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ESPORTS AWARDS TO BE HOSTED AT RESORTS WORLD LAS VEGAS ON DECEMBER 13

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The Esports Awards, the most prestigious night in the esports calendar, is excited to kick off its 2022 campaign by announcing its new home at Resorts World Las Vegas. After three incredible years in London and a move to the United States in 2019 to Arlington, Texas, the Esports Awards is levelling up with a new location, a new date and a fresh look for 2022.

The Esports Awards will take place on Tuesday, December 13 with a lavish ceremony at the Resorts World Theatre, a 5,000-capacity world-class entertainment venue. The awards will also be opening their doors to general admission with tickets available now starting from $50 plus fees from esportsawards.com/tickets/.

After an incredible turnout in 2021, which even included an appearance from golf legend Bryson DeChambeau, the Esports Awards Open in partnership with Golf + Gaming Club (GGC) will return for 2022, providing attendees with the perfect opportunity to show off their golf skills. From December 11 – 13, the Esports Awards will also be holding several other events including its Lifetime Achievement Ceremony and Leadership Summit which gives brands, organisations and industry thought-leaders the opportunity to debate and network.

For 2022, the Esports Awards will be making some adjustments to the groupings of its award categories with the new groups being: Entertainment, Industry, Creative, Pro, On-air Talent and Collegiate. Entertainment has taken over the community awards encompassing the original selection of awards with the addition of “Esports Content Series of the Year,” “Esports Game of the Year” and a new award titled, “Esports Content Group of the Year.”

Elsewhere, Esports Apparel of the Year has moved to the Creative Awards group and will be voted on by the creative panel, and Esports Analyst of the Year has been renamed Esports Desk Analyst of the Year.

The Esports Awards is pleased to welcome back Secretlab and Verizon as sponsors for the 2022 campaign. Verizon is returning for its third year and will once again be sponsoring the “Esports Mobile Player of the Year” and “Esports Mobile Game of the Year” awards. Using their 5G Ultra-Wideband technology, Verizon and Esports Awards work together to bring gamers next-level experiences. Presenting the “Esports Team of the Year” award, Secretlab will also be bringing some really exciting activations to the awards.

The Esports Awards 2022 campaign starts now, with nominations now open. Key dates include:

  • May 19: Nominations open
  • June 30: Finalists for the Entertainment Categories
  • July 28: Finalists for the Industry Categories
  • August 25: Finalists for the Creative & Collegiate Categories
  • September 29: Lifetime Achievement in Esports Class of 2022 reveal
  • October 27: Finalists for Pro & On-air Categories
  • TBC: Go Home Show
  • December 13: Esports Awards 2022

Michael Ashford, the CEO of Esports Awards, commented: “We could not be more excited to start building a legacy with Resorts World Las Vegas. We recognize the awards are a deserved end of year celebration and want to build something that caters to delivering a best-in-class experience. Resorts World Las Vegas as a venue has been very forward-thinking in attracting top-tier events and to see the support for esports is hugely encouraging. A huge shout out to Destination Esports, Resorts World Las Vegas and Hilton Hotels for making it happen.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome the Esports Awards to Las Vegas,” said Lisa Motley, Senior Director Of Sports And Special Events For The Las Vegas Convention And Visitors Authority. “Attendees will enjoy the many “Only Vegas” experiences that make Las Vegas the greatest arena on earth, from world class entertainment to unrivaled dining, sports and attractions.”

Last year’s Esports Awards saw a return to a live ceremony after 735 days at the Esports Awards Stadium in Arlington Texas. A milestone and star-studded event, the awards hosted some of the biggest faces from esports and beyond with the likes of Riot Games, 100 Thieves and Discord all picking up awards. The 2021 Esports Awards campaign also saw over 20 million total viewership, 1 million hours watched and 10 million votes cast.

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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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