Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel was voted the “Best Casino Outside of Las Vegas” in the latest USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
The Highland resort’s steakhouse, Pines Modern Steakhouse, also received a top billing in the annual contest.
Two other California casino resorts – Pechanga Resort Casino and Graton Resort and Casino – were near the top of rankings, as well.
Pines Modern Steakhouse wins in ‘Casino Restaurant’ category
There are more than 70 casinos in California. All of them are operated by Native American tribes. California online casinos have not been legalized, nor has sports betting.
The USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice travel and lifestyle guide comprises the results of votes from readers. A panel of industry experts selects the list of entries on the ballots.
Earning the “Best casino Outside Las Vegas” award is impressive given the number of highly regarded sprawling venues in Oklahoma and on the East Coast. Yaamava’ Resort & Casino, which is a little over an hour’s drive east of Los Angeles, features 7,200 slots, 150 tables, five high-limit gaming rooms, a luxury hotel, live entertainment and a Forbes 5-star spa.
Yaamava’s hotel, one of the largest in California, was ranked No. 2 on the “Best Casino Hotel” list, while its Pines Modern Steakhouse topped the “Best Casino Restaurants” category. The restaurant also recently earned Wine Spectator’s “Award of Excellence.”
Both the hotel and restaurant also made the prestigious AAA Four Diamond list.
Palms chosen ‘Best Casino in Las Vegas’
For the San Manuel tribe, owners of Yaamava’, the winning didn’t stop there. The company’s Palms Casino Resort in Vegas took the top spot in the “Best Casino in Las Vegas” category.
Latisha Prieto, chairperson of the San Manuel Gaming & Hospitality Authority, which operates both casinos, praised the work of its staff at Palms.
“We are honored to be named ‘Best Casino in Las Vegas’ and proud to set the standard for quality gaming and exceptional service. We are grateful to our team members for embracing our tribe’s culture of hospitality to deliver an extraordinary experience to every Palms guest.”
Pechanga Resort Casino comes in at No. 3
Another Southern California resort also ranked high in the “Best Casino Outside Las Vegas” category. Pechanga Resort Casino came in at No. 3 behind Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut.
Just 86 miles south of Los Angeles by car, Pechanga has been on a 10Best list since 2015. The casino has 5,400 slot machines, 152 table games, an exclusive high-limit gaming area and award-winning restaurants, including the AAA Four Diamond Great Oak Steakhouse.
Pechanga’s hotel is also on the AAA Four Diamond list.
Graton Resort and Casino ranks 4th
Northern California’s entry on the 10Best list of “Best Casinos Outside Las Vegas” was Graton Resort and Casino at No. 4.
The Rohnert Park facility, with its AAA Four Diamond hotel, is the largest casino resort in the Bay Area. Located in Sonoma County, the 65-acre property has 3,000 slots, 120 table games, a smoke-free gaming area, high-limit rooms and a live poker room.
Graton’s luxury hotel was No. 9 on the 10Best hotel list. The resort’s 630 Park Steakhouse was No. 8 on the “Best Casino Restaurants” list.
