The California Las Vegas Review for February 2026

California Hotel and Casino opened January 1, 1975 and it was the first ever Boyd Gaming resort.

Founder Sam Boyd has a genuine rags to riches story, starting out as a dealer in Las Vegas in 1941. He worked his way up the ranks, to pit boss, then shift manager, before earning enough to buy a small stake in Sahara casino resort and The Mint Las Vegas.

Sam, along with his son Bill Boyd, joined together to acquire Eldorado casino in Henderson before setting up Boyd Gaming and developing The Cal. The company continues to be ran by the Boyd family today led by Sam's granddaughter, Marianne Boyd-Johnson.

The California opened with one 11-story hotel tower housing 325 rooms at a cost of $10million. In 1982, as part of a $1M renovation, the much-loved wrap-around neon sign was added to the front of the building that can still be seen today.

A second 14-story hotel tower was added in 1984 and extended in 1994, bringing the total room number to 781. At the same time, an overhead walkway was added to the second floor connecting The Cal to Boyd’s recently purchased Main Street Station Casino.

Although The Cal didn’t start with Hawaiian theming, Boyd quickly realized that by establishing it as a Hawaiian casino, he could corner the market on that demand. Boyd had gone to school in Hawaii and knew the culture, so he started serving Hawaiian food in the resort and creating a more casual atmosphere in the casino. Meanwhile he offered vacation packages and chartered flights offering airfare for as low as $9.90 and by 1985, 70% of the resorts clientele were Hawaiians. 

The plan certainly seemed to work, and by 2006, Boyd Gaming was charting 10,000 Hawaiian tourists to Las Vegas each month. Consequently, Boyd extended the theme to their other downtown Las Vegas resorts Main Street Station and Fremont Casino.

The impact of Boyd’s Hawaiian marketing was so influential that it is credited with helping to build a large Hawaiian community in Las Vegas, earning it a nickname as the Ninth Island.

Location 

The California Hotel and Casino is located in the downtown area of Las Vegas just behind the famous Fremont Street Experience.

It has a corner position, with sister resort Main Street Station and downtown’s newest resort Circa, on opposite corners.

The Fremont Street Experience is just a couple of minutes’ walk, where you will find seven casinos, bars, nightly live music, street entertainers and spectacular nightly shows on the Viva Vision canopy.

Other close-by attractions include the Mob Museum which is less than five minutes’ walk, plus the Container Park and Neon Museum which are around 20 minutes on foot.

To access the Las Vegas Strip, there are plenty of taxi and rideshare options available or you can choose to take the Deuce bus. With a bus stop at the far end of Fremont Street, you can travel the full length of the Strip stopping at all the big casino resorts on the way.

The Deuce runs 24/7, is really cheap and you can buy single trip, one day or three day passes to hop on and off as often as you like. Be warned though, it doesn’t go quick!

If you are travelling from Harry Reid International Airport to The Cal then unfortunately, the fixed rate taxi fee doesn’t apply to downtown properties, so you can expect to pay up to $30 - $40 for the journey.

For guests arriving by car, onsite parking is available and complimentary for hotel guests. If you are here to gamble or eat in the restaurant and you exceed a minimum spend of $30 in a restaurant or achieved a minimum of 10 Tier Credits while gambling, you can have your parking ticket validated.

The casino floor at California Hotel and Casino is just under 36,000 square feet which is about average for downtown casinos in Las Vegas.

The rectangular shaped casino has table games in the middle with slots and electronic table games around the outside and at each end. Although the majority of casino games are on the lower floor, there is a small selection of slots on the upper floor too. Plus, you get to ride on the narrowest escalator I’ve ever seen to see them.

By design, the casino has a more relaxed ambience than other casinos in Las Vegas. Of course, there’s the usual bells and whistles coming from the slot machines and the occasional cheer from winners, but it doesn’t have the hustle and bustle that you’d normally expect from a Vegas casino.

This is on purpose of course. And the slower pace of the casino is complimented with floral carpets, tropical themed greenery and artwork plus a warm and welcoming waitress service.

Personally, I think the Hawaiian theming is subtle, much more subtle than I expected it to be. Its definitely more about Hawaiian culture than theming.

There’s obviously Hawaiian themed food and drink options, Hawaiian themed events and little touches like the waitresses wearing flowers in their hair, but it’s certainly not obvious or in your face. In fact, the first couple of times I visited The Cal I didn’t even notice it so don’t expect sandy beaches and hula dancing when you go.

