Custom Poker Table Spotlight: San Diego, CA, USA

With Las Vegas looming just across the California – Nevada state line, it is just out of reach if you want to get you poker fix at a moment’s notice when in San Diego. The good news (and bad news) is that nearby Indian Casinos and Card Clubs provide you with a variety of poker venues to play cash games, weekly tournaments, and well practice up for next year’s WSOP of course.

We’ll start with the Casinos because they offer a little bit more than a bar, poker table games, and 7 other dudes who want to play poker. After all, Card Clubs are kind of like the poker crack houses.

CASINOS
Flashing lights, rapidly dinging bells, copious smorgus board buffets, unearthly one-hit-wonder entertainers and premium poker rooms: In San Diego, the Vegas experience — or at least a close copy thereof — is never far from home.

We list the following casinos in the order that we would travel to each and gamble our money. If I am going to an Indian Casino (a name synonymous with you-will-not-win) I want to make sure I can have fun, even if I lose. Note: Vegas Odds does not equal Indian Casino Odds.

Barona
Normally, Barona has always been known as the circus tent casino. Today, Barona is San Diego’s Bellagio. The oversized barn that sits as a thematic oasis in Lakeside has San Diego’s most Vegas-like ambiance. Barona’s newly expanded poker room features 15 casino poker tables and regular tournaments. Before the resort hotel was built, a championship golf course was constructed which has hosted the Nationwide Tour Championship, no small pigeon to say the least. Overall, it’s a thumbs up here, I’ve never had a bad time at Barona. My my Barona! (Sweet Jingle!)

Viejas
Just off the beaten track, Viejas makes the visit worth the journey with an expansive poker room featuring upwards of 25 texas hold em and poker tables. Tournaments here are lively and very well attended considering how remote the place is. They also have a sizable mini mall and excellent summer concert series. And it’s always summer in San Diego.

Sycuan
If you’ve never had Sycuan’s “Minutes Away, Miles Apart” jingle stuck in your head, consider yourself lucky. Still, San Diego’s closest casino has a sizable poker room and is a good bet for live action as well as poker tourneys. A few years back, Sycuan purchased Singing Hills 36 hole golf course and it was incorporated into the resort. A very nice addition, and shows the casino is doing well.

Pechanga
Up in Temecula, you can find Pechanga Casino. The one hour plus drive has made this almost Los Angeles, yet they have a pretty glitzy casino poker room that features more than 35 poker game tables and an array of regular tournaments. Yet still, it’s Pechanga… in Temecula.

Harrah’s Rincon
Harrah’s has limited space for live poker, with only two poker table tops going during the week and five on weekends. Yet with a name like Harrah’s you might, just maybe, for a second, think you are in good ‘ol Reno and not in the outskirts of San Diego on sacred Indian soil.

Casino Pauma
If you have been to Pauma Valley, I’ll try to say this positively. They have four holdem poker table that are available Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Leave this one for the locals.

CARD ROOMS
Here’s a rundown of the Card Clubs in San Diego, courtesy of Sign On San Diego. I can relate and do agree with these comments, although I have not frequented every club. Certainly it’s Oceans 11 if you have a choice, although not to be confused with the movie.

“San Diego card rooms are like little microcosms of wagering brethren, tight-knit communities defined by varying swings of elation and remorse. These families are not impenetrable, though. Just about any table will take you in with a smile provided you know what you’re doing. Don’t let the friendly atmosphere fool you though: most of these guys come here to gamble and you should be willing to do the same if you ante up.

Oceans 11
Representing North County in, Oceans 11 is one of the nicest places in the county to toss a few chips. The expansive octagon poker table room, knowledgeable staff and full bar can make even a run of terrible luck seem like a good time.

Lucky Lady Casino
There’s a fine line between “casino” and “card room.” A good rule of thumb: If it feels like you’re playing poker in a Chinese restaurant, chances are you’re in a card room. So it is at the Lucky Lady, but that doesn’t make this anything less than one of most accommodating card rooms in town.

The Village Club
For those in South Bay area, The Village Club has been the card room of choice for more than 50 years. The club is manned by a tall fellow they call “Cowboy,” who dons the expected ten-gallon hat and decoratively knit regalia.

Palomar Club Card Room
If you like your games wild, loose and fast, Palomar is the place. The diminutive club has all but about four tables. No frills, no nonsense, all-out gambling.”

If all else fails and you want to gather up a home game, all you need is a poker table and some friends. Just don’t go out and buy a cheap folding poker table, make it a custom poker table!

This entry was posted on Monday, December 8th, 2008 at 8:45 am and is filed under Poker News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.