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It’s a New Year. 2018 promises to be an exciting year in the Northeast, especially in New England.

Visit the websites of all seven casinos:  Connecticut – Foxwoods Resort/Casino and Mohegan Sun Resort/Casino; Rhode Island – Newport Grand and Twin River Hotel/Casino; Massachusetts – Plainridge Park Casino & Raceway, MGM Springfield and Wynn Boston Harbor; Maine –  Oxford Casino and Hollywood Bangor Hotel, Casino & Raceway.

What a year 2017 was for casino expansion in New England. Here is our look at 2017 as it played out from Maine, to Bridgeport, CT

The Top 5 Stories of 2017 via N.E.TIME GAMBLING

The News for January

FOXWOODS AND AUTHENTIC GAMING BECOME PARTNERS

Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut and Authentic Gaming, a supplier of live casino solutions for both online and land-based operators, became partners to live stream roulette games from the gaming floor of the Connecticut casino to online players.  The ground-breaking deal enables live casino players in Europe and around the globe to access, live table games from the gambling floor of a land-based casino in the U.S. for the first time. One of the additional ground-breaking moves will be a single zero, European roulette table as the first table to go live, streamed from the Club Newport VIP room, located at the Grand Pequot Casino. The partnership will provide perks that include trips to Foxwoods with include free stays, amenities in the casino and shopping sprees.

PLAINRIDGE PARK TO PREPARE SPORTS BOOK

Plainridge Park Casino & Raceway in Plainville, MA., is the Pilgrim State’s first casino to open.  While it does not have table games, it does include the electronic versions of the favorite table games offered in casinos. But to enrich its gambling options, and to try to stay ahead of the competition coming from MGM Springfield (2018) and Wynn Boston Harbor (2019), it’s adding a sports book. Penn National said that the company is interested in operating a sports book should the U.S. Supreme Court repeal the long-standing federal ban. Penn National Gaming is the most enthusiastic about the prospect of taking sports bets here — or at least the company most open about its enthusiasm.

MOHEGAN SUN CELEBRATES THE SUN WINE AND FOOD FEST

Kicking off on January 26th at Mohegan Sun, the Sun Wine & Food Fest returns with its signature showcases including the Grand Tasting and Celebrity Chef Dine Around. Sip and sample your way through a jam-packed lineup including the return of Sunday Brunch and the addition of Divine Delights, a sweet pairing of decadent treats and dessert wines.

FRIDAY, January 26th  – BOURBON TASTING, DIVINE DELIGHTS; SATURDAY, January 27th – GRAND TASTING, VINTAGE CRU, & the CELEBRITY CHEF DINE AROUND; SUNDAY, January 28th – SUNDAY BRUNCH WITH MARTHA STEWART AND SPECIAL GUEST SNOOP DOGG

MGM RESORTS CONTINUES TO DISRUPT CONNECTICUT’S CASINO EXPANSION

FOXWOODS ADDS MORE STADIUM GAMING; A NEW CASINO BAR

TWIN RIVER CASINO WEDDING EXPO – The Original Wedding Expo

Taproom Opening Spotlight

New Belgium Brewing Taproom will feature 12 draft lines, including Fat Tire Belgian Style Ale, Fat Tire Belgium White Ale, IPAs from the Voodoo Ranger IPA collection, Citradelic Tangerine IPA, Belgium Abby and Trippel beers. New Belgium is the second largest brewer of sour style beers in the world and the largest brewer of sour beers in the USA. They will feature a rotating line of sour and seasonal beers and occasionally feature limited and special release beers.  Their flagship brew that can be found all over the country is called Fat Tire. The 74-seat taproom is open:

• Wednesday – FridayOpen at 4:00pm
• Saturday & Sunday – Open at Noon

Beer flights are available, 4 – 5oz beers is $7.  With specialty sours, 4 – 5oz beers is $11.  It can be found next to the Racebook in the Casino of the Earth at Mohegan Sun.

