Golden West Casino Indefinitely Delays Bakersfield-Area Relocation

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Golden West Casino has indefinitely postponed construction of a new cardroom north of Bakersfield amid legal uncertainty and increased competition.

The existing casino will remain open on South Union Avenue while owner Kern County Associates LP reassesses the timing of its planned relocation near Meadows Field Airport.

The project would move Golden West into a 30,723-square-foot building at Merle Haggard Drive and Landings Way. Plans call for 45 gaming tables, a restaurant, VIP lounge, event space and entertainment facilities, with about 200 employees working across three daily shifts.

California Cardroom Disputes Factor into Delay

Legal uncertainty surrounding California cardrooms is one of the factors behind the postponement. The industry has been contesting both litigation enabled by Senate Bill 549 and California Department of Justice regulations affecting blackjack-style games and the rotation of player-dealer positions.

The DOJ regulations took effect in April but were later blocked by a San Francisco Superior Court. In July, the court entered final judgments finding that the Bureau of Gambling Control lacked statutory authority to issue the rules, and the state has appealed those judgments. Enforcement of the regulations remains suspended while the appeal proceeds.

The dispute has significant implications for cardrooms whose business models rely on games affected by the regulations. Earlier this year, San Jose warned of the potential impact of California’s cardroom rules on gaming revenue, employment and municipal finances.

Golden West spokesman Michael Bowers said the company continues to work through remaining planning and approval requirements. “We continue to address the remaining planning and approval requirements and will share an updated construction and opening schedule once finalized”, Bowers said.

Hard Rock Adds Competition in Kern County

The changing competitive landscape around Bakersfield is another consideration. Hard Rock Casino Tejon opened in Mettler in November 2025, bringing a full-scale tribal casino to Kern County with thousands of slot machines and dozens of table games.

Golden West’s existing location is about 25 miles from the Hard Rock property, according to local reporting. Moving north of Bakersfield would increase the distance between the two gaming venues to approximately 32 miles.

The Hard Rock project had already influenced Golden West’s relocation strategy before construction was delayed. The Tejon Indian Tribe and Hard Rock prepared the casino for its November 2025 opening after developing the property as a major new gaming destination for the Bakersfield region.

Existing Golden West Casino Remains Open

Golden West has operated from its South Union Avenue location since 1995. The California Gambling Control Commission currently lists the property as an active 45-table gambling establishment, while the proposed replacement facility would maintain the same number of tables.

Kern County originally approved a conditional use permit for the relocation in 2023 and later extended the permit through Nov. 9, 2028. The delay therefore does not mean the relocation has been canceled, but the company has not provided a revised construction or opening date.

For now, Golden West will continue operating at its existing Bakersfield property while its owners monitor the legal environment and reassess the economics of proceeding with the new development.

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