Thanksgiving tradition like New Year’s Eve at casinos

Friday, Nov. 26, 2004 | 9:11 a.m.

NEW LONDON, Conn. -- Connecticut casinos are hitting the jackpot with a Thanksgiving tradition that includes Pai Gow poker and baccarat.

Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino are busing thousands of people of Asian descent from New York and Boston for the holiday weekend.

Today is one of the biggest gaming days of the year and casino officials are expecting big crowds. Non-Asian customers usually start showing up after eating their Thanksgiving Day dinners, managers said.

The casinos specifically market to the Asian community, which does not generally celebrate a traditional Thanksgiving, said Mitchell Etess, president and chief executive officer of Mohegan Sun.

Mohegan Sun has booked Richie Jen, a singer and actor from Taiwan, for his seventh consecutive Thanksgiving concert at the casino's arena. Jen sings in both Cantonese and Mandarin.

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