When most people think of casinos, Las Vegas is the first destination that comes to mind. Vegas has built itself around the casino industry, so that makes sense. However, more and more casinos are popping up everywhere across the United States, including in Nevada’s neighbor to the west, California.
There are 66 casinos in the state, according to the California Gambling Commission, in addition to 89 legal card rooms. Every single casino in the state is operated by a Native American tribe, and most are located on tribal land. The casinos can be found up-and-down the massive state, so regardless of whether you find yourself in Northern California, SoCal or somewhere in between, there is likely a casino nearby. California is one of the most progressive states in the country, so as gambling continues to nudge itself further and further into the mainstream, it’s safe to expect more and more casinos to continue to pop up.
There are plenty of reasons to visit California, of course. The weather is second to none, and there is no shortage of things to do. While you may not necessarily think of Cali first when considering a gambling vacation, why not check out what the state has to offer in that regard?
Options Abound
With so many casinos populating the state, you should have no issue finding the games you want to play if you take a gambling trip to California. Slot machines tend to be among the most popular casino games, and every single casino in the state does offer slots. The majority of them also have table games like poker and blackjack.
Sports betting is not yet legal in California, but it is likely only a matter of time until it is. In the meantime, there are hundreds of online sportsbooks meaning that gamblers can play over the internet. In fact, there are so many it might be useful to visit somewhere like https://sportsbooks.ag/top-sportsbooks/ so you can read all the different reviews first to make sure you pick the right one. The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May of 2018 has given individual states the green light regarding whether to legalize sports betting, and several states have done just that in the months since. New Jersey, Mississippi and West Virginia are among the states that have since opened their doors to legalized sports betting.
California has not gotten there yet, but many seem to believe the Golden State will dive head-first into the sports betting game sometime in 2020 or 2021, at the very latest. Once it does, you will surely be able to find all sorts of operational sportsbooks within Cali, as well.
Massive Casino Resorts
While most of the casinos in Northern California tend to be smaller with only a few offerings, those in the southern part of the state tend to be larger, resort-style operations. In addition to the casino floors themselves, many of Southern California’s most well-known casinos are also luxury resorts that include hotels, spas, restaurants, golf courses and plenty of shopping options, too. These casino resorts, such as Viejas and Pechanga have all the amenities you will be able to find at the hottest spots on the Las Vegas Strip.
The Pechanga Resort & Casino, which is located in the Temecula Valley just north of San Diego, has just about everything you can find at an upper-echelon Las Vegas resort. Pechanga’s casino floor spans nearly 190,000 square feet, which is even bigger than that of the MGM Grand in Vegas. Pechanga also offers over 3,000 slot machines and over 130 table games. There are additionally more than 500 hotel rooms, making it the largest casino resort in California, and one of the largest in the United States as a whole.
The Commerce Casino, which is located in a Los Angeles suburb, includes the world’s largest card room. Poker is easily the most popular table game you’ll find at Commerce, but you can also find casino war, baccarat, blackjack and many more offerings. Commerce is also attached to a Crowne Plaza Hotel, which makes it one of the most attractive destinations California has to offer.
Online Casinos
If you can’t quite make it to one of the state’s many land-based casinos, you can instead try your hand at some online betting. Any of these online casinos accept California residents, so you certainly have plenty of options if you’re interested in betting over the internet.
There are no laws in place that prevent California residents or visitors from betting online. Some of the top names in the industry, including Cherry Gold, BetOnline and Golden Lion, are available to players within the state. All of the top online casinos offer the same games you love to play at land-based casinos, with the added convenience of doing it all from your personal computer or mobile device. These casinos also offer an array of banking options that make it easy to deposit money and ultimately withdraw your winnings.
Online casinos are not subjected to government scrutiny, so you can feel safe playing casino games online in California without fear. So, if you don’t have time to drive all the way to one of the state’s many brick-and-mortar casino facilities, there is nothing stopping you from getting in on the fun over the internet instead!
Conclusion California is known for Hollywood, Disneyland and the many beaches dotting the coastal areas, but the state also offers a vast number of unique opportunities if you’re interested in a gambling vacation, as well. California is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and it serves as a legitimately good alternative to nearby Las Vegas from a betting perspective. Both states have their own pros and cons when it comes to gambling offerings, so choose your destination based on what you want out of your vacation.
