Paragon Gaming
Paragon Gaming is a privately held casino development, ownership, and management company based in Nevada.
Last updated August 24, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Paragon Gaming is a privately held casino company headquartered in Enterprise, Nevada. It develops, owns, operates, and manages casino and resort properties, with a business history spanning tribal gaming, commercial casinos, casino hotels, and entertainment resorts in the United States and Canada. The company was founded in 2000 by cousins Diana Bennett and Scott Menke, both experienced gaming executives and members of the family associated with casino owner William Bennett. Paragon initially concentrated on opportunities involving American Indian tribes and First Nations. Its early work included proposals for casinos in California and efforts to support regulatory changes that would allow First Nations communities in Alberta to establish casino businesses. A proposed Channel Islands Harbor project in Oxnard, California, was withdrawn after opposition from local officials. A later proposal at an Oxnard factory outlet, developed with the Greenville Rancheria of Maidu Indians, was rejected by the city council. Paragon subsequently worked with the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians on a casino near Palm Springs. The Augustine Casino opened in 2002 after a reported $16 million development investment. The company expanded into Alberta through a partnership with the Enoch Cree Nation. The River Cree Resort and Casino near Edmonton opened in October 2006 as a major casino hotel project. Paragon operated and co-owned the property until 2014, when the Enoch Cree Nation bought out Paragon's interests. Paragon also owned a minority share of the Eagle River Casino and Travel Plaza, developed with the Alexis First Nation. The property opened in 2008 but underperformed financially and entered bankruptcy proceedings by 2014, leaving Paragon without an ownership interest. Paragon broadened its portfolio through acquisitions and management contracts. In 2006 it purchased the bankrupt Edgewater Casino in Vancouver. The company later developed Parq Vancouver, a large hotel and casino complex beside BC Place. Construction began in 2014, and the property opened in 2017, replacing the Edgewater Casino. Paragon sold its interest in Parq Vancouver in 2019. In Nevada, Paragon took over management of the Riviera hotel and casino in 2013 on behalf of Starwood Capital. The Riviera closed in May 2015, after which Paragon assumed management of the nearby Westgate Las Vegas under a lease arrangement with Westgate Resorts. Paragon transferred a number of Riviera employees and bookings to Westgate, but its management contract ended in 2020. The company added the Hooters Casino Hotel near the Las Vegas Strip to its managed portfolio in 2016 and acquired a majority interest in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe during the same year. Paragon sold the Lake Tahoe property to Fertitta Entertainment in 2023. The company's current portfolio, as identified in the reference material, includes The Den Las Vegas in Spring Valley and Oyo Hotel & Casino in Paradise, Nevada. Its overall positioning is that of a specialized casino operator and development partner rather than a mass-market consumer brand. Its experience includes tribal and First Nations partnerships, resort redevelopment, casino management, and ownership of gaming properties. Because detailed current corporate information, ownership disclosures, and leadership data are limited in the supplied sources, some present-day corporate attributes remain unverified.
History
Paragon Gaming was established in 2000 by Diana Bennett and Scott Menke. The founders were cousins and experienced gaming executives connected to the family of casino owner William Bennett. From its earliest years, the company pursued casino development opportunities with American Indian tribes and First Nations communities. In 2001, Paragon proposed a casino at Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard, California, for a tribe that had not yet been selected. Opposition from local officials led the company to withdraw that proposal. Paragon then proposed a casino at the Oxnard Factory Outlet in partnership with the Greenville Rancheria of Maidu Indians, but the Oxnard city council rejected the plan. Later in 2001, Paragon announced a project near Palm Springs for the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians. The Augustine Casino opened in 2002. The project attracted public attention because the tribe had only one adult member at the time, prompting debate about the distribution of benefits from tribal casino development. Paragon also worked with First Nations groups in Alberta to support regulatory changes allowing them to establish casinos. After those efforts succeeded in 2002, the company partnered with the Enoch Cree Nation to develop the River Cree Resort and Casino near Edmonton. The casino hotel opened in October 2006. Paragon operated and co-owned the property until 2014, when the Enoch Cree Nation acquired Paragon's interests. In September 2006, Paragon purchased the bankrupt Edgewater Casino at Vancouver's Plaza of Nations for $43 million. The company later participated in the development of Parq Vancouver, a hotel and casino complex near BC Place. Construction began in 2014 and the $600 million project opened in 2017. The opening coincided with the closure of the Edgewater Casino, which the new complex replaced. Paragon sold its interest in Parq Vancouver in 2019. Paragon's Alberta activities also included the Eagle River Casino and Travel Plaza on the Alexis Whitecourt Indian Reserve. The facility opened in 2008, with Paragon holding a 40 percent share and the Alexis First Nation holding the remainder. Revenue fell below expectations, and the casino entered bankruptcy proceedings by 2014. Paragon ultimately retained no interest in the property. The company developed a substantial Nevada management and ownership presence during the 2010s. In 2013, it assumed management of the Riviera hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip for Starwood Capital. The Riviera closed in May 2015. Later that month, Paragon began managing Westgate Las Vegas under a lease from Westgate Resorts and moved some Riviera employees and reservations to the new operation. The Westgate management contract ended in 2020. In 2016, Paragon expanded its Nevada portfolio by taking over management of Hooters Casino Hotel and acquiring a majority stake in Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe. The company later sold the Lake Tahoe property to Fertitta Entertainment in 2023. The current properties identified in the supplied reference material are The Den Las Vegas in Spring Valley and Oyo Hotel & Casino in Paradise, Nevada. The available source material does not establish a complete current management roster, ownership structure, or detailed corporate strategy beyond these property activities.
- 2023
Hard Rock Lake Tahoe is sold
[1]Paragon sells the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe to Fertitta Entertainment.
- 2020
Westgate management contract ends
[1]Paragon's management arrangement at Westgate Las Vegas concludes.
- 2019
Parq Vancouver interest is sold
[1]Paragon disposes of its ownership interest in Parq Vancouver.
- 2017
Parq Vancouver opens
[1]Parq Vancouver opens, replacing the Edgewater Casino on the same day.
- 2016
Nevada portfolio expands
[1]Paragon assumes management of Hooters Casino Hotel and acquires a majority stake in Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe.
- 2015
Riviera closes and Westgate management begins
[1]The Riviera closes in May, and Paragon later takes over management of Westgate Las Vegas.
- 2014
Parq Vancouver construction begins
[1]Construction starts on the Parq Vancouver hotel and casino complex near BC Place.
- 2013
Riviera management begins
[1]Paragon assumes management of the Riviera hotel and casino in Las Vegas for Starwood Capital.
- 2008
Eagle River Casino opens
[1]The Eagle River Casino and Travel Plaza opens in Alberta as a joint ownership project between Paragon and the Alexis First Nation.
- 2006
River Cree Resort and Casino opens
[1]The River Cree Resort and Casino near Edmonton opens in October after development with the Enoch Cree Nation.
Products and positioning
A privately held casino development and operating company focused on gaming properties, casino resorts, and partnerships with tribal and First Nations organizations.
Casino
The Den Las Vegas
The Den Las Vegas is a current Paragon Gaming property identified in Spring Valley, Nevada. It represents the company's ongoing casino operating portfolio in the Las Vegas area. The supplied reference material does not provide further verified information about its gaming formats, amenities, ownership structure, or opening date.
Casino hotel
Oyo Hotel & Casino
Oyo Hotel & Casino is a current Paragon Gaming property identified in Paradise, Nevada. It combines hotel and casino operations and forms part of Paragon's Nevada portfolio. No additional operating or ownership details are established by the supplied reference material.
Integrated resort · 2017
Parq Vancouver
Parq Vancouver is a hotel and casino complex developed beside BC Place in Vancouver. Paragon began construction in 2014, and the approximately $600 million project opened in 2017, replacing the Edgewater Casino. Paragon later sold its stake in the property in 2019.
Casino resort · 2006
River Cree Resort and Casino
River Cree Resort and Casino is a casino hotel near Edmonton developed in partnership with the Enoch Cree Nation. The resort opened in October 2006. Paragon operated and co-owned it until 2014, when the Enoch Cree Nation acquired Paragon's interests.
Casino hotel
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe
Paragon acquired a majority stake in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe in 2016. The property was part of the company's Nevada ownership portfolio until Paragon sold it to Fertitta Entertainment in 2023.
Casino hotel
Riviera
The Riviera was a Las Vegas Strip hotel and casino managed by Paragon for Starwood Capital beginning in 2013. The property closed in May 2015, after which Paragon shifted some employees and bookings to Westgate Las Vegas.
Brand decisions
2023
Sell Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake TahoeM&ABackground
Paragon had held a majority interest in the Nevada casino hotel since 2016.
Action taken
Paragon sold the property to Fertitta Entertainment.
Aftermath
Paragon exited ownership of the Lake Tahoe property.
2016
Acquire majority interest in Hard Rock Lake TahoeM&ABackground
Paragon was expanding its presence in Nevada through casino management and ownership activities.
Action taken
The company acquired a majority stake in Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe.
Aftermath
The property remained in Paragon's portfolio until its sale to Fertitta Entertainment in 2023.
2014
Exit from River Cree Resort and CasinoM&ABackground
Paragon had operated and co-owned the Alberta casino resort since its opening in 2006.
Action taken
The Enoch Cree Nation bought out Paragon's interests in the property.
Aftermath
Paragon ended its ownership and operating involvement at River Cree.
2014
Begin construction of Parq VancouverProduct launchBackground
Paragon pursued a replacement for the Edgewater Casino at a site beside Vancouver's BC Place stadium.
Action taken
Construction began on Parq Vancouver, a hotel and casino complex.
Aftermath
The complex opened in 2017 and replaced the Edgewater Casino.
Reported development cost. $600 million (2014-2017)
2001
Withdraw and revise Oxnard casino proposalsStrategyBackground
Paragon sought to develop a casino in Oxnard, California, but its Channel Islands Harbor proposal faced opposition from local officials.
Action taken
The company withdrew the harbor proposal and announced a revised project at the Oxnard Factory Outlet with the Greenville Rancheria of Maidu Indians.
Aftermath
The revised proposal also faced opposition and was rejected by the Oxnard city council.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/paragon-gaming · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled