The history of legalized gaming in southeast Connecticut is quite an interesting one. It is a story of determination, dedication, and, no pun intended, a little luck. One thing remains persistently true, the Pequot Nation has consistently pursued bigger and better means of successful gaming and resort creation. In other words, the history of Foxwoods Resort and Casino is a history of more than the history of a dollar and a dream, rather it is a metaphor for an even more powerful history, the history of a once forgotten people.
Southeast Connecticut's Foxwoods Casino began in spirit, in 1983. During this year, the Pequots began to discuss the viability of an on-reservation Bingo facility. The Manshatucket Pequot Tribal Council agreed to finance such an enterprise, but the State of Connecticut, and its attorney Austin J. McGuigan vowed to fight their attempt. The State threatened to prosecute the Tribe if they attempted to open a Bingo Hall, a move that the Tribe responded to by entering Federal District Court to gain an injunction to end the threats. The whole court struggle called into question issues pertaining to land rights and jurisdiction, specifically, does the State of Connecticut have the right to govern Pequot Nation land? Despite the expected favorable ruling, the Pequots failed to gain the nearly $4 million dollars in loans they need to open the bingo hall. When the favorable ruling finally came, in 1986, the funding came through and the Bingo Hall was born. It quickly became one of the nations most profitable Indian Bingo operations in the nation. It grossed nearly $13 million in 1987, yielding $2.6 million in profits. The revenues continued to grow, yielding over $4.5 million a year and constantly expanding into what finally became the Foxwoods High Stakes Bingo and Casino. This facility, although lacking slot machines, was the only east cost casino offering poker. Its success, in all areas of gaming (roulette, poker, craps, blackjack, and bingo) was unprecedented. The complex also included a museum, a few restaurants, and a retail boutique. This Casino, built adjacent to the old Foxwoods Bingo Hall opened in 1996 was a major attempt by the Mashantucket Pequot to yield significant financial gain from organized gaming. It was a success, and succeeded in employing nearly 2,00 residents from the region.
1993 saw an intense growth at Foxwoods. An agreement with the State of Connecticut allowed the Pequot nation to offer slot machines. The Tribe agreed to pay the state 25 percent of the revenues, or a minimum of $100 million, of all of its slot revenue every fiscal year. This agreement, according to the Pequot nation, gave nearly $117 million to the state in 1993-94 alone. In November of 1993, the Pequot Nation expanded Foxwoods to the tune of $240 million dollars. It was now a 1.3 million square foot Casino. Now known as Foxwoods Resort Casino, the Tribe and the Casino had entered into a new world of profitability. While the primary focus of Foxwoods was as a place of gaming, many new shops, restaurants, and information exhibits and films were also opened in 1993.
In 1994, the Mashantucket Pequot, the State of Connecticut, and the Mohegan Tribe reached an agreement to allow the creation of Mohegan Sun Casino. Run by a different tribe, this new Casino would allow others to share in the same economic success of the Pequots. Throughout 1994, Foxwoods continues to grow, a new expansion of $65 million is completed and Foxwoods now becomes the nation's largest Casino, with the MGM Grand in Las Vegas second. This growth continues into 1995, as Foxwoods adds an additional 140,00 square feet. Foxwoods becomes an amazingly large, smoke free casino. 45,000 visitors come to Foxwoods a day, nearly 16 million a year at the end of 1995. Foxwoods, at this point, employs nearly 10,000 area residents.
As the years progressed, Foxwoods added hundreds of thousands of square footage to its already extravagant array. A huge hotel and tower, new rooms, new restaurants, more parking, and over 252,000 square feet of gaming are now present at Foxwoods. It now employs over 11,300 people. AT this point, through 1996, the tally for total revenue paid to the State of Connecticut are in. Foxwoods has paid over $42.1 million dollars in payroll, regulatory, and sales taxes. The state slot sharing program has given Connecticut over $504.1 million. Foxwoods continues to grow, with a new museum and research center set to open in a few months. It is an intense economic success.
But, is this just? Is the creation and maintenance of gambling the "right way" to gain financial success?