Hawaiian Gardens Casino has spent million on a overhaul of the card club, part of an arms race with other card clubs in the Los Angeles area that are doing the same thing. It also changed its name to the Gardens Casino.
The card club opened in a tent 20 years ago. The expansion, which opened in April, is a far cry from that 60,000-foot facility. The newly renovated card club is 200,000 SF with 225 tables, a restaurant, bar and VIP lounge.
The city of Hawaiian Gardens, at one square mile the smallest municipality in Los Angeles County, gets nearly three quarters of its revenue from the casino. It also has one of the most depressed economies and highest population density in the county.
Mayor Barry Bruce told the Los Angeles Times that “increased job opportunities for our residents and anticipated increased revenues for our general fund all add up to big steps forward for our little city.”
The casino has seen a 15 percent uptick in revenue since the expansion opened.
Nearby the Bicycle Club Casino in Bell Gardens last December opened its $50 million renovation with a 99-room hotel, fitness center, outdoor pool and restaurant with 28 types of beer on tap.
Inglewood’s Hollywood Park Casino plans to open an 110,000 SF facility this month that will be about 40 percent larger than the current casino, with an additional 35 tables and a new restaurant and sports bar.
