Native American tribes operate seven casinos in east and north San Diego County. The leader is probably Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino, located at 1000 Wildcat Canyon Rd., Lakeside (tel. 888/7-BARONA or 619/443-2300; www.barona.com). Take I-8 east to Calif. 67 north. At Willow Road, turn right and continue to Wildcat Canyon Road; turn left, and continue 5 1/2 miles to the 7,500-acre Barona Reservation (allow 40 min. from downtown). The casino features 2,000 Vegas-style slots, 54 table games, and a 125-seat off-track betting area. The resort (which includes 397 guest rooms and an 18-hole championship golf course) is alcohol-free, but not smoke-free (Indian reservations are exempt from California's nonsmoking laws).
Sycuan Casino & Resort is outside El Cajon, at 5469 Dehesa Rd. (tel. 800/2-SYCUAN or 619/445-6002; www.sycuan.com). Follow I-8 east for 10 miles to the El Cajon Blvd. exit. Take El Cajon to Washington Avenue, turning right and continuing on Washington as it turns into Dehesa Road; signs will direct you to the casino, about 7 miles from the freeway (allow 30 min. from downtown). Sycuan features 1,800 slots, 65 game tables, a bingo palace, an off-track betting area, and a 450-seat theatre which features name touring acts. Sycuan acquired the neighboring Singing Hills Country Club, which includes 11 tennis courts, two 18-hole championship golf courses, and a 102-room lodge.
The Viejas Casino is at 5000 Willows Rd., in Alpine (tel. 800/84-POKER or 619/445-5400; www.viejas.com). To get there, take I-8 east 25 miles to Willows Rd. exit; turn left to casino (allow 40 min. from downtown). Here you'll find 2,000 slots, 80 table games, an off-track betting room, a 1,500-seat Bingo pavilion, five restaurants and a showroom. Across the road is the Viejas Outlet Center, which features the usual suspects: Eddie Bauer, Liz Claiborne, Polo Ralph Lauren, and so on.
Other places where you'll find Las Vegas-style casino gambling, off-track betting, and bingo include Golden Acorn Casino Travel Center in Campo, about 1 hour east of downtown (tel. 866/7-WINBIG; www.goldenacorncasino.com); Harrah's Rincon Casino & Resort, located in Valley Center 50 minutes north of downtown near Escondido (tel. 877/777-2457; www.harrahs.com); the Pala Casino at the foot of Palomar Mountain, about 1 hour north of downtown (tel. 877/WIN-PALA; www.palacasino.com); and the $262 million Pechanga Resort & Casino, located in Temecula, just north of the San Diego border in Riverside County, about 75 minutes away (tel. 888/PECHANGA; www.pechanga.com).
To bet on the ponies, go to the Del Mar racetrack during the local racing season (July-Sept). At any time of the year, you can bet on races being run far and wide at Del Mar Satellite Wagering, at the Del Mar fairgrounds (tel. 858/755-1167). To place a wager on greyhound racing, you have to cross the international border to Tijuana. It's a 40-minute ride by car or trolley from San Diego; from the border you'll need a cab to get to the racetrack. Bookmaker offices, where you can place a bet on just about any sport, are located throughout Tijuana.
