Washington Tribe Bets on Mohegan Management

UNCASVILLE, Connecticut – As reported by the Oregonian: "David and Susan Gunas sit at the base of Taughannick Falls, drinks in hand, as water plunges down the rock face of a four-story indoor waterfall to an aquamarine pool.

"The rushing water at the Tuscany Bar drowns the hard-edged noise of the 300,000-square-foot Mohegan Sun casino around them. It is a place where designers have crafted each item of operation and decor to attract visitors, hold them there and seduce them to take a chance.

"…The Gunases, two of about 30,000 daily visitors, have never heard of the Cowlitz Tribe of Washington, but the Cowlitz is wagering that the design and management that made the Mohegan Sun a billion-dollar success can be repeated in Southwest Washington. The Cowlitz has entered an agreement with the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut to finance, develop and manage a proposal for a smaller, $400 million casino project at La Center junction, 20 miles north of downtown Portland.

"…When casino culture comes to Southwest Washington, change is inevitable. If jobs and tax money are the measure, the Mohegan Sun and the nearby Foxwoods Resort Casino are an unqualified boon to Connecticut. But they also have helped to flood rural two-lane roads with traffic, add more students who speak little or no English to local schools, and create a seductive environment that many locals blame for enabling gambling addiction.

"…For the 2,700-member Cowlitz Tribe, which maintains headquarters in Longview, Wash., federal approval of its plans would allow it to develop a casino in one of the most desirable locations in the Northwest. Having never started or operated a casino, it has turned to the Mohegans to provide expertise and resources…"