On a golden Friday evening, sunlight spills through a side window into the cozy studio of Banana Yoga, casting a warm glow across the hardwood floor. Thirteen bodies rise in unison, arms stretching skyward before folding toward the ground. Aside from the instructor’s occasional cues, the only sounds are the soft hum of meditation music and the rhythmic swell of breath—deep inhales, slow exhales. Vivid artwork wraps the walls as the room moves as one in quiet ritual.
It may look like any other yoga class, but Banana Yoga was built with a purpose that runs deeper than movement and breath. The studio is rooted in a commitment to queer visibility and inclusion, something community members say feels increasingly urgent amid rising backlash against LGBTQIA+ representation.
Even in progressive strongholds like California, signs of a nationwide retreat from Pride visibility are surfacing. In early June, Target stores in the Bay Area noticeably reduced their Pride-themed displays compared to previous years, echoing a company-wide decision to limit merchandise placements after facing backlash in 2023, according to The Mercury News. A similar quieting is happening online; many national brands with a local footprint, including Levi’s and The North Face, opted for toned-down Pride messaging this year or skipped it altogether.
As corporations retreat from Pride, “rainbow capitalism” is fading, leaving queer-owned businesses and grassroots organizers to carry the visibility.
Enter Banana Yoga: A nonbinary-owned yoga studio in Oakland fostering an inclusive space for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and beyond. While national brands back away from allyship, owner Marlo Miller says Banana Yoga leans in—boldly, joyfully and all year long. Here, Pride isn’t a marketing strategy; it’s baked into the studio’s mission. As a former corporate professional, Miller witnessed how companies’ interest in catering to marginalized communities often follows cyclical patterns, so she isn’t surprised to see the tides turning now.
“The economy may be changing, but we won’t,” Miller stated. “The national trends right now show why it’s important for us queer-owned businesses to stay rooted in our communities.”
Miller’s idea to open a yoga studio was sparked when she was laid off from her human resources job during the pandemic. She had been teaching yoga for six years as a side hustle, so the idea of owning her own space was a “dream.” That dream came true in 2023 when she opened Banana Yoga in Oakland’s vibrant Temescal neighborhood.
Yoga is widely recognized for its benefits: 16.9% of U.S. adults practiced it in 2022, mainly to support overall health, meditation and pain relief, according to the CDC. Research from Harvard Health shows that yoga strengthens key brain areas like the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, supporting memory, attention and emotional resilience, while also helping reduce anxiety, depression and stress by boosting mood-regulating chemicals.
Yet these wellness benefits have historically been welcoming mostly to white, heterosexual practitioners. Yoga marketing in the U.S. has traditionally targeted affluent, white, cisgender women—often middle to upper-middle class—who are perceived as primary consumers of wellness products and services, according to a 2023 Yoga Alliance study. This focus shapes imagery, pricing and class offerings, often making yoga less inviting to people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals and lower-income communities.
Since opening, Banana Yoga has expanded its mission to create an inclusive space for roughly 300 regular LGBTQIA+ participants and allies. Sunset Fern, a trans instructor, has been teaching Friday night classes since the studio’s first year, leading back-to-back sessions at 4:30pm and 6pm. Fern’s journey to yoga began after a nerve injury in their shoulder led them to explore guided stretching. What started as physical healing became a deep love for the practice and eventually a calling to teach.
“I like this space because of the sense of community,” Fern said. “A lot of the same people show up each week, and there’s also a strong bond between the instructors here.”
For Fern, teaching yoga is about creating a space that feels safe and inclusive for the trans community. They noted that gendered language in traditional yoga spaces can be uncomfortable for trans students, so they’ve prioritized leading classes that affirm all gender identities and ability levels. Before joining Banana Yoga, Fern led a workshop on trans-inclusive yoga at a community center. By the time they arrived at Banana Yoga, they had already been teaching for three-and-a-half years, bringing both experience and education in LGBTQIA+ affirming practice.
“To be able to teach in a space with queer and trans teachers and students is very special,” they said.
The studio tailors many classes to meet the needs of its diverse clientele. Offerings like The Full Moon Femme Circle—a guided “cleansing ceremony” designed to help women, and femme-identifying and nonbinary people, regulate their nervous systems—and Yoga for the Queer Community, which centers mindful movement for LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies, reflect that mission.
