Casino Player September 2022

THE BEST OF GAMING 2022

Best Overall Gaming Resort: Seven Feathers Casino Resort

Native Northwest

T ribal casinos are nearly as varied as the terrain in the Native Northwest. Dozens of casinos are scattered throughout Washington, Oregon and northern California. Some in sparsely populated lands support a small gaming floor with a single restaurant or snack bar. Others are posh places to unwind, chock full of dining options, showrooms, spas and other amenities. Each adds its own flavor to a region with diverse natural wonders. Whether you’re seeking ocean, mountain, forest or stream getaways, the Native Northwest has a bit of everything. Casinos big and small operate under different sets of gaming conditions, according to the tribal compacts within their states. In California, tribal casinos can deal house-banked card games such as blackjack and Three Card Poker that are not permitted in commercial card rooms. In Washington, slot machines aren’t the random number generator games you get in Las Vegas and most other jurisdictions, nor are they the Class II electronic bingo games with slot interfaces some tribal casinos use in other states. Instead, they’re tribal lottery terminals that look like slots, but are the equivalent of video scratch-off cards, distributed by a central processor. Oregon has RNG slots as well as blackjack, craps, roulette—the games you find in most of the country. This year, top honors goes to Seven Feathers Casino Resort for coming in as Best Overall Gaming Resort. The property, located in Canyonville, OR, has become one of the premier casino resorts in the Pacific Northwest and is owned by the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and offers brilliant views of the nearby mountains and forests. The property’s hotel boasts 300 rooms as well as 68,000 square

feet of gaming space with 900 slot machines, numerous table games, a bingo hall and keno. Seven Feathers earned top billing for Best Hotel, Best Rooms, Best Suites, Best Spa, Favorite Casino Resort To Vacation At, Best Non Smoking Casino/Area and Best Bingo. The spectcular ilani in Ridgefield, WA, is a favorite among players and performed well again this year. The resort features over 100,000 square feet of gaming and entertainment space with 3,000 slots, 75 gaming tables and 15 different restaurants, bars and retail shops. Even more is yet to come with a 14-story, glass-encased tower hotel expected to be unveiled in 2023, with nearly 300 rooms. The property is operated by Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment under an agreement with the Cowlitz Tribe. ilani took the top awards for Best Casino, Best VIP Lounge/Services, Best Comps, Best High Limit Room, Best Video Slots, Best Carnival Games, Best Craps and Best Roulette. Angel of the Winds Casino Resort scored a third-place finish this year. The property, located in Arlington, WA, is owned by the Stillaguamish Tribe—a federally recognized Indian tribe in the Puget Sound area since before 1855. The property received accolades for Best Hotel Staff, Favorite Casino Resort For A Staycation, Best Hosts and Best Keno. The property also scored big in the sports betting area, finishing in the top spot in three of five categories.

Best Overall Gaming Resort ❶ Seven Feathers Casino Resort ❷ ilani ❸ Angel of the Winds Casino Resort

9 0 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 • w w w . c a s i n o c e n t e r . c o m