Sir Richard Branson has announced the finalisation of a deal that will see the Virgin Group take over the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The Virgin Group did not reveal the sale price. According to reports, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas will open in 2019. The British billionaire celebrated the closed deal at the venue with a poolside party on 30 March.
Branson revealed that ‘hundreds of millions of dollars will be spent transforming the property’. This includes 1500 room renovations and rebranding the casino as Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. This will be the company’s first venture into the land-based gaming industry, but they have some big plans.
New Virgin Hotels Plan
In a press release, the company said that a new casino would be ‘double the current size’ of the original gaming space. What’s more, there will be ‘multiple pools’ throughout the five-acre property. If that weren’t enough, the hotel giant plans to expand on other facilities such as bars, restaurants, clubs, lounges, and public spaces.
The refurbished property will operate through a partnership between Virgin Hotels and Bosworth Hospitality Partners. Other partners include Fengate Capital Management and Juniper Capital Partners. This partnership has assured future employees and the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 that they will ensure that the management will remain neutral if employees decide to unionise. In effect, they will promise not to harass or interfere with employee decisions.
Other Business Interests
Branson’s company has interests in almost every industry possible. The most popular branches include Virgin Atlantic, Mobile and the Virgin Records company. Their move into the gaming industry is not exactly new either. They operate a licensed online casino in New Jersey. However, this will be their first casino brand. What’s more, this will be their first hotel property since 2010.
While it’s not clear why Virgin Hotels chose to buy in now, the sale of by Hard Rock Las Vegas is motivated by a scandal. Hard Rock was involved in the Cambridge Analytica scandal last week. Where Facebook allowed the company to use customer data without permission. Hard Rock had done the same, by allowing the company to use mobile location data for targeted ads. The casino operator would then send texts to players entering the property.
Taralynn Engels is a seasoned casino news writer with a passion for keeping her readers up-to-date with the latest happenings in the gambling industry. With over five years of professional writing experience, Taralynn has developed a deep understanding of the casino industry and a knack for delivering engaging and informative content. Aside from her in-depth knowledge of the casino industry, Taralynn possesses excellent writing skills that allow her to craft captivating narratives that keep readers hooked until the last word. Her ability to simplify complex concepts and present them in an accessible manner guarantees that her articles are enjoyed by both seasoned casino enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
Recently updated on February 10th, 2019An upcoming Ozzy Osbourne themed pokie game from Netent is the buzz this week. The casino game developer released a press statement announcing the development. This is a treat for fans of Rock and pokies alike. The famous rock singer Ozzy also know as The Prince of Darkness will have […]
Recently updated on October 1st, 2018A Perth banker has been sentenced to five years and six months’ jail time for stealing AU$3.7 million (NZ$4.04 million). Daniel Petkov, a 37-year-old bank manager, was sentenced this week in District Court. Petkov was allegedly suffering from ‘an undiagnosed bipolar disorder’ when he stole the money. According to reports, […]
Recently updated on March 8th, 2019The Gold Coast in Australia has revived plans from 2017 to build a second casino resort. The plan was abandoned two years ago. There are reportedly 12 casino operators that will be submitting bids to win the licence for the second casino. Among the expected bidders include Caesars Entertainment, Hard […]
Recently updated on April 16th, 2018While gambling is now legal in Japan, legislation for casinos is still being discussed in parliament. An influx of casino bids has made it vital for lawmakers to provide for fraud in these proposals. It may seem a little premature, but Japanese officials have decided to add fraud provisions to […]
Recently updated on May 4th, 2019iSoftBet, one of the best online gaming providers, has announced that it will land a hand in helping Jinni Lotto’s online casino debut. The software provider has signed an agreement that it will be supplying its products to an online lottery operation, Jinni Lotto. Which has lately unveiled its virtual […]
