Gambling in the USA
PENN to Open the New Hollywood Casino Aurora to Public on June 24
PENN Entertainment Inc. has announced that it expects to open the new land-based Hollywood Casino Aurora to the public on Wednesday, June 24, pending customary regulatory approvals. This will be the second all-new PENN property to open in the Chicagoland region following the grand opening of the land-based Hollywood Casino Joliet in August 2025.
The new $360 million entertainment destination is being developed across from Chicago Premium Outlets, located near Interstate-88 in Aurora. The state-of-the-art property will feature a luxurious hotel, more than 1200 gaming positions, a retail sportsbook, outdoor entertainment area, full-service spa, premium bars and restaurants, a 12,000 square foot event center and approximately 1700 parking spaces. The Company expects to employ approximately 700 team members at the new casino, which nearly doubles PENN’s existing employee roster in Aurora.
“We are now months away from opening another premium entertainment destination in the greater Chicago region. We are thrilled to follow the successful rollout of Hollywood Casino Joliet last summer with another new land-based property, strengthening our overall retail portfolio in the Midwest and deepening our roots in the community,” said Jay Snowden, CEO and President of PENN Entertainment.
Hollywood Casino Aurora will feature an upscale 226-room hotel offering a variety of standard rooms and suites, as well as a beauty and wellness space, Drift Spa.
The new property will also be outfitted with numerous world class dining experiences for guests to enjoy. As previously announced, PENN has partnered with celebrity chef and entrepreneur Giada De Laurentiis to open Sorella by Giada. The Italian-California fusion restaurant will offer approximately 170 seats for indoor and outdoor dining, a contemporary bar and private dining options.
Boulevard Food & Drink Hall, operated by McClain Camarota Hospitality (MCH), will include Lucky Goat by celebrity chef Stephanie Izard; Five50 Pizza, a pizza concept from the renowned chefs at MCH; and Chicago favorites Antique Taco and Pretty Cool Ice Cream. Additional restaurant partners that will be unique to Aurora’s Boulevard Food & Drink Hall will be announced in the coming weeks.
“These popular restaurateurs will provide our customers with amazing dining options at the new Hollywood Casino Aurora. Together with our hotel, event center, spa and additional amenities, patrons will experience a vibrant atmosphere at this new area attraction,” said Rafael Verde, Senior Vice President of Regional Operations at PENN Entertainment.
The 12,000 square foot event center will be equipped to host a variety of events, including meetings, conferences, weddings, galas, entertainment and more. Entertainment bookings are already underway, and the first public events will be announced soon.
Additional details related to the grand opening of the new casino will be provided in advance of June 24. The Company expects to work with the Illinois Gaming Board on the transfer of operations from the existing Hollywood Casino Aurora, which is located on the Fox River in downtown Aurora, to the new landside facility as the opening date nears.
In conjunction with this $360 million project, PENN expects to receive $225 million in funding from Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. near the project’s opening, at a 7.75% capitalization rate. By the end of the year, the Company also expects to receive the remaining $21 million of the $50 million in funding being contributed by the City of Aurora by year end.
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G2 Digital
G2 Digital launches Vegas Club Casino in New Jersey on White Hat Gaming PAM
G2 Digital, the iGaming operator founded by industry veterans Greg Carlin and Dan Alexander, has launched Vegas Club Casino in New Jersey on White Hat Gaming’s Player Account Management (PAM) platform. The site is now live at NJ.PLAYVEGASCLUB.COM, with apps available for iOS and Android, the companies said on July 22, 2026.
Under an exclusive agreement, White Hat Gaming will provide its PAM solution to support G2 Digital as it targets regulated jurisdictions across the United States and Canada. The platform scope includes CRM marketing support, a proprietary cashier, RGS integrations, and White Hat’s Travelling Wallet
feature, positioned by the supplier as enabling cross-state flexibility and scalability.
Phil Gelvan, CEO at White Hat Gaming, said: “Greg and Dan are incredibly well-respected in the industry, so we are proud that they have chosen White Hat Gaming’s first-class PAM solution to supplement G2 Digital as it expands its operations in the US iGaming space with Vegas Club Casino. We are dedicated to delivering a highly optimized PAM product that ensures G2 Digital provides its players with a seamless, high-performance gaming environment.”
Greg Carlin, Co-Founder and CEO at G2 Digital, said: “After conducting a thorough analysis of all available platforms approved in the US market, White Hat’s PAM solution stood out as the winner, both in terms of the technology and the leadership team behind that product.”
White Hat noted its PAM is also used by operators including Bally’s, Jackpocket, and Choctaw Nation, and framed the deal as expanding its presence in regulated US markets.
