San Diego Casinos – List of Casinos in San Diego, CA

San Diego has always been one of the most beautiful places on the west coast. If you are a gambler planning on visiting it, you better learn which are the best San Diego casinos and what they offer. Find out what the jewel of the west hides for you in the following article.

If you look online, you will find plenty of other articles about San Diego casinos, but none of them will deliver the same quality content as ours. We intend to go through all casinos in the San Diego area and explain the basics of the gambling laws in California. The best is yet to come, so keep reading.

Gambling Laws in California – What You Should Know

You may know, or you may not, but the gambling regulations in California are much weirder than in other states. From a general perspective, casino gambling is prohibited, but there are several exceptions like horse racing, lottery games and private and charitable games. In addition, there is a tiny loophole in the system that allows casinos but only Indian ones. You may wonder – how is that possible?

Well, the major change in federal law was made in 1988 – the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. It allowed Native American nations to control and audit casinos, bingo halls and other gambling venues. This law change allowed tribes all around the USA to kickstart such businesses, especially on tribal lands. Thanks to that legislation, there are many Native American casinos all around the states.

Best Casino in San Diego – The Closest to the Center

There is one more specific detail about the San Diego casinos that you must know – there aren’t any in the city of San Diego. We are trying to explain that most of the casinos are located in the suburb of the town or the countryside. The closest establishment is less than 15 miles away from the airport. It is actually the best casino in San Diego, but more about it in the following heading.

Seven Mile Casino – Between San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico

Seven Mile Casino is one of the best casinos in San Diego and the only one situated close to the city and its tourist part. Its perfect location is between San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico, roughly 10 miles from both.

Chula Vista city is the second largest city in the region. If you start walking from San Diego to Chula Vista, you won’t even understand when you will enter Chula Vista.

The place is not that big, but it offers a great atmosphere and a good selection of table games. A considerable disadvantage is the lack of accommodation, but the truth is that there are plenty of hotels and Airbnb’s around. In addition, there is a bar if you decide to have some drinks.

If you visit the casino hall, you will find out that there is a welcome bonus for all first-time visitors; just ask about it. A few slot machines and around eight tables are running all the time because the place works 24/7. There are several variations of poker and other cal games like blackjack or baccarat. Seven Mile Casino is among the best casinos in San Diego because of its location, and we can admit that the games offered are not enough. That’s why it is time to peek at the casinos in the San Diego area.

Top Casinos in San Diego, California – Explore All Options

The rest of the San Diego casinos are spread all around the state. Some are quite far from the city of San Diego. In the following headings, we will overview each establishment, starting from the closest and ending with the most distant one from San Diego. When we are done with them, we will have some more surprises for you later. Still, their games variety and perks sometimes exceed the ones offered at the best online casinos in the US.

Jamul Casino – Enjoy Nature In the San Diego Outskirts

Situated roughly 20 miles southeast of San Diegо. Its location makes it very tempting for all interested in Native American culture and nature. The establishment is part of the Jamul Indian Village, where you can get familiar with the local traditions and history of the tribe.

If you are willing to go on an advantage, you can go even further up to the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge or catch a hiking trail through the canyon. Unfortunately, the place does not offer any accommodation, but the region is full of RV camps like Pio Pico RV Resort & Campground.

This place has a warm climate and pleasant weather for most of the year, making it great for that type of activity. If you are not a fan of outdoor activities, you will be happy to find out that the Jamul Casino floor covers over 200,000 sq/f. The place is filled with many games, which is why we score it among the best casinos in the San Diego area.

Only the slot machines are over 1600, while the table games are over 40. The place often hosts different tournaments that you can participate in. We almost missed saying that the casino works 24/7, but not this does not apply to all indoor venues. Apart from the casino area, there are seven restaurants of different types. There is an Italian Pizzeria, a traditional steak house, a coffee shop and several more places to go. Keep in mind that some of them require more official attire.

We can’t miss mentioning that this San Diego casino often hosts different entertainment like live band concerts, one-man shows, DJ parties and all types of events you can think of. Jamul Casino is a one-of-a-kind place you won’t forget after visiting.

Sycuan Casino Resort – Full Size Casino Resort

Next on our list of the best casinos in San Diego, California, is the Sycuan Casino Resort, situated nearly 25 miles east of San Diego. Similarly to the previous contender in this chart, the location provides a balanced combination between wildness and city suburb.

The Sycuan territory offers great adventures and options for forest hiking and other outdoor activities. The best about Sycuan Casino Resort is that the place provides accommodation and many more pleasant services and extras. After all, this is a resort where you can rest and chill, but if you want any adventures, the Sycuan Reservation is just behind the building.

The indoor base covers everything that any average customer could ask for – golf, spa facilities, bars and restaurants, events hall, casino, pool and more, but let’s overview some of these separately. If you decide to grab a bite, you must know that the choice of restaurants is pretty big.

You can either get brunch, have lunch, or set up a formal dinner in eight different places. There are bars, too, if you want a fancy cocktail or quality bourbon. Now, let’s peek at the gaming floor, which spreads over 60,000 sq/f. At Sycuan Casino, you will find over 2800 slot machines and another 50 gaming tables with skilled croupiers.

