Electronic blackjack equipment and widening plans valued at $180 million are currently on the agenda for the Mohegan Sun at the Pocono Downs.
The Mohegan Sun, which opened on November 14, 2006, is also hoping for approval from the state Gaming Control Board to allow them to install 38 more slot machines and 10 Blackjack machines, which the Mohegan Sun wants to put in their food court for the summer, according to Robert Soper, President and CEO of the Mohegan Sun Casino.
The Blackjack Tables can accommodate around 5 players. Compared to the usual table games, which are generally not permitted in the state of Pennsylvania, the Blackjack machines do not have an actual dealer to deal the cards.
Soper said that it is a Blackjack table with 5 seats for 5 players and functions as an ordinary Blackjack table. The players at the table will also have the chance to bet against the electronic or virtual dealer and their Blackjack card will also appear on the screen. Thus, it is actually as if the player is actually playing a video game.
According to Gaming Control Board spokesman, Doug Harbach, the devices were allowed in Pennsylvania just last month. While the Gaming Tables are designed to offer different casino table games, only Blackjack games are allowed under state rules.
Because of the game regulations, Harbach drew the line in the terminology use. He said that technically, the tables are not electronic casino table games; they are just joined slot machines.
If their application request is approved, the Mohegan Sun Casino hopes to offer the new machines by June 2007, according to Soper. He added that they will be divided and put in non-gambling locations in the food court area.
Also, the new gaming area of the Mohegan Sun, which will open in the summer of 2008, will feature 2,000 slot machines, a buffet area that can seat 300 people, a high-class food court, several restaurants, merchandise shops and entertainment facilities.
Sunday, May 27 , 2007
Thomas Johnson