Land-Based Casinos In California

For California natives, there is more than one way to gamble. Indeed, online gaming is increasingly popular among residents of California, yet more traditional, land-based casinos are also enduring in their popularity. Land-based casinos in California are numerous, and they offer myriad opportunities for the state's gambling enthusiasts to enjoy their favorite games—safely and legally! This page will offer some general information about the legal, land-based casinos that California natives have to choose from.

Regulated Casinos For California Residents + Visitors

The first thing to note about the casino options that California offers is that there are basically two varieties of legal, land-based casino facility. Some of California's casinos are better understood as card rooms—smaller facilities that offer plenty of chances to play poker, but which do not offer the full casino experience that many players may prefer. Then, there are the full-fledged casinos, which offer more robust gaming options.

California offers plenty of examples in both categories. Its several full-fledged casinos are Native American casinos, and they are located in various places throughout the state. Indeed, California gaming buffs can find legal, land-based casinos in Redwood Valley, San Jacinto, Alpine, Redding, and several other noteworthy cities. As for card rooms, you can find them even in bustling metropolises like Los Angeles, as well as in smaller cities and towns.

The legal, land-based casinos that are open to California residents vary in size and in the number of games offered. Pechanga Resort and Casino, located in Temecula, is the largest casino in the state, offering close to 5,000 slot machines, 132 table games, and 54 poker tables in its poker room—to say nothing of its ten dining venues and its massive hotel and showroom facilities!

Other large establishments that offer casino gaming in California include the Cache Creek Casio Resort, San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino, Thunder Valley Casino, and many others. These casinos offer mixes of table games, slots, bingo, and other forms of entertainment.

The Online Advantage

While legal, land-based casinos are common in California, many California residents will likely find that their preference is for online gaming. There are many reasons for this, but one of the foremost reasons is simply that online gaming is more convenient. Rather than venture to a casino, players can go online and play from the comfort of their own home. Legal land-based California casinos are common, then, but online gaming may be the ideal way for California residents to enjoy their favorite games!

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Types Of Land Based Gambling In California

There are two major ways to gamble at land-based locations in CA. First, you can visit a card room, where you are able to play poker against other players, with no house fee, as such fees are outlawed in CA. Second, you can visit a tribal casino, which offers slot machine gameplay as well as other traditional casino games. These tribal casinos are allowed to offer far more games than any non-tribal option in the state, given their compacts with the state of CA.

How Many Casinos Are There In California?

The California gaming industry is a bit difficult to gauge, as there are a large amount of casinos in the state that are tribally regulated, and then there are also card rooms in CA that are regulated by the state. As of 2022, we have found 65 tribal casinos in operation, with a further 88 card rooms available in CA. Several of these card rooms appear to be located at or near casinos as well.

How Much Can California’s Land Based Gambling Industry Expand?

California’s land based gambling industry has some serious roadblocks in the way of expansion. The state itself only regulates cardrooms, and those have had a moratorium on them since the mid 1990s, which means that they do not issue new card room licenses, and only the ones out there currently are available to card room operators. In other words, if you didn’t have a license already, you’re unlikely to get one. As far as the tribal casinos, those are limited by the number of tribes in the state that have a deal with the CA government to operate one. These roadblocks limit the amount of growth the land based California gambling sector can have.

Casinos With The Most Slots In CA

Yaamava' Resort Casino (777 San Manuel Blvd, Highland, CA 92346) - Yaamava’ Resort Casino features a whopping 6,400 slot machines, the most in the state. It also contains a massive poker room that features 38 tables. Amenities are easy to come by, with the resort part of the casino’s name coming in handy - it contains restaurants, a hotel, and multiple bars.

Pechanga Resort And Casino (45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula, CA 92592) - Pechanga Resort and Casino offers 5,000 slot machines, so you’ll never have to wait in line to play at the Pechanga. They’re most famous for their golf course, which is one of the best in the world, but they also feature a 38 table poker room and more than 150 table games. Their amenities are top-notch, even compared to other casino/hotels, with restaurants, bars, pools, spas and more!

Morongo Casino Resort And Spa (49750 Seminole Drive, Cabazon, California 92230) - The Morongo Casino Resort And Spa features 4,000 slot machines in their 148,000 square foot complex. Their spa is obviously a big draw as well, given the name, although they do not place much of a focus on table games and poker offerings, having less than half of each compared to the Pechanga and the Yaamava’.

Thunder Valley Casino Resort (1200 Athens Avenue, Lincoln, CA 95648) - Thunder Valley Casino Resort features 3,400 slot machine games, and distinguishes itself via its 5,000 seat outdoor amphitheater. It’s a remarkable casino, and it’s location near Sacramento makes it a popular destination for gamblers in the northern part of California.

Cache Creek Casino Resort (14455 CA-16, Brooks, California 95606) - Cache Creek Casino Resort offers 2,700 slot machines, and is located in a 74,720 square foot complex - approximately the size of an enormous mansion, or a larger Wal-Mart. Cache Creek is another major NorCal casino, located west of Sacramento, and features two hotels along with nearly a dozen restaurants

Best Online Casinos For California Residents

Rank
Casino
Promotion
Ratings
Visit
1
125% up to $3,750
5 Star Rating
2
300% up to $3,000
5 Star Rating
3
300% up to $1,500
5 Star Rating
4
777% up to 300 spins
4 Star Rating
5
400% up to $4,000
5 Star Rating
6
50% up to $1,000
4.5 Star Rating
7
400% up to $500
4.5 Star Rating
8
300% up to $3,000
5 Star Rating
9
325% up to $3,250
4.5 Star Rating
10
250% up to $1,000
5 Star Rating

Tribal Casinos In California

Tribal casinos are permitted to operate in California. These casinos operate all across the state, and each of them provides casino services to CA’s bettors. Each of these casinos is operated by a Native American tribe, due to various compacts negotiated between the tribes and the state of California. California’s tribal casino industry is hugely profitable, bringing in more than $8 billion annually.

Tribal Casino: CA City: CA County:
Agua Caliente Casino Rancho Mirage Riverside
Augustine Casino Rancho Mirage Riverside
Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino Lakeside San Diego
Bear River Casino Loleta Humboldt
Black Bart Casino Willits Mendocino
Black Oak Casino Tuolumne Tuolumne
Blue Lake Casino Blue Lake Humboldt
Cache Creek Casino Resort Brooks Yolo
Cahuilla Creek Casino Anza Riverside
Casino Pauma Pauma Valley San Diego
Cher-Ae Heights Bingo and Casino Trinidad Humboldt
Chicken Ranch Bingo and Casino Jamestown Tuolumne
Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino Coarsegold Madera
Chumash Casino Resort Santa Ynez Santa Barbara
Colusa Casino Resort Colusa Colusa
Desert Rose Casino Alturas Modoc
Diamond Mountain Casino Susanville Lassen
Eagle Mountain Casino Porterville Tulare
Elk Valley Casino Crescent City Del Norte
Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino Indio Riverside
Feather Falls Casino Oroville Butte
Gold Country Casino and Hotel Oroville Butte
Golden Acorn Casino Campo San Diego
Graton Resort & Casino Rohnert Park Sonoma
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Wheatland Yuba
Harrah's Northern California Ione Amador
Harrah's Resort Southern California Valley Center San Diego
Havasu Landing Resort and Casino Havasu Lake San Bernardino
Jackson Rancheria Casino Jackson Amador
Jamul Casino Jamul San Diego
Konocti Vista Casino and Bingo Finley Lake
Lucky 7 Casino Smith River Del Norte
Lucky Bear Casino Hoopa Humboldt
Mono Wind Casino Auberry Fresno
Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa Cabazon Riverside
Paiute Palace Casino Bishop Inyo
Pala Casino Resort and Spa Pala San Diego
Pechanga Resort and Casino Temecula Riverside
Pit River Casino Burney Shasta
Quechan Resort Casino Winterhaven Imperial
Rain Rock Casino Yreka Siskiyou
Red Earth Casino Salton City Imperial
Red Fox Casino Laytonville Mendocino
Redhawk Casino Shingle Springs El Dorado
River Rock Casino Geyserville Sonoma
Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino Nice Lake
Rolling Hills Casino Corning Tehama
Yaamava Resort & Casino Highland San Bernardino
San Pablo Lytton Casino San Pablo Contra Costa
Santa Ysabel Resort and Casino Santa Ysabel San Diego
Shodokai Casino Redwood Valley Mendocino
Sho-Ka-Wah Casino Hopland Mendocino
Soboba Casino Resort San Jacinto Riverside
Aqua Caliente Casino Palm Springs Palm Springs Riverside
Spotlight 29 Casino Coachella Riverside
Sycuan Resort and Casino El Cajon San Diego
Table Mountain Casino Friant Fresno
Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino Lemoore Kings
Thunder Valley Casino Resort Lincoln Placer
Torres Martinez Casino Salton City Imperial
Tortoise Rock Casino Twentynine Palms San Bernardino
Twin Pine Casino Middletown Lake
Valley View Casino Valley Center San Diego
Viejas Casino Alpine San Diego
Win-River Casino Redding Shasta

