Elk Valley Casino is a tribal casino in Crescent City, California, with more than 300 slots, Paula Jo’s Poker Room, coastal-view dining, and live entertainment. I see its strongest appeal as an evening addition to a North Coast trip: play a little, have dinner, and perhaps catch a show. Its main limitation is the lack of an on-site hotel. It best suits local players and travelers already staying around Crescent City, rather than visitors seeking an all-in-one casino vacation.
Elk Valley Casino at a glance
| Location | 2021 Elk Ranch Road, Crescent City, California |
|---|---|
| Casino type | Tribal casino associated with Elk Valley Rancheria |
| Minimum gambling age | 21 |
| Slots | More than 300, according to the property; inventory can change |
| Other gaming | Table games, poker, and bingo |
| Poker room | Yes, Paula Jo’s Poker Room |
| Retail sportsbook | No |
| On-site hotel | No |
| Dining | Warriors Bar & Grill; beverages at Perks! |
| Entertainment | Betty Green Event Center |
| Rewards program | Points Club |
| Research updated | October 15, 2026 |
What kind of casino is Elk Valley?
Elk Valley is a regional casino, not a sprawling resort. Machines, a dedicated poker room, a sit-down restaurant, and scheduled performances give it variety for an evening without making gambling the centerpiece of your entire trip.
The California Gambling Control Commission’s January 2025 tribal casino inventory lists Elk Valley Casino with Elk Valley Rancheria in Crescent City. For visitors, its North Coast setting makes it a potential stop around redwoods, coastal sightseeing, and a stay in town.
For other options around the state, see our guide to California casinos.
Casino floor: slots, table games, and poker
Elk Valley advertises more than 300 slots, including newer machines and classic favorites. That is a meaningful selection for a regional outing, but I would not confuse it with the inventory of a major destination casino.
Slots and video poker
Slots are the simplest reason to stop here because your visit does not hinge on finding a staffed table or an active poker game. Check the total wager before spinning: a penny denomination does not necessarily mean a penny bet.
If you want a specific video poker game or paytable, ask before traveling. I would not choose a casino based on jackpot photographs or comments about “loose” machines. Neither tells you what your own session will cost.
Table games and bingo
The casino’s promotional material names table games and bingo. If either is the purpose of your trip, confirm which games are running, their schedules, and current minimums or buy-ins.
Do not build a trip around an assumed low-limit table. The game, rules, and minimum wager matter, and an available machine floor does not guarantee that a particular live game is operating.
Paula Jo’s Poker Room
Elk Valley has a dedicated player-versus-player poker room: Paula Jo’s Poker Room. This is distinct from video poker or poker-themed casino table games.
Before making a poker-specific drive, confirm the room’s schedule, available games, stakes, and whether a game is expected to run. A named room is a useful amenity, not a promise that your preferred cash game will be available whenever you arrive.
Sportsbook
Elk Valley Casino has no on-property retail sportsbook. Football-picks promotions and sports viewing should not be confused with a counter where you can place sports wagers.
Hotel and overnight planning
Elk Valley has no on-site hotel. Overnight visitors need separate accommodations in Crescent City or the surrounding area, so there is no room upstairs when the evening ends.
I would choose lodging around the broader coastal itinerary, then work the casino into the evening. Arrange your return trip before drinking, and do not assume a casino shuttle or late-night hired ride will be available.
Warriors Bar & Grill: menu and buffet prices
Warriors Bar & Grill adds appeal beyond gambling, particularly with its advertised panoramic coastal views. The published dining menu lists steak, seafood, and pasta.
- Rib eye: $39.
- Country fried steak: $26.
- Shrimp dinner: $26.
- Base creamy sundried tomato fettuccine: $20, with protein additions priced separately.
Dinner entrées start at 4 PM and include soup or a side salad bar, a choice of starch, and seasonal vegetables. Pasta service is advertised from 11 AM to 10 PM, although buffet service can override regular-menu availability. Budget separately for drinks, tax, and gratuity.
Tuesday buffet: the senior discount is conditional
The casino’s published promotions advertise a Tuesday buffet from 11 AM to 3 PM, including rotating hot items, the salad bar, and dessert. The listed price for guests age 49 or younger is $25.
Guests age 50 or older qualify for the advertised $15 price only after earning 100 slot points during the previous 30 days and obtaining the $10 coupon. Age alone does not earn the deal. Regular-menu service is unavailable during Tuesday buffet hours.
