phil: San Diego Casinos

[phil]

Hi everyone,

I'm a basic strategy player that's in the process of learning KO.

Previously, I've only played in Las Vegas, but I live in SoCal so I thought I'd check out the Indian casinos in San Diego.

Which ones have the better rules and which ones have the most "Vegas"-like vibe (as I'll be bringing friends/relatives along).

Thank you for your help.

[Parker]

San Diego casinos are grouped in two general areas - north inland, and east. The north-inland casinos include Pala, Pauma, Harrah's-Rincon, Valley View, and just across the Riverside county line, Pechanga.

To the east you will find Barona, Viejas, Sycuan and Golden Acorn.

All offer house-banked, Las Vegas style blackjack. There are no great games, primarily due to poor penetration, but there are some playable games, particularily if you can handle green action or better. Here is a brief rundown of each casino:

North:

Pechanga: Nice newly-opened casino and hotel, many CSM's and a few six deck shoes with bad rules (H17, no surrender) and poor penetration. Always very crowded. Not worth the drive.

Pala: Attractive physical plant, always crowded, a sea of CSM's, a few playable six deck shoes (H17, DAS, late surrender) usually at $10 or $15 min, and some playable double deck games (H17, DAS, no surrender) if you can handle $50 min. Pit can be sweaty, especially in the high limit room.

Pauma: Small low roller joint, rarely crowded, with 8 deck shoes (H17, DAS. LS) usually $5-$200, CSM's and a lone double deck game (H17, D9-11, no DAS) $25-$500 that is not always open. Generally not worth the trip unless you're just looking for a game with low min to practice and/or kill time.

Harrah's Rincon: Another attractive casino with the worst games in the county. Mostly CSM's, with a few 8 deck shoes with lousy rules (H17, DAS, no surrender) and poor pen to boot. As the name implies, managed by the Harrah's chain. Stay away.

Valley View: Dinky locals joint with CSM's, a couple of six deck shoes and a single deck game with bad rules (H17, D10-11, no DAS) and a sweaty pit. Don't bother.

East:

Barona: Good rules (H17, DAS, LS) offset by pen that is mediocre to horrible. CSM's, double deck ($25 or $50 min), lots of six deck shoes (although not always a lot open), and a couple of $100 single deck games in the high limit area. New casino is beautiful.

Viejas: Lots of 6 deck shoes (H17, DAS, no surr), a few double deck with $50 min and 50% pen. Factory Outlet center next door provides diversion for non-gambling friends.

Sycuan: Six deck shoes with two decks cut off and a couple of $50 min double deck games with 50% pen dealt from shoes. Forget it.

Golden Acorn: San Diego's most remote casino, 60 miles east on Interstate 8, offers some of the best games. Here you will find the only S17 shoes in the county, and the only double deck games with minimums under $25. As might be expected, it is rarely crowded. The remote location draws an eclectic mix of patrons - truck drivers (it is also a full service truck stop), hispanics from nearby Tecate, Mexico, and rustic locals. Note that it is at 4000 ft elevation - snow is a possibility this time of year. Check a weather report before visiting. Still, the best game in the county for low rollers.

There you have it. As for "Vegas-like" atmosphere, forget Barona and Sycuan - they do not serve alcoholic beverages. The rest all do (Valley View is beer-wine only). However, be prepared to pay - comped alcoholic beverages are illegal in Californa. You can get a free coffee or soda, though.

Your best bets for a playable game combined with a "Vegas-like" atmosphere would probably be Pala in the north and Viejas in the east.

[joe_r_black]

What is the penetration like at the 6 deck games at Veijas?

Are they still doing the Harrah's cut?

Joe Black

> San Diego casinos are grouped in two general
> areas - north inland, and east. The
> north-inland casinos include Pala, Pauma,
> Harrah's-Rincon, Valley View, and just
> across the Riverside county line, Pechanga.

> To the east you will find Barona, Viejas,
> Sycuan and Golden Acorn.

> All offer house-banked, Las Vegas style
> blackjack. There are no great games,
> primarily due to poor penetration, but there
> are some playable games, particularily if
> you can handle green action or better. Here
> is a brief rundown of each casino:

> North: Pechanga: Nice newly-opened
> casino and hotel, many CSM's and a few six
> deck shoes with bad rules (H17, no
> surrender) and poor penetration. Always very
> crowded. Not worth the drive.

