The world's largest and most profitable

The Mashantucket Pequot Nation of American Indians, with just 305 members, founded Foxwoods in 1986 as a high-stakes bingo hall. In 1992 the Pequots added table games, followed shortly by slot machines in 1993. By 1995, tourist traffic to the Foxwoods Casino had reached 30,000 a day and by 1999, 40,000 visitors came every day.

Today Foxwoods is the world's largest casino. Located in the forests of eastern Connecticut on land owned by the Tribe, it is also one of the most profitable casinos in the world. Currently, the Foxwoods Resort has six casinos with over 340,000 square feet of gaming space and three hotels plus numerous restaurants, entertainment venues and retail shops.

Through an agreement with the State of Connecticut, Foxwoods contributes 25 percent of its slot revenues to the state. Since 1993 it has contributed more than $2 billion to the state entirely from slots proceeds.

Foxwoods isn't finished growing. Currently being developed is the "MGM Grand at Foxwoods," a new 2-million square-foot project with hotel, entertainment, restaurants and gaming venues as well as corporate retreat, meeting and convention space. It is expected to open next year.

A new slots parlor in Pennsylvania

The new Mount Airy Casino and Resort opened its doors on Monday (10/22), making it the sixth gaming location in Pennsylvania and the state's first free-standing "slots parlor" to open. The five other casinos that are already open operate at racetracks, facilities known as "racinos."

The casino is built on the site of the former Mount Airy Lodge which had been a signature resort in the Pocono Mountains for more than 50 years. The new Mount Airy Casino has 2,523 slot machines and 188 hotel rooms. Work on the 891-acre site will continue into next year, with 212 more hotel rooms, a pool and 500 more slots to be added.

Casinos closed due to fires

A heavy concentration of casinos can be found in Riverside and SanDiego counties and many of them may be affected by the fires currently sweeping across southern California. Casino Pauma, Casino Pala, Harrahs Ricon, Valley View and Barona Valley are closed due to evacuations. A number of others in the San Diego area have their fingers crossed, as everyone in the nation prays for the winds to subside and the fires to be doused. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the folks in California.

Celebrity In An RV

Among the many celebrities who are also RVers is John Larroquette who is best known for his TV role as Dan Fielding on "Night Court" for which he won several Emmys in the 1980s. One of his favorite stopping-off places is the KOA at Circus Circus in Las Vegas, NV. Although it's a bit pricey, it's the only RV Park located directly on the famed Vegas Strip, close to the action in the nation's #1 gaming destination.

Over the years, Larroquette has also appeared in starring and supporting roles in a number of other TV shows and won another Emmy for an appearance on "Boston Legal." It's interesting to note that he's a member of the Libertarian Party.

More news from Arizona

Despite a rocky start in the early 1990's when the state legally challenged Arizona's Tribes right to operate casinos, the two sides finally entered into Arizona's first set of Tribal-State Gaming Compacts in 1993 permitting casinos with slots. The second compact, signed in 2003 added live blackjack and poker. Today 15 Indian Tribes operate 22 Class III casinos in the state. Another 6 Tribes do not have casinos but have slot machine rights they may lease to other Tribes.Today's Arizona casinos are successful and growing. Here's some additional news from The Grand Canyon State:

In western Arizona, the Cocopah Casino recently added a hotel and conference center and four new restaurants next to the casino in Somerton County. It is an RV-Friendly casino.

Gila River Casino plans to relocate and enlarge its Lone Butte Casino and locate it to an area southwest of Hunt Highway and Gilbert Road just south of Chandler. The 120,000 square-foot facility will have gaming, five restaurants and 2,500 parking spaces. It will displace the Rock Solid concrete plant which is moving more than a mile south along I-10. The new casino is expected to be completed by late 2008.

Although the first Navajo Nation Casino will be located in New Mexico, long range plans may include another casino in northeastern Arizona. The Navajo Nation comprises the largest Indian Tribe in the country. Currently, the Navajos have a compact with Arizona.

What's new in Arizona

Desert Diamond Casino has completed an expanded casino at its Nogales location, south of Tucson near the airport, off I-19 at exit 95. The new 170,000 square foot facility includes 1,000 slots, 24 blackjack tables, 25 poker tables and a buffet restaurant. A new hotel at this location has 149 rooms/suites. Although the new casino is open, parking lots won't be fully paved until about mid-November. This is an RV-Friendly casino, but RVers are advised to call ahead (520-294-7777) to confirm parking availability.

