Paragon Gaming
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Gaming |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Diana Bennett, Scott Menke |
| Headquarters | Enterprise, Nevada , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada (formerly) |
| Products | Casino operations and management |
Paragon Gaming is a gaming enterprise based in Enterprise, Nevada, overseeing casino operations across the United States and previously in Canada.
History
Established in 2000 by cousins Diana Bennett and Scott Menke—both seasoned professionals in the gaming industry and related to casino proprietor William Bennett—Paragon Gaming concentrated on tribal casino development.[1] The company’s initial strategy involved collaborating with Native American tribes, proposing ventures such as a 2001 casino near Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard, California. This project was ultimately abandoned due to community resistance.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Another initiative with the Greenville Rancheria of Maidu Indians to develop a casino at the Oxnard Factory Outlet was also declined.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Later that same year, Paragon formed a partnership with the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians to create the $16 million Augustine Casino near Palm Springs, California, which opened its doors in 2002 despite disputes regarding the tribe’s small membership size.[2]
In Canada, Paragon worked alongside First Nations groups in Alberta to facilitate tribal casino ventures. Following regulatory adjustments in 2002, it joined forces with the Enoch Cree Nation to establish the $178-million River Cree Resort and Casino in Edmonton, which commenced operations in 2006. Paragon held co-ownership and management roles until divesting its interest back to the Enoch Cree in 2014.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
In September 2006, Paragon purchased the bankrupt Edgewater Casino located in Vancouver for $43 million.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Two years later, it launched the Eagle River Casino and Travel Plaza on the Alexis Whitecourt Indian Reserve, retaining a 40% ownership; however, due to poor financial results, this property filed for bankruptcy by 2014, concluding Paragon’s participation.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Paragon broadened its U.S. holdings by assuming management of the troubled Riviera on the Las Vegas Strip under Starwood Capital’s ownership in 2013. After its closure in 2015, Paragon took over operations of the adjacent Westgate Las Vegas through a lease agreement with Westgate Resorts.[3]
In 2014, Paragon initiated development of the $600-million Parq Vancouver hotel and casino complex at BC Place. This venue debuted in 2017 as a successor to Edgewater Casino. The company divested its interest in Parq Vancouver by 2019.[1]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Additional expansion included acquiring Nevada casino management contracts: overseeing the Hooters Casino Hotel near the Las Vegas Strip and securing a majority ownership in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe during 2016.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Paragon’s management agreement at Westgate concluded in 2020.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
In 2023, ownership of Hard Rock Lake Tahoe was transferred from Paragon to Fertitta Entertainment.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Properties
Paragon’s active assets consist of:
- The Den Las Vegas – Spring Valley, Nevada
- Oyo Hotel & Casino – Paradise, Nevada
Former properties
- Augustine Casino – Coachella, California
- Eagle River Casino and Travel Plaza – Alexis Whitecourt Indian Reserve, Alberta
- Edgewater Casino – Vancouver, British Columbia
- Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe – Stateline, Nevada
- Parq Vancouver – Vancouver, British Columbia
- River Cree Resort and Casino – Enoch, Alberta
- Riviera – Winchester, Nevada
- Westgate Las Vegas – Winchester, Nevada