Page 3 - Southern California Gaming Guide • February 2018

Imagine that it’s 2001, with a dark void of information when you want to nd out what’s going on at a Southern California casino. Maybe you heard an infrequent radio ad, or TV commercial, or tried dialing up to use the World
Wide Web. But, not until February 2002, when the rst issue of the Gaming GuideTM was published did anyone have any idea of the fabulous amenities and fantastic play that awaited Southern California casino guests. Two years prior, in March 2000, California voters had passed Proposition 1A that amended the California Constitution to allow casino-style gaming on Indian lands, and within that short time, Southern California had 15 operating casinos.
First published as e San Diego Gaming GuideTM, the Gaming Guide included San Diego County casino listings, slot news, entertainment, bingo, tournament and poker news, players club promotions, big winners, players’ tips and more. Six issues later, in July 2002, due to overwhelming reader and advertiser requests, The San Diego Gaming Guide was expanded to include all Southern California Indian casinos, and was renamed the Southern California Gaming GuideTM. Since then, we’ve been Southern California’s only casino player print and online publication, with an estimated readership of over 400,000 people each month.
From the beginning, our goal is to promote gaming as entertainment, and to promote fun, responsible gaming. And over the past 193 issues we’ve reported close to $2 billion in jackpot winnings, detailed numerous Southern California casino openings and expansions, introduced hundreds of new slots, presented over 650 Readers Choice Awards, and delivered Southern California Indian casino news to millions of casino player readers.
Much has changed in the Southern California casino world since our rst issue in 2002. And many Southern California casinos have expanded to casino resorts. When we started in February 2002, there were 15 casinos and only 4 were casino resorts. Now in 2018, there are 24 casinos and 13 are casino resorts. Along with spectacular changes in the games we play at casinos, we’ve kept readers current on the latest new slots and table games. From music superstars, celebrity and television show favorites to blockbuster lm franchise-themed slots, in hd, 3-d and now 4-d, we continue to feature them all.
Since 2003, we’ve delivered the results of our annual Reader’s Choice polls. Every year, readers have a chance to voice their choices in two separate ballots for Southern California’s Best Casinos and Best Slots in the annual Reader’s Choice Best Casinos Awards and Reader’s Choice Best Slots Awards.
Ever since our rst issue, the Southern California Gaming Guide has always been online, as a page- by-page digital publication along with archived past issues from 2002. TheGamingGuide.com features all California Indian casinos, in addition to Southern California casinos, along with maps and directions. Redesigned with the ultimate casino player in mind, there are special sections including daily casino promotion calendars, poker and bingo calendars, plus an entertainment section where online readers can even purchase headlining event tickets. We’re consistently adding new features, and in the future, look for contests and more new online games. Take a tour online to see what’s new.
ank you for helping the Southern California Gaming Guide reach this 16-year milestone. Without our readers and advertisers we wouldn’t be here!
FEBRUARY 2018
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
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