Page 56 - 2020 Travel Guide to California

CASINOS
BY MATT VILLANO
Deal Me In
Las Vegas isn’t the only show out West
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
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? Gam-
bling 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.
383116210/SHUTTERSTOCK. OPPOSITE: CHUKCHANSI; ECHANGA CASINO
54 2020 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA