Gambling in the USA
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain Holds Historic Topping Off Ceremony
Commemorates partnership between The Seminole Tribe of Florida and Enterprise Rancheria
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain held a topping off ceremony on Feb. 13, 2019, to celebrate reaching this major construction milestone in the project. The highly-anticipated property is slated to be the premier entertainment destination in Northern California once it opens in fall of 2019.
“I want to thank everyone involved in this momentous development,” said Mark Birtha, president of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain. “It is such an incredible feeling of pride and excitement seeing it coming to life. I know this property is going to be a landmark in the region and a shining representation of all the Hard Rock brand has to offer.”
During the event, the final beam, signed by tribal members, was grandly lifted up by a crane to the top of the structure. As part of the ceremony, Hard Rock executives and tribal council recognized the construction workers’ incredible efforts and commitment to the project. The topping off event also commemorated the historic partnership between two Native American Tribes — The Seminole Tribe of Florida, owners of Hard Rock International and Enterprise Rancheria.
“This is truly a great day for our Tribe and community and for the workers, customers and business partners of our region,” said Enterprise Rancheria Tribal Chairperson Glenda Nelson. “Partnering with Hard Rock and the Seminole Tribe is a real game changer with their world-recognized brand, commitment to premium quality experiences across a full spectrum of hospitality and entertainment options, and unique corporate values make them a dream partner for us.”
Situated in the North Sacramento Valley, the property will offer the latest in live music and entertainment, hospitality, world-class gaming and exceptional cuisine. It will feature a hotel with multiple suite offerings, a large gaming facility with over 1,800 slot machine and table game positions, along with an outdoor pool and deck area, large meeting space and a great selection of bars and restaurants. The property also includes signature brand amenities like the Rock Shop® and Body Rock® fitness center.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain is expected to create more than 2,000 construction jobs upon its completion, with nearly 750 working at peak times on the project any given day. The development includes approximately 1,500 tons of steel (1/10th the weight of the Brooklyn Bridge steel), 15,000 cubic yards of concrete (if paved, would stretch to downtown Sacramento), 550 tons of rebar steel (laid from end to end, would stretch to San Francisco), 120 miles of electrical conduit, as well as 380 miles of wire and cabling (would stretch from Sacramento to Los Angeles) being used for the project. Upon opening later this year, the hotel-casino will employ over 1,000 full-time and part-time team members.
Source: Hard Rock International
Gambling in the USA
New Trade Association Launches Unprecedented Effort to Strengthen Responsible Online Gaming, Promote Best Practices
The Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA), an independent trade association launched by seven of the largest U.S. legal mobile gaming companies, will actively promote a new industry-wide best practices charter, overseen by one of the world’s foremost experts in the field of responsible gaming (RG).
This unprecedented effort will be led by Dr. Jennifer Shatley, a deeply respected responsible gaming executive with more than 25 years of experience in the industry. She will serve as ROGA’s full-time Executive Director, and her role will be to facilitate widespread education to all relevant parties on the subject of responsible gaming.
ROGA will embark on a series of initiatives under Dr. Shatley’s direction. These include research, consumer and industry responsible gaming education and awareness, promoting responsible gaming best practices, an independent data clearinghouse, and an independent certification program.
Demonstrating their commitment to this endeavor, initial member companies – who together represent more than 85% of the legalized online sports betting and iGaming industry – have pledged more than $20 million in support of ROGA’s mission in year one. ROGA’s member companies include BetMGM, bet365, DraftKings, Fanatics Betting and Gaming, FanDuel, Hard Rock Digital, and PENN Entertainment.
“I am humbled, honored, and excited to be selected to lead ROGA during this important period of growth in legalized mobile gaming. Many of America’s largest legal mobile gaming operators will be establishing a framework that helps to aid in responsible gaming education and awareness. Together, our members will work alongside researchers, experts, regulators and stakeholders to promote responsible online gaming and maximize our efforts to support additional responsible gaming education and awareness. By coming together with a clear set of objectives, ROGA and our members will work to enhance consumer protections and help provide easier and more efficient access to responsible gaming tools for consumers to enjoy the entertainment of online gaming,” said Dr. Shatley.
Compliance Updates
Play’n GO awarded Pennsylvania license 
Play’n GO has continued on its upward trajectory in North America by landing its latest US iGaming licenses and will soon supply its award-winning content portfolio to operators and players in Pennsylvania and Delaware
These licenses are the fifth and sixth obtained by the Swedish gaming giants in the USA, following New Jersey, Michigan, West Virginia, and Connecticut.
