Operator News
US – Mohegan Gaming to enter Las Vegas as Virgin’s casino operator
By Phil - 17 September 2019
Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE) has confirmed it will enter the Las Vegas casino market with a multi-year agreement with JC Hospitality to operate the 60,000-square foot gaming space at the soon to be Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, part of Curio Collection by Hilton.
Mohegan Gaming said its brand presence in the ‘world’s most exciting entertainment environment’ will establish the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut, MGE’s owner, as the first Native American Tribe to operate in the Las Vegas Strip resort corridor.
“Aligning the MGE brand with Virgin Hotels Las Vegas extends our growing reach into yet another legendary global entertainment capital. Together with Virgin Hotels, experience seekers all over the world will have the opportunity to partake in an extraordinary guest journey that only our strategic alliance can deliver,” said Mario Kontomerkos, MGE’s Chief Executive Officer.
“This new and exciting relationship brings together two ‘Best in Class’ organisations and continues the Mohegan Tribe’s tradition of blazing new trails for others to follow,” said James Gessner Jr., Interim Chairman of the Mohegan Tribe.
“Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, as an extension of the Mohegan Tribe, pride themselves on traditional principles, in sync with modern values. We are excited that Virgin Hotels Las Vegas will be their first entry in the Las Vegas market,” said Richard “Boz” Bosworth, president and chief executive officer of JC Hospitality LLC, owner of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. “MGE further expands on our commitment to partner with best-in-class operators for the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas transformation.”
The property recently announced an agreement with AEG Presents to assume the management, operations and booking for The Joint inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas beginning fall 2020 once the property is rebranded as Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. The eight-month renovation is slated to begin in early February 2020 and the re-imagined Las Vegas lifestyle casino resort is slated to open at the end of 2020.
