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Striking Gold in California
Gambling has exploded in California, now that more than 40 Native American tribes offer some type of gaming activity. With so many superb casinos and gigantic card rooms, residents of Southern California no longer have to commute to Las Vegas to get their gambling fix. Several casinos much closer to home rival the big Nevada casinos in grandeur and amenities.
A perfect example is the Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino. This upscale facility near San Diego includes a stylish hotel, a world-class golf course, and a massive 300,000-square-foot casino. Barona gladly takes big action (up to $1,000 on their slot machines and $10,000 on their table games). Its blackjack tables are particularly enticing because the great rules (double down on any two cards and surrender) reduce the house edge to zero in their single-deck blackjack game. For my money, that is the best blackjack game in the country.
In the Los Angeles area, card rooms flourish. Although these aren’t full-fledged casinos, the Bicycle and Commerce Casinos are among the world’s biggest poker rooms, and both casinos have hosted prestigious World Poker Tour (WPT) events. L.A. has always been a hotbed for poker players, and with the WPT bringing poker into the mainstream, many Hollywood celebrities want in on the game that is sweeping the country.
Palm Springs also offers several charming casinos in the desert. The atmosphere is more casual there, and the almost perpetual sun is a big attraction for visitors, especially during winter months.