Card Rooms In California

Card Room: CA City: CA County:
The 101 Casino Petaluma Sonoma
The 500 Club Clovis Fresno
Artichoke Joe's Casino San Bruno San Mateo
The Aviator Casino Delano Kern
Bankers Casino Salinas Monterey
Bay 101 San Jose Santa Clara
The Bicycle Casino Bell Gardens Los Angeles
Black Sheep Casino Cameron Park El Dorado
Brooks Oceana Cardroom Oceano San Luis Obispo
Bruce's Bar and Casino Blythe Riverside
California Grand Casino Pacheco Contra Costa
Cameo Club Stockton San Joaquin
Capitol Casino Sacramento Sacramento
Casino Club Redding Shasta
Casino M8trix San Jose Santa Clara
Casino Marysville Marysville Yuba
Casino Real Manteca San Joaquin
Central Coast Casino Grover Beach San Luis Obispo
Central Coast Casino Paso Robles San Luis Obispo
Cesar's Club Watsonville Santa Cruz
Club One Casino Fresno Fresno
Club San Rafael San Rafael Marin
Commerce Casino Commerce Los Angeles
Comstock Card Room Tracy San Joaquin
Crystal Casino and Hotel Compton Los Angeles
Delta Club Cardroom Stockton San Joaquin
Deuces Wild Casino Auburn Placer
Diamond Jim's Casino Rosamond Kern
Don Juan Club and Casino Rancho Cordova Sacramento
El Resbalon Woodlake Tulare
Empire Sportsmen's Association Modesto Stanislaus
Garlic City Club Gilroy Santa Clara
Gloria's Lounge and Casino Visalia Tulare
Golden State Casino Marysville Yuba
Golden West Casino Bakersfield Kern
Hawaiian Gardens Casino Hawaiian Gardens Los Angeles
Hollywood Park Casino Inglewood Los Angeles
Hotel Del Rio & Casino Isleton Sacramento
Hustler Casino Gardena Los Angeles
Jalisco Pool Room Guadalupe Santa Barbara
Kelly's Cardroom Antioch Contra Costa
Kings Cardroom Stockton San Joaquin
Klondike Casino Eureka Humboldt
La Fuerza Woodlake Tulare
Lake Bowl Cardroom Folsom Sacramento
Lake Elsinore Hotel & Casino Lake Elsinore Riverside
Limelight Cardroom Sacramento Sacramento
Livermore Saloon & Casino Livermore Alameda
Lucky Buck Card Club Livermore Alameda
Lucky Chances Casino Colma San Mateo
Lucky Derby Casino Citrus Heights Sacramento
Lucky Lady Card Room San Diego San Diego
Marina Club Marina Monterey
Merced Poker Room Merced Merced
Mike's Card Casino Oakdale Stanislaus
The Mint Porterville Tulare
Mortimer's Card Room Marina Monterey
Napa Valley Casino American Canyon Napa
Nineteenth Hole Antioch Contra Costa
Normandie Club Gardena Los Angeles
Oaks Card Club Emeryville Alameda
Oasis Card Room Ridgecrest Kern
Ocean's Eleven Casino Oceanside San Diego
Ocean View Cardroom Santa Cruz Santa Cruz
Old Cayucos Tavern Cayucos San Luis Obispo
Outlaws Card Parlour Atascadero San Luis Obispo
Palace Card Club Hayward Alameda
Palomar Card Club San Diego San Diego
Paso Robles Casino Paso Robles San Luis Obispo
Pastime Club Benicia Solano
Pastime Club Citrus Heights Sacramento
The Players Club Ventura Ventura
Poker Flats Casino Merced Merced
Rancho's Club Casino Rancho Cordova Sacramento
River Card Room Petaluma Sonoma
Rogelio's Isleton Sacramento
Royal Flush Casino Lemoore Kings
S & K Card Room Eureka Humboldt
Silver Fox Card Room Sacramento Sacramento
St. Charles Place Downieville Sierra
Stones Gambling Hall Citrus Heights Sacramento
Sundowner Cardroom Visalia Tulare
Tommy's Casino & Saloon El Centro Imperial
Towers Casino Grass Valley Nevada
Turlock Poker Room Turlock Stanislaus
Ven-A-Mexico Soledad Monterey
Village Club Casino Chula Vista San Diego
Wine Country Casino and Restaurant Lodi San Joaquin

