Press Release
June 7, 2001
MASHANTUCKET, CT -- While many people think gaming on the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation began when Foxwoods Resort
Casino opened in 1992, those in the know are aware that it all started with a high stakes bingo hall in July, 1986.
``Foxwoods started here,'' said Michael Holder, a Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Member who started his career with
the Bingo Hall as a trainee and is now vice president of Bingo Operations. ``When we first opened the Bingo Hall,
there wasn't even a consideration of slots or gaming. If the Bingo Hall hadn't been successful, we would not have
opened a casino,'' added Holder.
To celebrate 15 years of operating, Mashantucket Pequot High Stakes Bingo at Foxwoods will hold its 15th Anniversary
Firecracker Bingo with over $750,000 in cash and prizes on Saturday, July 7. With an admission fee of $250, players
can win a Super Jackpot of over $300,000 and cash prizes ranging from $7,500 to $25,000. Up to $100,000 in cash
door prizes and a 2001 Mercedes Benz ML320 SUV will be raffled.
It was on July 6, 1986, that Mashantucket Pequot Indian High Stakes Bingo opened for business and very quickly
foretold of things to come. It was the first gaming enterprise opened by the tribe. Originally seating 1,200 players,
Bingo at Foxwoods has evolved to become a major destination for those who love the game.
Many Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Members started their careers with the Bingo operation. Foxwoods Senior Vice President
of Administration Bruce Kirchner was the first director of Bingo and Mashantucket Pequot Athletic Commission Chairman
Joseph Carter worked the concessions.
Today, the current 54,000 square foot Bingo Hall can accommodate 3,500 people for Bingo and as many as 4,400 people
for major events such as boxing, concerts and banquets. Although designed as a multipurpose room for a wide variety
of events, the room primarily serves as the home of the world's biggest Bingo game.
When the original Bingo Hall first opened, more people arrived that first day than there were seats, said Holder.
In 1986, the Bingo Hall was open Thursday through Sunday for one game only each day. By the time Foxwoods opened
in 1992, there were two Bingo sessions each weekday and one session on Saturdays and Sundays. Eventually, sessions
went to two each day, every day of the week.
The original Bingo Hall was expanded to seat up to 2,400 in 1992. When slots came to Foxwoods in 1993, part of
the Bingo Hall was used for slots and seating dropped temporarily to 1,800. Then, plans were made to build the
bigger, state-of-the-art facility to accommodate the thousands of bingo players coming to Foxwoods regularly.
By April 1994, the present Bingo Hall was opened with comfortable seating and amenities. ``It's the largest, most
luxurious and best ventilated Bingo Hall you can find anywhere,'' said Holder. There is a dedicated food outlet
in the hall and players can help themselves to all the free beverages they want. No alcohol is served during sessions.
In August 1994, Luciano Pavarotti held the first concert event in the new hall.
According to Holder, Bingo is more of a social event for players. During the day, groups of seniors arrive by bus
or alone to play and socialize with each other. Admission fees on most days are as little as $10. ``They meet people,
sit and chat,'' said Holder. ``They have numerous chances to win. It's a day out of the house and it's not expensive.''
Diana Nigro, Bingo Bus Marketing Supervisor, has been working in the Bingo Hall for more than seven years. Despite
the large number of people who come to play each day, she knows the special preferences of many of them. ``There
are people who want specific seats. They like to face forward and surround themselves with their good luck charms,''
said Nigro. ``They especially like to win,'' she added.
Nigro knows the regulars. She has noticed that more couples and young people have started to come to enjoy Bingo
in the evenings. Nigro is particularly amused by the college students who come to have a good time and don't care
much about winning. ``They just want to have fun.''
When it comes to winning, Rosemary Banasik of New Britain, Conn., has won just about every game offered in the
Bingo Hall. She was one of the lucky people to play on opening day 15 years ago, and she comes often. ``It's very
professional and the people are great,'' she said. She even recalled how one of the Bingo executives wore a tuxedo
at one celebration when he was a caller.
Frank Tentonico of Warwick, R.I. has been playing for almost 11 years. He prefers sitting in the non-smoking room
and likes the video Bingo terminals. While other players are surrounded by good luck charms, Tentonico surrounds
himself with baked goods and small gifts that he hands out to the staff and other players.
``I get up early in the morning, make little breakfast sandwiches and pick up pastries from Colliers in Providence,
where I do volunteer work,'' said Tentonico, who is retired. ``I come here two to three times a week. I like the
environment, and the people and workers are nice . . . and they like me,'' he added.
Bingo sessions have names such as Bargain Matinee, Bonus Night, Mini Marathon, Mystery Envelope and Super Session.
Each has different admission fees and prize payouts.
The demographics of players have changed slightly over the years. At first, players were 35 - 80 years old. Today,
more men are playing, and with 18 year-olds eligible to play, the age range of most players is now 25 - 70.
Readers of Casino Player magazine awarded Foxwoods Resort Casino 41 First Place Wins in its ``Best of Gaming 2001
Awards'' issue. With nearly 6,400 slot machines and 350 table games, Foxwoods offers gaming in a relaxing atmosphere,
live entertainment with headliners from around the world, and fine dining at Mashantucket, the ancestral home of
the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation in Connecticut. Foxwoods is easily reached via Interstates 95 and 395 and
is a short distance from T. F. Green Airport serving Providence, R.I. and Bradley International Airport serving
Hartford, Conn. For more information, visit our web site at www.foxwoods.com
or call 1-800-PLAY-BIG.
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Contact:
Foxwoods Resort Casino
Public Relations, 860-396-6572