Gambling in the USA
Plaza Hotel & Casino debuts reimagined Main Street façade as new downtown destination for cocktails, gaming, and dining

Under the twinkling lights of its iconic dome, the Plaza Hotel & Casino officially cut the ribbon to celebrate the upcoming grand opening of its Main Street Reimagination projects that transformed its historic Main Street façade and porte-cochère into a one-of-a-kind destination for cocktails, gaming, and dining with four new venues: Carousel Bar, Pinkbox Doughnuts, the rooftop patio at Oscar’s steakhouse, and Brian Christopher Slots at Plaza, downtown’s only smokefree and social media friendly gaming space. All venues will officially open to the public on June 10.
Plaza Hotel & Casino CEO Jonathan Jossel cut the commemorative ribbon at the project’s centerpiece Carousel Bar, alongside city of Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, former Mayor Oscar Goodman, leading gaming social media influencer Brian Christopher, and Judith Perez Siegel, owner of Pinkbox Doughnuts and Michael Crandall, chief business officer of Pinkbox Doughnuts.
“For more than 50 years, the Plaza has called 1 Main Street home,” said Jossel. “Main Street is where Las Vegas got its start, and the Plaza continues to enhance this historic and exciting thoroughfare. Last year, we opened the legendary live music venue Sand Dollar Downtown. Today, we further establish Main Street as a premier downtown destination with the addition of Carousel Bar, Pinkbox Doughnuts, Brian Christopher Slots at Plaza, and a rooftop patio overlooking it all at Oscar’s steakhouse.”
At the ribbon cutting, Jossel thanked city of Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman and her husband, former Las Vegas Mayor and steakhouse namesake, Oscar Goodman for their continued support of the Plaza and downtown redevelopment. He also recognized Judith Perez Siegel, Michael Crandall, and Brian Christopher for partnering with the Plaza. Jossel added that the Plaza’s evolution and improvements, including these four projects, wouldn’t be possible without the vision of the property’s owner, Poju Zabludowicz, chairman and CEO of Tamares Group.
New Venues
The centerpiece of the Plaza’s Main Street reimagination project transforms the space under the Plaza’s iconic dome into the Carousel Bar, an outdoor bar experience unlike any other. Guests enjoy handmade cocktails, beer, wine, and mocktails among life-sized Vegas-themed elements, including carousel horses moving up and down, a martini glass with a spinning olive, an oversized deck of cards, a 14-foot-tall neon showgirl sign, and a rotating ribbon of lights above the bar. The bar’s design preserves the dome’s iconic vintage Vegas lights that have been featured in numerous movies and shows over the years. The 2,500 sq. ft. outdoor venue includes Vegas’ only outdoor video poker machines, an outdoor cooling system, and seating for nearly 100 guests in booths, at the bar, and along its outer rail that overlooks Main Street at the western entrance to the Fremont Street Experience.
Adjacent to Carousel Bar is Brian Christopher Slots at Plaza, downtown’s first smoke-free and social media friendly gaming space. The new gaming space expands the popular social media influencer’s presence at the Plaza by 5X, from the original 16 slot machines to an expansive 2,500 square feet with 75 of the industry’s latest and most innovative games for guests 21 and older. The space also supports social media posting like never before by offering fun backdrops for selfies and group shots as well as the ability to play only copyright friendly songs that can be posted on social platforms.
Oscar’s rooftop patio is above the new gaming space and accessible via the restaurant’s existing lounge. Offering the award-winning restaurant’s full dinner menu in addition to its extensive wine and cocktail lists, Oscar’s patio will be the first al fresco space for fine dining in downtown. Able to accommodate approximately 225 people, the patio at Oscar’s is a great new location for dinner and cocktail receptions with amazing views of downtown, including Carousel Bar and the lights and action on Fremont and Main Streets.
The fast-growing Nevada-based doughnut franchise, Pinkbox Doughnuts rounds out the Main Street Reimagination with its first location in downtown Las Vegas. Known for its over-the-top doughnut creations and immersive store experiences, Pinkbox Doughnuts welcomes guests through a giant 12-foot-tall 3D doughnut with sprinkles entrance. The interior décor of the 1,200 sq. ft. store mirrors Pinkbox Doughnuts’ other locations with its pink floor stripes and 3D sprinkles, signature pinks drips on the walls, and a glass doughnut display case that shows the full line of more than 70 delicious and whimsically designed doughnuts.
Naming Contest
The Plaza is asking the public to help name the Carousel Bar’s life-sized showgirl. Now until July 10, potential names can be submitted online at https://www.plazahotelcasino.com/showgirl/. Winners will be announced July 11 and will receive a two-night stay at the Plaza Hotel & Casino, $100 to Carousel Bar, $250 to Oscar’s steakhouse, and one dozen free doughnuts at Pinkbox Doughnuts. The selected name will be engraved on a nameplate beside the showgirl.
Special hotel offer
To showcase the new food & beverage venues, the Plaza is offering the “Reimagine Your Stay” hotel package for stays June 10 through Sept. 6 that includes two complimentary signature cocktails at Carousel Bar, two free glazed doughnuts at Pinkbox Doughnuts, and 20% discount for dinner at Oscar’s steakhouse. The package can be booked online with the code: IMAGINE.
Gambling in the USA
Abbiati Casino Equipment and Hawkins Holdings Form Strategic Alliance to Expand Presence Across the Americas

Abbiati Casino Equipment, a globally recognised leader in premium casino equipment and technologies, announced a strategic partnership with Hawkins Holdings to strengthen its presence across North and South America. As part of this initiative, seasoned gaming executive Roger Hawkins has been appointed Brand Ambassador and Strategic Consultant for the Americas.
With more than 20 years of executive leadership in the global casino and gaming industry, Hawkins will spearhead the company’s efforts to expand its footprint throughout the Western Hemisphere. His role will include market development, strategic partnerships, regulatory positioning, and the promotion of Abbiati’s legacy of Italian innovation, craftsmanship, and integrity.
“This partnership is about more than market entry – it’s about building deeper awareness, driving product adoption, and reinforcing Abbiati’s commitment to quality across every pit and poker room in the hemisphere,” said Hawkins.
Giorgio Abbiati, CEO of Abbiati Casino Equipment, said: “We have proudly served clients in the Americas for many years, but the time is right to deepen our focus. Roger’s knowledge of our products and his insight into the market make him the ideal partner to lead this next phase.”
Gambling in the USA
Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort Rising in Kings Mountain as First Year of Construction is Completed

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

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.
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