Casino Gaming
Lady luck has a spot at the table for you.
While San Diego is renowned for its world-class attractions and beautiful beaches, what isn't as well known is that San Diego also offers Las Vegas-style casino gaming.
Just 30-45 minutes from downtown, San Diego's casinos provide 24/7 Las Vegas-style action and entertainment, with some offering full-service resort facilities, popular outlet centers, luxury spas, golf courses and museums, along with showrooms and live music and comedy.
Developed by Native Americans on their tribal lands, San Diego's casinos reflect another facet of the rich cultural diversity in this region. With a thriving community of 18 tribes, San Diego has the largest tribal concentration of any single county in the U.S. many of them contributing in the region's successful gaming business. While the casinos help the tribes to be financially self-sufficient, they also enable tribal governments to support charities and social programs serving the entire San Diego community.
What to Expect
- Many of the casinos offer value-priced, all-you-can eat buffets.
- While children are not allowed in the gaming areas, most casinos allow children in the buffets, dining rooms, pools, shops, entertainment venues and other areas.
- Many of the casinos feature top-shelf headliner entertainment including musical and comic performers.
- Many of the casinos offer bus service throughout Southern California. Contact the casino of interest for more information.
What to Know
- The minimum age for casino play ranges between 18 to 21 years old. Contact the specific casino of interest for requirements.
- California drinking age is 21. Some casinos offer full alcohol service. Contact the casino of interest directly to find out their policies.
- San Diego's casinos are open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Find a place to stay
Sycuan Casino - Play. Win. Together
Feel at home as you walk through the doors of Sycuan Casino, San Diego’s top choice for fun and excitement in a casual environment. Located in the eastern region America’s finest city, Sycuan Casino began as a humble Bingo Palace back in 1983. Now, it has become a community landmark. Undergoing a massive renovation in 2012 with additional enhancements in 2015, Sycuan now features 2,000 exciting reel and video slot machines, more than 40 gaming tables, poker, bingo and a variety of restaurants to choose from.
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A Guide to San Diego Casinos
San Diego County has the largest concentration (18) of Native American tribes of any county in the United States. Many of those Native American tribes center their activities around bustling casinos, which have helped to bring them prosperity and independence.
San Diego Nightlife Hotspots
San Diego has so much going on once the sun goes downit can be a little overwhelming. Here is a list of some of San Diego's best offerings.
Downtown After Sundown
Follow the music to San Diego, where the nightlife is one of the most buzzing scenes on the West Coast. The nightclubs are bumping with world-class DJs, the craft cocktails are true works of art and dance floors are filled with people soaking up the bright vibes of San Diego after sundown. It all starts in the Gaslamp Quarter - 16 blocks with 180 restaurants, 50 bars and 10 nightclubs - but the good times are rolling throughout the city, from sunset to sunrise and back again. Party on, San Diego.
States That Have The Gambling Age of 18
In the U.S., we have two major milestone birthdays that take place within 3 years of each other: 18 and 21. At age 18, a person is considered a legal adult and can vote, play the lottery, and join the armed forces. At age 21, a person can legally drink and buy alcohol and patronize casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. But in many states, people can gamble at age 18 and there s no better place to host a milestone birthday than a local casino. Here s a roundup of the various states and their restrictions regarding 18 and over casinos.
