It has been reported the 355 jobs are being shed at gaming giant Mohegan Sun. The cuts are said to be the first layoffs in the history of the casino and racetrack operator

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An article by The Norwich Bulletin explains that executives yesterday announced a decision which will affect 475 workers. The report also stated that the moves were expected, yet employees were still shocked when the announcement came out.

Mohegan Sun President and CEO Mitchell Etess was cited as saying that 120 of the affected workers are expected to be “redeployed” in the casino’s work force, thus making the total number of employees dismissed 355.

Mohegan Sun COO Jeffrey Hartmann was cited as saying none of the 1,500 workers at Pocono Downs will be losing their jobs.

Among the unfortunate in the 'across-the-house' cuts were 47 managers and 17 directors.

“We held out as long we could,” Bruce 'Two Dogs' Bozsum, interim chairman of the Mohegan tribe, which owns the casino, was quoted as saying. “We’ve been working for two years to preserve all that we have here at Mohegan Sun.”

“It’s killing (the tribe) to do it. It shows you how bad the economic times are,” Montville Mayor Joseph Jaskiewicz, who was briefed Monday that the cuts were imminent, was quoted as saying.

(With files from The Norwich Bulletin)