The San Manuel Casino in the US state of California has begun a $550m expansion that will elevate the venue into a major player in the area’s casino resort industry.

The development project comes soon after the Inland Empire casino upped the number of slot machines on its gaming floor to 4,800, far exceeding the gambling capacity of nearly every casino in the southern California market.

In building its first hotel, 3,000-seat entertainment venue, pool complex, spa and restaurants, San Manuel will directly offer the burgeoning casino customer base an alternative to its direct competitors.