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Find New England's premier casino destinations. This guide details gaming, entertainment, and hotel options at top locations in CT, MA, and RI for your next visit.
Premier Casino Destinations A Guide to Gaming in New England
For the discerning player seeking an unparalleled gaming experience in the American Northeast, Mohegan Sun in Connecticut presents the most compelling option. With over 300,000 square feet dedicated to gaming, it offers a staggering selection of nearly 5,000 slot machines and more than 300 table games. This includes a dedicated 33-table poker room and high-limit lounges, providing a scope of activity that few regional competitors can match. Its WNBA team, the Connecticut Sun, plays right in the on-site arena, offering a unique entertainment blend unavailable at other nearby establishments.
Alternatively, Encore Boston Harbor in Massachusetts provides a distinct, luxury-focused atmosphere for those prioritizing opulence and modern amenities. This integrated resort, opened in 2019, features over 2,700 slot machines and 185 table games within a meticulously designed space overlooking the Mystic River. Its proximity to a major metropolitan center offers visitors access to Boston's cultural and historical sites, a significant advantage over its more remote counterparts. The property emphasizes high-end dining with multiple signature restaurants, appealing to a clientele that values gourmet culinary experiences alongside their gaming.
For a different scale and ambiance, consider Twin River Casino Hotel in Lincoln, Rhode Island. While not a mega-resort on the scale of its Connecticut neighbors, it boasts a substantial gaming floor with over 4,100 video lottery terminals and virtual table games, plus 125 live table games. Its strategic location makes it a highly accessible choice for residents of Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. It offers a more straightforward, gaming-centric visit, often with more competitive hotel rates and a less overwhelming environment for patrons focused purely on the play.
New England Casinos: A Practical Guide
To maximize your visit to Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, pre-register for a Momentum loyalty card online to bypass lines upon arrival. This card grants immediate access to tiered benefits, starting with discounts at over 30 retail shops. For high-stakes players, Foxwoods Resort offers a private gaming salon, The Club at Foxwoods, accessible by invitation or with a minimum buy-in of $25,000. It features dedicated butlers and private dining options.
Encore Boston Harbor in Massachusetts provides a direct water shuttle from downtown Boston for $15 one-way, a faster alternative to weekday traffic on I-93. The property’s poker room runs daily tournaments with buy-ins starting at $125. For a quieter experience, the Oxford Casino Hotel in Maine features over 850 slot machines and is located approximately 45 minutes from Portland, making it an accessible day trip without the scale of larger resorts.
In Rhode Island, Bally's Twin River Lincoln operates one of the region's largest gaming floors, spanning over 160,000 square feet. It's a prime destination for video lottery terminals (VLTs). To avoid peak crowds, plan your visit for a Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon. Bally's Tiverton, its smaller counterpart, is situated just off Route 24 and offers a more relaxed atmosphere with around 1,000 machines and 32 table games.
When selecting your destination, consider the non-gaming amenities. Foxwoods has two championship golf courses at Lake of Isles. Mohegan Sun features a 10,000-seat arena that attracts major musical acts. Encore Boston Harbor offers fine dining from renowned chefs and a six-acre public park along the Mystic River, ideal for a break from the gaming floor.
Ranking New England's Casinos by Table Game Variety and Minimum Bets
For the broadest selection of table games and consistently accessible minimum bets, Mohegan Sun in Connecticut stands out. Its gaming floor features over 300 tables, including less common offerings like Pai Gow Tiles, Spanish 21, and Caribbean Stud Poker, with minimums frequently starting at $15, especially during weekdays.
1. Mohegan Sun (Uncasville, CT)
Table Game Selection: This destination offers an unparalleled variety. Players find multiple versions of blackjack, roulette (American and European), and craps. Unique games include Let It Ride, Mississippi Stud, and Three Card Poker. The dedicated Poker Room is one of the largest on the East Coast, hosting daily tournaments and cash games across different stakes.
Minimum Bets: Weekday mornings and afternoons are ideal for lower limits, with blackjack and novelty games often available at $15. Craps tables may start at $15 or $25. Weekend evenings see these minimums rise, typically starting at $25 for most games and reaching $50 or $100 in high-limit areas.
2. Encore Boston Harbor (Everett, MA)
Table Game Selection: This Massachusetts gaming resort provides a premium experience with a focus on core games. Expect numerous blackjack, baccarat, and roulette tables. It also provides Craps, Ultimate Texas Hold'em, and a few other poker variants. The selection is curated rather than exhaustive, emphasizing a high-quality environment.
Minimum Bets: This establishment commands higher minimums. Weekday blackjack tables typically start at $25, with some electronic table games offering a $5 or $10 entry point. On weekends and peak hours, expect table minimums to be $50 or higher for popular games like blackjack and baccarat. High-limit salons regularly feature $100 and $200 minimums.
3. Foxwoods Resort (Mashantucket, CT)
Table Game Selection: Foxwoods rivals Mohegan Sun in sheer scale, offering over 250 tables. The variety is extensive, featuring classics alongside War, Sic Bo, and Pai Gow Poker. Their craps pit is particularly active, and they maintain a significant poker room with a wide range of limit and no-limit games.
Minimum Bets: Minimums are competitive, often matching or slightly exceeding Mohegan Sun's. A $15 minimum for blackjack is common during off-peak times. Craps and roulette typically begin at $15. Weekend nights see a predictable increase to $25 and up across the main gaming floors.
