An announcement was made on Thursday by the Tunica-Biloxi Gaming Authority that an agreement had been signed between it and the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (MTGA) to provide entertainment, hospitality, and gaming consulting services to its Marksville, Louisiana facility beginning Saturday, April 30.

The Mohegan Sun Pocono in Pennsylvania, and the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, two of the most lucrative gaming and entertainment destinations in the United States, are operated by MTGA.

The Tunica-Biloxi Gaming Authority’s Marshall Ray Sampson Sr. said the agreement between the two is in the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe’s best interests. “We are looking forward to working with MTGA because of the valuable experience they will bring to our operations,” said Sampson. “They will improve our customer experience, which is our highest priority,” according to The Avoyelles Journal. MTGA is replacing Exceptional Gaming, whose contract was not renewed by the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe. The National Indian Gaming Commission had approved the deal between the two in July 2009, according to indianz.com.

Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Chairman Joey P. Barbry said, “In the state of Louisiana, we are known for our food, fun and optimum level of service that is unmatched anywhere else in the country,” Barbry added, “With the help of the MTGA, we will be able to reinforce this concept, exceed expectations of Louisiana as a whole and showcase Marksville as a premier gaming and entertainment destination.”

MTGA President Bobby Soper said, “This is an important day for MTGA and for Indian Country as a whole, as our agreement with the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe provides further evidence of Indian Country’s willingness to work together and share gaming expertise to attain the mutual benefits of self-sufficiency and diversification.”

MTGA has been credited with Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey advancing from its struggles to producing record profits over the past four years of its investment and management contract. The Cowlitz Indian Tribe of Washington State’s seven-year agreement with MTGA will introduce the $500 million Cowlitz Casino Resort anticipated to be the West Coast’s premier gaming, entertainment, dining, and meeting destination due to open next year. Adding to those accolades, recently the South Korean government awarded a license to MTGA to develop and build what will be the first of its kind integrated resort at Incheon international Airport.