Mohegan Sun Expansion Brings Back Poker

On Thursday November 16th, Mohegan Sun, one of the world's largest casinos, made known its plans of undergoing an estimated $740 million renovation. Included in the expansion plan is the return of poker and a new House of Blues music hall.

Mohegan Sun gaming officials said that the expansion is being done to help them serve their customers better and to draw in new ones. The tribe-owned casino is hoping to lure in more people in their early 20s and Asians as well.

The expansion is expected to be completed and unveiled by 2010, and will include a 38-story, 1,000-room hotel. Inside the hotel will be a smaller, House of Blues themed hotel. The House of Blues music hall is slated to be opened in 2009.

Additional attractions such as a spa, more restaurants and shops and a new Casino of the Wind, are set to open sooner.

Mohegan Sun casino officials are also optimistic that they would be able to bring in younger people by opening a 45-table poker room. Mohegan last saw the game of poker in 2003, after it was shelved to make room for more slot machines. However, the recent popularity of poker has casino officials scampering to bring it back.

November 27, 2006
Pauline Davis