Latest News
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.
Latest News
MGM Resorts International and Technology Partner Playtech Expand “Live from Vegas” Offering with Launch of Family Feud

MGM Resorts International and Playtech announced that they have expanded the “Live from Vegas” offering with the launch of Family Feud, a licensed adaptation of Fremantle’s classic gameshow, streamed live and in real time from a studio located on MGM Grand’s casino floor in Las Vegas.
This is the first interactive game show of its kind to be broadcast live from a Las Vegas casino floor and is available to operators in regulated markets, outside of the US. The studio also broadcasts a variety of interactive table games, including blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, all hosted in a fully transparent glass studio visible to the public 24/7.
“MGM Resorts, with Playtech and Fremantle, is at the forefront of digital gaming bringing the iconic Las Vegas experience to people around the globe. The live dealer studio marks a major step in our growth strategy and pursuit of being the world’s premier gaming entertainment company. We will continue working to create unforgettable moments and new ways to enjoy what the Las Vegas Strip has to offer,” said Gary Fritz, President of MGM Resorts International Interactive.
Building on the successful launch of “Live from Vegas” in June 2024, which saw the introduction of multiple live dealer table games being broadcast from both MGM Grand and Bellagio Resort & Casino, this marks the second phase of MGM Resorts and Playtech’s strategic partnership, a significant milestone in the delivery of new and distinctive live gaming experiences.
Mor Weizer, Chief Executive Officer at Playtech, said: “We’re proud to unveil our full suite of live-streamed experiences from Las Vegas, now featuring Family Feud. This next phase of our collaboration with MGM Resorts and Fremantle represents our shared ambition to redefine live gaming entertainment. Together, we’re introducing a new category of immersive and engaging content to support growth in regulated markets, built on a foundation of robust compliance and player protection.”
Suzanne Lopez, Chief Operating Officer at Fremantle, said: “Our partnership with MGM Resorts and Playtech brings together world-class entertainment, technological innovation, and gaming excellence. For the first time, Family Feud has been integrated into a live dealer environment, powered by actual survey questions from the official Family Feud franchise. This collaboration delivers a truly unique and authentic game show experience.”
Fantasy Sports
FanDuel Debuts New Peer to Peer Fantasy Product “FanDuel Picks” in Select States

FanDuel, North America’s premier online gaming company, is introducing FanDuel Picks, a new peer-to-peer fantasy sports product. FanDuel Picks offers fans a simplified way to engage with their favorite athletes and a chance to win up to 1000x their entry fee by building lineups and selecting whether the athletes will beat their projected stats during games. Customers new to FanDuel Picks who play $5 will get $60 in bonus funds.
With FanDuel Picks, customers can pick three to six players, select “more” or “less” on the players’ projected stat lines and set their contest entry amount. Customers earn points for every correct selection, and customers with the highest score win a share of the prize pool.
“Just in time for NFL season, we are excited to bring fans a social way to engage with the sports and athletes they love with the launch of FanDuel Picks. The ‘more’ or ‘less’ selection model offers a streamlined fantasy sports experience, and we look forward to offering our customers another way to interact with games this season,” said Rob Cullen, FanDuel Picks General Manager.
FanDuel Picks is now available in 17 states, including Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin.
Canada
iGaming Ontario Appoints Joseph Hillier as its New President and CEO

The iGaming Ontario Board of Directors has announced Joseph Hillier as the organization’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 8, 2025. Joseph’s depth in the Ontario igaming market combined with successful public and private sector careers make him the ideal President and CEO at this critical point in iGaming Ontario’s growth.
Joseph was most recently Chief Strategy Officer and Corporate Secretary at the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), where he delivered significant strategic and regulatory initiatives across the province’s alcohol, cannabis, gaming, and horse racing sectors. Prior to the AGCO, he served as Chief of Staff to Ontario Attorney General Hon. Doug Downey and led the development, launch and implementation of Canada’s first private sector-driven igaming market and the creation of iGaming Ontario. Joseph also spent more than a decade working in the financial and legal services sectors.
The Board expressed its sincere thanks to David Smith for serving as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer since Martha Otton’s retirement.
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