Play’n GO have taken a dual-pronged approach to its strategy in North America, with these US licenses being complimented by the company’s success north of the border in Canada, where Play’n GO was one of the first suppliers to be licensed to supply slot games in the province of Ontario.
Although early in its American journey, Play’n GO games such as Piggy Blitz, make regular appearances in the top 15 most popular titles in all of North America*.
Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer for Play’n GO, said: “Play’n GO content is the most conducive to player retention across the industry. With player acquisition costs sky high in the US, we’re pleased to be able to offer operators in Pennsylvania access to our content which will keep players coming back for more.
“We are determined to be the number one casino gaming supplier in every regulated market in the world, and given that we are thriving in more than 25 jurisdictions around the world where we have a license, we fully expect a similar success story in Pennsylvania in the coming years.”
Play’n GO is set to release more than 50 online slot titles in 2024 and is active in more than 25 regulated jurisdictions worldwide, including Ontario, New Jersey, Michigan and West Virginia in North America.
Gambling in the USA
Lightning Box concocts scientific experiment with new release Experi-MENTAL
 Light & Wonder, Inc. (NASDAQ and ASX: LNW) (together with its subsidiaries, “Light & Wonder” or “L&W”) announced the launch of its new game, Experi-MENTAL, stacked with features, modifiers and a clash with the mad scientist.
Experi-MENTAL has two in-game features to enhance the overall player experience.
This 3×5 title, exhibits the distinctive Expanding Wild Feature, which can award huge prizes for players should the Wild Brain symbol expand and replicate by five times during the Free Games round.
When players enter the mad scientist’s lab, they will stumble across the Upgrading Feature, which zaps the 9, 10, J, Q, K or A symbols into high-paying icons, including Test Tubes, Power Switch, Cat, Pug or Man. The wins are then accumulated and paid out once the reels have stopped spinning.
The Barrel Pick Feature can radio-activate the feature by awarding an extra 15 Free Games, as players are presented with highly dangerous barrels with an unknown material.
A meter appears when players select a barrel, with a red area and a green area in view. Landing on the meter’s green area ensures the Free Games round is triggered and additional games are awarded but landing in the red zone activates only the round itself.
The classic Free Games mode is unlocked when Scatter symbols appear, with five Scatters granting the maximum of 10 Free Games and the Barrel Pick Feature. During the round, Free Games can be retriggered at any time.
Experi-MENTAL is set to go live with Caesars in New Jersey, Michigan and Ontario initially, and will be available at a later date to customers of Light & Wonder’s industry-leading OPENGAMING™ platform.
 Michael Maokhamphiou, Studio Director at Lightning Box, said: “Experi-MENTAL is one Wacky slot game, and we believe it can propel our slots onto the next level.
 “During this game, players can unlock some new features, which add a dramatic element to this slot and classic round that are a cornerstone of Lightning Box’s portfolio. We are in no doubt will love taking on the mad scientist in this epic title.”
 Rob Procter, VP of Game Development at Light & Wonder, said: “2024 is going to be a big year for Lightning Box and the launch of Experi-MENTAL gives players the opportunity to showcase this thrilling game.
 “With a variety of different features exhibited on this captivating title, it sets Lightning Box apart from its competitors, ensuring the player experience is unrivalled.”
-
Compliance Updates7 days ago
Massachusetts Gaming Commission Names Director of Investigations and Enforcement Bureau and Executive Director
-
Latin America7 days ago
PRAGMATIC PLAY PARTNERS WITH THE FACTORY GAMING TO EXPAND LATAM PRESENCE
-
Gaming7 days ago
Knorr and World-renowned Gamer and Streamer, Ninja, Call on Gaming Industry to Supercharge Vegetables in Games
-
Gambling in the USA3 days ago
ACR POKER DEBUTS ITS TURBO BOOST SERIES WITH $2 MILLION GUARANTEED AND 10 SEATS TO BIGGEST-EVER VENOM
-
Canada7 days ago
iGaming Ontario Seeks Proposals for a Centralized Self-exclusion Solution Until April 24, 2024
-
Compliance Updates4 days ago
TIPICO IS THE FIRST U.S. SPORTS BETTING OPERATOR TO RECEIVE ICAP ACCREDITATION FOR BEST PRACTICES IN ONLINE GAMBLING PLAYER PROTECTION
-
Latest News4 days ago
Amusnet at the IV International Gaming Convention: Fostering Growth and Partnerships in the Меxican Gaming Sector
-
Latest News4 days ago
DraftKings and Kindbridge Behavioral Health Expand Program That Provides Treatment Resources for Individuals Experiencing Potential Indications of Problem Gaming