Casino Arcade – Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

The Casino Arcade at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has evolved from a 1904 penny arcade into a premier, year-round family entertainment hub. After a devastating fire destroyed the original building, the permanent, grand Beach Casino opened on June 22, 1907, featuring ground-floor retail and elegant structural pillars. By the 1930s and 1940s, the space shifted toward boardwalk games like Pokerino, culminating in a 1953 modernization marked by the installation of its iconic neon “CASINO” sign. Despite its name, the facility never hosted gambling; today, it seamlessly blends history and modern tech under its original 1907 architecture. Electronic video games first arrived during the boom of the 1970s and 1980s, and the floor later transitioned to a cashless, digital tap-to-play card system in the 2010s to accommodate massive multiplayer simulators. The venue continues to introduce cutting-edge attractions, such as the Scallywag Shootout laser arena added in 2022. A dedicated “Classic Corner” preserves gaming history with vintage favorites like Pac-Man, Galaga, and Donkey Kong, while a vibrant “Pinball Alley” upstairs packs a massive row of pinball machines ranging from vintage titles to contemporary licenses.