To commemorate the end of an iconic era in Las Vegas history, The Mirage Hotel & Casino will host a ceremonial event on July 17 before it closes for good. 

The Mirage to Close Ahead of Schedule to Make Way for Hard Rock’s Ambitious Plans

Starting at 9 a.m., speeches will be given by gaming industry luminaries Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International and CEO of Seminole Gaming, Joe Lupo, president of The Mirage, and Alan Feldman with UNLV International Gaming Institute.

The closure will come at 11 a.m. the same day and signals the end of the first megaresort on the Las Vegas Strip. It is in stark contrast to April’s unheralded closing of the Tropicana Las Vegas. 

Hard Rock International, which bought The Mirage from MGM Resorts International for $1 billion in December 2022, has vowed to honor its history-making.

Josh Swissman, founding partner at GMA Consulting, said The Mirage changed everything about Las Vegas, as reported by CDC Gaming. He listed the volcano and atrium shows, Siegfried & Roy shows and the aquarium as revolutionary attractions that redefined the Strip together. Swissman said this is a new era led by a tribally owned and operated gaming enterprise.

Oliver Lovat, CEO of Denstone Group, said The Mirage was “the big one” that paved the way for more 3,000-room resorts like Bellagio and MGM Grand.

But even with its success still buoyed by customers who have been loyal to it for nearly three decades, The Mirage is closing ahead of schedule to accommodate Hard Rock’s ambitious plans for its redevelopment.

The Mirage’s Demise Marks the Beginning of a New Era on the Strip

The Hard Rock redevelopment project will include a 700-foot guitar-shaped hotel tower along with another theater, additional retail and convention space, and a significant expansion of the casino floor space. It is expected to double employment from what exists at The Mirage today during construction alone while keeping thousands more workers long-term after completion.

In the final days leading up to its closure, The Mirage has been a hive of activity with a six-day, $1.6 million cash giveaway, attracting thousands of visitors. Guests have been enjoying their last moments at the property, and gaming activities will officially cease around midnight on July 17.

After closure, memorabilia from the resort will be auctioned off in mid-August for employees to bid on, while some of the resort’s iconic signage may be preserved by the Neon Museum.

Hard Rock Las Vegas expects to open its doors in spring 2027 with the new Guitar Hotel, which promises an energetic new chapter for The Mirage site. This transformation aims to improve Las Vegas tourism and bring another wave of freshness to the Strip’s offerings.

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The Potawatomi Amplified Concert Series will welcome Snoop Dog as its initial headliner, engaging Potawatomi Casino Hotel guests with an unforgettable performance. The casino and hospitality venue will host this concert outdoors and will welcome almost 5,000 patrons.

The temporary concert venue will be set up on the former Cargill lot and will cover up to 200,000 square feet. The concert area will be able to welcome up to 4,800 patrons and will include a variety of seating options. Food and beer trucks at the venue will offer refreshments to visitors.

Concertgoers will be able to park at the Potawatomi Casino Hotel parking lot, which has a capacity for over 4,500 vehicles.

The concert is set to take place on June 15. Tickets can be purchased at paysbig.com, the Potawatomi’s official website, with prices varying from $89 to $249.  

Potawatomi Casino Promises an Unforgettable Summer

Snoop Dogg, the highlight of the event, was described as an “entertainment industry mogul” by Potawatomi Casino Hotel. The tribal casino operator highlighted the singer’s experience in acting, media, business, Web 3.0, tech, entertainment and lifestyle, praising him for “raising the entertainment bar as a globally recognized innovator.”

Potawatomi Casino Hotel’s chief executive officer, Dominic Ortiz, said that the upcoming summer will be one of the most exciting summers Milwaukee has ever experienced. According to him, the Potawatomi Casino Hotel team wanted to give the people of southeastern Wisconsin “one more reason to visit the Potawatomi Casino.”

We are rolling out Potawatomi Amplified and the temporary venue, to host three concerts and we think people will be really excited when they hear the names we plan to announce.

Dominic Ortiz, CEO, Potawatomi Casino Hotel

This isn’t the first time Snoop Dogg has teamed up with a gambling industry player either. Earlier this year, the rapper participated in Roobet’s Make It Rain with Snoop Dogg campaign. The entertainment powerhouse was selected as Roobet’s official “Chief Ganjaroo Officer” in March and has been working with the operator ever since.

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The European Casino Association (ECA), representing over 700 casinos and 60,000 employees across 29 countries, is gearing up for a historic turnout at ICE 2025, scheduled for January 20-22 in Barcelona. This marks the first time the prestigious casino industry event will be hosted outside the UK, signaling a new era for the event with expectations of record attendance.

