Station Casinos of Las Vegas gambles at Graton Resort & Casino in Bay Area

I was a Las Vegas craps dealer in 1980 living in an apartment across the street from the Bingo Palace (now Palace Station) owned by Station Casinos on Sahara Avenue. I left Las Vegas because I didn't like taking money away from gamblers at the craps tables. Now Station Casinos has weaseled its way to my hometown area of San Francisco. It took 1:15 to drive from my home in the East Bay to the casino and here is my story...

On November 5, 2013, the Graton Resort & Casino opened with thousands demanding the doors to open early. Once inside the casino, it was a madhouse! The crowds have lessened since then and the jobs once promised was a pipe dream. Expect massive layoffs soon as most new casinos do after a grand opening. Smoking is allowed in 90% of the casino and prohibited in the poker room and restaurants. The resort and casino is owned by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, but Station Casinos from Las Vegas manages the property. The Rohnert Park land was bought by Station Casinos and the construction was financed by them. They have a seven year contract to manage it.

The video poker at Double Double Bonus (DDB) video poker was 9/6 at $1, but the payouts were lower at less amounts. Many continuous shuffling machines (CSM’s) at the blackjack tables, which renders card counting at blackjack as useless. Some single/double deck blackjack with pathetic 6:5 blackjack payouts. Saw one eight deck shoe (no CSM) with 3:2 blackjacks. 3,000 slot machines litter the casino floor. The slot machines were not paying out! No one was winning!! If a gambler is in the Graton Casino slots area during a major earthquake, no need to panic, nothing ever hits in there!!! On a positive note, Graton has 34 EZ Baccarat and Dragon Bonus baccarat tables with $15/$25 minimums. The side bets at these baccarat (mostly mini baccarat) tables can be turned to the players advantage through card counting.

With the $800 million debt load to buy the land and build the casino and the terrible payouts for players, why is it called Graton Resort & Casino without a hotel, spa, and golf course etc.? They don’t even have a buffet! Where is the gamble if it’s difficult to win? Players will gamble at other casinos where their gambling money lasts longer. One can sign up for the Graton Rewards Loyalty Club and likely receive $5 free play. Graton Casino falsely advertised up to $500 in free play which fooled many in its television ads in the Bay Area. Graton Rewards points can be applied at Station Casinos in Las Vegas since they manage the casino. Who allowed Station Casinos to come into the San Francisco Bay Area to fleece its residents?

In 2000, Proposition 1A was voted in by Californians who authorized the governor to negotiate compacts with federally recognized Indian tribes on Indian lands in California to operate slot machines, lotteries and banking and percentage card games, subject to legislative ratification. Graton Casino circumvented the law by reservation shopping with Station Casinos who bankrolled the project. How convenient Graton Casino is located off the heavily traveled Highway 101 and close to my home. You can run from the casinos, but you can't hide from them.