

Canada
The Cordish Companies Celebrates Grand Opening Of Live! Casino Pittsburgh
Live Casino! Pittsburgh, Western Pennsylvania’s newest gaming and entertainment destination, is now open, bringing a new level of gaming action, irresistible dining options, and exciting entertainment and nightlife to the region. The $150-million facility is the first of two gaming venues scheduled to open in Pennsylvania by The Cordish Companies. Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia is scheduled to open in early 2021.
“On behalf of my family and our entire team at The Cordish Companies, we are incredibly proud to open Live! Casino Pittsburgh,” said David Cordish, Chairman of The Cordish Companies. “Live! Casino is a world-class gaming and entertainment venue that will be a true destination for the area and a powerful driver of new jobs and taxes for the Commonwealth and the local community for decades to come.”
“We always say our goal is to give our customers a ‘WOW’ experience every time they visit the property,” said Live! Casino General Manager Sean Sullivan. “We certainly have achieved that here. As important, Live! Casino Pittsburgh will serve as a transformative development that will create maximum community benefits for Westmoreland County and Hempfield Township.”
Only one year since breaking ground on the project, Live! Casino Pittsburgh will provide the region $188 million in annual economic impact, an additional $148 million in economic impact from construction, and $47.5 million in tax revenues. The facility will provide more than 500 permanent new jobs for local and regional residents.
FIRST-CLASS DINING & ENTERTAINMENT
The 100,000-square-foot, two-level property features 750 of the latest, state-of-the-art slots and approximately 30 live-action table games, as well as the industry-leading FanDuel Sportsbook. The casino, on the ground floor, is strictly for guests 21 and over. The second level is available to guests of all ages and provides a host of entertainment and food options, including live music and non-casino games. Live! Casino also features incredible access and parking, with over 6,000 surrounding surface spaces and adjacent covered parking.
A lineup of stellar dining opportunities at Live! Casino will include two premier concepts – Guy Fieri’s American Kitchen + Bar and Sports & Social Steel City.
Emmy-award winning chef, restaurateur, New York Times best-selling author and TV personality Guy Fieri will open Guy Fieri’s American Kitchen + Bar. The restaurant will feature a creative menu of bold flavors including the award-winning Mac-N-Cheese Burger, signature sandwiches and entrees, and mouthwatering desserts like the Dark Chocolate Whiskey Cake. Guy’s American Kitchen + Bar also will offer a beverage menu that includes craft cocktails featuring signature drinks like the Caliente Margarita and the Tattooed Mojito.
The two-level Sports & Social Steel City is a one-of-a-kind sports restaurant, gaming venue and social lounge offering guests the ultimate sports fan experience. The 445-seat venue is outfitted with state-of-the-art AV technology, including a giant 40-foot LED video screen, and a wide variety of interactive social games, such as bowling, a golf simulator, ping pong, darts and more. Sports & Social Steel City also features an official FanDuel Sportsbook and Lounge on the first floor. The venue serves a classic American Grill menu perfect for watching the game or a night out. This powerhouse concept is anchored at the front door of professional sports stadiums around the country, including Atlanta, St. Louis and Arlington (Texas), creating a year-round fan clubhouse atmosphere with live music several nights a week.
In addition, the property also will feature a PBR Country Bar – PBR Pittsburgh. Slated to open next year as part of a second phase of openings, PBR Pittsburgh will bring an authentic country experience to the region.
PLAYING IT SAFE
To prepare for opening, Live! Casino has developed a comprehensive Play It Safe plan, an enhanced health and sanitation program that allows for ample social distancing, reduced occupancies, and vigorous hygiene and health measures for all guests and team members.
Key components of the plan include the installation of the state-of-the-art Atmos Air Bi-Polar Air Purification System within the HVAC system to treat and clean the air in the facility, including any virus particulates. The system is designed to perform 12 air changes per hour throughout the casino floor, which is more than twice the frequency of most commercial buildings.
In addition, the one-of-a-kind Reel Clear slots management system will guarantee every customer who plays a slot machine is sitting down at a freshly sanitized machine, and also has the capability to automatically social distance the customer from the nearest guest. The newly developed system can automatically shut down a slot machine after it has been played and can only be reactivated by an attendant after it has been sanitized. Also, once a player starts to play a newly sanitized machine, the system will lock down the machines on either side to enforce social distancing in areas not protected by plexiglass barriers. The system also will allow a patron to request their machine to be cleaned at any time.
The entire plan follows guidelines and recommendations from federal and state public health officials, along with best practices for the gaming and hospitality industries focusing on masking, temperature checks, social distancing, and repeated cleaning of high-traffic areas, slot machines and table game equipment.
“We’ve made it a priority to provide a safe environment for our team members and guests,” said Live! Casino General Manager Sean Sullivan. “Play It Safe employs extraordinary measures that meet and exceed the state’s COVID-19 guidelines. We want our guests to have fun and feel safe.”
Casino guests can sign up now for the Live! Rewards® Card and start earning great benefits no matter how much they play. Members will be the first to hear about special events and promotions at Live! Casino Pittsburgh and receive mail or email offers tailored to their preferences.
Management is still hiring for a variety of jobs, including experienced table games dealers, slot technicians, restaurant servers and more. People can apply for positions online and learn more about the company and its culture by visiting: www.WorkAtLive.com. The website is updated regularly to reflect new opportunities as they become available.
SOURCE Live! Casino Pittsburgh
Canada
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa Opens with Legendary Guitar Smash and Star-Studded Celebration

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.
AGCO
MIXI Receives AGCO Approval for PointsBet Acquisition

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

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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