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I have to give it to them - they had several $5 minimum tables. However, because The Spa is so accessible, such a nice casino and very popular locally, even in the off season, it was crowded on a Saturday night. I was willing to play $10 minimum, but only found one blackjack table playing $10 minimum and the crowd waiting for a seat was as large as the ones at the $5 minimum tables. There were $15 and $25 minimum tables with seating. As the night progressed, even those filled up, although not as persistently as the lower limit tables.

I finally caught a seat at a $5 table, so here's my review of the blackjack play at The Spa.

Because it's so crowded at ALL the blackjack tables, once you get a seat, you better keep it or you will lose it and have to wait to catch a departing player again. If there are idiots who don't know how to play - or who are drunk and apparently don't care how they play - you either have to grit your teeth, bet the minimum and hope they don't screw up your hand too much, or give up your seat and wander around like you're lost in the desert until you can get another seat. (Or give up on The Spa entirely and go somewhere else that's less crowded.)

The dealer stands on soft 17, which sucks.

Some of their tables are hand shuffled shoes. The table I sat at had a shuffling machine, but it was broken. Later in the night (early the next morning), when they closed that table and I moved to another, there wasn't even a shuffling machine. Sometimes I like that it gives everyone a chance to take a break without missing any play, but there seemed to be an extraordinary number of hemming and hawing players, drunk players, and players who just weren't paying attention when I was there and with the hand shuffling, it really slowed down the play.

I would tell serious blackjack players to avoid this place on a weekend night. I would try it again during the week and earlier in the day and if I do, I'll report back. However, I would avoid it on a weekend night. I won money but it was a long, hard night full of drunk, screaming girls and players who acted like they'd done no homework before sitting down to play. ]]> Julianne Weight Southern CA Casinos 2008-05-11 12:09:38 http://www.cacasinoguide.com/ca-casino-reviews/southern-ca-casinos/19-spa-resort-casino.html Susan Gill Southern CA Casinos 2008-01-07 20:09:25 http://www.cacasinoguide.com/ca-casino-reviews/southern-ca-casinos/19-spa-resort-casino.html
THE PARKING: Off season: Large open lots with plenty of close parking on weekdays. On season: Parking is a little tougher, you may have to walk from the second lot.

THE CASINO: Spa Resort Casino pioneered Palm Springs gambling... graduating from a series of tents attached to the original hotel to its current casino complex a block over.

Spa is truly a luxury casino targeted at high-end players looking for a night of casino action to enhance their resort experience. Don't expect many penny slots (although they have a few banks spread throughout the casino). The majority of Spa Resort's 1000 slots are video nickel, quarter and dollar machines... so prepare a bigger bankroll if you're planning on staying longer than a few hours. Also, because its in the middle of town, the casino can get quite crowded during Palm Springs' high tourist season.

For a smaller casino, Spa Resort Casino has an relatively high number of table games including Pai-gow, Let It Ride, 11 poker tables in their Poker Room (they're on the World Poker Tour circuit), single/double/6 & 8 deck blackjack and a their own "Hot Water Craps" game (which is a version of craps that uses cards instead of dice).

THE FOOD: Because there is so much nearby dining in the town of Palm Springs, we haven't eaten at any of the casino restaurants yet.

THE SPA: We intend to try the spa on our next visit.

THE HOTEL: We've stayed the night in the original hotel where the rooms were a little pricey but fine. We'll stay in the remodeled rooms soon and report back!

THE ODDS: With a bankroll averaging $300, you'll have a good time at Spa Casino... but you'll need a little more luck to come out ahead because of the shorter playing time.

THE PAYLINE: For a quick conventient gambling fix among other activities... you can bank on Spa Resort Casino! ]]> Hope Southern CA Casinos 2007-02-25 11:00:44