Category: Gambling News

Global megastar and eight-time GRAMMY^® Award-winner Usher took to the stage with back-to-back sold-out shows on Friday, July 16 and Saturday, July 17 as he debuted his exclusive new Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. With one standing ovation after another, fans were brought to their feet to sing along, dance and celebrate the first new headlining residency show to open on the Las Vegas Strip in more than a year and a half. Spotted in the audience over opening weekend were several of Usher’s celebrity fans, including Jermaine Dupri, L.A. Reid, Nick Cannon, Lil Jon and Akon.

Custom-designed for The Colosseum at Caesars Palace stage, and promoted by Live Nation and Caesars Entertainment, the show gives audiences an extraordinary immersive experience with extravagant costumes, many of which were designed by Balmain, and state-of-the-art technology in lighting, video and special effects. The exclusive, only-in-Vegas spectacular is packed with an impressive repertoire of smash hits spanning the multi-talented showman’s 20-year career, including “U Remind Me,” “Burn,” “You Make Me Wanna…,” “Don’t Waste My Time,” “Scream” and “Yeah!” Supported by a live band and over two dozen dancers, Usher’s Las Vegas shows give fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see him up close and personal in an intimate 4,300-seat world-class performance venue, with a few surprises along the way.

Usher’s Las Vegas show features creative and show direction from Outside the Box Amusements, with co-creative direction by Aakomon Jones, video design and content by Fragment Nine, lighting design by John Torres, production design by Paul Tate de Poo III, and choreography by Rio and Amy Allen, with Iz Avila and Lil Jon serving as musical directors.

Tickets for performances through January 2022 are on sale now, and a limited number of VIP meet & greet packages are also available for each show. All tickets and packages can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com/ushervegas or in-person at The Colosseum box office. All shows begin at 9 p.m.

Additionally, Usher, Live Nation Las Vegas and Caesars Entertainment are donating $1 of every ticket purchased to Usher’s Las Vegas residency to Usher’s New Look, Inc. (UNL). Founded in 1999 by Usher as a young man barely out of his teens, UNL is on a mission to transform the lives of underserved youth through a comprehensive program that develops passion-driven, global leaders. UNL’s peer-to-peer program model and curriculum provides Access, Awareness and Empowerment to youth in underserved communities, in order to guide them on a pathway to leadership and help them make educational and career choices that match their passions. Over the course of 21 years, the organization has reached more than 50,000 young people.

Challenging himself creatively and testing musical boundaries are characteristics that have defined Usher’s career since he was first discovered 20 years ago on “Star Search.” Usher has been ranked by the Recording Industry Association of America as one of the best-selling artists in American music history, having sold over 65 million albums worldwide. He has won numerous awards, including eight GRAMMY Awards, and was named the #1 Hot 100 artist of the 2000s decade. Billboard named him the second most successful artist of the 2000s decade, with his career-propelling 2004 album “Confessions” being ranked as the top solo album of the 2000s decade. Usher has attained nine Hot 100 #1 hits (all as a lead artist) and 18 Hot 100 top 10 singles.

2021 continues to be a busy year for Usher with new music and the launch of his first Las Vegas residency in July 2021. Musically, Usher’s two latest singles “Don’t Waste My Time” and “Bad Habits” both hit #1 on the Billboard R&B Charts. Usher is currently in the studio recording his 9th studio album which will be released late 2021.

Realizing that with success comes responsibility, Usher has also proven to be a major philanthropic force. Founded in 1999, Usher’s New Look, Inc. Empowers youth from impoverished communities to become leaders. In recognition of his accomplishments, Usher has been honored by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Trumpet Foundation, Do Something, the NAACP, and as the 2010 Ford Freedom Award Scholar. Usher’s business ventures include a best-selling line of fragrances, and a business venture with RBMG (Raymond Braun Media Group).

One of the world’s greatest rock bands, Journey, will return to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace with a special symphony performance for one night only on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021 at 8 p.m.

