Page 73 - 2015 Travel Guide to California

CA.CASINOS
BY MATT VILLANO
Rolling High
Look out Las Vegas, California has become a gambling destination, too
just about anywhere. Of all the states that
now offer gambling, the best (and most
plentiful) options are in California.
The Golden State has two choices for
people looking to place bets: Native Amer-
ican 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 offer nicer
digs. They have slots. They have table
games. They even have bingo. Many of
these wagering wonderlands are “Vegas-
style” resorts, complete with luxury 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—in most
cases, as the name suggests, only card games
are available. 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.
PECHANGA CASINO
The Pechanga Resort & Casino in
Temecula opened in 2002, and is still
the largest casino in California. The
resort is the biggest employer in the
Temecula Valley, a place the
Pechanga people have called home
for more than 10,000 years.
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, with changes
to gambling laws in many states, it’s a safe
bet that bettors can throw down their cash
San Francisco Bay Area & Beyond
Without question, the Bay Area is the
most exciting region of California for
gambling, with more options than any
other part of the state. It also is home to
the newest major spot to let chips fly:
Graton Resort & Casino.
This attraction, located in Rohnert Park,
is a hulking casino built and operated by
Station Casinos, one of the largest casino
2015 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A 71