San Diego County Casinos

San Diego County Casinos

San Diego County, along with the Temecula area, is the Indian gaming capital of California, with 13 tribes currently operating casinos in the region's rural backcountry. The casinos range from sprawling Las Vegas-style resorts, with big-name entertainment and golf courses, to small card rooms tucked away on rural crossroads. Although the gaming options may resemble what you might find in Las Vegas, the action is definitely different. The casinos stand alone on back roads, so it's not practical to travel from one to another. The big casinos -- Viejas, Barona, Sycuan, Rincon, and Pachenga, described below -- are popular with local seniors, some Asian visitors, and the tour bus crowd from the Los Angeles area. Many casinos offer bus transport, so call before visiting and save on gas. Most have valet and free self-parking, with transportation provided from outlying areas of the parking lot. Gambling age is 18 years and over.

Viejas Casino (5000 Willows Rd., Alpine. 619/445-5400 or 800/847-6537. www.viejas.com) is a massive Native American-theme entertainment and shopping complex with the largest casino in San Diego County, but it has no hotel. It's just east of El Cajon and Lakeside off I-8. Viejas has 2,240 slot machines, plus blackjack, poker, bingo, pai gow, and off-track wagering. There are six restaurants and a cocktail lounge, plus a high-end bar and VIP lounge added in 2006; the Dream Catcher Showroom presents top-of-the-line entertainment. Weekends have Top 40 bands, Sunday is Big Band night. The Viejas Outlet Center, a factory outlet mall across from the casino, has more than 50 shops, restaurants, and a landscaped amphitheater where evening shows are presented.

Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino (1932 Wildcat Canyon Rd., Lakeside. 619/443-2300 or 888/722-7662. www.barona.com) is an all-in-one Western-style destination with gaming, hotel, restaurants, and golf course. In the casino you can find 2,000 slot machines including progressives like Wheel of Fortune, 79 gaming tables including blackjack, a poker room, and off-track betting. Restaurants include the Barona Oaks Steakhouse, Sage Cafe, and the Ranch House buffet. The 400-room Barona Valley Ranch hotel has a fitness center, day spa, pool and outdoor whirlpool tub, business center, and meeting rooms. Adjacent is the well-regarded 18-hole Barona Creek Golf Club.

More compact than other area casinos, Sycuan Casino (5469 Casino Way, El Cajon. 619/445-6002 or 800/279-2826. www.sycuan.com) has 2,000 slot machines, table games such as blackjack, poker, and pai gow, and a bingo parlor. The Showcase Theatre hosts top name acts such as Little Richard and Wayne Newton. On-site restaurants include Wachena Falls Café and Paipa's Oasis buffet. The tribe also owns the nearby Sycuan Resort.

Harrah's Rincon Casino & Resort (33750 Vallely Center Rd. 760/751-3100. www.harrahs.com) lies in the shadow of Palomar Mountain east of Escondido. The resort has 653 rooms in a 21-story tower and five entertainment venues headlining performers such as Tony Orlando, Chippendales the Show, and B. B. King. The casino holds 1,500 slot machines, 32 table games including blackjack, pai gow, and baccarat. It also hosts World Series of Poker events. There are seven restaurants, including the traditional buffet, plus a spa, swimming pool, and gym on the premises, and golf nearby.

One of the first of the Indian gaming resorts, Resort & Casino Pechanga (45000 Pechanga Pkwy., Temecula. 951/303-2582. www.pechanga.com), is also one of the best in terms of accommodations. The resort hotel holds 604 rooms, eight restaurants including a food court, a gym, sauna, swimming pool, and meeting rooms. The casino has 2,000 slot machines, over 160 table games, a high-limit gaming area with VIP lounge, a large non-smoking area, and non-smoking poker room. Big name entertainers appear in the Pechanga Showroom, live championship boxing matches are held in the Grand Ballroom regularly, and there are three other entertainment venues including a roof-top lounge offering sweeping evening views. There's also an RV resort and a gas station.