Hard Rock Casino Vancouver to Open Winter 2013

World-renowned brand to make its Canadian Gaming Premiere with the launch of a first-class entertainment destination

RICHMOND, BC, July 3, 2013 /CNW/ - From the industry frontrunners credited for the award-winning four-diamond River Rock Casino Resort, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation ("GCGC") reveals Hard Rock Casino Vancouver*, set to open this winter and debuting as the first Hard Rock Casino in Canada. The Hard Rock Casino Vancouver will be a rebranding and renovation of the Boulevard Casino, situated in the thriving city of Coquitlam, British Columbia in Metro Vancouver and will be home to new and unparalleled entertainment, dining and gaming offerings around the clock. With new unrivaled amenities and top-notch hospitality, the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver and its show theatre will serve as the destination of choice for Metro Vancouver residents and tourists.

"This new multi-million dollar renovation and rebranding will create an iconic entertainment environment offering, 'everything you go out for'," said Howard Blank, vice president of Great Canadian Gaming Corporation. "We look forward to presenting the very best of gaming, music, fun and dining; everyone will be treated like a rock star, whether you are 19 or 99."

The Hard Rock Casino Vancouver will be owned and operated by GCGC under license from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino HRHH IP, LLC ("HRHH"), owned by an affiliate of Brookfield Property Partners. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is the flagship property owned by an affiliate of HRHH.

"Hard Rock Casino is one of the most globally recognized entertainment brands in the world," said Chief Operating Officer for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, Jody Lake. "The expansion of the Hard Rock Casino into the Vancouver area is an important milestone for us and we warmly welcome the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver team into our family. We look forward to working closely with the Great Canadian Gaming team as they transition their property to a Hard Rock Casino."

Slated to open late this year, the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver will present crowd-favourite gaming offerings including blackjack, roulette, pai gow, poker, baccarat, craps, VIP high-limit salon's and more than 950 state-of-the-art interactive slot machines spread across the 80,000 square foot casino floor.

The Hard Rock Casino Vancouver will also be home to a 1,000 seat theatre brought to life by its star lineup. The theatre will boast the best in music, comedy, performance arts, multi-cultural programming and local artists making their mark in the entertainment world, as well as a more intimate live entertainment venue featuring rising stars in the local and regional music and entertainment scene. The theatre and the smaller live entertainment venue will also be available for use by community groups and organizations, transforming for special events and corporate meetings. With a plan to offer an unrivaled roster of live musicians- from rock to reggae, mainstream to indie, country to EDM, and everything in between, the new Hard Rock Casino Vancouver and its show theatre will bring a much-needed variety of music genres and entertainment options for all of Metro Vancouver to experience.

Because rocking entertainment usually works up an appetite, the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver will offer a variety of culinary options, home to chefs that will dish up unique and flavorful fare in a modern atmosphere. To complement the cuisine, friendly and welcoming mixologists will create unique cocktails made with the finest ingredients, served alongside a broad selection of local craft brews and globally recognized beer brands.

And what would a Hard Rock Casino be without a collection of priceless rock and roll memorabilia? The new Hard Rock Casino Vancouver will be the first gaming property in Canada that will be themed with keepsakes from iconic music legends, with a special tribute to the many artists and individuals that have put Vancouver and Canada on the world-wide stage.

"We are honoured to be working on this project with Great Canadian, a company with a track record of excellence in gaming and hospitality," said Andrea Balkan, managing partner at Brookfield Real Estate Financial Partners. "The Hard Rock Casino Vancouver will be a premier entertainment facility, reflecting the values and traditions of the Hard Rock Casino brand."

(*trade mark licensing subject to regulatory approval)

ABOUT GREAT CANADIAN GAMING CORPORATION

Great Canadian Gaming Corporation operates gaming, entertainment and hospitality facilities in British Columbia, including: River Rock Casino Resort, Hastings Racecourse and Slots, Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino, View Royal Casino, Casino Nanaimo, Chances Dawson Creek and Chances Chilliwack and the Maple Ridge Community Gaming Centre. The Company also operates in Ontario, Nova Scotia and Washington State. The Company's 17 gaming properties consist of ten casinos, including one with a four diamond hotel resort, four horse racetrack casinos, and three community gaming centres. As of March 31, 2013, the Company employs over 3,900 team members in Canada and 600 team members in Washington State. Further information is available on the Company's website, www.gcgaming.com.

ABOUT HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO

HRHH IP, LLC ("HRHH"), owned by an affiliate of Brookfield Property Partners, is the licensee with exclusive rights to use the Hard Rock Hotel and Hard Rock Casino marks for casinos and hotel-casinos in the United States west of the Mississippi, and to market and broadcast those properties throughout the world. Our territory also includes all of Illinois and Louisiana, greater Houston but not the rest of Texas, greater Vancouver, and certain countries outside the U.S.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is the flagship property owned by an affiliate of HRHH. Built in 1995, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino offers an energetic entertainment and gaming experience with the services and amenities associated with a boutique luxury resort hotel. The property is known for its innovative nightlife and music scene where acts such as The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, Paul McCartney, Incubus, Foo Fighters, Carlos Santana, Mötley Crüe and Guns N' Roses have all performed. Other HRHH Hard Rock Hotel & Casino franchises include locations in Tulsa, Okla. (www.hardrockcasinotulsa.com) and

Sioux City, Iowa (www.hardrockcasinosiouxcity.com) which is currently under construction and is expected to open in July 2014.

ABOUT BROOKFIELD

Brookfield Property Partners is a commercial real estate owner, operator and investor operating globally. Our diversified portfolio includes interests in over 300 office and retail properties encompassing approximately 250 million square feet. In addition, we have interests in approximately 19,800 multi-family units, 29 million square feet of industrial space and an 18 million square foot office development pipeline. Our goal is to be the leading global investor in best in class commercial property assets. For more information, please visit www.brookfieldpropertypartners.com.

Video with caption: "VIDEO: Hard Rock Casino Vancouver to Open Winter 2013". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20130703_C4876_VIDEO_EN_28731.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20130703_C4876_PHOTO_EN_28731.jpg&clientName=Great%20Canadian%20Gaming%20Corporation&caption=VIDEO%3A%20Hard%20Rock%20Casino%20Vancouver%20to%20Open%20Winter%202013&title=GREAT%20CANADIAN%20GAMING%20CORPORATION%20%2D%20Hard%20Rock%20Casino%20Vancouver&headline=Hard%20Rock%20Casino%20Vancouver%20to%20Open%20Winter%202013

Image with caption: "Renderings: Hard Rock Casino Vancouver - Lobby (CNW Group/Great Canadian Gaming Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130703_C4876_PHOTO_EN_28701.jpg

Image with caption: "Renderings: Hard Rock Casino Vancouver - Gaming Floor (CNW Group/Great Canadian Gaming Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130703_C4876_PHOTO_EN_28705.jpg

Image with caption: "Renderings: Hard Rock Casino Vancouver - Live Entertainment Bar (CNW Group/Great Canadian Gaming Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130703_C4876_PHOTO_EN_28700.jpg

Image with caption: "Renderings: Hard Rock Casino Vancouver - Kitchen and Lounge (CNW Group/Great Canadian Gaming Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130703_C4876_PHOTO_EN_28726.jpg

Image with caption: "Renderings: Hard Rock Casino Vancouver - Live Entertainment Venue (CNW Group/Great Canadian Gaming Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130703_C4876_PHOTO_EN_28727.jpg

PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2013/07/03/20130703_C4876_DOC_EN_28707.pdf

SOURCE: Great Canadian Gaming Corporation