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»CA.CASINOS by matt villano Let It Ride Want to try your luck? California has plenty of options for gambling » FIND GAME YOUR palacasino.com barona.com harrahsrincon.com pechanga.com commercecasino.com thebike.com morongocasinoresort.com hotwatercasino.com fantasyspringsresort.com sparesortcasino.com bay101.com luckychances.com casinom8trix.com cachecreek.com thundervalleyresort.com goldcountrycasino.com chukchansigold.com redhawkcasino.com montbleuresort.com harveystahoe.com 76 2 013 travel guide to c al ifo r n i a AGUA CALIENTE Resort Spa's state-of-the-art entertainment complex, above, hosts top performers such as Patti Labelle, Carol Channing, Gladys Knight and Johnny Mathis. In the olden days—the days of Frank Sinatra and Bugsy Siegel—U.S. gamblers looking for a date with Lady Luck had one option: Las Vegas. Nowadays, however, with changes to gambling laws in many states, it's a safe bet that bettors can throw down their cash just about anywhere. Of all the states that now offer gambling, many of the best (and certainly the most plentiful) options are in California. The Golden State has two choices for people looking to place bets: NativeAmerican casinos and card rooms (which are glorified bars where gambling is legal, so long as the house doesn't win). The Native-American outposts tend to be farther from major cities but in nicer digs. They have slots. They have table games. They even have bingo. Many of these wagering wonderlands are "Vegasstyle" resorts, complete with swanky hotels, top-notch restaurants and indulgent spas. A few of the properties even have their own golf courses. Card rooms are smaller, quieter and, in many cases, more geared toward locals. Games here are far less varied— as the name suggests, only card games are available. The downside? People know you're visiting. The upside? Gambling action is usually loose (and that's a good thing). We've divided California's gambling scene into four distinct geographical regions. Wherever you go, bet wisely, and remember to stay within your means. Southern California & LA Southern California—from the northern edge of the San Fernando Valley to the Mexico border, the Pacific Ocean to I-15— is home to some of the biggest NativeAmerican casinos in the state, including Pala Casino Spa Resort in Pala; Barona Resort & Casino in Lakeside; Harrah's Rincon in Valley Center; and Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula. All of these properties boast Vegas-style hotels with eateries, shopping and spas. Harrah's and Pechanga also have major entertainment venues; on any given night, musical acts such as Willie Nelson, Weezer and Lynard Skynard might be playing.