B&M casinos in Hawaii are outlawed, and there are currently no legal table games or slots available in the state. However, an answer to a lack of HI casinos could be provided by the best brick ‘n mortar casinos in California, a few hours’ flight time away.
There are no Hawaii casinos currently operating in The Aloha State. In fact, Hawaii has one of the most intolerant attitudes to land-based casinos anywhere in the United States. The state has even banned a regulated lottery.
Despite Hawaii’s restrictive laws, some options are open. You can access casino games online or bet on the NFL at the best Hawaii online sportsbooks.
In addition, you can bet in person at Californian casinos if you make the journey to the mainland. Some cruise ships also operate in the Los Angeles area and provide a level of gambling you don’t always find at brick ‘n mortar casinos.
Let’s explore a few of the best tribal casinos that you can visit in California right now.
Opened in 2003, Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, has grown into a premier destination for casino enthusiasts. Covering over 110,000 square feet of gaming space, this resort offers an impressive variety of gaming options for all types of players.
As you step onto the casino floor, you’ll be greeted by over 2,300 slot machines, featuring popular titles from renowned developers like IGT’s Wheel of Fortune and Aristocrat’s Buffalo. If you’re a fan of table games, you won’t be disappointed. The casino offers a wide array of options, including blackjack, Mystery Card Roulette, and craps. Video poker enthusiasts are also catered for, with numerous machines offering different variants of the game.
For those who prefer a more strategic game, the casino’s poker room offers a variety of tournaments and cash games. Additionally, sports lovers can enjoy the state-of-the-art sportsbook, where they can place bets on their favorite teams and events.
After a day of gaming, you can retire to one of the 320 rooms in the resort’s luxurious hotel. Each room is designed with comfort and elegance in mind, ensuring a restful night’s sleep. When it comes to dining, the resort offers several restaurants, each offering a unique culinary experience.
Customer reviews for both the hotel and casino are generally positive, with many praising the quality of the facilities, the variety of games, and the friendly and helpful staff.
Chumash Casino Resort also offers a rewards program, the Club Chumash. As a member, you can earn points for playing your favorite games, which can be redeemed for a variety of perks, including dining, free play, and hotel stays.
Finally, don’t forget to check out the casino’s happy hour deals. These offer excellent value and are a great way to start your evening.
Opened in 2013, Graton Resort Casino in Rohnert Park, California, has quickly become a hotspot for casino enthusiasts. Covering an impressive 340,000 square feet of gaming space, this resort has something for everyone.
As you step into the gaming area, you’ll be greeted by over 3,000 slot machines. These include popular titles such as IGT’s Cleopatra and Bally’s Quick Hit. The vast gaming floor also hosts a variety of table games. From blackjack and roulette to craps and baccarat, there’s a game to suit every taste. If video poker is more your style, you’ll find plenty of machines offering this classic game.
The resort also boasts a dedicated poker room, where you can test your skills in a variety of tournaments and cash games. If you’re a sports fan, you’ll appreciate the state-of-the-art sportsbook, where you can bet on your favorite teams and events.
After a day of gaming, you can retire to one of the resort’s 200 hotel rooms. Each room is elegantly designed and offers a comfortable retreat. When it comes to dining, you have a choice of 12 restaurants, each offering a unique culinary experience.
Customer reviews for both the hotel and casino are overwhelmingly positive. Guests praise the quality of the gaming experience, the variety of dining options, and the exceptional service.
Graton Resort Casino also offers a comprehensive rewards program. As a member, you’ll earn points every time you play, dine, or stay at the hotel. These points can be redeemed for a variety of perks, including free play, dining discounts, and hotel stays.
Opened in 2003, Barona Resort & Casino in Lakeside, California has become a premier destination for casino enthusiasts. Sprawling over an impressive 300,000 square feet of gaming space, this resort offers an unparalleled gaming experience.
