The 10 Biggest Casinos in California – February 2023

Currently, California tribal casinos are the only locations CA residents can legally play casino games such as slots and table games. Online casinos aren’t legal in the state. And California card rooms can only offer poker.

So you’d better believe these California Indian casinos are popular.

In fact, the state’s 66 operating casinos from 63 tribes bring in around $9 billion in revenue annually, the most of any state’s tribal casinos in the US.

To keep up with the demand of the country’s largest state with nearly 40 million people, California casinos continue to expand their gaming floors, add more slot machines and table games, and add luxury hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

Here is a breakdown of the 10 biggest California casinos. This ranking is based on number of slot machines. If there’s a tie, the number of table games was used as a tiebreaker.

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1. Yaamava’ Resort & Casino

Tribe: San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

Address: 777 San Manuel Blvd, Highland, CA 92346

Formerly San Manuel Casino, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino is both the largest casino in California and on the West Coast. It features more than 7,000 slot machines, 150 table games, and 290,000 square feet of gaming space. In addition, the resort 17 miles northeast of Riverside and 65 miles east of Los Angeles has a 17-story hotel with 432 rooms, plus a 2,800-seat entertainment venue and 17 restaurants and bars.

2. Pechanga Resort Casino

Tribe: Pechanga Band of Luiseño Mission Indians

Address: 45000 Pechanga Pkwy, Temecula, CA 92592

Located in the beautiful wine country of Temecula, Pechanga Resort Casino boasts 5,400 slot machines, 153 table games, a non-smoking poker room, a 700-seat bingo facility, and 200,000 square feet of gaming space. Beyond that, there’s a hotel with more than 1,000 rooms, a 25,000-square-foot spa, and 20 restaurants and bars.

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3. Morongo Casino Resort & Spa

Tribe: Morongo Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians

Address: 49500 Seminole Dr, Cabazon, CA 92230

The largest of the 18+ California casinos, Morongo Casino Resort & Spa has 4,000 slot machines (including a 147-slot non-smoking room), 80 table games, a 20-table poker room, and 150,000 square feet of gaming space. There’s also a 310-room hotel, as well as nine eateries. The resort is situated 37 miles east of Riverside.

4. Thunder Valley Casino Resort

Tribe: United Auburn Indian Community

Address: 1200 Athens Ave, Lincoln, CA 95648

Just 29 miles north of Sacramento, Thunder Valley Casino Resort is the largest casino in Northern California. Its offerings include 3,400 slot machines, 110 table games, a 50-table poker room, and 270,000 square feet of gaming space. Beyond gambling, the resort also features a 400-room hotel, seven eateries, and a 5,000-seat outdoor amphitheater.

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5. Graton Casino & Resort

Tribe: Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria

Address: 288 Golf Course Dr W, Rohnert Park, CA 94928

Situated just south of Santa Rosa and about 48 miles north of San Francisco, Graton Casino & Resort is a massive gaming complex for Northern California gamblers. It features 3,000 slots, 100 table games, a 20-table poker room, and 317,750 square feet of gaming space — the most on this list. It also offers guests four restaurants, three bars and lounges, a food court, and a 200-room hotel.

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6. Viejas Casino & Resort

Tribe: Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians

Address: 5000 Willows Rd, Alpine, CA 91901

Viejas Casino & Resort, which gets constant advertising as the sponsor of Viejas Arena, San Diego State’s basketball arena, features 2,500 slot machines, 35 table games, an off-track horse betting lounge, and 133,000 square feet of gaming space. Beyond that, the resort also boasts seven restaurants and two hotels, one of which is adults-only. Located 29 miles east of San Diego, Viejas allows 18-year-olds for slots and bingo.

7. Chumash Casino Resort

Tribe: Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians

Address: 3400 CA-246, Santa Ynez, CA 93460

Located in the gorgeous hills 30 miles northwest of Santa Barbara, Chumash Casino Resort offers guests 2,400 slot machines, 45 table games, a 12-table poker room, and 115,000 square feet of gaming space. There is also a 321-room hotel, six restaurants and bars, and a 1,400-seat entertainment venue.

8. Cache Creek Casino Resort

Tribe: Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation

Address: 14455 CA-16, Brooks, CA 95606

Cache Creek Casino Resort is located 45 miles west of Sacramento. It features 2,300 slot machines, 120 table games, and 74,720 square feet of gaming space. After you’re done gambling, you can stay in the 649-room hotel and eat at one of the 10 restaurants.

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9. Sycuan Casino Resort

Tribe: Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation

Address: 5469 Casino Way, El Cajon, CA 92019

Another San Diego-area resort, Sycuan Casino & Resort has 2,300 slot machines, 53 table games, a 15-table poker room, and 90,000 square feet of gaming space. It also includes 11 restaurants and bars, a 300-room hotel with a full-service spa and swim-up bar at the pool, and a golf course. Sycuan Casino Resort is just 16 miles northeast of downtown San Diego.

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10. Barona Resort & Casino

Tribe: Barona Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians

Address: 1932 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside, CA 92040

Barona Resort & Casino, situated just 21 miles northeast of downtown San Diego, boasts 2,200 slot machines, 65 table games, and a sprawling 340,000-square-foot gaming floor. It’s also the third of the 18-and-over California casinos on this list. There is a 400-room hotel, six restaurants and a food court, and a golf course.

Just Missed: Red Hawk Casino

Tribe: Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians

Address: 1 Red Hawk Pkwy, Placerville, CA 95667

Red Hawk Casino, an official partner of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, is located 44 miles east of California’s capital city. It boasts 2,100 slot machines, 75 table games, a seven-table poker room, and 88,000 square feet of gaming space. It just opened The Apex, an 80,000-square-foot entertainment complex with an indoor go-kart track, golf simulators, virtual reality arcade, bowling alley, sports bar, and more. A five-story hotel is currently under construction and expected to be finished in 2023.

About the Author

Matthew Bain

Matthew Bain started as News Editor and Content Manager at California Casinos in 2022. Before that, he spent six years as a sports reporter and then deputy sports editor for the Des Moines Register, during which time he won nine statewide journalism awards, including the Genevieve Mauck Stoufer Outstanding Young Iowa Journalists Award. As deputy sports editor, Matthew oversaw the Register's recruiting coverage while also innovating the outlet's high school sports coverage. Matthew graduated from San Diego State and grew up in California, but he's somehow a Boston Celtics fan. Long story.