Best of Inland Empire: Best Southern California Casino
$6,000 Welcome Bonus
1. Pechanga Resort Casino (TIE)
45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula
877-711-2946
Pechanga is the definition of a full-service resort casino. Besides being regularly designated a Four Diamond-rated property by the Auto Club with its 1,100-room/suite luxury hotel, Pechanga has 15 restaurants and bars. 1882 Cantina – featuring cuisine from Mexico, Central and South America – is the most recent addition. Great Oak Steakhouse also is a multiple AAA award winner. The 200,000-square-foot casino contains more than 5,000 slot machines and 150-plus table games. For rest and relaxation, guests can indulge at Spa Pechanga, with massage therapies, nail services and personalized skincare; cool off at The Cove – a 4.5-acre pool complex with spas, pools, waterslides, a swim-up bar and two dozen cabanas – and then grab a salad, sandwich or pizza at Coveside Grill. Music enthusiasts can check out a concert at the 1,200-seat Pechanga Theater. Upcoming shows include Caifanes, Oct. 22-23; Belinda Carlisle, Nov. 5; Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt, Nov. 13; Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Nov. 20.
1. Soboba Resort Casino (TIE)
22777 Soboba Road, San Jacinto
951-665-1000
The original Soboba Casino opened in 1995 and expanded into a full-fledged resort in 2019. It now features a 200-room hotel, seven dining options, a pool, conference center and the Soboba Event Center where actor/comedian Nick Swardson recently appeared. The 15,000-square-foot conference center is available for various events. Tribute bands often perform in the Cabaret Lounge, while DJs spin at Tree Bar. Past headline concerts have included Smokey Robinson, Earth Wind & Fire, Don Henley and Stevie Nicks. The Canyons Steakhouse menu features seafood, signature steaks (notably a three-course Tomahawk dinner for two on Wednesdays-Thursdays), items for children and hundreds of wines from California and elsewhere. La Casetta emphasizes Italian fare like pasta. Each spring, Soboba hosts a food truck fiesta event. Additionally, there are more than 2,000 slot machine and three dozen table games. Soboba Springs, a PGA-rated golf course with waterfalls and streams, hosted the 2010 California State Open Championship. The course has a wedding arbor and banquet room for nuptials.
