Best Casino Slots In California

  1. Best Slot Casino In Northern California
  2. Best Indian Casino Slots In California

California slot machine casino gambling consists of 65 tribal casinos generally located on remote tribal reservations throughout the state. Annual Progress in California Slot Machine Casino Gambling Over the last year, Thunder Valley Casino Resort has fallen from second-largest casino to fourth largest after San Manuel Casino, Pechanga Resort. In fact, you’ll find over 200,000 slot machines in Las Vegas alone. And not all of these slot games are the same. Some casinos offer better rewards through their players’ programs, for example. Others have looser slots (games with a higher RTP). Here’s my list of the seven best casinos for slots in Las Vegas. In July 2020, Southern California casino player readers voted for their favorite slot games from a list of nominated games including a write-in option. 'Southern California has 24 casinos and over 45,000 slot machines, so every one of the 2020 Best Slots winners stand out as consistently delivering fun and exciting experiences. California Casino Guide California, otherwise known as the Golden State, has over 60 casinos operated by multiple Indian Tribes. Since CA was founded back in the 1850s, gambling has been around. Despite this, online casinos have still not been legalized in the state. Brick and mortar casinos built in the state are also considered to be illegal. California casinos and gambling information including poker tournaments, slots info, pari-mutuel (dogs & horses), texas hold'em, and more. Find contact information and view pictures of casinos in California.

In California, you can enjoy most types of gambling to some extent, even though most forms of gambling are illegal within its borders. Currently, slot games are illegal in California but can be found at tribal casinos, which operate on reservation land and are not beholden to CA law.

Below we present a breakdown of what types of slot games you can find in California and how they differ from Las Vegas’ slot game offerings.

Vegas-Style Slots Versus California Slots

You can find tons of slot games to play in California, even for real money. But while playing slot machines and wagering real money is totally legal in Vegas, the same isn’t true for the Golden State.

Gambling for money is largely illegal in California, except for horse racing and daily fantasy sports. Indian casinos get around this legal restriction since they operate on sovereign Indian ground. Therefore, you can play slots in California so long as they are within a legally operating tribal casino establishment.

Similarities And Differences

Virtually all forms of gambling are legal in Las Vegas, whether for money, digital sweeps coins, or other types of currency. In Las Vegas, you can find all types of slot machines and games in the variety of casinos there. In California, slot games are limited to Indian casinos.

However, this isn’t to say that you won’t find plenty of variety at those Indian casinos. Indeed, many of the largest tribal casinos have thousands of slot machines and tons of variety for slot game enthusiasts to enjoy. For instance, Pechanga Resort Casino is the largest in the entire state and features 4,500 slot machines in total across 188,000 ft.² of gaming space.

There is a shared similarity between California and Las Vegas slots. In most cases, you need to be 21-years-old to play slots. Although the legal gambling age in California is 18-years-old, tribal casinos can set their own legal gambling age. Most of them err on the side of caution and set this to 21-years-old instead of 18-years-old since they serve alcohol on their open gambling floors.

They do this so they don’t accidentally serve alcohol to any underage gamblers. There are only a few tribal casinos in California that allow 18-years-olds to enter.

Largest Northern California Slots Casinos In California

These are the two largest and most slot-intensive casinos in Northern California:

Cache Creek Casino

This newly-reopened tribal casino has a fantastic hotel coming in late 2021. At this time, it’s open 24 hours a day and features almost a 75,000 ft.² space with 2,400 slot machines. Over 300 of these machines are in a non-smoking area. There’s also 122 table games and a high-stakes table area that includes blackjack and baccarat.

You’ll be able to find most of the slots on the main casino floor, separated by a central area featuring table games. There’s also a high limit slots area on the north end of the casino. This is a perfect place if you enjoy slots with more on the line.

Regardless of the titles you choose, you’ll be able to join the casino’s club and benefit from tons of bonuses and high payback limits. The more you play, the more rewards you’ll earn as you spend time at this casino. It’s a great staple gaming establishment if you like to head to the slots every weekend as a hobby.

Thunder Valley Casino Resort

This Northern California tribal casino is located just outside Sacramento. The casino currently features nearly 145,000 ft.² of gaming space and is open 24 hours a day, with 2,800 slot machines and over 130 live poker and gaming tables. There’s also a 500-seat bingo area if you’re interested.

The slots you can find range from classic reel favorites, like Quick Hits, to newer slot games like Willy Wonka’s Munchkinland. The variety of slot machines is truly staggering and slot game enthusiasts will find a lot to like as they tour the expansive space. New and exciting slot machines are usually added to a dedicated spot in Thunder Valley’s Pano Hall. This way, you don’t have to hunt for new games if you check out this casino frequently.

