In Canada, Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment has announced that it has seen off the likes of rivals Caesars Entertainment Corporation and Hard Rock Cafe International Incorporated in being selected to operate Casino Niagara and the nearby Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort for the next 20 years.

Arrangement starts in June:

According to an official Monday press release, the tribal casino firm explained that the ‘Niagara Gaming Bundle’ contract is due to become effective from June and will additionally encompass the coming 5,000-seat Niagara Falls Entertainment Centre, which is being built next to Fallsview Casino Resort.

Pair of state-owned casinos:

Casino Niagara and Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort are owned by the state-run Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and have been managed by Toronto-based Falls Management Group since 1996 and 2004 respectively. However, this current arrangement is expiring next summer with Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment now set to take over the day-to-day running of both southern Ontario properties.

Tribal enterprise behind Mohegan Sun:

Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment, which was known as the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority until a 2017 name-change, is an enterprise of Connecticut’s federally-recognized Mohegan Tribe and is responsible for the giant Mohegan Sun integrated casino resort as well as Pennsylvania’s smaller Mohegan Sun Pocono gaming venue. The Uncasville-headquartered operator explained that it now plans to utilize the trio of Niagara Falls properties to ‘create a dynamic entertainment experience’ that will increase visitation and result in ‘economic development and increased job opportunities’.

Operator ‘honored’ by selection:

Kevin ‘Red Eagle’ Brown, Chairman for the Mohegan Tribe, proclaimed that he was ‘honored’ to have won the ‘very competitive process’ to secure the Casino Niagara and Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort licenses. He declared that the operator is now looking forward to becoming a valuable part of the community and partnering with local stakeholders including Niagara Falls Entertainment Partners, which is developing the Niagara Falls Entertainment Centre.

Brown’s statement read…

“This procurement marks Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment’s advancement as a leader in commercial gaming and integrated resort experiences around the world while promoting greater economic development and tourism in the Niagara region through our outstanding gaming, entertainment and resort offerings.”

Move promises ‘long-term competitiveness’:

For his part, Stephen Rigby, President and Chief Executive Officer for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, stated that the new operator is set to ‘help ensure the long-term competitiveness of the Niagara gaming market’ by building on the properties’ already notable reputations and ‘integrating with the wide mix of entertainment and tourist offerings in the area.’

Rigby’s statement read…

“Selecting Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment is the latest step the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is taking in our land-based gaming modernization, which is investing in communities and providing customers with new and exciting entertainment options.”