Player's Club Update

The far northeastern corner of California is probably the most remote part of the state. It's several hundred miles to any of the major metropolitan areas. It's not on the way to anyplace significant, and thus has no Interstate Freeway crossing its remoteness. Modoc County, of which Alturas is the county seat, is one of the largest and least populated counties in the state. The entire county has two stoplights, both of them located in Alturas. Alturas is also home to one of the few Native American casinos in that part of the state, the Alturas Desert Rose Casino (usually just referred to as just the "Alturas Casino"). I don't like to be completely negative, for folks . . . what a dive this is! It consists of two double-wide trailers placed together. With low ceilings, dark carpet and cramped quarters it is one of the most depressing casinos I've ever visited, with no redeeming value that I can find. My guess would be they have about 80 machines, most of them slot machines. There are perhaps 10 video poker machines of the multi- game, multi-denom type. The paytables are predictably awful, with 7/5 Jacks or Better, 9/6 Double Bonus, 8/5 (but with the payout for two pair just 1 coin) Bonus Poker, 9/6 Double Double Bonus, and 17/7 Kings or Better Joker Wild at levels from .05 through $1. They also have a small bingo area, two blackjack tables that deal six deck shoes when they are open (usually on weekend evenings or "on request"). There is no restaurant, just a tiny snack counter in the front of the casino. I didn't check to see if they had a slot club because, frankly, I didn't really care once I saw the inside of the place. To get there, as you are entering town on Highway 395 from the south, turn right on county road 56. This is the street immediately past the Modoc County Historical Museum on your right. Go straight for about one mile (heading east of town) and you'll see the sign. The vast majority of casinos have – in my opinion – at least some redeeming value. I can usually at least say something like "worth a stop if you happen to be driving by" if for no other reason than to have a cheap meal. The Alturas Casino is an exception. I can't see a reason to ever stop by here even if you happen to be driving through this remote town California town.