Barcelona to Host Landmark Casino Industry Event

ECA Secretary General Hermann Pamminger, a veteran in the casino industry since his start at Casinos Austria International in 1991, shared his excitement about the upcoming event.

“ICE has historically been a pivotal event for our industry, held in locations like London Olympia and ExCeL London. The move to Barcelona represents a significant transition to a vibrant, dynamic city that promises to bring fresh energy and a broader European perspective to our gathering,” stated Pamminger.

The decision to move ICE from the UK to Barcelona has sparked a wave of enthusiasm among ECA members. The event will occupy 120,000 square meters at The Gran Via, compared to the 100,000 sqm in previous venues in London, offering more space for the anticipated influx of professionals from across the globe.

Record Participation and Expanded Offerings

The relocation is expected to attract a larger number of casino executives and industry buyers from across Europe, drawn by the opportunity to network, engage with a world-leading content programme, and explore innovations from a record 1,000 exhibitors. These exhibitors represent a wide range of sectors and jurisdictions, showcasing the latest in technology, regulatory updates, and market opportunities.

“The feedback from our members indicates that we will see more casino industry executives than ever before at ICE, engaging with the extensive array of exhibitors and participating in sessions that span all verticals of the industry,” Pamminger added. The event will also continue to host significant meetings and events, such as the ECA Board Meeting, General Assembly, and the traditional CEO dinner, to cater to the growing needs of attendees.

A New Chapter for Europe’s Casino Industry

The move to Barcelona is viewed not just as a change in venue but as a strategic shift that could redefine the future of Europe’s land-based casino industry. With ICE 2025, the ECA aims to set a new benchmark for industry gatherings, enhancing opportunities for networking, collaboration, and innovation.

ICE and the co-located iGB Affiliate event will provide a comprehensive platform for industry professionals to gain insights into entering new markets and expanding their market share. The Gran Via’s modular and versatile Convention Centre, with seating for up to 12,000 people, is ideally suited to accommodate the expanded scale of ICE, promising a landmark event that will celebrate and catalyze growth in the casino industry.

Source:

“ICE Barcelona will host biggest participation of European casino industry professionals – predict ECA”, europeangaming.eu, May 9, 2024.

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Rimini, the gorgeous Italian seaside town, is set to host the 36th edition of the Enada Primavera trade expo, an event that is extremely important for the Southern European gaming industry.

The event will take place at Rimini Expo Centre between 12 and 14 March 2024 and it is organized by IEG Italian Exhibition Group and promoted by SAPAR, Italian Association of coin-op entertainment machines. EUROMAT, the European association of land-based entertainment operators, also supports the event, which also benefits from the collaboration of other important trade associations.

Enada Primavera has all the sectors of the gaming industry involved, starting with products and continuing with technology and services supplied both by Italian and international companies. At this year’s edition participants can expect to see and try out new slot machines, video lottery systems and video games.

Moreover, participants will get to enjoy more equipment designed for the entertainment industry, including technology, payment systems, fittings and services for land-based operations such as bingo halls and amusement arcades.

Online gaming is not forgotten either, there will be plenty of products and solutions for online casinos, mobile gaming and other gaming facilities offered by companies licensed to operate in this sector in Italy.

Along with showcasing the latest innovations and technologies in the gaming industry, the event will also host debates and events which facilitate networking between the key players in the gaming industry. One of the most important topics is expected to be the support and promotion of responsible legal gaming which provides security and control.

Top Participants Confirmed

Altenar, the well-known international sports betting software provider, has announced its participation at this year’s events because it has some important novelties for the Italian market to showcase.

Among these novelties we can find the BetMentor product, which is capable of generating a random bet for which the player can decide the desired amount and expected winnings. Moreover, the company’s software also offers the Insights feature (also called Analysis), which offers suggestions on selected matches while also offering players a large amount of statistical data in order to make their betting choices better informed.

The software provider will also showcase MOA, its mobile sports betting application, which is designed to take the sports betting platform to mobile devices without losing any of the functionality. The supplier will also present its bonus tool, which allows sportsbook operators to activate promotions on selected matches or leagues.

Endorphina, the famous content supplier for online casinos, has also revealed that the company will attend the 2024 edition of the Enada Primavera event. The supplier announced that it is going to present its top-performing slot titles at the event in Italy.

Source: “Presentation“. ENADA. 2024.

