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Top 10 casino openings and expansions for August 2023

14 August 2023

With so many casinos and resorts throughout the country, it is quite difficult to stay ahead of all the competition. One way to gain an advantage is by continuing to renovate your property with new features and amenities. That is what several resorts have done since our last edition in June.

Let’s take a look at 10 recent casino openings and expansions.

10. Tropicana Atlantic City introduces the Royce Social Hall
Last week, Tropicana Atlantic City unveiled its latest addition, The Royce Social Hall, an entertainment destination that gives an experience for visitors seeking a mix of fun, sports, and live music.

“The Royce Social Hall is a unique concept that caters to all demographics with live entertainment, interactive games, and hospitality. It's a place where you can Drink. Play. Be Social!” said Mark Meakim, Partner, The Royce Social Hall, which offers everything from bowling to Foosball to ping pong.

9. Construction starts on future Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa
In June, construction officially started on Ottawa's newest tourism and entertainment destination, the future Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, Hard Rock International representatives, elected officials, and business and community leaders shared the details of Canada's first Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, which will include the following:
  • A 150-room Hard Rock Hotel, including 22 suites
  • A Hard Rock Casino with 1,500 slot machines, 40 live action table games, sportsbook, high-limit gaming and a baccarat room
  • An 1,800-seat Hard Rock Live theater with standing room for 2,200
  • More than 10 restaurants, bars and lounges, including the Hard Rock Café and Council Oak Steakhouse
  • Rock Shop and Unity Store
8. Rock & Brews opens at Potawatomi Hotel and Casino
On 1 August, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Wisconsin announced the opening of Rock & Brews restaurant with Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of KISS.

The 6,000 square-foot restaurant seats up to 200 guests with private dining capabilities, offer 48 taps pouring the best domestic and import beers, as well as Sprecher Root Beer, and a stage for live entertainment.

The grand opening featured performances by cover band PRISS, food, and ticket giveaways for KISS’ upcoming End of Tour concert coming to Crandon this September.

7. Lisa Vanderpump to open first Lake Tahoe venue
Restaurateur, television star, and philanthropist Lisa Vanderpump is set to bring her signature and innovative design aesthetic to Northern Nevada with the opening of Wolf by Vanderpump at Harvey's Lake Tahoe, set to open this winter.

Wolf will feature a bar with great visuals that dominate the center of the space and, like Vanderpump’s other locations, the cocktail menu will showcase unique options, while playing on traditional recipes.

Wolf by Vanderpump will also have a full menu, featuring reimagined classics, as well as unique and shareable bites. The menu will be crafted for every season, using some regionally sourced and inspired ingredients.

6. Target opening date announced for Durango Casino and Resort
Earlier this month, Red Rock Resorts announced that the new Durango Casino Resort in southwest Las Vegas is expected to open 20 November.

In addition to a new casino floor, the resort will offer restaurants, 200 hotel rooms, convention and meeting spaces, a resort pool with cabanas, outdoor social areas, and free parking.

In conjunction with the opening announcement, Durango unveiled its new marquee on Thursday, 3 August. The double-sided display is 60 feet high and 55 feet wide, and boasts high-resolution technology with over six million color LED pixels.

5. Boulder Station to open sports bar this summer
Boulder Station Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas announces the arrival of Game On, an all-new sports bar and grill from the creators of the popular Las Vegas destination Blondies. The new venue is expected to be open in time for football season.

Game On will welcome fans with a combination of sports viewing amenities: bar top gaming, menu, and a variety of spirits and draft beers, seating and countless screens for prime viewing. For recreation between games, Game On will also be home to popular bar games Golden Tee and tabletop shuffleboard.

The 8,000-square-foot bar and restaurant offers plush booth seating, and tabletop dining for live sports viewing on nearly 60 screens. A full 16-seat center bar will give guests access to bartenders and their favorite bar top games; while a nine-seat side bar gives guests additional seating, dedicated screens and selection of beer options.

