Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City is renowned as a premium gaming and entertainment destination in the coastal resort city. Atlantic City’s Boardwalk serves as the resort’s backdrop, with the venue offering a range of lounges, restaurants, retail shops and other amenities.

Notably, Hard Rock Atlantic City offers a wide variety of gaming options, including slots and table games. With that in mind, one lucky visitor of the leading hotel and casino resort recently was able to secure a jackpot of more than $1.5 million after a $10 bet.

The casino resort announced Monday that an out-of-state, first-time visitor scored a hefty $1,593,457 progressive jackpot. The lucky visitor played IGT’s Wheel of Fortune slot.

Enjoying the slot with a $1 denomination, the incredibly lucky player placed a $10 bet to secure the staggering jackpot. IGT’s Wheel of Fortune is among the most popular slot machines of the company across the United States.

Undoubtedly, the visitor was lucky, considering that before hitting the jackpot, he spent only $87. This turned his visit to Hard Rock Atlantic City incredibly profitable.

The jackpot which was just short of $1.6 million features a 20-year annual annuity payout. This means that the lucky guest will receive a sum of approximately $79,000 per year. Still, it’s important to note that relevant state and federal taxes apply to the hefty $1.59 million jackpot win.

The name of the lucky winner was not disclosed. The recent jackpot winner also did not want to publicly comment on the topic.

The Win Marks One of the Largest Slot Jackpots for the Casino

Currently, Hard Rock Atlantic City offers 2,425 of the most popular slot games. The venue has also established a high-end slot salon and offers further gaming options such as 130 table games with craps, roulette, baccarat and blackjack, among others.

The recent $1.59 million win marks one of the biggest slots jackpots for Hard Rock Atlantic City. In fact, the jackpot is in the top five of the largest slot machine jackpots ever won at the casino.

The jackpot win comes after a push in New Jersey sought to increase online gambling taxes.

The proposal called for a rise in online casino tax from 15% to 30%. Additionally, the effort called for the mobile sports betting tax to increase by 17% to 30%. Still, the proposal didn’t make it to the New Jersey 2025 fiscal year budget proposal which means that the tax increase may be on hold, at least for the moment.

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Hard Rock International, the global gaming and entertainment brand, announced that Hard Rock Casino Rockford will open its permanent location for visitors this summer. The venue has been operating from a temporary location at 610 N. Bell School Road since November 2021.

However, starting from August 29, 2024, Hard Rock Casino Rockford’s permanent venue at 7801 E. State Street in Rockford will welcome its first visitors. A grand opening ceremony will maintain Hard Rock’s tradition with a star-studded Guitar Smash.

The first visitors of the new gaming and entertainment destination in Rockford will be able to enter at around 3 PM on the same day the grand opening ceremony will be held. Hard Rock Casino Rockford is expected to offer a massive gaming, entertainment and hospitality space that surpasses 175,000 square feet.

Visitors of the premium gaming and entertainment venue can expect 50 live table games, a sportsbook, as well as a poker room. Unsurprisingly, the casino floor will offer a wide range of some of the most popular slot machines. Overall, there will be close to 1,300 slot machines, promising unforgettable experiences.

Besides gaming, visitors to the Hard Rock Casino Rockford can expect a wide range of amenities and attractions. The list includes a brand-new Hard Rock Live entertainment venue that uses 23,000 square feet and can accommodate up to 2,000 guests for different events such as concerts. Additionally, there will be a Rock Shop and several restaurants, among other entertainment outlets.

The Upcoming Opening Brings Excitement to Hard Rock’s Team

Geno Iafrate, Hard Rock Casino Rockford’s president, praised the efforts of the company’s members who supported it at its temporary site. Moreover, he said seeing new Hard Rock employees join the team at the permanent venue will be exciting. “It’s been 30 years in the making for Rockford and the wait is over. We are excited to welcome guests to our house to showcase and expand the legendary Hard Rock brand,” said Iafrate in conclusion.

“I’d like to thank the Rockford community and State of Illinois for welcoming Hard Rock and our unique brand of world-class entertainment to the greater region.“

Jon Lucas, chief operating officer at Hard Rock International

Jon Lucas, Hard Rock International’s chief operating officer, was just as delighted about the latest announcement. He thanked Illinois and the community in Rockford that accepted the arrival of the iconic Hard Rock brand.

