Hard Rock is about to enter the Puerto Rico market with an $850 million integrated resort project in San Juan.Construction is planned to begin in mid-2026, with the...
Hard Rock International fires a top executive in a shady betting scandal
Hard Rock International fired a top executive at the center of a betting scandal, as the operator plans a joint casino with Mets owner Steve Cohen in Queens, NY.
Former Hard Rock Senior Vice President for Hotel and Casino Operations, Alex Pariente, was fired after an informant, high-stakes gambler RJ Cipriani, claimed he was engaged in shady money laundering practices with clients and allowed credit markers go unpaid at its casino in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Hard Rock shared in an official statement:
“Hard Rock International has completed its initial investigation in connection with recent public allegations regarding executives at Hard Rock Punta Cana Casino and can confirm it has separated with the executive in question.
The internal probe included independent investigators from two of the nation’s most respected law firms who specialize in gaming regulatory and compliance issues.
We take these matters seriously and remain committed to our guests, partners and team members.”
According to Cipriani, among the alleged wrongdoings cited was an instance in which an employee, at Pariente’s command, took a $100,000 deposit from a Chinese national. To avoid anti-money laundering regulations, she broke up the sum into 33 separate $3,000 deposits, violating reporting requirements. Cipriani said the IRS criminal unit and gaming regulators in Florida, Las Vegas, and New York are aware of the situation.
He added:
“I applaud Hard Rock CEO Jim Allen for believing in the intel I presented him with over a month ago. He acted swiftly.
I didn’t want the negative and illegal things that happened in Punta Cana to reflect negatively on Hard Rock’s attempt to get the downstate license in New York.”
Hard Rock International recently submitted a joint bid with Mets owner Steve Cohen to obtain a license for operating a $8 billion casino complex near the Queens ballpark. The scandal comes at a difficult time, as Hard Rock and Cohen are in pursuit of one of up to three state licenses to operate a casino in NYC.
On December 17, 2025, the Japan Tourism Agency announced that bidding for integrated resorts will be open between May and November 2027, as Hard Rock International plans to...
