Gambling in the USA
Spectacle Entertainment and Hard Rock International Break Ground On $400 Million Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana
Spectacle Entertainment and Hard Rock International announced the development and construction of Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana at an official groundbreaking ceremony held on Thursday, Jan. 9. The ceremony was conducted at the construction site, located at 5400 West 29th Ave. in Gary, and included state and local officials, Spectacle Entertainment and Hard Rock executives.
Concluding the ceremony, Executive Director of the Indiana Gaming Commission Sara Tait, Spectacle Entertainment Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rod Ratcliff and Chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida Marcellus Osceola planted shovels to commemorate the start of construction on Indiana’s first Hard Rock property. Various other officials, including Gary Mayor Jerome Prince and Hard Rock International Chief Operating Officer Jon Lucas joined the trio on stage.
The premier 200,000-square-foot entertainment complex is a joint venture between the two companies and will include six food venues, a sportsbook, a retail shop, a 2,000-seat showroom and more than 2,130 gaming positions. Phase two of the project will see the addition of a 200-plus-room hotel and a multi-level parking garage.
Guests of Honor at the ceremony were Tito, Jackie and Marlon Jackson, of the world-renowned Jackson family. The brothers began their career while residing in Gary and returned to the area as a group for the first time in fifty years. With hits like “I Want You Back” and “Never Can Say Goodbye,” The Jacksons are known as one of the most influential families in musical history.
Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana is forecasting more than $20 million annually in tax revenue and payments to the City of Gary and surrounding communities. Approximately 1,000 construction jobs, with an emphasis to hire union labor, and an estimated additional 500 jobs are expected. With a location adjacent to the 80/94 Burr Street interchange and approximately 193,000 cars passing daily, the expectation is to become the leading entertainment destination for the entire Northern Indiana region.
Additionally, Spectacle Entertainment has a commitment to local investment with a pledge to work with minority and women owned businesses. Currently all 17 senior leaders at Spectacle’s Majestic Star Casino are board directors for local charitable and community organizations in Gary and the Northern Indiana region. The team has sponsored, participated and volunteered for multiple local events and programs throughout the year, with a plan to directly drive more than $500,000 in fundraising in 2020.
Ratcliff stated, “Breaking ground for Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana is the start of an incredible partnership between Spectacle Entertainment, Hard Rock International and the City of Gary, Indiana. It is an honor to be here today and to see this dream become a reality. A lot of work has gone into this project, a lot of planning. I’m grateful to all those who played a part in it. There is no doubt this is a game changer for Gary, Indiana and the entire Northern Indiana region.”
Hard Rock has a presence in 76 countries and is one of the most recognizable brands in the world. Spectacle Entertainment is confident the Hard Rock name will attract visitors throughout the region and beyond, maximize job creation, increase tax revenues, and greatly benefit the City of Gary and the State of Indiana.
“It’s an honor to partner with Spectacle Entertainment on this project, bringing the Hard Rock brand of world-class entertainment to Northern Indiana,” said Jon Lucas, Chief Operating Officer of Hard Rock International. “This property will be the premier casino destination in the region.”
Source: hardrock.com
AI in lottery
Scientific Games Appoints Rich Wasserman as Senior Vice President of Product Engineering
Scientific Games has appointed Rich Wasserman as Senior Vice President of Product Engineering, reinforcing its commitment to advancing lottery systems technology and digital innovation.
Based in Atlanta, the global lottery provider continues to expand its technology leadership as one of the fastest-growing suppliers of retail and digital lottery solutions worldwide.
Leadership Experience from Amazon, Facebook and Stitch Fix
Wasserman brings more than 20 years of experience leading engineering, data science and product teams across high-performance technology platforms.
He previously held senior leadership roles at:
- Amazon
- Stitch Fix
At Stitch Fix, he served as Vice President of Engineering and Data Science, leading automation, AI-driven systems and platform optimization initiatives. Wasserman holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and a Computer Science degree from the University at Buffalo.
Driving Innovation Across Global Lottery Platforms
In his new role, Wasserman will oversee Product Engineering across Scientific Games’ global portfolio serving more than 150 government-regulated lotteries. His responsibilities include advancing:
- Retail lottery systems
- Digital lottery platforms
- Hardware and software innovation
- Data analytics and AI capabilities
- Consumer engagement technologies
CEO Pat McHugh stated that Wasserman’s experience scaling AI-powered platforms at world-class technology firms will help accelerate innovation and deliver next-generation lottery solutions focused on sustainable growth.
