The Foxwoods Resort Casino laid off 200 employees Thursday, including mostly middle managers as well as some employees working on an hourly wage.

The layoffs were part of a “strategic organizational review,” a process that has been in motion since January, according to a Mashantucket Pequot tribe.

“The impact of rising fuel, food and payroll costs dictate that our organization must make adjustments,” said Barry Cregan, Foxwoods Interim President.  “These reductions will help position us competitively for the future, which is bright.”

The workers who were let go from the casino are said to be receiving severance pay for the years they were employed, up to 13 years, which will also include health benefits.

“They’re just looking for the wisest spending practices that can go the farthest financially for the tribe,” Lori Potter said.  “I’ve been told that this is it, but I can’t really be quoted and say for sure.”

These are the first cuts of their kind in the casino’s history, which has coincided with the introduction of the MGM Grand.

“When we go about reducing our work force, we do it by not replacing people who leave on their own or for other reasons,” said Mitchell Etess, president and chief officer of Mohegan Sun.  “The tribe has never laid somebody off or put them out of a job involuntarily for this reason.”