4. Twin River & Tiverton Gaming Hall (Lincoln & Tiverton, RI)
Table Game Selection: These Rhode Island properties offer a more focused collection of table games. Twin River, the larger of the two, has blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, and popular poker variants like Three Card Poker and Mississippi Stud. Tiverton provides a smaller, more intimate selection of the same core games. Neither has a traditional poker room.
Minimum Bets: These venues are known for accessible minimums. It is common to find $10 or $15 blackjack tables, even during some busier periods. Other games like Ultimate Texas Hold'em often maintain a $5 or $10 minimum, making them a good choice for players seeking lower-stakes action.
Comparing Player Loyalty Programs: Mohegan Sun's Momentum vs. Encore Boston Harbor's Wynn Rewards
For players who prioritize earning rewards quickly and value a clear, attainable path to higher tiers, Mohegan Sun's Momentum program is the superior choice. Encore Boston Harbor's Wynn Rewards excels for high-rollers who seek exclusive, luxury-focused benefits and spend significantly on non-gaming activities like dining and hotel stays.
The fundamental difference lies in the reward accumulation and tier progression structures. Momentum offers a more transparent system for the average visitor.
Mohegan Sun: Momentum Rewards
Momentum's strength is its directness. Players earn Status Points (SPs) for tier advancement and Momentum Dollars for spending.
- Earning Rate: On slot machines, players typically earn 1 Status Point for every $5 of coin-in. For video poker, it's approximately $10 per point. Table game points are calculated based on average bet, game type, and duration of play.
- Tier Progression: The path to elevated status is straightforward.
- Core: 0 SPs (entry level).
- Ignite: 400 SPs. This tier unlocks preferred parking and multiplies Momentum Dollar earnings.
- Leap: 1,200 SPs. Adds access to exclusive player lounges.
- Ascend: 4,500 SPs. Benefits include VIP parking and priority lines.
- Soar: 15,000 SPs. The highest public tier, offering significant personalized services and resort credits.
- Redemption: Momentum Dollars are spent on a 1:1 basis for US dollars across the resort, including shops, dining, and hotel stays. This simplicity is a major advantage. https://spinbettercasino.de/ can also convert them to Free Slot Play.
Encore Boston Harbor: Wynn Rewards
Wynn Rewards is structured to reward total resort spending, integrating gaming with hotel, dining, and retail purchases. It appeals to a patron spending heavily across all property amenities.
- Earning Rate: The system is more opaque for gaming. Players earn Tier Credits based on theoretical loss, not simple coin-in. For non-gaming spend, the rate is clearer: 5 Tier Credits per $1 spent on hotel rooms, spa treatments, and select retail.
- Tier Progression: The required Tier Credits are significantly higher, reflecting the program's focus on premium clientele.
- Red: 0 - 6,999 Tier Credits.
- Platinum: 7,000 Tier Credits. Unlocks priority dining reservations and a yearly resort credit.
- Black: 70,000 Tier Credits. This elite tier provides airport transportation, VIP host access, and complimentary cruises.
- Redemption: Rewards include FREECREDIT for slot play and CompDollars for non-gaming purchases. The value proposition of CompDollars is high, but earning them is slower for a gaming-focused visitor compared to Mohegan's Momentum Dollars.
Direct Recommendation:
Choose Momentum if your primary activity is playing slots or table games and you want tangible, easily redeemable rewards like free play and food credits. The tier benefits become accessible with moderate, consistent play. Select Wynn Rewards if your budget includes significant spending on five-star dining, spa services, and luxury hotel suites, as the program heavily weights these expenditures for tier advancement toward exclusive, high-end perks.
A Guide to Hotel and Dining Packages at Foxwoods Resort Casino for a Weekend Getaway
For an elevated weekend escape, book the Grand Pequot Tower package. This option frequently includes a one-night stay in a Deluxe Room, a $50 dining credit valid at select restaurants, and often features seasonal additions like two tickets to a show at the Premier Theater. The Grand Pequot Tower provides direct access to high-end gaming floors and upscale dining establishments like David Burke Prime Steakhouse.
Consider the "Stay & Play" package, typically available for The Fox Tower or The Great Cedar Hotel. This package is structured for guests focused on the gaming experience, bundling a standard room with $25 in free slot play or table game match play coupons. It's a practical choice for those planning to spend significant time on the gaming floor. The Fox Tower is known for its modern ambiance and proximity to the Tanger Outlets, making it ideal for visitors who also want to shop.
For a culinary-focused trip, look for packages that partner with specific restaurants. A recurring promotion involves a stay at any of the resort's hotels paired with a prix-fixe dinner for two at Caputo Trattoria or Golden Dragon. These offers provide a significant value, combining your lodging with a complete multi-course meal. Always check the resort's official offers page for these specific dining deals, as they change monthly.
Families or groups should investigate the packages at Two Trees Inn. Although located a short shuttle ride from the main complex, its packages often include breakfast vouchers for its on-site restaurant and access to its indoor pool. The value proposition here is a more relaxed atmosphere and lower price point, while still providing full access to all the resort's amenities via the complimentary shuttle service.
Before booking any package, verify the specific dining credit details. Some credits are applicable resort-wide, while others are restricted to a handful of restaurants. For example, a credit might be valid at Guy Fieri's Foxwoods Kitchen + Bar but not at High Rollers Luxury Lanes & Sports Lounge. Checking these terms ensures you can dine where you prefer. Weekend rates are highest, so booking at least three weeks in advance is recommended for better pricing and availability, especially for suites in the Grand Pequot Tower.