"It's fancy. It's schmancy. And Red Hawk Casino in Placerville (El Dorado County) is the newest gambling establishment in Northern California. Considering the facility is the first in the state to offer on-site day care for kids up to age 12, one could argue it's a great place for the whole family.

Red Hawk opened in December, so it doesn't have much history to speak of yet. The casino is owned by the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and operated by Minnesota-based Lakes Entertainment. Though Lakes doubled its revenue after the casino opened, the facility has not been immune to economic slowdowns - it cut 250 jobs earlier this year.

Red Hawk has a plethora of gaming options. Table games are the main attraction - more than 75 in all. Highlights include a variety of blackjack options (single-deck, double-deck, multi-deck and Blackjack Switch), three-card poker and pai gow poker with a side bet that pays more when the dealer has a particularly lousy hand. There also are a few tables of card-based roulette, Let It Ride and baccarat. The facility has about 2,000 slot machines, including a host of progressives and video poker. One thing that's noticeably absent: a poker room."

Get the Story:
Gaming by Matt Vilano: Red Hawk Casino: New gaming spot in Placerville (The San Francisco Chronicle 5/28)