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Southern California houses some of the best legal card rooms and casinos in the world. You can play slots and tablegames, as well as Texas Hold ’em and Omaha at many locations. If you are 18 years or older, you can play bingo.
There are more than 100 casinos and card rooms in Southern California. (For our purposes, we will count everywhere south of SanFrancisco as SoCal.)
California is home to some great legal casinos. However, casinos have had to get creative to keep in line with current gambling laws. Let’s explore the best places to play in 2019.
Sweepstakes casinos for real cash prizes in California
Casino laws in California in 2020
There have been legal casinos in Southern California since the early 1990s. The California Gambling Control Commission and the California Department of Justice oversee gaming.
Poker is also legal in California. Texas Hold ’em and stud games have been played in the state since the GoldRush. Southern California now boasts some of the biggest and best card rooms.
Tribal casinos are also popular in SoCal. Virtually all NativeAmerican tribes in the region own and operate a casino.
Under the Tribal Gaming Act of 1988, Native American casinos are allowed to provide table games and slots to visitors 18 and older. However, to keep in line with alcohol laws, most casinos bar anyone younger than 21 years old from entering the premises.
If you are older than 18, you can play machines on special gaming floors at selected casinos.
You won’t always find “house-banked” card games, like blackjack, at non-tribal casinos. Most casinos offer “Californiagames,” which have been adapted to comply with local laws.
- Legal age for casino gambling: At least 21 years or older (18 years to play bingo and some Class II slots)
- Permitted games (tribal casinos): Slots, poker, blackjack, table games, roulette and craps
- Permitted games (non-tribal casinos): Slots, poker, Mystery Card Roulette, player collection card games and blackjack games
Popular casino games in Southern California
- Slots: You will find video slots at all tribal casinos in SoCal. In most cases, you need 21 years or older to play slots. If you are at least 18 years old, you can play some non-jackpot slots, although these options aren’t available everywhere.
- Craps: Dice games are outlawed at non-tribal casinos in Southern California. California Craps uses cards that display different “dice” combinations.
- Roulette: Traditional Vegas-style roulette is largely prohibited in Southern California. Casinos have cleverly bypassed the laws to introduce their versions of roulette. You will only find card-based roulette games, like Mystery Card Roulette, in California. To play, you place wagers on an American roulette-style table layout. However, cards are drawn at random to determine winning numbers instead of using a numbered wheel.
- Blackjack: Traditional Vegas-style blackjack isn’t available everywhere. However, in games like PureBlackjack, you play against fellow gamblers, not the house. The casino takes a small fee for every hand.
- Bingo: You can play at legal bingo halls in SoCal as long as you are at least 18 years. Bingo is also permitted in most casinos.
- Online games: Some of the larger casinos in Southern California run their own free-to-play online gaming sites. San Manuel Casino runs a social casino that offers free blackjack, bingo and slot games.
Because games are free to play, casinos don’t fall foul of any California state law.
Legal poker rooms in Southern California
Live poker is legal across California. You can play Texas Hold ’em, Omaha or games like Stud for real money. Cash games and tournaments carry fees.
Casinos, including the Commerce Casino and LA’s Bicycle Casino, offer some of the best poker action in the world.
The Commerce Casino is home to the most prestigious poker tournaments in the US. The LA Poker Classic is where players compete every year in a $10,000 Buy-in No Limit Hold ’em championship.
Best Southern California casinos in 2020
Eagle Mountain Casino
Address: 681 S. Reservation Road, Porterville, CA 93257
Website: www.eaglemtncasino.com
Games: Poker, keno, slots, video poker and blackjack.
Legal age: 21 years or older
The Tule River Tribe operates Eagle Mountain Casino. You can play the latest HD slots – about 1,200 – as well as keno, blackjack, and Texas Hold ’em in the three-table room.
Harrah’s Resort Valley Center SoCal
Address: 777 S. Resort Drive, Valley Center, CA 92082
Website: www.harrahssocal.com
Games: Slots, blackjack, poker, Rincon Craps, Mystery Card Roulette, Fortune Pai Gow Progressive, EZ Baccarat, Asia Poker, three-card poker, Crazy 4 Poker, Mississippi Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em and Let It Ride Bonus.
