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Rio Hotel & Casino Las Vegas Officially Joins the Destination by Hyatt Brand and Completes Phase One of its $340 Million Transformation
The newly reimagined Rio Hotel & Casino has officially joined the Destination by Hyatt brand, following the completion of the resort’s first phase of its $340 million property-wide transformation. As part of the Destination by Hyatt brand and award-winning World of Hyatt loyalty program, Rio connects guests and members to both the people and place of Las Vegas – offering guests a sense of belonging and the immersive experiences they crave. Rio is owned and managed by Dreamscape Companies.
As the largest property within Hyatt’s global hotel portfolio, based on room count, and the first Destination by Hyatt hotel in Nevada, Rio strengthens World of Hyatt’s brand footprint in the one of the world’s most vibrant destinations for leisure, convention and group travel.
“We are proud to welcome the new Rio Hotel & Casino to our Destination by Hyatt brand portfolio, celebrating Hyatt’s commitment to delivering one-of-a-kind experiences in key markets that matter most to our World of Hyatt members and guests. Rio is an icon reborn, and its legacy and unique character live on. We are excited for our members and guests to discover the experiences that make Rio Las Vegas a standout destination for global travelers,” said Mike Waddell, SVP of Global Franchise Operations at Hyatt.
Phase one of Rio’s $340 million renovation included the full redesign and modernization of the all-suite resort’s 1500-room Ipanema Tower featuring a new look inspired by the vibrant spirit of Rio de Janeiro: bold, colorful, and unapologetically radiant. The hotel also recently unveiled six new and distinctly different culinary destinations within the new Canteen Food Hall, 220,000 square feet of newly renovated meetings and convention space, a revamped pool district with four vibrant pools catering to both adults and families, and more than 500 new slot machines and 30 table games on the resort’s casino floor. The renovation is part of a larger vision to create a vibrant and dynamic lifestyle experience at the intersection of affordability and indulgence.
Other highlights from the resort’s phase one renovation include the openings of: Lapa Lounge, a sophisticated and vibrant cocktail destination located in the heart of the resort and inspired by Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Lapa neighborhood, and Luckley Tavern & Grill, a “come as you are” casual dining destination serving an approachable all-American menu. In addition, famed lighting designers Chris Kuroda and Andrew Giffin have created a stunning, programmable light show for the resort’s exterior.
Phase two of the resort’s renovation will focus on completely redesigning and modernizing the Masquerade Tower guestrooms and public spaces, ensuring an elevated and cohesive guest experience across the entire property.
“Rio’s Destination by Hyatt brand affiliation marks an exciting new chapter for our resort through our progressive evolution. We’ve not only reenergized the resort’s design and experience, but we’ve proudly honored its legacy as a quintessential Las Vegas icon, providing World of Hyatt members and global travelers with even more ways to immerse themselves in our destination’s fun, energetic and eclectic atmosphere,” said Patrick Miller, President and CEO of Rio Hotel & Casino.
Rio participates in World of Hyatt, allowing members to earn and redeem points for eligible stays and enjoy waived resort fees on Free Night Awards while elite members can enjoy their World of Hyatt benefits that can include room upgrades and more. Rio is currently participating in Hyatt’s cyber sale that offers World of Hyatt members up to 25% off their stay at Rio, along with over 800 hotels across the Americas. Members can book this offer on Hyatt channels now through December 9, 2024, for stays through April 20, 2025.
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Kambi Group plc signs Turnkey Sportsbook partnership with Latin American operator RedCap
New agreement will see Kambi initially power the operator’s online Betpro and Starplay brands in El Salvador and Panama, with plans for retail and additional markets in the future
Kambi Group plc, the home of premium sports betting solutions, has agreed a long-term, omni-channel sportsbook partnership with Latin American operator RedCap, further strengthening Kambi’s position as the sportsbook provider of choice in the region.
