The Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, is run by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, a group that had a population of more than 8,000 at the time of European contact, but whose numbers fell dramatically after the Pequot War that lasted from 1636 until 1638. By the middle of the nineteenth century, the tribe was down to only about 30 members, and the reservation was just 213 acres in size.

In the 1970s, however, tribe members returned to the area, went to court and regained land wrongfully taken in past centuries, and began looking for ways to improve the economics of the region. A restaurant, a sand and gravel enterprise, and a bingo parlor were established.

In 1992, the tribe opened the first phase of the Foxwoods Resort Casino. The facility is now home to six casinos, and three hotels including the 23-story AAA Four Diamond Grand Pequot Tower, the Great Cedar Hotel, and the Two Trees Inn. For those who want to get away from the gambling, there is the Grand Spa and Salon, which provides patrons with beauty treatments and exercise facilities. There are 24 restaurants on the grounds, including three eateries that are open around the clock. There is also a Hard Rock Cafe. Nearby is the Foxwoods Golf and Country Club, a championship course. Finally, there is the Theatre District with the 4,000-seat Foxwoods Arena, the B.B. King Dance & Nite Club, and the Fox Theatre, which has hosted a variety of top-name entertainers.

The Casinos

Foxwoods offers 7,400 slot machines, nearly 400 table games, and what is said to be the world's largest bingo hall. Keno is available throughout the facility, as well as in a comfortable Keno lounge. Games played at Foxwoods include blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, mini-baccarat, big six wheel, bingo, poker, pai gow poker, Caribbean stud poker, let it ride, keno, pull tabs, red dog, casino war and chuck-a-luck. There is also the Ultimate Race Book, which offers off-track betting on horses, greyhounds and jai-alai. In all, the gambling floors total more than 300,000 square feet, making Foxwoods almost double the size of MGM Grand, the largest casino in Las Vegas.