I wanted to do a quick recap of my trip last Sunday to cache creek.
Friday i was talking on the phone with my buddy. Both of out girlfriends were going to be out of town for the weekend, so we made our plans to screw around on Sunday. I wanted to go to a live casino and try betting the way suggested to me in my other post about going to Tahoe.
We rolled out of the east bay area about 8am and got to the casino about 9:30, good time.
I had stated to my friend that my reason to going was to play craps, that's it. I wanted to go sunday because i knew it would be a $10 min table on sat night.
Sure enough the craps table was already going with about 5 people playing and yes $5 min.
The sign on the table was '5-500' and nothing else, so i bought in for my 200 BR and asked what the table odds were. The dealer replied that it was 3-4-5. Did not matter because of the BR, but i was curious.
Played for about three hours total, at any point i was never down more than 80, and after it was all done i had came up by 97 when i colored up. My win goal was 100, so i call that close enough and toss the dealer the two dollar chips.
The play i used was close to what was Rec by the other members, but new for me as i had become used to playing pass+1x+place 6/8, this time i did PL+1X+2 comes1x ea.
If the point was made i had to decide whether to let the come bets ride out or add more, and if i was up, I would add one for a total of 4 working #'s. Worked out....mostly.
As per the advice from this board, i asked to keep my come odds working during come outs, and this did make me nervous....lost a couple times and won a couple times. Keep the faith, in the math that is! So i will prob do that more, but not if running low on chips.
Another thing i did that was out of my norm was to tip generously, I have read many comments here about this subject, and to be truthful i used to only tip the 'boys' was when i sometimes would play the hardways at 1/ea and 1 for them. Toss in a red.
This time was much different though, after hitting two points, I played 1PL followed by 1Xfor them.
the first time i did this it won, and i felt more respect from the dealers. Over the three hours I did this 7-8 times and it won 5 of those, plus I also did hard 10/4 two way for $2 only when it was the point. This hit for them also! It did seem to raise the dealers enthusiasm for the game, and i liked that. Also knowing that because of me they had another 30-40 in tips.
So, all done it was a great day. Left ahead, tried new things, and added close to 100 to the Tahoe BR. Sorry about rambling on here, should I have just put this in blog??
My advice to anyone reading- Try something new, but remember the Wizard's signature.

My first thought upon reading your post was, 'Is there a California casino that has a 'real' craps game, or is this some version of card craps?' So I went to the casino's web site, to their page for table games, and found that they don't even list craps of any kind as a game that they offer.
Next, I downloaded a copy of their gaming rack cards, and, sure enough, they list rules for craps. In the fine print, it just says 'Dice do not determine the outcome. See game for details.'
So what's the full story?

Yes, it is based on cards.
One red die, Faces odds, 1,3,1,3,1,3
One Blue die, Faces even, 2,4,2,4,2,4
Higher number displayed is the card turned over, three cards dealt, top sluffed, and one card in red box and one card in blue box, whichever die shows a higher number indicates which box for the dealer to reveal.
My friend hates this version, and i prefer the 'real' thing, but this works fine. I think it's 8 decks of A-6.

Their cards have pictures of the dice on them, so there are 36 cards for the 36 possible dice combinations.

Thanks for the clarification. I have played that version of card craps someplace in California.
If the game is to be card craps, I really prefer the version in which the shooter rolls two standard dice. The box man has six cards, Ace through six, that he shuffles for each new shooter and then places them in six rectangles on the felt marked one through six. When the dice are rolled, they dictate the two boxes (or just one box in the case of a double), and the card(s) in the box(es) indicate the value of the roll. It is essentially equivalent to rearranging the pips on the faces of the dice with each new shooter. Rearranging the pips makes it more complicated for someone who thinks he can control/influence the dice, but the feel is very much the same as a real craps game, and the dealer has less frequent intervention in establishing the outcome.
I can't remember which California casino had that version when I was there. I have also played the version in which there are no dice at all, just cards that are shuffled and revealed.

Gambling calls to me...like this ~> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nap37mNSmQ

Doc - Sorry to give you false hope. I don't mind the card version, but some people do.
I would prefer to go to reno/tahoe, but that place is close to home, not too far for a day trip.
NicksGaming - Thanks, i was wrong above, they are pics of dice on the cards
Timspeed - Why do you like jackson best? is it better somehow or just the game structure?
I have played cache creek, thunder valley, and river rock, but none of the Socal ones, or jackson.
I have plans to hit up lakeside inn per the recs here.
I can hardly wait, Tahoe bound in ~48hours. I'm going to work late tonight and try to earn an extra hundred or two, can't hurt right.