Caesars Rewards members, Caesars Entertainment’s loyalty program, as well as Live Nation customers will have access to a presale running Wednesday, July 21 at 10 a.m. PT through Thursday, July 22 at 10 p.m. PT. Tickets go on sale to the general public starting Friday, July 23 at 10 a.m. PT at ticketmaster.com.

The World Series of Poker® (WSOP®) is officially live online in Pennsylvania following a successful field trial and approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, opening up the world’s most iconic poker platform, WSOP.com, to players in the Keystone State for the first time.

In celebration, the platform is launching with special sign up promotions, newly announced bracelet events and weekly tournaments for Pennsylvania players, and daily satellites with buy-ins as low as $1 that provide an opportunity to win a seat at the crown jewel of poker tournaments, The Main Event in Las Vegas this fall.

The World Series of Poker makes its grand entrance into Pennsylvania by providing the most value to players on their platform, putting money back into players’ pockets and hosting tournaments with huge prize pools and low buy-ins. WSOP.com sign-ups come with more free play than market competitors, higher deposit matches for first-timers, and exclusive access to official WSOP events and tournaments.

Newly Announced Pennsylvania WSOP Online Bracelet Series
Adding onto the previously announced WSOP Online bracelet schedule from Thursday, July 1 – Sunday, Aug. 1, the action heats up with a slate of newly announced daily bracelet events for players in Pennsylvania from Sunday, Aug. 8 – Sunday, Aug. 15, dealing out more chances to win an official WSOP bracelet online.

Getting Started
The wait for online poker is over for Pennsylvanians, and WSOP.com is making it worth the wait with offers and events for poker players of all levels. To get started, players must be physically located in Pennsylvania and register for an online account by visiting WSOP.com/start. Players can deposit funds and begin taking advantage of special promotions on their mobile or desktop devices. Once signed up, players can link to their Caesars Rewards account, where every hand played earns points toward unforgettable dining, entertainment, and hospitality experiences across the Caesars Entertainment enterprise including Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack, where players can visit the property to withdraw and deposit funds at the cage.

Free Play and Freeroll Promotions
Pennsylvania players are invited to capture the benefits of the Welcome Offer, the most valuable poker deposit promotion on the table. Available now, players who deposit a minimum of $10 into their account will be rewarded with $50 in free play, a 100% match on all deposits up to $1,000, and 7 freeroll tickets into the Welcome Week Freerolls. First time depositors who make a deposit by Sunday, Aug. 15 will also receive a ticket to participate in an exclusive $50,000 Depositors Freeroll on Sunday, Aug. 22. The Freeroll will award three seats to the WSOP Main Event – two seats to the top tournament finishers, and one seat from a randomly selected drawing of all players that entered.

The Ultimate Poker Experience
To prioritize Pennsylvania players in the launch of WSOP.com in the state, a variety of special events and tournaments are being offered daily throughout the summer.

• BLAST Poker – Starting Monday, July 12, BLAST poker debuts in Pennsylvania where players have a chance to win their share of up to $300,000 in a matter of minutes. Players can win up to 10,000x their buy-in amount in this a lightning fast three-handed game that starts when three players enter in this Sit and Go format.
• WSOP Satellites – Only on WSOP.com can players win a full package to play in live WSOP events including the 2021 Main Event in Las Vegas, for as little as $1 and special Main Event Freerolls. Visit the promotions page for more information on MEGA satellite structures and schedules.
• Sunday $75,000 Guarantee – Beginning Sunday, July 18, this flagship tournament will award a guaranteed payout of $75,000 with a $215 buy-in beginning at 4 p.m. every Sunday.

In 2020, WSOP Online smashed several records for an online poker festival, both domestically and internationally. The domestic series generated prize pools totaling $26,871,265 across 31 bracelet events, with an average of more than $865,000 per tournament, making it by far the largest series held in regulated U.S. markets.

WSOP.com proudly welcomes poker players in Pennsylvania in 2021, joining Nevada and New Jersey as states where WSOP.com online poker operates.  In Pennsylvania, competition will be exclusive to other players within the state. Out-of-state players are welcome to travel to regulated states to participate but are encouraged to test their account and geolocation services in advance of any event to avoid problems with registration.

