Harrah's Southern California Casino & Resort Valley Center Ca
LATEST UPDATES: Tracking COVID-19 Racial Justice
Friday, September 4, 2020
By Camille von Kaenel / inewsource, Jennifer Bowman / inewsource
Photo by Zoë Meyers / inewsource
Above: Harrah's Resort Southern California in Valley Center is shown on Sept. 3, 2020. A former executive is suing Harrah's over the casino's reopening.
Welcome to Southern California’s first tribally-owned brewery. Rincon Reservation Road is creating quality craft beer using sustainable ingredients and the flavors of Funner, CA right here at Harrah’s Resort Southern California. Harrah’s Resort Southern California in Valley Center has turned a portion of its former buffet into a quick service Italian restaurant. Che Bello opened Friday, July 3, and features pizzas, pastas. Whether you're looking for a weekend getaway or a San Diego Spa, come to Harrah's San Diego Resort & Casino! Click to see what Vegas-style action you can enjoy. Harrah's Resort Southern California is an award-winning hotel and casino that has even earned the number one Best Casino award according to USA Today, and as such, it is a prime choice for a number of travelers and tourists alike. It has plenty of options when it comes to on-site entertainment, live shows, room accommodations, and restaurants.
A top executive at Harrah’s Resort Southern California who quit the day before the casino reopened is suing his former employer, claiming he was forced to resign after management ignored his concerns that the decision was dangerous and could expose visitors to COVID-19.
Darrell Pilant, the Valley Center casino’s former general manager and senior vice president, filed the lawsuit against Caesars Entertainment Inc. in San Diego Superior Court on Monday. He alleges the company’s decision to reopen in May resulted in “serious adverse health and safety consequences involving employees and customers contracting COVID-19.”
Aired 9/4/20 on KPBS News
Listen to this story by Camille von Kaenel of iNewsource.
San Diego County confirmed to inewsource this week that 217 local residents who have contracted COVID-19 reported being at a casino within two weeks of becoming ill. Twelve of the people were hospitalized and one, a casino patron, died.
The cases are tied to seven of the county’s nine tribal casinos and involve 76 employees and 141 guests, county spokesperson Sarah Sweeney said. She noted that even though those who tested positive visited a casino during their potential exposure period, it doesn’t mean they contracted the coronavirus there.
The county has refused to name specific businesses where outbreaks have occurred, including casinos.
The Rincon Band of the Luiseño Indians owns the Valley Center casino. It uses the resort’s revenue to fund tribal government services for its more than 500 members and 5,000-acre reservation. The tribe contracts with Las Vegas-based Caesars Entertainment, the largest gaming company in the U.S.
Tribal casinos are on sovereign land, meaning they don’t fall under the jurisdiction of state or local health officials. When they reopened after a roughly two-month closure, many other businesses in the county remained closed.
Like the other casinos, Harrah’s reopening plan includes requirements for face coverings, social distancing and increased sanitation.
Bo Mazzetti, chairman of the Rincon Band, said in a recent newsletter that the tribe “literally took the lead” to coordinate with other tribes and government officials for reopening.
Harrah's Resort Southern California Spa
“Rincon’s position was that someone had to take charge and do something for Indian tribes and reservations throughout the state,” he wrote in the newsletter.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and local health officials opposed the decision to reopen. In a letter to tribal leaders, Newsom said he understands casinos are crucial to funding their government services. But, he wrote, “I cannot stress enough that the risk of COVID-19 transmission remains a serious threat for all Californians.”
In his lawsuit, Pilant claims he was repeatedly assured that Newsom and the county were “on board” with reopening. Despite Pilant’s repeated concerns to management about health and safety risks, he said the company gave him an “illegal and dangerous” directive to lead the reopening.
He called it “a matter of ‘right and wrong’ and what Caesars was doing was wrong.” His last day at work was May 21, a day before Harrah’s reopened the casino’s doors.
Pilant’s suit argues he was “constructively terminated” and under his contract is eligible for severance equal to a year’s worth of his salary, a figure that was not included in court documents. He’s also seeking unspecified damages.
He declined to comment when reached by inewsource. Pilant’s attorney, Anthony Pantoni, did not respond to phone calls or emails.
A nearly 23-year employee of Caesars Entertainment, Pilant had held positions with the company in other states before coming to Harrah’s Resort Southern California in 2011. He was promoted to general manager in 2016, overseeing all casino operations.
Pilant serves on several community boards, including the Palomar Health Foundation and the San Diego Food Bank.
The Rincon Band, which through a spokesperson declined to comment for this story, citing the litigation, is not named as a defendant. Mazzetti is quoted in an Aug. 26 news story in the Valley Roadrunner saying no COVID-19 cases have been identified at the resort or on the reservation.
A Caesars Entertainment spokesperson for the Rincon property did not respond to phone calls and emails from inewsource.
Casinos in the county did not respond to inquiries from inewsource seeking their case numbers. An official from the Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Nation, which owns the Sycuan CasinoResort in East County, has previously confirmed the casino worked with the county to investigate cases involving those who tested positive for COVID-19.
The pandemic is a “fluid situation” for casinos, Eddie Ilko, Sycuan’s safety manager, told inewsource.
The casino has already made some changes to its safety measures since reopening, said Ilko, who also is chairman of the National Indian Casino Safety Association. Sycuan has banned smoking in certain parts of the resort, required face masks more robust than bandanas and gaiters and added employees to enforce policies.
“We had to learn on the fly,” Ilko said. “This was something new for everybody.”
The casino has also added surveillance resources, he said, to track people’s movements who are later found to have tested positive. This makes it easier to alert guests or workers who were within six feet of those infected with the virus.
Sweeney said the county works closely with tribal health authorities on individual cases and contact investigations but “has not made any definitive connection between any casino employee and a patron.”
