Gambling in the USA

Hard Rock International Unveils Star-Studded Cast In Big Game Commercial

Published

6 years ago

January 31, 2020

Jennifer Lopez stars, cameos from DJ Khaled, Alex Rodriguez, Pitbull, and Steven Van Zandt in “The Hype,” directed by Michael Bay

Ahead of its primetime premiere, Hard Rock International reveals an all-star celebrity line-up, featured in the Michael Bay production titled, “The Hype.” The first Big Game commercial for both the brand and South Florida-based filmmaker, “The Hype” follows global superstar Jennifer Lopez on a thrilling pursuit through the world’s first Guitar Hotel® at the newly expanded Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, encountering a few familiar faces along the way.

Hard Rock International will debut its first Big Game commercial at the end of the first half of the event broadcast on February 2, 2020, which takes place at the state-of-the-art Hard Rock Stadium in South Florida.

“The Hard Rock brand has celebrated and archived iconography and memorabilia that is synonymous with the best of music and entertainment,” expressed megastar Jennifer Lopez. “I hope this fun, action-packed spot filmed at The Hard Rock’s Guitar Hotel & Casino will continue to add to that tradition.”

Hard Rock tapped filmmaker Michael Bay to create a highly visual, fast action commercial that will leave a lasting impression on audiences. Bay’s repertoire – with film credits including, “Armageddon,” the “Transformers” series, and “Bad Boys” – name recognition and deep roots in South Florida make him the ideal fit for this powerful collaboration.

Joining Jennifer Lopez in the spot are GRAMMY® Award winning artist and producer DJ Khaled, who just announced a residency with Hard Rock International; GRAMMY® Award winner Pitbull; former Major League Baseball All-Star Alex Rodriguez; and singer-songwriter/actor Steven Van Zandt.

“The Big Game is a global sporting event that incorporates music and entertainment, two cornerstones of the Hard Rock brand,” said Jim Allen, chairman and CEO of Hard Rock International. “As one of the most recognizable brands in the world, this is the perfect platform for Hard Rock to collaborate with immensely talented star power, including Michael Bay, one of the world’s greatest producers and directors. We’re confident that ‘The Hype’ will captivate millions of viewers.”

In conjunction with the spot, Hard Rock’s “Live Like a Legend” $2 Million Giveaway will also be launching on hardrock.com. Details on how to enter will be announced in the upcoming days.

Since the brand’s inception in 1971, Hard Rock has been synonymous with music and entertainment, as evidenced by 35,000 live shows annually across the portfolio, celebrating contemporary, emerging and legendary artists worldwide. This is also displayed in Hard Rock’s curated music memorabilia, which includes the world’s most valuable collection of more than 83,000 music items and pop-culture artifacts. Along with unique memorabilia adorning the walls, every property offers stylish design, unparalleled service and a unique vibe. With 31 hotels and 12 casinos currently operating around the globe (and exploration of more than 17 property deals in the pipeline), in addition to 251 iconic Hard Rock Cafes, Hard Rock is recognized as a world-class entertainment and lifestyle brand, offering guests an immersive music experience relevant to all generations.

For more information or to book a stay at any of the Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos around the globe, visit hardrock.com.

Detroit casinos

Detroit Casinos Report $118.87M in April Revenue

Published

12 hours ago

May 15, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

detroit-casinos-report-$118.87m-in-april-revenue

Detroit’s three commercial casinos reported $118.87 million in aggregate revenue (AGR) for April 2026. Table games and slots generated $118.03 million, while retail sports betting produced $837,397 in qualified adjusted gross receipts (QAGR).

April market shares were:

• MGM, 49%

• MotorCity, 29%

• Hollywood Casino at Greektown, 22%

Table Games and Slot Revenue

April 2026 table games and slot revenue increased 7.8% compared with April 2025 and 5.8% from March 2026. For the period January 1 through April 30, revenue was up by 1.4% year-over-year.

Casino-level results compared with April 2025 were:

• MGM: up 14.3% to $58.42 million

• MotorCity: up 3.2% to $34.13 million

• Hollywood Casino at Greektown: up 0.8% to $25.48 million

The casinos paid $9.6 million in state gaming taxes in April, compared with $8.9 million in April 2025. They also reported submitting $14.0 million in wagering taxes and development agreement payments to the City of Detroit.