WSOP reserves the right to cancel, change or modify the tournament or any tournament event, in part or in whole, without notice.

Jokes, punch lines, and standup comedy will have you rolling in the aisles when funnymen Kevin Nealon and Jamie Kennedy perform at Rivers Casino Philadelphia on Thursday, Aug. 5, and Friday, Aug. 27, respectively. Tickets are on sale now, range from $20 to $25, and can be purchased at RiversCasino.com/Philadelphia.

Nealon’s memorable roles on “Saturday Night Live” and Kennedy’s hilarious character sketches kickoff the casino’s comedy lineup. Rivers has teamed up with SoulJoel Productions, the largest independent comedy production company on the East Coast, to bring top-notch comedic talent to The Event Center on a monthly basis.

Kevin Nealon — Thursday, Aug. 5, at 8 p.m.

Comedic veteran Kevin Nealon, best known as a former cast member of “Saturday Night Live,” will bring his standup performance to The Event Center on Thursday, Aug. 5, at 8 p.m. Not only is Nealon an acclaimed comedian, but he also has an impressive acting resume and was featured in notable movies and television shows including “Happy Gilmore,” “The Wedding Singer,” “Daddy Day Care,” “Don’t Mess with the Zohan,” “Weeds,” and more.

Tickets for Nealon are on sale now and are $25 per person. To purchase a ticket, please visit NightOut.com/Events/Kevin-Nealon-Rivers-0805/ or RiversCasino.com/Philadelphia to purchase.

Jamie Kennedy — Friday, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m.

The multitalented comedian, actor, writer and producer Jamie Kennedy has been featured in the “Scream” franchise, “Romeo + Juliet,” “Ghost Whisperer,” “The Cleveland Show,” and “Malibu’s Most Wanted,” and even has starred in his own hidden-camera reality show, “The Jamie Kennedy Experiment.” Kennedy is not only a prominent standup comedian, but he is also an award-nominated actor, best known for his role in the “Scream” series.

Tickets for Kennedy are on sale now and are $20 per person. To purchase a ticket, please visit NightOut.com/Events/Jamie-Kennedy-Rivers-0827/ or RiversCasino.com/Philadelphia.

In addition to live performances and concerts, The Event Center at Rivers Casino Philadelphia can be reserved for a variety of occasions, including weddings, corporate receptions, seminars, trade shows and more. The space features floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic views of the Delaware River waterfront and the Ben Franklin Bridge. Parking is always free.

For more information, please visit RiversCasino.com/Philadelphia.

The We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort is thrilled to announce that Ember, its fine dining restaurant, has received Wine Spectator‘s esteemed “Best of Award of Excellence.”  The honor recognizes recipients that offer extensive selections with excellent breadth across multiple regions and significant vertical depth, and Ember is now one of 19 restaurants (out of nearly 9,000) in Arizona – and one of approximately 1,000 around the world – to receive this award.

This is the second time that the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation has been lauded by this highly regarded industry publication.  In 2006, the Ahnala Mesquite Room received the “Award of Excellence,” recognizing the restaurant’s wine list that featured a well-chosen assortment of quality producers along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style.  The fact that the tribal nation has now been granted two Wine Spectator awards for excellence – an achievement rare among tribal casinos – affirms their commitment to delivering an exceptional culinary experience.

Ember’s wine program covers seventeen countries, focusing on each country’s top wine-producing regions and most highly acclaimed vineyards.  It includes 517 wines by the bottle and 26 wines by the glass – ranging from a strong California presence to Barbaresco, Rioja, New Zealand, Argentina and Germany – along with 30 Dessert Wines from across the globe as well as 15 Ports and Madeiras.

In addition, Ember has a special page in their 37-page wine list titled “The Century Club,” dedicated to the world’s top 100-point wines.  Curated for fine wine collectors, this list contains 32 critically acclaimed wines spanning more than two decades that have scored a perfect 100 points.

