Canada
Zynga Launches Cornucopia of Events Across Several Titles for Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving, Zynga Inc., a global leader in interactive entertainment, is inviting players to celebrate the American holiday with a harvest of in-game events and new features across four of Zynga’s titles – Zynga Poker, Empires & Puzzles, FarmVille 2: Country Escape, and FarmVille 2: Tropic Escape. And FarmVille 3 is kicking off the holiday season with home tips and baking recipes presented by the farmhands, beginning with a yummy pumpkin pie recipe with a special ingredient.
Zynga Poker // Leagues: World Champions
Zynga Poker just launched a new competitive feature, Leagues: World Champions! In this new system, players will win their way through five different divisions, competing weekly to level up through a points-based progression system. As players win more hands, they’ll advance through each division with the goal of earning a coveted spot on the World Champion Leaderboard, a new live feature that highlights the top 500 players in real-time rankings. With each new victory, players will be awarded with exclusive perks, like extra chips from Lucky Bonus Spins and Prize Chests, and special badges the top 500 players can proudly display while at the virtual tables.
Empires & Puzzles // Special Black Friday Summon
In Empires & Puzzles, a Black Friday summon gate will open to unveil heroes from all existing events – plus Gaillard and Peñolite, two never-before-seen heroes from an upcoming event. These two new heroes will be available exclusively for this event before they are officially introduced next year. For every ten summons, players will be granted a Black Friday Bonus Chest, comprising ethers, emblems, high-level ascension items, trainer heroes and food bundles. In addition, starting on Thanksgiving Day and running until the following Monday, Empires & Puzzles will make available Guardians of Teltoc, which fans voted for earlier this month as one of their favorite existing challenge events.
FarmVille 2: Country Escape // A Hearty Fall Feast
Players of FarmVille 2: Country Escape can prepare a hearty fall feast for the Thanksgiving Township event, where friends gather to appreciate the simple things in life. Keep an eye out for special visitors, Mayor Mandalay and Minstrel Madeline, who’ll be dropping in to bring music and laughter (and extra rewards!) to the fete. Players can progress through five stages of the event to win valuable goodies that’ll help get the most out of their farm – there’s Speed Seed, Golden Gloves, Stamps, Keys and more up for grabs! Complete the event to win the adorable Township Terrier, a happy-go-lucky pup who’ll fetch rare items as he works around the farm.
FarmVille 2: Tropic Escape // Thanksgiving Critters
FarmVille 2: Tropic Escape’s fabulous Thanksgiving Luau always draws elusive fall animals out of their hidey-holes. Local guide Domingo is using the opportunity to teach players about these sweet owls, foxes and turkeys. Join Domingo on this autumn adventure to learn about all the critters in his collection and earn rewards along the way by doing tasks such as crafting items and visiting landmarks. Complete a collection of 13 animals to win an iridescent ocellated turkey as a final reward.
FarmVille 3 // Katie’s Pumpkin Pie
Katie Cookie, FarmVille 3’s baker extraordinaire, has spent years on the farm perfecting her delicious pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. Now, Katie is sharing her recipe with a special ingredient: Chinese five-spice powder. Players can visit FarmVille 3’s Facebook Page to enjoy this interesting twist on a classic pumpkin pie! Follow the page for future recipes and decorating tips to prepare for the holidays!
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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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