The only popular game currently missing is roulette, but all other classics like blackjack, baccarat or craps are present. The available poker variations are Omaha Hi-Lo, Texas Hold ’em and Seven Card Stud. If you decide to throw a party, you can do it at the Retreat Pool & Havana, the resort’s pool bar. Another idea is to regularly check the coming events and book your holiday during live band concerts, especially in the active summer season.

Barona Resort & Casino – In the Middle of the Forest

For over 20 years, Barona Resort and Casino has been among the best casinos in the San Diego area. Its location is 28 miles from San Diego, deep in the mountain. The resort is situated in the Barona Reservation, which covers over 5,000 acres of land in the region. This is a remote San Diego casino and one of the most fantastic places to visit.

If you are a cultural person, you can visit the local museum and get familiar with the region and its native people. The location offers a lot of stunning signs and mountain trails, even a dirt speedway track and a paintball field. The Barona Resort and Casino premises are also super tempting but way more relaxing and chilling.

Many amenities are available, including spa facilities, a gym, a golf course, an outdoor pool and many more. There are several places where you can order food and drinks, but only a few are suitable for an official or romantic dinner.

As for cuisines, you will find everything from traditional American steaks and burgers to Italian pizza or Chinese noodles. Barona Resort and Casino deserve a place among the best in San Diego, California, because it offers over 2000 slot machines and 90+ table games. Titles like blackjack, craps, Mississippi Stud, Pai Gow poker, Texas Hold ’em, Four Card Poker or Omaha are not missing.

Often you will encounter poker tournaments with significant rewards, be careful because there you will find real players who know how to use poker chips. Barona is not where you will find concerts and many entertainment events, but it is perfect for weddings and other family gatherings.

Viejas Casino & Resort – Distant & Classy

Next to the city of Alpine stands the magnificent Viejas Casino Resort. The place is roughly 30 miles from San Diego, right next to Viejas Mountain. To get there, all you need to do is to catch the 8 Interstate Highway for Pheonix and count 30 miles. Similar to the last two best casinos in San Diego, California, this combines nature and wellness well.

This is a fantastic place for relaxation and fun because the premises offer many unique features like Native Dreams Day Spa, beauty saloon, meeting hall, outdoor pool, and more. If you decide to go outdoors, you will get the chance to try paintball or off-road motorsports in the region. If you are a fan of hiking, this is the place for you because there are direct trails from the site to the mountain peak. The view from there is stunning, you can check it on Google.

There are several classy restaurants where you can get a proper meal and several more where you can get brunch or coffee. The nightclubs offer top-quality cocktails and beverages no different from the best-rated San Diego bars. Now a bit more about the gaming floor. It is spread over 130,000 sq/f and offers over 2500 slot machines and 35 live croupier tables. The table games offered are blackjack, roulette, craps, Let it Ride, EZ Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, and more.

Poker fans will get the chance to play 3 and 6 Card Poker together with the most popular variation of Texas Hold ’em. For those who are willing to play big, there is a high-rollers room where you can play several games at high stakes. The place offers regular entertainment and shows of all types. You need to check their calendar and see that events await you. Attached to the resort is a shopping centre where you can get a souvenir or something else.

Casinos in the San Diego Area – Tijuana Mexico

For those who have travellers spiring and are ready for adventures, we have gathered two more casinos in the San Diego area that you might want to check out. Tijuana, Mexico, is 20 miles or half an hour by car.

The accommodation in the city is way cheaper than in San Diego and its outskirts. Consider this when making your plans. Mexico could be dangerous, but not when you stay in tourist areas. If you want to stick with California, you might want to know the best casinos in California.

Grand Arenia Casino – Grand Hotel Tijuana

Grand Arenia Casino is actually part of the Grand Hotel Tijuana, where you will find top-notch accommodation with a stunning view over the city. The place is in the safe city centre, only 10 minutes from the US border.

Right next to the casino hotel is a large green park perfect for jogging and walking. The place offers great restaurants, which are excellent for celebrations like weddings, business parties or different gatherings.

The casino floor offers over 300 slot machines and several classic table games like roulette poker, blackjack and more. In addition, you will find a sportsbook where you can bet on your favourite teams and sports.

You don’t need to worry because sports betting is not illegal in Mexico. Although this establishment is in another country, it is less than an hour away from the San Diego airport. Therefore, we place it here as an alternative to San Diego casino hotels.

Caliente Casino Hippodrome – Horse Racing Arena

Casino y Galgodromo Caliente, also known as Caliente Casino Hippodrome, is a one-of-a-kind place in Tijuana, Mexico. The arena is situated just a few minutes from the border and next to the city centre. This casino does not offer any accommodation, but it offers so much more than you can’t find in any other casino in the San Diego area – one huge horse racing arena.

It doesn’t offer any live games, but there are 1100+ slot machines that you can try. There are some table games like blackjack, baccarat, bingo, craps, roulette and others that you can play, but only as video games. There is only one restaurant on the premises, but on the road right next to the hippodrome, there are many different restaurants and bars.

There is no events hall or anything similar, but the hippodrome and the races are great shows. Don’t forget that you can take your kids there, which would be an unforgettable experience for them.

FAQ

Due to the extensive length of this article, we decided that it would be a good idea if we gathered the most frequently asked questions about the San Diego casinos and all of their features and amenities. Use the below-situated jump links to explore each answer in more detail.

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