Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment is preparing for making a groundbreaking move in the Canadian casino field this week. Tuesday is going to see the official closing of the arrangement for taking management control over Casino Niagara and Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls.
The Niagara Gaming Bundle will also include Niagara Falls Entertainment Center that is going to elevate the experience for locals with live performances on a regular basis. Last summer was more than heated or the Ontario gaming field, as three US gaming operators were willing to bring a breath of fresh air to the local industry.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation decided it is time for something new and launched the modernization process across the province in 2017. The two casino venues in Niagara Falls had their licenses for operation for sale and local leaders to the likes of Great Canadian Gaming and Gateway Casinos & Entertainment wanted a slice of the pie.
Mohegan Gaming Enters Ontario
In the meantime, worldwide leading casino developers such as Hard Rock Café International, Caesars Entertainment Corporation, and Mohegan Sun Inc. were also willing to make a move and explore the Canadian market. The bidding process commenced in April 2017 and all participants had their time to evaluate the pros and cons of Canadian operation down the road.
It should be taken into account that this month is the last one on the contract for operation Falls Management Group inked back in 1996. The summer of 2018 was a time of heated bidding that managed to make matters tough for Canadian casino operators. Even though the details surrounding it were never revealed, it is known that US-based leading developers went above and beyond with their bidding.
Eventually, this made it impossible for their Canadian rivals to keep up and Mohegan Sun defeated the competition. As a result of proposing the highest price for the contract for operation, the tribal casino operator is going to oversee operation on site of the two casino venues over the next 21 years. The exact amount of cash proposed by the Native American tribe was not publicly disclosed.
US Operators Monopolized License Bidding
Last summer concerns were raised, as a US management would mean that Canadian players might prefer the brand’s US location instead of the Niagara Falls ones. The international customer loyalty program of Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment would be applicable to the two locations in Niagara Falls, but Canadian gaming experts pointed out that this might have bad repercussions in the long run.
Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment’s success would mean a whole new era of opportunities for tribal casino operation and tribal gambling not only in Canada but also in North America as a whole. Both First Nations and US-based tribes have been working towards a wider recognition in the gambling world and better casino operation opportunities. Mohegan Gaming oversees Mohegan Sun Casino & Resort in Connecticut, Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, ilani Casino Resort in La Center, Washington, and Paragon Casino Resort in Louisiana.
It also owns Mohegan Sun Pocono in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The two new facilities could soon feature free alcohol, according to Ontario’s Progressive Conservative 2019 budget. This is going to make them even more competitive to their US rivals in the vicinity – Seneca Niagara Casino, overseen by the Seneca Nation of Indians that is in a legal dispute with New York State over casino revenue allocations.
