The Hollywood Casino Jamul in San Diego’s backcountry, was preparing to open this week on the tiny Jamul Indian Village reservation.
The $460 million casino, being built by Penn National Gaming Inc., will have more than 1,700 slots, 43 gaming tables, eight restaurants and a Tony Gwynn Sports Pub. It is scheduled to open on October 10. It will employ more than 1,000 workers, most hired locally.
Penn National CEO Timothy J. Wilmott commented, “We are grateful to the Jamul Indian Village for giving us the opportunity to build this spectacular regional entertainment destination and are honored to serve as the manager of their facility and to help them realize their goal of becoming economically self-sufficient. Hollywood Casino, which created more than 1,200 construction jobs and approximately 1,000 permanent jobs, is the closest gaming facility to downtown San Diego and we look forward to providing our guests an unparalleled entertainment, gaming and dining experience.”
Richard St. Jean, general manager of the area’s newest casino told Indian Country Today, “I want to thank the Jamul Indian Village for entrusting my team with this responsibility. We are committed to working to realize the full promise of this economic engine.”
Although considered out-of-the-way, the casino is about 20 miles from downtown San Diego. The builder emphasized earth tones and downcast lighting to make the facility less jarring to the surrounding countryside.
Eight stories of the parking garage and all of the dining is below ground. Besides the Tony Gwynn Sports Pub there is also the Final Cut Steak & Seafood restaurant, the Loft 94 casual restaurant and beer garden, Emerald Chinese Cuisine, Tres Taqueria and Pizza Port.
Penn National has a seven year management contract with the tribe under which it will earn 30 percent of the net. The management contract was just given the blessings of the National Indian Gaming Commission.
Governor Jerry Brown signed the state tribal gaming compact with the Jamul tribe on August 4.
The casino has been the subject of several federal lawsuits spread over more than 20 years. The Jamul Action Committee and the Jamul Community Church are two of the most persistent opponents.
