So, do your friends and relatives tell you they don’t visit casinos because “they don’t like to gamble?” The casino industry tries to dazzle and mislead us with big promises of financial possibilities for various games. However, we live in an age of casino resorts, vacation destinations, and casinos of all sizes and amenities in almost every state of the Union. And there are many more reasons to visit our casinos, so here are The Many Offerings of New England’s Casinos.

ENTERTAINMENT

Whether I pay for it or have a concert comped, I love our New England Casinos’ entertainment options. We have everything from our local talent to the best headliners in New England. The offerings in New England’s nine casinos are astounding in scope and variety. Each property has its share of lounges and small outlets for a more intimate experience.

Related Post – New England Casino Lounges and Nightclubs

Mohegan Sun Arena Stands Alone

Four southern New England venues cover headliners able to accommodate large numbers of attendees. But one stands alone – Mohegan Sun Arena.

The Mohegan Sun Arena features 30,000 square feet of configurable space, making it ideal for everything from basketball to arena sports to concerts and conventions. It was built and opened to the public in October 2001 as a part of their first Project Sunburst expansion.

The Arena at Mohegan Sun helped double the visitation to the property in the first year. Five thousand retractable seats can be configured into five standard sports configurations – basketball, boxing, bowling, rodeo, table tennis, and professional indoor lacrosse. Besides its many concerts, it has served as home to professional arena football, indoor lacrosse, and The WNBA’s CT Sun

Mohegan Sun Arena is now ranked consistently among the top venues in the world, according to Billboard Magazine, Pollstar, and Venues Today. It won “Casino of The Year” at the Country Music Awards in 2008 & 2010, and in 2013, was voted “Arena Of The Year” at the G2E Global Gaming Conference in Las Vegas. Also in 2013, Mohegan Sun won “Casino of The Year” in 2 categories at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Besides headliners, the arena has been home to the famous Barrett-Jackson’s Car Auction and the Miss America Pagent. (2019, 2021 – 2023)

Other Large Venues – New England’s Casinos

Four more casinos in Southern New England offer the best entertainment available.

Foxwoods utilizes two outstanding theaters. The Grand Cedar Showroom called initially the Fox Theater, was built in 2003 with a capacity of 1,370-capacity. The nearly 4,000-capacity Grand Theater was opened in 2008 with the expansion of the Foxwoods / MGM partnership. It is now called the Premier Theater, owned by Foxwoods since MGM left the property in 2013.

MGM Springfield Entertainment has the right to use Springfield’s Symphony Hall and the MassMutual Center, once known as the Springfield Civic Center. MassMutual can hold almost 8000 attendees. Recently, MGM has started using the upstairs Aria Ballroom as a third large entertainment area.

Bally’s Twin River in Lincoln, Rhode Island, has a large Event Center that seats up to 3,000 concertgoers.

The Wolf Den – Medium Size Venue With Big Talent For Free

Located in Mohegan Sun’s Casino of the Earth, the Wolf Den offers full beverage service, a state-of-the-art sound system, intimate seating, and top entertainers – all free! Here

SPORTING EVENTS

Boxing matches, basketball, CES cage fighting, Pro Lacrosse, Indoor Football, and minor league hockey have been at New England casino venues. My two favorite events years ago were PBR Professional Bull Riding and the Professional Bowlers Tour.

These days, two professional teams can be cheered on – the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA Basketball at Mohegan Sun and the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield.

STAYING IN A BEAUTIFUL HOTEL

Sometimes, I like to relax away from the sounds of ringing slots and screaming winners. Most Hotel-Casinos and Resorts in New England have the expected amenities for a great staycation and more.

Related Post – 21 of the World’s Most Extravagant Casino Resorts

Several casinos added new hotels in the past five years, such as Oxford Hotel and Casino, Bally’s Tiverton Hotel and Casino (still closed), and Bally’s Twin River Lincoln.

With the gaming expansion in Massachusetts, New England has added two beautiful hotels, Encore Boston Harbor and MGM Springfield. Each offers a beautiful array of rooms and suites. Encore, for example, has the largest deluxe hotel room in the Boston area and all casinos in New England. MGM Springfield offers the Stay Well room, which combines the latest wellness technologies from Delos, the Cleveland Clinic, and Dr. Deepak Chopra

Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun offer the largest variety of rooms and suites for your luxury vacation. Here is a listing by property, of the number of rooms, suites, and amenities:

STATE	PROPERTY	# of HOTELS	# of ROOMS	SUITES & VIP ROOMS	POOLS	SPAS
CT	FOXWOODS	4	1841	100 + 23 Villas	2	2
	MOHEGAN SUN	2	1563	175	2	1
MA	ENCORE BOSTON HARBOR	1	671	104	_	1
	MGM SPRINGFIELD	1	252	16	1	1
ME	HOLLYWOOD BANGOR	1	148	4	_	_
	OXFORD	1	100	7	_	_
RI	BALLYS TWIN RIVER	1	136	_	1	1

SHOPPING

Foxwoods

Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods takes your shopping trip to the next level by creating a shopping experience. With brands like Michael Kors®, Calvin Klein®, Brooks Brothers®, Nike®, H&M, KAY® Jewelers, GAP® Factory Outlet and many more. Over 80 storefronts make up this mall. Unfortunately, Tanger is experiencing the plight of most malls in America – empty stores and the lack of traffic. Nevertheless, there are enough big-name stores as other Tanger Outlets. With two entrances, it’s long enough for a relaxing walk away from the casino with relaxing places to recharge.

Mohegan Sun

The Shops at Mohegan Sun retail experience offers nearly 40 fine shops and boutiques in a breathtaking two-story atrium. Featured shops include Lux Bond and Green, Landau, Yankee Candle, Coach, Sephora, Swarovski, Tommy Bahama and more. View The Shops at Mohegan Sun. Intertwined with the shops are many restaurants and clubs.

Tesla Sales & Delivery Center will be opening this Fall at Mohegan Sun, allowing guests to purchase cars from the Global EV Leader, but not without controversy. Connecticut State law requires vehicle makers to sell their products through dealerships. However, Tesla sells its vehicles directly. Therefore, the company can avoid that state law by building and servicing on the Mohegan Tribe’s land.

Encore Boston Harbor

Encore Boston Harbor offers personalized shopping experiences, apparel, and accessories created exclusively for Wynn shoppers. Typical of anything Wynn Corp. does, there are a few shops but with top-tier quality. A specially curated boutique for Boston, the Wynn Collection carries women’s lines from an A-list of global designers. Wynn Sports carries a collection of specially curated sportswear featuring Boston’s favorite teams. Wynn Gifts the latest children’s styles and accessories from popular brands such as Vineyard Vines, Barefoot Dreams, STELLA McCARTNEY Kids, and more. Founded in 1924, Watches of Switzerland has offered the world’s finest timepieces for 90 years and includes collections for men and women from Hublot, IWC Schaffhausen, Omega, and Panerai.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Many casinos across the country now feature famous chefs seen on TV. The following celebrity chefs have restaurants in Connecticut.

• Foxwoods
  • Gordon Ramsey (Hell’s Kitchen)
  • David Burke (Prime)
  • Guy Fieri (Kitchen & Bar)
• Mohegan Sun
  • Bobby Flay (Burger Palace)
  • Todd English (Tuscany)
• Encore Boston Harbor has exquisite restaurants, typical of Wynn Corp offerings throughout the world:
  • Rare Steakhouse – an elegant room with stunning views, serving the finest cuts of international and domestic beef.
  • Red 8 – 100-plus menu items include dim sum, wok-tossed noodles, duck, and seafood specialties.
  • Mystique – Asian-inspired dishes and artful sushi in a seductive atmosphere against the backdrop of Boston’s skyline.

Let’s not forget one of the best Steakhouses in New England at MGM Springfield – The Chandler Steakhouse – fine dining with the beauty of the historic Union Building atmosphere

With a total of 116 restaurants in our 9 Hotels/Casinos, there is something for everyone. – from 26 Fine Dining restaurants, including 6 of the best steakhouses in the Northeast, down to excellent food courts and 9 Dunkin’ Donuts stores!