Table Games Selection 

There were around 20 live table games when I visited offering all the usual favorite games. The good news is, that unlike Main Street Station over the road, The California casino table games are open 24/7.

The games on offer are: 

• Blackjack
• Craps
• Roulette
• Three Card Poker
• Pai Gow Poker
• Let it Ride Poker

The Cal has a reputation when it comes to craps specifically after one customer made history back in 1989. Craps gambler Stanley Fujitake rolled dice 118 times for a world record of three hours and six minutes without losing – coining the phrase "The Golden Arm."

His record was eventually beaten in 2009 in Atlantic City, but people still come to roll dice in the same casino as Stanley Fujitake despite the Cal not having great craps odds.

I found both 3:2 and 6:5 blackjack as well as double zero roulette and on the day I visited, table minimums started at $10 and $15 but this will no doubt increase during busy periods.

If electronic table games are more your thing, then there’s a good selection of single player and multi-player games at The California. I saw blackjack, roulette, craps and crapless craps on offer at the rear entrance to the casino.

Slots

With around 900 slots, there’s plenty to choose from at The Cal. For players who prefer modern video slots you’ll find most of the well-known games here such as Dragon Link, Buffalo and Huff n’ Puff variations.

And for those who enjoy old-school mechanical reel slots, there is a significant number to choose from, many of which have networked progressive jackpots. There’s a wide selection of retro video poker games and even a section for coin operated slots which is rare to find these days.

Because of the layout of the casino, the level of comfort varies while playing slots depending on where you are. At the rear of the casino, I found the slots to be nicely spaced and there was lots of elbow room. This has a lot to do with the larger size of the newer cabinets.

Whereas alongside the table games and at the front of the casino, the older games with smaller cabinets are tightly packed in rows, so it can feel a little crowded and cosy.

Some of the most popular games you can find at Main Street Station Casino include:

• Quick Hits
• Wheel of Fortune
• Buffalo Carnival
• Hot Stuff
• Dragon Link
• Prosperity Pearl
• Double Bonus Poker 

I played for a while on Buffalo Carnival and was lucky enough to hit the carnival bonus ending up with a nice win. Unfortunately I then gave it all back to Hot Stuff, but I had fun and ended up even.

Something that The California Hotel and Casino does offer is a live keno lounge. The keno lounge is open from 7am until 10pm every day and you can get a multi-game ticket with up to 1,000 games on a single ticket.

Bar-Top Gaming

You will find bar-top games in both the Cal Sports Lounge and Holo Holo – The Happy Bar at The Cal.

Whether you enjoy playing video poker at the bar or just want a more social setting to play slots, the bar-top game terminals are a nice way to spend a couple of hours. Plus, you’re handy for those complimentary drinks.

They don’t have the widest number of games on offer, but you can usually find a small selection that can include VP, blackjack, keno and slots. And as long as you keep on playing, the drinks should keep coming.

Different bars use varying systems for determining when you’re due a drink, but if you haven’t been offered one after a while, or at all, then just ask the bartender. And always remember to tip.

Sportsbook 

The Cal Sports Lounge is a great place to both watch and bet on sports, right in the center of the casino.

Here you’ll find a Boyd Sportsbook where you can wager on professional football, basketball, soccer, hockey, tennis, baseball, golf, MMA, UFC, and NASCAR. You can also bet on college football, basketball, and baseball.

Although Boyd aren’t known for offering the most competitive odds, they do allow prop bets and some in-play betting too on the bigger events. You can place bets on the Boyd Sports betting app or at the betting window in the sports bar.

If you want a more comprehensive (and spectacular) betting experience then its worth checking out Circa just over the road from The Cal. I won’t say too much, just prepare to be wowed! 

Waitress Service 

As previously mentioned, waitress service at California Hotel and Casino has that warm personal touch and is provided by waitresses with flowers in their hair.

On this visit, the waitress service was excellent and I have honestly never known it to be poor on previous visits either.

As with all Vegas casinos, as long as you’re gambling on the casino floor, you should be offered complimentary drinks by waitresses who circulate the gaming areas.

The good news is that it doesn’t matter how much you’re spending, it can be as little as 50c a spin, you can still get drinks. Just remember that although the drinks are free, it is customary to tip the waitress. Especially if you want her to return to take another order!

High Limit Gaming at California Hotel & Casino 

I didn’t see a specific High Limit gaming area within California Hotel and Casino, but sometimes it is just a small selection of slots within the casino.

Always check the denominations available on the slot games. If the lowest denomination is 10c or higher then the minimum stake is probably around $5 and it would therefore be classed as high limit.

