California Casinos – Best Places to Gamble in CA

List of Top Gambling Venues in California

VenueAddressWebsite
Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs401 E Amado Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262https://aguacalientecasinos.com/
500 Club Casino ClovisWestern Village Shopping Center, 771 W Shaw Ave, Clovis, CA 93612https://500clubcasino.com/
Bankers Casino Salinas111 Monterey St, Salinas, CA 93901https://www.bankerscasino.net/
Blue Lake Casino & Hotel Blue Lake777 Casino Way, Blue Lake, CA 95525https://www.bluelakecasino.com/
Barona Resort & Casino Lakeside1932 Wildcat Canyon Rd, Lakeside, CA 92040https://www.barona.com/
Tortoise Rock Casino Twentynine Palms73829 Baseline Rd, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277https://www.tortoiserockcasino.com/
Bay 101 Casino San Jose1788 N First St, San Jose, CA 95112https://bay101.com/
Artichoke Joe’s Casino San Bruno659 Huntington Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066https://artichokejoes.com/
Casino Club Redding1885 Hilltop Dr, Redding, CA 96002http://www.reddingpoker.com/
Parkwest Bicycle Hotel & Casino Bell Gardens888 Bicycle Casino Dr, Bell Gardens, CA 90201https://www.thebike.com/
Thunder Valley Casino Resort Lincoln1200 Athens Ave, Lincoln, CA 95648https://thundervalleyresort.com/
Augustine Casino Coachella84-001 Avenue 54, Coachella, CA 92236https://www.augustinecasino.com/
Cache Creek Casino Resort, Brooks14455 CA-16, Brooks, CA 95606https://www.cachecreek.com/
Casino 99 Chico175 E 20th St, Chico, CA 95928https://casino99chico.com/
Capitol Casino Sacramento411 N 16th St, Sacramento, CA 95811https://www.capitol-casino.com/
California Grand Casino Pacheco5988 Pacheco Blvd, Pacheco, CA 94553https://www.californiagrandcasino.com/
Cahuilla Casino Hotel Anza52702 CA-371, Anza, CA 92539https://cahuillacasinohotel.com/
Central Coast Casino Grover Beach359 W Grand Ave, Grover Beach, CA 93433https://www.slo-poker.com/
Club One Casino Fresno3950 N Cedar Ave, Fresno, CA 93726https://clubonecasino.com/
Chicken Ranch Casino Jamestown16929 Chicken Ranch Rd, Jamestown, CA 95327https://chickenranchcasino.com/
Win-River Resort & Casino Redding2100 Redding Rancheria Rd, Redding, CA 96001https://winriver.com/
Viejas Casino & Resort Alpine5000 Willows Rd, Alpine, CA 91901https://viejas.com/
Casino Pauma, Pauma Valley777 Pauma Reservation Rd, Pauma Valley, CA 92061https://www.casinopauma.com/
Casino Merced, Merced1459 Martin Luther King Jr Way #5, Merced, CA 95340https://casinomerced.com/
Chumash Casino Resort Santa Ynez3400 CA-246, Santa Ynez, CA 93460https://chumashcasino.com/
Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino Coarsegold711 Lucky Ln, Coarsegold, CA 93614https://chukchansigold.com/
Coyote Valley Casino Redwood Valley77 BIA Rd 228, Redwood Valley, CA 95470https://www.coyotevalleycasino.com/
Commerce Casino Commerce6131 Telegraph Rd, Commerce, CA 90040https://commercecasino.com/
Crystal Casino Compton123 E Artesia Blvd, Compton, CA 90220http://thecrystalcasino.com/
Elk Valley Casino Crescent City2021 Elk Ranch Road, Crescent City, CA 95531https://elkvalleycasino.com/
Valley View Casino & Hotel Valley Center16300 Nyemii Pass, Valley Center, CA 92082https://www.valleyviewcasino.com/hotel/
Diamond Mountain Casino & Hotel Susanville900 Skyline Rd, Susanville, CA 96130https://www.dmcah.com/
Twin Pine Casino & Hotel Middletown22223 CA-29, Middletown, CA 95461https://www.twinpine.com/
Turlock Poker Room Turlock2321 W Main St C, Turlock, CA 95380https://www.turlockpoker.com/
Towers Casino Grass Valley115 Bank St, Grass Valley, CA 95945https://www.towerscasino.com/
Casino M8trix San Jose1887 Matrix Blvd, San Jose, CA 95110https://www.casinom8trix.com/