Entertainment

Award-winning Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville CT

HEADLINERS

January 5th – Vince Neil of Motley Crew at Mohegan Sun Arena; 8:00PM
January 5th – REALITY FIGHTING: A NIGHT OF MMA FIGHTS at Mohegan Sun Arena; 7:00PM
January 6th – The Driftwoods – Beach Boys Tribute, Newport Grand Event Center, 9:00pm (free)
January 12th – Kathleen Madigan at the Fox Theater, Foxwoods, 8:00PM
January 12th – Michael Blackson at the Fox Theater, Foxwoods, 8:00PM & 10:30PM
January 12th – Kool and the Gang at the Twin River Casino Event Center, 8:00pm
January 13th – Shadi Jamil at the Twin River Casino Event Center, 9:00pm
January 13th – Hey Nineteen – Steely Dan Tribute, Newport Grand Event Center, 9:00pm (free)
January 14th – Bowzer’s Rock ‘n’ Doo-Wop Party Volume XVII at Mohegan Sun Arena; 3:00PM
January 19th – Foghhat, 8:00pm Mohegan Sun Wolf Den (free)
January 20th – Darci Lynne & Friends Live, at the Grand Theater, Foxwoods, 3:00PM & 7:00PM
January 20th – Mullet, Newport Grand Event Center, 9:00pm (free)
January 20th – WALK THE MOON PRESS RESTART TOUR at Mohegan Sun Arena; 8:00PM
January 26th – Ari Shaffir Presents The Wandering Jew Tour at the Grand Theater, Foxwoods, 8:00PM
January 27th – Jim Gaffigan at the Grand Theater, Foxwoods, 6:00PM & 9:00PM
January 27th – Bob Marley at the Fox Theater, Foxwoods, 8:00PM
January 20th – Mullet, Newport Grand Event Center, 9:00pm (free)
January 27th – Shot of Poison – Poison Tribute Band, Newport Grand Event Center, 9:00pm (free)
January 27th- Dancing with the Stars: Live! Mohegan Sun Arena , 8:00PM

Other casino entertainment venues include:

The Wolf Den, Mohegan Sun – Located in the center of the action, in Casino of the Earth, offers full beverage service, a state-of-the-art sound system, intimate seating and top performances by headliners. For complete schedule, click HERE.

Hollywood Bangor now offers two venues for live weekend music – 99 Hops House & the Sound Stage.  Click Here for schedule.

Newport Grand offers Free shows by Tribute bands  almost every weekend.  Click HERE for schedule.

Twin River Lighthouse Lounge – right in the middle of the downstairs casino.  Shipyard Pub – Upstairs in Non-smoking.

Plainridge Park Casino – the Revolution Lounge offers entertainment on the weekends

Gambling Promos & Events

MOHEGAN SUN – FOREVER YOUNG MONDAYS,  Starts Monday, January 8th 2018. Weekly until Monday, February 26th 2018. 60+ special dining and retail offers, entertainment and a new free gift every Monday, Power Spin – Friday, January 12th, 10:00am – 10:00pm. Each time you earn 5 Status Points while playing your favorite slots during the PowerSpin promotion, you will receive a spin on the PowerSpin wheel, Every spin wins at least $10 in FREE SLOT PLAY STATUS POINT MAYHEM – Friday, January 5th Give your Momentum status a huge boost with Status Point multipliers. Play your favorite slots from 6:00am – Midnight and earn at least DOUBLE Status Points. The multiplier will randomly change throughout the day – earning you anywhere from 2X – 5X Status Points. Each multiplier is guaranteed to occur at least twice.  MULTIPLIERS – 3X Status multiplier on January 14th, and Double Status, Double Momentum points on January 26th.

NEWPORT GRAND –  5X Rewards Points every Tuesday in January.

TWIN RIVER CASINO – Extreme Flat Screen Frenzy Returns Over 200 50” Samsung Smart TV’s could be given away. Friday, January 5, 2018 4:00pm. EARN Entries January 1 – 26. WIN: Fridays in January (5, 12, 19 & 26), 4pm – 12am

HOLLYWOOD BANGOR – “Wicked Numbahs” – Every  Friday & Saturday in January. 50+ Card In Play – Play with your Marquee Rewards^® card on Monday, April 3rd & 17th from 11AM – 2PM for your chance to win $50 Free SlotPlay^®! Three winners will be drawn every 15 minutes. *Exclusive to our members age 50 and above. $99 for 99 – Book a room Sunday – Thursday in January at our special $99 rate and get a $20 Dining Credit to Hops House 99. 50 PLUS REWARDS KIOSK – Every Sunday 1PM – 4PM, MATCH & WIN, Saturdays 3-9PM,  BIRTHDAY BASH – Fridays 8AM – MIDNIGHT and Ladies Night, Wednesdays – Play with your Marquee Rewards card for your chance to drop the ball and win up to $250 in Free SlotPlay on the Ladies Night Ball Drop Board!

