TRIBAL LEADERS
Top Native Gaming Properties You’ll Want To See For Yourself
The rise of Native American casinos has been dramatic over the past years, a growing trend that has made the excitement of gambling and the casino lifestyle a reality from coast to coast. Where once you had to book a vacation or plan an extended trip just to visit a casino, now for millions of gamblers it’s a good bet that there’s one within easy driving distance. But like everything else in the world, some are great, some OK, and some are just, well, there.
Here are our selections for some of the top tribal properties in the country. Each one has its own merits, nuances, and surprises, but all are fantastic casinos worth your time to visit.
LITTLE CREEK CASINO RESORT
Shelton, WA
Little Creek Casino Resort is an all-in-one luxurious destination located just minutes from Olympia in the heart of the Kamilche Valley in Shelton, Washington. Owned by the Squaxin Island Tribe, Little Creek Casino Resort is home to the nationally acclaimed 18-Hole, par 72 golf course Salish Cliffs Golf Club, the luxurious Seven Inlets Spa & Salon and the state-of-the-art Skookum Creek Event Center.
This 190-room resort boasts well-appointed amenities that include a fitness center, indoor pool and oversized hot tub, RV park with full hook-ups, free covered parking, free Wi-Fi, high tech arcade, valet services, gift shop, room service and laundry facilities. Little Creek also offers seven unique dining experiences, exciting nightlife, live entertainment and one of Washington State’s largest smoking and non-smoking casinos featuring the latest gaming including Vegas-style slots, table games, poker, keno, pull tabs and bingo—making it a terrific destination for players in or visiting the Pacific Northwest.
Enjoy your stay in any of the standard rooms, oversized spa rooms or the two room spa suite. From the moment you walk in, you will realize that the standard rooms are anything but “standard”. Rest easy in comfort and choose from one California King bed or two queen beds. All rooms are offered in smoking and non-smoking and have a 32-inch television, personal coffee pot, alarm clock, hair dryer, iron and ironing board and high-speed internet access. (ADA accessible rooms are also available upon request.)
Spa Rooms are the perfect room for a romantic evening. Order a bottle of champagne and sink into the two-person jetted spa tub for a nice relaxing soak, before crawling into the California King-sized bed. The Spa room comes complete with Essential elements BATHE products, two robes, stereo and HD Television. And the Two Room Spa Suite is your new home away from home! In addition to featuring its two-person spa tub and mini bar, this suite is perfect for a family getaway, with its California King bed and queen sized sleeper sofa with cable television in both rooms. The Two Room Spa Suite includes all the same amenities as the other two room types, and then some!
No matter what time of day or whether you’re looking for quick eats or gourmet treats, you’ll find a tempting selection of fine foods and beverages around every corner. A few of the favorites are:
CREEKSIDE BUFFET. This award winning buffet has something for everyone, offering fresh, locally grown seafood, steak cooked to perfection, tender cut prime rib and delicious desserts too!
ISLAND GRILLE. South Sound’s premier steak, seafood and chophouse offering local Columbia River Basin raised, 100 percent natural, corn-fed, hand-cut steaks cooked to perfection.
SQUAXIN ISLAND SEAFOOD BAR. The Squaxin Island Seafood Bar offers the freshest selection of seafood from the Pacific Northwest, such as clams, oysters and salmon.
SKOOKUM SPIRIT CIGAR & WINE LOUNGE. Experience the new Skookum Spirit Cigar & Wine Lounge and enjoy fresh premium cigars and fine wines and spirits while dining in a relaxing atmosphere. The humidor is well-stocked with over 70 premium cigars by Aurturo Fuente, ACID and Romeo y Julieta just to name a few!
But it’s not all about rest and relaxation, if you don’t want it to be. Little Creek is where the South Sound goes to play. The newly remodeled gaming floor is designed to set the standard for gaming fun in the Pacific Northwest. Some of the recent improvements include 5,000 additional square feet, additional table games, full service bar, remodeled Water’s Edge Café, cashier & player’s club desk and 100 new slot machines. Whether you’re simply indulging your playful side or are out to enjoy some ambitious gaming, you are sure to find everything you need to get your game on!
FIREKEEPERS CASINO HOTEL
Battle Creek, Michigan
Calling Battle Creek, Michigan home, FireKeepers Casino Hotel offers a cavernous 111,700-square-foot gaming floor housing some 2,900 slot machines, 70 table games, a live poker room and bingo room and more. Add to that a multi-purpose Event Center with seating for up to 2000, six distinctive dining destinations, numerous lounges and entertainment venues, and an eight-story, Four Diamond rated hotel with 242 stylishly designed rooms and 25 suites. Spend a little time at FireKeepers and you’ll see why we love it.
