Foxwoods Celebrates 33rd Anniversary with New Restaurants, Poker Room Relocation

^{The leadership at Foxwoods Resort Casino Mashantucket Pequot tribal council preparing to sing happy birthday to the gaming establishment they call home. (All images: Ed Scimia / Casinos.com)}

MASHANTUCKET, Conn. -- Foxwoods Resort Casino celebrated the 33^rd anniversary of its opening on Saturday, Feb. 15, with officials using the event as a platform to look back on the casino’s growth and unveil changes coming to the resort in the months to come.

Foxwoods, which is owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, first opened as a bingo hall in 1986 before growing into a full-fledged casino operation in 1992.

Great Wolf Lodge Opening in 2025

Mashantucket Pequot Chairman Rodney Butler spoke about the growth of the resort in his opening remarks during the ceremony, which took place adjacent to the Rainmaker Expo Center.

“These last 33 years have been an incredible journey for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation,” Butler said. “We have since welcomed nearly a half billion guests to Mashantucket, employed more than 73,000 team members, and have directly contributed over $4.8 billion to the state of Connecticut.”

Butler also spoke about the coming Great Wolf Lodge, a family-oriented addition to the Foxwoods property that is expected to open adjacent to the Foxwoods Resort Casino later in 2025.

“The property will feature a 550-room hotel, a 91,000-square-foot water park, and a 60,000-square-foot family entertainment center with amenities like a ropes course, miniature golf, arcade and restaurants,” Butler said.

Mashantucket Pequot Chairman Rodney Butler delivering remarks on what this casino resort has meant to the tribe, and vice-versa, what the tribe has meant to the casino.

Guyot: New Poker Room Will Provide ‘Upgraded Experience’

While Butler spoke primarily about the past and projects that were already in development, Foxwoods President and CEO Jason Guyot spoke on the theme of “evolution” at the resort. That included several announcements of new projects coming to Foxwoods over the coming months.

Among those announcements was the reveal that Foxwoods’ poker room will be relocating to the Fox Tower from its current location below the Rainmaker Casino.

“This move is more than just a location change—it’s a complete reimagination of what poker at Foxwoods can be,” Guyot said. 

“Players will have access to live table games 24 hours a day, which will offer an upgraded experience for our players. And with top tier amenities, dining and accommodations just steps away at Fox Tower, we’re creating a poker destination like no other, and we’re excited for everyone to see it firsthand later this year.”

Guyot also spoke about a multiyear renovation plan for the Great Cedar Hotel, with the new design based on the theme of “legacy reawakened.” But the biggest news came in the form of a new restaurant that will be opening in the fall of 2025.

Guyot had already mentioned that Momosan, a Japanese restaurant from famed chef Masaharu Morimoto would be opening this spring. However, there was also a surprise in store for guests of the anniversary party, as a video played featuring Guyot and Martha Stewart announcing the opening of a new restaurant bearing Stewart’s branding.

“I am so excited to announce that this fall, we will be bringing the Bedford by Martha Stewart to Foxwoods Resort Casino,” Stewart said in the video. 

“The Bedford menu is inspired by my favorite seasonal recipes and features locally sourced ingredients, offering brunch, lunch, and dinner options.”

While Stewart wasn’t in attendance for the celebration, guests were provided with her signature cocktail, the “Martha-rita.” According to Guyot, the partnership with Stewart will also include touches throughout the resort that go beyond the restaurant itself.

At the conclusion of his remarks, Guyot thanked tribal members, employees, and guests for their role in allowing Foxwoods to reach its 33-year anniversary.

“Thank you for being part of our story,” Guyot said. “Here’s to 33 years of progress, resilience and growth, and to an even brighter future ahead.”