Feather Falls Casino & Lodge Oroville3 Alverda Dr, Oroville, CA 95966https://featherfallscasino.com/
Lucky Chances Casino Colma1700 Hillside Blvd, Colma, CA 94014http://www.luckychances.com/
Seminole Coconut Creek Casino Coconut Creek5550 NW 40th St, Coconut Creek, FL 33073https://www.seminolecoconutcreekcasino.com/
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino Great Palm Springs84245 Indio Springs Dr, Indio, Greater Palm Springs, CA 92203-3405https://www.fantasyspringsresort.com/
Lucky 7 Casino & Hotel Smith River350 N Indian Rd, Smith River, CA 95567https://www.lucky7casino.com/
Harrah’s Resort Northern California Ione4640 Coal Mine Rd, Ione, CA 95640https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-northern-california/
Graton Resort & Casino Rohnert Park288 Golf Course Dr W, Rohnert Park, CA 94928https://www.gratonresortcasino.com/
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento, Wheatland3317 Forty Mile Rd, Wheatland, CA 95692https://www.hardrockhotelsacramento.com/
King’s Card Club Stockton6111 West Ln #103, Stockton, CA 95210https://www.kingscardclub.com/
Livermore Casino Livermore3571 First St, Livermore, CA 94551https://www.livermorecasino.net/
Konocti Vista Casino Resort Lakeport2755 Mission Rancheria Rd, Lakeport, CA 95453https://konocti-vista-casino.com/
Jamul Casino San Diego Jamul14145 Campo Rd, Jamul, CA 91935https://www.jamulcasinosd.com/
Hustler Casino Gardena1000 W Redondo Beach Blvd, Gardena, CA 90247https://www.hustlercasino.com/
Havasu Landing Resort & Casino Needles13145 Havasu Lake Rd, Needles, CA 92363https://www.havasulandingresortcasino.com/
Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort Jackson12222 New York Ranch Rd, Jackson, CA 95642https://www.jacksoncasino.com/
The Gardens Casino Hawaiian Gardens11871 E Carson St, Hawaiian Gardens, CA 90716https://www.thegardenscasino.com/
Garlic City Club Casino Gilroy8630 San Ysidro Ave Ste 100, Gilroy, CA 95020https://www.garliccityclub.com/
Gold Country Casino Resort Oroville4020 Olive Hwy, Oroville, CA 95966https://www.goldcountrycasino.com/
Golden West Casino Bakersfield1001 S Union Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93307https://goldenwestcasino.com/
Golden Acorn Casino Campo1800 Golden Acorn Way, Campo, CA 91906https://www.goldenacorncasino.com/
Red Hawk Casino Placerville1 Red Hawk Pkwy, Placerville, CA 95667https://www.redhawkcasino.com/
Red Earth Casino Thermal3089 Norm Niver Rd, Thermal, CA 92274https://www.redearthcasino.com/index.html
Rain Rock Casino Yreka777 Casino Way, Yreka, CA 96097https://rainrockcasino.com/
Table Mountain Casino Friant777 Jackpot Ln. Friant, CA 93626https://tmcasino.com/
Spotlight 29 Casino Coachella46-200 Harrison Pl, Coachella, CA 92236https://www.spotlight29.com/
Yaamava Resort & Casino Highland777 San Manuel Blvd, Highland, CA 92346https://www.yaamava.com/
The Player’s Casino Ventura10 W Harbor Blvd 2nd Floor, Ventura, CA 93001https://www.pcventura.com/
Pechanga Resort Casino Temecula45000 Pechanga Pkwy., Temecula, CA 92590https://www.pechanga.com/
Quechan Casino Resort Winterhaven525 Algodones Rd, Winterhaven, CA 92283https://playqcr.com/
San Pablo Lytton Casino San Pablo13255 San Pablo Ave, San Pablo, CA 94806https://www.sanpablolytton.com/
Seven Mile Casino Chula Vista285 Bay Blvd, Chula Vista, CA 91910https://sevenmilecasino.com/
Rolling Hills Casino Corning2655 Everett Freeman Way, Corning, CA 96021https://rollinghillscasino.com/
Stones Gambling Hall Citrus Heights6510 Antelope Rd, Citrus Heights, CA 95621https://www.stonesgamblinghall.com/
Robinson Rancheria Resort & Casino Nice1545 State Hwy 20, Nice, CA 95464https://www.rrrc.com/
Soboba Casino Resort & Hotel San Jacinto22777 Soboba Rd, San Jacinto, CA 92583https://www.soboba.com/
Sycuan Resort & Casino El Cajon5469 Casino Way, El Cajon, CA 92019https://www.sycuan.com/