Strengthening Lottery Technology Leadership
Scientific Games continues to invest in technology, analytics and digital transformation to enhance consumer experiences across retail and online lottery channels. The appointment underscores the company’s strategy to integrate advanced analytics and machine learning into its global lottery ecosystem.
The post Scientific Games Appoints Rich Wasserman as Senior Vice President of Product Engineering appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Gambling in the USA
Scientific Games Appoints Rich Wasserman as Senior Vice President of Product Engineering
Former Amazon, Facebook and Stitch Fix Exec to Lead Product Engineering for Global Lottery Provider
Scientific Games has named Rich Wasserman as Senior Vice President of Product Engineering. Wasserman brings more than 20 years of experience leading global engineering, data science and product organizations across complex, high-performance technology platforms.
As the industry’s fastest-growing lottery systems technology provider, Scientific Games continues to invest in technology and talent to deliver seamless consumer experiences across lottery retail and digital channels.
Wasserman previously held senior leadership roles at Amazon and Facebook, where he led large-scale systems powered by advanced analytics and machine learning. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Engineering and Data Science at Stitch Fix, leading integrated teams focused on automation and platform optimization. Wasserman holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and a degree in Computer Science from the University at Buffalo.
In his new role, Wasserman will lead Product Engineering across Scientific Games’ global product portfolio serving government-regulated lotteries, advancing hardware and software platforms to accelerate innovation, expand analytics capabilities and consumer-engagement to deliver long-term value for lottery customers worldwide.
“We’re excited to add Rich’s deep technical expertise scaling innovative, AI-driven platforms at world-class organizations to further strengthen Scientific Games’ technology leadership,” said Pat McHugh, Chief Executive Officer of Scientific Games. “As we continue investing in innovation and analytics across retail and digital lottery solutions, his experience and leadership will help us deliver the next generation of high-performance products that drive sustainable growth for our lottery customers worldwide.”
Scientific Games serves more than 150 lotteries globally with a comprehensive portfolio of retail systems, digital platforms, instant games and analytics solutions.
© 2026 Scientific Games, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
The post Scientific Games Appoints Rich Wasserman as Senior Vice President of Product Engineering appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
S Gaming, the fast-growing developer of highly entertaining online slots and casino games, has taken another major step in its US expansion strategy by securing a partnership with leading operator Fanatics Casino.
As part of the agreement, Fanatics Casino will exclusively roll out S Gaming’s standout title, Triple 7 Jackpot, across regulated iGaming markets including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Michigan.
What Makes Triple 7 Jackpot Stand Out?
Triple 7 Jackpot delivers a classic slot experience infused with vibrant neon energy. At the heart of the game is its signature Triple 7 feature, which remains visible on-screen throughout gameplay. Players can unlock this feature by landing three Bonus 7 symbols in a single spin.
Once activated, the feature awards one bonus spin and a chance to land the impressive 500x Jackpot prize, adding significant win potential to the experience.
In addition, players can trigger Free Spins by landing three Scatter symbols during the base game, awarding seven Free Games and further opportunities to boost winnings.
Strengthening a Growing US Presence
The partnership with Fanatics Casino marks another milestone in S Gaming’s ambitious US growth strategy. The studio’s focus on sustainable entertainment and accessible, casual gameplay is already resonating with American players.
Charles Mott, CEO and Co-Founder of S Gaming, highlighted the importance of the deal:
“Fanatics Casino needs no introduction and is one of the powerhouse brands in the regulated US market. We’re thrilled to see Triple 7 Jackpot added to its casino lobby and to bring the game to players in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Michigan for the first time.”
Mott also noted that the company now works with two major US operators—Fanatics and BetMGM—with additional partnerships expected in the coming months.
Enhancing the Fanatics Casino Portfolio
Fanatics Casino views the collaboration as part of its ongoing strategy to elevate its game offering.
Kieron Shaw, Senior Manager at Fanatics Casino, commented:
“We’re committed to expanding our portfolio to enhance the player experience, which is why we continue to partner with innovative studios like S Gaming. Their focus on fun, combined with strong win potential, brings something fresh and exciting to our platform.”
With this latest launch, S Gaming continues to cement its position in the competitive US iGaming landscape, leveraging premium partnerships to deliver engaging slot experiences to players nationwide.
The post S Gaming ignites US expansion with Fanatics Casino partnership appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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