Two Players Hit It Big Playing New Bad Beat Blackjack Progressive Jackpot at Barona Resort & Casino

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - April 14, 2009) - The holiday weekend proved lucky at Barona Resort & Casino as two big winners hit the right beat playing one of Barona's most popular games featuring an exciting new way to win even bigger jackpots -- Blackjack Bad Beat Progressive Jackpot. Barona is the only casino in the country to offer a progressive Bad Beat jackpot on high-end blackjack games.

On Saturday, April 11, Lisa L. of Ramona was playing Blackjack Bad Beat Jackpot, when it hit at $33,058. Eight other lucky players who were in Barona's Parlor 32 high-limit area when the progressive hit each won $500 for a total of $37,058. Lisa was the first player to win a major jackpot so far on the new progressive jackpot which debuted only two weeks ago at Barona. Then, less than 24 hours later, on Sunday, April 12, Henry T. of San Diego was playing the same game when the progressive jackpot hit $25,157 and 10 other players in the high-limit area also won $500 each for a total of $30,157.

"We're excited to add Lisa and Henry to our list of jackpot winners at Barona," said Rick Salinas, general manager of Barona Resort & Casino. "We are always looking for new and exciting ways to provide more opportunities for our players to win at Barona and that is how we created the Bad Beat progressive jackpot. While we just barely introduced this new progressive jackpot on our casino floor we already have two big winners! It is great to see that a new twist on an old favorite can create even more winning moments for our guests."

Barona's Blackjack Bad Beat Progressive Jackpot debuted earlier this month in addition to several other exciting games including Rapid Baccarat, Video Craps, and Perfect Pairs Blackjack.

While playing Blackjack Bad Beat Jackpot, guests have a chance to win even if the dealer gets 21. Adapted from the concept of Bad Beat Jackpot in poker, Blackjack Bad Beat Jackpot is available in Barona's Parlor 32 high-limit area with the one-of-a-kind progressive bonus that does not even require an additional side wager. The Blackjack Bad Beat Jackpot starts at $25,000 and grows about $275 a day until it is hit.

Ranked "Highest in Satisfaction in the Southern California Indian Gaming Experience" in the J.D. Power and Associates' 2008 Southern California Indian Gaming Casino Satisfaction Study, Barona Resort & Casino blends the best of San Diego's most elegant resorts with the gaming excitement of Las Vegas. Barona is San Diego's leading destination resort featuring 400 luxury guest rooms and suites, nine award-winning dining options, the AmBience Day Spa, a full-service events center, and the 18-hole championship Barona Creek Golf Club, rated the 3rd best resort course in California by Golfweek magazine. For current progressive amounts and Barona Resort & Casino reservations and information, visit www.barona.com, or call toll free 888-7-BARONA (722-7662).

Barona Resort & Casino received the highest numerical score among casinos with a minimum of 2,000 slot machines in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Southern California Indian Gaming Casino Satisfaction Study(SM). Study based on 1,766 responses from gaming players who visited an Indian casino in Southern California between December 2007 and June 2008. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed in May-June 2008. Your experiences may vary. Visit www.jdpower.com.

Contact Information: CONTACT: Audrey Doherty/Jordan Cole (619) 236-8397 Kelly Jacobs Speer (619) 933-5013