The Hollywood Casino in Jamul, San Diego County, has been granted a permanent liquor license by California’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) despite warnings from residents that increased accidents on local, rural roads could be traced to the opening of the casino about a year ago—at which time it was granted a temporary alcohol license.
The decision to grant a permanent license was made by Administrative Law Judge Adam Berg. This is the last approval that the casino, operated by Penn National Gaming for the Jamul Indian Village, was waiting for. The decision takes effect November 24.
While acknowledging protests, and the concerns they raised about public safety, Berg concluded that “a preponderance of evidence” showed he license “not contrary to the public welfare or morals,” which is the criteria he was required to consider.
Jamul Tribal Chairwoman Erica Pinto, who leads the 67-member tribe, greeted the ruling: “We are pleased that Judge Berg recognized our commitment to responsible beverage service and to keeping our guests and the community safe We know that serving alcohol is a serious responsibility, and one that we do not take lightly.”
She pledged the tribe to push for road improvements and to “keeping the area safe.”
San Diego County Supervisor Diane Jacob, who lives in Jamul, and has been a vociferous opponent of the casino from day one, had fought the license on the grounds of traffic safety on the winding, two-lane Highway 94. She called the judge’s decision “a big slap in the face of the community,” adding, “The fact is that this big, bad mistake of a casino has made driving on the dangerous state highway even more risky.”
The granting of the license was also opposed by the County of San Diego, the Sheriff’s Department, the Jamul-Dulzura Union School District and thousands of the area’s residents.
Although the casino is open 24/7 it serves alcohol from 10 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. It is located about ten miles from El Cajon.