Lucas spoke about the significant economic impact the new casino will bring by creating hundreds of new jobs. Additionally, the executive predicted that Hard Rock Casino Rockford will boost tourism in the area. Finally, Lucas said that it is exciting to see the new casino join Hard Rock’s growing portfolio of more than 300 venues across the globe.

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US hospitality giant Hard Rock International has denied rumors that it is planning to make a bid for the Australian casino giant The Star Entertainment Group. The speculations ran wild after some reports that a consortium of parties including Hard Rock’s Pacific branch had supposedly expressed interest in the embattled Australian company.

Hard Rock International to Take Legal Action Amid Acquisition Speculations

In a recent statement, Hard Rock International noted it is perplexed about these claims. The company emphasized it has not authorized any discussions or negotiations in connection with a potential acquisition of The Star, reported The Australian. 

Hard Rock International further added that it is going to take legal action to protect the reputation of its brand as no third parties have been authorized to associate Hard Rock with a potential bid for The Star. The company also highlighted that only official company communication channels should be utilized for accurate information. 

The Star Entertainment Group announced earlier that external parties have indeed expressed interest in acquiring the company. However, The Star noted that there were no substantive discussions in connection with the proposal. 

Still, The Star provided information that part of the consortium that expressed interest was a local partner affiliated with Hard Rock International.

After the initial announcement from The Star, the company shares surged but following the statement dismissing the association of Hard Rock International with any potential bid drove the share price down again.  

The Star Faces Scrutiny: Second Probe Into Casino License Suitability

The Star has been embroiled in a long-lasting investigation into violations of anti-money laundering rules and ties with Asian junket operators. The company is still under scrutiny from Australian gambling regulators.

The company is currently facing a second investigation into its suitability to hold a New South Wales casino license. This is due to governance and compliance issues, which were uncovered during the first Bell report. The initial investigation into The Star led to many implications for the gambling operator, including a record fine.

Now the company has six months to prove its suitability and prevent permanent license loss. According to plans, The Star will implement remediation measures. The Bell Two inquiry will focus on financial obligations and remediation efforts with hearings held in camera. The results will help the New South Wales Independent Casino Commission (NICC) make a decision regarding the future of the embattled operator.

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The Catalan parliament continues to discuss the Hard Rock casino plans over ten years after the project was announced. Parties are yet to reach a consensus on the matter, the Catalan News reported.

The Hard Rock casino project envisions the construction of a casino-hotel complex in Vila-seca and Salou, Tarragona, in the vicinity of the PortAventura amusement park. However, the property has been a point of contention for over a decade, causing delays in its development.

The initial mega project would have had six theme parks, covering 445 hectares in total. Originally called Barcelona World, the project was eventually picked by Hard Rock, which scaled it down. Its current iteration would feature a casino, two hotels, a large swimming pool, a shopping area and a big conference center.

However, Hard Rock’s project now still waiting for the approval of a new Urban Development Plan because the Catalan High Court annulled the first one in 2020.

Political Parties Are in Disagreement

Hard Rock’s project continues to be intensely discussed by political parties in the Catalan parliament. The casino plans have the support of the Socialists, the pro-independence Junts, the far-right Vox and the liberal Ciudadanos. In the meantime, the pro-independence Esquerra Republicana, far-left CUP, and left-wing Comuns Sumar are firmly opposed to the resort.

Comuns Sumar, for example, rejected the 2024 budget because its members believed that it would have advanced the Hard Rock project, despite the government claiming otherwise. As a result, Catalan president Pere Aragonès had to call for a snap election on May 12.

Raquel Sans, the main candidate for Esquerra Republicana, accused her political opponents of using Hard Rock as an excuse to push their agenda and end the legislature. According to her, these people chose their own benefits over those of the public.

Far-right Vox’s Sergio Macián added that separatism continues to prevent the economic development of Catalonia.

However, opponents of the project claim that it must be stopped because it is not entirely legal. According to them, proceeding with the project would be an injustice. Others have pointed out that the Hard Rock casino-hotel would not be environmentally sustainable.

Because of that, opposed parties believe that changes would be needed before Hard Rock receives planning permission.

