Rascal Flatts have recruited U.S. The Voice winner Craig Wayne Boyd to serve as the opening act for their upcoming Las Vegas residency. The country music trio is set to stage a nine-show run at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino’s the Joint venue, and joining them is Blake Shelton’s protege, who won the U.S. talent competition last month .

Whenever I see contests and sweepstakes, I am usually dubious. Why? I just don’t see the fun in a random drawing.

We’re not even halfway through winter, and the heaters are blowing away – not the air conditioners. But for our hotels and beach clubs, summer is just around the corner.

For the eighth year, Black Enterprise magazine has named MGM Resorts International one of the “40 Best Companies for Diversity” in the U.S. for its diversity and inclusion practices. MGM Resorts is the only company in the gaming industry, and the only company in Nevada, to be named to the magazine’s list this year.

For FY 2014, the Lottery’s instant ticket sales reached ,000-an increase of almost 11% over the previous year, far exceeding the average U.S. lottery instant sales growth by almost threefold over the same time period. The Lottery’s success can be attributed to a number of factors, including leveraging Pollard Banknote’s sales-driving portfolio of instant ticket product innovations and growing its range of technology-enabled products that extend the life of traditional instant tickets.

Savannah Smith, left, and David Perrico perform during the showcase for BBR at T Spot at Tuscany Suites Thursday, Nov. 26, 2013. The famous lyric talks of a world of pure imagination, and at first blush the production “Alice – A Steampunk Concert Fantasy” seems just that.

Hard Rock Rewards , the loyalty program for Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos has announced its first free night stay program where guests who stay five qualifying nights at Hard Rock Hotels from now through June 5, will earn a free one-night return stay . Obviously, you have to join the Hard Rock Rewards program before you can qualify.

Are Virtual Reality, time sinks and a move away from boxed product on the cards for gamers in 2015? With the first full year of the new generation now firmly in the rear-view mirror, the general consensus is that 2014 was something of a tepid year for video games. While the last 12 months saw their fair share of AAA franchise blockbusters mingling with indie smashes and new IPs, there wasn’t one moment in the year gamers could point to that truly electrified either the gaming industry or its massive audience.

While the slowdown in Macau has hammered companies with the biggest bet there, MGM has been doing all right thanks to a boost in Las Vegas and increased non-gaming revenue there. However, there could be tumultuous times on the horizon for the stock.

Louisiana Lottery officials say one ticket won the $220,000 jackpot in Saturday’s Easy 5 drawing. It was purchased in St. Francisville.

To give an extra punch to the release of their several new pairs of headphones and speakers this week, Harman employed The Hottest Band in the World: KISS. A miniature concert took place at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, and with the HTC Desire EYE, we went about capturing it.

No matter how high the market goes there are always deals for investors to find. It might just take a little searching to uncover the bargains on the stock market today.

Both winners wished to remain anonymous. Nobody pays more jackpots than IGT. Wheel of Fortune slot machines were launched by IGT in 1996 and solidified the Company’s leadership in Wide Area Progressive technology.

Stassi Schroeder of “Vanderpump Rules,” second from left, with Kristina Kelly, Jennifer Bush and Brooke Chenery, hosts at Body English on Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, in the Hard Rock Hotel. Blonde-bombshell starlet Stassi Schroeder of Bravo’s “Vanderpump Rules” celebrated a girls night out Friday evening at Body English in the Hard Rock Hotel.

A worker polishes the Club Paradise exterior on Paradise Road, across from the Hard Rock Hotel, on Monday, Jan. 5, 2015. The club is reopening under new owner Steve Paik of Philadelphia.

Rock legend Alice Cooper is shown with a guitar up for auction at the 16th Annual Canon Customer Appreciation Reception/National Center for Missing Chris Phillips of Zowie Bowie is shown at the 16th Annual Canon Customer Appreciation Reception/National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Benefit Fundraiser held at the Bellagio on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015. Headliner Frankie Moreno is shown at the 16th Annual Canon Customer Appreciation Reception/National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Benefit Fundraiser held at the Bellagio on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015.

Texas Station Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas – Ryan Burton catches up with undefeated heavyweight contender Andy Ruiz to discuss his return to the ring against March 7th in Macau, China. Ruiz talks about his plans for 2015, the upcoming heavyweight battle between WBC champion Bermane Stiverne and mandatory challenger Deontay Wilder, taking place at the MGM Grand.

One of two Wisconsin Lottery tickets worth $48,000 was sold in Madison, according to a release from Wisconsin Lottery. A ticket sold at PDQ Food Store at 401 N. Third St. matched all five winning numbers in the Badger 5 drawing.

Including a new donation announced Friday, the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum have raised $11.3 million. The goal is $16 million of private money to go with an estimated $87 million in state funding.

Regional casino operator Pinnacle Entertainment has posted lower-than-expected profitability in FY2014, due in large part to weak overall customer traffic volumes. With a current P/E multiple of roughly 17, Pinnacle Entertainment seems to have little operational momentum to support a higher market valuation and investors should probably avoid the story.