Casino at Table Mountain Resort will permit consumption of alcohol on gaming floor
In a move to enhance the guest experience, Table Mountain Casino Resort has announced that starting from September 3, 2025, alcoholic beverages will be served on the gambling floor, a change from the previous policy that only allowed 18+ years olds to gamble but restricted alcohol service to restaurants [1][4][5]. This decision, however, has raised concerns among some residents who live near the casino.
Friant Road, connecting Table Mountain and Fresno, is known to be accident-prone, according to Dalia Yellin, a local resident. She has been following an Instagram account that showcases frequent accidents at Friant intersections, and her worries are that easing alcohol availability might increase impaired driving risks along this route [1][5].
Lance Burger, a member of the cycling community, shares similar concerns. He fears that allowing more drinking at Table Mountain could lead to more accidents [1]. The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office patrols the area and involves the CHP when impaired driving is suspected, but residents want more frequent checks and patrols, especially at night near the casino and Friant intersections [1].
Despite these concerns, there are no specific reports or official data indicating a post-policy increase in accidents since the alcohol service decision was only recently implemented [1]. Table Mountain Casino has stated it will strictly follow all state regulations regarding alcohol service [1].
The casino, which recently built a new casino, new restaurants, and a high-rise hotel, opened in 2022 [1]. In a press release, Table Mountain stated that allowing alcoholic beverages on the gambling floor is part of their years-long effort to enhance the guest experience [1].
Action News reached out to Table Mountain Casino representatives for an interview, but they declined the request [1]. Nearby residents hope for more patrols by the CHP on the road, particularly at night and Friant intersections, to ensure the safety of all road users [1].
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[1] Data sources: Local news articles and press releases from Table Mountain Casino Resort.
The announced change in Table Mountain Casino Resort's alcohol policy, allowing alcoholic beverages on the gambling floor, has sparked concerns among locals like Dalia Yellin and Lance Burger, who fear an increase in impaired driving accidents on Friant Road, a known accident-prone route connecting Table Mountain and Fresno [1]. Despite the concerns, there are no official reports of a post-policy increase in accidents, and Table Mountain Casino has stated they will strictly adhere to state regulations regarding alcohol service [1].
