Casinos in California - Find Casinos Near You in California

California Gambling: The Basics

California is known as the "Golden State." Since the Gold Rush of the mid-1800s, California has been a popular destination for both dreamers and doers in search of fame and fortune.

The get-rich-quick mentality led to early social acceptance of gambling which wasn't so true elsewhere. Accordingly, California casinos played a significant role in the state’s rich and vibrant culture, ever since.  

Today, California has 161 land-based casinos and 4 racetracks spread out across 130 cities throughout the state. 

This includes many spectacular luxury casino-resorts on Native-American lands. In fact, only Nevada has more licensed casinos than California. 

Los Angeles County, the state's biggest population center, has 9 casinos. 

How to Select the Right California Casino Destination

California can be exciting and beautiful, yet it’s unusual in many ways. This description also applies to casino gambling.

You might be surprised to learn there are no full-scale casinos in the biggest cities. The largest population centers tend to offer limited gambling options - mostly on poker and horseracing. 

Due to a sometimes confusing quilt of state and local laws, all the gargantuan Las Vegas-style casino resorts are located on Native-American land (sometimes called Indian reservations). 

However, these mega-casinos are typically just a short drive away from the biggest markets, including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco - and are easy to get to.

Here's a list of the most popular places to visit in California, with commentary about what types of gambling are offered in and around the area:

Los Angeles (County) 

Many small independent cities nestled around the periphery of Greater Los Angeles carved out permissive gambling laws which allow cardrooms and what are called "California Games." (Read more about this below). 

For many years (1930s through the 1980s), Gardena in the South Bay was the poker capital of the world. Today, the biggest cardrooms are in Inglewood, Commerce, Bell Gardens, Compton,Hawaiian Garden. These were once industrial and warehouse areas but have since blossomed into tourist centers with shopping, hotels, and some forms of gambling (including poker). 

Perhaps the best known gambling venue is Santa Anita Park, in Arcadia, one of the world's most prestigious racetracks, and a regular host of the Breeders' Cup World Championship. Races usually run year around, except summer.

Author’s Note: Great for poker, California Games, horseracing 

Orange County 

The sprawling urban area known as Orange County is just south of Los Angeles. Some L.A. cardrooms are conveniently located very near the Orange County line, which brings in many wealthy visitors who are regulars. However, Orange County's gambling options are pretty much limited to the Los Alamitos Racetrack, in Cypress, CA. One interesting caveat: Los Alamitos is one of the few racetracks in the U.S. which offers mostly night time racing. There are no cardrooms or casinos in Orange County.

Author's Note: Great for horseracing (evenings)

Palm Springs 

This desert paradise is known as a playground for the rich. But Palm Springs and the surrounding area also offers plenty of affordable options.

There are six American-Indian casinos located in Palm Springs and its neighboring cities of Rancho Mirage, Coachella, West Coachella, Twentynine Palms, and Indio.

There's even a casino-resort downtown - Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs. We should also note the massive Morongo Casino Resort & Spa is only about 16 miles away. This is a great casino destination, not only for the gambling but also because there's so many fun things to see and enjoy.

Author’s Note: Great for full-scale casino gambling, poker, entertainment, golf, and the area's natural beauty

San Diego 

Aside from Palm Springs, which is considerably smaller and more upscale, of all the major cities in California, San Diego might be the very best place to gamble.

There are 13 full-scale casinos in the surrounding area. Many are huge.

They're all located in American-Indian territory, which might seem strange until you see these mountainous areas and valleys are some of the most beautiful in the country.

Some of the biggest San Diego-area casinos include:

• Pechanga
• Barona
• Viejas
• Sycuan
• Harrah's Rincon

Most of these casinos are enormous resorts and spas with world-class entertainment.

In fact, San Diego's casinos rival anything you'll find in Las Vegas. There are also many poker rooms here. The Del Mar Racetrack, north of the city near the Pacific Ocean, is one of the most gorgeous horseracing facilities in the world. It runs for only a limited time each year (late summer and fall).

Author’s Note: Great for Las Vegas-style amenities, full-scale casino gambling, poker, and horseracing (seasonal)

San Jose  

Now California's third largest city in population, San Jose has boomed in recent decades largely due to its close proximity to the rolling hills of Silicon Valley, the world's hub of high-tech technology. Located at the southern tip of the sprawling Bay Area, San Jose has lots of people with loads of money.