Wine Spectator began its program to recognize the world’s best wine lists in 1981. There are three levels: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award—with 1,673; 1,141; and 103 winners this year in each respective category.

All award winners will be featured in Wine Spectator‘s special 40^th Anniversary Restaurant Awards issue, available to readers today.

For more information on Ember, visit www.wekopacasinoresort.com/dining/ember.

About Ember

A destination dining experience at the new We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort, Ember is run by critically acclaimed Chef de Cuisine Richard Pelz.  In addition to an exhaustive wine and spirit library, the restaurant features the highest quality USDA Prime and Angus Wagyu beef, game and seafood from around the world, carefully prepared over a custom wood burning grill. Signature items include their Ujih Hot Stone appetizer, Seafood Tower, Snake River Farms Wagyu Striploin, Braised Buffalo Short Rib, and Ember Flaming Liquid Chocolate Truffle.

The energetic dining space overlooks the all-scratch kitchen with views of the culinary team, and seasonal outdoor dining by the fireplace is also available. A separate piano lounge with live entertainment five nights a week adds to the dynamic vibe.

Acid wash jeans, skateboard tees, and frosted tips will be all the rage when the “I Love The 90’s” tour takes The Event Center stage at Rivers Casino Pittsburgh on Saturday, Nov. 27, at 7 p.m. The all-new, rotating star-studded lineup of iconic 1990’s artists features Vanilla Ice, Coolio, Rob Base and C&C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams. Tickets are on sale now and start at $39.

Vanilla Ice and his No. 1 hit “Ice Ice Baby,” headlines the tour of indelible names in rap, hip-hop, and R&B. Guests can expect to hear chart-topping hits like “Gangsta’s Paradise,” “It Takes Two,” “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now),” and so many more.

Tickets for the “I Love The 90’s” show can be purchased in the Gift Shop or at RiversCasino.com/Pittsburgh.

ABOUT RIVERS CASINO PITTSBURGH: Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, located on the city’s North Shore and open 24/7, is one of Western Pennsylvania’s premier gaming and entertainment destinations. Rivers offers over 2,500 slot machines, 99 table games, 55 hybrid gaming seats, and a 30-table poker room. Home of BetRivers Sportsbook, Pittsburgh’s first and only licensed sportsbook, Rivers is the spot for any and all sports fans and bettors. Other amenities include a diverse lineup of eight distinct bars and restaurants, including Martorano’s Prime, the new Italian-American steakhouse by celebrity cook Steve Martorano, and a 25,000 square foot, second-level Event Center that hosts concerts, weddings, and more. For additional information and current offerings, please visit RiversCasino.com/Pittsburgh.

It’s Christmas in July! The Backstreet Boys, one of the best-selling bands of all time, are returning to the Las Vegas Strip with “A Very Backstreet Christmas Party,” a series of 12 holiday shows at Zappos Theater inside Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino this November and December (see below for full list of dates). The festive Las Vegas performances will mark the group’s first ever holiday shows, filled with classic holiday favorites, new originals and their biggest hits.

Jamul Casino announceed its new Jamul Marketplace, the Casino’s casual cuisine hub offering a diversity of fun food.  The Marketplace renovation comes just two months after the entire Casino was furnished with new carpet and just a year after the opening of its open-air venue The Rooftop, demonstrating a commitment to maintaining and improving the beautiful property.  With a completely re-imagined design and new culinary offerings, Jamul Casino is curating a unique guest experience unmatched in Southern California, featuring food, fun, gaming, and entertainment.

Design
The redesigned Marketplace is inspired by Downtown San Diego’s aesthetic.  Highlighting warm woodgrain, brick, and custom murals, the Marketplace is reminiscent of San Diego’s unique urban environment, just 20 minutes way.  Renovations also included new signage, new furniture, re-upholstered booths, specialty lighting, quartz countertops, earth-toned paint, and subway wall tile.  The new centerpiece is a 360-degree cylindrical LED video screen extending 17 feet to the ceiling that will offer custom content programming—the only one of its kind in Southern California.

