The Mohegan Tribe
The Tribe is based in Connecticut and was federally recognized in 1994, and operates eight properties, including the Mohegan Sun Casino.
History
The Mohegan Tribe was originally part of the Pequot Tribe, part of the Algonquian people. However, in the early 1600s under growing pressure from European settlements and infectious diseases, a rift occurred between Sachem (Paramount Chief) Sassacus and Uncas.
Eventually, Uncas defected and left with his followers, who called themselves the Mohegan, meaning Wolf People. As Sachem of the Mohegan Tribe, Uncas chose to collaborate with the English colonists in the Pequot War, creating an uneasy alliance with the settlers.
Although the English officially recognised the Mohegan Tribe’s sovereignty in 1638, the tribe did not regain its full land until the Mohegan Nation (Connecticut) Land Claim Settlement Act in 1994.
The Mohegan Tribe opened the Mohegan Sun casino on October 12, 1996.
Tribal Government
The Tribal Council at the Mohegan Tribe uses four-year staggered terms. The members manage all executive and legislative responsibilities of the Tribe that aren’t directly given to the Council of Elders. The Tribal Council enacts Tribal laws and each member is also on the corporate Management Board of Mohegan.
Currently, the Tribal Council is made up of James Gessner Jr, Chairman; Sarah Harris, Vice Chairwoman; Kim Baker, Recording Secretary; Joseph Soper, Corresponding Secretary; Thayne Hutchins Jr, Treasurer; Mark Brown, Ambassador and William Quidgeon Jr, John Harris and Kenneth Davison as Councilors.
Tribal gaming operations
In 2022, published in its Economic Impact Report, the Mohegan Tribe announced that it had generated $5.2bn in local economic activity for 2019. This included the creation of 35,000 jobs, $2.7bn in revenue, $759.3m in state and local taxes, and $639.2m in business purchases.
In 2023, the Mohegan Tribe owned eight properties across the US and Korea, with the Inspire location currently in development.
Mohegan Sun
Located in Uncasville, Connecticut.
The Mohegan Tribe originally opened the Mohegan Sun casino on October 12, 1996, although the development began in 1992 with the formation of Trading Cove Associates (TCA), an organization between The Mohegan Tribe, RJH Development and LMW Investments of Connecticut and Slavik Suites.
In 2000, the TCA agreed to give the Mohegan Tribe full control of the Mohegan Sun venue, on the agreement that the TCA would receive a 5% dividend on gross revenue each year until 2014.
The Mohegan Sun has a total of 364,000 sq ft (33,800 m2) gaming space, which hosts 4,000 slot machines and over 300 table games.
Table games at the Mohegan Sun include baccarat, mini- and midi-baccarat, blackjack, craps, Let It Ride, pai gow, sic bo, the Wheel of Fortune and poker.
There is also a dedicated Mohegan Sun Poker Room, which offers both tournament and cash games across a range of poker variants.
Alongside the casino, the Mohegan Sun also hosts the Mohegan Sun Arena, a 12,000-seat multi-purpose arena, a cabaret theatre, a ballroom and a retail shopping complex.
Mohegan Pennsylvania
Located in Plains, Pennsylvania.
The Mohegan Pennsylvania, a combined racetrack and casino, was formerly known as Mohegan Sun Pocono, Pocono Downs and Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
The venue was acquired by the Mohegan Tribe on January 23, 2005, for $280m from Penn National Gaming. It underwent an immediate renovation and would go on to become the first slots casino in Pennsylvania. There are over 1,600 slot machines in operation today.
When table games were legalized in Pennsylvania in 2010, the Mohegan Pennsylvania was among the first venues to receive approval to host them. Table games launched on July 13, 2010, with over 60 tables there today.
Inspire
Located in Incheon International Airport, South Korea.
The first international expansion of Mohegan operations, the Inspire casino is a $5bn project set to open at the Incheon International Airport in Korea. The venue will feature 1,275 hotel rooms, a 15,000-seat performance arena, meeting facilities, an indoor water park, a retail complex and a foreigner-only casino.
Resorts Casino Hotel
Located in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Originally opened in 1978, Resorts was the first legal US casino outside of Nevada. The building was constructed in 1868 and has undergone many ownership changes since then, being operated by the US Military, Resorts International and Donald Trump. Eventually, the Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (formerly Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority) acquired the hotel in 2012.
Currently the casino has over 1,3000 slot machines and table games, as well as a sportsbook operated by DraftKings.
Ilani
Located in La Center, Washington.
Operated between the Cowlitz Tribe and Salishan-Mohegan, Ilani Casino Resort was opened in 2017 after the Mohegan Tribe funded the $510m construction costs. However, it was announced in 2023 that despite having no prior experience in running a casino business, the Cowlitz Tribe would drop Mohegan Sun as a partner.
Fallsview Casino Resort
Located in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
The casino was first opened to the public on June 10 2004, although it was originally both owned and operated by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. On June 11 2019, Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment assumed the business operations of the facility as part of a 21-year agreement.
Casino Niagara
Located in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
The Mohegan Tribe operates a second casino, also at Niagara Falls, Ontario, with a similar story.
The Casino Niagara was first opened in 1996 as a temporary facility while the Fallsview Casino Resort was under construction. Despite this, it remained a permanent fixture in the area and was owned and operated by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. In June 2019, Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment took over the day-to-day operations of the business.
Mohegan Casino at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
Located in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Virgin Hotels is based on the east side of the Las Vegas Strip. The property was originally opened in 1995 under Hard Rock Hotel, until 2020 when it was sold to Richard Branson of the Virgin Group. The hotel was rebranded in stages over the next few years, allowing it to remain operating under a limited capacity.
In 2022, the casino portion of the venues was renamed Mohegan Casino Las Vegas as Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment took over operations of the gambling division of the business. This made the Mohegan Tribe the first to operate a Las Vegas Casino.
Non-gaming operations
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun is an American professional basketball team that competes in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The original team was launched in 1999 as the Orlando Miracle, but faced disbanding in 2003. The Mohegan Tribe bought the team and relocated them to the Mohegan Sun Arena, making the Tribe the first to own a professional sports franchise.
Preston Riverwalk Project
In 2016, the Mohegan Tribe signed an agreement with the Preston Redevelopment Agency to purchase a 393-acre riverfront site located across the Thames River from the Mohegan Sun. The Preston Riverwalk Project will be a non-gaming destination and is planned to include outdoor and indoor attractions, hotel and retail space, restaurants, housing, a marina and RV Park.