Naturally, that's an ideal place for casinos.

Bay 101, near the San Jose Airport, has long been one of the premier cardrooms in Northern California.

Also in San Jose, Casino M8TRIX with 50 gaming tables offers (player-banked) blackjack, baccarat, and poker.

For beginners, there's a Card Academy which teaches new gamblers the rules and basics. The surrounding area also offers 6 other smaller casinos within a short driving distance.

Author’s Note: Great for poker, convenient to airport (2 miles away) and big city

San Francisco 

One of the world's most fascinating cities with a long history of people doing their own thing, San Francisco no longer has any casinos or cardrooms inside the city limits.

However, many gambling joints are located in the surrounding area. Artichoke Joe's, a cardroom in San Bruno (just 12 miles away from downtown San Francisco) is the closest. "Joe's" has been dealing poker and other games since 1921. Lucky Chances is also close and a very popular hangout.

For full-scale casino gambling, the Graton Resort is the closest casino to San Francisco, about an hour north.

Author’s Note: Not a great place for gambling, per se, but still within proximity to many nearby cardrooms and casinos. Golden Gate Fields, the legendary horsetrack across the Bay near Berkley, is permanently closing after the 2023 racing season. 

Oakland-East Bay 

Located directly across the Bay from picturesque San Francisco, the more gritty Oakland and the East Bay neighborhoods are a place and culture all their own, with an international airport, and convenient access to many different forms of gambling.

Open 24/7, The Oaks Card Club, in Emeryville, is the largest and best-known attraction, with a bustling California games section.

Across the mountains due west, there are many other cardrooms and casinos within a short distance. 

Author’s Note: Great for poker. California games, access to San Francisco, and affordable flights to and from Oakland

Sacramento 

California's capital city offers a number of small, neighborhood cardrooms scattered throughout the city. Many are located in shopping centers and are part of the local community.

Known for its poker action, the Capital Casino is a fun hangout, near the downtown district, with $5 blackjack, Pai Gow, and other games.

Thunder Valley Casino, in suburban Lincoln (about 20 miles north) is a huge casino-resort complex and hotel tower located on Native-American land. The Red Hawk Resort & Casino 35 miles due east in Placerville, is also worth checking out.

Author’s Note: Great for poker, low-limit friendly games, easy access to some larger mega-casinos 

Other Notable Gambling Destinations

We don't want to omit other interesting cities worth visiting with some really fun casinos and cardrooms. There are great gambling locations all over California, and you will find many hidden gems in lesser-known out of the way places. A few locations to check out based on our travels and experiences include:

• Chumash Casino Resort - near beautiful Santa Barbara, in the mountains
• Bear River - near Eureka on the Pacific Coast in Northern California (there are three terrific casinos within a short distance)
• Table Mountain Casino - near Fresno (which also has 3 cardrooms within the city) is a new mega-resort that opened in 2022
• Much More - Here's a list of California casinos and cardrooms by location (city and county) 

What is a California Cardroom?

Let's try to clear up some confusion (or perhaps add to it!).

Poker has been a huge part of California culture for more than a century. Some of the oldest and longest-running gambling joints in the United States are in California. 

These traditions date way back to the gold rush days when boomtowns popped up all over the new territory. 

Miners and gold prospectors loved to go into bars and play poker. Think of saloons and the Old West. Those traditions (and laws pertaining to gambling) were passed down to later generations, many of which still exist today. 

This is the primary reason why you see so many "cardrooms" throughout the state. 

How Many Card Rooms Are There?

There are 88 licensed cardrooms, 70 of which are active and currently open. Also note that a "cardroom" is typically just another name for a "poker room." Some of these cardrooms just so happen to call themselves "casinos." 

This was because some forms of other table games were added (local laws were amended).

However, you won't find the usual most popular gambling options like slot machines, video poker, craps, and other games inside California cardrooms, even though many are known as "casinos."

The reason why many "cardrooms" are confused with "casinos" is because they began offering non-house banked versions of card games such as Pai Gow. 

In these games, players take turns playing the dealer's hand against the other players. Since the 1980s, these “player-dealer” games where the players wager against each other are legal. 

As a result, California ended up with very unusual gambling games and "casinos." Cardrooms supply the tables, chips and cards. And every few hands, the player-dealer position is offered to a different player. 

