Pocono News Section

Table Games Construction in Full Swing at Mohegan Sun

Table Games Construction in Full Swing at Mohegan Sun - Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 04:03AM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Thursday April 08 2010
PLAINS TWP., LUZERNE COUNTY -- As we've been telling you for months, table games are coming to casinos across the commonwealth. Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs is already getting ready for nearly 80 tables.

Black curtains are a sign that the table games are coming. For the first time Thursday the media go into the work zone. Efforts to transform the area between Johnny Rockets and Timbers Buffet is well underway.

Mohegan Sun President & CEO Bobby Soper said, We've had a lot of questions about where the table games are gonna go, exactly what are we gonna roll out here and we wanted to take this opportunity to showcase exactly what we're gonna do."

Marty Hopkins of Olyphant is one of the people who is curious. He can't wait to see blackjack, roulette and craps in Pennsylvania. I definitely am excited about it. I used to go to Atlantic City and Las Vegas. I'm coming," he said.

Mohegan officials are also in the process of constructing a new gaming room near Bar Louie. Most people don't even know that.

The 300 slot machines that are being displaced because of the table games will fill this area that used to be executive offices. JCJ Architecture / Project Manager Jim Murphy said, You want to have a lively gaming floor, so between the slot machines and the table games, all on the same floor and in the same location, that really livens up the floor and creates a really exciting environment."

A poker room is also planned for the downstairs portion of the old casino. Construction is well underway there as well. Pat Brozzetti of Binghamton said, I think its awesome. My husband is going to love it.

So the only big question that remains is, when will the dice be rolling? That is still up in the air. State gaming officials will dictate when the table games can be up and running, after a long list of checks and security clearances. We're hopeful, based on what we're hearing, sometime late June or early July maybe that we'll be rolling them out," says Soper.

Casino officials say table games will be beneficial for many reasons. They say they'll increase the tax revenue, tourism and bring 600 jobs to the area.