Recently, we had some quality time with Foxwoods Resort Casino CEO Jason Guyot. The purpose of the colloquy was a forthcoming interview in Casino Life Magazine. But our cup runneth over, so generous was Guyot with his time and his cogent analyses of the casino business. Rather than consign his insights to cutting-room oblivion, we thought we’d share a few with you, as a “teaser” for the main feature, which will appear next month. Enjoy!
Besides entertainment, what are your most important amenities?
We just opened Woodlands Casino last year. We renovated the whole heart of the property in Grand Pequot. So we took a ballroom there and we transitioned the ballroom and some of the surrounding space that was restaurant and retail, and created the Woodlands Casino right in the middle of the resort. we added two new bars, Truth and Drip Bar, a new, high-limit slot area, and we also anchored that space with Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen (above) which has been doing phenomenally well. It’s slated to be the busiest restaurant in the whole resort. That partnership with Gordon and the Hell’s Kitchen team has led to a lot of great things, including the filming of seasons 23 and 24 of Hell’s Kitchen, which actually starts next week as we built a full studio in the Rainmaker section of the resort. They’ve all been great additions to the property.
What would you say has been the historical significance of Foxwoods in tribal gaming—or indeed casinos altogther?
Listen, we were groundbreaking. We were the first mover. We were the first Native American casino to open in the United States. That set the standard and many followed after. I still believe that our brand, our tribe and the brand of Foxwoods is a legacy brand, and that has a lot of history. It’s still revered in the industry and it’s something we continue to capitalize on. It was historic what the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe was able to do in opening the first Native American casino in the U.S.
What do Americans misunderstand or could understand better about tribal sovereignty?
I don’t know if we have enough time to dive into that. [laughter] There’s a lot of misunderstanding and misconception about Native Americans in general. I’m a proud member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and [know] what it means to be on sovereign land and have a self-sustaining government. There’s a lot of misconceptions and it’s something that’s been talked about for a very long time. I hope in the future, as we start to share our story—we have the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, which is a massive museum on the reservation. It talks about the story of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe. As people dive in and really start to hear all sides of the story, and not just the ones printed in our textbooks as we grew up, it’s an eye-opener and sheds a lot of light to what’s there. It just needs to be uncovered and more people need to understand the real history and the challenges that Native Americans had, from first contact on.
You seem awfully young and you’re already CEO of Foxwoods. What pinnacles do you feel you have left to climb?
I appreciate that. I’m very proud and humble to be in this role, in that our tribal council has entrusted me and our team with leading the resort. I never take it for granted. It’s a very challenging job. I enjoy it. As you can imagine, every day is something different. As of right now, our plans our master plan continues for the next five years, so I’m going to be very busy as we continue to evolve this resort, with the goal of creating a one-of-a-kind resort destination in the United States, one that can compete not only nationally but globally. I do believe that’s possible. So I don’t really have any thoughts outside of where I am now. I just know we have a lot of work to do. We have a great team, people that are passionate about Foxwoods, improving our resort and giving our guests something new. I’m just looking forward to the next several years of being here and continue to help this vision.
Jottings: Finally, getting proactive after a couple of years of slumber on the job, Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman Kirk Hendrick (above) has told Dave & Buster’s that it’s no-go to gambling at the kiddie arcades. Legislators in other states, duly alarmed by the proposal, are swinging into action that would (rightly) cut D&B’s off at the knees. As Illinois state Rep. Daniel Didech (D) says, “These businesses simply do not have the ability to oversee gambling activity in a safe and responsible manner.” … Genting Group will probably try to protect its Singapore flank by applying for a casino license in Thailand. Meanwhile, the misdeeds of Scott Sibella and the presence of illegal bookie Mathew Bowyer among Resorts World Las Vegas‘ high rollers threaten to complicate the company’s New York City bid … Speaking of casino crook Sibella, he got off easy with a sentence of one year’s probation for his complicity in money laundering at MGM Resorts International. We don’t know if the judge in question is soft on crime or merely soft in the head … PlayAGS abruptly canceled its earnings call last week after its board unanimously recommended a $1.1 billion offer from Brightstar Capital to take the company private. Wall Street‘s reaction was subdued, with analysts divided over whether a bidding war would ensue … Six years later, Pope County in Arkansas still doesn’t have the casino that voters approved in 2018. Trying again, the county reopened the application process this week. Good luck … “Dumb goobers” was what one local columnist called the Alabama Lege after it failed yet again to approve any sort of gambling expansion in the state. Even after the session was gaveled shut, lawmakers were still bickering via the media … It looks like voters in Missouri will get to decide the fate of sports betting in the Show-Me State. Advocates have gathered far more than the 180,000 signatures they need to get on the November ballot, bypassing the dysfunctional Lege … Mohegan Entertainment has had enough of Las Vegas. It’s bailing out of Virgin Las Vegas, leaving the problem property in the hands of management 100% inexperienced in gaming. If that weren’t enough, the Culinary Union struck the struggling casino last weekend.
Quote of the Day: “The gaming industry gave Sibella untold opportunities, wealth, and experiences — things most people can only dream of, and he dumped right in the nest, so to speak. I will save as my heroes people who didn’t dump in the nest, and he can take his sympathy tour somewhere else.”—Richard Schuetz, on casino criminal Scott Sibella‘s recent skate on felonious misconduct.