Paragon Gaming is a
gaming company based in
Enterprise, Nevada that owns and manages
casinos in the United States and formerly in Canada.
History
Paragon Gaming was founded in 2000 by cousins Diana Bennett and Scott Menke, who were experienced gaming executives and the daughter and nephew, respectively, of prominent casino owner
William Bennett.[1][2] The company began working with
American Indian tribes, seeking opportunities to develop
tribal casinos.[3]
In 2001, Paragon proposed to develop a casino at the
Channel Islands Harbor in
Oxnard, California on behalf of a yet-to-be-determined tribe.[4] In the face of opposition from local officials, the company withdrew the proposal and announced a new plan to build a casino at the Oxnard Factory Outlet with the
Greenville Rancheria of Maidu Indians.[5][6] This plan, too, provoked strong opposition, and was rejected by the city council.[7]
Later in 2001, Paragon announced a deal to develop a casino near
Palm Springs, California for the
Augustine Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians.[8] The project drew some attention because the tribe had only one adult member; critics questioned the seemliness of developers profiting from a casino that would benefit so few Indians.[9][10][11] The Augustine Casino opened in 2002 at a cost of $16 million.[12]
Meanwhile, the company worked with
First Nations bands in Alberta to lobby for regulations that would allow tribes to open casinos.[8] When those efforts succeeded in 2002, Paragon partnered with the
Enoch Cree Nation to develop a casino hotel in
Edmonton.[13][14] The $178-million River Cree Resort and Casino opened in October 2006.[15] Paragon operated and co-owned the casino until 2014, when the Enoch Cree bought out the company's interests.[16][17]
In 2008, Paragon opened the Eagle River Casino and Travel Plaza at the
Alexis Whitecourt Indian Reserve in northern Alberta.[20] Paragon owned a 40 percent share of the property, with the
Alexis First Nation owning the rest.[21] The casino's revenues fell short of expectations, and it went into bankruptcy by 2014; Paragon was left with no stake in it.[21][22][23]
In 2013, Paragon assumed management of the struggling
Riviera hotel and casino on the
Las Vegas Strip on behalf of
Starwood Capital.[24] The Riviera closed in May 2015. Later that month, Paragon took over management of the nearby
Westgate Las Vegas under a lease from
Westgate Resorts.[25] The company transferred many of its employees and bookings from the Riviera to the Westgate.[25]
In 2014, Paragon began construction of the
Parq Vancouver, a $600-million hotel and casino complex at the
BC Place stadium.[1][26] The Parq opened in 2017, and the Edgewater Casino, which it replaced, closed on the same day.[27] In 2019, Paragon sold its stake in the Parq to one of the property's other co-owners.[28]