Cash and Payment Options 

Card payments aren’t accepted when it comes to gambling in most Las Vegas casinos, so you’ll always need cash if you want to have a flutter.

You feed cash directly into the slot machines to play and swap cash for chips with your dealer at the tables.

When it comes to cashing out, slots don’t pay out cash. Instead, they distribute a TITO (Ticket in, Ticket Out) voucher which you would then redeem for cash at one of the machines around the casino.

At the tables, you take your chips and cash them out at the cashier cage.

If you need to get cash on the casino floor, then ATM’s are available just be aware that they do charge an increased withdrawal fee.

Outside of the casino, the California Hotel & Casino has a bright, colourful and stylish design. The lobby area is smart and sleek with feature lighting, vibrant artwork and comfortable seating.

The last renovations were made in 2016, but the resort still feels quite fresh and well-presented if not ultra-modern.

Continuing the Hawaiian theme, there’s an almost minimalistic beach hut vibe to the styling which is found in the communal areas, corridors and rooms too.

California Hotel & Casino Rooms

There are five different types of rooms at the California, although I personally wouldn’t recommend staying in a Deluxe Room. At only 284 square feet it is one of the smallest rooms you will find anywhere in Las Vegas and I don’t think it’s worth losing space and comfort for a slightly cheaper price.

I booked a Premium King room, and at 364 square feet, it still wasn’t particularly spacious but still much more comfortable.

The room was bright and neutral in colour and it had a little touch of a beach hut vibe that I mentioned earlier. Quite minimalistic in design, there were hints of colour in the soft furnishings and artwork but ultimately it was clean and stylish. I particularly liked the shutters on the window.

With a set of draws, open wardrobe, desk area and a seating area with soft chairs and a table, the room layout was nice. The bathroom was surprisingly big and had a huge mirror with a double shower too.

All the usual amenities were there including hairdryer, iron/ironing board, TV, safe, bathroom toiletries but there was also a mini refrigerator for personal use too.

Ultimately, I was actually quite impressed with the room at The Cal but that was probably because my expectations were low to begin with. Being honest, the rooms aren’t going to dazzle you like some of the Strip mega resort rooms can, but they are going to provide a clean, stylish, well-presented and comfortable room to relax in. What more do you want really?

Bars 

The two main bars at California Hotel and Casino are the Cal Sports Lounge and Holo Holo.

The Sports Lounge is right in the centre of the casino and it is a great way to relax, grab a drink and watch the game. There’s a mix of comfortable seats, high-top seating and bar stools and you can play bar-top games too.

The best bit about the lounge though is the sports and there are several large TV screens all around the bar to watch. The Boyd sportsbook is also inside if you’d like to place wagers.

Holo Holo - The Happy Bar is situated towards the rear of the casino, and has a limited number of seats directly at the bar. The Holo Holo bar is actually on the casino floor, so you’re right in the thick of the action as you sip your drink. You can also play bar-top games if you choose and the drinks include frozen slushies and Hawaiian themed cocktails.

Buffets and Restaurants 

California Hotel and Casino has four main dining options, the most elegant of those being Redwood Steakhouse. This classic steakhouse has an upmarket feel to it and serves steak, seafood and generous side dishes Thursday to Monday 5pm until 10pm.

For Hawaiian visitors who want to taste some home-style island food, there’s Aloha Specialties which is located upstairs. Here you can enjoy popular island fare such as teriyaki plates, stews, curry, noodle dishes and rice bowls. The restaurant has an outdoor feel with native art on the wall and the tables and chairs covered with the "aloha" prints that you'd see in Hawaii. 

More casual dining can be found at Market Street Café which is open 24/7 serving a range of American dishes with Hawaiian specialties too including their famous Oxtail soup. For fans of Asian food, there’s California Noodle House which is open for dinner five days a week.

California Hotel and Casino doesn’t have a buffet, but sister hotel Main Street Station Casino does. The Garden Court Buffet is open daily from 8am until 2pm for brunch and on Friday and Saturday evenings 4pm – 9pm for dinner. It’s just a quick trip over the internal walkway and well-worth it if you love all you can eat buffets.

If you have a sweet tooth, then head to Lappert’s Ice Cream Shop and/or Ethel M Chocolates upstairs.

Lappert’s offers specialty blends of coffee, drinks, breakfast pastries and of course, ice cream. Meanwhile Ethel M Chocolates provides premium chocolates within the Mars brand portfolio including delicious caramels, exquisite truffles and signature Crème Liqueurs. You just try walking past without buying something, my mouth is watering just thinking of the smell.

