The Hard Rock Casino just north of Sacramento at Fire Mountain recently announced that it plans to expand.

The casino, located at 3317 Forty Mile Rd, Wheatland, CA, recently acquired 350 acres between the casino and the Toyota Amphitheatre. The land has been undeveloped for years and is now expected to be transformed into a premier tourist destination. The Toyota Amphitheatre is an 18k+ outdoor venue in Yuba County and generally hosts rock and country concerts.

Some proposed ideas for the land include a festival entertainment district, a rodeo space, sports facilities, and resort amenities. There will also likely be retail and dining facilities, walking paths, and a possible stadium or fairground area. District 4 Yuba County Supervisor Gary Bradford stated, “It will bring thousands of jobs and enhance the quality of life for existing residents by increasing local dining, entertainment, and retail options.”

The Hard Rock at Fire Mountain opened in 2019 and has already contributed approximately $2.5 billion to the local economy. The Hard Rock Casino is located on tribal land, but the new developments will not be. Therefore, the community is set to benefit even more from regular sales and property tax revenue.

Officials said construction could take 5-10 years to complete, and the new developments could cost anywhere from $2-4 billion USD. Construction could also begin as early as 2026.

California Local Casinos

California has no casinos, as all are on federal land and governed by the tribes and the federal government. However, there are currently more than 75 tribal casinos in operation in California, all of which are located outside of the major metropolitan areas.

Recently, several tribal casinos have lobbied for more favorable land to be included in their trust, and while approved by the Biden Administration, a new legal battle is ongoing.

Online California Casinos

While casinos located in California are not permitted to offer their services online, offshore casinos have been accepting players for years. Since no specific gambling laws forbid out-of-state online casinos from accepting CA players.

Online casinos typically offer the same gaming options as Vegas casinos, including slots, video poker, keno, blackjack, roulette, and more. However, online casino games often accept lower buy-ins because they are powered by random number generators, not live dealers.

To further gain players’ trust, legitimate casinos will complete compliance checks that test the games for fairness. They also further ensure that online firewalls and encryption methods are working correctly.

Star Entertainment, Australia’s second-largest casino operator, has accepted a rescue package from US-based Bally’s. The package will transfer control of the group and allow the company to stay afloat.

Star Entertainment has been fighting bankruptcy for years following money laundering allegations, leading to several lawsuits and regulatory scrutiny. The company has been on the brink of collapse for years and is still suspended from trading on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Star Entertainment Group operates three hotel and casino complexes in Australia: The Star Sydney, The Star Gold Coast, and Treasury Casino and Hotel in Brisbane.

Star chief executive Steve McCann has been looking for a long-term solution since he took the job last July. McCann secured an additional loan of $100 million from existing lenders but failed to meet the contingent terms of the loan.

Bally’s currently owns 19 casinos in the United States and other entertainment assets. Soo Kim, Bally’s chairman, agreed to the rescue package in exchange for at least a 50.1% stake in Star. “We are usually the buyer of last resort,” Kim told The Australian Financial Review in March.

Are Offshore Casinos Available Online?

Yes, in the United States, almost all online casinos are offshore because only a handful of states have passed online gambling legislation. Since no federal or state laws prevent Americans from accessing online casino sites, US players can freely wager online with the site of their choice.

However, offshore casinos that operate online are not all the same. Most sites have various banking options US players can access, bonus options, and bet limits. For most players, Bitcoin is the best banking option, allowing for fast transactions that often avoid processing fees.

What Casino Games Can I Play Online?

Online casinos offer the same games you would expect in Vegas, including blackjack, roulette, video poker, and specialty games. Some sites even have live table games where you can choose your seat and bet against a dealer via a video/audio feed.

Online casinos also take it further with tournaments and game-specific competitions. You can also find slot bonuses, hot drop jackpots, progressives, and more. With game libraries that host hundreds of slot titles, seeing the game that suits you is just a few clicks away.

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians is moving forward with plans for a $700 million casino resort in Vallejo, California, following the US Department of the Interior’s approval to place 160 acres of land into federal trust for the tribe.

The proposed development plans include an eight-story, 400,000-square-foot casino, 24 tribal homes, an administration building, and a biological preserve.

However, this project is now facing numerous legal challenges. Two lawsuits have been filed against the US Department of the Interior, claiming that the Scotts Valley Band intends to develop a revenue-generating site far from its tribal homeland and that the federal agency failed to adhere to established environmental laws in approving the project.

Opponents have also expressed concerns about “reservation shopping,” accusing the Scotts Valley Band of attempting to establish a casino near its ancestral lands to maximize potential revenue.

This scenario is reminiscent of other tribal casino projects in Northern California, such as the Koi Nation’s proposed casino near Windsor, which has encountered similar legal and political challenges.

The outcomes of these legal proceedings will significantly impact the future of the Scotts Valley Band’s casino project in Vallejo. They may also set precedents for other tribal gaming initiatives in the region.

In the final days of his presidency, the Biden administration approved off-reservation land for both the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians and the Koi Nation, along with several other tribal requests around the country.

California Casino Laws

The state of California only permits casinos on federal land. Since the state does not allow commercial casinos, all gaming in California is located on land placed into trust by the federal government. Currently, more than 80 tribal casinos in California are owned by 73 of the state’s 109 recognized Indian tribes.

While there are no licensed online casinos, California is one of the many states that allow offshore betting. Since no federal or state laws outlaw online gambling in the state, CA residents and visitors can wager online with offshore casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites.

Offshore Casino Options

California players over 18 can enjoy online real-money casino games, sports betting, and poker tables from out-of-state sites. Popular casino games include digital slots, video poker, blackjack, roulette, specialty games, and live dealer games.

In addition to endless gaming entertainment, CA players can also take advantage of generous welcome bonuses, online reward programs, digital currency acceptance, and 24/7 access via mobile casino apps.