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Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel is keeping its fifth diamond.
The Highland, California, property retained its AAA Five Diamond designation for 2027, the resort announced Tuesday. That makes three consecutive years with AAA’s top hotel rating.
Fewer than 1% of the nearly 23,000 hotels AAA inspects earn five diamonds. Inspectors show up unannounced and grade the whole stay, from the room to the service.
Yaamava’ first made the list on Dec. 30, 2024, when AAA added it to close out the year.
How Yaamava’ ranks among casino hotels
AAA also ranked casino hotels for the first time this year, and Yaamava’ came in second in its 2026 Diamond Top 10, per the resort.
The Villas at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas took the top spot among 161 AAA-rated casino hotels and resorts, according to Caesars Entertainment.
The rankings come from year-round, in-person inspections scored against AAA’s Diamond standards.
A banner year for the California casino resort
The diamonds landed in a year already full of hardware. Yaamava’ celebrated its 40th anniversary in July, and its recent haul includes:
- Property of the Year, 2026 Global Gaming Awards Americas
- Casino of the Year, International Entertainment Buyers Association Conference
- Best Casino Outside of Las Vegas, Best Casino Hotel, Best Casino Restaurant, Best Casino for Slots and Best Players Club, 2026 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards
Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, the tribe that owns Yaamava’, took Responsible Business of the Year at the Global Gaming Awards. Drew Dixon, Yaamava’s vice president of entertainment, was named Casino Buyer of the Year by the IEBA.
Sister property Palms Casino Resort was named Best Casino in Las Vegas by 10Best readers for a third straight year.
Why Highland remains the only option for California
California has no legal online casinos or online sports betting, so a trip to Highland remains the only way to play at Yaamava’.
Three years in, Yaamava’ still has all five.
As General Manager Kenji Hall said in the release:
“Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation has long invested in creating a world-class destination for our guests, and maintaining our AAA Five-Diamond status for a third consecutive year reflects that commitment to excellence, exceptional hospitality and unforgettable experiences.”