Shows and Entertainment 

Other than the casino and the sports bar, the only other form of entertainment on site at The Cal is the arcade. This is located on the mezzanine floor and has a small number of arcade games suitable for a family audience.

The main entertainment downtown is Fremont Street Experience which is a long paved street with a huge LED canopy screen above it. It has a party vibe, and is definitely not suited to a family audience so be aware of that if you go, especially in the evening.

As well as street entertainers and shops, you’ll find several other casinos with bars and restaurants. There are three stages hosting nightly live entertainment, Viva Vision shows every thirty minutes and the Slotzilla zip line which I highly recommend.

Other close-by attractions include the Mob Museum, Container Park and the Neon Museum. Don’t forget that you can also take the walkway to Main Street Station Casino which is full of fun artefacts and antiques from a variety of different sources. The items include cars, snooker tables, chandeliers and even a piece of the Berlin Wall. There’s just one snag with that last one though, it’s in the men’s restroom.

There is no spa at California Hotel and Casino, but there is a pool and a fitness center.

The 20 foot by 40 foot pool is located on the roof top and provides lounge seating and day beds around it. Guests of The Cal can use it for free just by showing their room key. However, please be aware that guests of other Boyd casinos Main Street Station and Fremont Casino can also use it, so it can get busy during peak times.

The pool is open daily from 8am until 8pm but only during the pool season which is usually March to September.

The newly remodelled fitness centre has a range of equipment including treadmills, exercise bikes, ellipticals, yoga mats and resistance equipment too.

As with all Boyd Gaming casinos, California Hotel and Casino is part of the Boyd Rewards loyalty program.

The good news is that because all Boyd casinos offer the same program, it is possible to earn and redeem points at all 27 properties which are located in ten different states.

You have to be 21 or over to join Boyd Rewards and you can join easily by taking photographic ID to the rewards desks in any Boyd casino.

Once signed up, you can earn Boyd Points and Tier Credits by using or showing your Boyd Rewards card whenever you gamble. Simply slide it into the machine when you play slots, or hand it to your dealer at the tables and ask for your play to be rated.

The more Tier Points you earn, the more rewards you will receive as below:

Ruby (0 – 749 Tier Credits) – discounted hotel stays and 10% off retail purchases plus use Boyd Points to fly with Hawaiian Airlines

Sapphire (7500 – 14,999 Tier Credits) – All of the above plus start earning Boyd Points redeemable for food and FastPlay and receive 15% shopping discount

Emerald (15,000 – 49,999 Tier Credits) – All of the above plus a complimentary annual cruise on Holland America Line plus receive VIP amenities and services

Onyx (50,000 – 199,999 Tier Credits) – All of the above plus complimentary Pualani Elite Status with Hawaiian Airlines and an annual luxury gift

Titanium (200,000 Plus Tier Credits) – All of the above plus receive a luxury gift package each year and receive the top level of service in all Boyd Gaming properties

You earn points by gambling - $1 on slots and keno and $2 on video poker will get you one Boyd Point.

With regard to Tier Credits - $5 on the slots and keno will award one Tier Credit while you can also pick up credits by playing table games and video poker but this varies depending on stake level, type of game and time played.

When it comes to claiming rewards, 1000 Boyd Points will earn $1 in FastPlay or towards retail spend.

Boyd Rewards doesn’t really compare with the likes of MGM Rewards and Caesars Rewards in terms of value, but nevertheless, if you’re gambling in a Boyd casino, it always pays to use your card and rack up points. You never know what benefits might follow.

California Hotel and Casino is marketed as a Hawaiian themed casino, but that doesn’t really describe what it is. Yes, there’s clearly an affiliation with Hawaiian visitors and for that reason, some of the amenities and services have a Hawaiian slant, but that’s not all it is.

It took me a couple of visits and a bit of reading to really catch on to the Hawaiian thing. Before that, I just took The Cal to be another cool downtown casino with its own range of food and drink options.

Staying there for the first time, I got a new appreciation for the property. The room was better than I expected, and the service I experienced from different staff members was excellent. But it clearly has limitations and can’t compete with the likes of the mega-resorts.

For me, The Cal is a good little casino to come to when you want a break from the craziness of Fremont Street. It has a relaxed atmosphere, a good choice of games and a nice sports lounge too. It’s nothing ground-breaking, but it doesn’t need to be, so you can just enjoy it for what it is.