A view of the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California. Photo from Facebook

Chumash is about a quick 1 or so away from San Luis Obispo. There are always epic people playing at Chumash (ie ZZ Top, Willie Nelson, etc.). The black jack tables are always fun and there is a good amount of slot machines for people that are patient enough. Update: 4-28-16 The Santa Ynez Band Of Chumash Indians have announced that they will be opening their newly expanded Chumash Casino Resort from May 20. The $160 million expansion includes 75,000 sq ft of additional gaming floor space, a twelve-story tower with 215 hotel rooms, as well as a new 584-space parking garage, and a 20,000 sq ft pool deck.

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians is raising the gambling age at its casino as part of a new liquor permit. The tribe will be able to serve liquor on the floor of the Chumash Casino Resort as part of the permit. But patrons must be at least 21 years of age to enter the facility from now on. “Alcohol will be available to be sold and consumed in areas of the gaming floor that we will determine and enforce,' Chairman Vincent Armenta said in a press release. 'We have proven that our resort can operate in a responsible way when serving alcohol, and we will continue to do so under these new guidelines.” The state Department of Alcohol Beverage Control granted an interim operational permit to the tribe but local opponents are planning to speak at an appeal hearing, The Santa Barbara Independent reported. Prior to the new permit, the casino allowed people 18 and over to gamble. But liquor was not allowed on the floor under the old conditions. The tribe is working on an $160 million expansion of the facility. Get the Story:
Alcohol to be Sold on Chumash Gaming Floor (The Santa Barbara Independent 10/30) Chumash Casino Buffet Age Limit

Chumash Casino Resort switches to 21 and over policy (The Lompoc Record 10/29)
Chumash casino buffet age limit 2020

Chumash Casino Resort Begins Serving Alcohol on Gaming Floor (Noozhawk 10/29) Chumash Tribe wins state approval of Class III casino compact (09/10)
Chumash Tribe signs new Class III casino compact in California (08/27)
Chumash Tribe defeats lawsuit that sought to halt casino expansion (07/07)
Chumash Tribe wins dismissal of suit over status of reservation (7/3)
Chumash Tribe wins EPA honor for zero waste efforts at casino (05/15)
Chumash Tribe extends condolences after worker dies at casino (04/30)
Chumash Tribe legal team 'laughed' at suit over casino expansion (04/09)
Casino

Chumash Tribe and leaders sued over $160M casino expansion (04/08)

Chumash Casino Buffet Age Limits

Chumash Tribe never got apology for diplomat's casino remark (03/26)

Chumash Casino Buffet Age Limit 2019

Diplomat apologizes for bizarre comment about Indian gaming (03/18)
Chumash Tribe slams 'disparaging' comment on Indian gaming (03/11)
Opinion: Suckers help Chumash Tribe finance casino expansion (10/20)
Chumash Tribe moves forward with $160M expansion at casino (10/02)

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If you’ve just recently become a legal adult, you might wonder where you can go to gamble as an 18-year-old in California. With some exceptions, many legal casinos or card rooms in California will let you enter as soon as you turn 18. The same goes for any online gambling apps, although these are very limited because of California’s strict gambling legislation.

Here we will break down where you can enjoy 18+ gambling in the Golden State.

California Indian Casinos: Gambling Options For 18+

The legal gambling age is 18-years-old on all land under California jurisdiction. Because Indian casinos technically operate on reservation land, they aren’t beholden to California legislation. They can set their own legal gambling age to some extent (with some government oversight). Because of this, some Indian casinos allow anyone 18-years-old or older to enter, while others have a higher minimum of 21-years-old.

The reason for this is that some Indian casinos serve alcohol on open gambling floors or otherwise make it very easy for anyone to obtain alcohol, even while following licensing verification practices. They set their legal entrance ages to 21-years-old to prevent any instances of underage drinking on their premises.

This means it’s important to always double-check whether a tribal casino has a legal age of 18-years-old or 21-years-old before making the trip. Most tribal casinos follow the 21-year-old rule. However, there are more than 20 (out of 63) that currently allow 18-year-olds to enter.

Northern California 18+ Casinos

Northern California casinos are usually based around Sacramento or San Francisco: the two largest metropolitan areas in the top half of the state. These resorts run from large to very small, featuring diverse themes and lots of different gambling activities that range from slot machines to lottery games to blackjack and other electronic games. Most tribal casinos are located in the southern half of the state, but there are still plenty of worthwhile ones to check out north of Fresno.

Here are some of the best Northern California 18+ casinos:

Table Mountain Casino

Just 20 miles north of Fresno, this casino is due for a big renovation over the next few years. For now, it includes several thousand gaming machines and over 40 table games. It also offers 10 poker tables for reserved or spur-of-the-moment Sit’N’Go games. The casino is currently looking into creating an adjacent hotel, but there are plenty of other accommodations nearby as well. Dining and live entertainment activities round out its offerings.

Lucky Bear Casino

A smaller tribal casino totaling 5000 ft.², Lucky Bear is one of the most northern tribal casinos in California. It’s nestled in the beautiful mountains and features dozens of slot machines and other games. It’s an ideal place to gamble and relax while touring the Northern California wilderness or road tripping up the coast.

Elk Valley Casino

Chumash Casino Buffet Age Limit 2020

This Northern California casino is open 24 hours daily. It features 23,000 ft.² of gaming space, 11 table and poker games, and over 300 distinct gaming machines. These are available alongside a single restaurant for convenient dining access.

Southern California 18+ Casinos

Southern California casinos outnumber their Northern California counterparts by a fair margin, and they’re mostly concentrated around Los Angeles, Fresno, and San Diego. They also include plenty of spas to take advantage of the typically relaxing, sunny Southern California ambiance. Additionally, many of the casinos feature entertainment venues reflecting a focus on the show business industry. These venues often utilize iconography or themes that draw from Hollywood or other iconic neighborhoods.

Here are some of the best Southern California 18+ casinos:

Morongo Casino Resort Spa

This casino is a perfect choice if you want to mix some spa time with your gambling activities. It’s very close to Palm Springs and has over 150,000 ft.² in total with nearly 3,000 slot machines. It also includes a poker room and 13 reserve poker tables for private games, plus a variety of spa and resort amenities like massages services, and pool access.

Tachi Palace Casino Resort

This famous casino is located in Lemoore just south of Central California. It’s one of the best casinos in the region, with over 2,000 slot machines, a seven-table poker room, and a 255-room hotel and spa. Several restaurants and other dining venues nearby make it a great place for general relaxation and vacationing.

Full List of 18+ California Casinos

18+ Casino	City
Barona Valley Ranch Casino	Lakeside, CA
Black Bart Casino	Willits, CA
Casino Pauma	Pauma Valley, CA
Cher-Ae-Heights Casino	Trindad, CA