“Altenar’s new products at ENADA24“. ENADA. February 20, 2024.

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The popular aggregator and supplier of one-of-a-kind gaming content, Relax Gaming, has announced the exclusive early launch of its blockbuster game Money Train 4. The launch comes prior to the global launch of the latest title in the series. 

StarCasino Italy, “Filled With Pride” 

The rather humble head-start of the first game in the now epic Money Train series in 2019 did not foretell the massive success that the following games would record in 2020 (Money Train 2) and 2022 (Money Train 3). 

Nonetheless, the franchise managed to build up a solid and well-deserved reputation due to the extremely entertaining features and massive wins associated with the games.

Without a doubt, the easily recognizable franchise has few competitors in the world of online gambling. The interesting crossover between video games and movies introduced by the fourth and latest title in the series, Money Train 4, follows the same formula of great success. 

Correctly anticipating the uproar that the release of the fresh slot would cause worldwide, cherry-picked StarCasino Italy used the voice of managing director Stefano Tino to express their pride for being selected as the pioneer operator to host the game that would seal the iconic series.  

Italian players accessing the StarCasino platform have been given the honor to access the fresh game straight out of Relax Gaming’s ovens one day ahead of the official global launch of the game scheduled for September 20. 

Domestic players in the country will therefore be the first to try their luck at winning 150,000x their original stake with the help of the top features like the Respin Feature and the Money Cart Bonus Round.

The online casino that belongs to the reputable Betsson brand was created with the purpose of providing premium content to Italian players in the market, making the partnership with Relax Gaming a natural one. 

Relax Gaming “Could Not Be Happier” to Offer Italians Early Exclusive Access 

As acknowledged by Relax Gaming’s chief commercial officer, Nadiya Attard, StarCasino is a “fantastic brand” in Italy, the country that is rapidly turning into a top-ranking one for the provider. Accordingly, giving it access to the new release one day ahead of everyone else made perfect sense for the company. 

Similarly, Star Casino Italy’s managing director, Stefano Tino, commented on the powerful sense of anticipation around the launch of the last title of the franchise, something that the entire team was looking forward to seeing.

Attard further added that Italians have already proven their passion for previous iterations of the series, with many of them being “huge” Money Train fans. As a result, Relax Gaming “could not be happier” to be able to provide them with early and exclusive access to the release a day early. 

Greece is another European country where Relax Gaming likes to offer its content as part of its plan to expand globally. In April, the supplier inked a partnership with Betsson here right after signing a similar agreement with ng into a top-performing one for the provider.

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The news was confirmed early on Friday, with the government of Japan finally picking the first location to host the country’s inaugural integrated resort which will seek to boost tourism and generate an economic boon.

Osaka Wins in Expected Decision by Government

The first of the three resorts is set to open by 2029 and it will cost $13.5 billion to pull off. It will be built on Yumeshima, a man-made island in Osaka Bay, and come with a range of amenities, facilities, and venues. The integrated resort will have a dedicated Las Vegas-style resort casino as its central piece but it will feature so much more as well.

This new project will come along with hotels, conference rooms, shopping malls, a ferry terminal, and a range of other leisure and business additions. There will be dedicated helicopter pads to bring in and out well-heeled guests and customers. Overall, the first integrated resort, developed by MGM Resorts International and ORIX, a local company, is set to be a big success when it finally welcomes its first guests.

Once this happens, Japan hopes to see many of Asia’s richest gamblers flock to this new gambling Mecca. Each of the two companies developing the project owns a 40% stake in a dedicated company that they have set up to place an official bid with the government and realize the project. The other 20% of the stake is held by the local government.

As to the Japanese government, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida seems confident that the incoming integrated resort should contribute significantly to the economic growth of the Kansai area in Osaka and beyond. The resort is expected to generate more than 520 billion yen worth of revenue annually and bring in as many as six million international tourists and 14 million domestic visitors.

Japan Still Hesitant about Other Bidders

Of course, there have been some concerns about the future of the project. Some have objected to it arguing that there were serious environmental concerns with the reclamation of the island. Others still have objected to gambling on principle, arguing that gambling could bring more societal ills than it would benefits.

The entire process was plagued by setbacks as well – as the pandemic struck, companies willing to bid for the realization of integrated resorts dropped out of the race. By the April deadline in 2022, only two prefectures had completed an application process, with the other one being Nagasaki.

However, there has been no official confirmation whether Nagasaki will secure the rights to host an integrated resort as well. The government said on Friday that it needed more time to review the proposal submitted by the prefecture.

