Pickleball Courts? Here’s Another Idea For Dying Malls in Connecticut

Need an idea for the dying malls of Connecticut? Apartments? Pickleball courts? Indoor Flea Markets? Look to the Hudson Valley for true inspiration - Newburgh Mall has a casino.

Get our free mobile app

Both of Connecticut's world-class casinos have shopping malls, Mohegan Sun has the Shops at Mohegan Sun, and Foxwoods features the Tanger Outlets. What if that were reversed? Would you enjoy playing a slot machine at Danbury Fair Mall, or Waterbury's Brass Mill Center?

Both the Brass Mill and Danbury Fair are located along I-84, if you keep going West on 84 for about 20 minutes you'll cross the Hudson River into Newburgh, New York, and you'll find the Newburgh Mall, which has a casino on it's premises - Resorts World Hudson Valley. It's located in one of the former anchor stores, so it's the size of a Sears or Macy's, and it's all one level.

Is Resorts World Hudson Valley Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods? There is food available in the Sports Book at Resorts World, but they don't have 15 restaurants like our Connecticut beasts. It's a true casino, but there are no live dealers, only video table games for Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, and a couple others. The other good news is some of the table games are $1-$5 minimum, impossible to find at Mohegan or Foxwoods.

Now, the exclusive deals that Connecticut worked out with both Mohegan and Foxwoods forbid competition like this to even be considered around the State of Connecticut, but maybe it's time to reconsider? I would love the chance to grab a pair of sneakers and drop $50 into a slot somewhere in Connecticut besides Ledyard and Uncasville. Connecticut allowed a certain number of sports book retailers around the state, could we allow boutique casinos?