Overview of Mohegan Sun Casino

 

Mohegan Sun is one of the two flagship casino resorts located in southeastern Connecticut, both of which are managed by Native American tribes. The other is Foxwoods Casino Resort. This property, spanning 364,000 square feet of gaming space and comprising two separate casinos, seems like a gambler's dream.

Mohegan Sun Casino slots are renowned for their variety and quality, offering an extensive selection that caters to all types of players. Whether you are a fan of classic slots or the latest video slots, Mohegan Sun provides an unparalleled gaming experience with over 3,500 slot machines. This impressive collection is a significant draw for visitors and sets the casino apart as a premier destination for slot enthusiasts.

Mohegan Sun operates under the regulations and licensing provided by the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority. This authority ensures that the casino adheres to strict standards of operation and integrity, providing a secure and fair gaming environment for all visitors. The licensing by the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority is crucial as it underscores the casino's commitment to maintaining high operational standards and ensuring that all gaming activities are conducted in a legal and ethical manner.

Overview of Mohegan Sun Hotel

Mohegan Sun was the vision in 1992 when three Connecticut groups raised the potential of building a casino with the Mohegan tribe in collaboration. The companies joined together to create Trading Cove Associates to help the tribe in obtaining federal recognition as an independent state. The United States government was granted this status on March 7, 1994, when America approved the remediation land of United Nuclear to be used as the Mohegan reservation.

It enabled the Mohegans to begin constructing a casino resort with which to earn money on behalf of the tribe. Mohegan Sun opened on October 12, 1996, and trading group Trading Cove Associates in 2000 yielded total control of the resort to the Mohegan tribe in return for 5% gross revenue until 2014.

However, the 2008 financial crisis led to the 2010 postponement and previous suspension of a proposed Project Horizon expansion featuring a new "Casino of the Wind" as well as an extra 1,000 rooms. Expansion plans were once again on the go in 2013, and in 2016 the Earth Tower was added to the original Sky Tower, increasing the number of rooms to 1,563.

Besides Mohegan Sun, the six other casino resorts owned by the Mohegan tribe that currently operate in the United States are Mohegan Pennsylvania, Resorts Atlantic City, Ilani Washington, Fallsview Niagara, Casino Niagara, and Mohegan Casino at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.

Location

Mohegan Sun hotel is sited on a 185-acre tract at the Thames River in south-eastern Connecticut, which attracts 60% of the state's total tourist volume. Mohegan Sun hotel is a 45-minute journey from Providence, Hartford, and New Haven, and 90 minutes from Boston. New York City is about two hours away. Mohegan Sun is 15 minutes from Mystic Country shops, museums, and waterway.

Also, one can go by ferry from New York's Orient Point to Connecticut's New London, with Mohegan Sun offering a shuttle from and to the hotel throughout the day and early evening. The visitor needs to present a valid train or ferry ticket to New London, with the departure times varying with each season.

Casino Overview

Mohegan Sun boasts an astonishing 364,000 square feet of gaming floor area with 3,500 slot machines and 377 tables. This space is housed in two stand-alone gaming spaces, Casino of the Sky and Casino of the Earth, and a single FanDuel sportsbook.

Both casinos are well-designed. Casino of the Sky features a dome ceiling that is actually a planetarium, projecting the sun, moon, and stars with fiber optics. Casino of the Earth features a line of mechanical wolves hovering above giant rock outcroppings. The most spectacular of them all is the indoor 55-foot waterfall, Taughannick Falls, which is a breathtaking focal point to the entire property.

Bar Top Gaming

As with most casinos in the U.S., Mohegan Sun offers bar top gaming, and the best place for this, especially if you like to watch sports, is the Bow & Arrow Sports Bar (located in Casino of the Earth).

Bar top gaming is limited to video poker, blackjack, keno, and a few more traditional slot games, but it can be an attractive proposition as you can take advantage of free drinks while enjoying all the sporting action.

Sportsbook

Mohegan Sun offers a 13,000-square-foot sportsbook. It is operated by FanDuel and located in Casino of the Earth. It features a 140-foot video wall, 39 betting kiosks, eight cashier windows, and seating for 60 guests.

High Limit Gaming

Mohegan Sun offers high limit areas in both Casino of the Sky and Casino of the Earth. As with the main casino floor in Casino of the Sky, the selection of slots in the high limit area is excellent and includes all the usual games, including Lightning Link, Dragon Link, Prosperity Pearl, and Huff N' Even More Puff.

The Casino of the Earth selection is a little older and includes a greater selection of three-reel games. However, while both areas are separate from the main casino floors, they conform to the overall open-plan design of the establishment and are therefore not as private or luxurious as some high limit areas I have visited.

This surprised me a little, given how well everything else at Mohegan Sun is designed. So if you are a high limit slots player who values your privacy, you might want to look elsewhere.

High limit table game players are well catered for, including private and semi-private gaming areas in novelle, a high-end lounge located in Casino of the Sky. The public area of novelle features blackjack, mini-baccarat, craps, and roulette, while four private VIP rooms offer blackjack, mini-baccarat, and craps.

Pool and Spa

Pool

Mohegan Sun offers two pool options: one in the Sky Tower and one in the Earth Tower.

The Sun Terrace Pool is located in the Sky Tower and features a 10,000-square-foot solarium with an indoor pool and hot tub. During the summer months, there is also the option to sunbathe on the terrace located next to the pool area.

The Sky Tower pool is open from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and there is also a fire pit that is lit daily at 7:00 PM, weather permitting.

The indoor pool in the Earth Tower is much smaller and fairly basic in design and is also open from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily. Of the two, I would definitely choose the Sky Tower.

Spa

Mohegan Sun has two Mandara Spas totaling 22,000 square feet. The largest is located in the Sky Tower, but there is also a much smaller one in the Earth Tower.

Among their signature treatments is the Fire and Ice Massage, but if you are not feeling adventurous, all the usual treatments are available, as well as facial treatments.

There are also wet relaxation rooms, steam baths, saunas, and hot tubs, as well as a full-service salon offering hair, nail, and beauty services.

My Verdict on Mohegan Sun

There is no doubt that Mohegan Sun is one of the most impressive casinos I have ever visited. The property is presented impeccably, with two magnificent casino floors and a wide selection of bars and restaurants. In short, it is everything a modern casino resort should be.

I particularly enjoyed the Taughannick Falls Bar, which is the perfect place to start your adventure. The hotel offering is also incredibly solid, regardless of which tower you choose, although I would recommend a high floor in the Sky Tower with a river view.

The selection of restaurants is particularly impressive and is sure to tempt even the most regular visitors to try something new.

On the other hand, for such a well-designed property, the high limit areas are a little disappointing, and due to the open-plan design of the casino floor, they lack privacy.

Additionally, despite the selection of Mohegan Sun Casino slots being the best I have ever seen, the withholding of tax on hand-paid wins for foreign visitors after providing all the necessary documentation is hard to swallow. The slot staff are, at best, unprepared and uninformed, and at worst, deliberately obstructive.