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KERN COUNTY, Calif. () — A new casino is about to open near Bakersfield, and it’s expected to be big like the ones you see in Las Vegas.
Crews broke ground on the Hard Rock Casino Tejon more than two years ago. When it’s all said and done, there’ll be 150,000-square feet of gaming inside.
“We’re about 30 days out from opening this amazing facility, Hard Rock Casino Tejon, the largest private hospitality investment in Kern County history,” casino president Chris Kelley said.
Kelley said the opening is set for Nov. 13.
Hard Rock Casino Tejon president Chris Kelley says the massive venue, which is located a few miles from Bakersfield, will rival gambling establishments in Las Vegas.
“It’s equal to or greater than the size of most of the casinos on the Las Vegas Strip,” Kelley said.
Kelley says the casino is a win for the economy and jobs.
“Over $600 million spent, largest private hospitality investment in Kern County history. But it’s also 5,000 jobs attached at the macro level,” he said. “This building behind us, all by itself, will support over 1,000 permanent jobs, and so it has a huge economic impact on our surrounding area.”
The project has been years in the making, said Candi Asunción with Tejon Indian Tribe.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida owns Hard Rock International, Inc.
“The government-to-government relationship between our tribal leadership and the Seminole Tribe plays a big part with this project,” Asunción said.
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