Category: Mohegan

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Caesars Windsor in Windsor, Ont. on Nov. 24, 2023.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail

If you want to get rich gambling in Windsor, run the casino.

That simple truth underlies a heated behind-the-scenes battle between three of North America’s largest gambling companies for control of one of the industry’s most lucrative properties, Caesars Windsor.

For the first time since the casino opened its doors 30 years ago, the licence to operate the slot machines and blackjack tables that rejuvenated the downtown in Windsor, Ont., is up for grabs. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., the provincial agency that owns the property, is in the final stage of reviewing offers for what’s historically been a licence to print money.

While the process is meant to be secret, three gambling industry sources say there’s a three-horse race for a property that draws millions of tourists to the border city. The company that has run the casino for three decades – Las Vegas-based gambling powerhouse Caesars Entertainment Inc. CZR-Q – faces the prospect of being usurped either by upstart Bally’s Corp. BALY-N, which was built from casinos and a brand that Caesars sold, or Indigenous-owned Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment,which operates two casinos in Niagara Falls, Ont.

The Globe and Mail is not identifying these sources because the OLG prohibits them from publicly speaking on the selection process. Spokespersons for the OLG, Caesars, Bally’s and Mohegan declined to comment. The OLG is expected to announce the new licence holder by this fall. If the agency picks a new operator, it would take over in 2025.

In Windsor, everyone you talk to has a view of who should run a property that dominates the city’s economy –and skyline – by providing more than 2,000 jobs and anchoring the tourism industry.

Among city…

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Tony Orlando is hanging up his mic — but not before a final lap of North American shows.

Announced Monday (Jan. 15), Orlando’s Farewell Concerts kick off with dates across three consecutive nights at South Point Casino in Las Vegas, Jan. 19-21; followed by shows at Niagara Falls, ON; Des Plaines and St. Charles, IL; Atlantic City, NJ; and Uncasville, CT. His final performance in Vegas should be an emotional one, wrapping 51 years as a headliner on the Strip.

“I still hit the ball, I just can’t run the bases!!!” Orlando, 79, tells Billboard about ending this touring career, adding that the cost of travel and his age were contributing factors. “It’s also time for me to satisfy my creative juices with the need in me to produce, create new products from films, to Broadway shows, to streaming new product.”

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Orlando says he plans to launch new companies Tony Orlando Productions and Explosive Films and Entertainment. He will also “pay more attention to writing a Broadway show and pitching my ideas for films and writing my next book.”

“Performing live shows for 63 years has been a glorious dream come true run!” he says. “And, man oh man, I will miss the audiences, friends and fans who have stuck by me for these last 63 incredible years. But now it’s time to grow and turn a new page in my life. How exciting!”

As it stands, Orlando will call time on his 63-year concerts career on March 22 at Mohegan Sun’s 10,000-seat arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

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UNCASVILLE, CT – On Saturday, February 3rd, Greg “The Villain” Vendetti challenges Chordale “The Gift” Booker for his WBC USA Super Welterweight title at Mohegan Sun Arena.

It’s the perfect opportunity for the Stoneham, Massachusetts native to win a title, break into the WBC rankings and secure a more lucrative payday.

“My whole career, I’ve taken it one day at a time,” says Vendetti, reluctant to look too far passed his opponent.  “I focus on what’s in front of me and it’s worked out well so far.  But if I were to beat Booker and blast him out of there, I’m sure we’ll get a call for a big money fight.”

Despite Chordale Booker being on a four-fight winning streak, Vendetti likes his chances of upsetting the apple cart. In Booker, ‘The Villain’ sees a fair-weather fighter who does not deal well with adversity.

“From what I’ve seen of him, he seems to have a small gas tank and a brittle spirit,” says Vendetti. “When a fight’s going well, he looks good and feels good.  When the fight’s going bad, he starts to fall apart.”

The National Guardsman believes that pressure is the key to victory against Booker, which is ideal for him as a volume puncher. 

“I’m a pressure guy,” says Vendetti of his style.  “I have a big gas tank and big punch output.  I just have to be the best version of myself to get the win.  In the mid-to-late rounds, Booker starts to wilt against guys who put on half as much pressure as I’m gonna put on him.” 