Tachi Palace Casino Resort Lemoore17225 Jersey Ave, Lemoore, CA 93245https://www.tachipalace.com/
Livermore Casino Livermore3571 First St, Livermore, CA 94551https://www.livermorecasino.net/
Parkwest Casino Lodi1800 S Cherokee Ln, Lodi, CA 95240https://parkwestcasinolodi.com/
Parkwest Casino Lotus Sacramento6010 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95824https://parkwestcasinolotus.com/
Parkwest Casino Cordova Rancho Cordova2801 Prospect Park Dr, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670https://parkwestcasinocordova.com/
Old Cayucos Tavern Cayucos130 N Ocean Ave, Cayucos, CA 93430https://www.oldcayucostavern.com/
Palace Poker Casino Hayward22821 Mission Blvd, Hayward, CA 94541https://thepalacepokercasino.com/
Parkwest Casino 580 Livermore968 N Canyons Pkwy, Livermore, CA 94551https://parkwestcasino580.com/
Ocean’s Eleven Casino Oceanside121 Brooks St, Oceanside, CA 92054https://www.oceans11.com/
Oceanview Casino Santa Cruz709 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060https://oceanviewcasino.com/
Parkwest Casino Sonoma Petaluma5151 Montero Way, Petaluma, CA 94954https://parkwestcasinosonoma.com/
Oaks Card Club Emeryville4097 San Pablo Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608https://www.oakscardclub.com/
Limelight Cardroom Sacramento1014 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95816https://limelightcardroom.com/
Larry Flynt’s Lucky Lady Casino Gardena1045 Rosecrans Ave, Gardena, CA 90247https://luckyladyla.com/
Pala Casino Resort & Spa Pala11154 CA-76, Pala, CA 92059https://www.palacasino.com/
Lake Elsinore Hotel & Casino Lake Elsinore20930 Malaga Rd Lake Elsinore, CA 92530https://lercasino.com/
The Nineteenth Hole Antioch2746 W Tregallas Rd, Antioch, CA 94509https://www.19thholeantioch.com/
Napa Valley Casino American Canyon3466 Broadway, American Canyon, CA 94503https://napavalleycasino.com/
Mono Wind Casino Auberry37302 Rancheria Ln, Auberry, CA 93602https://monowind.com/
Paso Robles Central Coast Casino, Paso Robles1144 Black Oak Dr, Paso Robles, CA 93446https://pasoroblescasino.com/
Rosie’s Gaming Emporium Vinton1135 Vinyard Rd, Vinton, VA 24179www.rosiesgaming.com/vinton
Eagle Mountain Casino Porterville681 S Reservation Rd, Porterville, CA 93257www.eaglemtncasino.com
The Aviator Casino Delano1225 Airport Dr, Delano, CA 93215www.theaviatorcasino.com
Hollywood Park Casino Inglewood3883 W Century Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90303www.playhpc.com
Star’s Casino Tracy3170 Naglee Rd, Tracy, CA 95304www.starscasinotracy.com
The Heights Casino Trinidad27 Scenic Dr, Trinidad, CA 95570www.funattheheights.com
Marina Club Casino204 Carmel Ave, Marina, CA 93933www.casinomonterey.com
Pit River Casino Burney20265 Tamarack Ave, Burney, CA 96013N/A
Lucky Bear Casino Hoopa12510 CA-96, Hoopa, CA 95546N/A
Parkwest Casino Manteca1355 N Main St, Manteca, CA 95336www.parkwestcasinomanteca.com
Red Fox Casino Laytonville200 Cahto Dr, Laytonville, CA 95454N/A
Empire Sportsmen’s Association Modesto5001 McHenry Ave, Modesto, CA 95356N/A
Wanaaha Casino Bishop2742 N Sierra Hwy, Bishop, CA 93514www.wanaaha.com
Club San Rafael721 Lincoln Ave, San Rafael, CA 94901N/A
Diamond Jim’s Casino Rosamond118 20th St W, Rosamond, CA 93560N/A
Lake Bowl Card Room Folsom511 E Bidwell Street, Folsom, CA 95630N/A
Pinnacle Casino Bar & Grill Soledad955 Front St, Soledad, CA 93960N/A
Colusa Casino Resort3770 CA-45, Colusa, CA 95932www.colusacasino.com
River Rock Casino Geyserville3250 CA-128, Geyserville, CA 95441www.riverrockcasino.com
Morongo Casino Resort & Spa Cabazon49500 Seminole Dr, Cabazon, CA 92230www.morongocasinoresort.com
Outlaws Card Parlour Atascadero9850 East Front Road, Atascadero, CA 93422 N/A

