Sovereign nations abound in the United States, and tribal concerns are indeed enjoying the perks of such status. Connecticut, home to the Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Indian casinos, has reaped many rewards for those venerated entertainment conglomerates. In fact, referring to them simply as “casinos” is an understatement. They host sports events, concerts, have great shopping opportunities as well as some of the best restaurants in the country. Add to this if you are looking for a spa day, some exercise or a walk in a picturesque setting, these options are also available at these casinos in Connecticut. Foxwoods, the first Indian casino in Connecticut, is spreading its wings, heading South to Mississippi.
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, the owners of the Foxwoods Resort Casino, has teamed up with Biloxi Boardwalk Ventures, as well as a local management firm, to bring a Foxwoods casino to 23 acres, situated in the back bay area of Biloxi. The casino will be the largest part of the complex, offering nearly 50,000 feet of gaming space, but the complex will be more than just about gaming. There will also be a hotel, conference center, spa, shopping, restaurants, outdoor activities and an outdoor entertainment center. This gives this tribal nation; that has done a fine job managing the Foxwoods casino in Connecticut, a chance to branch out into another geographic market, just at the time when Massachusetts is expanding its gaming options with two new casinos slated to open in the next few years.
The other effect casinos have on the local economy is they bring jobs and a lot of them. They plan to bring thousands of jobs to Biloxi, which is also a major port for cruise ships. There are many tourists pouring in and out of Biloxi, nearly on a daily basis, making this massive tourist market, with a very nice year-round climate, an ideal place for Foxwoods to set up a new casino. This holds a lot of promise for this tribal nation, which has been looking for opportunities to expand. This location in Biloxi is also very accessible for those from New Orleans, Atlanta, Birmingham and other parts of the South where many have never been to a Foxwoods casino.
Much of the deal they cut, with the help of the Hartmann Management Group, is to develop the site, creating thousands of construction jobs for those in the Biloxi area. For this part of Mississippi, in need of some economic stimulus, the Mashantucket move to this area is very welcome. These communities will benefit greatly from job creation during construction, long-term job creation once the casino is open, a tax-base benefit that almost cannot be quantified preliminarily, added tourism and a robust jolt to a flailing economy, which might not have been accomplished with any other venture. Casinos, as Connecticut has seen, are the gift that keeps on giving, and as they have benefitted from the Mashantucket investment in their state, Mississippi shall, too, see great rewards from such a thriving entity. This is a classic win-win situation, for both the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and for Mississippi.