If Vendetti sounds confident, it’s because he’s been on the big stage before.  ‘The Villain’ has wins over the likes of Japanese contender Yoshihiro Kamegai in 2018 and a competitive loss to two-division world champion Erislandy Lara in 2020.  Each experience has proven to Vendetti that he can hold his own against some of the best fighters in the world.    

Vendetti isn’t sure…

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Connecticut’s Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun reported a slight year-over-year decline in their net revenues in the fiscal year 2023 that ended September 30. Foxwoods posted $636.8 million, which represents a 0.5% decline compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, Mohegan Sun generated net revenues of $920.2 million, perceiving a 2.1% drop year-over-year. 

According to Foxwoods’ report, the Mashantucket Pequot-owned casino’s gaming revenues decreased 1.2% in the 2023 fiscal year, while non-gaming revenues were 2.4% higher due to a year-over-year increase in food and beverage sales. Gaming accounted for 74.5% of Foxwoods’ gross revenue in fiscal 2023, down from 75.5% the previous year.

Furthermore, the casino’s payroll costs, excluding severance, were up by $5.6 million, or 2.9%, during the year, reflecting the addition of about 100 “full-time equivalent” employees. At the end of the fiscal year, the Mashantuckets’ “substantial amount of indebtedness” totaled $2.15 billion. As of September 30, Foxwoods employed approximately 3,248 full- and part-time employees, according to the casino’s annual report.

Foxwoods Resort Casino

Meanwhile, the decrease in Mohegan Sun’s net revenues was primarily due to declines in gaming revenue from slot machines and table games. The decrease was partially offset by higher food and beverage and entertainment revenues.

Mohegan, which in addition to Mohegan Sun owns and/or manages seven other properties in the United States, Canada, and South Korea, reported the company as a whole had revenues of $1.67 billion in fiscal 2023, reflecting a 5.1% increase over the previous year’s $1.59 billion. Mohegan Sun accounted for about 55% of the company’s revenues.

Other segments of the business include Niagara Resorts, including management of two casinos in Ontario, Canada, which had revenues of $314.5 million; Mohegan Pennsylvania had revenues of $251.1 million; and Mohegan Digital, which operates online gaming in Connecticut and Ontario, and had revenues of $100.6…

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LAS VEGAS (CelebrityAccess) – On January 19, 20, and 21, one of America’s most beloved entertainers, Grammy-nominated entertainer Tony Orlando, will play his final sold-out show in Las Vegas this week after fifty-one years as a Las Vegas headliner and now at the renowned South Point Casino.

In 1973, Orlando began topping the bill in Las Vegas at the famed Riviera Hotel showroom and soon after began headlining the esteemed and historic Las Vegas Hilton. During his early explosive period performing in the entertainment capital, he headlined most of the city’s legendary venues such as Caesar’s Palace, The Mirage, and The Desert Inn – and continued a fantastic twenty-five years of residencies in all of Michael Gaughan’s venues, including his hugely successful South Point Casino showroom.

On March 22, Orlando will end his long and illustrious sixty-two-year live concert performing career at Mohegan Sun’s 10,000-seat arena in Uncasville, CT. Amazingly, this will mark his sixty-fifth appearance at the venue over twenty-three years.

“We are honored that after such a historic entertainment and humanitarian career, Tony Orlando has chosen Mohegan Sun to host his final live performance,” said Tom Cantone, President of Sports and Entertainment for Mohegan. “It’s now time for us to give him a standing ovation for entertaining over 100,000 fans at Mohegan Sun over the years, something that only Billy Joel has done, as he will be forever part of Mohegan’s entertainment family.”

“I am so honored that my last concert will be at my favorite venue on Earth, Mohegan Sun Arena,” said Orlando. “My relationship with Tom Cantone, the stage crews, and the staff at Mohegan Sun Arena has been flawless. I also want to thank all my friends within the Mohegan Tribe…

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by Best Classic Bands Staff

Tony Orlando, the singer who scored five top 10 hits in the 1970s, including the chart-toppers “Knock Three Times,” “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” and “He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You),” has announced his farewell tour. Orlando, who turns 80 on April 3, 2024, will perform in six locations, starting this Friday, Jan. 19, at South Point Casino in Las Vegas. Orlando first played the city in 1973.

The final show will take place in Uncasville, Conn., at Mohegan Sun Arena on March 22. “I am so honored that my last concert will be at my favorite venue on Earth, Mohegan Sun Arena,” said Orlando in a statement.

The other stops on the brief final tour include Niagara Falls, Ontario, on Feb. 27-28; Des Plaines, Ill., on March 2; St. Charles, Ill., on March 3; and Atlantic City, N.J., on March 16. Tickets are available here.

Orlando will continue hosting his radio program Saturday Nights with Tony Orlando on 77 WABC Music Radio, which airs in New York, as well as reaching New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, and streams live. He will continue engaging in a multitude of ongoing projects, including a new film and multimedia company, Tony Orlando Productions, according to the announcement.

This ad appeared in the January 20, 1973, edition of Record World magazine

Orlando, born Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis, in New York City, is a Grammy-nominated artist with 15 Top 40 hits, two platinum albums, three gold albums and millions…

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Orlando has sold millions of records, including five No. 1 hit records

On January 19th, 20th, and 21st, one of America’s most beloved entertainers, legendary icon Tony Orlando, will play his final sold-out show in Las Vegas this week after 51 years as a Las Vegas headliner and now at the renowned South Point Casino.

In 1973, Tony Orlando began topping the bill in Las Vegas at the famed Riviera Hotel showroom and soon after began headlining the esteemed and historic Las Vegas Hilton. During his early explosive period performing in the entertainment capital, he headlined most of the city’s legendary venues such as Caesar’s Palace, The Mirage, and The Desert Inn — and continued an amazing twenty-five years of residencies in all of Michael Gaughan’s venues, including his hugely successful South Point Casino showroom.

On March 22nd, Orlando will bring an end to his long and illustrious 62-year live concert performing career at Mohegan Sun’s 10,000-seat arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Amazingly, this will mark his 65th appearance over 23 years at the venue.

“We are honored that after such a historic entertainment and humanitarian career, Tony Orlando has chosen Mohegan Sun to host his final live performance,” states Tom Cantone, President of Sports & Entertainment for Mohegan. “It’s now time for us to give him a standing ovation for entertaining over 100,000 fans at Mohegan Sun over the years, something that only Billy Joel has done, as he will be forever part of Mohegan’s entertainment family.”

“I am so honored that my last concert will be at my favorite venue on Earth, Mohegan Sun Arena,” adds Orlando. “My relationship with Tom Cantone, the stage crews, and the staff at Mohegan Sun Arena has been flawless. I also want to thank all my friends within the Mohegan Tribe for…

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On Saturday, February 3rd, Greg “The Villain” Vendetti challenges Chordale “The Gift” Booker for his WBC USA Super Welterweight title at Mohegan Sun Arena.

It’s the perfect opportunity for the Stoneham, Massachusetts native to win a title, break into the WBC rankings and secure a more lucrative payday.

“My whole career, I’ve taken it one day at a time,” says Vendetti, reluctant to look too far past his opponent. “I focus on what’s in front of me and it’s worked out well so far.

“But if I were to beat Booker and blast him out of there, I’m sure we’ll get a call for a big money fight.”

Despite Chordale Booker being on a four-fight winning streak, Vendetti likes his chances of upsetting the apple cart. In Booker, ‘The Villain’ sees a fair-weather fighter who does not deal well with adversity.

“From what I’ve seen of him, he seems to have a small gas tank and a brittle spirit,” says Vendetti. “When a fight’s going well, he looks good and feels good. When the fight’s going bad, he starts to fall apart.”

The National Guardsman believes that pressure is the key to victory against Booker, which is ideal for him as a volume puncher.

“I’m a pressure guy,” says Vendetti of his style. “I have a big gas tank and big punch output. I just have to be the best version of myself to get the win. In the mid-to-late rounds, Booker starts to wilt against guys who put on half as much pressure as I’m gonna put on him.”

If Vendetti sounds confident, it’s because he’s been on the big stage before. ‘The Villain’ has wins over the likes of Japanese contender Yoshihiro Kamegai in 2018 and a competitive loss to two-division world champion Erislandy Lara in 2020. Each…

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