The agreement is between Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprise, which owns Foxwoods, and UAW Local 2121. According to union officials, the contract gives Foxwoods and MGM Grand dealers, who make an average of $35,000 annually, an average 12 percent pay increase over two years, divides tips more evenly among dealers, and turns more of the “casual’’ dealers without benefits into regular part-time employees with benefits. Additionally, the contract will extend medical leave time, protect workers with seniority, and provide a 24-table smoke-free section.

Officials from the United Auto Workers, which also has unionized casino workers in Detroit, see the Foxwoods contract as the first step toward establishing dealer unions at other Native American-owned casinos. “We’re really optimistic about that,’’ said Elizabeth Bunn, UAW secretary-treasurer, adding that the Foxwoods contract was negotiated under federal and tribal laws. “We’re just very pleased that this experiment had a successful conclusion because it shows that there’s not an inherent conflict between employee rights and tribal sovereignty.’’

Tribe officials did not return calls seeking comment late yesterday. The tribe has been seeking to restructure billions of dollars in debt since its casino business was hard hit by the economic downturn and increased competition.

Foxwoods blackjack dealer Denise Gladue, 40, said she is looking forward to making more tips, which will be combined in one pool under the contract, resulting in an increase of about $1.32 an hour for Gladue and other dealers.

Tips make up about two-thirds of dealers’ salaries, said Gladue, who is pleased to be part of a momentous occasion in the casino world.

“This is the first union contract in a tribal nation,’’ she said, “so it’s kind of a landmark.’’