Huge Casino Crowd Gather for Cheap Gas
Foxwoods Resort Casino gamblers waited patiently in line for hours Tuesday, July 25, to exchange the points they earned on their casino cards for cheap gasoline. Foxwoods casino customers can earn a casino "wampum" point with every 90 dollars that they bet.
Under a promotion that ran Tuesday and Wednesday, the customers can exchange each point they earned for a dollar worth of gas.
Customers said it was worth the wait, what with Connecticut gas prices averaging at $3.23 a gallon. The cards can be used at Exxon and Mobil stations.
One customer, Judy Kelly of Massachussetts, said that the promotion prompted her to drive to the casino. She and her husband were hoping to have $850 on their gas card. The casino limit for a single player is $500.
"This is great. Something everybody can use," Kelly said. "It's better than a T-shirt."
The casino had originally planned to hand out the cards at its Wampum Rewards Store, where points are usually exchanged for merchandise.
However, due to the large crowds, three other sites were soon opened to accommodate the throng, said Tom Cantone, vice president of marketing and entertainment of the casino.
The casino also planned to open a ballroom to accommodate the crowd Wednesday. Foxwoods said that it will also offer the promo for two days in August.