Record Jackpot in Atlantic City: New Jersey Man Wins $568,872 with a Single Spin

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City was buzzing as a local New Jersey resident hit a $568,872 progressive jackpot on a slot machine with just a modest bet. The winner, who wished to remain anonymous, was playing a linked “wide area progressive” machine when the big win occurred.

These networked machines accumulate jackpots across multiple casinos, allowing massive prizes to build up rapidly.

Casino staff confirmed the win, and the stunned player was celebrated by guests and employees alike. “Moments like this are life-changing,” said the casino manager.

Events like this not only generate excitement but also drive foot traffic and boost engagement on social media, reinforcing the thrill and allure of modern slot gaming.

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Hard Rock Casino Bristol opening poker room

Poker enthusiasts are invited to ante up for the first time at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol when the popular entertainment venue opens its new Poker Room at noon on Friday, 7 February.

Featuring 14 action-packed tables, the Poker Room will offer a variety of exciting cash games and tournament play — including No Limit Hold ‘Em, Pot Limit Omaha and more.

From seasoned pros to casual players, the Poker Room is designed to provide an unparalleled gaming experience.

“We’re excited to bring a first-class Poker Room to Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol,” said Alan Thompson, Vice President of Gaming Operations. “With a mix of cash games and tournament play, we’re offering something for every poker player, whether they’re local or traveling from afar. We look forward to welcoming guests from across the region and beyond to experience our state-of-the-art venue.”

In addition to thrilling gameplay, guests will have the opportunity to earn Unity™ points while playing poker, enhancing their rewards experience at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol. The Poker Room is non-smoking and conveniently located next to the casino’s new non-smoking gaming space, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere for all players.

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Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi donates to Hurricane Helene relief efforts

In the wake of Hurricane Helene's devastating impact on the Gulf Coast, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Biloxi has stepped up to support the affected communities. The renowned hospitality and entertainment brand has donated two pallets of water to the City of Biloxi, providing much-needed relief to the victims of this natural disaster.

The City of Biloxi will be receiving the generous donation from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi, which will then be transported to Perry, Florida. The Biloxi Police and Fire Departments have taken charge of collecting the supplies and will personally deliver them to the area next week. In addition to delivering the supplies, the departments will also lend a helping hand by cooking for the first responders in Perry, Florida.

Hard Rock's commitment to supporting communities in need aligns with the company’s mottos of Love All-Serve All, All Is One, Save The Planet and Take Time To Be Kind, extends beyond Biloxi. Through its non-profit organization, Rockin the Coast, the company has donated $2500 to the North Carolina Community Foundation Relief Fund. This contribution will aid in the recovery efforts of the affected communities in North Carolina. Furthermore, Hard Rock has also donated another $2500 to the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice, Florida, demonstrating its dedication to assisting those affected by Hurricane Helene across the Gulf Coast region.

"We are deeply saddened by the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene and its impact on the Gulf Coast communities," said Todd Raziano, Regional Vice President and General Manager of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi. "As a company deeply rooted in these areas, we feel a strong responsibility to support our neighbors during these challenging times. We hope that our donations will provide some relief and help these communities recover and rebuild."

Hard Rock's commitment to corporate social responsibility is evident through its ongoing efforts to support communities affected by natural disasters. The company has a long-standing tradition of lending a helping hand in times of need, and this recent donation is a testament to its dedication to making a positive impact.

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Hard Rock Heals Foundation raises $750,000 to benefit Ukraine War victims

Some of the many victims of the Ukraine War, including injured Ukrainian citizens and their families, may see their lives improve following a record-setting $750,000 raised by Hard Rock Heals Foundation at a recent Ukraine Relief Fund Gala Dinner hosted by former World Champion Heavyweight Boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

Nearly 1,000 guests came together at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood to raise $750,000, the most money ever raised at a charity event organized by Hard Rock Heals Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization connected to Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming. The Ukraine Relief Fund Gala was generously underwritten by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Coca-Cola and hundreds of other companies and individuals.

Seminole Gaming Chief Operating Officer David Hoenemeyer thanked guests from the stage at the event, "from the bottom of my heart for all of you joining us for just a remarkable cause." He then introduced Klitschko and said, "I saw you fight live many times. I respect you as a fighter and most of all, after tonight, as a human being for what you are doing for your country."