"California Games" Explained

Almost all cardrooms have two main sections.

They are usually kept apart.  One is for poker. The other is for California Games, such as Pai Gow. 

These forms of gambling used to be called "Asian Games," because many Asian people played them. Moreover, they were played in the "Asian Games Section." 

However, these games are no longer specific to any ethnic group. People of all cultures and persuasions play them. If you hear about or see a sign listing "California Games," this usually means player-dealt (banked) games are offered.

You could be in for a major shock if you’ve never stepped into an L.A. poker room before. 

They are breathtaking in size. 

The biggest cardrooms in California are massive with hundreds of tables and sometimes thousands of players on the gaming floor. 

Trivia Question: What's the Oldest Cardroom/Casino in the United States?

Hint: It's not in Las Vegas.

Answer: California Grand Casino, in Pacheco, California (near Oakland/East Bay). The original hotel and cardroom was a Pony Express stop in 1860. According to Card Player magazine, the California Grand Casino is the oldest continuously operating poker room in the world, with poker games running since 1854!

Choosing the Best Gambling Venue in California for You

Understanding the options of what the Golden State has to offer is only the first step to planning what you hope will be an enjoyable (and profitable) visit.  

Are you primarily interested in table games like blackjack and craps? 

If yes, be sure to find out if the "casino" offers those games.  The same goes for poker, which is enormously popular throughout California.  You're never far from a poker table in California, but then it pays to know which games (and limits!) are spread in advance.  

Be advised many casinos don't offer slots or video poker.  There are restrictions on these forms of gambling in many counties. Then, there are horseracing tracks, but they're not always in season and close parts of the calendar year. 

We advise you to check on these things before making the drive. Chipy is your "go to' source, as we're constantly updating information and reviews of all venues.

• Step 1 - Get to Know California's Laws and Regulations 
• Step 2 - Decide On Casino Games and Your Favorite Activities
• Step 3 - Decide on Casino Amenities and Entertainment
• Step 4 - Use Chipy to Easily Find All of the Above
• Step 5 - Go have fun, and win!

Our 6 Favorite California Casinos

This section isn't fair. It's impossible to pick out just a few casinos, cardrooms, and other spots because there are so many worth mentioning.

Let's just say Santa Anita and Del Mar are "must visits," that is, if they're in season and you enjoy horseracing. Even if you don't like or know much about horses and the sport of champions, they can be magical places to explore and enjoy.

If you're into poker, and either a serious player or you just compete for fun, you'll find limits with buys-in of only $30 or so up to some of the highest-stakes poker games in the world. 

Many California cardrooms also offer televised major tournaments throughout the year, including events connected to the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour.

As for casino gambling, we'll recommend trying out these places.

For convenience sake, we've included the closest major metro area to each:

1. Yaamava Resort Casino (formally known as San Manuel Casino)

This is perhaps the closest full-scale casino to Los Angeles. It's one of the newest and most updated, also. With more than 6,700 slot machines and hundreds of tables games, Yaamava offers action 24/7. It has 12 restaurants and is rapidly expanding beyond just California.

The native tribe purchased and then re-opened the Palms Casino in Las Vegas. It's proxmity to the L.A. area gives a huge competitive advantage over some of the other American-Indian casinos.

Location: One to two hours (depending on traffic and time of day) which is about 60 miles from central Los Angeles.

2. Graton Casino & Resort

One of the state's newest casinos which first opened in 2013, the Graton Resort & Casino is in wine country, in Sonoma County. It has convenient access to the San Francisco Bay area. The casino is open daily 24/7. The casino's 300,000 sq. ft. gaming floor offers nearly 3,000 slot machines, 144 table games, and 20 poker tables. The property also has 13 restaurants, 2 bars, and a 200-room luxury hotel. 

Location: Rohnert Park, CA located about one to two hours (55 miles) north of San Francisco, and slightly further away from Oakland and the East Bay

3. Pechanga Resort Casino

Pechanga Resort Casino is one of the biggest casinos in the United States. The massive casino floor spans a whopping 200,000 sq ft. The casino offers 5,400 slot machines (more than the MGM in Las Vegas!), 152 table games, a non-smoking poker room with 38 tables, and a 700-seat bingo facility.

Restaurants, entertainment, spa - this spot has everything. It's located in the beautiful Temecula, with many wineries, and special events.