Slot game bets range from one cent up to $100 depending on your preference. There’s also a smoke-free slots room, plus a bonus strike jackpot system that all players can partake in. Players can enjoy extra rewards like chances for bonus jackpots if they sign up for a Thunder Rewards Card.

Here are all the tribal slots casinos operating currently in Northern California:

  • Bear River Casino
  • Black Oak Casino
  • Cache Creek Casino
  • Cer-Ae Heights Bingo and Casino
  • Chicken Ranch Casino
  • Chuckchansi Gold Resort & Casino
  • Colusa Casino Resort
  • Coyote Valley Casino
  • Desert Rose Casino
  • Diamond Mountain Casino
  • Eagle Mountain Casino
  • Elk Valley Casino
  • Feather Falls Casino and Lodge
  • Garcia River Casino
  • Gold Country Casino
  • Graton Resort & Casino
  • Hard Rock Fire Mountain Casino
  • Harrah’s Northern California Casino
  • Hidden Oaks Casino
  • Hopland So-Ka-Wah Casino & Bingo
  • Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort
  • Konocti Vista Casino Resort, Marina & RV Park
  • Lucky 7 Casino
  • Lucky Bear Casino
  • Mechoopda Casino Project
  • Mono Wind Casino
  • North Fork Rancheria Resort Hotel & Casino
  • Paiute Palace Casino
  • Pit River Casino
  • Playstation 777
  • Rain Rock Casino
  • Red Fox Casino & Bingo
  • Red Hawk Casino
  • Redwood Hotel Casino
  • River Rock Casino
  • Robinson Rancheria Resort & Casino
  • Rolling Hills Casino
  • Running Creek Casino
  • San Pablo Lytton Casino
  • Sherwood Valley Casino
  • Table Mountain Casino
  • Tachi Palace Casino Resort
  • Thunder Valley Casino
  • Twin Pine Casino
  • Win-River Casino
  • Winnedumah Winn’s Casino

Largest Southern California Slots Casinos In California

Here are the two largest Southern California slots casinos:

Pechanga Resort Casino

This is the largest of all California casinos, totaling 188,000 ft.² of gaming space and 4,500 slot machines, along with tons of table games and other entertainment activities and venues. It’s located in Riverside County, so it’s also very close to wine country. It’s a phenomenal casino since it’s open 24 hours a day and features an expansive slot floor.

Even better, the slot floor has been reworked since the COVID-19 pandemic. Games are now spaced about a machine’s width away to ensure appropriate physical distancing. Classic favorites and newer slot games alike can be found pretty easily, including state-of-the-art reel games, keno games, video poker games, video reels, and more.

The casino makes use of a ticketing system so you can enjoy all the games you like before turning in your total winnings. Slot machine enthusiasts will also really appreciate that this casino constantly updates their game selection, bringing in new titles every few months and filtering out old, lesser played games in order to make space.

Ultimately, it’s a slot player’s dream location, with something new almost every time you pay a visit.

San Manuel Casino

This casino has also recently reopened after its COVID-19 closure. Originally a bingo-only casino, San Manuel Casino now hosts 4,800 slot machines and 120,000 ft.². It’s open 24 hours a day and features many additional table games and a poker room.

Like Pechanga, the casino has redesigned its gaming floor to ensure appropriate social distancing. There are two stories across which you can find slot games, including video reels, video keno, progressive jackpots, mystery jackpots, and more. 120 video poker machines are also scattered throughout the space. You’ll be able to find slot games that range from penny slots to high limit slots depending on how risky you are feeling on a given day.

New slot machines are added pretty frequently, so the floor is almost always shifting and changing from season to season. You can find classics and new and noteworthy slot machines at this time, with new and innovative titles on the way.

Best Casino Slots In California

Here is our round-up of slots casinos in Southern California:

  • Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs/Rancho Mirage
  • Augustine Casino
  • Barona Resort & Casino
  • Barstow Casino and Resort Project
  • Cahuilla Casino
  • Casino Pauma
  • Fantasy Springs Casino
  • Golden Acorn Casino
  • Havasu Landing Resort & Casino
  • Jamul Casino
  • La Jolla Trading Post & Casino
  • Morongo Travel Center
  • Pala Casino Spa Resort
  • Pechanga Resort & Casino
  • Quechan Casino Resort
  • Red Earth Casino
  • San Manuel Casino
  • Soboba Casino
  • Spotlight 29 Casino
  • Tortoise Rock Casino
  • Valley View Casino
  • Viejas Casino

California Slots Casinos FAQ

Do you still need to pay taxes on earnings from tribal CA casinos?

