10 Best Casinos & Casino Hotels in San Diego County

Whether you and Lady Luck are already best friends or wish to be, San Diego has the perfect resort casino to scratch your gaming itch in style. From the luckiest casinos to the best casino resort pools, you'll find them on this list. These casinos and casino hotels represent San Diego casinos and were chosen for being award-winning, full of amenities, and having ties to luxury resorts. All of the casinos featured here are located in eastern San Diego County, within an hour or closer of downtown. We also present a category of "Best of" casinos, as voted for by San Diego casino players.

What you need to know about San Diego casino hotels and casinos

San Diego County is home to 18 Native American tribes, the most in the nation, and many of them operate casinos. In California, only tribal casinos and tribal casino resorts can operate Las Vegas-style casinos. San Diego casinos like Seven Mile Casino in Chula Vista, Oceans 11 Casino in Oceanside, and La Jolla Trading Post Casino in Pauma Valley are modern takes on old-fashioned card rooms. California gambling laws don't allow tribes to operate all the games they can, so they're not on this list. These San Diego casinos and casino resorts offer everything from shows to golf to epic pools. They're perfect for day trips, vacations, and staycations.

Note from Katie: We independently select all hotels featured. The booking methods we present are either popular with our readers or what we believe to be the best deals. We may earn a commission if you book through our links. Prices and amenities are subject to change. Editorial Guidelines

Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino

Nearby: Lakeside, California, 33 minutes from downtown San Diego

Casino Type: Casino Hotel opened in 2002

Casino Highlights: Blackjack, Video Poker, Slots, Chipless Baccarat, Roulette

Why go: If you like blackjack, this is the casino for you. Barona Casino is California's blackjack hall of fame. The Barona Band of Mission Indians hosts a recently renovated ranch-style casino in a picturesque setting.

The resort reflects classic luxury and is geared towards adults, but children are welcome. It is close to the nationally renowned Barona Cultural Center & Museum, which also features a native botanical garden and museum shop.

As a dry casino, alcohol is only available in select restaurants, but not on the casino floor.

Casino amenities

• Award-winning service cashiers will escort you to the gaming floor.
• 2, 500 slot and video poker machines, over 75 table games, and 30, 000 square feet of gaming space
• Chipless arena
• Most liberal blackjack rules in California
• Voted the loosest slots 12 years in a row by readers of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
• Expanded food court replaces popular buffet.

Hotel Amenities

• Day Spa
• Barona Creek Golf Club (course reduced to 9 holes due to drought)
• No resort fees at Barona Resort
• Free Wi-Fi, parking and bottled water
• 400 spacious rooms and suites at Barona Resort
• Outdoor pool at Barona Resort
• 13 dining venues including award-winning Italian Cucina Restaurant

Dining at Barona Restaurant is for guests 18 and older only. The casino is open to players 18 and older and alcohol is not served on the casino floor.

Hotel Reservations: barona. com

Harrah's Resort Southern California

Neighborhood: Funner, California, 56 minutes from downtown San Diego

Casino Type: Casino Hotel opened in 2004

Casino Highlights: Always the latest casino games, Impressive Progressive - California's first all-table jackpot

Why We Love It: If you're a regular visitor to the Las Vegas gaming scene, you'll appreciate the familiarity of Harrah's Resort Southern California. Owned by the Rincon Band of LuiseГ±o Indians and operated by Caesars Entertainment, Harrah's Resort has taken top spots in several "best of" categories for both casino and resort. Actress and comedian Jane Lynch is Funner's new celebrity mayor. What could be more fun? Casino Amenities

59, 000 square feet of casino floor, 58+ table games, 1, 600+ slot machines

Casino amenities

• Best Players Club (#1)
• Hotel Amenities
• 3-star hotel with 1, 087 luxury suites & rooms

Hotel Amenities

• 7 restaurants
• 3 pools, 8 hot tubs, 23 poolside cabanas, 400-foot lazy river
• First swim-up bar in Southern California
• Full-service spa, salt baths
• Salon & barbershop
• Fitness center
• 1 mile of nature trails
• Tribal-owned brewery
• Best casual dining (#1)
• Best casino spa (#2)
• Best casino resort pool (#2)
• Moctel and vegan cuisine inspired by Mayor Jane Lynch
• Gordon Ramsey Hels Kitchen Restaurant
• The event center holds concerts, comedy shows, and to p-class entertainment.
• Knowing information: Harraz Resort Southern California is a casino that can enter 21 years old and can enter in a wheelchair. Caesars Rewards includes all 50 Caesars Empire facilities.
• Hotel reservation:

Sikun Casino & Resort

Neighboring: El Cajon, Ca, 34 minutes from downtown of San Diego

Casino type: Casino Resort

Casino highlights: slot, bingo, blackjack, baccarat

Why go to the EAST CASINO RESORT in EL CAJON's East Country area is operated by Sycuan Band of Kumeyay Indians. It is one of the oldest 21+ casinos in San Diego, and is also known as the loose casino.