Overnight guests enjoy upscale rooms with four distinct styles. The Classic Room offers two queen-sized beds or one supreme king in an environment replete with classic touches. Step it up a notch and stay in the Deluxe Suite, a fabulously spacious room with separate sitting area, king-sized bed and a sizeable bathroom with an expansive shower and indulgent Jacuzzi tub. If you are looking to bring the heat to your next stay, consider the gorgeous Fireside Suite with its beautiful fireplace, or for the ultimate in exclusivity, there is a pair of Presidential Suites complete with a modern living room, full kitchen, a granite wet bar, and spectacular bathroom.
All hotel guests have access to an array of amenities, including a luxurious multi-level pool, steam room and sauna, exercise room and business center plus in-room high speed Internet access, dry cleaning and laundry service.
But enough of the accommodations—get ready to turn the world off and get your game on! From penny slots to the latest progressive options, all of the favorite slots are at your fingertips. Be sure to become a Red Hot Rewards Club member, so you can start enjoying the benefits and discounts right away. As a member, you can take part in the Red Lightning jackpots, which are better than ever. Play any of the slots with your Red Hot Rewards Club card and you could win a cash prize up to $75,000!
For high rollers, step into gaming luxury at the Aurora High-Limit Lounge. It’s a private haven for the Sizzlin’, Blazin’ and Inferno members, featuring a wide selection of high limit slots and table games and exclusive amenities like a fireplace lounge and a deliciously delightful menu.
Did somebody mention food? No trip would be complete without trying one of the property’s exceptional six dining options. The “must tries” are Nibi, Minjem Buffet and Smoke ‘N Fire. Nibi is FireKeepers’ signature restaurant offering everything from fresh seafood to the thick, juicy rib-eyes—a great spot for an unforgettable dining experience. At Minjem Buffet, you can enjoy an endless variety of the freshest hot and cold dishes, a tempting array of international favorites and top it off with an ever-flowing chocolate fountain. What’s not to love! Smoke ‘N Fire is the perfect spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The menu pops with classic American fare accented with delicious BBQ undertones.
Headline entertainment, live music, popular DJ’s and big screen sporting events keep the excitement going. At the Event Center, you can see some of the biggest names in entertainment, but for a more intimate venue, enjoy one of the property’s hottest niche points, like the Hotel Lobby Bar and Dacey’s Sports Bar. The Hotel Lobby Bar has the best seat in the house to enjoy a refreshing cocktail and watch the world go by. At Dacey’s Sports Bar, you can cheer on the boys in blue or your favorite race car driver. With 14 big screen TV’s and a formidable selection of local microbrews, it’s the place for great sports action.
VALLEY VIEW CASINO & HOTEL
Valley Center, California
One of our all-time favorite properties—not to mention a big hit with Casino Player readers—Valley View Casino & Hotel is a luxurious boutique hotel that combines the best San Diego gaming experience with the comfort of beautifully-appointed rooms, breathtaking views, first-class guest service and a complimentary VIP breakfast.
Located in Valley Center, California, the 108 luxurious rooms at Valley View include 96 deluxe rooms and 12 luxury suites and boast an infinity pool as well as breathtaking views of the Palomar Mountain Range. And remember, Valley View has a 21-and-over policy that means at this Southern California casino resort you can truly relax and get away from it all—sans the kids.
Valley View offers a world-class gaming experience through the most innovative slot machines, thrilling table games, a lucrative Players Club, un-paralleled guest service, a Certified Largest Non-Smoking Casino Area and more. Enjoy the casino lifestyle in a completely remodeled setting with all-new carpeting, all-new seating, a beautifully updated VIP Lounge and much more. Who knows, you could even hit a jackpot on any one of San Diego’s only Certified Loose slot machines.
Start the summer off right by enjoying UBER Ride. Receive $20 off your first UBER Ride, plus receive $5 in MOREPLAY for every $25 spent riding to Valley View.
Valley View has teamed up with UBER to offer you exclusive deals on private rides to the casino hotel. If you’re a new UBER customer, you can receive$20 off your first ride by simply using the promo code “VALLEYVIEW” on your UBER app or by visitinguber.com/GO/ValleyView. Plus, for every $25 you spend on each ride to the casino, they’ll give you $5 in MOREPLAY to use when you arrive.
If you’re looking for a good time and want the best live entertainment experience, visit the Valley View Casino Center. It has been a San Diego concerts staple since 1966 and welcomes more than 600,000 guests annually. It has become a must-play tour stop for groundbreaking artists such as the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and U2. Recent acts include Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Pitbull, Florence and the Machine and LMFAO, as well as world-class sporting events and family shows. For more information, visitvalleyviewcasinocenter.com
As another way to thank you for being a loyal guest, Valley View has partnered with San Diego’s premier entertainment venue to give you even more exclusive perks that you can’t get anywhere else. This includes access to the best tickets for top shows and the star treatment in the on-site Stella Artois Lounge. You’ll receive attention that mirrors the first-class guest service you experience at Valley View Casino & Hotel.
