Known for its 185 tables of poker and other card games, the casino now is privately owned by Bicycle Hotel & Casino LLC. In 1991, the federal government took over part ownership of the casino, eventually selling its share to a British gaming company. Slot machines are not legal in California nor any game of chance against the house or casino, except on Indian reservations.Īn entity related to Northern California gaming owner Parkwest Casinos bought the Bicycle Hotel & Casino site at 888 Bicycle Casino Drive in Bell Gardens for roughly $102 million on April 12, according to CoStar data and Jeff Van Wagner, a Los Angeles attorney who worked with the buyer on the deal. Why are there no slot machines in California?Ī question I am inevitably asked is Do you have slots there? When I tell them we don’t the usual response is why not? The answer is pretty simple. If The Commerce isn’t a tribal casino, how is it legal? In California, it is legal to host California-approved games of skill anywhere in the state. The Commerce now rivals a mid-size Las Vegas casino in size and amenities including multiple dining options. The facility initially opened in 1983 and has since expanded several times including adding a hotel in 2001. Altogether, the government owns 36.2% of the entire casino. The government became the majority shareholder in one of two partnerships that together own the Bicycle Club. After a long investigation, federal agents proved that the casino was built in part with $12 million in laundered drug money.

How is commerce casino legal