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Hawks Talon Gaming Extends Winning Streak to Five Games

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Rookie Caesar A. Martinez (CEEZ) Set Single-Game Franchise Record with 50 Points

 

On Saturday evening, Hawks Talon GC, the official NBA 2K League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks, was victorious in two games over Heat Check Gaming, the official NBA 2K League affiliate of the Miami Heat, by scores of 89-69 and 88-79. As a result, Hawks Talon, who will enter Week 3 on a five-game winning streak, sits at a 5-3 record for the 2021 NBA 2K League regular season.

“It was important for us to continue our momentum in both of our games against Heat Check Gaming tonight,” said Hawks Talon Head Coach Wesley Acuff. “These games felt much closer than the final scores reflected. As a team, we continued to push and create opportunities for each other, and I was excited to see our team continue to make extra passes and find the open man. This led to our success tonight, and frankly, all weekend long. We look forward to reviewing the film from this weekend’s games and finding things we can improve upon as we enter Week 3.”

In the first game, Hawks Talon recorded a season-high 89 points in the team’s victory over Heat Check Gaming. Leading the way was 2021 first-round pick Caesar A. Martinez (CEEZ) who totaled a game-high 33 points and 10 assists. Michael Diaz-Cruz (BP), who switched to play the role of secondary ballhandler for the first team this season, contributed with a season-high 24 points and five assists. Lee Lamb (LEE) contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Michael Swanegan (SWANN) added 11 points and two rebounds. The team’s 2021 second-round draft pick, Thomas Batts (FAKIEE), added nine points, three rebounds and a career-high four assists.

In the second game, Hawks Talon’s 2021 first-round draft pick CEEZ set a single-game franchise-record scoring 50 points, which was highlighted by a career-best nine three-point field goals. He also added a team-high 11 assists, resulting in his fifth double-double performance of the regular season. LEE, who earned recognition on the 2020 NBA 2K League All-Rookie Team, totaled 18 points, a game-high 15 rebounds and seven assists. This marked LEE’s sixth double-double performance of the season. Rounding out the group was BP who totaled 11 points, FAKIEE who added six points and three rebounds, and SWANN who contributed with three points, two rebounds, two assists and a team-high two steals.

Hawks Talon Gaming (5-3) will continue the regular season against Celtics Crossover Gaming (1-3), the official NBA 2K League affiliate of the Boston Celtics, on Saturday, June 12 at 7 p.m. for Week 3 of the NBA 2K League regular season. These games will be simulcast live on the NBA 2K League’s Twitch and YouTube channels. Games will also be available on ESRevolution, Loco in India, Sport1 in Europe and Dash Radio.

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Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa Opens with Legendary Guitar Smash and Star-Studded Celebration

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Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa officially opened its doors with a signature guitar smash, marking the arrival of Canada’s first fully integrated Hard Rock resort, a bold new destination where entertainment, hospitality, and music take center stage.

The $350 million resort brings the brand’s unmistakable energy to Canada’s capital, offering locals and visitors an immersive Hard Rock experience blending iconic music history with world-class entertainment, hospitality, dining, and gaming.

In true Hard Rock fashion, the opening festivities kicked off with the Canadian Tenors’ electrifying rendition of O Canada followed by the brand’s signature Guitar Smash, a modern take on the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony. Executives, dignitaries, and community leaders took the stage to ceremoniously smash guitars, signaling the official opening of the state-of-the-art entertainment destination.

A special moment included the presentation of a $100,000 donation to Ottawa Food Bank, reinforcing Hard Rock’s commitment to giving back to the communities it serves.

“Bringing Hard Rock to Canada’s capital is an iconic milestone for our brand. We’re proud to expand our global footprint and create a destination where locals and visitors can experience world-class gaming, hospitality, and entertainment all in one place,” said Jim Allen, Chief Executive Officer of Hard Rock International.

“Our government is thrilled that Hard Rock chose Ontario for its first fully integrated hotel and casino venue in Canada. This new entertainment and hospitality destination will draw visitors from near and far to Ottawa, create and sustain hundreds of local jobs, and provide millions of dollars for local infrastructure and community programs,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming.

The post Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa Opens with Legendary Guitar Smash and Star-Studded Celebration appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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MIXI Receives AGCO Approval for PointsBet Acquisition

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PointsBet Holdings Limited announced that MIXI has received written confirmation that AGCO has no concerns with the proposed acquisition by MIXI of the shares in PointsBet Holdings Limited.

PointsBet has also received written confirmation from iGaming Ontario (iGO) in relation to MIXI’s proposed acquisition of shares in PointsBet.

Accordingly, the condition precedent to MIXI’s proposed PointsBet-Board recommended Takeover Bid relating to Ontario approvals in paragraph 4.5 of Schedule 1 of the Bid Implementation Deed dated 16 June 2025 (BID) has been satisfied.

MIXI’s proposed Takeover Bid remains subject to the satisfaction of certain other limited conditions as previously announced, including a 50.1% minimum acceptance of the proposed MIXI Offer (as defined in the BID).

The Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission provided its approval on 24 March 2025 for MIXI to acquire PointsBet. PointsBet confirmed that MIXI’s proposed Takeover Bid is no longer subject to any gaming regulatory approvals.

The post MIXI Receives AGCO Approval for PointsBet Acquisition appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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AGCO Fines Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto $350,000 for Serious Regulatory Violations Linked to Impromptu After-Party on Gaming Floor

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The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued monetary penalties totaling $350,000 against Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto for multiple violations of provincial gaming standards. The penalties follow an impromptu after-party that was permitted to take place in the pre-dawn hours directly on the casino’s gaming floor.

On September 27, 2024, an electronic dance music event attended by thousands of people was hosted in the theatre adjacent to the casino at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. The event was marked by widespread intoxication, disorderly behavior, and numerous criminal and medical incidents – both inside and outside the venue – including alleged assaults, drug overdoses, and acts of public indecency. Although paid duty officers were present, additional police and emergency services were required to manage the situation.

In the midst of this high-risk environment, casino management approved an unscheduled request by the performing artist to host an after-party on the active gaming floor. The artist and more than 400 guests were permitted onto the gaming floor where the artist was allowed to perform amidst operational table games and gaming machines – without any prior risk assessment or planning.

As a result, security personnel were unable to effectively control the casino floor, including witness reports that an attendee was seen climbing onto slot machines. Failure to maintain appropriate control compromises the security, safety, and integrity of the casino floor. Following the conclusion of the event, the operator failed to promptly report these incidents to the AGCO as required.

Based on the findings of its review, the AGCO’s Registrar has issued an Order of Monetary Penalty (OMP) totaling $350,000 against Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. These penalties address critical failures in their operations, incident reporting, employee training, and the management of disturbances.

A gaming operator served with an OMP has 15 days to appeal the Registrar’s decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative tribunal that is part of Tribunals Ontario and independent of the AGCO.

“Casino operators have a fundamental duty to control their gaming environment. Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto’s lapses in this incident compromised the safety of patrons and the security and integrity of the gaming floor,” Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of AGCO, said.

The post AGCO Fines Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto $350,000 for Serious Regulatory Violations Linked to Impromptu After-Party on Gaming Floor appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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