Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort and Casino have launched online versions of their casinos. All the casino games are represented in video form, much like the Atlantic City websites in the New Jersey market. One major difference exists, though: players cannot gamble for real money in the Connecticut websites.
The nation's two largest online gambling websites created their websites in the hopes that Connecticut legalizes online gambling. This is a smart idea, because the websites can build a player base steadily over the months, while the New Jersey sites had to draw customers starting from ground zero. If ever Connecticut legalizes gambling online, then Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods will have tested sites with their own loyal customer base. While many of these players won't want to play for real money, others will.
Online Gambling Laws Unlikely to Pass
Prospects for a law passing in Connecticut are not great at this time. But both tribal casinos have found that the sites are useful for marketing purposes, nonetheless. The sites require a registration for a player account, and these registrations help the casino's managers to collect market data.
Benefits of Free Online Poker Sites
Rodney Butler of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, the owners of Foxwoods, says the benefits far outweigh the costs. When asked about the success of the sites so far by the AP, Butler said, "What we're finding is that it's actually a useful tool for building a database, getting our brand out there and connecting people to the property."
In other words, the websites are virtually free marketing tools which can reach massive amounts of people. At the same time, they build a potential client list and provide the marketing department with information on the playing habits of potential visitors. The sites also help build links with those in the online gambling industry.
Foxwoods Casino Online
The Foxwoods Online Casino lanched in January. The site, which is powered by the GameAccount Network, has had about 50,000 user acounts generated. Foxwoods goes one further than Mohegan Sun. Players are able to buy player credits in order to play longer, such as the old arcade might once have worked. Also, more money can be used to unlock certain games.
Online Mohegan SunMohegan Sun partnered with Bally Technologies on their online poker site. The site began in early 2013 and has a different approach than Foxwoods. Mohegan Sun does not sell credits, though the website does allow players to play for gift vouchers and provides comps for hotel visits. The Mohegan Tribe's PR spokesman, Chuck Bunnell says the site has let the tribe collect information on playing habits.
Legal Online Gambling in Connecticut?
At present, neither of the leader executives in the state of Connecticut support state-sanctioned licensed gaming sites. Neither Governor Dannel P. Malloy or Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman has shown any interest in backing online gambling in their state. Juliet Manalan, a spokesperson for Lt. Gov. Wyman, stated their office would not champion such a case at this time.
The Native American tribes of Connecticut, on the other hand, have signalled their desire to see the law changed. They have even spoken to officials at the state level about the possibilities. Bunnell says Internet gambling is taking place at the moment, but the state is collecting zero revenue from the activity. Bunnell added, "If indeed the government wants to regulate it and offer it to appropriate people, we're ready and able to do that."
Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling, says the lack of regulations for the Connecticut online gambling industry leaves a void. He says the operators aare left with total responsibility to protect their customers. Rodney Butler of Foxwoods says the technology exists so their casinos can verify the age of the player and where that player resides.
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