Video game

Play video games, smoke a cigar or see major concerts at these Southern California casinos – Press-Enterprise


Take a visit to Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage on a Wednesday night and you’ll see players deeply focused as their eyes are trained on flashing screens, but they’re not playing slot machines — they’re playing video games in series such as Smash Bros, Mortal Kombat and Dragon Ball Z in one of the casino’s weekly eSports After Dark video game tournaments.

The tournaments, which give winning participants prizes such as cash and gaming-related items, are just one of the ways the Rancho Mirage resort has sought to engage its clientele in a novel way. Throughout Southern California resorts are leaning into activities and experiences that don’t revolve around traditional gambling, from video game tournaments to cigar lounges to upscale entertainment and festival venues.

That may be because modern casino patrons want more secondary experiences, according to Chris Thornberg, director of UC Riverside School of Business Center for Economic Forecasting and Development.

“The gambling by itself is no longer sufficient entertainment for people,” Thornberg said in a recent telephone interview. “They want everything else.”

Here are some of the unique, non-gambling amenities casinos already have or will add in coming years.

Entertainment Venues 

Many of the casinos have places to take in a concert and some of them are designed for big name acts and the huge crowds they can generate.

Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage’s 2,101-seat performance venue, The Show, recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and has attracted some really big name acts over the last decade, including Steven Tyler, Jerry Seinfeld and Duran Duran. The Show has been nominated for multiple awards from concert industry publisher Pollstar.

Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula has two different venues, the 1,200-seat Pechanga Theater and the 3,000-seat Pechanga Summit; the latter of the two venues is regularly packed when foreign language shows or big name artists come through.

Casino Pauma upgraded its Pauma Pavilion from an 815-seat tent like structure to a larger structure with new sound and lighting systems and room for 1,160 people.

Other casinos with their own entertainment venues include Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa; Fantasy Springs Resort Casino; Pala Casino, Spa & Resort; and Soboba Casino Resort. San Manuel Casino will soon join the list when it completes its 3,000-seat event center in 2021.

Pivat Cigar Lounge 

Late last year, Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage opened its Pivat Cigar Lounge. The space not only features roughly 100 cigars of varying sizes and strengths inside a temperature- and humidity-controlled humidor, but also large, plushy leather chairs for lounging, a bar with wine, spirits and specialized cocktails, and food service from nearby fine dining restaurant The Steakhouse. The cigars range from $5.50-$51. For people who aren’t experienced cigar smokers, staff members are ready to cut and light cigars and make recommendations.

Coachella Crossroads 

In early 2019, the Twentynine Palms Band of Mission Indians made its 47-acre festival property, Coachella Crossroads, available to rent. The grass-covered area is adjacent to the tribe’s Spotlight 29 Casino. Adam Levy, marketing manager for Spotlight 29, said in a telephone interview in August that a few different companies have already expressed interest in the festival property and that Spotlight 29 will be announcing at least one festival in the future.

Topgolf Swing Suite

Chucking dodgeballs at virtual zombies is just one of the activities available to guests who visit Topgolf Swing Suite, a virtual sports lounge that was finished at Harrah’s Resort Southern California in Valley Center in February. The lounge has two large screens where guests can play virtual golf, hockey, and dodgeball games using real equipment. The lounge also offers food and beverage service.



READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.