Page 16 - March 2002 • Southern California Gaming Guide

SAN DIEGO GAMING GUIDE
by Max Rubin
There’s a Blackjack game in San Diego County, right now, that’s just right for you. I’m not going to tell you where it is, because I don’t know. But it’s out there. There are currently 156 Blackjack games in the county’s eight Native American casinos and they
run the gamut from the best (and that means loosest) rules in North America to some of the most pitiful rules in the world. But rules alone don’t make a Blackjack game. The best game, by far, is the game that you’ll have the most fun playing. And since we’re all different, I’m going to talk about several different angles that will help you decide where that best game is for you.
First, it’s usually best to play where the people (staff and other players) are most like you. Some of the jumbo joints are borderline frantic, with speed-demon dealers and no-nonsense bosses who want nothing more than to whip out as many hands as possible. Others are much more laid back, with slow-paced games (even on high- limit tables) and placid attentive personnel that go out of their way to make sure you don’t get lost in the shuf e. If your goal is to win some fast money, try the former. If you want to make a day of it, stick with the latter and have some fun.
Don’t worry if you’re new to the game. As a Black- jack neophyte, all you have to do is make sure you play in a relaxed club on a low-limit game. If you don’t know how to play a hand, ask the other players or the dealer and they’ll usually help you out. If you’re in one of the speed shops on a high-limit game, you’re sure to get plenty of advice on how to play your hand,
whether you ask for
it or not.
Next up
is the atmo-
sphere. Every
casino has a
different culture.
Some celebrate your
wins and laugh with you all
the way to the cage, while others treat you
like a Taliban ranger if you happen to win three hands in a row. I’m not naming names, but it’ll take you only a few minutes after settling in to know which kind of club you’re in. You’ll also want to check out the extra-curric- ular activities. If you like to sip refreshing adult bever- ages while you play, Sycuan and Barona in the east, and
Valley View in the north are not for you. These tribes don’t allow alcohol at the tables. As a reformed repro- bate, I fully understand the allure of booze and gam- bling. If that’s your thing,
Another thing: there’s a secret to getting the comp you want. Ask. If you take the time to scout the casinos and nd the one that’s best for you, you’ll have just as good a time as you do in Vegas, and you won’t have to put up with the sullen body searchers at the airport or slog through the typical 14-hour weekend drive, either. And when you’re nished, you get to sleep in your own bed. Blackjack doesn’t get any better than that.
A word about tipping. You’ll have more fun if you tip the dealer. Something. Any- there are some pretty good “If you take the time to scout the thing. If you get great ser-
Max’s Quick Review of
San Diego Blackjack Games
Barona Casino
Great rules, big action, friendly staff, loose comps. A Blackjack Player’s paradise.
Golden Acorn Casino
Decent rules, low limits, good food, nice bar, loose comps. Worth the drive.
Pala Casino
Decent rules, busy, good food, tight comps, great sports. Beautiful facility.
Casino Pauma
Good rules, small, peaceful, ok comps, video poker bar. Nice place to relax.
Rincon Casino
Tight rules, nice staff, OK food, decent comps. New casino under construction.
Sycuan Casino & Resort
Decent rules, big action, OK comps, 21 salon. Best Chinese food in San Diego.
Valley View Casino
Decent rules, low limits, good comps, good buffet. Nicest staff in North County.
Viejas Casino
Decent rules, big action, tight comps, great lounge. A happening scene.
San Diego places where you
can try to change your luck
with a few well-placed whis-
keys, but you’ve got to be
careful. Unlike Vegas, you
can’t stumble from casino to
casino down here on two wobbly legs. If you like to drink and gamble, make sure to take along a designated driver, because that’s one risk you just don’t need to take.
If après-blackjack golf is your thing, two great casino courses in East County ll the bill, and if you play your cards right, the host clubs, Barona and Sycuan, will even comp your greens fees.
Since we’ve all gotta eat even when we’re gambling, food has to be on most lists of what’s important in a casino. The bigger casinos all have Vegas-quality buffets, but some of the smaller clubs offer up dining fare that’s only borderline edible. If you’re planning to eat, make sure to play in a casino where the food is free. They may not be able to comp booze, but some of the San Diego casinos are surprisingly liberal with food comps (and even feed you steak and lobster while you play). Others are unbelievably tight sted. If a casino isn’t will- ing to reward you with some grub for you play, just drive down the road until you nd one that is.
casinos and find the one that’s vice, win or lose, make an occasional bet for the
best for you, you’ll have just as good a time as you do in Vegas.”
dealer and give her a token of your appreciation when she leaves the table. If you happen to be in one of the
East County joints that lets the dealers keep their own tips (versus pooling with each other), be careful. Some of those dealers have the notion that they’re your 50/50 part- ners and they’ll get downright hostile if you don’t fork over a bundle when you’re on a winning streak. If your dealer makes you uncomfortable, change tables and give another one a try. Unless, of course, you’re winning. In that case, just play through the rudeness and save some chips for the next dealer that has a better attitude.
About Max Rubin—
When it comes to gambling, Max Rubin has done it all. Behind the tables, he’s been a dealer, pit boss, casino manager, and instructor on game protection. He opened the rst Indian casino in Oklahoma, and managed an Indian Casino in Palm Springs. As a high-stakes Blackjack player, Rubin has been comped to everything from unlimited room service to golf at Shadow Creek, from Super Bowl tickets to casino Lear Jet rides. Max is the author of Comp City: A Guide to Free Casino Vacations, and has written features for Casino Player, Blackjack Forum, Bottomline Personal, and the Las Vegas Advisor.
Page 16 MARCH 2002