Pari-mutuel betting
Pari-mutuel betting is a type of wager where the final payout is determined after all bets are made, which is different from the fixed odds offered by casinos. The most popular type of pari-mutuel betting is off-track betting facilities. When you bet on horse races, all bets are pooled together and the house takes its fee. Once betting closes, the payouts are finalized based on how much money is in the pool and the results of the event. States that allow pari-mutuel betting for people aged 18 and over include:
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Florida
- Indiana
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- New Mexico
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Washington
Bingo
Anyone can participate in a few rounds of bingo at the local church, but most casino bingo halls have an age limit to gamble. States that allow people age 18 and up to play bingo in a casino include:
- Connecticut
- Florida
- New Mexico
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Wisconsin
Mixed age limits
Some states allow gambling for ages 18 and up or 21 and up, some depending on the particular casino, others depending on the particular casino game. For example, Florida allows those 18 and up to gamble on pari-mutuels, bingo, and poker, but has an age minimum of 21 for slots. States with mixed age limits include:
- Florida
- New York
- Oklahoma
- Washington
- California
Age 18+ welcome
A few states welcome anyone age 18 and older to gamble at local casinos, including California (with a few exceptions). California is home to casinos in over 100 cities the largest number by far in the U.S., exceeding even the number found in Nevada. Southern California alone boasts two dozen cities with casinos, including Campo, which is home to Golden Acorn Casino! States that allow gambling at the age of 18 include:
- Alaska
- Idaho
- Minnesota
- Wyoming
- California (with a few exceptions)
Celebrate your 18th at Golden Acorn Casino
If you re looking for the best place to celebrate your birthday at one of the 18 and over casinos near San Diego, come see us at Golden Acorn Casino. We offer hundreds of slot machines and dozens of table games to choose from, and we re conveniently located right off the I-8, about an hour away from downtown San Diego. And who knows, maybe your wish for a big jackpot will come true when you blow out your candles!
The Best in San Diego Casino Gaming
Guests must be at least 21 years of age to enter the casino, hotels, and dining venues.
Guests must be at least 21 years of age to drink alcoholic beverages. Guests must be at least 18 years of age to enter Viejas Bingo Slot Parlor. Families are welcome at the Viejas Outlets.
Please play responsibly. For help with problem gambling, call 800.426.2537
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What you need to know about the area s 10 casinos
Though the pandemic has curtailed certain activities and amenities, the San Diego-region s 10 casinos are open for gambling and dining. Many of the numbers cited here reflect normal operations. Currently, casinos are operating at less-than-full capacity due to health and safety measures. Call ahead for up-to-date details.
Barona Resort Casino
1932 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside. (619) 443-2300. barona.com
The deal: This full-scale casino resort has a casino floor with 2,500 slot machines and 115 table games and a total of 340,727 square feet of gaming space. Convenient options are the Barona Coffee Company for pastries, fresh cinnamon buns, sandwiches and salads; Barona s Homemade Soup outlet for six varieties of eat-in or take-out soup; and the Creamery, serving premium ice cream, soft serve, shakes and sundaes. Amenities currently closed due to the pandemic: Barona Oaks Steakhouse and the buffet, day spa and gift shop.
Golden Acorn Casino
1800 Golden Acorn Way, Campo. (866) 794-6244. goldenacorncasino.com
The deal: A respite for the road-weary on Interstate 8 at Exit 61, Golden Acorn is a compact-size casino with a Travel Center and dining venues. The casino floor features 700 slot machines. The Golden Grill has re-introduced the $7.77 Prime Rib Special. Golden Acorn s 24/7, 3,000-square-foot Travel Center and rest stop offers clean showers and restrooms, laundry facilities, a TV lounge and Wi-Fi and other
Harrah s Resort Southern California
777 Harrah s Rincon Way, Valley Center. (760) 751-3100. harrahssocal.com
The deal: Harrah s is a full-service casino resort with a hotel, luxury pool complex, a wellness spa and multiple dining venues. Gaming options include 1,700 slots and 60 table games. The hotel offers 1,087 rooms and suites; steps away is the first tribal-owned craft brewery, Rincon Reservation Road Brewery. The pool complex known as Dive features three pools, eight hot tubs, Southern California s first swim-up bar, a 400-foot lazy river and 23 cabanas. The luxurious 11,000-square-foot spa features a full-service salon and a hip barbershop. A Topgolf Swing Suite can be rented so players can practice their skills at golf, baseball, football, hockey and more.
Jamul Casino
14145 Campo Road, Jamul. (619) 315-2250. jamulcasinosd.com
The deal: Located 20 miles from downtown San Diego, the casino has 1,650 slot machines, 39 table games and seven dining venues. Jamul Casino also has a 10-table poker room that features full bar service, weekly poker tournaments and big-money special events. Prime Cut, the fine-dining steakhouse, has expansive mountain views and offers an all-day Sunday lobster brunch for $50. Loft 94: Yakitori | Noodle | Craft, which features craft beers on 48 taps and has an outdoor patio, serves yakitori grill and Asian noodle specialties. A sizable collection of baseball memorabilia is housed at Tony Gwynn s Sports Pub, which also features three nightly Endless Dining experiences.
