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Caesars Coming to Canada Windsor, Ontario, Dec. 15, 2006 Ontario Provincial Cabinet Ministers Dwight Duncan and Sandra Pupatello today joined officials from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) and Caesars World, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc., to announce the signing of a Caesars trademark licensing agreement that will bring the world renowned Caesars brand to Casino Windsor. The casino will be re-named Caesars Windsor in early 2008 when the property completes its CD$400 million expansion that will include a new 22-story hotel tower and 5,000-seat entertainment centre featuring world-class, premier entertainers. The announcement was made at today’s unveiling of Casino Windsor’s elegant 9,545-square-foot Rotunda. The two-level Rotunda, topped by a six-story dome with soaring skylights, opens onto the casino’s newly renovated main gaming floor and serves as the property’s town square. With carved archways, Romanesque sculptures and marble columns, the Rotunda draws its inspiration from the vitality of the great Italian piazzas and incorporates architectural and design elements consistent with the Caesars brand. When re-branded in 2008, Caesars Windsor will set a new standard for casino entertainment in the Detroit-Windsor area. The resort will offer customers a spectacular experience, including elegant accommodations, fine dining featuring an array of cuisines, world-class gaming with an expanded selection of table games, world-renowned entertainment and an extraordinary level of attentive service. In keeping with the brand's high standards of luxury, the existing 389-room hotel tower will be upgraded to Caesars’ exacting and luxury standards, giving the property a total of nearly 800 four-diamond hotel rooms when the renovation and expansion is completed. “Caesars Windsor will set a new standard for casinos in the Windsor-Detroit area,” said Pupatello, MPP for Windsor West. “The provincial government investment in this upscale entertainment venue will create new jobs and help attract more tourists to Windsor.” Dwight Duncan, MPP Windsor-Tecumseh, added, “Caesars Windsor will assume an even greater role as an economic engine for the city of Windsor and for the province.” Casino Windsor attracts approximately 4.5 million visitors annually and has created 15,000 direct and indirect jobs since it opened in 1994. Hundreds of new jobs will be added at the casino when the hotel tower and entertainment centre expansion is completed. In independent research conducted with casino customers throughout North America, Caesars is consistently rated as the most recognized and respected brand in casino entertainment. “The Caesars brand is what we aspire to in the world of casino gaming in North America and around the world. Today’s announcement ensures our property here in Windsor retains its status as one of OLG’s crown jewels, one that will provide the most exciting and entertaining experiences to our existing and new customers,” stated Duncan Brown, CEO OLG. Along with the Caesars re-branding, Casino Windsor will, upon the receipt of all required regulatory approvals, introduce several new customer service and marketing programs, including Total Rewards®, the casino industry’s first and most successful customer loyalty program. Total Rewards is consistently rated one of the top relationship-marketing programs in any industry. With a launch expected in the second quarter of 2007, Total Rewards will allow Casino Windsor customers to earn Reward Credits based on how much and which games they play. The Reward Credits can be redeemed for meals, merchandise, trips, concerts and other benefits at Casino Windsor, as well as any other casino operated under the Harrah’s, Caesars, Horseshoe, Harvey’s, Rio, Paris and Showboat brand names, including resorts in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Atlantic City and New Orleans. “We are bullish about the prospects of growing the casino’s business among players in the Detroit market and in neighboring states,” said Charles Atwood, vice chairman of the Board, Harrah’s Entertainment. “Combining Total Rewards, the Caesars brand and unmatched amenities will inspire customer loyalty among players seeking the region’s best casino experience.” New Amenities The Rotunda unveiled today features multiple venues in which customers can relax and enjoy a wide array of entertainment. The Cosmos Lounge on the ground floor is a full-service bar open until 2 a.m. daily. Vu Bar, a second-level Las Vegas-style nightclub, features spectacular panoramic views of the Detroit Skyline and the Detroit River from floor-to-ceiling windows or an outdoor patio. Vu is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. The Artist Café, directly across from the Rotunda, offers light fare that can be enjoyed in the Rotunda patio setting. The new Premier Lounge is an exclusive venue for the casino’s most loyal customers, offering complimentary food and beverages in an upscale setting. Energy thrives throughout the casino’s remodeled gaming floor where the hottest slots and table games are spaciously laid out as part of a new design. Wider aisles and shorter banks of machines allow customers to easily maneuver throughout the casino. The selection of slot games is a mixture of customer favorites including Elvis, Jackpot Party, and Wheel of Fortune, along with a wide variety of new penny and 2-cent games, 50-line progressives and multi-line payouts featuring the latest “coinless” slot technology. Customers also can enjoy 56 table games including novelty poker, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and craps. These enhancements complement several new additions unveiled at Casino Windsor earlier this year, including Legends Sports Lounge. The lounge features sports wagering on American football, baseball and college football and international hockey with higher wagering limits and expanded options not available at Ontario lottery dealers. The lounge also boasts the longest sports ticker in Canada, 36 video displays, three distinct seating areas for more than 170 customers, excellent pub food and famous Canadian beer on tap. Casino Windsor is operated by Windsor Casino Limited ("WCL"), a consortium established in 1993. Prior to opening the permanent Casino Windsor in 1998, WCL operated two interim casinos. WCL combines the substantial strategic strengths and capabilities of two of the most respected companies in the gaming, entertainment and hospitality industries: Harrah's Entertainment Inc. and Hilton Hotels Corporation. OLG is a provincial agency responsible for province-wide gaming facilities and lottery games, and generates approximately CD$2 billion in proceeds for the province to support hospitals, health care, charities and other important public benefits. With revenues of CD$6 billion and more than 20,000 employees and associates, OLG is one of North America’s leading gaming enterprises. For more information, visit www.OLG.ca. Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc. is a subsidiary of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. the world's largest provider of branded casino entertainment through operating subsidiaries. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada nearly 70 years ago, Harrah's has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions. Harrah's Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. More information about Harrah's is available at its Web site - www.harrahs.com. Contacts: Teresa Roncon, OLG, (416)-224-7034 Holly Ward, Casino Windsor, (519) 258-7878 x 22869 Alberto Lopez, Caesars/Harrah’s (702) 407-6344 Back to Latest News
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