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 options are in California.

The Golden State has two choices for people looking to place bets: Native American 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 three distinct geographical regions. Wherever you go, bet wisely, and remember to stay within your means.

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 largest casino in Sonoma County: Graton Resort & Casino.

This attraction, located in Rohnert Park, is operated by Station Casinos, one of the largest casino companies in Las Vegas, that announced in 2023 a massive expansion which will double the size of both the casino and the hotel by 2025.

For now, bettors cheer the swanky gambling floor, which boasts a live poker room, over 100 table games, and 3,000 state-of-the-art slots. Foodies flock to the place, too—the restaurant lineup includes an outpost of local favorite Boathouse Asian Eatery, and Tony Gemignani’s Italian food eateries. There is also a 200-room hotel with a full house of amenities, including a full-service spa and salon, and fitness center.

Other Native American casinos in this region are small but superlative in other ways. Many, including Thunder Valley (Lincoln), Chukchansi (Coarsegold), Twin Pine (Middletown) and Cache Creek (Brooks) also have full-service hotels.  Chukchansi is the closest casino to Yosemite National Park, just 27 miles from the southern entrance near Wawona; it’s also just 15 miles from Bass Lake Recreation Area. Twin Pine, nearly halfway between the wineries of the northern Napa Valley and Lake County, is marketed as a wine-themed casino destination. Red Hawk, in Placerville, offers child-care services for tykes while mom and dad play.

Harrah’s Northern California, in Ione, opened in 2019. It offers a Las Vegas vibe in the heart of the Sierra foothills’ Wine Country.  It is surrounded by wineries, golf courses, historic monuments and gorgeous scenery.

Most of the other gambling options in Northern California are card rooms, and many are located in the suburbs of San Francisco and Sacramento. Popular ones are  San Jose’s Bay 101 Casino, Colma’s Lucky Chances and San Jose’s Casino M8trix.