The 9 best casinos in San Diego
We run down some of the best places to head to buy chips in San Diego, the birthplace of California.
California has relaxed gambling legislation and now boasts a good haul of casinos. Some believe it’s even taking a bite out of Nevada’s action.
What the state might lack is a central hub where you can choose from a whole slew of casinos in one visit, but San Diego certainly has enough venues to keep punters happy.
Here we run down some of the best casinos in San Diego.
Note that the legal gambling age in California is 18 and alcohol is not permitted on the gaming floor. Dice-only games are not permitted.
1. Barona Resort and Casino
There’s no better place to start than Barona Resort and Casino. Barely half an hour from downtown San Diego heading north, Barona is a full-scale tribal casino that’s often rated the best in the area. Located right next to the famous Barona Creek Golf Course, the place has a Western ranch theme, a large hotel with 400 rooms and multiple dining options. An expanded casino floor offers 30,000 square feet of gaming with about 120 table games and 2,640 slot and video poker machines.
932 Wildcat Canyon Rd, Lakeside.
2. Sycuan Casino
This tribal casino just to the east of San Diego saw a major $260million expansion in March 2019. It now offers 50 gaming tables and 2,800 reel and video slots. It has an interesting range of Asian games and its own app for smooth customer service. Smoking is still permitted in Californian casinos but Sycuan has one of the largest non-smoking areas which may prove an attraction to the non-smokers. It also boasts a large spa, swim-up bar, 302-room luxury hotel
5469 Casino Way, El Cajon.
3. Pala Casino & Resort
Another tribal casino, this one is owned by the Pala Band of Mission Indians and is located on the Pala Indian Reservation to the north of San Diego. It boasts an impressive 2,250 slot machines and 87 gaming tables, plus ten restaurants. It offers poker, bingo, table games and regular tournaments. There’s also a 2,000-capacity events centre, and perhaps most unique of all, a pool complex with five heated pools, daybeds, hot tubs and fire pits. Over 21s only.
11154 Highway 76, Pala. (877) 946-7252
See also: Largest Casino in America: What Are the Biggest Casinos in the US?
4. Caliente Casino
A short hop over the border to Tijuana, and things get hot at Caliente Casino in the middle of the desert but just five kilometres from the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert and Sunnylands Center and Gardens. A rather unique draw here is that the casino offers to bet on horse and dog races. There are other attractions too, including golf games, a nightclub, spa and 340-room hotel popular with the high-end market.
Ramón Alarid, Gas and Anexas, 22115 Tijuana
5. Viejas Casino & Resort
This tribal operation joined the San Diego casino scene back in 2013 under the management of the Kumeyaay Indians. Easy access from the freeway means it’s been popular since it opened, and it’s recently been expanded, making it an even more attractive option. It offers more than 2,000 machines, while table games include card roulette, and the casino even offers off-track betting on horses and live concerts. Over 21s only.
5000 Willows Rd, Alpine, CA 91901,
6. Golden Acorn Casino
This compact casino is a popular stop with truckers since it also offers a rest stop with showers and other amenities and a decent deal on a steak diner. The casino floor has 750 slot machines and eight table games, including $3 blackjack and Ultimate Texas Hold ’Em.
1800 Golden Acorn Way, Campo. (866) 794-6244. Goldenacorncasino.com
See also: The 6 best casinos in Spain
7. Harrah’s Resort Southern California
This full-service casino resort has a 1,087-room hotel, luxury pool complex, wellness spa, swim-up bar and dining venues. Players can choose from 1,700 slots and 60 table games. There’s also a tribal craft brewery on its doorstep.
777 Harrah’s Rincon Way, Valley Center. (760) 751-3100. harrahssocal.com
8. Jamul Casino
The highlight here is the 10-table poker room with table-side dining and full bar service. It hosts weekly poker tournaments and special events. The main casino gaming floor has 1,700 slot machines and 40 tables. There are seven dining venues to choose from on-site, from a steakhouse with mountain views to a beer garden and Asian grill.
14145 Campo Road, Jamul. (619) 315-2250. jamulcasinosd.com
9.Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage
Head to Palm Springs for this resort casino, which has a spa and a state-of-the-art entertainment venue that stages music and comedy. It’s the only casino in Greater Palm Springs with a live poker room, and players will enjoy ducking out for a smoke at Pívat Cigar Lounge in between games. Options for food range from fine dining to quick bites.
32-250 Bob Hope Dr, Rancho Mirage
