Foxwoods Resort names new CEO
The Foxwoods Resort Casino has named tribal gaming executive John James as its new President and CEO.
US.- The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council announced this week that tribal gaming executive John J. James has been named the new President and CEO of Foxwoods Resort Casino.
James currently serves as Chief Operating Officer for Morongo Casino Resort & Spa located in Cabazon, California and will be taking the helm at Foxwoods beginning August 12. The new CEO succeeds Felix D. Rappaport, who passed away last year. Tribal Chairman Rodney Butler took over as the resort’s interim CEO shortly after.
With over 25 years of highly successful Native American gaming resort operations experience, James knows how to lead Foxwoods into its next evolution as the premier entertainment destination in the Northeast. His expertise and vision will help build on Foxwoods’ solid foundation. He will also maximise the tremendous growth opportunities that lie ahead, the company said.
“Over the past decade, Foxwoods transformed the traditional gaming model through a relentless pursuit of guest-first experiences resulting in the only true all-encompassing resort destination,” said Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Chairman Rodney Butler. “With his proven track record for innovation, John is the right leader to continue that commitment to our guests, fulfil our vision and ignite our passion for delivering a resort that excites and surprises. John perfectly represents our team’s values and beliefs, and we are ready to drive the future of Foxwoods together.”
James added: “Foxwoods is the premier destination in the Northeast and a pioneer in the tribal gaming community. I’m thrilled to be joining the stellar team. Over the past 27 years, Foxwoods and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation have built a world-class resort casino with an unparalleled array of offerings for guests, and I look forward to working with the entire team to continue fortifying Foxwoods’ position as one of North America’s premier resort destinations.”
Connecticut casinos post poor financial performance in June
Connecticut casinos once again reported a setback on their finances during June’s operations. Slot machine revenue at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos were down 12% and 5% respectively.
Foxwoods reported this week that slot revenue declined approximately 12% when compared to the same month a year ago. Mohegan Sun, on the other hand, reported a 5% fall.
With June results in, both Connecticut casinos have reported 12 straight months of year-over-year declines in slots revenue. These results could be because of to the opening of MGM Springfield, the first full-scale casino in Massachusetts. Encore also opened last month, though it only operated for eight days in June.
