Foxwoods Resort Casino cuts operations and furloughs employees

The tribal resort casino will temporarily close its Fox Tower and the Rainmaker casino.

US.- Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut will temporarily reduce operations and furlough up to 100 workers due to low customer demand as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The casino resort, owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, will temporarily close its Fox Tower and Rainmaker casino, and halt performances in the Gran Theatre.

Operations will also be scaled back at Foxwoods Bingo and the Grand Cedar Hotel.

The reduction in operations has led to “less than 100 team members” being furloughed, according Foxwoods.

The company’s interim president and CEO, Jason Guyot, said: “Much like other industries, the continued spread of Covid-19 continues to impact our resort due to rising cases and new travel guidelines in place.

“As a result, we are making some temporary updates to our overall resort offerings and moving towards winter hours and operations. This includes reduced hotel capacity and gaming offerings across some areas of the resort.”

Foxwoods is currently operating at 25 per cent capacity although tribes are not obliged to follow state Covid-19 restrictions.

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation reopened the casino’s doors on June 1, earlier than the state’s reopening of large indoor events.

The casino’s latest bid to attract business was to create a gambling area specifically for gamblers aged over 55.

Speaking of cuts at Connecticut’s two casinos, Mayor State Senator Cathy Osten said last week: “Two of our largest employers have laid off many workers and the associated vendors with those two large employers have laid off many members, that’s what’s driving most of the issue here in Norwich region.”