Gambling in the USA

Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City Celebrates 40th Anniversary

Published

5 years ago

November 23, 2020

Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City celebrated its 40th anniversary this weekend, commemorating four decades of achievements and milestones. Beloved by generations across the tri-state area, the premier bayside resort destination has evolved to meet the ever-changing demand for new experiences and to reach new audiences. Over the years, Harrah’s Resort has hosted hundreds of signature events, welcoming guests, countless celebrities, and many notable guests through the years, making it a must-see hotel and casino in Atlantic City. What’s more, the popular destination offers award-winning restaurants with an array of accommodation options, including the newly renovated Laguna and Coastal towers, showcasing stunning Bay views.

On the heels of the resort’s latest hotel renovation, the newly-formed Caesars Entertainment recently announced its commitment to $400 million in total capital investments and improvements into its Atlantic City resorts – Caesars, Tropicana, and Harrah’s Resort – over the next three years.

Last month, Harrah’s Resort received notable recognition by being voted one of the country’s Top 10 Casinos Outside Las Vegas by USA Today’s 10 Best Readers Poll. Additionally, Caesars Rewards received top accolades as the #1 Best Players Club in the nation for the third consecutive year, strengthened by the property having the loosest slots in Atlantic City*, offering the highest total slot payback percentage in the seaside gaming town for the seventh year straight. (*Based on NJ DGE monthly revenue statistics & Strictly Slots magazine).

“With three premier resorts in the market, and as the largest employer in Atlantic County, Atlantic City is critical to the success of Caesars Entertainment,” said Steve Callender, Regional President for Caesars Entertainment. “Under the newly-formed Caesars Entertainment, we have over 60 million Caesars Rewards customers, many of whom live within driving distance of our properties. Having spent my entire career in the City, I have a special appreciation of this landmark 40th anniversary for Harrah’s Resort, the gaming industry and Atlantic City. 2020 has presented us with challenges unlike anything we have endured before over the past four decades. I am extremely grateful and proud of the teams at Harrah’s, Tropicana and Caesars, who continue to deliver first-class service to our guests, while putting health and safety at the forefront of the experience,” he added.

“For almost half a century now, Harrah’s Resort has been committed to Atlantic City and has helped lead the way in positioning the city as a leading gaming & entertainment destination on the East Coast,” explained Ron Baumann, Senior Vice President & General Manager for Caesars & Harrah’s Resort. “But most importantly, however, is our dedication to helping make the community we serve a great place to both work and play. Through all the ebbs and flows this market has seen, including the unprecedented times we are living through right now, Harrah’s has continued to thrive over the last 40 years, and we attribute much of our success to our day-one employees who deliver top-notch service to our guests each day, and our loyal customers. While the celebration may look a bit different this year, we are unbelievably proud of our team members and thank our customers for their loyalty.”

A 40-Year Legacy

For the past 40 years, Harrah’s has hit many notable milestones; however, the destination is most proud to be home to 40 day one team members who have been with the company from the first day the resort opened its doors and are actively working right now. For more than four decades, these legacy team members have delivered superior customer service and a welcoming smile that Harrah’s loyal customers have come to know and love.

Known for delivering exceptional entertainment and dining, Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City continues to offer guests curated experiences through an impressive roster of fine dining establishments. A notable restaurant is Gordon Ramsay Steak, celebrating two years as one of Atlantic City’s only two restaurants by a Michelin Star chef, and his only restaurants in the tri-state region. The celebrated television personality and 7-Michelin star chef opened his first steakhouse concept at Harrah’s in 2018.

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“For me, Gordon Ramsay Steak at Harrah’s Resort has been one of the most exciting steak houses I’ve ever opened. Thank you to Caesars Entertainment for being a great partner, the team at Harrah’s helping bring this vision to life, and to our customers for their loyalty. I know this year has been difficult, but I can’t wait to get back to Harrah’s to help celebrate their 40th birthday.”- Gordon Ramsay

When Harrah’s doors reopened in July and outside dining was a premier amenity, the team found a creative way to give Gordon Ramsay Steak a “breath of fresh air” with a pop-up experience on the rooftop of the resort’s famed Pool, offering al fresco dining “Under The Stars.”

