Indian casino going after high rollers

Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2000 | 10:13 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MASHANTUCKET, Conn. -- The Mashantucket Pequot tribe plans to open a new high-end gaming room at its Foxwoods Resort Casino, designed to attract the world's highest-rollers.

The 10-table gaming room will be located on the 25th floor of the Grand Pequot Tower and will offer blackjack, baccarat and roulette, casino officials said. The casino plans to open the room in December.

Casino executives would not disclose the level of play that will be required of gamblers in the room, but industry observers said similar exclusive casinos typically require players willing to wager seven figures or more.

Robert J. DeSalvio, executive vice president of marketing at Foxwoods, said players will be recruited from around the world.

"We think this will make us a major player in the market," he said.

The private room will be more exclusive than the 46-table Club Newport International, which now caters to high-rollers at Foxwoods.

The new room will be by-invitation only, DeSalvio said, and players will be escorted there on private elevators.

In addition to the 10 tables, the new casino will also have a private room for players and a 24-seat cocktail lounge. The new casino has not been named yet, and will open at the same time as an exclusive new restaurant on the 24th floor.