Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. Inc.
(formerly Harrah’s Entertainment)
Profile: Founded more than 70 years ago, Caesars develops resorts and sponsors the World Series of Poker tournaments and the London Clubs International family of casinos. A joint venture with Rock Gaming has also registered to lobby city officials.
Key executives: Gary Loveman is CEO of Caesars Entertainment Corp.
Notable casinos: Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nev.; Caesars Windsor in Ontario
Founded: 1937
Headquarters: Paradise, Nev.
Lobbyists: David Pratt, senior associate with GCI Group Canada, representing Caesars vice-president Trevor Busche; Michael Ras, vice-president of public affairs at GCI Group Canada, representing David Satz, Caesars vice-president of government relations and development.
Rock Gaming LLC
Profile: Rock Gaming is a gaming partnership based in the U.S. Midwest that was recently formed to develop casinos in Cincinnati and Cleveland in a joint venture with Caesars Entertainment. It is a subsidiary of Rock Companies, which also includes property management, construction and equity portfolios.
Key executives: Dan Gilbert is chairman of Rock Gaming and is the majority owner of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and the American Hockey League’s Lake Erie Monsters. Mr. Gilbert also founded Quicken Loans Inc., a large online retail mortgage lender.
Notable casinos: Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati (opening spring 2013)
Founded: 2010
Headquarters: Detroit, Mich.
Lobbyists: Rock Gaming LLC employees including president and COO Matthew Cullen, principal Steven Rosenthal and senior project manager Julia Wachler.
The Bronson Companies
Profile: The Bronson Companies is a real estate development firm that has developed more than 100 office buildings and shopping centres across the United States. The company has in excess of $500 million in casino assets owned and operated by related affiliates, and specializes in the acquisition and restructuring of small to mid-sized gaming properties.
Key executives: CEO Richard Bronson worked with Las Vegas entrepreneur Steve Wynn as an inside director of Mirage Resorts until the company sold in 2000. He is also the co-founder of US Digital Gaming, which enables operators and states to provide responsible online gaming in the United States.
Notable casinos: Developed the 61-hectare tract of land at Renaissance Pointe in Atlantic City, N.J., which became the site of Boyd Gaming and MGM/Mirage’s The Borgata, a $1.2-billion resort hotel.
Founded: 2000
Headquarters: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Lobbyist: Jeff Polowin, senior vice-president at Hill & Knowlton
Statement from company: “We are evaluating the Ottawa opportunity for potential development and considering partnerships with potential operators and various stakeholders.”
National Amusements
Profile: A privately owned company operating more than 950 movie theatres across the world. National Amusements owns CBS Corp., Viacom, MTV Networks, BET Networks and Paramount Pictures, and is an equal partner in the online ticketing service MovieTickets.com. National Amusements has formed a joint venture with Rush Street Gaming to explore gaming in Ontario.
Key executives: The principals are the Latner Family of Toronto and the Bluhm Family of Chicago, Ill.
Notable casinos: Collectively, the partners own and operate casinos in North America including Fallsview Casino and Resort and Casino Niagara in Ontario, Rivers Casino in Des Planes, Ill, Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, Pa., and Sugar House Casino in Philadelphia, Pa.
Founded: 1936
Headquarters: Norwood, Mass.
Lobbyist: Media reports have said that former senior planner Lloyd Phillips is lobbying on behalf of the company, but no activity has been registered.
Rideau Carleton Raceway Holdings Ltd.
Profile: Rideau Carleton Raceway is a horse racing and gambling complex in Ottawa. In 2000, the venue introduced slot machines. The site includes a restaurant and hosts musical performances.
Key executives: Robert Fasken, co-owner and chairman of the board.
Notable casinos: Rideau Carleton Raceway
Founded: 1962
Headquarters: Ottawa
Lobbyist: Richard Gardner, secretary and treasurer of Rideau Carleton Raceway.
Clairvest Group Inc.
Profile: Clairvest is a Canadian publicly listed equity management firm that has invested more than $750 million into 32 companies.
Key executives: Jeff Parr, co-CEO and managing director and previously one of the partners managing the Canadian Mezzanine Fund.
Notable casinos: Clairvest has provided funding for various Canadian casino developers including Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Ltd., and Sonco Gaming Inc., which developed the Grey Eagle Casino & Bingo southwest of Calgary, and Casino New Brunswick in Moncton, N.B.
Founded: 1987
Headquarters: Toronto
Lobbyist: Emma Breen, principal at EB Consulting.
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