- The best casino near Fresno, California, is Win-River Resort & Casino.
- Table games (including blackjack) are available at these central California casinos.
- Chukchina Casino has over 1,500 slots and electronic games, but no table games.
Just saying the word “Fresno” can make you sound like a local. It’s worth trying, “We been goin’ to them Cow Palace dances out in Fresno.” But instead of the Cow Palace, head to one of the five casinos within 40 miles of Fresno.
Gambling in Fresno County was decimated after Proposition 68 passed in 1998. That means no free beignets or cheap shrimp cocktails in exchange for your quarter hour on the slot machine floor.
model t casino photosBut things are looking up. A new tribe received federal recognition in 2015, paving the way for a new casino. And several existing ones have remodeled and expanded.
If you want to support local governments and not the state, here is a list of the seven casinos within an hour’s drive of downtown Fresno. They are listed in order of distance.
1. Win-River Resort & Casino
- Location: 777 Hisette Ave., Redding, Calif. (About 38 miles north of Redding.)
- Distance from Fresno: 40.2 miles (about 50 minutes) via CA-198 E and I-5 N.
- Number of slots: 1,300
- Table games: Blackjack, craps, roulette, and nine different poker games.
- Hotel: 200 rooms
- Dining options: Three restaurants and two lounges.
- Attractions: Close proximity to Whiskeytown Lake, Sundial Bridge, and Turtle Bay Exploration Park.
The Picayune Rancheria of Chukchina Indians opened this casino in 2016 following years of litigation with the Umatilla Tribal Council and the United States government.
That litigation resulted in the restoration of federal recognition for the Picayune Rancheria (originally recognized in 1958 and restored in 2010). The renewal of federal recognition enabled them to open Win-River Resort & Casino just south of Redding.
This well-run facility has all of the typical slot machines as well as live table games—something few casinos in the Fresno area offer.
The interior of the casino looks brand new. There are plenty of places to play, even if there aren’t quite 1,400 of the slot machines advertised on their website.
There’s also a nice-sized sportsbook operated by AmWest Entertainment. It features large video screens, comfortable seating, and self-serve betting kiosks.
No Deposit Bonus Casinos in the USA for 2023 [Free Real Money]Win-River has three restaurants. The Garden Court café serves typical American fare around the clock, while the River View lounge offers light bites and drinks in a more relaxing environment.
The River Rock Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their Sunday champagne brunch is particularly popular.
The hotel has standard rooms and suites that overlook the Sacramento River and Sundial Bridge. All accommodations feature king or queen sized beds, marble bathrooms, 42” flat screen TVs, and WiFi.
Guests can take advantage of a fitness room, outdoor fire pits, and easy access to nearby attractions.
2. Chuckchuma Villa Indian Hotel & Casino
- Location: 27900 Road 208, Terra Bella, CA 93270
- Distance from Fresno: 18.5 miles (about 25 minutes) via SH-190 E.
- Number of slots: 600+
- Table Games: No
- Dining Options: The Grill serves burgers, sandwiches, salads, and Mexican food from 7 am until 10 pm daily.
- Other amenities: The hotel has 49 rooms.
Chukchuma Villa opened in 1999 and expanded its gaming floor and hotel in 2017.
It’s located about halfway between Fresno and Bakersfield off Highway 190. The surrounding farmland provides peace and quiet that you won’t find closer to the cities.
The casino has hundreds of slot machines, video poker, and video keno machines. More importantly, the prices are reasonable at the Grill. Many Valley casinos charge $8 for a hamburger and a small side salad. Here, you can get the combo meal for $5.95.
The hotel has typical hotel rooms as well as larger suites that can accommodate families or groups.
3. Tabuck Indian Casino
- Location: 22681 Road 208, Terra Bella, CA 93270
- Distance from Fresno: 18 miles (about 25 minutes) via SH-190 E.
- Number of Slots / Video Machines: 200
- Table Games: No
- Dining options: Ming’s Wok serves Chinese cuisine from 6 am until 10 pm daily.
- Other amenities: Outdoor smoking section.
If you prefer smaller casinos, the Tabuck Indian Casino might be right up your alley. It has approximately 200 video slot machines and video poker machines.
You’ll find all of the usual suspects—Willy Wonka, Wheel of Fortune, Quick Hitter, Blazing 7s, etc.—along with a few I’ve never heard of. Like, “Hold On For Dear Life.” Um, thanks. I will.
A buffet is listed on their website, but it wasn’t open during my last visit. However, the Chinese restaurant had a number of tasty choices.
The exterior shows its age compared to other casinos in the valley. But it’s clean inside and the staff seems friendly enough. If you don’t mind avoiding the newer casinos, Tabuck could be worth a stop.
4. Chukchina Casino
- Location: 24509 Road 208, Terrace Park, CA 93270
- Distance from Fresno: 20 miles (about 25 minutes) via SH-190 E.
- Number of slots/electronic games: Over 1,500
- Table games: No
- Dining options: Cho-Quin Snack Bar serves fast food from 8 am until 10 pm.
