Contact: Mark Hutchinson
President - Velocity Gaming
702-254-4657
hutch@velocitygaming.com

LAS VEGAS, NV – Goodson Gaming and Foxwoods Development Company announced today the formation of a new joint venture, Velocity Gaming, that will focus on pursuing regulated online gaming, lottery, and related opportunities worldwide.  Velocity Gaming brings together industry leaders in casino gaming, television game show production, and global lotteries in order to produce an unparalleled combination that will generate product awareness, drive incremental game play, and create new and exciting customer experiences in the interactive gaming world.

The joint venture brings a unique and proven business model to online gaming by combining an online casino site with a weekly television game show, produced by legendary game show producer Jonathan Goodson.  The game show will serve to drive visitation to the casino site, and vice versa.

Goodson Gaming comprises television producer Jonathan Goodson, who co-created or produced such hit network game shows as The Price is Right and Family Feud, and Gaming Solutions International, which has provided turnkey start-up lottery services for over 25 years in the United States and globally.  Together, Goodson Gaming has developed 26 successful lottery television productions worldwide that have served to significantly enhance lottery ticket sales in each market.  Now Goodson Gaming, in partnership with Foxwoods Development Company, brings these same capabilities to the online gaming world.

Foxwoods Development Company is wholly owned by The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, the owners and operators of Foxwoods Resort Casino and the MGM Grand at Foxwoods, collectively the largest resort casino complex in North America.  Foxwoods Development Company was formed in 2004 as a commercial entity for the purpose of acquiring, developing, and/or managing commercial and tribal gaming properties.  Velocity Gaming will benefit from Foxwoods Development Company’s extensive casino gaming and technical expertise, as well as its leading position among Native American Tribes in the United States.

“Foxwoods Development Company and Goodson Gaming bring a plethora of experience in gaming, lottery, and mass media.  I have no doubt that combining Goodson Gaming’s proven success in launching lottery game shows worldwide with Foxwoods Development Company’s gaming expertise will create an unmatched force in the interactive gaming world,” said Jonathan Goodson, Chairman of Goodson Gaming. 

CONTACT:
Bruce MacDonald
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
860-312-4417
bmacdonald@mptn-nsn.gov

Patrick J. Power, Director
Harcourt Developments
+353-1-4753928, or +353-87-2325977
patpower@harcourthouse.com

FREEPORT, GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND—The new owner of the Royal Oasis Resort, Harcourt Developments (Bahamas) Limited, has partnered with North America’s largest casino operator, Foxwoods, to manage the redeveloped resort.

Harcourt is working with Foxwoods Development Company to develop and manage the Royal Oasis Resort in Freeport on Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas. Foxwoods Development Company is the commercial gaming entity of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, whose businesses include Foxwoods Resort Casino in southeastern Connecticut.

The Royal Oasis closed in September 2004 after being severely damaged by hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. The prospect of the property being redeveloped has created a great deal of excitement on the island located 70 miles from Florida’s east coast.

"I wish to congratulate Harcourt Developments on successfully completing their negotiations with Foxwoods Development Company," said The Honorable Neko Grant, Minister of Tourism. "We are confident that Foxwoods’ reputation as high quality resort, casino, entertainment, and retail operators will be a strong compliment to the re-launching of Grand Bahama Island as a major Bahamas destination."

Both, the property’s new owner, Harcourt Developments, and Foxwoods Development Company are known for quality developments and bring a great deal of experience to the project. Foxwoods Development Company draws on the expertise that has taken Foxwoods in 16 years to the top of the gaming world. Foxwoods Development Company has a license to operate a casino in Philadelphia and is developing a gaming resort in southern California with another Native American tribe, and has other commercial gaming activities in various stages of development. Plans are already underway to redevelop the Royal Oasis site with the new owners eager to commence works as soon as possible. Once the property is expanded and renovated, the resort will be home to more than 650 hotel rooms and suites, a casino, convention/meeting facilities, spa, fitness center, restaurants, retail shops, recreation facilities, and a host of other amenities. The two on-site golf courses will also be restored to their former glory.

"We’re delighted to have partnered with such world class operators as Foxwoods who have a wealth of experience and expertise in the leisure industry," said Pat Power, Director of Harcourt Developments. "We look forward to our working relationship with Foxwoods for many years to come and their involvement in the project is a testament to the future of Grand Bahama."

The Royal Oasis represents a major expansion of Harcourt’s interests in Grand Bahama and its redevelopment reflects their commitment to the island. The company also owns multiple sites in Bahamia and is the estate manager for the entire area.

One of Ireland’s most successful privately owned property development companies, Harcourt Developments is involved in a diverse range of projects across the globe from Latvia to Las Vegas. Worldwide projects include Ireland’s largest Business Park, Park West and are involved in a Business Park in Latvia, an International Financial Services Centre in the Jersey, the largest chain of shopping centers in Ireland, the Titanic Quarter waterfront development in Belfast, Northern Ireland and an entire residential ‘village’ in Las Vegas, among others. Other hotel interests include the award winning Carlisle Bay Antigua, Wyndham Grand Chelsea Harbor London and Ireland’s newest five-star hotel, Solis Lough Eske Castle Co. Donegal.

In a precedent-shattering move, Foxwoods Development Company’s parent organization, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, has formed a business relationship with MGM Mirage, the international gaming giant, and is prepared in the spring to open MGM Grand at Foxwoods in the Connecticut countryside. It will offer the best in Native American gaming with a decided Las Vegas flair.

"We’re very pleased to partner with Harcourt Developments on such an exciting project to restore the former Royal Oasis property to a premier destination resort," said Joseph Colebut, chairman of the Foxwoods Development Company Board of Managers. "In the gaming resort world, the name Foxwoods is synonymous with quality and innovation. We look forward to bringing this same level of excellence to the project and Grand Bahama Island."

The Tribal Nation opened a small bingo hall on its reservation in 1986. It expanded into a casino six years later, opening Foxwoods in 1992. The expanded gaming resort that opened in a 240,000 sq. ft. structure grew steadily. With the opening of MGM Grand at Foxwoods in late May, Foxwoods will have grown to more than 8 million sq. ft. in size.

Today, Foxwoods Resort Casino contains 6 million sq. ft. of gaming, and boasts three hotels, extensive entertainment venues, top-flight restaurants, and retail stores featuring high-end brands.

The resort that attracts 40,000 visitors each day also features world-class golfing at the Lake of Isles (www.lakeofisles.com), as well as other businesses in the hospitality business.