California: $600M Hard Rock Casino in Kern County nearing final approval

California: $600M Hard Rock Casino in Kern County nearing final approval

  • A proposed $600 million Hard Rock casino near Mettler in Kern County, California, took a step closer to final approval last week. 
  • The legislature has now ratified a gaming agreement between the state and the Tejon Indian Tribe. 
  • Senate Bill 910 was approved by a vote of 39-0 in the state Senate after gaining the support of the Assembly.

Hard Rock Casino

Rendering For The Proposed Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon Project

The bill is now on its way to Governor Gavin Newsom’s office for his signature. The federal Department of the Interior will then conduct a 45-day review as required by law. 

The proposal was approved on the last day of the legislative session. It was supported by Kern’s entire Sacramento delegation and by the county’s government, which views it as an economic boost for the region.

The development is a collaboration between the Tejon Tribe and Hard Rock International, a brand of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. 

The 166,500-square-foot casino will feature an 11-story hotel, 3,000 slot machines, and an estimated $59 million in annual payroll, according to previously disclosed plans. 

It would also include 400 hotel rooms, a number of restaurants, a venue for entertainment, and a convention center. The state constitution prohibits games involving dice or balls, so Craps and Roulette will be prohibited.

 In addition to the selection of slot machines, guests will also have access to Poker, Blackjack, and Asian table games, per Hard Rock.

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Expanding the Economy and Providing Numerous Benefits 

The Tejon casino will be located near Highway 166 and Interstate 5. It would be part of a 320-acre complex that would also include housing, a healthcare facility, and administrative space for the 1,200-member tribe, according to the source cited. While the venue will be managed and operated by a team led by Hard Rock International, the resort, parking, and all related structures will “at all times” remain the property of the Tejon Tribe.

According to Hard Rock International, the proposed Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon will “bolster Kern County’s expanding economy and provide numerous benefits to the surrounding area.” 

The gaming giant asserts that it will increase tourism, create approximately 5,000 jobs, increase investment in the local economy, and offer resources and services to Tejon Indian Tribe members. It will also “build privately financed infrastructure improvements at no expense to taxpayers.” 

Both Hard Rock International and the leadership of the Tejon Tribe are working diligently to begin construction. “While they do not have a specific opening date, they are working diligently to complete the project,” according to a Hard Rock statement. From the groundbreaking to the grand opening, at least twenty months will pass.

About Lou De Aguila

Lou Aguila is a news and feature writer for Golden Casino News. For over a decade, Lou has published news and featured articles for some of the most reputable sports betting and online casino sites in the world, including BetNow.UK, VegasOdds, and BWin. Apart from being a hardcore live casino punter, he also covers sports stories in North American leagues from time to time.