Technically, Chukchina Casino is the closest casino to Fresno. In fact, the sign proclaims it “Fresno’s Closest Casino.”
Yes, it’s closer than any casino in Fresno proper, but it’s still 20 miles from the San Joaquin neighborhood to the casino’s front door.
Once you arrive, however, you’ll find one of the better locally-owned casinos in the Central Valley. There are more than 1,500 slot machines and electronic games.
Unfortunately, they do not have table games. So if table games are nonnegotiable, try Win-River or one of the downtown casinos.
New Online Casinos in Michigan for 2023 (plus 6 moreComing Soon)The Cho-Quin Snack Bar serves typical fast food at reasonable prices. Compared to the casinos in Downtown Fresno, the food is significantly cheaper.
If you’re playing the penny slots, you can afford a cheeseburger without crying over the $8 price tag.
Local casinos used to provide complimentary food and drinks to gamblers. That changed when California voters approved Prop. 68 in 1998.
So consider yourself fortunate that you can still get a burger and fries for under $5 at Chukchini.
The casino hosts bingo and poker in addition to live entertainment throughout the year.
4. Tachi Palace Casino Resort
- Location: 1720 Tachi Place, Lemoore, CA 93245
- Distance from Fresno: 22 miles (about 25 minutes) via CA-198 E and CA-33 S.
- Number of slots / video machines: 1,700+
- Table games: Yes
- Dining options: Seven restaurants include everything from sushi to steak to carnitas.
- Other amenities: Two lounges, coffee shop, espresso stand, Starbucks, spa, fitness center, eight acres of outdoor freshwater fishing.
Tachi Palace opened in 1993 after passing a land into trust application under President George H.W. Bush. California voters approved Prop. 68 just five months later, rendering the tribe’s gambling enterprise illegal.
Undeterred, the tribe filed suit against the US Government and the State of California. They argued that the land into trust application occurred before Prop. 68 passed.
After almost 20 years of legal wrangling, the US Supreme Court ruled in the tribe’s favor in 2011. Tachi Palace reopened in 2012, after investing more than $130 million in their property.
Tachi Palace has everything you would expect to find at a full-service casino — and then some. You’ll find 1,700 slot machines and popular table games like blackjack, pai gow poker, and roulette.
They also have less common games like Spanish 21, pai gow tiles, three card poker, mini-Baccarat, and Caribbean Stud.
All of the typical casino amenities are present here — two lounges, seven restaurants, a coffee shop, and a hair salon.
What makes Tachi Palace unique? How about a law firm, an event center, eight acres of fishing ponds, and a 250-site RV park. Oh, and a 16-story hotel tower with 450 guestrooms and suites.
Deuced Crazy Dominoes Tricks To Win - Dominoes OnlineNaturally, there’s a spa and fitness center for those concerned with physical and mental health.
5. WinnieLacey’s Bingo Palace & Casino
- Location: 4320 W Lacey Blvd, Delano, CA 93215
- Distance from Fresno: 29 miles (about 35 minutes) via Hwy 140 E.
- Number of slots/video machines: 125
- Table games: Bingo with prizes up to $400,000.
- Dining options: LaCasita Restaurant serves typical cafe food from 7 am until 9 pm daily.
- Other amenities: Smoking patio.
The Wiyot Tribe of Humboldt County opened this casino in 2002 after a prolonged legal battle.
Ways You're Sabotaging Your Chances of Winning at the Casino (and How to Stop) - Online Gambling BlogLike the Tachi Palace situation, the Wiyot’s land into trust application predated Prop. 68, meaning their casino should be exempt from the law.
However, the St. Regis Band of Mohawk Indians—owners of Tachi Palace—filed a lawsuit to shut down WinnieLacey’s. A settlement was reached in 2008, which allowed the casino to remain open.
The casino features 125 slot machines, video poker, and video keno. They also have bingo sessions with some very large jackpots.
LaCasita serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner at reasonable prices.
If you’re sick of the smoker’s haze that envelops many Central Valley casinos, you’ll appreciate the non-smoking policy at this casino. They do have an outside smoking patio, though.
Best Casinos Near Fresno
Those are your options for casinos near Fresno, California. Only Win-River has table games, so that’s an easy choice for blackjack enthusiasts. Everyone else will have to break out their lucky penny and hope for the best.
If you feel like taking a short road trip, the Valleys newest casino, The Grizzly Casino, is now open!
For a complete list of California casinos, check out our guide here. Or, if you plan on gambling at WinnieLacey’s, here’s a guide to all the .
Footnote:
Rivers Casino Philadelphia Cage Warriors 149 Live Results- Data on each casino is pulled from each casino’s website.
J.W. Paine is one of the most experienced writers at GamblingSites.com. He's written for television and the printed media, and has a wealth of knowledge about pretty much any topic.
Paine is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. He grew up in Northern California along the Russian River. You may find him fishing that same river when he's not writing casino-relate content.