Here are the Dining Links for all nine New England Casinos

• Rhode Island – Ballys Tiverton & Ballys Twin River
• Massachusetts – Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, & Plainridge Park
• Connecticut – Foxwoods & Mohegan Sun
• Maine – Oxford & Hollywood Bangor

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY – Many Offerings of New England’s Casinos

“Back in the 1990s, Las Vegas transformed itself into a kid-friendly megaresort, offering everything children could ever want in an attempt to attract more families … and their dollars. There were arcades, theme parks, pirate fights and even erupting volcanoes, providing every member of the family something to enjoy. But by the early 2000s, that effort was largely abandoned.”

The PointsGuy

Whether or not Hotel Casinos should be geared for family vacations is always a hot topic.

Family-friendly or kid-friendly resorts feature games and activities that people of all ages can enjoy right in the comfort and convenience of the resort and casino property and, some New England properties have opportunities for a family vacation.

These casinos do have something for the whole family, including those under the legal gambling age of 21. As a weekend destination, you can set up camp there and even visit Mystic Aquarium or Mystic Seaport Museum, just a short drive away. But as for the casinos, you will find activities to entertain everyone.

Four Family Casino Destinations In Connecticut & Massachusetts

1. Foxwoods

The Mashantucket Pequots’ Foxwoods Resort offers the most diverse family entertainment of any casino resort on the East Coast. And they are ready to push the envelope with more expansion.

• Grand Pequot Tower, which has an indoor pool, or the Fox Tower, which has an outdoor pool
• Mashantucket Pequot Museum
• Tree House 
• High Rollers Bowling Luxury Lanes
• Monza World Class Karting
• HighFlyer zip line,

Related Posts – 1) My Zipline Experience on the “HighFlyer” at Foxwoods and 2) Thrill Rides and Family Entertainment at Foxwoods

Great Wolf Lodge at Mashantucket (Foxwoods) – 2025

The Great Wolf Lodge in Mashantucket, a year-round family resort destination with attractions and amenities for all ages is being built next to the already huge Foxwoods campus. It will include:

• An expansive 91,000-square-foot indoor waterpark, heated to a comfortable 84 degrees, featuring a variety of body slides, tube slides, raft rides, activity pools, and splash areas for every family member – from toddlers and teens to parents and grandparents. 
• A 61,000-square-foot family entertainment center known as the Great Wolf Adventure Park will offer a variety of family-friendly attractions, including MagiQuest – Great Wolf Lodge’s exclusive live action-adventure game where players use interactive magic wands to battle goblins and dragons.  
• A collection of complimentary family events and activities, including Yoga Tails, a morning exercise program that combines tales from the creatures found in the Spirit Water Forest with yoga poses, and evening events such as Great Wolf Lodge’s signature Hustle & Howl dance party and Story Time event.
• Several dining options will appeal to various culinary styles, from pizza and burgers to upscale dining at Fireside and premium ice cream treats at Wood’s End Creamery. 
• For those extended families, Family-friendly suites in various categories and styles, including Great Wolf-themed suites with separate sleeping quarters for kids designed as a log cabin or wolf den and outfitted with bunk beds and Great Wolf character theming.  The resort will also feature suites with multiple bedrooms for large families or multi-generational groups.  

The Great Wolf Lodge in Mashantucket is expected to be finished in the spring of 2025.

Related Post – Foxwoods Water Park & Bingo News

2. Mohegan Sun

• Earth Tower and the Sky Tower each have a pool (Sky Tower has babysitting services.)
• Cyber Quest
• Supercharged Powered by Mohegan Sun (20 minutes away)
• Game On – an eight-lane bowling alley with 15 hi-definition viewing screens, karaoke, shuffleboard, cornhole, darts, nostalgic and modern arcade games,

3. Encore Boston Harbor

The property is stunning, with paintings, topiaries, and walkways. But to be honest, Encore itself is not a family-friendly property. It even has the only “adult-only” Dunkin Donuts – only because children can’t walk on the casino floor, the only path to get there.