As of November 2020, Gordon Ramsay Steak has crossed off some exceptional milestones, including:

Served 126,234 ounces of Wagyu Beef (equal to 7,889 pounds)

Sold 87,000 steaks and are approaching 90,000 this month.

Served 12,810 Sticky Toffee Puddings signature desserts

Served 12,030 Beef Wellingtons

Will serve its 150,000 dining cover this month

In addition to Gordon Ramsay Steak, Harrah’s Resort offers an array of dining options ranging from fine dining to quick-service, including Martorano’s, Guy’s Sammich Joint by Guy Fieri, A.C. Burger Co., Coastal Craft Kitchen & Bar, and more.

A 40-Year Commitment To The Community

Since opening its doors on November 22, 1980, Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City has been committed to building a strong South Jersey community. In 2019, the resort supported hundreds of community organizations while empowering team members to do the same. Additionally, Harrah’s strives to do their part to protect the environment through its industry-leading Code Green initiative – part of the company’s People, Planet, Play platform – that translates to an eco-friendly guestroom experience and LEED-certified $125 million Waterfront Conference Center.

When Atlantic City casinos closed their doors in April, Caesars Entertainment Atlantic City Resorts launched a large-scale relief effort to support the community and donated over 95% of its perishable food to local organizations. Caesars Entertainment and its employee volunteers delivered over 40,000 pounds of food, including fresh dairy, produce, canned goods, and lunch meat to those in need at The Community Food Bank of Southern NJ, The Salvation Army, and The Atlantic City Rescue Mission Food. To ensure nothing was wasted, recently perished items were donated to The Funny Farm Animal Rescue in Mays Landing, NJ.

Recently, the company has focused on helping to fight food insecurity in the area, where the pandemic has impacted many residents throughout Atlantic County, starting with its recent $5,527 donation to The Community Food Bank of N.J. (Egg Harbor Township), where a portion of ticket sales from Harrah’s Bayside Rock Live outdoor concert series were donated.

Further extending their commitment to the community, Harrah’s Resort has delivered premade sandwiches to over 12 organizations in the area each week, led by the culinary team at Harrah’s. The sandwiches will be used for lunches to support the new after school program and teen center at the Boys & Girls Club and assist non-profits in area fighting food insecurity and homelessness in Atlantic City. Recently, more than 180 sandwiches were donated to Covenant House, a place that provides youth homeless shelters in the city, and 150 sandwiches were recently delivered to Turning Point, an organization dedicated to combating homelessness in the city, and will continue on a weekly basis as needed. By the end of the year, nearly 20,000 items will be distributed to organizations in Atlantic City.

Rewards and Celebrations – 40-year accomplishments

Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City is known for attracting A-list celebrity hosts, D.J.s, and performers straight off the Billboard Hot 100. Celebrities known to frequent the Harrah’s Resort grounds include Paris Hilton, DJ Pauly D, Brody Jenner, stars of Vanderpump Rules James Kennedy, Tom Sandoval, Tom Schwartz, and more.

Caesars Entertainment Atlantic City destinations, including Harrah’s Resort, are pacing to commemorate the distribution of its one millionth mask this weekend – having collectively distributed a million masks to team members and customers since reopening at Harrah’s, Caesars, and Tropicana. This milestone illustrates the company’s commitment to keeping their employees and guests safe.

As a thank you to their guests who have made Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City an iconic destination, the resort is holding a promotion every Saturday this month where the property will give away 40,000 rewards credits every 40 minutes from 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.

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Gambling in the USA

Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort Rising in Kings Mountain as First Year of Construction is Completed

Published

5 days ago

June 23, 2025

Niji Narayan

Significant construction has been completed during the first year of work on the $1 billion Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort in Kings Mountain, N.C., a site off Interstate-85 only 35 miles from Charlotte and close to the South Carolina border.

