»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.