The luxurious 1 2-story hotel attached to the casino has a variety of facilities, including three pools. Sycuan CASINO, always exciting place, holds a wide range of selection live events, from comedy shows to concerts.

Casino amenities

The 60, 000 squar e-foot game floor has more than 2, 500 slots and game consoles

Casino amenities

• Bingo hole
• Poker room
• Poker tournament
• Live & Up Close and Heritage Event Center Rotation Event Calendar
• The loose slot (#1)
• Best Casino Bingo (2nd)
• Best Poker Room (2nd)
• Hotel amenity
• Gorge or golf course view guest room & suite 300 or more

Hotel Amenities

• Eight restaurants and bars
• Premier Sp a-Spa Letur
• Fitness Center (adjacent to Spa Letur)
• More than 20 meetings (providing wedding packages and military events)
• Sikuan Marke t-16 nozzle gas stations and convenience stores (adjacent to casino hotels)
• Golf on the Singing Hills Golf Course
• Notes: Al l-building no n-smoking cessation, AAA and military officials are 10 % discount, free sel f-parking, valley services are only for hotels and black diamond guests, pets cannot be accompanied, 10 dollars per day, banned and swimming in winter. Entering up bar, main pool, Rage River cannot be entered.
• Hotel reservation:

Bierhas Casino & Resort

Neighboring: El Cajon, Ca, 34 minutes from downtown of San Diego

Casino type: Casino Hotel

Casino Highlights: Black Jack, Bingo, Outdoor Betting Ticket, Claps

Why we recommend: Viejas Casino & Resort is San Diego's premier casino for a Las Vegas-style gaming experience. Featuring upscale, modern elegance, Viejas Casino and Hotel is for adults only (21 and over), including hotel amenities.

While the hotel and casino may be adults-only, the surrounding area is family-friendly. Nearby attractions include Ma-Ta-Awa RV Camping Park, Paintball Park at Alpine, and Viejas Outlets, which includes Viejas Bingo and Slot Parlor.

Casino Amenities

10, 000 square feet of gaming floor with over 2, 500 slot machines

Casino amenities

• Blackjack (double deck and six deck)
• Las Vegas style Craps
• Fortune Pai Gow
• Three Card, Six Card, Ultimate Texas Hold'em Poker
• Mystery Card Roulette
• Viejas Casino
• Best Casino (#3)
• Best Blackjack (#2)
• Best Bingo (#2)
• Regular concert events
• Regular music performances in the Lobby Bar Lounge
• Hotel Amenities

Hotel Amenities

• Two state of the art fitness centers
• Willows Hotel pool and new Pool Bar & Lounge
• Two easy to use business centers
• Nine high tech meeting areas
• Magnificent Oak Ballroom (available for weddings and other special occasions)
• Ten restaurants & bars
• Willows Spa (with saltwater spa pool, steam room and salt sauna) Things to note: Beejus Bingo & Slot Parlor is 18+ (inside Beejus Outlets), valet parking is always free, pool cabana rentals available, service animals welcome, emotional support dogs not allowed, scooter rentals available ($30/day), casino welcomes smoking and non-smoking guests.
• Hotel reservations:

Casino Pauma

Neighboring: El Cajon, Ca, 34 minutes from downtown of San Diego

Casino type: Casino, opened in 2001

Casino attractions: 9-5 or 8-6 Jacks or Better (JoB) video poker, Texas Hold'em

Why we recommend: Head to Casino Pauma for a taste of nostalgia. Surrounded by fragrant avocado, orange and lemon groves, Casino Pauma is a small, unpretentious gaming center managed by the Pauma Band of LuiseГ±o Indians.

Reminiscent of old-fashioned casinos, its cheap dining ($7 steak and eggs) and 24-hour gaming make it a popular choice for a casual, carefree crowd.

Casino Amenities

Consistently ranked in the top three casinos with the loosest slots (#3)

Casino amenities

• Lowest limits in Southern California
• Weekend live entertainment at Red Parrot Lounge
• Restaurants CafГ©, Lindo Valle Mexican Grill, Deli & Pizzeria
• Notes: Lindo VALLE MEXICAN GRILL is replaced by buffet, smoking game area is smoke from adjacent smoking areas, CafГ©'s steak & egg breakfast $ 7 is hot items, casinos can enter over 18 years old, 21 years old. A free ope n-air parking lot is not provided by a wristband that has a wristband and no alcohol.
• Golden Acorn Casino

58 minutes from downtown San Diego, Campo, California

Casino type Casino & Travel Center, opened in 2001

Casino highlight slot

Reasons for the reason for going Golden Acorn Casino, located in the magnificent Camppo Mountains, is one of the San Diego slo t-only casinos and has more than 350 slot machines.