Legal age: 21 years or older
Harrah’s Resort Valley Center is one of the biggest and best Southern California casino resorts. The casino floor features more than 60 table games, 1,650 video slots and a regular $10,000 blackjack tournaments.
San Manuel Casino
Address: 777 San Manuel Blvd., Highland, CA 92346
Website: www.sanmanuel.com
Games: Blackjack, Casino War, EZ Baccarat, Fortune Pai Gow, four-card poker, Mississippi Stud, Mystery Card Roulette, San Manuel Craps, three-card poker, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em and electronic roulette.
Legal age: 21 years or older
San Manuel Casino is one of the best tribal casinos in the state. It is owned and operated by the San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians and located on a reservation that dates back to 1891.
The casino offers more than 4,700 slots, poker and a high-limit room. You can also play local table game variants like San Manuel Craps, which uses cards instead of dice.
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
Address: 84245 Indio Springs Drive, Indio, CA 92203
Website:www.fantasyspringsresort.com
Games: Bingo, slots, EZ Baccarat, Fortune Pai Gow Progressive, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em Progressive, three-card poker progressive, Crazy Four Poker, Spanish 21, Mystery Card Roulette and blackjack.
Legal age: 21 years or older
Fantasy Springs is a “complete destination resort” located in Palm Springs. The casino floor offers 2,000 video slots as well as around 40 local table games and a bingo hall. You can play free slots and table games on Fantasy Springs’ Play4Fun website or app.
Pechanga Resort Casino
Address: 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula, CA 92592
Website:www.pechanga.com
Games: Slots, blackjack, craps, bingo, poker, Mystery Card Roulette, sports betting, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em, baccarat, Pai Gow, Pechanga Card Craps, Fortune Asia Poker and Spanish 21.
Legal age: 21 years or older
Pechanga Resort Casino is one of the biggest gambling and entertainment hotspots in SoCal. The resort features a four-star hotel plus a nightclub, golf course and restaurants.
The casino houses video slots and more than 150 table games, including Vegas-style craps and blackjack. You can also enjoy off-track betting in the on-site sportsbook.
Commerce Casino
Address: 6131 Telegraph Road, Commerce, CA 90040
Website: www.commercecasino.com
Games: Poker, EZ Baccarat, Pan 9, Fortune Pai Gow, 21st Century Blackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em, Mississippi Stud, Crazy 4 Poker, Let It Ride, Casino War and three-card poker.
Legal age: 21 years or older
Los Angeles’ Commerce Casino is the world’s largest poker room with 240 tables. It runs cash games and tournaments 24/7 in disciplines like Texas Hold ’em, Omaha Hi-Lo and Razz.
You can also play table card games, such as EZ Baccarat, Fortune Pai Gow Poker and Pan 9.
Bicycle Hotel & Casino
Address: 888 Bicycle Casino Drive, Bell Gardens, CA 90201
Website:www.thebike.com
Games: Poker, No Bust 21st Century Blackjack, Chinese Poker, EZ Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Dai Bacc, baccarat, Crazy 4 Poker, Super Pan 9, three-card poker and Ultimate Texas Hold ’em.
Legal age: 21 years or older
“The Bike” is located just minutes from the center of Los Angeles. Together with the Commerce Casino, the Bicycle boasts some of the best poker action in the world.
San Manuel Casino Online
You can find virtually any poker game available at the Bicycle, plus lots of regular promotions and big money drawings. You can also play California Games like No Bust 21st Century Blackjack and Chinese Poker.
Soboba Casino Resort
Address: 22777 Soboba Road, San Jacinto, CA 92583
Website:www.soboba.com
Games: Slots, Pai Gow, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em, Chase the Flush and blackjack.
Legal age: 21 years or older
You will find more than 2,000 video slots and classic slot machines at the Soboba Casino Resort. You can collect player points with the Soboba Rewards Card and redeem them for food and comps.
Casino Pauma
Address: 777 Pauma Reservation Road, Pauma Valley, CA 92061
Website: www.casinopauma.com
Games: Slots, poker, blackjack, Commission Free Fortune Pai Gow Progressive, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Mississippi Stud, Pauma Three Card Poker and Mystery Card Roulette.
Legal age: 21 years or older
You can play poker, slots and table games at this tribal casino in the Pauma Valley. The casino is operated by the Pauma Band of Luiseno Indians and features more than 1,050 slots on its 35,000-square-feet gaming floor.
Valley View Casino & Hotel
Address: 16300 Nyemii Pass Place, Valley Center, CA 92082
Website:www.valleyviewcasino.com
Games: Slots, Richer Roulette, Fortune Pai Gow Poker Progressive, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em, three-card poker, Buster Blackjack and Lucky Lucky.
Legal age: 21 years or older
San Diego’s Valley View resort is a modern casino and hotel with gaming, mountain views and a refreshing infinity pool. The San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians runs the resort, so you can expect to find lots of legal slots and games.
There are around 2,000 of the latest video slots, plus a Vegas-style roulette game: Richer Roulette. Richer Roulette uses a special wheel with card suits displayed.
Chumash Casino Resort
Address: 3400 CA-246, Santa Ynez, CA 93460
Website:www.chumashcasino.com
Games: Poker, bingo, slots, blackjack, EZ Baccarat, Mystery Card Roulette, Spanish 21 and Ultimate Texas Hold ’em.
Legal age: 21 years or older
The Chumash Casino Resort is located just north of Santa Barbara. You will find 24/7 gaming on the 115,000-square-foot casino floor. You can choose from 2,300 slots and 45 table games like blackjack and Mystery Card Roulette.
Jamul Casino
Address: 14145 Campo Road, Jamul, CA 91935
Website:www.jamulcasinosd.com
Games: Slots, craps, blackjack, Blackjack Free Bet, roulette, three-card poker, four-card poker, mini-baccarat, six-card poker, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em, Spanish 21, Fortune Pai Gow Poker, Dai Bacc and EZ Baccarat.
Legal age: 21 years or older
Jamul Casino is one of San Diego’s hottest gambling resorts. You can gamble, enter big prize giveaways, or enjoy an alfresco meal in the Loft 94 beer garden overlooking rolling hills.
The Kumeyaay Nation runs the Jamul Casino. Like most tribal casinos in Southern California, Jamul Casino is packed with hundreds of video slots and table games.
Red Earth Casino
Address: 3089 Norm Niver Road, Thermal, CA 92274
Website:www.redearthcasino.com
Games: Slots, video poker and video keno.
Legal age: 21 years or older
Red Earth Casino is situated between Indio and Brawley. It is run by the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians and features thousands of slots and table games.
In the Players Club, you can enjoy four tiers of free slots play benefits. The casino runs regular slots and free play promotions throughout the year.
Spotlight 29 Casino
Address: 46-200 Harrison Place, Coachella, CA 92236
Website: www.spotlight29.com
Games: Slots, blackjack, three-card poker, Mystery Card Roulette, Pai Gow, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em and Fortune Pai Gow Poker.
Legal age: 21 years or older
Spotlight 29 is Coachella’s go-to destination for casino slots and table games. The casino offers more than 1,600 classic and progressive slots, plus friendly table games, including local favorites like Double Deck Blackjack and Mystery Card Roulette.
Tortoise Rock Casino
Address: 73829 Baseline Road, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
Website: www.tortoiserockcasino.com
Games: Slots, keno, blackjack, Spanish 21, three-card poker and Ultimate Texas Hold ’em.
Legal age: 21 years or older
Tortoise Rock Casino is a large gaming resort on the edges of Joshua Tree National Park. The casino is located on more than 30,000 square feet of space. That’s enough room to cram in nearly 500 slots and table games like three-card poker.
Sycuan Resort & Casino
Address: 5469 Casino Way, El Cajon, CA 92019
Website: www.sycuan.com
Games: Bingo, poker, slots, EZ Baccarat, Pai Gow, Double Hand Baccarat, Sycuan Craps, four-card poker, Spanish 21 and Mystery Card Roulette.
Legal age: 21 years or older
Sycuan Resort near San Diego is an all-round casino and holiday destination with pools, restaurants and a hotel. Sycuan features a dedicated poker room spreading Hold’em, Stud, and Omaha.
The casino floor features blackjack plus a selection of “Asian casino games” like EZ Baccarat, Pai Gow and Double Hand Baccarat. You can also play local Californian variants like Sycuan Craps and Mystery Card Roulette.
Barona Resort & Casino
Address: 1932 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside, CA 92040
Website: www.barona.com
Games: Slots, blackjack, EZ Pai Gow Progressive, three-card poker, four-card poker, Mississippi Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em, Free Bet Blackjack, electronic roulette, electronic Casino War and electronic baccarat.
Legal age: 21 years or older
San Diego’s Barona Resort boasts the most nonsmoking gaming machines in SoCal. The casino floor offers more than 2,500 video slots and video poker games, plus table games like Mystery Card Roulette.
Barona Resort & Casino has won awards for its blackjack games. The casino features some interesting variants not seen elsewhere, like Zombie Blackjack and Down Under Blackjack, where you can peek at the dealer’s cards before the game starts.
Pala Casino
Address: 11154 CA-76, Pala, CA 92059
Website: www.palacasino.com
Games: Pala Craps, Pala Roulette, poker, blackjack, baccarat, Pai Gow, slots and video poker.
Legal age: 21 years or older
Pala Casino is nestled in Southern California’s Palomar Mountains. It’s an award-winning casino resort where you can choose from 2,250 video slots and video poker games, plus more than 80 table games, including baccarat and Pai Gow. Pala Craps is a local variant of Vegas-style craps that uses cards instead of dice.
The San Manuel Casino is located roughly 60 to 75 minutes east of Los Angeles, CA in San Bernardino County. The casino is owned and operated by The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, a federally recognized tribe of the Serrano people.
San Manuel is the nearest Las Vegas style casino to the majority of the Los Angeles area. This casino is very similar to other Indian run casinos in Southern California, including Harrah’s SoCal and Pechanga, and also northern CA casinos, like Cache Creek. The differences between San Manuel and a casino you would find in Atlantic City or Las Vegas are very minor, and when they exist, are due to state laws. For the most part, San Manuel is the most complete real casino experience achievable in California.
San Manuel Casino
If you are an avid gambler in Southern California, in particular, the Los Angeles area, one main difference you will notice is that San Manuel is an actual casino. Unlike cardrooms in California tribal casinos, such as San Manuel, contain table games, bingo, slot and gaming machines, and more. Additionally, there are no fees to play table games and the rules are generally more favorable at San Manuel and other tribal casinos compared to California cardrooms.
When you arrive at San Manuel you’ll notice the sheer size of the property. Relative to competitors in the area the casino is rather large and contains ample parking. However, if you choose to attend on busy nights (typically weekends), parking in the garage is sparse, so you’ll definitely want to consider what time you arrive or valeting your car. Another thing to also consider is that there is no hotel on-site, but you there are many hotel options in the area.
Inside the first-floor, casino level area plenty of gaming options. You’ll notice a circular bar in the middle of the floor where you can grab a drink, game, and/or watch one of the many TVs. Around the floor are several slots, table games, and a few more bars. Drink prices are around $7-$10, which is pretty reasonable and the floor is filled with cocktail waitresses to serve you. If you are used to receiving comp drinks, you’ll be disappointed to know that San Manuel does not offer comp drinks even if you are playing.
Gaming at San Manuel
As indicated above, there are several gaming options to choose from at San Manuel. Table games include blackjack, EZ Baccarat, let it ride, three card poker, four card poker, craps, fortune pai gow, roulette, and ultimate Texas hold’em. Their poker room has around 35 tables with games ranging from Texas hold’em, Omaha hi-lo, or seven card stud.
San Manuel offers free bet blackjack, buster blackjack, house money, double-deck and high limit blackjack. The majority of the tables are 6-deck games with automatic shuffling. On weekends, you should expect the tables to require a minimum bet of $25 to play, however, on non-peak days minimums may decrease to as low as $5. The max bet is $2,000. All the shoe games pay 3 to 2, require the dealer to hit on soft 17s, allow doubling on any two cards after splitting, allow re-splitting of aces, and allow you to surrender.
In the high limit area, the minimum bet for blackjack is either $50 or $100 depending on which table you choose. Otherwise, the rules are the same including dealers hitting on all soft 17s. The rest of the area is nicer relative to the floor simply due to the fact that fewer people play in the high limit area. You’ll enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere with your own cocktail waitresses, video poker bar, and slot and table games.
San Manuel has over 4,000 gaming machines ranging from mechanical reel slots, video reels, video keno, in-house progressive jackpots, and over 115 video poker machines. There is also a dedicated non-smoking area if you are looking to play without being exposed to cigarette smoke as it is allowed throughout the casino.
Poker at San Manuel
Below is a breakdown of the poker games you’ll find inside the poker room at San Manuel.
Limit Hold’em: 2/4 (2/2 blinds); 3/6 (1/3 blinds); 4/8 with a kill; 8/16 with a half kill or a full kill; 20/40 with a kill
No Limit Hold’em: 2/5 blinds (100-300 buy-in); 5/5 blinds (300-500 buy-in)
Omaha/8: 3/6 full kill
Seven Card Stud: 2/4 ($0.50 ante and bring-in); 3/6 ($1 ante and bring-in)
It is best to check with the casino to see what games are running the particular day you are interested in going. Often times the 20/40 with a kill limit hold’em and the seven card stud games are very rare or limited.
Typically, the poker room attracts low-limit action and inexperienced players. As with most poker rooms the higher the stakes generally the more experienced the players are. However, one positive is that the wait times have been known to be small or completely non-existent. It’s likely you’ll find a game going during any time of the day.
The rake at San Manuel is 3 + 1 jackpot on all the limit games up to 8/16, 4 + 1 jackpot on all limit games from 20/40 up to and on all no-limit games.
The majority of the tables use machine shufflers, and they typically reserve hand-shuffles for tournament games or out of necessity. As a new player, you do not need to post to enter a game and killer acts last. There is absolutely no smoking inside the poker room at San Manuel.
The casino also runs several poker tournaments and jackpot promotion throughout the year depending on the month and day of the week. Overall, the poker room will suffice if you are an inexperienced player or not quite an expert. However, it could be argued that there are better poker rooms in the Los Angeles, CA area with higher limits and more experienced players.
Dining at San Manuel Casino
There is no shortage of food options in San Manuel. The easiest and most convenient options are the quick eating options located on the first-floor. The area resembles a food court setup and you can choose from burgers, Thai food, pizza, and other quick bites.
Additionally, there are casual options such as George Lopez’s Chingon Kitchen, Just Barbecue, Rock & Brews, and the Serrano Buffett. If you are looking for upscale options you can either try The Pines Modern Steakhouse and/or the Pines Sunday Brunch.
There are plenty of drink options as well, but the casino adheres to current state law which does not allow alcohol after 2am.
Bars and Entertainment at San Manuel Casino
Located on the first-floor, The Tukut lounge offers free entertainment every night of the week. On weekdays, alcohol service begins at 5pm and ends at 1:15am and weekend service begins at 8am and ends at 1:15am. Every Tuesday is Salsa Night, with lessons starting at 8pm. Wednesdays is Country Night from 8pm to 1:30am, and every Friday is Latin Friday starting at 9pm.
Also on the first-floor is Bar Bar Bar, where you most likely be able to listen to local DJs just about every night of the week. Other bars inside the casino include the Tropical Storm Bar, Finish Line Bar, and Round Up Bar. As previously indicated above, drinks are reasonably priced around $7-$10. You can most likely find some sort of live music or entertainment every night of the week at San Manuel.
Features at San Manuel Casino
As eluded to above, the main features of San Manuel pertain to the Vegas-style of gaming it offers relative to competitors in the state of California and the surrounding Los Angeles, CA area.
If you are looking for an option to play slots, table games, poker, and bingo without fees and unfavorable rules San Manuel is most likely your best bet. The minimum age to play at San Manuel is 21, and the casino offers a rewards program that yields credits, discounts on food, and more.
In November 2017, San Manuel announced an expansion plan that would upgrade and improve the casino facility all-around. The main features include the addition of a 500-room resort style hotel, expanded casino floor space, a 4,000-seat performance venue, additional meeting and event space, new amenities including a spa and more shops, and a new 2,200-vehicle parking structure. The casino is expected to break ground by mid 2018 and conclude by the end of 2020. The plans not only improve the casino, but will also stimulate the local economy by adding more jobs.
Location
San Manuel Casino is located at 777 San Manuel Blvd. Highland, CA 92346. It is about a 60 to 75-minute drive from Los Angeles depending on the time of day you leave and traffic. As traffic is a notorious issue in Los Angeles, it is best to allow enough time to travel there or to travel during off-peak hours (i.e. late at night or early in the morning).
The casino also offers charter bus options from various locations in Southern California. For more information visit their website here.