Mohegan Sun

Mohegan Sun is an integrated resort and casino owned and operated by the Mohegan Tribe. Located on 240 acres along the Thames River in Uncasville, Connecticut, it features 364,000 square feet of gambling space. The resort is a major attraction in southeastern Connecticut, a region that draws 60% of the state’s tourism.

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Mohegan Sun is home to the 12,000-seat Mohegan Sun Arena, which hosts concerts, sporting events, and serves as the home of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun. Additional entertainment venues include a 350-seat Cabaret Theatre and the 300-seat Wolf Den. The property also includes 100,000 square feet of meeting and function space—featuring the largest ballroom in the Northeast—and 130,000 square feet of retail shopping.

The casino offers a variety of gaming options, including slot machines, poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, Caribbean stud poker, keno, and a race book with live horse and greyhound racing from the U.S., Australia, and England. Jai-alai wagering from Florida is also available.
The Great Recession of 2007 significantly impacted Mohegan Sun’s financial performance, with revenue declines affecting both Mohegan Sun and its nearby competitor, Foxwoods Resort Casino. By 2012, both casinos faced significant debt. However, by the end of the 2018 fiscal year, Mohegan Sun’s net revenue reached $1.07 billion.

The idea for Mohegan Sun began in 1992 when RJH Development, LMW Investments, and Slavik Suites Inc. partnered with the Mohegan Tribe to develop a casino. This group formed Trading Cove Associates (TCA), which helped the Mohegans secure federal recognition as a sovereign tribe in March 1994, paving the way for casino development.

The land chosen for the casino was previously used by United Nuclear Corporation for building submarine nuclear reactors. It was decommissioned and cleaned up before construction. Sol Kerzner’s Kerzner International (formerly Sun International) became a major partner, holding a 50% interest in TCA, while Waterford Gaming held the other 50%.

Mohegan Sun officially opened on October 12, 1996. In 2000, the Mohegan Tribe gained full control of the resort, though Trading Cove Associates continued to receive a 5% dividend on gross revenue until 2014. In 2022, the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority rebranded as “Mohegan,” reflecting its broader business ventures.