From Penny Slot to High Limit Machine, "The Price Is Right" and "WHEEL OF FORTUNE" are popular. Some casinos in San Diego have hotels, but Golden Acorn Casino has a travel center.

For this reason, it is the perfect casino for slot machines, van consumers, lon g-distance truck drivers, and other car travelers.

Casino amenities:

Casino is open 24 hours (including travel center)

Golden Gril l-Casual dining, American & Mexican style dishes (limited to business hours)

• Players Ba r-Beer, Wine, Spirits, and various appetizers can be enjoyed.
• Del oro del i-sandwich, hamburger, hot dogs, hot wings, brito, rice bowl, french potatoes
• Features everyday game promotion
• Travel center amenities
• 3, 000 square fits convenience store

Low-priced fuel-"The cheapest gasoline in this area"

• Public toilet
• ATM
• Shower facility
• Laundry facility
• Night parking lot
• Golden Acorn, who knows it, is open on players over the age of 18, slot machines are regularly updated, and players over the age of 50 will receive senior discounts on Monday.
• Jamul casino

Neighboring: 28 minutes from downtown San Diego, Jamle, California

Casino type: Casino (future casino hotel), opened in 2016

Casino highlights: Slots, table games, high limit rooms, poker rooms

The jamul casinos are the newest casinos in San Diego County, San Diego, California. The thre e-story casino is owned and runs by the Kumeyai Jamle Indian Village.

The casino is popular among San Diego citizens, with games, entertainment and restaurants, and even closer to San Diego. The tribes are planning a 1 6-story new hotel, multipurpose bingo hall, event center, and si x-story parking lots.

Casino amenities

200, 000 square feet with 46 table games and 1, 700 slot machines

Casino amenities

• High-limit slot room
• High-limit Asian game room with 4 baccarat tables and 1 face-up Pai Gow poker table
• High-limit VIP lounge
• 7 restaurants
• Rooftop private event venue, 10, 000 square feet, panoramic views
• First swim-up bar in Southern California
• Five-time #1 "Best of" winner by San Diego Union-Tribune readers
• Good to know: Jamul Casino is a 21+ casino, and the entertainment and events calendar is posted on the website. The casino features a non-smoking slot room, all restaurants are non-smoking, and free covered parking.
• Pala Casino Spa & Resort

Nearby: Pala, California, 51 minutes from downtown San Diego

Type of casino: Casino hotel opened in 2003

Casino highlights: Pala Craps, Pala Roulette

Why we recommend it: If you're looking for a luxury adult getaway, Pala Casino could be your casino resort. Pala Casino Spa & Resort is an adult-only casino resort owned and managed by the Pala Band of Mission Indians.

Even the pool complex, complete with a poolside cafe & bar, fire pits, waterfalls and hot tubs, is for guests 18 and older. In the evenings, concert events are scheduled at the outdoor Pala Casino Starlight Theater.

The resort also has an indoor concert venue. Concerts are open to 21-year-olds and older. For RV travelers, there is a highly rated RV park on-site.

Casino Amenities

86, 000 square feet of casino floor, 15, 000 square feet of smoke-free gaming area

Casino amenities

• 64 table games, including 47 blackjack tables
• 3 high limit rooms - Slots, table games, private lounge
• Poker room
• Daily live music at the center bar on the gaming floor
• Live & Up Close and Heritage Event Center Rotation Event Calendar
• Best slot tournaments (#1)
• 7 restaurants at Pala Casino
• Hotel amenities
• 4 Diamond Hotel & Spa

Hotel Amenities

• 82 luxury suites
• Pool complex with Olympic-size pool (all pools 18+)
• 12 restaurants (including casino restaurant)
• 10, 000-square-foot spa with 14 treatment rooms, boutique, salon, steam room, sauna
• Best casino resort (#3)
• Best entertainment (#2)
• Good of know-how: Pala is a 21+ casino, casino and hotel parking is separate and free. Casino, hotel, and rooms are wheelchair accessible. Not a kid-friendly resort. Hotel reservations: Pechanga Resort Casino Nearby: Temecula, California, 1 hour from downtown San Diego

Neighboring: El Cajon, Ca, 34 minutes from downtown of San Diego