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Eastern Connecticut's casinos are already benefiting from Wednesday's shutdown of New Jersey's casinos. Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun, primed for their busy summer season, are reporting higher-than-average inquiries after New Jersey closed its 12 Atlantic City casinos at 8 a.m. Wednesday. The casinos were forced to shut because the state has not approved a budget and cannot pay its employees, including the casino inspectors.
Both Eastern Connecticut casinos are responding to accommodate the expected influx.
Foxwoods has added additional bus lines from metropolitan New York and Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun officials say they are ready to take on additional bus charters.
"We will keep adding additional buses as the demand dictates," said Tom Cantone, vice-president of marketing at Foxwoods. "We will just keep monitoring it."
Inquiries about Foxwoods' three hotels -- Grand Pequot, Great Cedar and Two Trees -- started increasing early Wednesday morning, Cantone said.
"We're seeing an uptake in business as a result of the shutdown in New Jersey," said Saverio Mancini, spokesman for Mohegan Sun.
From 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, the numbers of inquiries the toll-free line at Mohegan Sun increased by 1,000, from 5,500 to 6,500, all from the Atlantic City area, Mancini said. People use the number to ask about types of gaming offered, hotel accommodations, spas and restaurants, he said.
"It's likely to gain momentum as the New Jersey budget stalemate continues," Mancini said. "We are also ready to open up additional gaming tables and bring on new dealers, if necessary."
It is too early to determine what the impact will be, Cantone said. If there is a significant visitor increase, the casino is fully staffed and ready to handle it because it was already prepared for the busy summer season.
Both casinos have major seasonal promotions under way. Foxwoods is offering the $2.5 million "Summer Blast," while Mohegan Sun has its "Hot Summer Fun."
Foxwoods typically sees 45,000 visitors a day and Mohegan Sun Casino averages 35,000. Bus traffic to Foxwoods is 1.3 million customers a year.
Mohegan Sun officials already have noted an increase in the bus loads -- the number of people riding existing bus lines running from the Atlantic City area, Mancini said. In addition, Mohegan Sun is expecting additional charter buses from the New York area this morning.
Peter Pan Bus Lines has suspended its daily service from Yonkers, N.Y., to Atlantic City until the casinos reopen, said Kevin Mulcahy, director of operations for Peter Pan. The company provides weekend service only along the Interstate 95 corridor, specifically to the Norwich area, Mulcahy said.
Mulcahy said he will wait to see if the New Jersey casinos will re-open before deciding to increase trips to Eastern Connecticut.
Leaders from towns around the casino are waiting to see if there's an impact on surrounding municipalities.
"We will just have to play it by ear and see how they schedule everything and how it all works out," Preston First Selectman Robert Congdon said. "I don't see Atlantic City staying shut down very long. It will probably be a very short-term problem."
Montville Mayor Joseph Jaskiewicz also said he doesn't foresee a major impact in his town.
"We may see a small volume of traffic," Jaskiewicz said. "Folks who have planned a vacation in Atlantic City may just wind up coming here to vacation, but that is a long car ride."
Gambling halls in New York also were prepared to welcome additional patrons, including the Mighty M gaming at the Monticello Raceway in the Sullivan County village of Monticello.
Charles Degliomini, vice president of the Monticello facility's parent company, Empire Resorts Inc., said he also expected increased interest in the racino -- a combination racetrack and casino.
"What's happening in Atlantic City is not good news for Atlantic City," Degliomini said. "But it gives their patrons an opportunity to try something different."
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