Red Hawk Oct 2025
October 4th, 2025 at 10:56:43 AM
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PART I
My mother-in-law got a free room (on Friday and Saturday night!) to Red Hawk Casino, which is in California along Highway 50, about 35 miles east of Sacramento on the way to Lake Tahoe.
I hadn't been there since long before they built the hotel. Among the first things you notice when entering the casino is self-serve sodas and coffee—they still make the place an attractive rest stop!
The hotel looks quite nice—it matches the decor of other nearby California casino resorts. The rooms are slightly smaller than others (one-sink bathroom, no tub), but still comfy.
I met up with the family after the stroke of midnight on Saturday, Oct. 4. I was hopped up on coffee so I went downstairs to check out the gaming. There were 1.5 craps-with-cards tables with $5 minimums, so I went to the table where one side was closed, and I pulled out a Grant. People were making lots of hardways and world bets, and seemed to take their time dice setting with their little rituals. When it was my turn to shoot, I quickly grabbed those dice and flung 'em for maximum randomness. I rolled pretty well (making two points) and made people money on their sucker bets. I was betting single odds mostly until I put down double odds and placed the 6 and 8 on one guy's roll. Of course, he immediately 7-out—disaster! I finished down $27
Walked around and noticed 25-cent JoB was 7-5. At $1, it's 8-5. Bonus Poker pays even money on two pairs but 5 on the straight. I wasn't feeling VP tonight. $15 minimum for baccarat and Face Up Pai Gow Poker. $5 for their version of UTH. Also had roulette using cards. Mostly newer slots—none of my favorite early 2000s IGTs.
They had one $10 3-2 blackjack table. They advertise $5 blackjack daily. They also advertise a 55 Club, where I can bet $5 at a $10 table if I wish (they place a special lammer). I chose to just play the $10 minimum. After a bunch of small cards came out of the shoe, I sat, bet, and won. Ups and downs, and I couldn't get lucky on any double-ups to $20. Lost $20.
Went back to craps. I love how old-timey it feels to play $5 minimums. It occurred to me that they use regular dice instead of the ones with colors and circle patterns, but just match the numbers to the cards representing the pips. One of the dealers had to think to take a dollar chip from my $6 odds bet on the 9 and pay me $10 for the win. He also forgot to pay me on one of my place bets until I reminded him. Another decent run, but when it was about 2:45am, I finished this session ahead only $14.
A security guard in front of the hotel elevators has you badge in your room key before you get on.
My mother-in-law got a free room (on Friday and Saturday night!) to Red Hawk Casino, which is in California along Highway 50, about 35 miles east of Sacramento on the way to Lake Tahoe.
I hadn't been there since long before they built the hotel. Among the first things you notice when entering the casino is self-serve sodas and coffee—they still make the place an attractive rest stop!
The hotel looks quite nice—it matches the decor of other nearby California casino resorts. The rooms are slightly smaller than others (one-sink bathroom, no tub), but still comfy.
I met up with the family after the stroke of midnight on Saturday, Oct. 4. I was hopped up on coffee so I went downstairs to check out the gaming. There were 1.5 craps-with-cards tables with $5 minimums, so I went to the table where one side was closed, and I pulled out a Grant. People were making lots of hardways and world bets, and seemed to take their time dice setting with their little rituals. When it was my turn to shoot, I quickly grabbed those dice and flung 'em for maximum randomness. I rolled pretty well (making two points) and made people money on their sucker bets. I was betting single odds mostly until I put down double odds and placed the 6 and 8 on one guy's roll. Of course, he immediately 7-out—disaster! I finished down $27
Walked around and noticed 25-cent JoB was 7-5. At $1, it's 8-5. Bonus Poker pays even money on two pairs but 5 on the straight. I wasn't feeling VP tonight. $15 minimum for baccarat and Face Up Pai Gow Poker. $5 for their version of UTH. Also had roulette using cards. Mostly newer slots—none of my favorite early 2000s IGTs.
They had one $10 3-2 blackjack table. They advertise $5 blackjack daily. They also advertise a 55 Club, where I can bet $5 at a $10 table if I wish (they place a special lammer). I chose to just play the $10 minimum. After a bunch of small cards came out of the shoe, I sat, bet, and won. Ups and downs, and I couldn't get lucky on any double-ups to $20. Lost $20.
Went back to craps. I love how old-timey it feels to play $5 minimums. It occurred to me that they use regular dice instead of the ones with colors and circle patterns, but just match the numbers to the cards representing the pips. One of the dealers had to think to take a dollar chip from my $6 odds bet on the 9 and pay me $10 for the win. He also forgot to pay me on one of my place bets until I reminded him. Another decent run, but when it was about 2:45am, I finished this session ahead only $14.
A security guard in front of the hotel elevators has you badge in your room key before you get on.
Last edited by: smoothgrh on Oct 4, 2025
October 11th, 2025 at 4:40:57 AM
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$15 min on Pai Gow Face Up isn't too bad of a time to spend, assuming a decent gambling budget for the trip.
The $5 club thing sounds like such a basic marketing thing I'm surprised more places don't do it. I can't imagine it gets too confusing for the dealer after a week of dealing.
If they're not using marked dice, could someone in theory do a switch off for gimmicked dice and be able to manipulate the table's rolls? That sounds weird.
The $5 club thing sounds like such a basic marketing thing I'm surprised more places don't do it. I can't imagine it gets too confusing for the dealer after a week of dealing.
If they're not using marked dice, could someone in theory do a switch off for gimmicked dice and be able to manipulate the table's rolls? That sounds weird.
