Press Releases
Arooga’s® Grille House & Sports Bar Partners with PlaySugarHouse for Sportsbook at Their Shelton, Connecticut Location

Harrisburg, Pa based restaurant group Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar announced that their Shelton, Connecticut franchise location has teamed up with The Connecticut Lottery Corporation to launch their new retail sportsbook PlaySugarHouse, a sports wagering platform from Rush Street Interactive. This will be the first location of the brand to offer sports betting, which will operate within the Arooga’s location.
Located at 387 Bridgeport Ave., Shelton, Ct and owned by Arooga’s franchise group McBride Holding Company, LLC, this location is over seven-thousand square feet, seats two hundred and fifty guests and has over one hundred wall-to-wall HD TVs. Franchise co-owner David McBride is planning extensive renovations to create a dedicated space for the PlaySugarHouse concept, which will include multiple kiosks and teller stations along with Arooga’s famous two-story video wall.
“We have always paid attention to the expanding gaming landscape in the Northeast and have been hopeful that sports wagering would become available to us,” said David McBride, Chief Operating Officer of McBride Holding Company, LLC, and co-owner of the Arooga’s Shelton franchise location. “The proposed layout for PlaySugarHouse is really magnificent with up to fifteen kiosks, so there will be plenty of room to satisfy all guests within the restaurant as well as patrons who would like to stop by and place a bet.”
“We are extremely excited that the CT lottery has chosen Arooga’s Grille House and Sports Bar in Shelton, Ct to launch of the Connecticut’s sports book locations,” said James Belli, Vice President of McBride Holding Company, LLC, and co-owner of Arooga’s Shelton. “This partnership will offer guests throughout the region an unparalleled opportunity to watch a game and place a sports bet in what we believe is one of, if not the best, sports atmospheres in Connecticut. Guests can come to watch numerous sporting events on over one hundred televisions, enjoy a beverage from one of over fifty-nine draft beer offerings, and enjoy some award-winning wings and other mouth-watering eats. We are thrilled and look forward to the future of this partnership.”
The new PlaySugarHouse sportsbook is projected to open in December of 2022 after renovations are complete and all necessary licensing is in place. McBride Holding Company, LLC is the owner of three Arooga’s franchises in Warwick, RI, Attleboro, Ma, and Shelton, Ct, and is the principal partner with The Connecticut Lottery Corporation for this venture.
“We are thrilled to really step up our sports bar game and offer this exciting experience to our guests,” said Gary Huether, Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar parent company owner and President. “Sports betting is a natural fit for an award-winning sports bar.”
The recipient of several national accolades, including selection as America’s Next Top Restaurant Franchise, as well as recognition among Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 500 Franchises of 2020 & 2021, and Top 200 Food Franchises 2020, Franchise Times Top 200 + 2020, and FranServe Fran-Tastic 500 2021, the Arooga’s restaurant company continues to charm the industry with its commitment to utilizing the latest technology in enhancing the guest experience and improving operational practices, creating unique and delicious menu items observing environmentally responsible operation methods in their restaurants as part of their certification by the Green Restaurant Association.
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Arizona Department of Gaming and Arizona Lottery Announce Proclamation Recognizing September 2025 as Responsible Gaming Education Month

State agencies join forces to raise awareness, promote prevention, and provide tools for safe and responsible play.
The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) and the Arizona Lottery are proud to announce a joint effort in support of a new Proclamation recognizing September 2025 as Responsible Gaming Education Month in Arizona.
Responsible gaming is about ensuring that individuals who choose to play have the tools, resources, and knowledge they need to make informed decisions and enjoy gaming as a form of entertainment. While problem gambling initiatives focus on helping those already experiencing harm from gambling, responsible gaming emphasizes prevention by encouraging healthy play behaviors before they reach a critical point.
Throughout September, and continuing in the months ahead, the ADG and Arizona Lottery will work together to strengthen education and awareness initiatives. The goal is to equip players with strategies and resources that help them keep gaming fun and safe, while helping reduce the risks associated with problem gambling.
“For over 30 years, the Arizona Department of Gaming has safeguarded the integrity of gaming through strong consumer protections, enforcement against illegal operators, and support services for those impacted by problem gambling,” said Jackie Johnson, Arizona Department of Gaming Agency Director. “During Responsible Gaming Education Month, we remind everyone that part of playing responsibly is being informed—always double-check before you place your bet to ensure you are using a legal, regulated operator at gaming.az.gov/checkyourbet.”
The Arizona Lottery also remains steadfast in its commitment to responsible play and has a Level 2 certification with the World Lottery Association for responsible gaming. Lottery games benefit the people of Arizona by generating critical revenue that funds education, healthcare, environmental conservation, and economic development. At the same time, the Lottery prioritizes the well-being of its players. Each ticket includes clear odds of winning, vending machines display game odds, and the 1-800-NEXT-STEP helpline is featured across Lottery products and advertising.
“We are proud to deliver entertainment that benefits communities across our state, while recognizing our responsibility to promote safe play,” said Alec Thomson, Arizona Lottery Executive Director. “Through transparency and awareness, we want every player to have the tools they need to make informed decisions and enjoy the Lottery responsibly.”
As Arizona observes Responsible Gaming Education Month, ADG and the Arizona Lottery encourage all players to stay informed, know their limits, and seek help if needed. Together, we can ensure that gaming remains a source of entertainment that strengthens, rather than harms, Arizona communities.
For more information and resources, visit gaming.az.gov/ResponsibleGaming or ArizonaLottery.com/ResponsibleGaming. If you or someone you know may be struggling with problem gambling, call or text 1-800-NEXT-STEP for confidential support available 24/7.
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Woodbine partners with 1/ST for Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Qualifier