Klitschko, who has lived in Hollywood, Fla., but returned to his home in Kyiv at the start of the war, took the podium to recount the struggles faced by hundreds of thousands of his fellow Ukrainians as a result of the war, which has caused unimaginable suffering during its 14 grueling months.

The Olympic Gold Medalist, International Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee and two-time World Champion Heavyweight Boxer, spoke from his heart in thanking the large crowd in attendance at the event.

"Thank you for all the feelings and the empathy that you are giving us in Ukraine," said Klitschko."All the funds that are raised are going to help us in Ukraine to overcome these challenging times."

Live and silent auction items included a pair of track shoes donated by eight-time Olympic Gold Medalist Usain Bolt and a pair of boxing gloves autographed and donated by World Champion Heavyweight Boxer Evander Holyfield, also attended the Ukraine Relief Fund Gala. Holyfield donated a one-hour in-ring boxing lesson as part of the boxing gloves live auction package, which sold at auction for $6,000.

Global sensation punk rock band Gogol Bordello performed its signature "gypsy punk" music. Legendary Gogol Bordello frontman Eugene Hutz (pronounced "Hootz") was born in Ukraine and grew up on the outskirts of Kyiv before immigrating with his parents to the United States when he was 16.

Hutz is an outspoken supporter of his home country and has organized fundraising events that have included performances by his band Gogol Bordello and other celebrated musicians. In a recent interview with the Ukrainian Institute of London, Hutz expressed his perspective on the resolve of the Ukrainian people.

"This is a pretty serious trait of Ukrainians: their resilience and that whole turning frustration into inspiration, and anger into energy and defiance and resistance," he said. "It's a fight of people for their own destiny. Ukrainians are very good at that."

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Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming adopt the QCI Enterprise Platform

Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming, alongside Quick Custom Intelligence, jointly announced the deployment of the QCI Enterprise Platform at its casino properties. The QCI Enterprise Platform aligns player development, marketing, and gaming with powerful real-time operational tools developed for the gaming industry. This rollout, which is currently underway at U.S., Canada and Punta Cana properties, will further enhance Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming guest experience capabilities by creating more seamless integrations.

"This QCI Enterprise Platform rollout will unlock new ways to ensure and exceed the entertainment experience guests expect when visiting Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming casinos," said Dan Ingster, Vice President of Gaming Operations for Seminole Hard Rock Support Services. "The QCI platform's integration of market basket analytics combined with player development and marketing tooling empowers team members across the enterprise to engage with guests in new, powerful ways."

"We are proud to have deployed our QCI Enterprise Platform to support Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming casino properties," said Dr. Ralph Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of QCI. "This deployment is proof of the scalability of our platform for large enterprise organizations that have dozens of input source systems from hundreds of data tables. We thank Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming team members for widely embracing the tool and enabling us to further build out our capabilities."

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Hard Rock Atlantic City pays out $200,000 jackpot

Early yesterday morning, a video poker player hit a $200,000 jackpot at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. At 2:30 a.m., the guest hit a Royal Flush in Clubs on the Five Star Poker slot machine by IGT.

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Final table announced for 2022 WPT Poker Showdown Championship

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood concluded its 2022 Poker Showdown on Tuesday following successful a three-week run. This year’s event saw 50 primary events and 20,359 entries, the most in a single series, topping the 2021 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open. The tournament boasted more than $20.8 million in prize pools, surpassing the $7.45 million in guarantees.

With 2,010 entries in the WPT Poker Showdown Championship, the final prize pool is more than $6.4 million, easily exceeding the $3 million guarantee. The last 252 spots were paid $5,650 for a min-cash. The field is down to its final six players who will reconvene on 25 May in Las Vegas for a televised final table. Four-time WPT champion Darren Elias has a big lead looking for his fifth title, followed by Mark Davis in second and Marcos Exterkotter, Mike Laufer, Andrew Barfield and Viet Vo rounding out the final table.