Location: One hour (58 miles) north of San Diego

4. Harrah's Rincon

Connected to Caesars Entertainment, Rincon is a massive two-tower hotel-casino-resort with 1,600 slot machines, 58 table games, poker, and a sports bar. It's a bit more isolated from other casinos, about 20 miles north of Escondido. The surrounding drive and views are spectacular.

Location: 50 minutes (45 miles) north of San Diego

5. Thunder Valley Casino Resort

Sacramento is a fast-growing city and casino market. Towering about the landscape just north of California's capital city is Thunder Valley, run by the Auburn Tribe.

The Thunder Valley Casino Resort offers 144,500 sq. ft. of floor space, 3,400 slots, more than 100 table games, a massive 50 table poker room, 6 restaurants and a food court, plus a 5,000-seat outdoor amphitheater with many popular music acts.

Location: 30 miles (45 minutes) northeast of Sacramento

6. Morongo Casino Resort & Spa

Morongo Casino Resort Spa is located in in Cabazon, CA. This casino features a AAA Four Diamond hotel with 310 rooms, a 24-lane bowling alley, a 36-hole championship golf course. Floor Size: 148,000 sq. ft.; Slot Machines: 4,000; Table Games: 80; Poker Room: 13 tables

Location: About 20 miles (15 minutes east of Palm Springs), or about 40 miles (45-minutes) west of San Bernardino-Riverside

A Funny California Cardroom Foodie Story 

Years ago, my wife and I visited Hollywood Park Casino, located near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). 

The poker room was huge with about 50 tables and was open 24/7. We were hungry and my wife saw Tres Leches Cake listed on the menu. Incredibly, all food was free for players if you played above a certain limit.  

Great!  So, bring us two slices of Tres Leches Cake! 

Well, we tasted the cake, looked at each other, and it was love at first bite.  It was one of the best cakes we'd ever tasted!  Huh?  How was this possible?  Wasn't this a poker room?  

We did some investigating and learned that many chefs who work in the kitchens inside casinos and cardrooms are natives of other countries. Sometimes, they even bring their traditional recipes with them. 

Tres Leches is a creamy Mexican recipe which means "three-milk cake."  My wife was so impressed with her dessert that she wrote to Gourmet magazine.  

Sure enough, Gourmet, one of the most prestigious food and cooking publications in the world, later published an article about the special recipe, and listed the "secret" ingredients, with proper credit given to the Hollywood Park poker room! 

Casino Amenities and Fun Things to Do (Non-Gambling)

Entire books have been written and travel shows have been filmed about all the amazing things to do in California. So, listing our favorite (non-gambling) places is a hopelessly impossible task. However, let's try to be creative and share our personal amenities and fun things to do:

Downtown San Diego

Great restaurants can be found in the famed Gaslamp District; this is close to the USS Midway (aircraft carrier) which is open for daily tours (do this, you'll thank us later - it's amazing!); also, Balboa Park with lots of fabulous museums, Sea World, and so much more nearby.

Disneyland

Disney's famous fantasyland might be considered a tourist trap by some, but it's a bustling attraction that's been welcoming people from all over the world for 60 years, so they must be doing something right.

Author's Note: Not just for kids-plenty of things for adults, too.

Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles

This is the trendy spot in L.A., famous for nightclubs. comedy shops, and cozy music venues that launched the careers of many superstars of rock and pop royalty. 

Troubadour and Whiskey A Go Go are just two of many shrines of popular music where legends of yesterday, today, and tomorrow still perform nightly.

Hollywood

Hollywood is not what many expect. In fact, much of it is run down and has seen better days. Nonetheless, the Walk of Fame and the TCL Chinese Theatre remains a must-visit. This is where all the stars' names are engraved into the sidewalk.

You can walk for miles and miles and step over all the most celebrated names in movies and entertainment.

Also, check out Universal City, Burbank, Culver City, and other places which is where most movie and television studies are based (many have tours, Universal Studios being the most popular).

Palm Springs

Restaurants, spas, leisure, golf, tennis - it's all here in this desert resort community about 90 minutes away from downtown L.A. Known for festivals and alternative lifestyles, Palm Springs is a wonderful place to turn loose to be free. Year-around fun.

Death Valley

Here's the hottest place on earth.