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Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming have bolstered their commitment to combat human trafficking. To that end, the parties introduced new support tools for victims and at-risk individuals. In addition to that, the companies introduced a new youth education program, as well as special employee training. Finally, Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming announced that they will work with new community partners to increase their impact.

The move is in line with Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming’s continued efforts to increase awareness of the risks of human trafficking and prevent it as a whole. These efforts included the training of over 27,000 hotel and casino team members across the companies’ properties, as well as collaborations with community partners and advocacy groups.

The efforts will continue in 2024 as Hard Rock seeks to provide direct support to victims, survivors and at-risk youth.

Jim Allen, the chief executive officer of Seminole Gaming and chair of Hard Rock International, commented on the matter, saying:

We are deeply committed to the work our community partners provide for those at risk, victims and survivors of human trafficking in the United States and around the world, as we work together to combat human trafficking.

Jim Allen, CEO, Seminole Gaming

Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming Are Planning Several Initiatives

In 2024, Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming will continue their efforts in the war on human trafficking, introducing a variety of new programs.

One of these programs is the Twentyfour-Seven QR Code, which provides information and support to those who need it. In addition, the code deters traffickers from targeting individuals on member properties. Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming will become the first hospitality brands to globally implement the Twentyfour-Seven sticker across 44 hotels and casinos across 13 countries.

Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming will also expand their youth education in classrooms across Mexico, teaching students to recognize the red flags and avoid online luring. The content provided to thousands of students across the country has been created in partnership with experts from PACT-, ECPAT-Mexico and EduNetwork Partners.

The Hard Rock Social Identity Quest, on the other hand, has so far been adopted and taught by 60,000 teachers in 45 US states, reaching 1.2 million high schoolers.

In addition, Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming will continue to fund community partners through their Change for Change program, which raises funds to combat human trafficking. Hard Rock property visitors will have the opportunity to donate change to the Hard Rock Heals Foundation where 100% of the funds will benefit PACT and Twentyfour-Seven.

Furthermore, Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming will continue the Youth Employment Program, which seeks to protect young people escape a life of trafficking by helping them forge careers in hospitality. This program also has a number of partners, including Covenant House New York City and FLITE Center.

Finally, Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming will work hard to set a new standard for training in the gaming industry. To that end, the companies will team up with the American Gaming Association’s Anti-Human Trafficking Risk Force. The AGA will provide Hard Rock employees with the training they need to recognize signs that trafficking may occur and step in.

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Hard Rock Atlantic City is set to introduce its Unity loyal program today, allowing regular customers to benefit from a variety of promotions. The new program will replace the existing Wild Card program.

Unity is a loyalty scheme that is available across Hard Rock’s properties in North America. The unified scheme allows customers to enjoy the same benefits no matter which Unity-enabled venue in the region they visit.

While rates will vary depending on which Hard Rock property customers visit, they will be able to earn tier credits, comps and free play in all of the company’s properties. Hard Rock AC guests will now be able to download the mobile application and see what the fuss is all about.

Existing Wild Card members needn’t worry as they will be automatically onboarded to the new program. This seamless process will allow them to keep their existing tier points, balances and offers. While Wild Card members can change their card, they won’t be required to.

The transition from Wild Card to Unity was a gradual process in Atlantic City. The property onboarded some of its high-tier members last year and is now rolling out the program for all customers.

Players Can Earn Points in a Variety of Ways

The Unity program boasts four tiers, as follows:

The four tiers mirror the four Wild Card tiers (Premier, Elite, Royalty and X) and allow for an easy transition of existing consumers.

Hard Rock’s Unity program is available across 13 Hard Rock venues in North America, as well as at the Hard Rock Casino Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

The launch of Unity in Atlantic City comes in the wake of Hard Rock’s acquisition of WGames, which enabled the launch of Hard Rock Games. The latter is a social gaming platform that features a variety of free-to-play casino games. For reference, Hard Rock Games will also be integrated with the Unity program, allowing players to earn points they can later redeem at one of the company’s properties.

While players can play the Hard Rock Games at no cost, they can also enjoy a variety of paid offerings that allow them to earn points.

In other news, Hard Rock recently secured approval for its Kenosha property. A few days earlier, the company held a groundbreaking ceremony for its Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon.

