Insights on the Latest Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Ottawa
The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa officially opened its doors on Thursday, July 3, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the entertainment scene of Ontario's capital city. The casino, which spans over 150,000 square feet, offers a wide range of gaming and entertainment options, including 1,500 slot machines and 40 table games [1].
The property, which was previously operated by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) as OLG Slots at Rideau Carleton Raceway, was taken over by Hard Rock in 2017 [2]. The casino features a high-limit gaming area, 10 restaurants and bars, and a full-service hotel with 150 guest rooms and 22 luxury suites. Among the restaurants, visitors can find the Hard Rock Cafe and Council Oak Steaks & Seafood [3].
However, questions remain about Hard Rock's plans for online gaming in Ontario. As of August 2025, there is no conclusive evidence that Hard Rock has completed or received approval for a separate iGaming license in Ontario [1][2][4]. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario (iGO) regulate online casinos in Ontario, and as of mid-2025, 86 sites are licensed [2]. However, Hard Rock Bet sportsbook is noted as legal and operational in several US states, but it has yet to be explicitly listed among Ontario’s fully licensed iGaming operators [2][4].
The push for an iGaming license for Hard Rock is expected to begin after the opening of the new land-based casino. Hard Rock Digital, the digital arm of the Hard Rock brand, has an office in Ontario, but there is no information about them launching yet [1]. Efforts to contact a media relations representative from Hard Rock Digital regarding their iGaming license application or launch plans have been unsuccessful [5].
Meanwhile, the future of PointsBet Canada team is unclear due to the lack of information about Hard Rock Digital's launch plans in Ontario. The sale of PointsBet in Australia is currently bogged down in a battle royale between Betr Entertainment and MIXI [6]. Part of the Betr takeover bid includes selling off PointsBet Canada to Hard Rock [7]. However, the PointsBet board has recommended the sale to MIXI, and Betr, as majority shareholder in PointsBet, could challenge the takeover shareholder vote in court [6].
Renovations on the original building will begin at the end of 2025 [2]. The Hard Rock LIVE Ottawa theatre, with 1,900 seats, designed by Scéno Plus, opened on Thursday with a performance by David Foster and Katharine McPhee [3]. As the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa continues to evolve, the public eagerly awaits updates on Hard Rock's plans for online gaming in Ontario.
References:
- Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation
- Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario
- Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa
- iGaming Ontario
- Hard Rock Digital
- PointsBet
- Betr Entertainment
- MIXI
- The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, with its diverse casino-and-gambling options like 1,500 slot machines and 40 table games, is making waves in the Canadian gaming industry.
- Las Vegas-style casino culture has found a new home in Ontario, as the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa boasts a high-limit gaming area, 10 restaurants and bars, and a full-service hotel.
- Amidst the excitement of the new land-based casino, questions remain about Hard Rock's plans for sports betting and online gaming in Ontario, with Hard Rock Bet sportsbook yet to be explicitly listed among Ontario’s fully licensed iGaming operators.
- As renovations for the original building set to begin at the end of 2025, the public remains eager for updates on Hard Rock's plans for online gaming, especially in light of the uncertain future of PointsBet Canada team.