Pala Casino Spa Resort
11154 Highway 76, Pala. (877) 946-7252. palacasino.com
The deal: This full-scale casino resort offers a 507-room/suite hotel, multiple restaurants and a deluxe spa. The casino floor has more than 2,000 slot and video poker machines, 80-plus table games, a nine-table, non-smoking Asian Gaming Room and an expanded non-smoking area. Highlights among the 10 eateries are Bar Meets Grill restaurant, Noodles Asian and the Luis Rey s Sports Bar, which televises sporting events on multiple TVs, including a 14-foot Jumbotron.
Casino Pauma
777 Pauma Reservation Road, Pauma Valley. (760) 742-2177. casinopauma.com
The deal: Pauma is a 35,000-square-foot casino with dining venues. Gaming options include more than 1,000 slot machines and 19 table games, including $3 blackjack. Dining choices are a cafe with an all-day menu and the 24/7 Casino Pauma Deli and Pizzeria. Drinks are served at the Triple Seven Bar as well as the Red Parrot Lounge. The covered Pauma Pavilion, with 1,100 seats, looks forward to returning to year-round entertainment with its state-of-the-art sound system. The Pavilion showcases entertainment from Latin Nights to rock concerts.
Pechanga Resort Casino
45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula. (877) 711-2946. pechanga.com
The deal: This mega casino resort with a AAA Four Diamond hotel has a two-story spa, golf course, designer boutiques, an event center, theater, comedy club and 20 restaurants and bars. Pechanga has the status of being the largest casino resort on the West Coast. The casino floor clocks in at a massive 200,000 square feet. When at capacity, the hotel has 1,090 hotel rooms and suites.
Sycuan Casino Resort
5469 Casino Way, El Cajon. (619) 445-6002. sycuan.com
The deal: Sycuan added a $260-million resort to its casino in 2019. A 12-story luxury hotel tower has 302 rooms, including 57 suites. Retreat Pool Cabanas has two pools, including an adult pool with a swim-up bar and a lazy river. The resort includes a full-service day spa, Spa Ritual, and a new fitness facility. The casino floor has been expanded by 60,000 square feet and houses a total of 2,300 slots and 56 table games. The indoor/outdoor Viewpoint Neighborhood Kitchen eatery recently opened. There are plans for a new events center to host headlining acts. The unCommons food court features popular local eateries Phil s BBQ, Hodad s and Lucha Libre.
Valley View Casino Hotel
16300 Nyemii Pass Road, Valley Center. (760) 291-500. valleyviewcasino.com
The deal: With a $50 million, 43,000-square-foot expansion and renovation project completed in 2019, Valley View now features 143,000 square feet of casino, restaurant and lounge space. A boutique resort hotel offers 108 spacious rooms. The entire casino, expansive non-smoking areas and restaurants were recently renovated. Valley View has 1,400 slot machines, 20 table games and 11 restaurants and bars. Their newest restaurant and lounge, Patties Pints offers gourmet burgers, pizzas, shakes and 16 beers on tap.
Viejas Casino Resort
5000 Willows Road, Alpine. (619) 445-5400. viejas.com
The deal: Viejas is the recipient of the AAA Four Diamond award. This full-scale casino resort, with two hotels the Viejas Hotel and the luxurious, all-suites, adults-only Willows Hotel Spa includes an entertainment complex and an outlet shopping center with bowling, a skating rink and a virtual reality arcade. The casino floor includes more than 2,500 slot machines, eight different kinds of table games, an off-track betting lounge and a bingo and slot parlor. The luxury spa has its own saltwater spa pool, garden, salt sauna, a hair and nail salon and 24-hour fitness center. Notable restaurants include The Grove Steakhouse and the new Baron Long Bar Grill.
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