Championship Final Table with Chip Counts:

Seat 1: Mark Davis (Birmingham, Ala.) – 26,550,000 (89 bb)
Seat 2: Viet Vo (Houston, Tex.) – 11,925,000 (40 bb)
Seat 3: Mike Laufer (Boca Raton, Fla.) – 6,750,000 (23 bb)
Seat 4: Andrew Barfield (Ocean Springs, Miss.) – 5,500,000 (18 bb)
Seat 5: Marcos Exterkotter (Miami, Fla. via Brazil) – 10,900,000 (36 bb)
Seat 6: Darren Elias (Medford, NJ) – 38,825,000 (129 bb)

Remaining Payouts:

1st: $1,000,300
2nd: $660,000
3rd: $490,000
4th: $370,000
5th: $280,000
6th: $215,000

Poker Showdown kicked off on Thursday, 24 March with the $400 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (NLH) opener. With 3,687 entries, the event more than doubled the $500,000 guaranteed, creating a total prize pool of more than $1.2 million. James Collins of Palm Harbor, Fla. won the opener earning $130,682 after an eight-handed deal was reached just one hand into the final table. This year’s tournament also crowned six women champions over the course of 50 events, including Valerie Novak (Perry Hall, Md.) winning the $1,100 Deep Stack NLH for $91,835.

On Sunday, 10 April, WPT Ambassador and global superstar Steve Aoki meet with fans and players before jumping into the $1,700 Purple Chip Bounty tournament. Going all in, Aoki flopped a straight but was no match for his opponent Carlo Rodriguez’s heart flush. In addition to winning the $500 bounty, Rodriguez was also gifted the custom Dim Mak Collection jean jacket off Aoki’s back.

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Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City reopens buffet

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Atlantic City is the first casino in Atlantic City to reopen their buffet as a new socially distanced all-you-can-eat concept. The newly reopened Fresh Harvest safely delivers all the classic comforts and international favorites of a buffet straight to the table for a one-time price of $29.99 per person.

The expansive menu features American classics including Sliced Brisket, BBQ Pork Ribs and New England Clam Chowder, as well as international favorites including General Tso’s Chicken, Vegetable Lo Mein, Italian Chopped Salad, Ravioli and more. Also included in the flat rate are soft drinks and several delectable desserts including New York Cheesecake Parfaits, Chocolate Pot de Creme and additional seasonal sweets.

Along with the regulations for indoor dining mandated by the state, Fresh Harvest follows Hard Rock Atlantic City’s stringent Safe + Sound protocols, ensuring good, clean fun. Fresh Harvest is open Sunday through Thursday, noon to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, from noon to 10 p.m.

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Hard Rock International acquires rights to Las Vegas brand

Hard Rock International announced today that the world-renowned entertainment and hospitality brand has purchased all rights to the Hard Rock brand and related trademarks in Las Vegas from Houston-based private equity firm, Juniper Capital, which purchased the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas in 2018 from Brookfield Asset Management.

The transaction allows HRI exclusive full rights to memorabilia, signage and merchandise, along with intellectual property rights for affiliated restaurant and entertainment trademarks and website domain names. Effective immediately, HRI and its affiliates will no longer be restricted from developing, owning, licensing, managing or operating any Hard Rock-branded casino and integrated resort within Clark County, Nevada.

“This agreement marks an exciting chapter for Hard Rock, in Las Vegas and beyond,” said Jim Allen, Chairman, Hard Rock International. “We look forward to the opportunity of enhancing our presence in Las Vegas, which will always be one of the most iconic entertainment markets in the world.”

As an internationally recognized brand known for amazing experiences and premiere hospitality, HRI will now be able to own and manage the ultimate guest experience in Las Vegas.

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Guitar smash at opening of Hard Rock Cafe

To celebrate the grand opening of the new Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood and adjacent casino expansion, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood will host a guitar smash and media availability Tuesday, 27 November, at 11 a.m.

The Hard Rock Cafe and adjacent casino expansion are the first finished areas to open as part of the $1.5 billion expansion of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. The Cafe will be a model for the Hard Rock brand’s redesign and modern kitchen offerings.

The new 10,000-square-foot Cafe accommodates more than 250 guests and features an open kitchen concept with cutting-edge equipment including a new 7-foot artisanal brick pizza oven and a meat grind room, where Hard Rock Cafe’s new steak burgers will be made fresh throughout the day. True to Hard Rock’s signature blend of music, entertainment and iconic merchandise, the newly-relocated Cafe is highlighted by a triangular-shaped island bar and central stage within view of all dining tables. The Cafe also features a new Rock Shop design.

The Cafe relocation will complement the expansion of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, which will open in fall 2019. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is owned and operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida and is a world-renowned entertainment, gaming and hospitality destination.

Hard Rock’s signature “Guitar Smash” ceremony officially marks the opening of every hotel, casino and cafe worldwide.

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