Located in the eastern side of California, this expansive region includes barren desert below sea level and peaks that rise to 10,000 ft. Temperatures have been recorded as high as 134 F degrees (56.7). Needless to say, be prepared if you visit this area. Some parts are very remote.

Well worth the drive, but make sure the car is in good shape.

Big Sur

See our section (here below) on the scenic drive between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Big Sur is so amazing that it needs to be mentioned twice. If there's a perfect place on earth, this is it. Lots of restaurants and hotels are accessible in the surrounding area.

Mammoth Lakes

This is the massive ski resort in central California nestled in the High Sierras. It's an Alpine village, with outstanding resorts and restaurants. Fun to visit year-around. Note that snowfall can be severe in winter. 

Yosemite National Park

This is another essential place worth visiting once, and if you go, you'll want to return. The natural beauty here is unmatched. However, be aware that this national park gets very crowded during the summer months and accommodations must be reserved in advance. In winter, much of the park is closed due to snow.

Just do it, but make reservations and plan your trip well ahead of time. 

Lombard Street / Chinatown (San Francisco)

Ever seen that strange street that curves and winds back and forth down a steep hill in the middle of the city? That's Lombard Street. You can walk it, or drive it. Chinatown is closeby, which spans 30 city blocks and is the largest neighborhood of its kind outside Asia.

The restaurants here range from world-class to cozy take-outs - and they're mostly all incredible. 

Sonoma and Napa Counties (Wine Country)

You don't have to be a wine drinker to enjoy Sonoma and Napa Counties, north of San Francisco (but it sure helps). There are 1,700 wineries in this region alone. Visit Healdsburg and the town square, which offers dozens of chic restaurants and just as many shops.

Every major cuisine can be found here, many with famous chefs and award-winning recipes. The “tasting rooms” at many wineries are complimentary for adults. So, sample a few wines, too.

Mono Lake

Finally, if you want to visit someplace quiet and peaceful, there's this isolated landscape which is named because it seems like the moon. Pristine, clean, and almost spiritual, Mono Lake lies across the Sierra Nevada Mountains but rewards its guests with peace and solitude.

Travel Tips for First Time Visitors

California has more fun and fascinating things to do than any other state.

That opinion might seem biased, but it's true, by any measure. Whatever you want, whatever your interest, whether it's gambling-related or not, California likely has it somewhere and someplace.  

Here's one suggestion of innumerable possibilities. If you're new to California, or simply want to explore as much as you possibly can within a limited time, do this: 

This is one of the best road trips in the world. You can start up north and head south, or vice versa. The splendor is all the same. The drive is 380 miles. Without stopping, it takes 8 hours. However, you'll likely make several stops. We suggest doing it right and making a 2 or 3 day trip and going at a leisurely pace. Not only are there dozens of things to see, there’s often a surprise around every turn. 

Check out these famous attractions (driving from north to south):

• Golden Gate Bridge - this is a must visit for anyone who goes to California; ride the ferry, drive across it, walk across it, go under it.  Just do whatever it takes to see this amazing man-made wonder

• Santa Cruz-Carmel-Monterey - the famous boardwalk, Cannery Row, the fairgrounds, world-glass golf resorts, butterfly sanctuaries, and one of the world's top aquariums are just a few of the things to do and see in this coast community of famous towns

• Big Sur - this is along the central California coastline, which stretches for many miles. It includes state parks and coastal walks. The scenery is breathtaking!

• Elephant Seal Vista Point - who doesn't want to see California seals? Be careful, they will bite!

• Hearst Castle -  this sprawling estate built by iconic newspaper mogul William Hearst is one of the most amazing private residences ever constructed (take the tour, which is amazing) 

• Pismo Beach - when you think of California surfing and the Beach Boys lifestyle, Pismo Beach is the place

• Solvang - a town started by Danish immigrants known for wine and restaurants (featured in the 2004 movie "Sideways") 

• Santa Barbara - voted one of America's most beautiful cities and best places to live (be sure to visit the Chumash Casino nearby on the way)

• Malibu - amazing coastline and some of the richest homes in the world

Legal Forms of Gambling in California

If you're new to gambling in California, here's a brief explanation of the different forms of gambling allowed in the state. 

Additionally, we've noted some guidelines where certain forms of gambling are not currently legal and licensed.  Because California is so large and diverse, both in its geography and people, gambling laws and regulations vary wildly from casino to casino, city to city, and county to county.

