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Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority Head Resigns

26 Apr 2006

UNCASVILLE, Conneticut – (PRESS RELEASE) -- The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, or the Authority, the operator of a gaming and entertainment complex located near Uncasville, Connecticut, known as Mohegan Sun, and a harness racetrack located in Plains Township, Pennsylvania, known as Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, announced today that its Chief Executive Officer, William Velardo, has resigned in order to accept an offer of employment in his original home of Las Vegas, Nevada. Mitchell Grossinger Etess, who currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mohegan Sun, will assume additional duties as Chief Executive Officer of the Authority on May 4, 2006.

Bruce Bozsum, Chairman of the Authority's Management Board, thanked Mr. Velardo for his nearly eleven years of service and his many contributions to the Authority, including establishing the initial Mohegan Sun business strategy in 1996, leading the development of Mohegan Sun's $1.1 billion expansion in 2001 and his devotion to problem gambling awareness. "Bill has been with the Authority since we began our gaming operation at Mohegan Sun and has helped guide us to a preeminent position in the U.S. gaming market. He has overseen tremendous growth in our operations, led our diversification activities and has helped to put in place a superior management team that will continue to serve the Authority very well over the coming years. We wish Bill many years of success in his new endeavors."

Mr. Etess has served in various capacities with the Authority since 1995 and has over 25 years of experience in the gaming and hospitality industries. Prior to being named President and Chief Executive Officer of Mohegan Sun in August 2004, Mr. Etess served in various marketing positions with the Authority, including as Executive Vice President of Marketing from 1999 until August 2004. Before joining the Authority, Mr. Etess worked in various capacities at Players Island, Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino and Club Corporation of America and was General Manager of Grossinger's Hotel. In his new position, Mr. Etess will assume a greater role in the development of Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, as well as provide overall direction and supervision to the Authority's other development projects and continuing leadership at Mohegan Sun.

"Mitchell has provided outstanding leadership at Mohegan Sun and has played a major role in developing our brand identity and helping to consistently improve our product offerings and patron service. In his current position as President and CEO of Mohegan Sun, Mitchell has helped to energize our over 9,000 employees and has been an integral force in improving our patron experience. We are delighted that he has agreed to assume the additional position of CEO of the Authority," Bozsum said.

In addition, the Authority announced that Jeffery E. Hartmann, currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Mohegan Sun, will assume additional responsibilities as Chief Operating Officer of the Authority. Mr. Hartmann joined the Authority in December 1996 and served in various capacities, including as Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer from 1999 through August 2004. Mr. Hartmann previously worked for Foxwoods and at Coopers & Lybrand, LLP. As COO of the Authority, Mr. Hartmann will assist Mr. Etess with the development of Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and provide additional supervisory support for the Authority's finance team and development activities, including projects with the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin in Kenosha, Wisconsin and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe in Clark County, Washington.

"Jeff has been instrumental in our success over the last decade," said Lynn Malerba, Vice Chairman of the Authority's Management Board. "Jeff was an outstanding CFO, and he has been able to apply his energy and financial discipline very effectively over the last year and a half as the Chief Operating Officer of Mohegan Sun, contributing significantly to our cost control efforts and margin improvement. We look forward to his contributions in his expanded role leading operations in all of our projects," continued Malerba.

Leo Chupaska, currently the Chief Financial Officer of the Authority, also will assume the position of Chief Financial Officer of Mohegan Sun, which has been vacant since December 2005. Mr. Chupaska, who has served as the Authority's CFO since August 2004 and previously was the Chief Financial Officer for The Mohegan Tribe, will retain primary responsibility for the Authority's finance department and development team, in addition to his new duties at Mohegan Sun.

"We have been fortunate over the last eleven years to have a talented and very cohesive senior management team leading the Authority. We are extremely excited that we will be able to continue that tradition with Mitchell, Jeff and Leo leading our outstanding operating and development teams," concluded Bozsum.

 
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