Red Hawk Casino, just outside Sacramento, has added a fresh new twist to the idea of casino gaming. In an effort to attract a more varied demographic, the casino recently opened the Apex Center, a family-friendly amusement and entertainment center.
Apex Center features go-karts, bowling and immersive games
California boasts around 70 casinos, all of them owned and operated by Native American tribes. Online casinos are not allowed in The Golden State.
The 85,000-square-foot Apex Center, built on top of an existing parking garage at the casino, opened to the public on Dec. 26. It features indoor go-karts, an 18-lane high-tech ”ultramodern” bowling alley, a virtual arcade, golf simulators and a sports bar.
According to Red Hawk, the Northern California casino hosts the state’s first fully electric, multi-level, indoor go-kart racecourse. The track is about a quarter-mile long and was designed and built by the Slovenia-based firm 360 Karting.
The golf simulators come courtesy of Golfzon, a South Korean manufacturer. The simulator’s software allows for a huge range of play modes to suit every occasion. Players can also test their skills on many of the world’s best golf courses.
As for bowling, guests can expect a “state-of-the-art interactive experience with comfortable couch seating accompanied by an array of tech features that remind of the good old days.”
Young visitors will especially be drawn to the virtual arcade, which features dozens of immersive games.
Red Hawk Casino has something for everyone
Located in Placerville, the Red Hawk Casino boasts more than 2,500 slot machines and 75 table games.
The casino abounds with different options for table games, including single- and double-deck blackjack, Face up Pai Gow, Four Card Poker, midi Baccarat, Golden Frog Baccarat and DJ Wild Stud. The casino also features a high-limit poker room.
There are concerts with music from country and classic rock to R&B and dance. Additionally, the resort features six restaurants, including Henry’s Steakhouse, Koto Buffet, Pearl Asian Cuisine and The Burger Spot.
Plus, there’s a kid-friendly arcade called Cyber Quest, which offers only nonviolent games. The facility provides optimal sight lines, kid-friendly surfaces and safe and fun equipment.
The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians operate the casino and new Apex Center.
California casinos targeting families
Several casinos in The Golden State are adding more family-friendly entertainment. It appears they see a future in attracting younger generations, particularly millennials and also Gen Z to their properties. Casinos that hope to stay relevant and profitable will have to adapt and also be nimble. By integrating new technology and understanding the needs of the younger crowd, operators can remain profitable.
As a general rule, you must be 21 to enter a casino. Younger guests are welcome in dining areas and entertainment venues designed for them.
Red Hawk Casino CEO Bryan deLugo told The Sacramento Bee that they were focused on entertainment the whole family could enjoy. He said initial considerations to follow competitors’ leads in developing non-gaming entertainment focused on concerts and theatrical shows were quickly discarded for the more family-oriented center.
To complement its new family-friendly complex, Red Hawk is in the process of erecting its first hotel, which will have 150 guestrooms and suits. The hotel broke ground in July 2021 and should open within the next few months.
Red Hawk hopes to add sportsbook in the future
Most of the Apex is open to guests of all ages, except for The Apex Grill, since the sports bar features bar-top video poker machines. Presently, there is no sportsbook available at the location. However, Red Hawk Casino intends to turn the Apex Grill into the property’s on-site sportsbook if and when California sports betting is legalized.
Last November, California voters rejected two propositions that would have ushered in sports betting, Propositions 26 and 27. But that hasn’t hampered deLugo’s expectations that competing gaming interests in the state will soon settle their differences and pave the way for legal sports gambling to arrive in California.
Until then, the casino is focused on bringing in more families with its new Apex Center.