Casinos Near San Diego

San Diego is a big city, close to the CA/Mexico border, and features an enormous array of casinos in the near vicinity. Unlike LA, there are a ton of casinos that are very close to San Diego proper. Below are the casinos that exist in San Diego county, as they are the most accessible from San Diego.

Barona Resort & Casino
(619) 443-2300
1932 Wildcat Canyon Rd., Lakeside, CA 92040

Casino Pauma
(760) 742-2177
777 Pauma Reservation Rd., Pauma Valley, California 92061

Golden Acorn Casino
(619) 938-6000
1800 Golden Acorn Way, Campo, CA 91906

Harrah's Resort Southern California
(760) 751-3100
777 Harrah's Rincon Way, Valley Center, CA 92082

Jamul Casino
(619) 315-2250
14145 Campo Rd., Jamul, CA 91935

La Jolla Trading Post & Casino
(760) 742-0460
22003 Highway 76 ,Pauma Valley, CA 92061

Pala Casino Spa Resort
(760) 510-5100
11154 Highway 76, Pala, California 92059

Sycuan Casino
(619) 445-6002
5485 Casino Way, El Cajon, California 92019

Valley View Casino
(760) 291-5500
16300 Nyemii Pass Rd., Valley Center, California 92082

Viejas Casino
(619) 445-5400
5000 Willows Rd., Alpine, California 91901

Casinos Near Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a major population center in CA, and casinos circle the surrounding area. The below casinos can all be found in Riverside County, not far from L.A.. This makes these casinos the primary options for those that live in and near Los Angeles, whether that be in the suburbs or an hour or so away from the city.

Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City
888-999-1995
68960 E Palm Canyon Dr., Cathedral City, CA 92234

Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs
(760) 323-5865
140 North Indian Casino Canyon Dr.,Palm Springs, CA 92262

Agua Caliente Casino Rancho Mirage
(760) 321-2000
32-250 Bob Hope Dr., Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

Augustine Casino
760-391-9500
84-001 Avenue 54, Coachella, CA 92236

Cahuilla Casino
(909) 763-1200
52702 Highway 371, Anza, California 92539

Fantasy Springs Casino
(760) 342-5000
84-245 Indio Springs Pkwy., Indio, California 92203

Morongo Casino Resort And Spa
(909) 849-3080
49750 Seminole Drive, Cabazon, California 92230

Pechanga Resort & Casino
(877) 711-2946
45000 Pala Road ,Temecula, California 92592

Soboba Casino
(866) 476-2622
23333 Soboba Rd., San Jacinto, California 92581

Spotlight 29 Casino
(760) 775-5566
46-200 Harrison Place, Coachella, California, 92236

Casinos Near San Bernardino

San Bernardino contains a decently sized population, and the county features three casinos, one of which - the Yaamava’ Resort Casino - contains the most slot machines of any California casino. These casinos also serve the Los Angeles area, but more on the north-west side of town.

Havasu Landing Resort & Casino
(800) 307-3610
1 Main Street, Havasu Lake, California 92363

Tortoise Rock Casino
(866) 377-6829
73829 Base Line Rd.,Twentynine Palms, CA 92277

Yaamava' Resort Casino
(909) 864-5050
5797 North Victoria Avenue, Highland, California 92346