"We will be a small equity owner," said Mitchell Etess , chief executive of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority.
"I guess we would be endeavoring to get someone before the season starts," Etess said.
Etess said Mohegan Sun officials considered how layoffs would affect their product as well as employee morale and the local economy, and adopted cost-cutting measures instead.
Etess, who was a Trump Plaza marketing executive in the early 1990s, said Atlantic City also has to position itself well to survive slots competition around New Jersey's borders.
At Mohegan Sun, Etess said the casino would continue to market itself as an entertainment destination.
Etess agrees that for the rest of the year, Connecticut casinos will be at the mercy of the economy until consumer confidence returns.
Etess said the casino's lower-priced restaurants are booming.
Poor weather during the quarter also was a factor, Etess said.
"Our goal was to keep people working with benefits," Etess said.
"They are by far the industry leader," Etess said.