Land-Based Casinos (a.k.a. Brick and Mortar Casinos) 

These are exclusive to Native-American tribal lands.

They offer all or most of the popular games, slot machines, video poker, and usually have the best amenities. Some luxury hotels can be very pricey. They are also sometimes called "tribal casinos," because they operate and are regulated by the local tribes.

Interesting Tidbit: California has 109 tribes, and 73 of them have casinos on their land.

State Lotteries 

These are lotteries operated by the state.

However, the California lottery is tied-in nationally to the Powerball jackpot, which sometimes reaches hundreds of millions of dollars and makes headlines when someone wins it. California has both scratch tickets (instant gratification) and drawings twice weekly. Tickets can be purchased throughout the state, including at retail stores and gas stations.

The drawings are covered live and results are broadcast and published in the media. 

Sports Betting 

At present, wagering on sporting events is not legal in California.

This applies to both land-based sportsbooks and online sportsbooks. There are no such options in California at this time, although many analysts believe it's just a matter of "when" before this changes and sportsbooks are legalized.  

Pari-Mutuel Betting  

This refers to a type of betting which has players betting against each other instead of against the house. All bets go into a common prize money pool and the amount is split between winners (after a house takeout, or "cut"). This gambling option has become synonymous with horseracing.

California once enjoyed a thriving horseracing industry. However, the "sport of kings" has fallen on hard times recently. With other forms of gambling becoming more popular horseracing's appeal has diminished. Golden Gates Fields, a legendary racetrack near San Francisco permanently closed at the end of 2023.

That leaves Santa Anita, Del Mar, and Los Alamitos at the state's only racetracks. There are also 23 Off-Track-Betting (OTB) parlors in California. These are satellite wagering facilities that offer betting on simulcast races, run at other racetracks around the country.

Online Casinos 

Online gambling and poker are not legal in California at this time.

Some tribes do offer "play money" online games, where users can compete for prizes for no risk. This is another gambling option that's probably due to change in coming years given the lucrative opportunities and consumer demands.

One Exception to Online Gambling Restrictions

Yes, you can technically bet on horseraces online in California.

Some websites now offer advance deposit wagering on races from around the world.

The California Horse Racing Board currently has agreements with these third-party platforms where Californians can create money-funded accounts and place wagers on live races. Important: To place a wager at these online platforms, the user must be located at the racetrack facility.

• FanDuel Racing California
• TwinSpires
• Xpressbet
• WatchandWager
• bRacing (bSpot)
• NYRA Bets
• OffTrackBetting

Who's In Charge? (Laws and Regulations)

We've posted lots of details about California's unique gambling industry. The same quirkiness goes for oversight and regulations.

The California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC) is the state regulatory body for all gaming matters. The CGCC has regulatory and licensing authority over all - gambling operators. third-party providers of proposition player services (i/e., California Games), and poker rooms.

The CGCC also has a key role in regulating tribal casinos, including regular inspection of tribal gaming facilities and suitability determinations of applicants.

Conclusion

California is beautiful, fun and rich, with many casinos close to you ready to be explored.

The state is so wealthy that if it were an independent nation all its own, it would be the world's fifth-largest economy (as of 2022). Yet, California also has its share of problems. Wealth inequality has reached a crisis point and is worsening. Housing and homelessness are serious issues.

So is illegal immigration. So is crime. Traffic can be a nightmare. Driving in Los Angeles and San Francisco isn't measured by miles. It's measured by time, sometimes in hours.

Through it all - good and bad, past and present - California has always found a way to attract people to come live here and visit. It remains the "Golden State" for a very valid reason.

A popular song of the 1960s was titled "California Dreamin'."

It was written and recorded by the pop group, the Mamas & the Papas. 

The singer is away from home someplace cold else and longs for the warmth of the sunshine, back home in California. That music and those lyrics, and many artistic expressions like it, reflect perhaps what is California's greatest quality of all. 

Whether it's music, or Hollywood, or Silicon Valley, it is a place of aspiration. It is a destination not just for the body, but the mind and soul. It is the destination of dreams.

The magnificent variety of California casinos, cardrooms, and gambling venues aren't merely a part of the greater experience. The state's unique gambling culture was entirely created and still thrives to this day because dreams never die.