Jamul Casino partnered with I-5 Design | Build to create the design plan as well as complete the renovation.  Aaron Carpenter, Account Executive with I-5 Design | Build, states, “Mary Cheeks’ vision with the cylindrical video screen was a stroke of brilliance.  Whether it’s offering info about the Casino’s latest promotions or a peaceful scene of tropical fish, this feature allows a moment-by-moment opportunity to create a unique ambiance and a visual draw within the updated venue.”

Menus
Jamul Casino has also revamped its Marketplace menus.

• Burgers & Shakes now offers four (4) unique flavor upgrades to French fries with its mini Super Frites dishes, including “Hot as Hell,” “Buffaloed and Blue,” “Morning Glory,” and “Piggy Express.” Extra-thirsty guests can accompany their meal with a mega-size 32-oz drink in a branded commemorative cup.
• The Taqueria offers fresh Mexican cuisine, cooked to order. Menu items include a grilled Mahi Mahi Burrito, Pollo Adobada Mulitas, and Coctel de Camarón.
• Proper Smoked Barbecue offers a signature Australian Wagyu Brisket and a new Pulled Pork Sandwich featuring the original Hungry Chef BBQ sauce.
• The Pizzeria has launched a new-and-improved rustic-style pizza dough recipe.
• The Coffee Shop, which serves Starbucks Coffee^®, is now offering a Pineapple and Orange Dole Whip along with Mary’s Donuts and Bread & Cie pastries.

About Jamul Casino
Opened in 2016, the Jamul Casino is located in Jamul, California, San Diego County, and is owned and operated by Jamul Indian Village Development Corporation (JIVDC), a wholly owned enterprise of the Tribe.  The $430 million, award-winning casino features nearly 1,700 slot machines, 43 live table games, and a dedicated poker room and various restaurants, bars and lounges.  Jamul Casino supports more than 1,000 permanent jobs in the region and is the closest casino to downtown San Diego which is the eighth-largest city in the United States by population. For more information about Jamul Casino, please visit www.jamulcasinosd.com.

Already one of the most iconic resorts in the world, Caesars Palace is not resting on its laurels. Instead, it embarks on a multimillion-dollar renovation of the original main entrance, main casino and porte-cochère to create an extravagant entryway, redesigned gaming areas and a new lobby bar. Construction is slated to begin in early July, with most of the project set to be complete by New Year’s Eve.

The main entrance to the property will be entirely rebuilt from the ground up resulting in an arrival experience fit for a Caesar, matching the glamour of the property’s iconic hotel lobby. Once completed, guests will be welcomed by a dramatic and soaring dome and barreled ceiling over a stunning 15-foot tall statue of Augustus Caesar. The project also includes two new state-of-the-art gaming pits, which will flank the enhanced entrance, a beautiful new lobby bar and a renovation of the property’s legendary domed table games floor.

During construction from July through December, the following changes will occur:

• Main valet off Las Vegas Blvd. will accommodate Caesars Rewards Diamond and Seven Star members only
• The Colosseum valet (ground floor of the Caesars Palace self-parking garage off Frank Sinatra Drive) will accommodate all valet guests
• Rideshare pick-up and drop-off will be relocated to the exit doors next to Vanderpump Cocktail Garden
• Express hotel check-in/check-out kiosks will be placed at all available entrances

