Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa opened its doors on Thursday, marking the arrival of Hard Rock International’s first fully integrated casino resort in Canada.

The $350 million brick-and-mortar venue heralded day one with a signature Hard Rock guitar smash in lieu of a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony.

It has opened eight years after the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) selected Hard Rock as the operator of the property. The casino will be governed by OLG and it will utilize the government gaming operator’s PlaySmart responsible gambling program.

The opening was attended by Seminole Tribe of Florida leaders, Hard Rock executives, Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming Stan Cho, City of Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Ottawa pro sports leaders including Brianne Jenner, captain of the PWHL’s Ottawa Charge. The casino and the Charge announced a partnership back in February.

A headline concert by Avril Lavigne on Saturday, July 5, will close out the celebration.

“It’s a great day for our city,” Sutcliffe told CTV News. “To see a global brand like Hard Rock choosing to invest in Ottawa is really remarkable.”

Hard Rock took over the day-to-day casino operations at the Rideau Carleton Raceway in 2017, before construction on the new location finally started in 2023 after being delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The old Rideau Carleton venue will be renovated and rolled into the new casino, a process slated to be completed by the end of 2025.

A milestone casino for Canada’s capital

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa features more than 150,000 square feet of entertainment and gaming space, hosting 1,500 slot machines, 40 table games, a high-limit gaming area, a full-service 150-room hotel, a 2,000-seat Hard Rock Live theatre, and more than 10 restaurants and bars — including, of course, a Hard Rock Café.

The venue is Canada’s only Hard Rock-branded casino after the Vancouver location changed hands and became Great Canadian Casino Vancouver in late 2023.

“Bringing Hard Rock to Canada’s capital is an iconic milestone for our brand,” said Hard Rock International CEO Jim Allen. “We’re proud to expand our global footprint and create a destination where locals and visitors can experience world-class gaming, hospitality, and entertainment all in one place.”

Allen said earlier this year that the Ottawa property will not only attract international visitors but also support the local economy and enhance the Ottawa region’s entertainment offerings. Hard Rock expects it will also help to bring Ontario residents and tourists who are currently traveling to Quebec for gaming and entertainment to Ottawa instead. The operator estimates that nearly $60 million is currently being lost to Quebec on an annual basis.

The casino resort is expected to ultimately employ more than 700 local residents, create more than 4,500 direct and indirect construction and ongoing employment opportunities in the City of Ottawa and generate more than $206 million in tax revenue.

“Our government is thrilled that Hard Rock chose Ontario for its first fully integrated hotel and casino venue in Canada,” said Cho. “This new entertainment and hospitality destination will draw visitors from near and far to Ottawa, create and sustain hundreds of local jobs, and provide millions of dollars for local infrastructure and community programs.”