Seven Seas Casino Chula Vista
CHULA VISTA, Calif. – Seven Mile Casino, a South Bay card room known for its hands of blackjack, poker and baccarat, is less than a week away from reopening to the public. The card room returns. Seven Mile Casino, Chula Vista, California. 1,768 likes 16 talking about this 4,532 were here. Seven Mile Casino is an upscale, exclusive gambling club, restaurant & bar. California Blackjack. Employees moved the 25 card tables outside the Seven Mile Casino building on Bay Boulevard in Chula Vista to underneath a 5,500 square-foot tent. 'We've got dividers set up. We've got our masks. Seven Mile Casino - 120 Photos & 106 Reviews - Casinos - 285 Bay Blvd, Chula Vista, CA - Phone Number - Yelp 106 reviews of Seven Mile Casino 'This place has transformed the area. The casino has a great restaurant / bar and many gaming tables. The casino is non-smoking but has a nice outdoor area for those that smoke.
Federal authorities raided two non-Indian card clubs in southern California and charged 25 people with illegal gambling and money laundering. The U.S. Attorney's Office said the Village Club Card Room, also known as the Seven Mile Casino, and the Palomar Card Room operated as fronts for an illegal sports bookmaking operation and were used to launder an estimated $10 million. Some of the defendants also operated illegal gambling operations in rented mansions, according to the indictment. “This indictment describes a massive operation that laundered millions of dollars in illicit proceeds,” U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy said in a press release. “We are committed to putting an end to any activity that enables criminals to hide illicit proceeds.” The FBI seized more than $600,000 during the raids. Some 21 people were arrested in various locations -- including an employee of the casino owned by the Barona Band of Mission Indians, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. “The FBI should be protecting us from terrorists, not from someone hoping to make an inside straight,” Craig Kolk's attorney told the paper. Non-Indian card clubs are legal in California. The Seven Mile Casino denied any wrongdoing and said it would work with the state to address any issues. 'Seven Mile Casino, owned and operated by Harvey Souza and his family, have worked tirelessly for the past 70 years to build upon their great-grandfather’s legacy and comply with the evolving regulations regarding card rooms across the state,' the card club said on Facebook. 'As a family and as a business, they are very much invested in the community of Chula Vista and the industry. We look forward to working with the California Bureau of Gambling Control to resolve all issues.' Get the Story:
California card clubs raided in massive gambling probe (AP 12/9)
FBI Raids San Diego-Area Casinos (NBC 12/9)
FBI raids 2 local card rooms tied to illegal gambling (KUSI 12/9)
2 card clubs raided, 25 indicted (The San Diego Union-Tribune 12/10)
Although in the middle of a pandemic, the Seven Mile Casino reopened its doors to guests, but not inside the traditional casino that was started five years ago.
'We were able to take the very best of what we had indoors and move it outdoors,” said Seven Mile Casino Spokesperson Brad Samuel.
Employees moved the 25 card tables outside the Seven Mile Casino building on Bay Boulevard in Chula Vista to underneath a 5,500 square-foot tent.
'We've got dividers set up. We've got our masks. Every single dealer is wearing a mask,” Samuel said.
On its opening day, Samuel said the goal is to keep gaming alive without risking your health.
'We have our handwashing stations and temperature checks before you come in. We want to make it safe and fun,” Samuel said.
It's putting over 250 employees back to work who said they are sanitizing poker chips and swapping out cards for new decks throughout the day. The card games available are California Blackjack, poker, Pai gow and baccarat.
Bringing in a light crowd, the casino guests News 8 spoke to did not want to be shown on camera, but several said they would come back and not just to win big, but to enjoy tasty tacos from a food truck parked on site.
'That's what we're bringing in every single day - different food, different trucks,” Samuel said.
Security cameras are at each Blackjack table to not only monitor against cheating or theft, but also to contact trace.
Samuel said if someone by chance was to come in and later say 'hey, I wasn't feeling well, and I was at Seven Mile,' they'd be able to trace that person's activity.
The large tent set-up actually yields more space than inside the existing Seven Mile casino building.
Seven Seas Casino Chula Vista
'This is certainly not a standard tent. The company that does tents for the Oscars, they came down they worked through this with us to get it set up safely,” Samuel said.
Samuel said the casino has huge air conditioning units “pumping in clean, fresh, cool air into the tent’ in order to keep guests cool while gambling outdoors.
Employees are stacking up their hopes that people will shuffle in and give outdoor gaming a try.
Seven Seas Casino Chula Vista Casino
'The ability to have a fun and safe diversion is something we feel good about,” Samuel said.
Seven Mile Casino is open 24 hours each day with food service inside a smoke-free environment.