Senior citizens boycott Foxwoods Casino

MASHANTUCKET, Conn. (WTNH) -- A group of senior citizens says they won't be going to Foxwoods Casino any time soon because of something one of the casino's officials said. They want other seniors to boycott trips to Foxwoods as well.

"I was really hurt by what he had to say," said Sarah Muoio.

Derby Senior Center Executive Director Sarah Muoio's anger stems from a May Boston globe column written by Joan Vennochi. An excerpt in an interview with Foxwoods President Scott Butera reads, "The chief executive of Foxwoods Resort Casino is also candid about customers he can do without, for example, those stereotypical bus loads of senior citizens who show up with walkers and oxygen tanks...It's because those darn elders don't gamble away enough of their money."

The comment angered Muoio so much, she has cancelled an October trip to the casino.

"You'd have to be very heartless to say something like that," said Muoio. "I think anyone with a mother, father, grandparent, any human would be offended by what he said."

In an email to Buoio, Butera says the column is unfair and inaccurate. He writes, "...the reporter chose to simply editorialize...while the reference...was taken out of context, I am deeply sorry for the insensitivity it portrayed."

News 8 contacted Globe columnist Venocchi, who emailed, "That's what he said. That's what I wrote."

Buoio sent an email as well.

"At the end of the day, I'm not going to do business with someone whose chief executive officer has such little value or respect for the senior citizen population, because that's the population I serve," she said.

The October group, however, is still casino bound. They will be headed to Mohegan Sun instead.

"The only way I would go back to Foxwoods is if there was a different chief executive officer," Muoio said.