Thanksgiving like New Year's Eve at casinos

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

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

Friday 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.

"It's getting to be a tradition that he comes here on Thanksgiving," said Yee Leung, a promoter from Brooklyn-based International Entertainment Marketing. "It's like a football game on Thanksgiving."

At Foxwoods, ticket prices for Thanksgiving shows all end in the lucky number "8" for any superstitious gamblers. Mr. Chang Chih Min and Ms. Chan Elisa Kit Ling, both from Hong Kong, have sold out shows at Foxwoods' Fox Theater.

The casinos provide early morning shows, at 1 a.m. or 2 a.m., so that people can catch a bus after work and still arrive in time for a performance.

"They tend to come late and stay late," said Thomas L. Cantone, vice president of marketing and entertainment for Foxwoods.

Casino restaurants plan to serve traditional Thanksgiving food, while also providing a buffet of Asian dishes.

Both casinos have booked performances throughout the weekend. Kimberly Locke from American Idol will headline at Foxwoods on Sunday and Mohegan Sun has booked singer Ann Murray for Friday night.

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Information from: The Day