Wait. Where did all these PEOPLE come from?

It's about six months too early or six months too late, but I am thankful for my patient, yet inquisitive, friends who come to visit eastern Connecticut and humor me during quick romps through the casinos.

Still, I found myself a bid adrift Saturday as I walked into MGM Grand at Foxwoods with a friend and saw all these PEOPLE in there. Sounds ridiculous, right? Well, not exactly. After writing about the casino for months while it was habited by construction workers, it was a shock to the system to see nary a hardhat nor scaffold.

Instead, there were crowds of people squeezing through the walkways surrounding the gaming floor, lines in the bathrooms and a somewhat perplexing cadre of parking attendants directing traffic in the garage.

So, how about you? Have you been yet? Gonna go? Vote in the poll....

Groundbreaking for new Mohegan tower set for May 14

A groundbreaking will be held May 14 for the 919-room Earth hotel at Mohegan Sun, executives said during a conference call today. It is scheduled to open in 2010.

24 hour party people?

For anyone who remembers how Foxwoods Resort Casino had planned to close its doors after the first night but couldn't due to demand, it looks like Rhode Island's slot parlors have taken one step closer to Connecticut:

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — One of Rhode Island’s two slot parlors wasted no time taking advantage of a new state law that permits around-the-clock gambling on weekends and holidays.

State lawmakers Tuesday overturned Gov. Don Carcieri’s veto of the bill, which also allows Twins Rivers in Lincoln and the Newport Grand to stay open until 3 a.m. on weekdays.

Patti Doyle, a spokeswoman for Twin Rivers in Lincoln, told the Providence Journal that the facility planned to begin offering 24-hour gambling this weekend, and would soon announce “special promotions and services” beginning at 2 a.m. Saturday.

Newport Grand made no immediate announcement about around-the-clock operations, with a spokeswoman saying the parlor would first meet with city officials to address their concerns.

The House voted 51-16 to overturn Carcieri’s veto, while the measure passed 24-8 in the Senate.

During the debate, Democratic Rep. William San Bento Jr., the bill’s sponsor, said Rhode Island needs extra gambling revenue to help solve a $568 million budget deficit. Lawmakers have already passed a revised budget cutting social welfare spending, retirement benefits for state workers and funding for cities and towns.

“We have a huge budget deficit and this will help us,” San Bento said.

Carcieri vetoed the proposal Monday because he said residents in Newport and Lincoln deserve a say in whether they want more gambling. In November, Lincoln residents voted in a nonbinding referendum against longer gambling hours. Newport’s mayor has also objected.

Both communities will receive more revenue from the video slot machines as part of the deal.

The expanded hours expire in June 2009 unless lawmakers renew them.

"Flat is the new up"

That's what a casino consultant told me recently. Looks like he was at least half right:

Mohegan, Conn. —There was movement in the second quarter earnings numbers released today by the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority.

But not much.

Gaming revenues were $355.9 million for a three-month period ending March 31, down 0.3 percent from the same period in 2007. Hotel, retail and entertainment revenues grew but so did the cost of marketing and other promotions.

Net revenues for Mohegan Sun and Pocono Downs for the quarter were $392.6 million, up 0.7 percent from second quarter 2007.

Blue boxes

For all of the employment turmoil that has surrounded Foxwoods in the past year, there were stacks of blue boxes with plaques commemorating workers who had reached five and 10 years of service in a casino office Thursday.