4. Oneida Indian Nation to pour $370 million into Turning Stone Resort Casino
On 21 July, the Oneida Indian Nation announced details of its $370 million capital investment in the largest evolution of Turning Stone Resort Casino in New York in two decades.

Turning Stone will double its existing conference space with the following:

- Eight new meeting rooms, many with outdoor patios

- Two new ballrooms, including a 30,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom with a terrace overlooking the Shenendoah Golf Course and The Lodge’s Great Lawn

- An outdoor courtyard with three new events spaces

- A new indoor parking garage with 2,000 parking spaces and easy access to the conference center

- The new Four-Diamond hotel will greet guests with architecture for a memorable impression and feature:
  • 258 rooms, including 23 spacious one- and two-bedroom suites for an elevated experience
  • A welcoming lobby featuring a fireplace with lounge seating, a quick-service cafe and VIP lounge
  • Salt Seafood & Raw Bar, the newest fine dining destination from Turning Stone’s award-winning culinary team, with five private dining rooms featuring outdoor patios

3. Rio All-Suite Casino in Las Vegas to undergo renovation
Dreamscape Companies announced a partnership with four architectural and design partners Fettle, Gianpiero Gaglione Interior Design, Lifescapes International and Marnell Architecture in the renovation of the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Looking to fully takeover Rio operations in Q4 of this year, Dreamscape’s multi-year redevelopment of the resort includes a refresh of the 2,500 guest rooms; 150,000 square-foot casino floor; 220,000 square-foot meeting and conventions space; five acres of luxury poolside amenities and general resort areas, with the design of several new, first-to-market food and beverage concepts.

The standard 600 square-foot guest rooms will be upgraded with all new furnishings and fittings, a tub-to-shower conversion, separate living and sleeping zones.

The renovations of Rio's Ipanema Tower are currently underway and are scheduled to be completed during the first quarter of 2024. The property will remain open throughout the renovation process.

2. Rocksino by Hard Rock Deadwood opens its doors
Rocksino by Hard Rock Deadwood in South Dakota opened its doors last Tuesday.

The property features a casino including 86 new slot machines, full-service restaurant and bar with craft cocktails, a new menu, and music memorabilia. Renovated luxury guest rooms are scheduled to open later this year.

The grand opening festivities began with a performance by the Wakinyan Luta Drum Circle from Pine Ridge, S.D., and were capped with an outdoor concert featuring chart-toppers, Sublime with Rome, a mega-hit band that took time from its whirlwind touring schedule to fly into the Black Hills to perform following the Guitar Smash.

1. Graton Resort and Casino breaks ground on $1 billion expansion
Graton Resort & Casino, located about 50 miles no, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony in the middle of June to celebrate the expansion of the Rohnert Park resort.

Projects, including an additional hotel wing and expanded casino floor, are slated for future development. The casino floor expansion will add approximately 144,000 square feet, adding 2,000 new slot machines, a new poker room, and a new high-limit area.

The $1 billion expansion project will also include:
  • A new five-story hotel wing with over 200 rooms
  • A 28,000 square-foot rooftop restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating for 480 guests
  • A five-level parking structure with solar panels and EV charging stations
  • A 3,500-seat theater
Dan Ippolito

As Casino City's associate editor, Dan produces and edits all of our weekly newsletters, and writes about the gaming industry for our websites and the GPWA Times Magazine. Dan graduated from Marist College in 2017 with a degree in Communications and a concentration in Sports. Email him at daniel@casinocity.com, or follow him at @casinocity_dan on Twitter.
Dan Ippolito
As Casino City's associate editor, Dan produces and edits all of our weekly newsletters, and writes about the gaming industry for our websites and the GPWA Times Magazine. Dan graduated from Marist College in 2017 with a degree in Communications and a concentration in Sports. Email him at daniel@casinocity.com, or follow him at @casinocity_dan on Twitter.