Mohegan Sun is a large casino and entertainment complex located on 240 acres (97 ha) of the Mohegan Indian Reservation in Uncasville, Connecticut, United States, along the banks of the Thames River. It is owned and operated by the federally recognized Mohegan Tribe. The resort first opened on October 12, 1996 and has since become one of the largest casinos in the United States by gaming space. The property includes more than 364,000 square feet (33,800 m²) of gaming space featuring over 6,500 slot machines, 370 table games, and a race book. Mohegan Sun is also home to the Mohegan Sun Arena, a 10,000-seat multi-purpose venue that serves as the home court for the Connecticut Sun of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Mohegan Sun includes two hotel towers: the original Sky Tower, and the Earth Tower, opened in 2016, which together provide more than 1,500 rooms. The resort also features a large retail and dining promenade, a spa, a 100,000-square-foot convention center, and unique architectural elements inspired by Native American culture, including the illuminated alabaster Wombi Rock and the indoor Taughannick Falls. In addition to its entertainment and gaming operations, Mohegan Sun is one of the largest private employers in the state of Connecticut and contributes a share of its slot revenues to the state government.
History
Early development The idea for building a casino on Mohegan tribal land originated in 1992, when a group of Connecticut-based developers proposed a partnership with the Mohegan Tribe to create a gaming and entertainment facility. The group included RJH Development, LMW Investments, and Slavik Suites Inc., who together formed Trading Cove Associates (TCA). At the time, the Mohegan Tribe was not yet federally recognized, a legal status required to operate a casino under the provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). Trading Cove Associates provided legal, financial, and strategic assistance to the tribe to support their efforts to achieve federal recognition, which was granted in March 1994. The site selected for the resort was a 240-acre property on the Thames River in Uncasville, Connecticut, previously used by United Nuclear Corporation for the construction of nuclear reactor components. The site was decommissioned and cleaned up for reuse. Following recognition, the Mohegan Tribe began negotiations to develop the casino with Trading Cove Associates. Sol Kerzner, a South African hotel and casino magnate and head of Kerzner International (formerly Sun International), joined the project by acquiring a 50% interest in TCA. The remaining 50% was held by Waterford Gaming. In 1995, the tribe established the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (MTGA), a government instrumentality charged with oversight and development of the resort.
Opening and early years (1996–2000)
Construction of the casino and resort began following the Mohegan Tribe’s federal recognition and the formation of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (MTGA). Development was overseen by Trading Cove Associates (TCA), which managed the project on behalf of the tribe. The resort officially opened to the public on October 12, 1996. The initial property included approximately 170,000 square feet of gaming space, featuring slot machines, table games, and a race book. It also offered multiple dining venues, a hotel, retail shops, and entertainment areas, including the 10,000-seat Mohegan Sun Arena, which would later become the home venue for the Connecticut Sun of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The partnership between the Mohegan Tribe and Trading Cove Associates continued after the resort's opening. However, in 2000, control of the property was fully transferred to the tribe. As part of the transition agreement, Trading Cove Associates continued to receive 5% of the gross revenue generated by Mohegan Sun through 2014. During its first few years of operation, Mohegan Sun established itself as a major tourist destination in the Northeast. Its location, near other regional attractions and along the Interstate 95 corridor, helped attract millions of visitors annually. The success of the property played a central role in strengthening the economic position of the Mohegan Tribe and laid the foundation for future expansions.
Expansion and renovation Following the success of its initial years, Mohegan Sun undertook a series of expansions and renovations to enhance its offerings and accommodate growing visitor demand: in the early 2000s, the property was renovated to include additional gaming space, expanded retail and dining options, and upgraded hotel accommodations. In November 2006, the Mohegan Tribe announced a major $740 million expansion plan called "Project Horizon." The project was to be completed in phases and originally scheduled for full completion in 2010. It included the construction of a second hotel tower, a new 42-table poker room, and a third casino called Casino of the Wind. The new casino, which opened in August 2008, featured 650 slot machines and 28 table games. However, due to the effects of the Great Recession and declining regional gaming revenue, Project Horizon was suspended in September 2008 before its full scope could be realized. The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority later recorded a $58.1 million impairment charge related to the halted expansion, and Project Horizon was formally terminated in the years that followed. Despite the setback, Mohegan Sun continued to expand. In 2013, plans were announced for a 200,000-square-foot “Downtown District” adjacent to the resort, intended to feature a New England-themed food hall, a 14-screen movie theater, boutique retail shops, and a bowling-and-dining venue. Although widely reported, construction on this project was never completed.
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