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This year’s World Series of Poker (WSOP) is expected to build on the momentum of last year’s successful tournament when over 197,000 participants from over 100 countries took their best shot at the mouth-watering total prize pool of $347.9 million which broke all previous records.

This year’s WSOP will mark the 54th edition of the most successful poker event on the planet and it will be held at the freshly rebranded Horseshoe Las Vegas Casino and Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino between May 30 and July 18.

As explained by WSOP’s executive director and senior vice president Ty Stewart, the momentum created by the series making its debut on The Strip in 2022 is expected to generate record-breaking WSOP and World Championship events at the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino and the Horseshoe Las Vegas.

The latter officially opened its gates to the public on March 24 after a year of multimillion-dollar remodeling.

“This Is the Year to Go to Vegas”

Stewart also added that this would be the perfect year to “get to Vegas” if the Main Event has been on your bucket list for a while. In 2023, the $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em World Championship will be held between July 3 and July 17.

Besides the freshly added permanent hall of fame poker room built at Horseshoe Las Vegas, the much-anticipated event will also feature the biggest capacity in the history of the series. No less than 608 tables will be spread across the convention space’s 200,000 square feet for nonstop live action.

WSOP 2023 will also host the first-ever $300 price point tournament in the history of the series.

Other exciting events to be looking forward to are the 600 Main Event Seats Guaranteed from GGPoker, where the latter will be providing 500 guaranteed Main Event seats on GGPoker.com via global qualifiers along with an extra 100 seats on the ClubGG.net subscription site.

The 600 total seats will have a massive prize pool of $6,000,000, representing more than double of GGPoker’s official qualifiers in 2022. The online satellites will be initiated in March.

The Main Event Mania at Casinos Worldwide will introduce the pioneer Global Qualification Weekend held on May 20-May 21 at live poker rooms located on four different continents. Right before the start of the series in Las Vegas, poker rooms from all parts of the world will reunite to offer Guaranteed Seat satellite tournaments, sending players to the 2023 Main Event.

Every poker room will organize step tournaments with buy-ins capped at $140 and a culminating mega of $1,175 that will award a guaranteed seat along with all travel expenses to Las Vegas.

The Horseshoe Casino Held the First WSOP Tournament in 1970

The first-ever Horseshoe Casino opened its gates in 1951. The first WSOP tournament was organized there almost two decades later, in 1970.

The Caesars Entertainment-owned brand is currently responsible for operating and managing 10 different Horseshoe properties spread all across North America.

Caesars announced its intention to purchase Bally’s Las Vegas and turn it into a Horseshoe Casino a year ago, in February 2022.

The property’s general manager and senior vice president Jason Gregorec called the arrival of Horseshoe on The Strip a “significant moment for Caesars Entertainment,” as well as for the Horseshoe brand and the entirety of the city.

Gregorec also expressed excitement for being able to welcome guests to the freshly redesigned resort and its newest additions including the interior and exterior upgrades and renovations and new entertainment and culinary options, while also reintroducing it to Las Vegas.

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The tournament is slated for Saturday, April 8 and will get underway at 11 am local time in Coco Poker. The event will have a $200 buy-in and a prize pool of guaranteed $10,000. Participants and guests may also expect special bounties, which the tournament organizers confirm.

Poker Can Help the Ukrainian Relief Effort

Registration will begin on April 8 at 9 am in Coco Poker and the event expects a good turn up. Coco Poker is a smoke-free location, which currently hosts 30 tables and is one of South Florida’s best private luxury private salons.

Commenting on this opportunity, Seminole Gaming CEO, chairman of Hard Rock International, and chairman of Hard Rock Digital, Jim Allen, said that the organization was adamant to demonstrate its support for the victims of the war in Ukraine.

Allen said that the tournament would seek to offer help to thousands of people who are fleeing the war, or have been displaced or otherwise denied basic services and goods. Ukrainian children and families have been injured or suffered severely financially, Allen explained. He similarly said that the death toll was even more devastating.

The tournament is just part of the relief efforts that have been going on for a while now, with organizations and representatives of the gambling industry raising considerable funds to assist Ukraine. Meanwhile, in the country itself, President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a new decree with which he stamped out a number of gambling sites, issuing a 50-year ban against at least 120 companies and 280 individuals.

Zelensky alleges that these companies and people have been working to secure the interests of Russia or preyed on the Ukrainian people through the launch of illegitimate gambling products. Interestingly, at least one of the companies that was banned had been known to raise money for Ukraine.

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