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In November, the Kenosha City Council in Wisconsin greenlighted a proposal of the Menominee Tribe and Hard Rock International which calls for the development of a new gaming and entertainment resort. The tabled project is planned to use some 60 acres of land, located on County Highway K, west of Interstate 94.

Now, the project continues to gain traction following a meeting of the Kenosha Common Council. The Council met on Wednesday this week and saw a majority of its members vote in favor of the project. With only six members voting against the project, a majority of 11 supported Hard Rock’s planned casino and entertainment resort.

This progress marked another important step toward the realization of the massive casino project that is estimated to have a price tag of nearly $400 million. Securing the approval of the Kenosha Common Council, the proposal will now seek another green light from the Kenosha County Board. The Board is expected to convene later this month, on January 16, and vote on the proposed project.

The Hard Rock Casino in Kenosha is expected to help create new workplaces, including jobs that will be available during the construction. The city itself would benefit from tax revenue, while the casino project is also expected to attract tourists, impacting positively local businesses.

Menominee Tribe Is Excited with the Progress of the Project

Gena Kakkak, chair of the Menominee Tribe, was excited about the recent approval the project secured, as announced in a report by Fox6. “We thank the City Council for its continued support for and confidence in the many positives that the Kenosha Hard Rock Casino will bring to the community,” she explained.

Additionally, Kakkak highlighted the efforts and support of Mayor John Antaramian for the proposal. Speaking about the benefits the new casino would bring, the Tribe’s chair said the project would create more than 1,000 new jobs and boost the local economy.

The price tag of the new project is estimated at $360 million. Besides the 1,000 permanent jobs, the construction of the casino which will last approximately 18 months will also create nearly 1,000 temporary workplaces. Annually, the project is estimated to welcome more than 2.4 million visitors with 1.6 million of that total arriving from other states.

Besides a Hard Rock Hotel with 150 rooms, the project will offer a massive gaming floor with 50 table games and a staggering 1,500 slot machines. Additional amenities visitors of the new venue can expect include a Hard Rock live entertainment venue, restaurants, bars and shopping outlets.

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Hard Rock International has begun work on its joint project with the Tejon Indian Tribe in California. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon featured a commemorative shovel groundbreaking and was attended by representatives of both Hard Rock and the Tejon Indian Tribe.

Described as an exciting day for the state, the ceremony is also a symbolic development for the tribe, which has been landless for more than 150 years. The new casino is a major victory for the Tejon, which, according to its chairman, Octavio Escobedo, is finally close to the “dream of self-determination through economic development.”

The casino hotel will create 2,000 construction-specific jobs and will be managed by the Penta Building Group. After its completion, the property is expected to create roughly 5,000 jobs, both full-time and part-time.

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon will also boast 150,000 square feet of gaming space. The casino is set to have 2,500 slot machines, 48 gaming tables and video poker. The property will also sport a multitude of dining options, a pool, a spa, a theater and 400 hotel rooms.

The casino hotel is expected to be completed within 22 months.

Hard Rock Names a New SVP of Hotel Operations

In the meantime, Hard Rock International expanded its team with the appointment of John Rees as its new senior vice president of hotel operations. The new appointee will be responsible for leading and supporting all facets of hotel operations and will serve directly under Jon Lucas, the company’s chief operating officer.

Rees boasts some 30 years in the hospitality industry and is a passionate innovator. He completed his hospitality studies at Newbury College and has since also secured certifications in restaurant management, leadership training and wine studies from acclaimed universities. Rees completed his hospitality training at the Hotel Bellevue Palace in Bern, Switzerland. He also holds an Honorary Degree in Culinary Arts from the Long Island Culinary Federation.

Rees said that he is thrilled to join the company at what he called a “pivotal point” for the Hard Rock brand.

Our future pipeline of hotel projects is very robust which will allow me to work with my teams to innovate and create more of the special brand touchpoints and guest experiences our fans expect.

John Rees, SVP of hotel operations, Hard Rock International

Rees concluded that he hopes to turn Hard Rock’s hotels into cool places to stay and feel like a VIP.

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Penn Entertainment saw the company’s share rise by as much as 7% last week, as news transpired that HG Vora Capital Management, a hedge fund, had bought enough shares to push its total stake in the gaming and entertainment company to 18.5% of the total stock.