Related reading: California online casinos

Commercial Casinos & Card Rooms in California

As of January 1st, 2022, there are 66 legal casinos in operation in the state of California, according to the California Gambling Commission.

In addition to these, there are 89 separate legal cardrooms in the state. (More on that below).

These 66 casinos range from very small dinky buildings containing just a few slot machines, to some of the largest casinos in the entire United States.

The Morongo Casino Resort & Spa is one of 66 casinos in California
The Morongo Casino Resort & Spa is one of 66 casinos in California

They are all Indian casinos, operated by federally-recognized tribes, so none are privately owned. In fact, the state’s 66 casinos are operated by 60 different Indian tribes.

Casinos in California

The casinos are spread out throughout the Golden State, from the Quechan Casino in the south (1.5 miles from the Mexican border), all the way up north to the Lucky 7 Casino, just 2 miles away from the Oregon state line.

You’ll find them within 30 miles of the nation’s second largest metropolitan area, (Los Angeles) and in towns of just 3,000 people (Alturus).

These all came about because of a voter-approved amendment passed in 2000 that allowed casinos (with some gaming restrictions), on Indian, or Native American-owned land.

California Tribal Casino Map

Those restrictions include a few quirks that make California casinos slightly different from their cousins to the east in Las Vegas.

For example, while there are craps games and roulette wheels, they are not craps or roulette in the traditional sense. For some odd reason, the use of dice and the spinning ball are specifically against California law.

Instead, both roulette and craps are card-based games. Although they have the same odds and table layouts you’d find at traditional roulette and craps tables in say, Las Vegas, the rolls and spins are determined by the flip of a card.

Indian Casinos in California with Slot Machines

While I have not investigated all 66 of these casinos, all appear to have have slot machines (based on their websites). The vast majority also have table games.

Many of the larger California casinos are luxurious resorts with restaurants, spas, concert venues, golf courses and amenities that would place them right at home on the Las Vegas Strip.

Places like the Pechanga Resort at Casino in Temecula, California, for example, are enormous. In fact, Pechanga is one of the biggest casinos in the U.S.), boasting close to 4,000 slot machines.

The Thunder Valley Casino Resort, just north of Sacramento, is one of the largest casinos in the USA
The Thunder Valley Casino Resort, just north of Sacramento, is one of the largest casinos in the USA

Other California casinos, such as the Thunder Valley Casino Resort, and the San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino, each has over 220,000 square feet of gaming space, making each larger than the massive MGM Grand on the Las Vegas Strip.

