Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa Sets July 3 Grand Opening Date

_{The new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, a $350M integrated resort at Rideau Carleton Raceway, will welcome guests starting July 3, 2025. (Image: Courtesy by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino)}

After more than two years of construction, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa has announced it will open its doors to the public on July 3, 2025.

Hard Rock International will open its first integrated resort in Canada at the Rideau Carleton Raceway about eight years after winning the right to be the operator of the casino from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) in 2017.

Integrated Resort Is First for Hard Rock in Canada

The new casino is a major expansion of operations at the Ontario racetrack, where Hard Rock already runs the Rideau Carleton Casino. Following the opening of the new facility, the original venue will undergo further renovations to complete its integration into the resort.

The new casino, along with a new hotel and entertainment venue, cost around $350 million to construct.

“Ottawa is a milestone moment for us,” Hard Rock International Chairman Jim Allen said in a statement. “It’s our first fully integrated resort in Canada and a key step in our global growth strategy.

This property will not only attract international visitors but also support the local economy and enhance the region’s entertainment offerings,” Allen added.

The new resort features around 1,500 slots, can run as many as 40 table games, and includes a high-limit gaming area. The facility hosts 10 restaurants and bars, including a Hard Rock Café. The hotel features 150 rooms, including 22 luxury suites, while the performance venue, known as Hard Rock Live, has a capacity of 2,200.

Hard Rock is promising a “star-studded lineup” of Canadian entertainers for the week of the grand opening, which comes just after Canada Day.

Hard Rock knows how to throw a grand opening party,” Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa President Christine Crump said in a statement. “July 3 will mark the beginning of festivities, infused with legendary Hard Rock energy and an ‘Oh! Canada!’ feel.”

In a statement, Hard Rock and the OLG touted the fact that the new resort would create 700 local jobs, as well as support the community via partnerships and sponsorships.

Hard Rock Expanding Reach Into New Markets

Hard Rock International may be best known for its partnership with the Seminole Tribe in Florida, where the Hard Rock name adorns two of the six Seminole Gaming casinos in the state. 

Hard Rock also owns or operates casinos in several other American locations, including Atlantic City, Biloxi, Cincinnati, and Bristol, Virginia, among others. Beyond the new resort in Ottawa, Hard Rock also operates a Punta Cana resort in the Dominican Republic.

The gaming firm is also seeking lucrative licenses in other jurisdictions. Hard Rock has partnered with New York Mets owner Steve Cohen on the proposed Metropolitan Park project, which is expected to compete for one of three downstate casino licenses in New York later this year.