Southern California, home to about 35 tribal casinos and state-licensed card rooms, is among the top gambling destinations in the United States. Texas hold 'em action is the centerpiece of most of the state-licensed rooms, which also are allowed to offer banked card games such as blackjack and pai gow. Tribal casinos generally are dominated by slot machines, which are not legal in the licensed card rooms.
The 20-acre Augustine Casino property was built in 2002 on the Augustine Band of the Cahuilla Indian reservation, resettled by the single-family, eight-member tribe in 1996. The 24-hour casino is about three miles east of the PGA West Golf Club in south-central California. It features 800 slot machines and 12 tables of card games. Cafe 54, which offers menu service as well as a buffet, is always open. The fast-food Menyikish Bar & Grill is open every day.
Augustine Casino
84-001 Avenue 54
Coachella, CA 92236
(760) 391-9500
augustinecasino.com
Ocean's Eleven Casino is a 50-table card room about a mile south of the Camp Pendleton Marine base. The property offers poker, blackjack, pai gow poker, three-card poker and pan. An annual casino-championship poker tournament for frequent players features a guaranteed $100,000 prize pool. Gambling coach Thomas Gallagher offers free poker seminars as well as fee-based classes. The onsite Rat Pack Lounge features dining and live entertainment. Several neighboring hotels offer discounts to Ocean's Eleven patrons.
Ocean's Eleven Casino
121 Brooks St.
Oceanside, CA 92054-3424
(760) 439-6988
oceans11.com
Harrah's Rincon Casino & Resort is a 55,000-square-foot casino and 662-room hotel on the Rincon Band of the Luiseno Mission Indian reservation in San Diego county. The casino features 1,600 slot machines and 51 table games. The facility was granted permission in October 2009 to add 400 slot machines. Harrah's has introduced Rincon Craps, played on a standard craps table by players who hold cards representing their bets. The eight-table poker room hosts an annual World Series of Poker Circuit Event and introduced the Tag-Team Tournament in January 2010. The 21-story hotel tower features 104 suites. The property features eight restaurants, three entertainment venues and a health spa. The nearby Woods Valley Golf Club offers discounts for Harrah's Rincon hotel guests.
Harrah's Rincon Casino & Resort
777 Harrah's Rincon Way
Valley Center, CA 92082
(877) 777-2457
harrahsrincon.com