Wednesday prime-rib buffet
The Wednesday prime-rib buffet runs from 4 PM to 8 PM at an advertised $38 plus tax. It is dine-in only, with no to-go boxes. The $10 meal coupon requires 500 points earned during the previous 30 days.
Gamboool’s dining-value comparison
I would compare these meals by eligibility and service format, not just the biggest advertised discount. The comparison below brings together published prices and offer conditions for planning, rather than reporting firsthand restaurant experiences.
Gamboool original analysis
We assembled the comparison below from published information and our calculations. These are selected examples, rather than measured gambling sessions or a representative survey.
| Detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| Elk Valley Casino gaming floor: Published slot selection | The official homepage advertises over 300 slots, including new machines and classic favorites. |
| Paula Jo’s Poker Room: Officially advertised poker amenity | The casino expressly advertises a named poker room; the opened homepage does not supply its schedule, stakes, or rake. |
| Elk Valley Casino promotions: Offer-change policy | Management may alter or cancel promotions without prior notice. |
| Tuesday buffet: Service window and included food | Tuesday buffet service runs from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and includes weekly items, the salad bar, and dessert; the published price for guests age 49 or younger is $25.00. |
| Tuesday buffet: Senior coupon eligibility versus standard pricing | Guests age 50 or older need 100 slot points earned in the previous 30 days to receive the $10.00 coupon and advertised $15.00 buffet price. |
| Tuesday buffet: Regular-menu restriction | Regular menu service is unavailable during buffet hours. |
| Wednesday prime rib buffet: Schedule, price, and takeaway restriction | Wednesday service is 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, costs $38.00 plus tax, is dine-in only, and provides no to-go boxes. |
| Wednesday prime rib buffet: Discount eligibility | The $10.00 meal discount requires 500 points earned in the previous 30 days, compared with the Tuesday senior offer’s lower points requirement and separate age condition. |
| Wednesday prime rib promotion: Coupon redemption and expiry | Print the qualifying coupon from the kiosk’s Promotions tab; it expires at 10:00 PM that day. |
| Wednesday prime rib promotion: Separate free-play redemption and expiry | The $10.00 free-play offer requires taking the dining receipt to the Points Club; free play expires at 11:59 PM that night. |
| Wednesday prime rib promotion: Free-play claim deadline | The advertised free play must be claimed at the Points Club and expires the same night, rather than remaining available for a later visit. |
| Warriors dinner menu: Dinner entrée timing and included sides | Dinner entrées start at 4:00 PM and include soup or a side salad bar, a choice of starch, and seasonal vegetables. |
| Warriors dinner menu: Steak and shrimp price comparison | The rib eye is listed at $39.00, while country fried steak and shrimp dinner are each listed at $26.00. |
| Warriors pasta menu: Availability compared with dinner entrées | Pasta is advertised daily from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM, offering an earlier option than the dinner entrées. |
| Warriors pasta menu: Base fettuccine price and optional additions | Base fettuccine costs $20.00; Parmesan chicken or diced chicken adds $4.00, and sautéed shrimp adds $6.00. |
| Perks!: Retail selection and operating hours | Perks! offers beverages, souvenirs, and tobacco products, with published daily hours of 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. |
| Calculation | Result | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday prime rib buffet price with the qualifying coupon, before tax | $28.00 before tax | Use the coupon if you already qualify; do not treat the separate free-play offer as a cash reduction in the meal bill. |
| Tuesday buffet coupon savings as a share of the published standard price | 40 percent of published standard buffet price | The senior discount requires both age eligibility and prior slot points, rather than age alone. |
| Regular rib eye versus Wednesday prime rib buffet price difference | $1.00 in listed food prices, excluding tax, drinks, and gratuity | Compare the all-you-can-eat format with the cooked-to-order steak, but remember that the buffet is limited to Wednesday service and prohibits to-go boxes. |
| Illustrative dinner for two: country fried steak and shrimp dinner | $52.00 in listed food prices, excluding tax, drinks, and gratuity | Keep this food subtotal separate from the gambling budget, and plan around the dinner entrée start time. |
| Country fried steak versus base fettuccine price difference | $6.00 in listed food prices, excluding tax, drinks, and gratuity | The base pasta offers a lower-priced meal option, but adding protein changes that comparison. |
Research references: elkvalleycasino.com 1, elkvalleycasino.com 2, elkvalleycasino.com 3.