Construction on all aspects of the project is in full swing, with the foundations for the casino complex and hotel completed several months ago, the casino complex at its full height and expanding horizontally, and steel continuing to rise for the 24-story, 385-room hotel. The hotel tower framing is now 10 stories high, with an additional floor being added nearly every week. At completion, the hotel will be connected to the casino complex.

The casino complex includes the introductory casino on the first level, three levels of covered parking, a back-of-house level and top level with the main casino floor and restaurants. The introductory casino, set to open in spring 2026, will include 1350 slot machines, 20 table games, a 40-seat restaurant, a bar, sports betting kiosks, and Lucky North Rewards desk.

The introductory casino will replace the current temporary (prelaunch) casino, which continues to grow in popularity as it nears its fourth anniversary on July 1.

The main casino complex is targeted to open in 2027. It will be about 2 million square feet and feature:

• 4300 slot machines

• 100 table games

• 11 dining outlets, including a steakhouse, Italian restaurant, marketplace with six venues, café, and grab-and-go outlet

• A players lounge

• 11 bars, including a center bar and sports bar

• A 2700-space parking garage built under the casino complex and 800 surface parking spaces

The project has created hundreds of construction jobs. Upon completion, the casino resort will employ an estimated 2200 regional residents and citizens of the Catawba Nation.

“This casino resort will be an economic game changer for Catawba citizens and a force to drive the economy of Cleveland County and the City of Kings Mountain. This project is a testament to our resilience, our commitment to self-sufficiency, and our determination to build a better future for ourselves and our future generations,” Catawba Nation Chief Brian Harris said.

Harris noted the temporary casino is contributing to many community and charitable organizations in the region, and that will only increase as the full casino resort opens.

The project is being led by the Catawba Nation Gaming Authority under Vice President Trent Troxel, with Yates-Metcon as the construction general contractor; Delaware North as the gaming management, development and hospitality consultant; and SOSHNY Design architects.

“Once again, I want to thank the Cleveland County, City of Kings Mountain, federal and state leaders who have supported the Catawba Nation’s efforts develop the casino resort in its ancestral lands in North Carolina,” Harris said.

Work has also been completed on two key infrastructure projects for development of the permanent casino resort that were funded by the Catawba Nation: doubling the size of the Dixon School Road Bridge over I-85 near the casino entrance and installing new sewer lines near the casino.

Gambling in the USA

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa Named Luckiest Casino in US by Casinos.com

Published

1 month ago

May 19, 2025

Niji Narayan

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa has been named the luckiest casino in the US according to a recent study conducted by Casinos.com. The resort claimed the top spot based on an in-depth analysis of Tripadvisor reviews, measuring the frequency of luck-related keyword mentions.

With a 25.49% luck rate, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa topped the list thanks to glowing guest feedback, including frequent mentions of jackpots, hand pays and bonus wins. 50 reviews mentioned the word “jackpot,” and 19 even referenced a “hand pay.”

Casinos.com tracked keywords such as lucky, luck, won, winning, success, jackpot, hand pay, winner, bonus, profit to determine which U.S. casinos inspired the most winning moments among visitors.

“I hit 4 jackpots. I stayed one night. I had a blast. The machines are as loose as anywhere else,” wrote one Tripadvisor reviewer, noted Casinos.com, capturing the essence of why the casino landed in the No. 1 spot.

“We’ve always known this was a lucky casino, but it’s exciting to see that recognized through data-driven research. It’s a testament to the vibrant energy on our casino floor and the unforgettable experiences we strive to create for every guest,” said Steve Bonner, President of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa.

The ranking reinforces Seminole Hard Rock Tampa’s reputation as one of the premier gaming and entertainment destinations in the US. Seminole Hard Rock Tampa was not involved in the study and was unaware of it until the results were publicly released.