The studio has also added non-yoga classes, including a three-part safety and self-defense series launched in April. Miller says the program saw strong participation from the trans community. The demand reflects a sobering reality: LGBTQIA+ individuals are four times more likely to experience violent victimization than their non-LGBTQIA+ peers, according to 2020 research from the UCLA School of Law’s Williams Institute.
“They deserve to feel safe when walking down the street,” Miller said.
To promote accessibility, the studio uses a sliding scale pricing model, with classes ranging from $17 to $25 so participants can pay what they can afford. Miller says many have found the studio simply by googling “affordable yoga.”
Affordability was a major draw for Rose Ipsen, who has attended eight sessions since a friend introduced her to the studio. She mostly attends Monday night classes to unwind and credits the “amazing” instructors for keeping her coming back. After stepping away from yoga for nearly eight years Ipsen says she’s hooked again, thanks to the warm, nonjudgmental atmosphere at Banana Yoga.
“Here, you can show up as you are,” Ipsen said.
Looking ahead, Banana Yoga is preparing to move to a larger location at 5827 San Pablo Ave., just five minutes from its current site on 40th Street. When asked what keeps her going, Miller said it’s seeing people who aren’t typically celebrated in yoga thriving on their yogi journeys.
“When I look around the studio during a class and see people from all backgrounds coming in tune with their bodies, those are my proudest moments,” Miller said.
It’s Good Friday in Oakland, and the aroma of 5 Star BBQ’s smoke bomb reaches from King Drive to Shattuck Avenue. Billowing towards the Oakland Hills down the 55th Street corridor—from three blocks away, the smell of sweet smolder evokes memories of backyard barbecue family affairs soundtracked by Sly Stone and Tony! Toni! Toné!
Dressed in Boston Patriots-themed, olive-colored urban fatigues, Pastor Price R. Collington Sr., affectionately known as Pastor Price, moves and turns the cask racks of meats and fishes on his grill with tenderness and mindfulness. With tongs clasped, he interrogates the racks of food assembled in front of him for readiness. A tap to the center of an octopus tendril to measure temperature, a quick flip of the jerk chicken as it reaches the gray area between char and burn.
Next to the Grand Gas station sits the Easy-Up. The dining tables are out, and smooth jazz flows. Pastor Price greets customers as he prepares their plates. His son, Price R. Collington Jr., a retired police officer who goes by Officer Price, serves as his sous chef and constant companion in this endeavor. Pastor Price is a slim, athletic man with a warm, inviting smile. In his late adulthood, he still maintains the kind of physique that could wrestle a demon.
“Jesus never lost a case, not even yours,” Price says, pointing his finger between cleaver chops sectioning chicken legs. In his fatigues, spouting mini sermons and affirmations, he’s Oakland’s action hero of kindness.
Price shares his testimony between squirts of his homemade barbecue sauce, a delightful blend of Texas and Memphis flavors. He expresses gratitude, saying, “God has been incredibly generous, and we feel compelled to repay Him.”
Price, a member of the Baptist Minister’s Union, is also the pastor of Community Baptist Church Oakland at 995 44th St. in Oakland, helmed by Pastor Allen Barnes. And while Community Baptist is his church home, with his potent mix of street evangelism and culinary fortitude, Price’s smoke-filled 5-Star corner revivals challenge Oakland, a city in dire need of a deeper connection with itself and a stronger belief in its identity, to recognize that in the heart of the city, this homegrown barbecue establishment serves as a sacred ministry.
It’s a Saturday afternoon in April, and Officer Price sets two red-cloth-covered dining tables. Hand sanitizer and a prop bottle of Fox Book Chardonnay placed on the tables create an upscale, hi-low atmosphere. The pastor, clad in an apron depicting the Masonic square and compass, grills vegetables.
“Okra is good for you,” he proclaims. “I’m a connoisseur. You can’t be an athlete growing up in New York City without eating vegetables regularly.” Today, he’s also conquered smoking Northern Pacific geoduck, a saltwater favorite and the largest burrowing clam in the world, reaching up to a meter in length. The special today is a combo plate of the two.