Seriously speaking, why should Encore Boston Harbor worry about being family-friendly when the city of Boston is a hop, skip, and jump away to entertain anyone of any age? Click on MEET BOSTON for all your Boston Tourism needs.

4. MGM Springfield

All Massachusetts casinos MGM Springfield specifically, have had problems keeping under-age humans off the casino floor. However, there is plenty for families to enjoy here.

• Blockbuster movies and luxury recliner seating, Regal MGM Springfield features seven cutting-edge theaters and a full bar, inviting guests to kick back and relax with their favorite feature films.
• Topgolf Swing Suite
• TAP Bowling – 12 lanes plus arcade games

In the city of Springfield, The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is, of course, named after the legend and pays tribute to more than 400 star players and coaches. The museum packs 40,000 square feet of floor space with interactive exhibits, skills challenges, and shooting contests. Also,  The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum and the corresponding Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden is a tribute to beloved “Springfieldian” Theodor Geisel, the children’s book author behind Dr. Seuss. The outdoor sculpture garden, featuring famous Seuss characters like the Cat in the Hat and the Lorax, has been an attraction since 2002.

LOCATION, LOCATION & the GREAT OUTDOORS in MAINE

Each casino offers locations close to major New England cities or surrounded by the great outdoors. Our three smaller casinos offer outdoor possibilities.

In Maine, Oxford has great outdoor camping available, and Evans Notch is one of the hidden gems of the White Mountains for hiking. During winter, Ultimate Dog Sledding Experience offers one or 2-hour as well as full-day experiences. Close to Hollywood Bangor is Acadia National Park, a rugged wilderness off Maine’s coast known for its hiking, bicycling, boating, fishing, picnicking, camping, and horseback riding. Skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing are available in the winter. Acadia is open year-round. However, as it is a family destination, this humble Nutmegger would not suggest Maine for a Casino/Family vacation, even though there are options.

Ballys Tiverton is a short drive to Newport (then again, everywhere is a short drive in Rhode Island) with fabulous seafood, beaches, and mansion tours.

THE GAMBLING – Many Offerings of New England’s Casinos

For those of you with or with the family accompanying you, you’ve come to the right place for gambling. Each casino has its little quirks. All include stadium gaming of some sort. Here is some insight into all nine properties.

Name	Casino(s)	350,000 sq. ft	Smoking	Table Games	Slots	Comp Alcoholic Drinks
Foxwoods	5	350,000 sq.ft	N	Y	4100	Y
Mohegan Sun	2	85,000 sq. ft.	N	Y	3900	Y
Ballys Twin River	2	162,000 sq.ft,	Y	Y	3800	N
Ballys Tiverton	1	125,000 sq. ft.	Y	Y	1000	N
MGM Springfield	1	44,000 sq. ft.	N	Y	2000	Y
Plainridge Park	1	210,000 sq. ft.	N	N	1700	N
Encore Boston Harbor	1	30, 281 sq. ft.	N	Y	2700	Y on floor N at bars
Oxford	1	30,000 sq. ft.	N	Y	900	N
Hollywood Bangor	1	30,000 sq.ft.	N	Y	750	N

Current Gambling Conditions in New England’s Casinos

The links below take you to an in-depth look at each state’s gambling history and especially what is available in today’s market. Each post includes information on table games, slot numbers, rewards clubs, and more.

Please note that changes have occurred in some areas due to planning and expansion after COVID-19, so some figures may already be off slightly since our recent re-editing of these posts.

The Nutmeg State – Gambling in Connecticut –

Gambling in Maine – the Pine Tree State

The Bay State – Massachusetts Gambling

Gambling in New Hampshire – The Granite State

The Ocean State – Gambling in Rhode Island –

Gambling in Vermont – The Green Mountain State

Summary

Yes, a casino can be much more than just gambling, it is all about what you make of the experience. For most visitors, gambling IS the hook that gets us there. However, there are Many Offerings of New England’s Casinos that are available for anyone.

That’s all for now!

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