Can’t drive a block without seeing a Yaamava’ billboard? Inside the casino’s big bet on music

On the floor of the Yaamava’ Resort & Casino in San Bernardino County, amid the clangs and howls of thousands of slot machines, Shelby Flores knew she’d just gotten extremely lucky. “We still run into that stigma,” said Peter Arceo, the chief gaming officer for the San Manuel tribe’s resort portfolio, which includes Yaamava’. “We definitely relax a bit when we see a casino on the tour list,” said Rick Springfield, who’s played chestnuts like “Jessie’s Girl” in casinos alongside sheds and theaters for decades. “The sound and lighting at Yaamava’ is phenomenal, and the money is just as good as it is in L.A.” Although California voters soundly rejected a 2022 proposal to allow sports betting at tribal casinos, these properties have the resources to take big swings to draw younger audiences in the door to stay and gamble.. Yaamava’ and other area casinos are also betting big on the continued population growth of the Inland Empire. The area has “I keep asking what is really going on out there,” one live-music executive, who asked to remain anonymous, said about Yaamava’.