Under the terms of the agreement, RedCap’s Betpro and Starplay brands will integrate Kambi’s high-performance Turnkey Sportsbook into its proprietary player account management (PAM) platform, enabling a seamless sports betting experience. The operator will replace its current supplier with Kambi’s powerful end-to-end sports betting solution, trusted by market leaders across Latin America and beyond.
The initial rollout will see Betpro and Starplay launch Kambi’s technology across its online sportsbooks in El Salvador and Panama, with the agreement also including scope for retail provision and market expansion. Operating under a multi-brand strategy led by its flagship Betpro brand, the operator aims to leverage the strengths of Kambi’s sportsbook with its in-house technical capability and experienced industry leadership team to achieve success in each market.
Werner Becher, CEO of Kambi, said: “This partnership marks an important next step in Kambi’s Latin American growth strategy. By selecting Kambi to replace their existing provider, RedCap has shown clear confidence in our market-leading technology and ability to support scalable growth. We are excited to help them bring best-in-class sports betting experiences to players across the region.”
Oscar Henao, CEO of RedCap, added: “We are thrilled to join forces with Kambi. This agreement gives us the product and flexibility we need to compete at the highest level, offering our customers premium betting experience across all channels. With Kambi’s support, we look forward to launching in Panama and El Salvador and expanding into new markets as we execute our multi-brand strategy.”
Chicago City Council members are reviving plans to legalize video gambling in the city, introducing two ordinances that could bring hundreds of terminals to O’Hare and Midway airports and allow machines citywide for the first time.
One ordinance, introduced by Alderman Gilbert Villegas (36th), targets the city’s airports, where he sees both political feasibility and high revenue potential.
“The General Assembly has provided this opportunity through the casino bill. Yet, we’re not taking advantage of capturing dollars from one of the busiest airports in the country,” Villegas said.
“People are there, in some cases, one or two hours before. If their flight is delayed or they’re making a connection and there is a delay, there’s an opportunity to capture an audience that may not even be going to the city.”
Villegas’ proposal includes a $10,000 license fee per location, plus $500 per terminal. A separate terminal license would cost $1000, with an additional $500 per unit. If 400 machines each generated $800 daily, Villegas estimates annual revenue could reach $116.8 million, with the city taking a share through licensing and taxes.
Alderman Anthony Beale (9th) is pushing for a broader citywide expansion. His ordinance would legalize video gambling throughout Chicago, including in neighborhood bars and restaurants.
“We need to do it citywide and at the airports. We need the revenue and this administration has not shown a willingness to find new revenue that’s not gonna hit the taxpayers in every household,” Beale said.
Beale’s ordinance proposes a $500 license fee per location and a $1000-per-terminal charge for both the site and the machine itself. He has criticized the administration for dismissing the potential benefits, arguing that the current tax formula could be renegotiated with state lawmakers.
“That’s because they haven’t shown the willingness to go down to Springfield and change the formula. I’m hoping that submitting these ordinances will finally convince them to send a team down there,” he said.
Boyd Interactive is live with SlotMatrix Exclusive content in New Jersey, further bolstering EveryMatrix’s US presence.
Boyd Interactive’s tier-1 brands Resorts and Mohegan have access to EveryMatrix’s library of exclusive titles from its in-house studios, including Fantasma Games and Armadillo Studios, via integration with SlotMatrix.
SlotMatrix is the provider’s proprietary game aggregation platform and the industry’s largest content library, with more than 37,000 games from 350+ studios and its own in-house studios, enhanced by EveryMatrix’s gamification and player engagement features, including free spins, leaderboards, and tournaments.
This exciting step continues EveryMatrix’s momentum in the US market, after signing its first US content aggregation deal with betPARX and launching several games in North America this year such as Glorious Diamonds.
Bjorn Sjoberg, CCO of SlotMatrix, said: “Boyd Interactive is one of the largest US gambling operators, and by providing them with our exclusive content, we’re introducing their players to a range of best performing titles, opening a whole new world of entertainment.”
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