PLAINRIDGE PARK CASINO & RACEWAY – PIRATES GOLD, Mondays from 6AM-11:59PM. Earn 500 points and receive a Pirate’s Gold Bonus of $10 to $50 Free SlotPlay *EXCLUDES JANUARY 15, CHOOSE YOUR GIFT, Wednesdays from 3PM-7PM. Earn 500 points on your Marquee Rewards card and claim a gift from 3pm-7pm, P OF DIAMONDS Fridays from 6PM-10PM. Win $100 up to $5,000 Free SlotPlay. 5 winners every hour from 6pm-10pm. If a winner picks the P of Diamonds they receive progressive prize. Ice Scraper from 11AM-4PM – Earn 500 points on your Marquee Rewards card to claim an ice scraper at the Promo Zone. FROZEN FREE PLAY, from 6PM-10PM – Win your share of $20,000 in Free SlotPlay from 6pm-10pm. 20 winner every hour of $200 Free SlotPlay each. ONGOING PROMOTIONS: 50K PIGSKIN PICKS, Play Up To $500 Sign Up Bonus

OXFORD CASINO – Weekend Breakfast Buffets, Every Saturday and Sunday from 8:30am-Noon. $12.95 per person, Fat Stacks of CASH,  ONGOING PROMOTIONS INCLUDE:2017 Birthday Bash, SATURDAY – Super 6, SUNDAY – 16X Multiplier  TUESDAY – $5 Spaghetti Lunch and 15X Multiplier WEDNESDAY – 15X Multiplier and Seniors Day ,THURSDAY – Missile Madness. Every Thursday.  3:00pm – 8:00pm &– Free Lunch Buffet (100 pts earned),FRIDAY – High 5 

FOXWOODS RESORT CASINO – FOXWOODS SALUTES FIRST RESPONDERS – January 9 – As a thank you for their service, Police, Fire, and Rescue’s bravest and finest can enjoy these special offers:  25% off Hotel Rooms. Based on availability, Purchase one entree at Alta Strada, get the second half off, 25% off food at David Burke Prime, 20% off the food and beverage bill at Sugar Factory with valid ID, & Free pass to Festival Buffet. Ultimate Fan Cave Giveaway, January 1st – January 27th , Grand Prize Drawing: Saturday, January 27th at 6pm – Five lucky players will win the Ulitimate Fan Cave, worth up to $10,000. Receive one entry for every two Foxwoods Rewards points earned by playing your favorite slots or table game between 6am on January 1st through 6am on January 27th. Play your favorite Table Games with your Foxwoods Rewards Card on Sundays January 7th, 14th & 21st and earn Double Entries for a better chance to win. On Saturday, January 27th, activate your entries between 10am & 5pm at any kiosk or Foxwoods Rewards location for your chance to win.

Sporting Events

January 19th – 21st – FOXWOODS – Baseball Winter Weekend 2018 – Property wide. TICKET PRICES – $20 | $65 | $105. Before Boston’s team heads down to Fort Myers for 2018 Spring Training, they’re heading to Foxwoods for the 4th annual Winter Weekend. Player & Alumni Autographs, Photos with Players & Alumni, Baseball Insider Panels, Family Fun Zone, Town Hall Meeting – On Friday evening at the Grand Theater, right after the members of the 2018 team are introduced, Ownership and Senior Management will be on hand to take questions from fans about the upcoming season. The Town Hall will air on NESN later that weekend, Movie Night – Join us on Saturday at 7:30pm at the Fox Theater for a special screening of ‘The Sandlot, The Fenway Park Archives, Ticket Town – with Dedicated sales representatives available Fenway Park Fare – Ballpark food will be available for purchase and adults can enjoy a beverage at the Beer Garden. Kids Clinics, Wally’s Breakfast (both is a separately ticketed event for additional charge. For more info, click here.

January 21st – Mohegan Sun Arena – National Lacrosse League, New England Black Wolves vs. Rochester Knighthawks, 2:00PM

February 2nd  – Twin River Event Center – LIVE CES BOXING, Thursday, 2017 7:00pm. Doors at 6

NETimeGambling is a non-monetized blog created for my interest in gambling – its history and its evolution – the casino business, and my love for New England.  Come share my passion and visit us.

Robin T. Aubin (Binbin) has been involved in music all his life, including 40 years of choral conducting, and performing professionally in different musical genres since he was 10 years of age.  “Heck, I even performed in Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Foxwoods’ Atrium Lounge, and Twin River’s Lighthouse Bar & Lounge.” (All venues in New England casinos)

Twenty years ago casino gambling became a side interest. The business, the history, the expansion across the U.S., the myths, the superstitions and innovations of legalized gambling became a fascination. “It allows us to witness the best and worst of human nature and human interaction. This blog is the passion behind all of that.”

The goal was to provide a service and resource for anyone visiting New England’s expanding casino market.

“My biggest pet peeve is how gamblers refuse to look at the math & science involved in gambling.  Myths and superstitions can be fun, humorous and sad all at one time. Preparation and understanding the reality of gambling will only improve your recreational gambling.  Know what you are getting into – acceptance of the science involved, not the possible karma, is the key to all improving your recreational gambling fun.”