Hard Rock International Takes Land-Based Operator of the Year at 2026 Global Gaming Awards for Third Time

Hard Rock International received the Land-Based Operator of the Year title at the 2026 Global Gaming Awards Americas in Las Vegas. This marks the third time the company has won the award, which identifies the top land-based casino operator based on performance across its properties over the past year. A panel of 100 senior industry executives selected the winners. KPMG US independently adjudicated the process.

Judges pointed to exceptional growth and operational excellence in the past 12 months. Specific achievements cited include the opening of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, the company’s first fully integrated resort in Canada. Progress also continued at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon in Kern County, California, where Phase One finished in November 2025.

Pipeline of Integrated Resort Projects

Hard Rock International is advancing multiple developments. These include the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, which will add a 42-story guitar-shaped hotel tower on the Strip. Additional projects are Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens in Europe and Hard Rock at Metropolitan Park in Queens, New York, developed in partnership with Steve Cohen.

Jeff Hook, Chief Operating Officer at Hard Rock International, said: “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.”

Additional Category Recognitions

The company finished as runner-up in Responsible Business of the Year, reflecting the scale of its responsible gaming and social impact initiatives. It was also runner-up for Property of the Year for Hard Rock Casino Tejon, developed with the Tejon Indian Tribe. That property opened last fall with 150,000 square feet of gaming space, located 90 minutes north of Los Angeles.

Hard Rock International earned shortlist positions for Digital Operator with Hard Rock Bet and for Customer Loyalty Program with Unity by Hard Rock. These nominations illustrate the reach of its operations beyond land-based casinos. The details appear in reporting by G3 Newswire.

Reporting: G3 Newswire

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