
TL;DR — Yaamava’ Resort & Casino and Palms Casino Resort achieved six No. 1 spots in the 2026 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Yaamava’ earned five first-place rankings during its 40th anniversary while Palms claimed its third straight Best Casino in Las Vegas title. The properties share the Club Serrano loyalty program for cross-property rewards.
SCCG Take — Tribal ownership drives measurable excellence in guest experience and loyalty, enabling competitive success in both regional and Las Vegas markets.
Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel and Palms Casino Resort earned six No. 1 rankings in the 2026 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Yaamava’ took five categories while Palms collected its third consecutive Best Casino in Las Vegas honor.
Both properties were nominated by a panel of experts that included editors from USA Today and 10Best.com, industry contributors and other Gannett media sources. Winners were determined through public voting.
Yaamava’ was named Best Casino Outside of Las Vegas, Best Casino Hotel, Best Casino Restaurant, Best Casino for Slots and Best Players Club. The recognition comes during Yaamava’ Resort & Casino’s 40th anniversary year. The property has grown over four decades into a major Southern California gaming and hospitality destination and is currently the country’s only AAA Five-Diamond casino resort.
Kenji Hall, General Manager of Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel, said: “Winning across every category in which we were nominated is a tremendous honor, especially during Yaamava’ Resort & Casino’s 40th anniversary year. These recognitions reflect the passion of our team members, the loyalty of our guests, and the vision of Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation. We are grateful to everyone who voted and proud to continue setting the standard for exceptional gaming, hospitality, dining, and entertainment experiences.”
Palms’ third consecutive win follows its 2021 acquisition by the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority, a government instrumentality of Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation. Palms is the first casino resort in Las Vegas wholly owned and operated by a Native American tribe.
Kevin Glass, General Manager of Palms Casino Resort, said: “Earning the title of Best Casino in Las Vegas for a third consecutive year is an incredible honor and a direct reflection of our team’s commitment to delivering memorable experiences every day. Las Vegas is one of the most competitive hospitality markets in the world, which makes this recognition from guests especially meaningful. We’re proud to continue elevating the Palms experience while building on our unique legacy as the first Native American-owned and operated resort in Las Vegas.”
Yaamava’ and Palms are connected through the Club Serrano loyalty program, which allows members to earn and redeem rewards at both resorts and at Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point, CA.
Reporting: Indian Gaming
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
We track tribal gaming's expansion closely — San Manuel's six No. 1 awards across Yaamava' and Palms validate what we've seen for years: tribes that invest in hospitality excellence and cross-property loyalty systems outperform legacy operators. The shared Club Serrano program is the competitive edge here, and it's replicable.
SCCG angle: SCCG has deep tribal gaming relationships across 30+ years. We connect properties looking to replicate this loyalty-driven, multi-market model with the tech, CRM, and operational partners who understand how to scale tribal ownership advantages. If you're a tribe or an operator studying San Manuel's playbook, we know the vendors who built it.
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