After an impressive opening weekend Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs is trying to be realistic. The weekend revenue was $35 million over the opening weekend up from $20 million the prior two weekends. After everyone was paid (operating costs, state taxes, etc) the casino made a cool $1.4 million. Not too bad for a weekends work. Ninety percent of the wagers were paid out in jackpots, with half the remaining amount going to state taxes.

The new casino holds nearly 2,500 slot machines, which is nearly double the amount in the interim gambling hall while the new casino was opened. The new offerings also include shopping, hotels, and other amenities surrounding the race track. The entire thing is open twenty-four hours a day and offers shopping and harness racing with daily post times. This is obviously a draw along with the new casino which has finally opened after a couple years of an interim slots facility to hold the games.

To support the increased revenues, as well as the anticipated continuation of these numbers a job fair was just held at the Downs which brought in an estimated 5,000 job seekers to apply for everything from housekeeping to bartending to security operations. The current employment stands at around 1,600 (1,219 at the casinos and another 360 tenant retail and food operations) and another 700 jobs are anticipated to have been filled for the opening of the new casino complex. This comes at a time when unemployment rates are rising nationally which helps the casino’s community relations.

Mohegan Sun is being praised for bringing more than just money to the surrounding community. They have helped bring light on local issues such as immigration and light rail traffic, and helped donate to charities. The investment itself, some $200 million plus, shows the commitment to quality and the community using skilled craftsman from the area not just cheap prefabricated elements. All these things are not going unnoticed by the local community who appreciates a business that is interested in helping the community that let it move in.

Some surrounding casinos saw a dip in profits the opening weekend, but say they have to take the numbers in context. Every weekend isn’t opening weekend and no doubt people might have chosen such festivities just because of their uniqueness, although they may never venture there again. Mount Airy Casino Resort saw their weekend wagers drop to $25 million the opening weekend down from $28 million from prior weekends and $33 million July 4th weekend. While not a large drop, it is enough to be concerned should the trend continue. There is no figures or reports of possible competition for employees.