Woodbine Entertainment has announced a partnership with 1/ST that will see the bet365 Dance Smartly Stakes (G2) become a qualifying race for the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G2).
The winner of this year’s $200,000 bet365 Dance Smartly Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack will receive an automatic invitation to the 2026 $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
The Dance Smartly, to be held on Saturday, October 4 at Woodbine, will be contested at 1 1/16 miles on the bet365 Inner Turf Course and is part of a stacked card headlined by the returning $750,000 Canadian International (G1).
“We’re pleased to partner with the team at 1/ST Racing to add this unique bonus to the Dance Smartly,” said Tim Lawson, Vice-President of Thoroughbred Racing for Woodbine. “Pegasus World Cup Day has become an outstanding showcase of our sport and it’s exciting that the opportunity to be part of it will be connected to a prominent race on one of our biggest days of the season.”
The 2026 Pegasus World Cup will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of racing’s leading luxury, lifestyle and sporting event. The Pegasus World Cup debuted in 2017 as part of 1/ST’s mission to excite, energize and modernize the sport of racing for a new generation of fans and to provide lucrative opportunities for Thoroughbred owners and trainers. The event annually attracts the sport’s biggest names and is viewed globally.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Woodbine in linking the Dance Smartly to Pegasus World Cup Day,” said Aidan Butler, President of 1/ST. “This collaboration strengthens the global profile of both events, while providing horsemen and fans with a world-class pathway from Toronto to South Florida.”
The 2026 Pegasus World Cup will be held in January.
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Plaza Hotel & Casino Partners with Aristocrat Gaming™ debuts Downtown’s First Buffalo & Mo’ Friends™ Slot Area Ribbon cutting event and launch of player promotion: Thursday, Sept. 4, 11 a.m

On Thursday, Sept. 4 at 11 a.m., the Plaza Hotel & Casino will hold a ribbon cutting to celebrate the debut of a new dedicated area for fans of the wildly popular Buffalo™ and Mo’ Mummy™ slot game franchises and other player-favorite Aristocrat Gaming titles. With 63 games, the Buffalo & Mo’ Friends slot area at the Plaza is the only one in downtown Las Vegas.
Located between the casino cage and the Plaza Rewards Players Club, the Buffalo & Mo’ Friends area at the Plaza features numerous fan-favorite Aristocrat Gaming titles, including: Buffalo Ultimate Stampede™, Buffalo Ascension™, Buffalo Power Pays™, Buffalo Triple Power™, Coin Trio Buffalo™, Buffalo and Friends™, Buffalo Diamond Extreme™, Mo’ Mummy, Mo’ Mo’ Mo’ Mummy™, Spooky Link™, Ultimate Fast Cash™, House of the Dragon™, Phoenix Link™, Jackpot Carnival™, Firecracker Fortunes™, Dragon Link™, Lucky Looters™ and more. The eye-catching wraps, bright lights, and distinct game sounds, Buffalo & Mo’ Friends welcomes players to a dedicated space of entertainment and excitement with their favorite games and ones they have yet to experience.
“Our goal on the casino floor is to offer the newest and most popular games to our guests, and our players are big fans of the various Buffalo and Mo’ Mummy games. So, we are thrilled to partner with Aristocrat Gaming on this dedicated game area that sets the Plaza apart from the rest of downtown Las Vegas,” said Jonathan Jossel, CEO of the Plaza Hotel & Casino.
“We pride ourselves in creating entertaining games that invite players to step into a world of fun with favorite characters, themes and gameplay features,” said Kurt Gissane, Chief Revenue Officer for Aristocrat Gaming. “The creation of the Buffalo & Mo’ Friends gaming area has truly been a collaborative effort with the Plaza team, wanting to give their players Mo’ and the new Buffalo & Mo’ Friends area certainly delivers. We look forward to seeing player excitement when they see all their favorite Aristocrat games in one vibrant area.”
To celebrate the debut of Buffalo & Mo’ Friends on Thursday, Sept. 4, the Plaza will offer Plaza Rewards players a variety of Buffalo-branded swag items and the chance of larger prizes based on the number of points accumulated daily. The Buffalo-themed promotion will last until Oct. 4 or while supplies last. Full rules available at the Plaza Rewards Players Club.
Trademark HOUSE OF THE DRAGONTM owned by Home Box Office, Inc. Used with Permission. Copyright © Home Box Office, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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