Hard Rock International wins Land-Based Operator of the Year Global Gaming Awards
1 October 2026(PRESS RELEASE) -- Hard Rock International was recognized as the Land-Based Operator of the Year at the 2026 Global Gaming Awards Americas in Las Vegas. One of the gaming industry's most respected honors, this marks the third time Hard Rock International has received the award, which recognizes the top-performing land-based casino operator for outstanding performance across its properties over the past year. All award winners were determined by a panel of 100 senior industry executives, and the voting process was independently adjudicated by KPMG US.
Judges underscored Hard Rock's exceptional growth and operational excellence over the past 12 months. Highlights included the successful opening of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, Hard Rock's first fully integrated resort in Canada, and continued progress at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon, which completed Phase One of development in Kern County, California, in November 2025. Looking ahead, Hard Rock continues to advance several transformative projects, including the iconic Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas featuring a new 42-story guitar-shaped hotel tower on the Strip; Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens, the company's landmark integrated resort development in one of Europe's premier gateway cities; and Hard Rock at Metropolitan Park in Queens, New York, in partnership with Steve Cohen.
"We're honored to once again be recognized by the Global Gaming Awards Americas. This recognition demonstrates how Hard Rock has built an unmatched gaming experience rooted in 55 years of music heritage and motivates us to keep raising the bar for our valued guests around the world," said Jeff Hook, Chief Operating Officer at Hard Rock International.
Hard Rock International was runner-up in two Global Gaming Awards categories: Responsible Business of the Year, recognizing the scale of Hard Rock's responsible gaming and social impact work; and Property of the Year for Hard Rock Casino Tejon, developed in partnership with the Tejon Indian Tribe, which opened last fall and features 150,000 square feet of gaming space just 90 minutes north of Los Angeles. The company also was shortlisted for awards in categories including Digital Operator for Hard Rock Bet and Customer Loyalty Program for Unity™ by Hard Rock, reflecting the breadth of the company's gaming operations.