Sacramento sports gambling fans are fired up to hear the latest news coming from a casino resort in the region. Per a recent report, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino at Fire Mountain Casino announced the construction of its new Hard Rock Sports Bar, set to open in the fall. The venue will offer seating for 82 guests and include 14 bar-top gaming machines. It will operate daily from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. and serve beer and cocktails. A dedicated humidor and cigar lounge will also be part of the new space, to be located adjacent to the entrance of Hard Rock Live on the north side of the casino floor.
In this article, SBS will be going over the latest gaming news coming from the state of California, along with some additional notes and information you can find only at SBS.
According to the casino, the new venue will broadcast up to 20 live sporting events at once using a multi-screen video wall. A continuously running ticker of sports scores will be featured inside the bar, with screens visible from the main casino floor. The design will incorporate sports memorabilia connected to Northern California athletes, following a similar approach to the music-themed displays already featured throughout the property. Mark Birtha, President of Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain, said the addition is in line with preparing for possible changes in California gaming regulations.
“We look forward to adding the Hard Rock Sports Bar as a new experience to serve Northern California’s sports-loving guests, no matter what athletic event they enjoy watching,” Birtha said. “Adding this sports bar allows us to be fully equipped to support sports betting once it is introduced in California.”
In other Golden State gaming news, daily fantasy sports (DFS) specialist Underdog Fantasy has launched a preemptive lawsuit as California prepares to block paid fantasy sports. Per this article, the legal motion hopes to block the attorney general’s action against fantasy sports. Underdog Fantasy, which is one of the big players in the US DFS market, has struck back against a motion that would outlaw paid fantasy sports. The original measure came in response to an opinion from the California Attorney General Rob Bonta, which followed an earlier investigation into the legality of the sector and was repeatedly prompted by tribal pressure.
If enacted, the opinion would make California the first US market to take such broad action against DFS operators. As mentioned before in the article, Underdog’s lawsuit seeks to block the motion to ban DFS offerings.
In its lawsuit, Underdog argued that the AG’s opinion will “poison a thriving industry that serves millions of Californians.” The company asserted that this would deal a huge blow to the economy, squandering important investments and jeopardizing hundreds of jobs. In addition to that, banning DFS would deprive millions of Californians of a pastime they enjoy.
Noted in the same article, Underdog further argued that the AG should not have the authority to issue the opinion due to existing limits on his power. The operator postulated that the ban is the result of intense lobbying from tribal entities that wish to undermine their competition. Regardless of whether that is the case or not, tribal representatives hailed the AG’s opinion. Slamming DFS as illegal gaming, the California Nations Indian Gaming Association said that banning such products will ensure that the law is followed and violators are held to account.
Bonita’s predecessors likewise faced the DFS conundrum but opted not to make any drastic decision. The current AG’s stance, therefore, contrasts with the US’s generally friendly stance on fantasy sports. Daily fantasy sports are only one of multiple controversial products that have proliferated across America. Other betting alternatives, such as prediction markets and sweepstakes, have faced much more intense scrutiny with multiple states seeking to block them, per the article. Sweepstakes, for example, have experienced explosive growth, thus attracting the ire of state regulators who have accused them of exploiting obvious loopholes to avoid regulation.
Additionally, while some sweepstakes companies have firmly stated that they would be okay with operating in a regulated market and following certain rules, most states have largely preferred to outright reject the vertical. Prediction markets, on the other hand, have skyrocketed in popularity thanks to their election-related products. As companies are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), prediction market operators have insisted that their products are legal. However, this has conflicted with what state regulators and other entities have clearly seen the report notes.
Once you are all dialed in as it relates to the newest updates coming from the Golden State, make sure to peruse the excellent array of information available to you at SBS. Of course, for even more specific analysis on the state in this report, the California sports betting sites rundown has your back. Additionally, for those who are eligible and qualify, the best bonus betting sites breakdown is a must-read page. Here you can find a catalogue of the latest and greatest welcome bonus offers available to you. Finally, speaking of qualified patrons, the BetOnline sportsbook review guide is a must-read resource. Here you can learn more about the nuances of this gaming outlet and how it can potentially make sense for you, and what you are looking for.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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