Over the past year, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa has paid out nearly 839,000 jackpots totaling more than $2.45 billion, continuing to deliver thrilling high-stakes gaming. Since May 1, 2024, the casino resort has awarded 375 jackpots of $100,000 or more, amounting to an impressive $61 million in winnings. Notably, 47 of those massive wins stemmed from bets of $5 or less and nine came from wagers of $3 or less.

Seminole Hard Rock Tampa offers a fully integrated casino experience with a sleek, modern design and welcoming atmosphere of 245,000 square feet of gaming space and entertainment. With 5230 of the hottest slot machines and a full range of table games such as poker, blackjack and baccarat, there is no shortage of opportunities to win. Additionally, guests can enjoy live craps, roulette, and sports betting at their leisure.

Gambling in the USA

California Gambling Control Commission Advances Licensing, Tribal Partnerships, and Responsible Gaming Initiatives

Published

2 months ago

April 25, 2025

Zoltan Tundik

Sacramento, CA — In a meeting packed with regulatory updates and licensing decisions, the California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC) convened on April 24 to advance numerous agenda items impacting the state’s gambling landscape—from tribal gaming approvals to responsible gambling programs and operator renewals.

Problem Gambling & Public Health Takes the Stage

The Commission meeting opened with a presentation by Sosha Marasigan-Quintero from the California Department of Public Health, offering an overview and update on the California Problem Gambling Treatment Services Program. While no specific staff recommendations were provided, the update underscores California’s continued focus on behavioral health in gambling.

Tribal Revenue Distribution Approved

The Commission approved the quarterly distribution of payments from the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund to eligible recipient Indian Tribes. This routine, yet vital, procedure ensures the equitable distribution of revenue to support tribal sovereignty and infrastructure across the state.

Cardroom Licensing: Approvals and Extensions

Among key licensing matters:

500 Club Casino (K & M Casinos, Inc.) received both initial and renewal owner-type license approvals through January 2027.
Casino Chico, Hollywood Park Casino, and Lake Bowl Cardroom were granted renewals and short-term extensions, some with conditions such as improving record-keeping systems or ensuring regulatory compliance ahead of reopening.
Hotel Del Rio & Casino was granted a 60-day extension under several strict conditions, including updated safety plans and the restatement of commingled financial records.

Key Employee Licensing Actions

The Commission approved several initial and renewal key employee licenses. Notably:

Jeffrey Thompson was approved with a condition prohibiting involvement in illegal gambling activities.
Kevin Lee and George Rahme received 120-day extensions for renewal processing.

Third-Party Proposition Player Services Under Scrutiny

The Commission approved both initial and temporary licenses for Fortune Players Group, Inc., with a lengthy list of conditions tied to the conduct of a former associate, Rene Medina. These conditions highlight the Commission’s ongoing vigilance in monitoring third-party player services and maintaining compliance across operations.

Progressive Gaming, LLC was also approved for an initial license, further expanding third-party service provider capacity.

Gaming Resource Suppliers & Tribal Approvals

Initial suitability findings for several prominent tribal gaming resource suppliers were approved, including:

HCAL, LLC
JCM Global
Konami Gaming, Inc.
PDS Gaming, LLC

Dozens of tribal gaming employees were also approved for key positions at tribal casinos across California, reflecting the Commission’s continued support of tribal gaming operations and the necessary workforce to support it.

Notable Withdrawals and Denials

In two notable cases, requests to withdraw license applications—Josephine Hoang and Jesus Bojorquez—were denied, signaling the Commission’s increased scrutiny and emphasis on applicant accountability.

A Broader Look Ahead

With regulatory reform on the horizon and ongoing efforts to promote responsible gaming, the April 2025 CGCC meeting showcased a mix of routine license management and deeper engagement with emerging compliance issues. As the Commission prepares for the next quarter, the groundwork laid in this session will likely influence policy developments and enforcement trends across California’s gambling sector.