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Gambling in the USA
AGS Reflects on Their Class II Roots at OIGA 2026
AGS today announced it will be attending the 2026 Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA) Conference and Trade Show, taking place July 20-22 at the Oklahoma City Convention Center.
With deep seated roots in Oklahoma, where AGS was founded and where its primary warehouse and production facility is located, AGS is eager to return to OIGA with a continued commitment to serving the needs of tribal operators.
”Oklahoma is not just another dot on the map for us. It’s where we started and where we learned how to be a true gaming supplier,” said David Lopez, CEO and President of AGS. “You can’t fake it in Oklahoma. Tribal customers know the games, they know the math, they know service, and they know who shows up every time. That has been great for AGS, because it forced us to get better. It made us more disciplined while keeping us honest. We’ve grown a lot since then – Class III, tables, interactive, offices all over the place – but our history in Oklahoma and Class II is not something we moved on from. It’s part of the AGS engine.”
The Company’s product showcase will include the large-format, specialty cabinet Spectra SL75+
. Designed to support the entire Spectra game library, including premium titles when leased, Spectra SL75+ gives operators added flexibility to mix and match content to fit their unique casino floor.
The cabinet acts as the perfect canvas to highlight five new titles including Rakin’ Bacon! Fu Zhu Bao Bao
and Rakin’ Bacon! 5 Prosperity Pots
, Cash Carriage Looter
, Da Da Luo Boom
, and Frightful Fortunes Popping Pumpkins
.
AGS’ high-performing mechanical stepper cabinet Revel® – available in both Class II and Class III – is redefining the category by blending traditional mechanical gameplay with video-inspired features, creating an engaging experience for all player types. The latest Revel portfolio includes Crystal Reels® and Royal Reels®, available in both Class II and Class III. Expanding the lineup, Jackpot Legends
– a new cash-on-reels title featuring an exciting Jackpot Bonus Wheel – and So Hot Cash®, which delivers classic stepper gameplay and can be linked to the So Hot Grand progressive, are set to debut in Class III later this year, with Class II launches following in 2027.
On the table side, AGS’ award-winning progressive platform Bonus Spin Xtreme® (BSX) has been hugely successful in turning small side bets into massive jackpots throughout the tribal casino market. Linking all table games – from the pit to the poker room – BSX has been elemental in allowing operators to offer the flexibility at the tables to make these life-changing wins become more common.
AGS’ participation in OIGA reflects the Company’s history in Oklahoma and its longstanding commitment to the tribal gaming community. More than a trade show presence, OIGA is an opportunity for AGS to reconnect with valued partners, strengthen relationships, and reaffirm its respect for the Oklahoma Tribes that have played such an important role in the Company’s growth.
Attendees are invited to visit AGS at booth 732 throughout the show.
For more information, visit newsroom.playags.com.
©2026 AGS LLC. All® notices signify marks registered in the United States. All
notices signify trademarks which are currently not registered on any country-wide basis. Products referenced herein are sold by AGS LLC or its affiliates.
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Gambling in the USA
UpUp Casino Opens to U.S. Players with Premium Games Free, Faster Redemptions, and a Player-first Rewards Program
UpUp Casino, a free-to-play social sweepstakes platform built on player-first principles, officially launched in the US at upupcasino.com. The platform debuts with a premium game library, independently audited systems, and a legally compliant sweepstakes model that never requires a purchase or deposit to play or redeem real cash prizes.
UpUp Casino features a diverse collection of social and live games from globally recognised studios that power leading international iGaming brands — premium titles that are traditionally paid-to-play, now available free within the UpUp Casino sweepstakes experience. The platform operates using two virtual currencies: Gold Coins (GC) for entertainment gameplay and Sweep Coins (SC), which can be redeemed for real cash prizes.
Built around a player-first rewards experience, UpUp Casino offers every new player a welcome gift upon signup, alongside a wide range of ongoing promotions and benefits. Players can enjoy daily rewards, weekly bonuses, coin package bonuses, limited-time coin boosts, refer-a-friend incentives, and more. The platform’s VIP program further enhances the experience with boosted promotions, priority support, and exclusive tier-based rewards.
All eligible SC balances can be redeemed for real cash prizes through a redemption process designed for speed, security, and low minimum thresholds — ensuring rewards remain accessible to players.
UpUp Casino has been independently audited for security and fair-play integrity prior to launch and operates in compliance with U.S. sweepstakes promotional regulations. Player accounts are protected through industry-standard encryption, identity verification systems, and dedicated 24/7 customer support staffed by real people.
“Players deserve more — premium games without paywalls, faster redemptions, better rewards, and support from real people who genuinely care. We built UpUp Casino around those principles. This is what a modern player-first sweepstakes casino should look like,” said Angelina Upton, Founder of UpUp Casino.
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