HG Vora Capital Management Determined to Appoint Right Candidates

The news was originally reported by Wall Street Journals, and this development comes at a time when investors are seeing heightened interest in gaming stocks which have been improving over the last several months and promising to remain resilient in the new year.

HG Vora Capital Management is also looking to assume board seats as it hopes to tighten control over the company and ensure that it steers it towards profitability. With Penn Entertainment now serving as the technological provider for the recently launched ESPN Bet, optimism is riding high.

HG Vora Capital is also run by a former Goldman Sachs banker, Parag Vora, who has long been keeping his hand on the gaming industry’s pulse and looking to further his presence in it. Yet, the bigger news here is that Vora is not going to relent until the fund has assumed board seats and is willing to challenge any refusal during Penn’s annual meetings that will begin on January 8, 2024, and run through February 7, 2024, according to reporting done by Wall Street Journal.

Essentially, HG Vora says that it has the means to handpick highly qualified directors who can help sort out what has been described as the “underperformance” of Penn’s Common Stock in a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission. As a reminder, Penn formerly used to be on the S&P 500’s index.

Bullish on the Outlook of Penn’s Stock in 2024

Analysts in the meantime remain bullish on Penn Entertainment’s stock and other gaming giants for that matter. A note sent to investors by Brandt Montour, an analyst at Barclays, claims that PENN Entertainment remains his favorite stock for the entire year, citing the successful launch of ESPN Bet.

Of course, this prediction, although reassuring, needs to be taken with a grain of salt as challenges may yet present themselves when looking into making good on any investment in the sector. Whether Montour’s prognostication is correct will probably depend on how Penn handles its internal affairs over the coming weeks. A boost to the common stock is already on the way – will it hold?

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For starters, the Menominee Indian Tribe wants to work in partnership with Hard Rock, the brand owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which recently launched sports betting in the Sunshine State despite strong local opposition.

The collaboration between the two was previously known, but the Menominee Indian Tribe is hoping to elicit a stronger response from lawmakers on whose goodwill the proposed project hinges. A vote at the city council authorizing the sale of a crucial piece of land to the tribe was due earlier this year, but the process was eventually postponed, and the issue has hit a hiatus.

Menominee Indian Tribe Resolved about Kenosha Casino

Now, tribal leaders want to associate themselves with the prominent brand and bring about a 70,000-square-foot casino which will house 1,500 slot machines along with 55 live dealer table games and a dedicated sportsbook.

Sports betting is available in Wisconsin through a tribal compact negotiated with the state, allowing the Menominee Indian Tribe to run sports betting operations. Holding onto this opportunity, the tribe now wants to secure a partnership that will see its investment pay off.

Spending $360 million on a casino resort seems intuitive to the tribe, and the right way to ensure the sustainability of tribal operations and the community they serve. Commenting on the new project, Menominee Kenosha Gaming Authority chairman Joey Awonohopay noted that the time to move forward with this project felt right.

“The plan is to build it all out immediately. We intend to secure funding to build it all out,” he added. Interestingly, this is not the first time the tribe has tried to establish a casino resort, nor is it the most grandiose design to begin with.

Earlier attempts to see the Menominee Tribe establish a casino were snubbed by Gov. Scott Walker who took a dim view of allowing gambling to proliferate on his watch. The Menominee Tribe’s eye-watering $800 million investment did not prove enough to sway the governor and change his mind.

Although the exact price tag of the new investment is now established, there are hurdles to clear as well. The tribe would have to convince Kenosha to sell it 60 acres of city-owned land, expanding the tribe’s sovereignty this way, but it’s not that simple, as the purchase itself is not enough to put the land under the tribe’s sovereignty alone, and the federal government would have to step in.

Negotiating a New Tribal Compact

Should this plan clear, the tribe would also need to accomplish what it couldn’t under Walker’s watch – ask for Class III permission to run gambling operations in the state. The current governor, Tony Evers, seems to be a little less gung-ho when it comes to gambling, but whether the Menominee Tribe convinces him is another matter altogether.

Awonohopay is confident that the tribe is indeed going to bring a lot of value to the city and the state, and the Menominee Tribe is moving forward to publicize its plans in the hopes of raising awareness for the project and the argued benefits therein.

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