After the postponement caused by the pandemic, on the advice of Hard Rock International, an internationally recognized giant based in Florida, a groundbreaking ceremony for the future Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, currently known as Rideau Carleton Raceway Casino,  will be held on June 6.

Groundbreaking ceremony:

The hotel and casino, which originally came to life after an agreement between Hard Rock International and Rideau Carleton Raceway Casino, currently managed by Hard Rock International and governed by Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, will have an indoor groundbreaking ceremony at the live venue of the Rideau Carleton Raceway Casino called The Joint. This sprawling venue is equipped with over 1,200 slot machines and electronic table games like blackjack, roulette, baccarat and craps. It also includes a VIP high-limit gaming salon, a variety of food, beverage outlets and seasonal live horse racing.

Given that the ceremony will officially begin at 2.30 PM, in addition to the executives of Hard Rock International who are the hosts, among the guests the media are invited to be part of the ceremony, as well as elected officials, business and community leaders, such as the Mayor of Ottawa and city officials, representatives of the Seminole Tribe and officials of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, who will make their remarks along with the hosts of the ceremony. The remarks relate to the new renderings and details of this new development.

The ceremony will also feature guests holding Hard Rock’s iconic guitar-handled shovels and one-on-one interviews will be held after the official event. In addition, light refreshments will be served, and free parking will be provided to all guests.

The schedule of the ceremony is:

Future Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa Groundbreaking Ceremony
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
2:00 p.m. Guest check in
2:30 p.m. Groundbreaking Ceremony
The Joint, 2nd floor of Rideau Carleton Casino, Future Hard Rock
4837 Albion Road

Penalty even before the official opening:

During July 2022, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) fined the said casino-hotel C$227.250 for multiple violations of the region’s gaming standards at the Rideau Carleton Casino, although the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa wasn’t officially opened back then. Among the 36 violations, “advertising and marketing materials being distributed to self-excluded individuals and a failure to  implement, follow, and enforce required anti-money laundering policies and procedures” were emphasized. In addition, it was revealed that the operator “failed to sufficiently protect gaming systems and data from security vulnerabilities, and had not ensured that staff completed necessary training in important areas.”