Two other casinos owned and operated by the Tohono O'odham Nation are also RV-Friendly. The other Desert Diamond Casino is just off I-19 exit 80 on West Pima Mine Road. A smaller slots-only casino -- Ha:san Casino is a popular stop for tourists on the way to Organ Pipe National Park and Rocky Point Mexico. It has 40 slots (no gaming tables), a grill and a full service gas station. Although the casino closes at midnight on weekdays and 2am on weekends, it is RV-Friendly.

What should it be called?

We call it "blacktop boondocking," but others take issue with the term. They say "boondocking" should only be used when referring to camping without any hookups out in the boonies, the woods, the jungle, or whatever, but definitely not on a parking lot. It's a dilemma...RVers can't seem to agree on what to call the popular practice of stopping for a free overnight stay. Lots of people call it "dry camping," but others will respond saying, "it's a parking lot, not a camping lot." In the first three editions of Casino Camping we use the term "blacktop boondocking." It seems appropriate. WDYT?
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Quiz answers...Quiz answers...Quiz answers...
Was the quiz challenging enough?? Here are the answers:
1) (a) Alan Goehring won the 1st session of WPT.
2) (d) 5 or 10 for the straight.
3) (a) 1667 casinos in the U.S.
4) (c) 7 is total of opposite sides of a dice cube.
5) (b) Alexander the Great is the King of Clubs.
6) (d) 7 out of 10 U.S. adults wagered last year

Snow Birds: favorite stops along the way

It's that time of year when snow birds head south for the winter warmth of the Sun Belt. In the Midwest and out West, snow birds will pass many casino locations. On the east coast, there are just a few RV-Friendly casinos along the way.

Most snow birds plan the trip south to include certain favorite stops that are conveniently located on or near their usual route. The reasons for making the same stops en route vary...a preferred Wal-Mart for a shopping stop or a favorite casino for the evening meal because the food is always good, or a casino stop because it has our favorite machines.

When we head south, there's one casino stop (just off I-55) where we will check into the reasonably-priced RV Park for a night or two because I like their comfortable, modern and always squeeky-clean laundry room. The riverboat casino at this location is so-so (although Jack likes to play cards in the poker room), and there's not a big dining attraction either, but for me the laundry room is the reason for the stop. What are some of your favorite stops along the way and why?

Snow Birds, don't forget to have Casino Camping on board before you leave for your trip south. It's the best guide to RV-Friendly casinos in the U.S. RVing casino fans find the two appendices in the back of the book to be especially helpful:
* Appendix A is a state-by-state listing of casinos that have RV Parks, campgrounds or electric hookups at parking spaces.
* Appendix B is a state-by-state listing of RV-Friendly casinos within two miles of an interstate exit.

Casino Camping is available from the RVBookstore.com and they ship fast!

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Quiz...Quiz...Quiz...Quiz
Thanks to our friends at Southern Gaming magazine, here's a multiple-choice quiz:

1. Who won the Season One Championship of the World Poker Tour?
a) Alan Goehring
b) Phil Hellmuth
c) Doyle Brunson
d) Daniel Negreanu

2) What two cards must you have for a straight?
a) 5 or 2
b) K or 2
c) A or K
d) 5 or 10

3) How many casinos are there in the U.S?
a) 1667
b) 8000
c) 10000
d) 900

4) Opposite sides of a dice cube add up to what?
a) 4
b) 6
c) 7
d) 9

5) The King of Clubs represents what famous ruler?
a) King David
b) Alexander the Great
c) Charlemagne
d) Julius Caesar

6) Number of adults out of 10 who placed some sort of wager last year.
a) 5
b) 6
c) 3
d) 7

Stumped? Look for answers here soon.

Casino News

Casino expansion activity continues throughout the country.

In Maryland, the governor is proposing legislation to legalize slot machine gambling and to install enough machines to raise a minimum of $500 million annually. The state legislature is scheduled to meet in January, although the governor has asked for a special session to convene in November.

The Massachusetts governor has proposed licensing three resort-style casinos in the state to be located in the western, southeastern sectors of the state and the greater Boston area. It is estimated gambling would create $2 annually in new revenue. A recent poll by the Boston Globe indicates a majority of state residents support the proposal.

In nearby New Hampshire, state legislators indicated that once Massachusetts moves forward with casino gambling, New Hampshire will be pressured to quickly follow with a casino resort of its own.

In Kentucky, gambling is an issue in the gubernatorial election campaign. Whether to add casino-style gambling at racetracks has been discussed for many years in Kentucky. This year the incumbent governor (an opponent of expanded gambling) is being challenged by a candidate who promises to ask state lawmakers to authorize a statewide referendum on whether casinos can be offered at racetracks and at up to four locations along the state's borders.

In Wyoming, the number of casinos on the Wind River Indian Reservation continues to grow. The Northern Arapaho Tribe's reservation could become a regional gaming destination.