Gambling calls to me...like this ~> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nap37mNSmQ

800-992-8686

Brooks

CA

95606

38.74

-122.15

(at the corner of Wintun Road)

2.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

4.0

3.0

Huge casino complex. Numerous parking lots. No signage or personnel directing folks where to park We chose to park our two forty foot rigs with toads, in one of the lower lots located between the two fire departments. This lot was completely empty and appeared unused. Although it was sloped in both directions, we found an area within this lot that would work well for both rigs. When we checked in with security we had to move, and the only lot we could use consisted of a small dirt parking area at very top of the resort (hence the referenced good views). While the views were nice, it was a real challenge to find two spots in this lot that would allow us to get 'almost' level. Smaller rigs would have no problem in this lot, but it definitely was not for larger rigs. We pleaded with several levels of 'higher ups' asking them to make an exception to their 'policy' to no avail. We were made to feel like they really didn't want RV's in their facility. It's a bit out of the way if your'e traveling the I-5 corridor, and certainly for us was not worth the detour.

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4.5

4.0

4.0

5.0

5.0

RVs are welcome for overnight parking and camping. The usual RV parking lot is currently closed due to the construction of the new hotel tower, so they are asking RVs to park in the top lot. This is gravel, and slopes, but has a magnificent view out over the whole Capay Valley. We drove the toad down to the casino each time and used the free valet, but there is also a free shuttle. You can walk from the RV lot down the drive way to the road and flag it down, or just call the hotel desk. It runs 24 hours.
They still have the deal of getting $25 per person credit if you sign up for the players club. That buys two buffet dinners on a weeknight or one and a half on weekends. The buffet is excellent.

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3.5

4.0

3.0

3.0

4.0

Security patrol met us shortly after arrival and escorted us to the uppermost car park where we found a reasonably level site, only needed a 2 inch board under one side, nice view overlooking the casino and valley.
Bus shuttle to casino approximately every 15 minutes - 24 hours, to return simply ask valet attendant to call shuttle.
New members receive $25 card which can be spent on anything except gaming or alcohol - we had an excellent buffet dinner for two and when leaving in the morning used the other card for gas!
Fuel station has only one entry/exit, so may be a bit tight for big rig with toad.

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3.3

4.0

2.0

4.0

Stopped here for one night on our trip south to Palm Springs.
RV parking is North of the Casino close to the Fire Hall. The parking lot isn't huge but there was plenty of room for the 5 RV's that were parked overnight. The lot slopes two ways so no matter how you park you are going to have a job levelling your RV. The casino is a bit of a hike off I5 and very rough which gave everything attached to or in our trailer a good shake up. The lot was patrolled by security but no one stopped to talk.
Casio gives new players a $25 credit for gas and food. Had supper at the buffet my card covered me and my wife with $1 left.
Didn't use the Casino.
Bought gas when the truck was unhooked would not attempt it with trailer or motor home.
Overall good night's stay.

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Cache Creek Casino at Brooks, California (N38 44.157 W122 08.622)
2-3 hours south-west of Rolling Hills is another Indian casino, officially called Yocha Dehe , it is located on Hwy 16, north off I-505, the freeway bypassing Sacramento from the north joining I-5 to San Francisco. Easy enough to find, Cache Creek is enough off the beaten path to eliminate most truckers. Becoming a theme of my casino camping career, I made a wrong turn en-route leading to an unscheduled tour of local farmlands. Roads were getting so small that I thought maybe they would run out in a field somewhere (a concern for me because I can’t reverse to turn around with the Jeep hooked up). Eventually I made a 10 mile circle and got back to the highway.
On arrival, I parked in the south lot as it was large and fairly flat, although a fair hike to the casino. Once there, a friendly security lady told me that RVs should go to the north lot, around the other side. This I did and found a few other campers on a sloping, paved surface underneath the local fire hall. Using a single board under each downside tire and the air-levelling system, I managed to flatten out. Almost immediately, a shuttle bus arrived to take me to the casino. An excellent service, these continued all evening and for all I know, through the night.
The buffet, at $11.95, was exceptional, as most of them are, so I pigged out and returned “home” to rest in my chair in front of the TV. The buffet is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays. In total, there are 8 food outlets including a Chinese restaurant, steakhouse Grill, a deli, sports bar and others that I forget.
New patrons to Cache Creek are given a $25 credit on their Player’s cards. Strangely, these are designed to be spent only on secondary services such as food services, gift shop, even fuel at the service station plus golf, but not for gambling. I didn’t totally understand the rationale here but happily chowed down two meals for free and then, in a fit of remorse, donated $10 to one of the slots.
Golf, at $90 was a little rich for my blood, so I decided to pass on that. The course, just up the hill from the casino, appeared very picturesque.
Cache Creek is the biggest casino that I have ever seen with slots and table games stretching to the interior horizon. It also has a huge, city sized parkade for valet-parked vehicles. Primarily it seemed to cater to an Asian market coming in tour buses, one presumes, mostly from San Francisco and also Sacramento, which is not far to the east.
A local side trip takes one to an olive-oil plant run by the tribe. I was out of season but the opportunity to purchase something was certainly there.

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