Viejas Casino Breaks Three Guinness World Records on Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th was not an unlucky day for the Viejas Casino & Resort in Alpine California as it prepared to celebrate the casino and resort’s 22nd anniversary.
Last year, the casino set the record for having the world’s largest blackjack table. Guinness World Records’ adjudicator Phillip Robertson returned September 13 to the same massive table.
RELATED: Viejas Casino Sets Guinness World Record for Largest Blackjack Table
Showgirls stood atop the blackjack table, while six hand-selected players sat around it and a dealer distributed giant cards, measuring 3 feet by 4 feet to the players. At the conclusion of the game, Robertson applauded Viejas for achieving another Guinness World Record—for the Largest Deck of Cards Ever Played.
Diana Saenger
Viejas Vice Chairman Robert Ceta Welch celebrates two Guinness World Records for Viejas Casino & Resort.
With a crowd gathered to commemorate the feat, Viejas Tribal Chairman Anthony Pico made a special announcement. “We are so proud of how far we have come and how much we can give back to the community,” Pico said. “What a fun event to set off our 22nd anniversary and have everyone join in the festivities.”
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Pico then presented a check for $5,000 to Jack Chirrick, executive director of Operation Homefront, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides emergency assistance for U.S. military troops, the families they leave behind, and wounded servicemen when they return home. Chirrick was accompanied by U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant Mike Rios, who suffered severe injuries during his tour in Afghanistan and three tours in Iraq.
Following the donation, the public played for free at the giant table for drawing opportunities to win part of $22,000.
Diana Saenger
700 people gather to attempt Guinness World Record for most wine bottles opened simultaneously.
The casino also made two more attempts to break Guinness World Records on Friday evening. Viejas Casino General Manager Chris Kelley planed rehearsals months earlier to stage the event at the poolside of the Resort’s new hotel.
“This is our second year with Guinness, and we’re excited to be partnering with them on such an important day,” Kelly said. “I love that our team members, guests, and entire community can break a record together. We are always looking to raise the bar. That’s what our guests deserve, and we want to provide it.”
As nearly 700 people held their wine bottles and cork screws, the go was given, and bottles were quickly held in the air and officially counted by stewards and Guinness adjudicators. Cheers rang out when it was announced that Viejas broke the former Guinness World Record for The Most Bottles of Wine Opened Simultaneously of 474 with a new record of 639 bottles. They then made use of all those bodies and one at a time broke the Guinness Record for the Most People Giving “High Fives” of 405 by a new total of 684 people.
High fives travel through a crowd of 700 to set new Guinness World Record for most high fives. (Diana Saenger)