Method: Published inputs collected 2026-10-15. Illustrative assumptions are labeled, and the full calculation inputs remain in the saved research record. These examples support planning; they do not predict a particular session.
The qualifying prime-rib coupon brings the buffet to $28 before tax. The separate $10 free-play offer is not another $10 off dinner: it requires taking your dining receipt to the Points Club, and the free play expires at 11:59 PM that night.
Without the coupon, the Wednesday buffet is just $1 less than the listed rib eye. The choice is more about all-you-can-eat prime rib versus a cooked-to-order steak than a dramatic price difference. The buffet’s limited service window and no-takeout rule also matter.
For an illustrative dinner for two, one country fried steak and one shrimp dinner total $52 before drinks, tax, and gratuity. The base fettuccine is $6 less than the country fried steak, although protein additions change that comparison.
The Tuesday senior coupon equals 40% of the published $25 buffet price. I would treat it as a benefit for an already-qualified player, not a reason to gamble more. Chasing points can turn a discounted lunch into an expensive one.
Entertainment, museum, and Perks!
The Betty Green Event Center hosts live entertainment, giving a visit another purpose when not everyone wants to gamble. Check the calendar, ticket terms, and start time before arranging dinner around a show.
For a quieter stop, Visit Del Norte County lists a free Elk Valley Rancheria museum in the administration building. Ask about visiting hours rather than assuming it follows the casino’s schedule.
Perks! offers hot and cold beverages, souvenirs, and tobacco products, with published daily hours of 8 AM to 10 PM. Those are shop hours, not casino hours, and tobacco sales do not establish the indoor smoking policy.
Directions and practical visit advice
Use 2021 Elk Ranch Road, Crescent City, California in your navigation app when approaching from the Highway 101 corridor.
- Bring identification. The minimum gambling age is 21. Carry valid government-issued photo ID.
- Check the relevant schedule. Poker, bingo, table games, dining, and performances may operate at different times.
- Ask about smoking and accessibility. Contact the property before leaving if either affects your comfort or ability to visit.
- Confirm parking needs. Do not assume RV parking, overnight stays, valet service, or EV charging are available.
- Keep transportation money separate. Your ride back to the hotel should not depend on the final gambling session.
Points Club: use benefits without chasing them
Ask the Points Club about enrollment and current eligibility before playing. Tuesday’s senior discount and Wednesday’s prime-rib coupon have different points requirements.
For the prime-rib discount, qualifying players must print the coupon from the kiosk’s Promotions tab. It expires at 10 PM that day. The receipt-based free play is a separate redemption with its own deadline.
Promotions can change or be canceled. My rule is simple: use benefits attached to gambling you already intended to do, but do not increase your loss limit to earn a meal.
Our take: who should visit Elk Valley?
Elk Valley suits Crescent City locals and coastal travelers who want a manageable evening of slots, live poker, a sit-down meal, and perhaps a show. I like the combination of coastal-view dining and a dedicated poker room, but the dining deals reward eligible players rather than every walk-in visitor. Choose a full-service resort elsewhere if your priorities are a room upstairs, several restaurant choices, and enough on-site amenities to fill a weekend.
Frequently asked questions
Is Elk Valley Casino in California or Oregon?
It is in Crescent City, California, near the Oregon border.
How many slots does Elk Valley Casino have?
The property advertises more than 300 slots. Treat that as a changing inventory, not an exact machine count.
Does Elk Valley have live poker?
Yes. Paula Jo’s Poker Room is a dedicated poker room. Confirm its schedule, games, and stakes before a poker-specific trip.
Does Elk Valley have a sportsbook?
No. The casino has no on-property retail sportsbook.
How old do you have to be to gamble at Elk Valley?
You must be at least 21. Bring valid government-issued photo identification.
Does Elk Valley Casino have a hotel?
No. Arrange separate lodging and transportation for an overnight visit.
Is the Tuesday senior buffet discount automatic?
No. The advertised $15 price requires age 50 or older, 100 slot points earned in the previous 30 days, and the qualifying coupon.
Information update
Updated October 15, 2026. Menu prices, promotions, and game schedules can change. Check the details relevant to your visit before traveling.
Poker room and sportsbook
There is no on-site sportsbook.