Many moons ago, you’d have to travel much further away from the California coast to be able to gamble in a world-class casino resort. Now, the options to play and stay close to home are plentiful. But not all casinos are created equally. Here are the top five casinos in southern California that are worth making multiple visits to.
San Manual Casino
Address: 777 San Manuel Blvd., Highland, CA 92346
Website: www.sanmanuel.com
Specialty Games: Blackjack, Casino War, EZ Baccarat, Fortune Pai Gow, Four Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Mystery Card Roulette, San Manuel Craps, Three Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold ’Em and Electronic Roulette.
San Manuel Casino is known for being one of the best tribal casinos in the state. Located on a reservation that dates back to 1891, it’s owned and operated by the San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians. The massive casino offers over 4,700 slots, poker and a high-limit room. There are even local table game variants that you can try your hand at, like San Manuel Craps, that uses cards instead of dice. Every month, the casino provides exciting new promotions and car giveaways. There’s also a lot to do on the casino property in terms of quick eats and fine dining options, as well as nightlife entertainment.
Pechanga Resort & Casino
Address: 45000 Pechanga Pkwy, Temecula, CA 92592
Website: www.pechanga.com
Specialty Games: Popular Slots, Three Card Poker, Crazy 4 Poker, Let It Ride, Commission Free Fortune Pai Gow, Fortune Asia Poker, Straight Flush, Bingo, Off-Track Betting
One of the best Indian Casinos in the greater Los Angeles area, the Pechanga Resort & Casino is a world-class resort and casino located at the Pechanga Indian Reservation. Not only does it host the largest casino floor in California, but it is the largest hotel-casino on the west coast, impressively larger than any hotel in Las Vegas. It’s favored among Los Angeles locals who don’t want to make the drive down to Vegas but still get the Vegas experience. Its prime attraction are the slot machines, featuring approximately 4500 of the latest and greatest slot machines.
The hotel part of the casino includes more than 100 rooms. There are also dozens of restaurants to choose from, including the Great Oak Steakhouse, winner of AAA’s Four Diamond award and Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence. There is even a luxurious spa to unwind at. It’s built on two floors and offers specialty treatments with Native American herbs.
Barona Resort & Casino
Address: 1932 Wildcat Canyon Rd, Lakeside, CA 92040
Website: www.barona.com
Specialty Games: Blackjack, Down Under Blackjack, Zombie Blackjack, Zappit Blackjack, Blackjack Switch, Free Bet Blackjack, Magic Progressive, Barona Craps, Slot Machines, Barona Chipless Baccarat, Roulette, Ultimate Texas Hold’Em, Down Under Hold’Em, Mississippi Stud
Winning tons of accolades, like San Diego’s Union-Tribune Readers Poll “Best Casino” for over nine years in a row, and USA Today’s Readers’ Choice for 2019, the Barona Resort & Casino is hard to beat. It’s no wonder that they call themselves the friendliest casino in San Diego since their players all seem to agree. Club Barona members are seriously rewarded for their play here, with four different levels of membership. Discounts are offered on everything on the property through your membership.
There’s an impressive 80 gaming tables on hand, and they were even awarded “Best Blackjack in the Country” from Casino Player Magazine and “Best Blackjack in California” by the Blackjack Hall of Fame. It’s no question, then, where to go if you want to get some rounds of blackjack in and the friendliest service in town.
Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa Rancho Mirage
Address: 32-250 Bob Hope Dr, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
Website: www.hotwatercasino.com
Specialty Games: Video Poker, Three Card Poker, Crazy 4 Poker, Pai Gow Poker, Mystery Card Roulette, Spanish 21, Golden Frog Baccarat, Ultimate Texas Hold’Em, Buster Blackjack
Winner of the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide Recommended award, the Agua Caliente Casino Resort is worth $300 million, and is located in the upscale desert enclave of Rancho Mirage. It’s only a hop, skip, and a jump away to the canyons in Palm Springs, where the colorful tribe of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians hail from. The Tribe’s wildly popular casino offers 340 guest rooms, an invigorating spa, hi-tech conference space, and fine dining to boot. The casino-resort property has two locations, Rancho Mirage and Palm Springs.
With the two properties combined, the casino covers 75,000 square feet, offers 2,000 Class III slot machines, 67 table games and 19 poker tables.
Pala Casino Spa & Resort
Address: 11154 CA-76, Pala, CA 92059
Website: www.palacasino.com
Specialty Games: Pala Craps, Pala Roulette, Pai Gow Poker, Pala Poker, Baccarat, Blackjack, Slots,
Nestled in the heart of California’s Palomar Mountains, Pala is your warm, sophisticated nearby getaway. It offers the tranquility of its stunning natural surroundings, coupled with the excitement of non-stop casino action. You’ll discover your “ahh” moment from the moment you set foot in the door. The resort has endless options for entertainment outside of gaming as well, including an award-winning spa, pool with cabana rentals, and concerts and events on property.
Looking for an Alternative? Try Online Casinos!
If you’re more into playing casino games online, but are unsure about the legality of online gambling in California, there are a large number of legal California online casino sites where you can play without the worry of running a risk. With California being the trendsetting state that it is, it’s no wonder that legalized online gambling has grown more here than many other places in the US. Online California casinos offer the same land-based games that you love, including blackjack, craps, roulette, three card poker, keno, slot machines, pai gow, and more.