About Caesars Palace

World-renowned Las Vegas resort and a Top 10 “Best U.S. Casino” by USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice, Caesars Palace features 3,980 hotel guest rooms and suites, including the all-new Palace Tower featuring 10 new luxury villas, the 182-room Nobu Hotel Caesars Palace and Forbes Star Award-winning The Laurel Collection by Caesars Palace. The 85-acre resort offers diverse dining options from the award-winning Bacchanal Buffet, to celebrity chef-branded restaurants, including Gordon Ramsay HELL’S KITCHEN, Pronto by Giada, as well as Bobby Flay’s new Italian restaurant concept, Amalfi, now open, Vanderpump Cocktail Garden by restauranteur and television star Lisa Vanderpump, one of Nobu Matsuhisa’s largest Nobu Restaurant and Lounge, Restaurant Guy Savoy, Old Homestead Steakhouse, Rao’s, MR CHOW and more. For the best in cocktails, destination lounges include Montecristo Cigar Bar, Alto Bar, VISTA Cocktail Lounge, and Stadia Bar. The resort also features nearly 130,000 square feet of casino space, including a recently renovated race and sports book boasting the largest screen on the Strip at 138 ft., a five-acre Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis, the luxurious Qua Baths & Spa, COLOR Salon, five wedding chapels and gardens, and the 75,000-square-foot OMNIA Nightclub with the top DJs such as Steve Aoki. The 4,300-seat Colosseum, Billboard Magazine’s “Venue of the Decade: 2000 – 2009,” spotlights world-class entertainers including Usher, Sting, Keith Urban, Rod Stewart, Reba, Brooks & Dunn and Jerry Seinfeld. The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace showcases more than 160 boutiques and restaurants.

MGM Resorts International is kick-starting Las Vegas’ return to the Entertainment Capital of the World, bringing back the industry’s biggest names this month with the likes of “O” by Cirque du Soleil, Bruno Mars, Dave Chappelle, Conor McGregor and others.

Beginning this month, MGM Resorts will welcome back many of the entertainers and events visitors love about its Las Vegas properties:

• “O” by Cirque du Soleil returned to Bellagio July 1 and will be followed by Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay on August 19 and The Beatles LOVE at The Mirage on August 26. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit here.
• Bruno Mars will be the first artist returning to Park Theater at Park MGM July 2, performing two shows every weekend in July with more 2021 dates booked. For tickets or VIP Suite and Ticket packages, visit parkmgm.com.
• The iconic MGM Grand Garden Arena will set the stage for four sold-out Dave Chappelle shows the first two weekends in July starting July 2. For more information on entertainment at MGM Grand, visit mgmgrand.com.
• The Mirage entertainment lineup is back in full force with Shin Lim beginning Thursday, July 1 and the Aces of Comedy program returning in July with comedians like Tom Segura, Chelsea Handler, Gabriel Iglesias and Bill Maher booked throughout 2021. For more information on The Mirage entertainment, visit here.
• T-Mobile Arena will host UFC 264: Poirier vs. McGregor 3 Saturday, July 10 followed by Fury vs. Wilder III Saturday, July 24. For more information on the arena or to purchase tickets, visit tmobilearena.com.
• On The Record, Park MGM’s speakeasy and club, reopens Friday, July 2. For more information, visit ontherecordlv.com.
• The Concerts on the Beach series at Mandalay Bay Beach begins with a July 4 show featuring Sublime With Rome. To purchase tickets or for more Concerts on the Beach show information, visit here.
• Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay will host the Men’s and Women’s USA Basketball teams beginning July 6 as they participate in training camps and play in multiple exhibition games over five days prior to departing for Tokyo. To purchase tickets, visit here.
• The longest-running dinner show on the Las Vegas Strip, Tournament of Kings, returns Wednesday, July 14. For more details or to purchase tickets, visit here.

The return of these large-scale offerings rounds out the robust entertainment lineup MGM Resorts has reopened over the past eight months including David Copperfield, Jabbawockeez and Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club at MGM Grand; Carrot Top and Fantasy at Luxor; Terry Fator at New York-New York; and the Australian Bee Gees and Thunder from Down Under at Excalibur. A global force in entertainment, MGM Resorts is home to more than 20 world-class arenas, theaters and event grounds, selling 8 million* tickets annually for live events ranging from renowned artists such as The Rolling Stones, Cher and Bruno Mars, to vibrant music festivals and some of the biggest fights in combat sports history.

*Pre-pandemic figures

For more information, please visit us at www.mgmresorts.com. Please also connect with us @MGMResortsIntl on Twitter as well as Facebook and Instagram.