and big six (which as far as I can tell never goes above $5, and goes all the way down to $2 at slow times). Mohegan, on the other hand, has the $5 blackjack tables advertised, with $5 roulette and Spanish 21 in the same pit, and $5 craps and sic bo elsewhere, as far as I can tell, 24/7, plus some S17 shoe games at $5 at odd hours. I think the Diva Pit (women only, Friday only) has $5 S17 shoe games, but I dunno.

The big difference for me is the poker progressives; I used to think that it was better to play at Mohegan, since you stand a better chance of recouping your losses, but I eventually found that waving around those six-digit numbers, plus the fact that the casino is just busier in general, brings a lot of easy money downstairs.

I spent a week in NH at Lake Winnipesaukee a couple weeks ago, and learned of a new casino in Maine.

Not the Hollywood Casino in Bangor, but The Oxford Casino, located inland, northwest of Portland.

With new casinos coming on line, the two big, original casinos in Connecticut will suffer the same fate as the casinos in Atlantic City.

moral of the story: "Make hay while the sun shines."

Better Driving conditions to Mohegan Sun driving from New Haven; Friday Evening or Saturday Evening?

Quote: CrapsForever

Better Driving conditions to Mohegan Sun driving from New Haven; Friday Evening or Saturday Evening?

Probably a little better on Saturday night. Once you get past the outlet malls in Clinton and Westbrook, it should be clear sailing right to I-395.

About three weeks ago Mohegan Sun removed the CSMs from the $5 blackjack tables. They remain $5 minimums and are still H17.

I like Foxwoods better, seems like a "hipper" spot and better drink service IMO. Slots are pretty fun there too, esp. with free play offers!

Is this a deathmatch? If so, I pick Mohegan Sun.

A sun vs. a fox? No contest!

I prefer Mohegan sun for it's design, rules, table limits, comps, location, decor,food, just about any metric.
I also like that this rivalry is about 400 years old.
The Mohegans came under Pequot (fowoods tribe) rule in 1630
and then conspired with the white european colonists to defeat them.
See Pequot War, interesting story.

There's been another round of layoffs at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. This one involves over 300 employees with 282 gone yesterday and 46 at the end of October. Among the casualties was CEO Jeff Hartmann who has been with the casino since 1996. If you're not tribal you have no job security at these places.

Keno has been discontinued as well.

My annual family Christmas casino trip is going to be at Mohegan Sun this year. I'll report back if things seem like they are short-handed.

Quote: 1BB

Keno has been discontinued as well.

Now THAT'S a dissapointment . . . not!

Quote: 1BB

Keno has been discontinued as well.

Really? When? I was there Monday night, and there was Keno - someone even brought a Keno ticket to the table.

Someone got hustled. LOL Can I sell you some powerball tickets ? as soon as the ink dries, that is.

Quote: 24Bingo

Really? When? I was there Monday night, and there was Keno - someone even brought a Keno ticket to the table.

Today.

Wondering if wizard or anyone has analyzed Match the Dealer blackjack side bet offered at Foxwoods:

From their web site
Match the Dealer: On clearly marked tables, you may wager an additional bet in the hope that one or both of your initial two cards match the Dealers up card.

Payout Chart -- Match the Dealer -- Blackjack
1 Unsuited Match 4-1
2 Unsuited Matches 8-1
1 Suited Match 10-1
1 Unsuited and 1 Suited Match 14-1
2 Suited Matches 20-1


I assume these are on the 8 deck shoe tables.

Wizard of Odds website has a different payout table for eight decks in
https://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/appendix/8/#matchdealer

I know the six deck version is offered at Mohegan Sun with a house edge of 4.06%.

Quote: jmaftir

Wondering if wizard or anyone has analyzed Match the Dealer blackjack side bet offered at Foxwoods:

From their web site
Match the Dealer: On clearly marked tables, you may wager an additional bet in the hope that one or both of your initial two cards match the Dealers up card.

Payout Chart -- Match the Dealer -- Blackjack
1 Unsuited Match 4-1
2 Unsuited Matches 8-1
1 Suited Match 10-1
1 Unsuited and 1 Suited Match 14-1
2 Suited Matches 20-1


I assume these are on the 8 deck shoe tables.

Wizard of Odds website has a different payout table for eight decks in
https://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/appendix/8/#matchdealer

I know the six deck version is offered at Mohegan Sun with a house edge of 4.06%.

Assuming the same probabilities, the above paytable has a house edge of 5.6%.

Thanks.
I just realized it was a simple modification of the pays column of the given 8-deck chart.

Match the Dealer - Blackjack - Eight Decks

Event	Combinations	Probability	Pays	Return
Two suited matches	21	0.000244	20	0.00488
One hard and one each match	168	0.001956	14	0.027384
Two non-suited matches	276	0.003213	8	0.025704
One suited match	2688	0.03129	10	0.3129
One non-suited match	9216	0.107281	4	0.429124
No matches	73536	0.856015	-1	-0.856015
Total	85905	1	0	-0.056023

Score one for Mohegan Sun in the Blackjack Sidebet Category...

Anyone know the difference in player club comp earning rates for blackjack in either property?
I know each point is worth $1 in most shops.

MS:
I believe it's 7%/hour for blackjack below $25 average bet, 14%/hour above $25.

example: 3 hours at $28 should yield 11.76 points

FW:
Earned 9 points for nearly three hours at $28 average bet yesterday.
so that's about 10%
but host told me $100/hand * hour would yield 16 points. which is 16%...

Are these rates right???

I don't pay much attention to side bets however I do know that Mohegan Sun pays 22-1 for two suited matches on Match The Dealer where it's 20-1 at Foxwoods.

Foxwoods rate for BJ is 10%. Never go by what you're told, always go by empirical evidence.

Hash House A Go Go is scheduled to open at Mohegan Sun next Tuesday. I think it's the only East Coast location. I hope it lasts longer than El Pollo Loco did at Foxwoods. That was the only East Coast location for them as well.

MMMMM....

Yeah, here's the official announcement: http://www.hashhouseagogo.com/mohegan-sun/

I'm going to MS for Christmas with the family (12/23-12/25). I think I can get them to try it one day.

I'll let you know!

Thanks, 1BB!

Quote: DJTeddyBear

MMMMM....

Yeah, here's the official announcement: http://www.hashhouseagogo.com/mohegan-sun/

I'm going to MS for Christmas with the family (12/23-12/25). I think I can get them to try it one day.

I'll let you know!

Thanks, 1BB!

It's in the Casino of the Earth in the space formerly occupied by Birches. When I peeked through the curtain this morning they were conducting employee orientation.

Mohegan Sun in Connecticut has just announced a 200,000 square foot expansion. Plans call for a Johnson & Wales cooking school, Marquee Cinemas 14-plex Premium Cinema, a retro bowling facility and more shops.