> Pala: Attractive physical plant, always
> crowded, a sea of CSM's, a few playable six
> deck shoes (H17, DAS, late surrender)
> usually at $10 or $15 min, and some playable
> double deck games (H17, DAS, no surrender)
> if you can handle $50 min. Pit can be
> sweaty, especially in the high limit room.

> Pauma: Small low roller joint, rarely
> crowded, with 8 deck shoes (H17, DAS. LS)
> usually $5-$200, CSM's and a lone double
> deck game (H17, D9-11, no DAS) $25-$500 that
> is not always open. Generally not worth the
> trip unless you're just looking for a game
> with low min to practice and/or kill time.

> Harrah's Rincon: Another attractive casino
> with the worst games in the county. Mostly
> CSM's, with a few 8 deck shoes with lousy
> rules (H17, DAS, no surrender) and poor pen
> to boot. As the name implies, managed by the
> Harrah's chain. Stay away.

> Valley View: Dinky locals joint with
> CSM's, a couple of six deck shoes and a
> single deck game with bad rules (H17,
> D10-11, no DAS) and a sweaty pit. Don't
> bother.

> East: Barona: Good rules (H17, DAS, LS)
> offset by pen that is mediocre to horrible.
> CSM's, double deck ($25 or $50 min), lots of
> six deck shoes (although not always a lot
> open), and a couple of $100 single deck
> games in the high limit area. New casino is
> beautiful.

> Viejas: Lots of 6 deck shoes (H17, DAS, no
> surr), a few double deck with $50 min and
> 50% pen. Factory Outlet center next door
> provides diversion for non-gambling friends.

> Sycuan: Six deck shoes with two decks cut
> off and a couple of $50 min double deck
> games with 50% pen dealt from shoes. Forget
> it.

> Golden Acorn: San Diego's most remote
> casino, 60 miles east on Interstate 8,
> offers some of the best games. Here you will
> find the only S17 shoes in the county, and
> the only double deck games with minimums
> under $25. As might be expected, it is
> rarely crowded. The remote location draws an
> eclectic mix of patrons - truck drivers (it
> is also a full service truck stop),
> hispanics from nearby Tecate, Mexico, and
> rustic locals. Note that it is at 4000 ft
> elevation - snow is a possibility this time
> of year. Check a weather report before
> visiting. Still, the best game in the county
> for low rollers.

> There you have it. As for
> "Vegas-like" atmosphere, forget
> Barona and Sycuan - they do not serve
> alcoholic beverages. The rest all do (Valley
> View is beer-wine only). However, be
> prepared to pay - comped alcoholic beverages
> are illegal in Californa. You can get a free
> coffee or soda, though.

> Your best bets for a playable game combined
> with a "Vegas-like" atmosphere
> would probably be Pala in the north and
> Viejas in the east.

[miss brown]

Barona is actually only offering one sd game since the new casino opened. Harrah's Rincon has replaced their 8 deck shoes with 6 deck shoes and the penetration is still horrible.

[Parker]

> What is the penetration like at the 6 deck
> games at Veijas?

Averages around 1.5 decks cut off, varies somewhat by dealer.

> Are they still doing the Harrah's cut?

Yes. Double deck penetration, or lack therof, generally makes this game unplayable.

This reflects conditions as of about three weeks ago, the last time I was there.

[Parker]

> Barona is actually only offering one sd game
> since the new casino opened. Harrah's Rincon
> has replaced their 8 deck shoes with 6 deck
> shoes and the penetration is still horrible.

I personally observed two $100 min single deck games in the high limit area at Barona very recently. However, both tables may not always be open. Note: The single deck tables only have five spots.

Of course, the new casino isn't even "officially" open yet, and conditions are subject to change at any given moment.

As for Harrah's, you likely are correct - I haven't visited the place in nearly a month. Why should I? :-)

[fulltimer]

San Diego-Golden Acorn -worth it,good pen when tips are used,as dealers keep tokes.
often burn card will be shown when asked,of course many timid counters are afraid. Large spreads are tolerated,as they realize they you may loose too.
Barona-not too bad,high miniums though. Pit gets a little paranoid.
Sycuan-large spreads are no problem.
Valley View-now has dd, and hit it early am for decent solo action,

Palm Springs-anyone know of decent casinos,rules there?