A significant new casino is preparing to launch in California, with its grand opening set for November 13, weeks ahead of schedule. According to the San Francisco Gate, this venue could rival some of the most iconic gaming hotspots in Las Vegas.
Hard Rock Casino Tejon is the result of a collaboration between the Tejon Indian Tribe and Hard Rock International, headquartered in Florida. Chris Kelley, president of the casino, credited the early completion to the dedication of the development team, tribal leadership, and strong community support.
Once operational, the casino will rank among the largest in California, boasting 150,000 square feet of gaming floor, comparable in size to major Las Vegas resorts like the MGM Grand, Bellagio, Aria, and Mandalay Bay, and even surpassing Caesars Palace by 20,000 square feet.
About The Hard Rock Tejon
Located on tribal land in Mettler, just under 15 miles south of Bakersfield near the base of the Grapevine on Interstate 5, the $600 million facility marks Kern County’s first full-scale casino. It will be owned by the Tejon Indian Tribe and operated by Hard Rock International.
Visitors can expect a wide array of gaming options, including over 2,000 slot machines and more than 50 live table games such as blackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em, and Three Card Poker. VIP rooms will cater to high-stakes players, and the venue will showcase Hard Rock’s signature collection of music memorabilia.
Economic Benefits
The privately financed project has already created thousands of construction jobs and is projected to provide approximately 1,000 permanent positions once it is operational. Hard Rock has also committed to enhancing local infrastructure and supporting community initiatives without placing a burden on taxpayers.
Kern County Supervisor Jeff Flores described the development as the most significant private economic investment in the county’s history, noting that alongside agriculture, energy, and defense, entertainment now stands as a fourth pillar of the region’s identity.
More California Gambling Options
In addition to the 66 tribal casinos that have gaming compacts with the state of California, online gambling options in California range from casinos to bingo, encompassing everything in between.
However, the state does not offer online gambling services; those requests are fulfilled by offshore sites operating legally from their country of origin. Since the state has not passed any legislation forbidding offshore gambling sites, 18 and up players can legally access sites based outside of the state.
For many CA players, offshore sites have set the standard for online gambling options, offering online slots, blackjack games, popular poker variations, and, of course, sports betting.