Still, county officials say visiting a casino puts a person at higher risk for contracting COVID-19 and have “repeatedly commented that going to a casino is not essential,” Sweeney said in an email.
“Those who do go are encouraged to review the precautions that the casino is taking to prevent illness,” she said.
inewsource is an independent investigative journalism organization embedded in the KPBS newsroom. It is a nonprofit 501(c)3 supported by foundations, philanthropists and its own separate membership base.
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Harrah's Southern California Casino & Resort Valley Center Calendar
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Harrah’s Resort Southern California is one of the most well-known casinos in the region, featuring a huge number of games, a popular event hall, and a luxury hotel. Operated by Caesars Entertainment Corporation, it provides high-quality guest amenities and amusement. Below, we’ll go into detail about what Harrah’s Resort Southern California has to offer.
Harrah’s Resort SoCal Fact Table
| Year Opened | 2004 |
| Phone Number | 760-751-3100 |
| Address | 777 Harrah’s Rincon Way, Funner, CA 92082 |
| Number of Games (est) | 1,700+ |
| Minimum Age to Gamble | 21-years-old |
Games To Play At Harrah’s Resort SoCal
Harrah’s Resort SoCal has a multitude of games for guests to enjoy, including slots, table games, poker, and more.
Table Games
Harrah’s Southern California resort is equipped with 61 table games, which is far more than local competitors. The games available include crowd favorites as well as Harrah’s-specific games, like:
- Blackjack
- Rincon Craps
- EZ Baccarat
- Asia Poker
- Fortune Pai Gow Progressive
- Mystery Card Roulette
- Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em
The casino also offers weekly blackjack tournaments, presenting an opportunity to win big prizes from large cash pools. Additionally, guests who are part of the Caesars Rewards program will receive points, special event invitations, and other rewards every time they play any table game.
Slots
Harrah’s Resort SoCal offers tons of different slot options for enthusiasts. Reel slots, video slots, and a wide variety of single and multilevel progressive slots can be found across the 55,000 ft.² casino floor. There are over 1,700 slots in total, including these favorites:
- Cash Machine
- Dragon Link
- Treasure Ball
- Buffalo Gold Revolution
Card Room
Harrah’s Resort SoCal Card Room is one of the most popular card rooms in the Southern California area. It has 12 poker tables, each with excellent seating and amenities. No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em is available for weekly tournaments and daily games. The daily tournaments normally run at 12:00 pm and 7:00 pm from Friday to Sunday with approachable buy-ins of $30 and $40.
Other Promotions
After all these activities, Harrah’s Resort SoCal also gives guests a ton of opportunities to take advantage of promotions. Promotions totaling $100,000 or more in cash and prizes are relatively common, so even frequent attendees of this casino will find new chances for interactivity and excitement.
Harrah’s Resort SoCal Events, Venue, And Eateries
Harrah’s Resort SoCal doesn’t skimp when it comes to events. In fact, the casino features a 23,000 ft.² event hall, which is a multi-use, versatile space that has hosted many famous names in the past. Former and upcoming guests including Amy Schumer, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Bill Burr, and Alice Cooper.
The event hall seats 2,200 guests and has excellent acoustics. As a result, it’s a perfect hall for concerts, comedy shows, and conventions. While Harrah’s Resort SoCal closed down like the majority of other entertainment venues during the coronavirus pandemic, the casino is rescheduling most of its major performers for the upcoming months.
Dining
Besides full-on events, Harrah’s Resort SoCal is also worth checking out because of its various eating establishments. There’s the Café, an open-space location that provides comfort food. Fiore is one of the best steakhouses in town, while Che Bello is famous for its pizza and Italian cuisine.
‘Ritas Cantina is a great option for Mexican dining. There’s also KJ Chinese Restaurant and Oyster Bar. Aside from these main eateries, the casino features several bars where you can grab a drink, socialize, or take a breather before heading back to the gaming floor.
Harrah’s Resort SoCal History
Harrah’s Resort SoCal operates under the same legal allowances as other tribal casinos in California. Since the casino is on tribal land, it isn’t subject to state laws that ban casino gambling.
The casino first opened in 2001 as Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort. In 2012, when the casino underwent a $160 million expansion, it also changed its name to Harrah’s Resort Southern California. The expansion saw the construction of the 403-room hotel tower and the 23,000 ft.² event center, all of which was completed in 2014.
In 2016, the Rincon Band of Luiseno Mission Indians renamed the territory, on which the casino is built, as “Funner”. Overall, Harrah’s Resort SoCal’s history is a story of evolution, flexibility, and continuous growth.
Check out our complete Guide To California Tribal Casinos.
Harrah’s Resort SoCal Tribal Casino FAQ
Harrah's Southern California Casino & Resort Valley Center Ca Menu
Harrah’s Resort SoCal requires you to be 21-years-old to gamble. While the legal gambling age in California is 18-years-old, the casino raises it to prevent underage drinkers from illegally acquiring alcohol.
No. However, California tribes are pressuring state legislators to allow sports betting both for brick-and-mortar casinos. The earliest that this measure could appear on the ballot would be 2022.
Harrah’s Resort SoCal is regulated by the National Indian Gaming Commission, which also regulates the gambling activities of other tribal casinos throughout the state.
Harrah’s Resort SoCal offers the Caesars Rewards card program. When you sign up for this card, you’ll be able to earn points just by enjoying activities at the casino. These points can be redeemed for rewards or prizes, or even discounts on your current stay!
Harrah's Southern California Casino & Resort Valley Center Calif
Harrah’s often offers jackpots for certain occasions and on specific days. In December 2016, the casino’s “Year of the Millionaire” jackpot was won by a lucky man named Spencer B, who took home a giant check for $1 million.