Yaamava' Resort and Casino (formerly San Manuel Casino) is a tribal casino and hotel on the San Manuel Indian Reservation in San Bernardino County, California. It is owned by the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation. Opened as a bingo hall in 1986 and renamed in 2021, it has more than 7,500 slot machines, a 17-story, 432-room hotel and the 3,000-seat Yaamava' Theater.
History The original San Manuel Bingo opened on July 24, 1986. In 1994, the bingo hall was expanded to a casino with slot machines and card games. The facility was renamed San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino. Further expansion occurred with the passage of Proposition 5 in 1998 and Proposition 1A in 2000, which authorized the state to sign compacts with Indian tribal governments to expand tribal gaming. The bingo hall was closed in 2017 and replaced with slot machines.
In a case regarding unionization of the casino's employees, the Federal Court of Appeals found, "for many years, the Tribe had no resources, and many of its members depended on public assistance. As a result of the Casino, however, the Tribe can now boast full employment, complete medical coverage for all members, government funding for scholarships, improved housing, and significant infrastructure improvements to the reservation." Some employees are members of the Communication Workers of America Local 9400.
In 2021, the facility was renamed Yaamava' Resort and Casino at San Manuel, in conjunction with opening a 432-room, 17-story hotel tower, the hotel and the theater were part of a $760 million expansion of the property. Yaamava is the Serrano word for "spring" and the tribe has stated it is a metaphor for rebirth of the casino. Another reason for the name change was to disambiguate the efforts of the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority, the entity which runs the Palms Casino Resort, which the tribe purchased in 2021 and reopened in 2022.
Overnight guests who cannot be accommodated at Yaamava' can stay at the Bear Springs Hotel, approximately two miles away, also owned by the tribe. The hotel was the designated overnight accommodations for the casino prior to the opening of the resort.
In April 2025 the tribe changed its name from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation. The property marked its 40th anniversary on July 24, 2026.
Entertainment In March 2022, Yaamava's entertainment chief, Drew Dixon, signed a partnership with Live Nation to book touring artists during time off from their tours. It was reported by the Los Angeles Times that Yaamava' pays millions of dollars to artists to play there, comparable to the amount they earn at arena shows. The next month, the Yaamava Theater opened a 3,000-seat concert venue with a 3,800-square-foot stage, with Red Hot Chili Peppers being the inaugural act. All shows at the Yaamava Theater are open to fans over the age of 21.Details about the Yaamava' Theater
Casino The casino floor covers two levels with more than 7,200 slot machines, the most of any casino in California and the Western United States, and over 150 table games including blackjack, baccarat, pai gow poker, Mississippi Stud, Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em. Five high-limit rooms, including The Enclave, The Vault and Lotus 8 Palace, and about 40 high limit table games, with table limits of up to $25,000.
Awards and recognition Yaamava' was named Property of the Year – North America at the 2024 Global Gaming Awards Americas. In the 2023-2026 Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards, the Serrano Spa received a Five-Star rating and the hotel and The Pines Modern Steakhouse each received Four-Star ratings. AAA awarded the hotel a Four Diamond rating in 2023 and added it to its Five Diamond list in December 2024. In USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, it was voted the best casino outside Las Vegas, and The Pines the best casino restaurant, in 2023, 2024 and 2025. The World Casino Awards named it California’s Best Casino in 2021 and 2022 and North America’s Best Casino in 2023. The Pines Modern Steakhouse holds Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence.
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References
External links Official web site