As you wander through the expansive gaming floor, you’ll discover over 2,500 slot machines. With popular titles such as Bally’s Cash Spin and IGT’s Golden Goddess, there’s something to keep every slot enthusiast entertained.
If you prefer table games, you’ll be spoilt for choice with a variety of options from blackjack to craps, Three-Card Poker, and baccarat. Remember, card-based roulette games are permitted at casinos in California too. And for those who enjoy video poker, you’ll find an array of machines offering this timeless game.
For poker enthusiasts, the dedicated poker room is a haven. With a variety of tournaments and cash games, you can test your skills and strategy against others. While the resort doesn’t offer a sportsbook, the gaming experience is so diverse that you’ll hardly miss it.
When you’re ready to retire for the night, you can retreat to one of the resort’s 400 luxurious hotel rooms. Each room is elegantly appointed and designed for comfort, ensuring a restful night’s sleep after a day of gaming.
Dining options at Barona Resort & Casino are plentiful with over ten restaurants to choose from. From fine dining to casual eateries, there’s something to suit every palate.
Customer reviews often highlight excellent customer service, both in the casino and the hotel. The resort’s staff is frequently praised for their friendly and professional service.
As for rewards and loyalty schemes, the Barona Club Barona membership offers various perks, including free play offers, dining discounts, and invitations to exclusive events. And don’t miss the happy hour deals at various restaurants, offering great value for your money.
In our opinion, these excellent tribal casinos in California are the best option if you’re pining for a land-based Hawaii casino. All are a short flight over from The Aloha State and offer some of the largest gaming floors in CA.
| Casino Name | Address | City | Phone Number |
| Chumash Casino Resort | 3400 CA-246, Santa Ynez, CA 93460 | Santa Ynez | 1-805-686-0855 |
| Graton Resort & Casino | 288 Golf Course Dr W, Rohnert Park, CA 94928 | Rohnert Park | 1-707-588-7100 |
| Barona Resort & Casino | 1932 Wildcat Canyon Rd, Lakeside, CA 92040 | Lakeside | 1-619-443-2300 |
California offers several tribal casinos that cover hundreds of thousands of square feet of gaming space. Here are some of the biggest.
| Casino Name | Gaming Space |
| Chumash Casino Resort | 115,000 square feet |
| Graton Resort & Casino | 300,000 square feet |
| Barona Resort & Casino | 300,000 square feet |
In the absence of any Hawaii casino, you’re restricted to flying or sailing to California to enjoy some of the best tribal casinos. Here are three of the biggest in terms of games.
| Casino Name | Number of Games |
| Chumash Casino Resort | 2,400+ |
| Graton Resort & Casino | 3,200+ |
| Barona Resort & Casino | 2,300+ |
Our three tribal casino picks in California offer a good way for you to stay the night if you’re making the trip.
| Casino Name | Number of Rooms |
| Chumash Casino Resort | 320 |
| Graton Resort & Casino | 200 |
| Barona Resort & Casino | 400 |
Hawaii casinos may be a misnomer, but you can also play slots and table games by boarding one of the many cruise casinos. These run between Hawaii and the mainland USA. Gambling is permitted if the cruise ship is operating in international waters.
There are currently no legal casino games in Hawaii, at least for real money. Some free-play poker games are permitted, but on the whole, you will be left wanting if you want to gamble on slot machines and roulette in The Aloha State.
Despite the strict rules on Hawaii casinos, there are ways to play your favorite games. First, you can access the best Hawaii online casinos that operate offshore.
These sites offer real-money slots and table games. You can play games as long as you meet the legal gambling age.
Alternatively, you can visit a brick ‘n mortar casino in California, the nearest state to Hawaii. Under state law, some roulette games are not permitted. However, you enjoy a lot of slots and other card games if you visit one of the many tribal casinos.
Poker is also allowed freely in California. You can play at the biggest cardrooms or join top Hawaii poker sites to gamble online.
Slot Machines
You will find slot machines at all California tribal casinos. The bigger resorts like Chumash offer over 2,000 slots, including high-limit games and linked progressives. A similar range of slots can be found on cruise ships that hug the CA coastline.
Roulette
Roulette in its traditional form is outlawed in California. However, you can play classic American Roulette and European Roulette on some of the many cruise ship casinos that set sail from Los Angeles.
The replacement version in California is called Mystery Card Roulette. It’s a form of roulette played with cards (which are fully legal in California). Instead of numbered pockets, the roulette wheel uses specially-designed cards numbered 1–36. Payouts are similar to American Roulette as well.
Blackjack
Card games are generally legal in California, making the state the perfect option if you are coming from Hawaii to gamble. Many forms of blackjack are available, including classic blackjack, Spanish 21, and 21+3.
Craps
Craps is permitted on-site at Indian casinos in California. That’s your best bet for legal casino gaming if you’re coming from Hawaii.
Craps is a fun dice game played against the house. You set a ‘point’ with two dice, then place bets on the next numbers thrown in comparison to the previous number. It’s a similar game to the one you can play at the best real-money casino apps.
Casino Poker Games
Casino poker games are widely available at California’s tribal casinos. Table games like Three Card Poker and Face Up Pai Gow are popular, as are commission-free baccarat games.
While there are no Hawaii casino options, you can visit states like Oregon and California to enjoy the best tribal casinos. It’s the perfect answer to filling the void left by Hawaii land-based casinos.
Let’s quickly focus on some of the tribes on the west coast of the US that currently offer casino gaming:
Hawaii casinos don’t exist, at least, not legally. Despite attempts to regulate gambling in the state, officials are reluctant to compete with gambling destinations like Nevada and Atlantic City. That means that state coffers are not filled with gambling tax dollars from Hawaii casino games.
You could still be liable for tax if you play at the best real-money online casinos. Any large payouts or jackpots should be declared on your IRS return when it comes to filing it.
It’s important to keep up to speed with your tax affairs when accessing top live dealer casinos or when playing slots. You can offset any online gambling losses against your winnings. However, if the government judges your winnings to be part of your regular income, you could be liable.
Hawaii casinos have not been legalized, and they don’t look like being regulated any time soon. There have been moves to permit poker games and sports betting at Hawaii’s unlicensed gambling parlors, but the plans have not been popular.
There is currently no legal gambling in Hawaii. That includes charitable gambling options like bingo and raffles. Hawaii is also one of the few US states not to have a functioning lottery.
There are currently no legal Hawaii casinos at all. Most casinos on the west coast in states like Oregon and California have also introduced a smoke-free policy.
No, there is no horse racing in Hawaii, nor is there pari-mutuel betting and OTB facilities. You may be forbidden from accessing ADW (Advance Deposit Wagering) websites online too if you are from Hawaii.
No, Hawaii has banned all greyhound racing and wagering on races. You may be able to bet online, though most ADW (Advance Deposit Wagering) websites prohibit Hawaiians from placing bets.
Hawaii has some of the strictest gambling laws anywhere in the US. The state has no recognized legal Hawaii casinos, nor is there a state lottery. Charitable gambling like bingo is also outlawed.
No Hawaii casino sites are operating in The Aloha State. The nearest B&M casinos are a 5-hour flight away in California, where you can play at dozens of tribal casinos and poker rooms.
No. Hawaii is one of the few US states where charitable gambling is prohibited alongside other forms of gaming. The rules include lotteries, bingo, and raffles.
Hawaii has no plans to open any casinos. However, some senators are keen to permit limited poker and sports betting at unlicensed gambling dens in Honolulu. The proposals have met with stiff resistance.
There are few resources to help Hawaii casino players who have developed problem gambling. Gamblers Anonymous meetings do take place in larger towns and cities, but there are not many official state organizations offering help.
Are you ready to take your online gambling experience to the next level? Sign up for the LetsGambleUSA newsletter and get the latest news, exclusive offers, and expert tips delivered straight to your inbox.