Yes. Even though you technically earn that money on tribal grounds, you’ll still need to pay taxes on it at the end of the year.

California

The National Indian Gaming Commission is responsible for most casino regulation, except for a few high-stakes games and tournaments.

Mostly because California’s Native American tribes have made it difficult to pass pro-gambling legislation in the state senate, as it represents a big source of income for the tribes.

No. You can play Chumba Casino, LuckyLandSlots, and other sweepstakes slot sites, as these have you compete for digital currencies instead of real money.

Will slots become legal in California in the near future?

Not likely anytime soon. Sports betting and other types of gambling legislation are more likely than slots gambling to come to fruition in the coming years.

Introduction to California Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

California slot machine casino gambling consists of 65 tribal casinos, the third-largest number of casinos in any U.S. state after Nevada and Oklahoma.

I’ve dedicated this weekly series to slot enthusiasts such as yourself as you master casino slots and win your way to success by using this State-By-State Online Resource to improve your slots gambling performance by reviewing your state’s slots gaming industry.

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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in California*

The minimum legal gambling age in California depends upon the gambling activity:

  • Land-Based Casinos: 18 or, if serving alcohol, 21
  • Poker Rooms: 18 or, if serving alcohol, 21
  • Bingo: 18
  • Lottery: 18
  • Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18

Best Slot Casino In Northern California

Slot Machine Private Ownership in California

It is legal to own a slot machine privately in California if it is 25 years old or older.

Gaming Control Board in California

The California Gambling Control Commission supports the regulation of tribal gaming through oversight activities as defined in California’s 61 tribal-state compacts.

Further, the Bureau of Gambling Control within California’s Department of Justice provides state law enforcement authority with jurisdiction over gambling activities.

Best Indian Casino Slots In California

Non-slots-related gaming control boards include the California Horse Racing Board and the California Lottery Commission.

Casinos in California

California has 65 American Indian tribal casinos, ten racetracks without gaming machines, numerous card rooms also without gaming machines, and cruise ships with onboard casinos to Hawaii, Alaska, and international destinations.

The largest casino in California is San Manuel Casino having 4,800 gaming machines.

The second-largest casino is Pechanga Resort Casino with 4,000 gaming machines.

Commercial Casinos in California

There are no commercial casinos with slot machines in California.

Tribal Casinos in California

California’s 65 tribal casinos are:

  1. Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Palm Springs, 115 miles east of Los Angeles.
  2. Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage, 115 miles east of Los Angeles.
  3. Augustine Casino in Coachella, 125 miles east of Los Angeles.
  4. Barona Resort & Casino in Lakeside, 15 miles northeast of San Diego.
  5. Bear River Casino Resort in Loleta, 10 miles south of Eureka;
  6. Black Oak Casino Resort in Tuolumne, 100 miles southeast of Sacramento.
  7. Blue Lake Casino Hotel in Blue Lake, 10 miles north of Eureka.
  8. Cache Creek Casino Resort in Brooks, 35 miles northwest of Sacramento.
  9. Cahuilla Casino Hotel in Anza, 30 miles south of Palm Springs.
  10. Casino Pauma in Pauma Valley, 35 miles northeast of San Diego.
  11. Cher-Ae Heights Casino in Trinidad, 25 miles north of Eureka.
  12. Chicken Ranch Casino in Jamestown, 100 miles southeast of Sacramento.
  13. Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino in Coarsegold, 35 miles north of Fresno.
  14. Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, 40 miles northwest of Santa Barbara.
  15. Colusa Casino Resort in Colusa, 75 miles north of Sacramento.
  16. Coyote Valley Casino in Redwood Valley, 115 miles north of San Francisco.
  17. Desert Rose Casino in Alturas, 100 miles north of Susanville.
  18. Diamond Mountain Casino Hotel & Brewery in Susanville, 160 miles northeast of Sacramento.
  19. Eagle Mountain Casino in Porterville, 60 miles southeast of Fresno.
  20. Elk Valley Casino in Crescent City, 84 miles north of Eureka.
  21. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, 125 miles east of Los Angeles.
  22. Feather Falls Casino & Lodge in Oroville, 100 miles north of Sacramento.
  23. Fort Independence Travel Center & Winnedumah Winns Casino in Independence, 90 miles east of Fresno.
  24. Garcia River Casino in Point Arena, 130 miles north of San Francisco.
  25. Gold Country Casino Resort in Oroville, 100 miles north of Sacramento.
  26. Golden Acorn Casino Travel Center in Campo, 40 miles southeast of San Diego.
  27. Graton Resort & Casino in Rohnert Park, 50 miles north of San Francisco.
  28. Hard Rock Casino & Hotel Sacramento at Fire Mountain in Wheatland, 36 miles north of Sacramento.
  29. Harrah’s Resort Southern California in Valley Center, 35 miles northeast of San Diego.
  30. Havasu Landing Resort & Casino in Havasu Lake, 200 miles east of Los Angeles.
  31. Hidden Oaks Casino in Covelo, 150 miles northwest of Sacramento.
  32. Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort in Jackson, 50 miles southeast of Sacramento.
  33. Jamul Casino in Jamul, 10 miles east of San Diego.
  34. Konocti Vista Casino Resort in Lakeport, 120 miles north of San Francisco.
  35. Lucky 7 Casino Hotel in Smith River, 100 miles north of Eureka.
  36. Mono Wind Casino in Auberry, 30 miles northeast of Fresno.
  37. Morongo Casino Resort Spa in Cabazon, 90 miles east of Los Angeles.
  38. Pala Casino Spa and Resort in Pala, 35 miles northeast of San Diego.
  39. Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, located 50 miles north of San Diego.
  40. Pit River Casino in Burney, 190 miles north of Sacramento.
  41. Quechan Casino Resort in Winterhaven, 170 miles east of San Diego.
  42. Rain Rock Casino in Yreka, 250 miles north of Sacramento.
  43. Red Earth Casino in Salton Sea Beach, 114 miles southeast of Riverside.
  44. Red Fox Casino in Laytonville, 150 miles northwest of Sacramento.
  45. Red Hawk Casino in Placerville, 40 miles east of Sacramento.
  46. Redwood Hotel Casino in Klamath, 65 miles north of Eureka.
  47. River Rock Casino in Geyserville, 75 miles north of San Francisco.
  48. Robinson Rancheria Resort, Casino & Bingo in Nice, 115 miles northwest of Sacramento.
  49. Rolling Hills Casino Resort in Corning, 115 miles north of Sacramento.
  50. Running Creek Casino in Upper Lake, 120 miles northwest of Sacramento.
  51. San Manuel Casino in Highland, located 65 miles east of Los Angeles.
  52. San Pablo Lytton Casino in San Pablo, 15 miles north of Oakland.
  53. Sherwood Valley Casino in Willits, 130 miles north of San Francisco.
  54. Soboba Casino Resort in San Jacinto, 90 miles east of Los Angeles.
  55. Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella, 130 miles east of Los Angeles.
  56. Sycuan Casino & Resort in El Cajon, 10 miles east of San Diego.
  57. Table Mountain Casino in Friant, 15 miles north of Fresno.
  58. Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Lemoore, 50 miles south of Fresno.
  59. Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, 35 miles northeast of Sacramento.
  60. Tortoise Rock Casino in Twentynine Palms, 125 miles east of Los Angeles.
  61. Twin Pine Casino & Hotel in Middletown, 100 miles north of San Francisco.
  62. Valley View Casino & Hotel in Valley Center, 35 miles northeast of San Diego.
  63. Viejas Casino & Resort in Alpine, 25 miles east of San Diego.
  64. Wanaaha Casino in Bishop, 130 miles northeast of Fresno.
  65. Win-River Casino & Resort in Redding, 163 miles north of Sacramento.

Other Gambling Establishments

As an alternative to enjoying California slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering California is:

  • North: Oregon Slots
  • East: Nevada Slots and Arizona Slots
  • South: The country of Mexico
  • West: Pacific Ocean

Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to California.

Our California Slots Facebook Group

Best Casino Slots In California

Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in California? If so, join our California slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to freely join this closed Facebook Group community.

There, you can meet online and privately share your slots experiences with local slots enthusiasts about playing slot machines in California. Join us!

Payouts and Returns in California

Tribal-state gaming compacts negotiated between the state of California and its 61 tribes do not include theoretical payout limits nor require public reporting of return statistics.

Summary of California Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

Best Casino Slots In California

California slot machine casino gambling consists of 65 tribal casinos generally located on remote tribal reservations throughout the state.

Annual Progress in California Slot Machine Casino Gambling

Slots

Over the last year, Thunder Valley Casino Resort has fallen from second-largest casino to fourth largest after San Manuel Casino, Pechanga Resort Casino, and Graton Resort & Casino.

Also, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain has, at long last, opened.

Finally, one casino has permanently closed and another underwent a name change:

  • Lucky Bear Casino in Hoopa has permanently closed.
  • Paiute Palace Casino in Bishop is now the Wanaaha Casino.

Related Posts from Professor Slots

Other States from Professor Slots

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Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC