When Central Valley and South Sacramento folks say they're going to heaven, there's a good chance they're talking about driving to the Jackson Rancheria Casino/Hotel, in Jackson, California.

And heaven's got a handsome and spacious 15-table poker room where players pray and prey while being waited on by angels. Hallelujah! Open less than a year, a lot of players may not yet have visited heaven ... and a few might never get there. But they say everyone who does go, always hates to leave.

The poker room at the Jackson Rancheria Casino is an action attraction. It features a full compliment of weekly tournaments, jackpots, and bad-beat awards.

A major $150,000 guaranteed tournament is scheduled to start at noon, August 20. Through August 13, $110+10 satellites are held every Monday night at 7:30 p.m. A $1,100 seat is awarded for every ten players entered into each satellite. Any remaining seats can be purchased for $1,100 after August 13.

Because the casino does not serve liquor, the age limit for players is 18 instead of 21, as it is in many areas. Consequently, the Jackson poker room has become popular with a lot of younger players. "Young doesn't mean they don't play high. They come to rock 'n' roll," says Poker Assistant Manager Glenn Pitts. Jackson Rancheria is a complete, full-service resort. Open 24 hours, it offers 1,500 slots and 48 table games, including Double Deck Blackjack, Mini-Baccarat, and Three Card Poker. There are nine restaurants, including the Main Street Food Court and Lone Wolf Dinner House. The hotel features 146 luxurious, over-sized rooms and suites with fireplaces, Jacuzzi tubs, and beautiful views. There's a conference center and business facilities. Visitors can enjoy free cabaret entertainment or big-name concerts in the showroom. To make reservations or to contact the poker room, call toll free: (800) 822-9566.

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Club One is a 45-table poker room in the heart of downtown Fresno. Who is club two? "All the others," declares Casino Manager Douglas Madden.

Club One is a classic, handsome example of a California cardroom in the finest tradition and best sense of the word. They've been playing poker legally in the Golden State for more than a century. The biggest and best poker rooms in the world are to be found here. Club One is one.

Club One is all about poker and players. There's a wide variety of action and it's open around the clock. Games range from low-limit nibblers to all you can eat ... or be eaten. They serve great grub at reasonable prices and you never have to leave your seat or miss a hand, a classic California poker room tradition.

Players can choose from a full compliment of weekly tournaments. Every morning at 10 a.m. (noon on Sunday), a low buy-in contest of some kind gets the day underway. After that, the games get live and lively.

The Polo Lounge is the perfect compliment to the poker action. A complete race book, players can bet all major races across the country. Poker and ponies is another classic California cardroom combination.

Known throughout the San Joaquin Valley, Club One is a California icon. Long before poker was discovered by television and the world, real players were patronizing this poker room. Like Binion's Horseshoe, this is one of those poker rooms every player wants to list in his portfolio of experiences.