The global recession has been tough on casinos, and gaming establishments are working overtime to reel in the whales; even run-of-the-mill high rollers will do.
Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., is targeting gamers from Empire City in Yonkers by offering Empire City card holders $100 in free play if they sign up for a Mohegan Sun Player’s Club card, according to Mitchell Etess, CEO of Mohegan Sun.
“We realize that Empire City is driving lots of revenue, and there”™s no doubt they have created new gamers,” Etess said. “We created this promotion to give them incentive for people who may have begun to enjoy Empire City and are not customers of Mohegan Sun to give them an incentive to drive up and see our property. We”™re confident once they get up here they would be inclined to visit us again.”
Mohegan Sun draws from New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
“Empire City is what our industry calls convenience gaming,” Etess said. “It is located in a highly populated area. Westchester is clearly one of our markets, but people don”™t necessarily visit Mohegan Sun, which is an entertainment destination, and the mindset is a little different.”
Mohegan Sun is banking on Empire City customers visiting a few times a year after the initial visit, Etess said.
“When you look at the numbers we know a tremendous amount of new potential customers have been created by the success of Empire City,” Etess said. “The fact is if you”™ve never been to Mohegan Sun it is hard to imagine. We also know that no matter how much we describe it, it”™s is hard to appreciate it if you don”™t see how spectacular it is.”
Calls to Empire City seeking comment on the Mohegan Sun effort were not returned by press time.