The San Diego area is a hotspot for California gambling. There are 9 casinos in San Diego County. On the more northern end of the state, there are seven casinos in the Sacramento area.

Biggest Casinos in California

Casino square footage for these Indian casinos in California are self-reported, so we cannot always verify their figures. It benefits each resort to, shall we say, be generous with their estimates, as each wants to claim the title of “Biggest Casino in California.”

However we can always use slot machine count, as that naturally correlates with more casino square footage. Having said that, here are the biggest casinos in California:

The Yaamava Resort Casino is California's largest casino.
The Yaamava Resort Casino is California’s largest casino.
  1. Yaamava Resort Casino – 6,500 slot machines/video poker games, 123 table games. 290,000 square feet of gaming space.
  2. Pechanga Resort Casino – 5,000 slot machines/video poker games and 153 table games. 188,000 square feet of gaming space. There’s also a 700 seat bingo hall and 38 table poker room.
  3. Morongo Casino Resort Spa – 4,000 slot machines/video poker games, 67 table games. 195,000 square feet of casino floor space. There’s also a 13 table poker room, and 440 seat bingo hall.
  4. Thunder Valley Casino Resort – 3,000 slot machines/video poker games, 113 table games. 250,000 square foot on the casino floor.

California Casinos vs. Cardrooms

As mentioned above, there are 89 cardrooms in California, along with the 66 casinos. What makes it confusing sometimes is that a cardroom will call itself a casino.

The Aqua Caliente Resort Casino in Rancho Mirage
The Aqua Caliente Resort Casino in Rancho Mirage

Two of the state’s largest and busiest cardrooms for example, the Bicycle Casino and Commerce casino, both in the Los Angeles area, call themselves “casinos” but are legally just cardrooms, and therefore do not have any slot machines.

The state’s 89 cardrooms are allowed to have poker tables and table games only. Most have a variety of table games such as baccarat, pai-gow, and variations of blackjack.

Remember, just because a place calls itself a casino, does NOT mean it has slot machines.

Pechanga Resort & Casino is the second biggest casino in California
Pechanga Resort & Casino is the second biggest casino in California

Casinos in California that have Closed

Gold Bear – Klamath (closed in 2007)
La Jolla Slot Arcarde – Pauma Valley (2004)
La Posta Casino – Boulevard (2012)
Santa Ysabel Casino – Santa Ysabel (2014)

California Casino Notes

* I haven’t included the Hidden Oaks Casino in Covelo, California on this list, as it is no longer on the list from the California Gaming Commission. However I called the casino directly and it appears to still be in operation. I’m unsure as to the discrepancy.

* The Sho-Ka-Wah Casino in Hopland counts as one of the casinos, even though they closed in 2018 due to the devastating wildfires. They have retained their gaming license and were expected to rebuild, however they have yet to re-open as of this update.

* Lastly, the state does not recognize the Winnedumah Winn’s Casino in Independence on their list, however this slots-only parlor (100 slot machines) at the Fort Independence Travel Plaza gas station is still in operation as of this update.

Other California Casino Tidbits

In addition to the casinos and cardrooms mentioned above, there are six horse racetracks in the state, along with 30 off-tract-betting (OTB) parlors.

According to California economist Alan Meister, author of Casino City’s annual Indian Gaming Industry Report, the state’s casinos bring in roughly $8 billion dollars of gaming revenue a year.

(Related: Casinos and Cardrooms close to Los Angeles)

California’s Indian casinos bring in approximately 25% of all Indian casino gaming revenue in the United States.

Of the 25 casinos in Southern California, three are the biggest in the state.

Two Indian tribes, the Aqua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, and the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians are the only two tribes to own more than one casino in the state. These tribes each operate two casinos.

(By Steve Beauregard. Photos courtesy of the Morongo Resort’s website, Ray Bouknight and Greg Gjerdingen via Flickr.)