Retail Sports Betting Revenue

Detroit casinos reported $8.74 million in total retail sports betting handle for April. Total gross receipts were $868,546. QAGR increased by $520,859 from April 2025 and 3.3% from March 2026.

April QAGR by casino:

• MGM: $78,681

• MotorCity: $234,997

• Hollywood Casino at Greektown: $523,719

The casinos paid $31,654 in state taxes and submitted $38,688 in wagering taxes to the City of Detroit based on April retail sports betting activity.

Fantasy Contests

For March 2026, fantasy contest operators reported $448,069 in adjusted revenues and paid $37,638 in taxes.

The post Detroit Casinos Report $118.87M in April Revenue appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

AGS

AGS hires three executives to expand slot sales strategy team

Published

1 day ago

May 14, 2026

Wladimir P.

ags-hires-three-executives-to-expand-slot-sales-strategy-team

AGS has appointed three gaming executives to expand its commercial slot sales strategy and operations team. John McColl joins as Senior Director of Slot Sales Strategy, Mark Morton as Vice President of Slot Sales Strategy, and Loren Rosenberg as Vice President of Commercial Slot Strategy & Operations.

“These hires represent a significant step forward in building a best-in-class commercial organization,” said Jackosn Floyd, Vice President of Slots at AGS. “John, Mark, and Loren have each demonstrated an ability to translate strategy into measurable results, and their leadership will help the team sharpen our focus on performance, efficiency, and delivering greater value across our slot portfolio.”

McColl will lead sales strategy and commercial opportunity, with a focus on expanding market share and driving revenue growth. AGS said he will build a data-driven approach to mapping the company’s total addressable market (TAM) to identify new opportunities. McColl has more than 30 years of experience across casino operations, gaming technology, and enterprise B2B sales, including roles at Gaming Analytics, Scientific Games / Bally Technologies, and Harrah’s Entertainment.

Morton will focus on customer synergy and strategic alignment, streamlining internal sales processes, and expanding enterprise sales opportunities, according to the company. He previously served as Senior Vice President at Marker Trax and Koin, where AGS said he led commercial strategy, pricing, and enterprise contract execution with operators including Boyd Gaming, Golden Entertainment, and Penn National.

Rosenberg will oversee commercial strategy and operations, with responsibility for maximizing value across AGS’ product portfolio and supporting commercial expansion. He brings nearly 20 years of experience across product, commercial and enterprise strategy roles, including senior leadership positions at Aristocrat and Everi. Rosenberg began his career at WMS, later acquired by Scientific Games, and has held roles across operations, strategy and commercial functions.

The post AGS hires three executives to expand slot sales strategy team appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

bingo

Plaza Hotel & Casino sets $250,000 Super Bingo event for July 3-5

Published

1 week ago

May 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

plaza-hotel-&-casino-sets-$250,000-super-bingo-event-for-july-3-5

Downtown Las Vegas property says the July Super Bingo will be its largest prize purse to date, with sessions on July 4-5.

Plaza Hotel & Casino will stage a $250,000 “Super Bingo” event in Las Vegas July 3-5, positioning it as a special edition tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary. The operator said the prize pool is the largest in the series’ history.

“The Plaza will be celebrating its 55th anniversary and the 250th anniversary of our great country in July, so it is only fitting that we make our Super Bingo event that month our biggest and best ever,” said Jonathan Jossel, CEO of the Plaza Hotel & Casino. “Our Super Bingo events have always drawn a packed crowd to our convention space, and we anticipate the July event to sell out quickly.”

According to the Plaza, Super Bingo draws nearly 1,000 attendees, including visitors traveling from Hawaii and Canada. For the July edition, bingo-only registration is set at $250 per person for gameplay on Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5. The Plaza is also offering an optional five-night hotel package priced at $200 per person, with no resort fee, for check-in July 2 and check-out July 6.

The Plaza outlined the payout structure as 20 games paying $1,999 each day, plus a daily “super coverall” of $60,000, second place of $15,000, and third place of $10,020. The casino said prizes will be paid in cash and players must be present to win.

Outside of the special event, the Plaza said its bingo room runs six daily sessions at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. and is located two floors above the main casino.

The post Plaza Hotel & Casino sets $250,000 Super Bingo event for July 3-5 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.