The Grand Pequot Casino at Foxwoods has 1,000+ slots
(Credit: Stephen Dunn)
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Here’s an overview of what’s available at both mammoths.
Dining
The cuisine is plentiful at both casinos with each boasting dozens of eateries from the likely-out-of-range gourmet restaurants (Todd English's Tuscany Restaurant) to your Subways (Foxwoods), Starbucks (Mohegan Sun) and Ben and Jerry’s (both). The prices are inflated at even the fast food joints, but don’t be surprised by that.
From Big Bubba’s BBQ to Michael Jordan’s 23 Sportcafe, Mohegan Sun offers a good variety of reasonably-priced, casual meals. Dining options at Foxwoods include Chinese from Golden Dragon and the state’s only Hard Rock Café . Both casinos have 24-hour joints, Veranda Café at Foxwoods and Fidelia’s at Mohegan Sun, for those looking to cap off a night out.
But if you want to have the classic casino experience, head over to the long buffet lines. Foxwoods has the Festival Buffet ($16.95 for adults) while Mohegan Sun has the Seasons Buffet ($16.25) and the Sunburst Buffet ($18.86) offering slightly different fare at opposite ends of the complex. These bastions of culinary excess certainly won’t have you writing home, but gorge on the seafood and you may end up making up all the money you lost on the slots.
Entertainment
In terms of headlining acts, both Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods bring in their share of talent—although some were bigger yesterday, or 20 years ago, than today.
The 10,000-seat Mohegan Sun Arena is a regular stop for national arena tours, with upcoming dates including Matchbox Twenty Feb. 18, Van Halen March 26 and Avril Lavigne April 12. The Arena is also home to the Connecticut Sun, with game tickets available for as little as $10 you can catch WNBA action without breaking the bank (new season starts in May). And if watching two guys beat the crap out of each other is your idea of entertainment, check out the great boxing matches.
The hilarious Tracy Morgan performs stand-up at the intimate Fox Theater at Foxwoods Feb 2. Also making an appearance at the Fox is Creedence Clearwater Revisited Feb. 22.
With the Wolf Den in Mohegan Sun and Atrium Bar and Lounge in Foxwoods, both casinos offer free nightly concerts featuring a range of acts. Granted, you’ve probably never heard of most of the performers, but you’ll be entertained nonetheless. These venues are small and fill up quickly, so come early.
For an educational casino experience, head over to Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center located just outside of Foxwoods and pay the $15 admission for a historical overview of the Pequots stretching back to the ice age.
Nightlife
The casinos do their best to cater to those 21 and older, offering a great deal of variety when it comes to clubs and bars. Foxwoods' The Club and Mohegan Sun’s Ultra 88 Nightclub attract the well-dressed and beautiful willing to pay cover charges rarely below $10. Ladies, work your little black dress and you can get into Ultra 88 for free before 11 p.m. on Fridays.
The Dubliner at Mohegan Sun touts itself as “An Authentic Irish Pub” and comes as close as it can considering its location, offering Guinness on the cheap and a good pub atmosphere to watch the game. Miles away, Foxwoods offers its sports bar experience in the form of Stadium Sports Bar & Grill taking up a clever theme that plays off the rivalry between the Red Sox and Yankees.
Accommodations
On the weekends when most rooms go for $499 at Mohegan Sun and about $375 at Foxwoods, you’re better served to drive in from a place closer to the coast if price is a factor. The cheapest of all casino-owned hotels is Foxwoods’ Two Trees Inn, which has some rooms going for $195 on weekends and closer to $130 during the week. The rooms are nowhere near as luxurious as anything in the towers, but if you just need a place to crash, it shouldn’t matter.
Gambling
From dog track betting to War—yes, the children’s card game—both casinos offer pretty impressive ways to throw your money away. Your best bet is to enter the casino with a budget in mind. Some of the games require a bit more skill than others—always betting on 24 in roulette is probably a bad strategy—so if you have the know-how and some investing capital you may get ahead. But, probably not.
Mohegan Sun offers lower minimums for table games, with some weekend blackjack table minimums at $10 as opposed to the $25 at Foxwoods. Even though blackjack is a relatively low risk casino game, don’t be surprised if you’re out after a few hands even if you made all the right decisions. (It happens to the best of us.)
Both casinos have tables dedicated to the ubiquitous Texas Hold’em, with Foxwoods hosting daily poker tournaments in its recently expanded Poker Room. Foxwoods also takes pride in its Bingo Room which boasts the most communal gambling experience on the East Coast.
There are more than 7,000 slot machines at Foxwoods, 6,000 at Mohegan Sun with minimum bets ranging from $.01 to $100. Slots at both casinos are set to return about 91 percent of all money gamblers bet, the idea being the more risked the more likely money will be made back. With patrons putting in $10 billion in the machines each year, just watching spellbound casino patrons play these slots may be more entertaining than playing.
Bottom line
The Connecticut casinos do a fine job of mimicking their Vegas counterparts as one-stop destinations designed to drain money. With lower table minimums and the simple fact that it’s a whole lot prettier than Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun is the better choice for those looking for a good time. But, if you’re looking to strike it big, Foxwoods is your best bet.