“We make food that caters to all demographics,” Pastor Price says.
Officer Price, who also owns Anubis Global, a security services firm that caters to private clients, shares some insights into the popular menu items at 5 Star. The Hotlink, served on brioche, and the Full Clip, a plate loaded with rib tips, chicken, beans and other 5 Star BBQ delights, are among the bestsellers.
The Full Clip is a mound of food served on white bread with house sauce. Officer Price notes that the Extended Clip is the preferred choice for couples. It offers everything the Full Clip has, but each person also gets their own Hotlink sandwich.
“Y’all take Venmo?” asks George Marshall as he walks up. Officer Price nods and beckons him closer. Originally from New Mexico and fresh off an L.A. road trip, Marshall was almost home and pondering what he was going to pick up for dinner when 5 Star’s smoke grabbed his wheel and spun the car around.
After driving all day, Marshall says he “was so glad when I saw them out here.” A resident of the North Oakland community adjacent to 5 Star’s tent for the past two-and-a-half years, he orders a Full Clip and seems especially excited to sample the pork rib.
On the first Tuesday of May, the pastor’s tent is raised and smooth jazz fills the air—after 5 Star closed for a few days the week prior. Pastor Price, clad in his leather Masonic apron, has Jesus close to his ear today, as evidenced by a small dangling gold cross earring. The spiritual leader confesses to taking time for rest and reflection.
“I’m a pastor, I’m over 60 and last week we had some people die,” he says. “Sometimes you have to take some time off. We lost one of the mothers of the church.”
As always, the change in schedule was communicated via 5 Star’s Instagram page. Normally vibrating somewhere around high nine on a 10-point energy scale, at 6:30pm on his longest day of the week the pastor’s energy level is buzzing around a seven. He and Officer Price spent the morning physically training themselves and others at the Planet Fitness in Fruitvale. It’s evident that the joy of sharing his talents and abundance sustains him throughout the day.
Patiently waiting for her food, Sunshine Simpson, with her flowing, bright-blue hair, matching blue-and-white nails, and calf-high brown boots, has been a friend of Pastor Price’s for over 10 years. She’s been eating his food almost as long, long before the tent appeared on 55th Street.
When asked about her favorite item on the menu, Simpson playfully asks, “Is there a favorite? The food is good, and I’ll keep coming back. There’s no favorite!” She smiles genuinely and holds out her hands for Price to present her with the trifold plate soaked in sauce. “We got the Midas touch,” Price sings with delight.
Natashia Smith, an apartment manager, was driving down 55th Street on her way home to Richmond when she noticed 5 Star’s audacious cloud of flavor wafting through the air. Intrigued, she thought, “Maybe I need to turn [the car] around,” and did so—right into the lot of the Grand Gas Station. Officer Price, offering curb-side service, approached her window and verbally provided her with a detailed menu.
“Don’t worry, it’s not spicy,” the pastor says of the jerk chicken. Smith, a die-hard barbecue enthusiast, has even traveled to Louisiana Heaven in Sacramento to satisfy her cravings. Today, she’s giving 5 Star a chance. In between cleaver chops, Pastor Price expresses his gratitude for her patronage and repeats his ever-present mantra: “The Best in the Bay; 5 Star on 55th and MLK!”
Smith, inhaling deeply, says, “I’m going to have to sneak this in the house and hide it from my kids.”
Pastor Price says, “5 Star has been smoking out the corner of King for going on three years, and we have no plans of stopping”—even though at times they’ve had to flash their permit to inquiring officials. But these days their Instagram shows them feeding and pictured with multiple members of law enforcement. “God’s got his hand in this, and he does everything but fail. Believe this.”
5 Star BBQ, 817 55th St., Oakland. Open Tue, Thu-Sat 2-8pm, closed Sun, Mon, Wed. 341.758.4334. Instagram @5star_bbq.
Pride Month is a time for parades, rainbows, education and celebration. But in June and the rest of the year, people in the LGBTQIA+ community deal with the boring but necessary life admin of scheduling doctor’s appointments and making sure there’s money in the bank.
Natalie Le, a financial advisor at Northwestern Mutual, and Dr. Suselina Acosta-Goldstein, a psychiatrist at Washington Health, shared how people in the LBGTQIA+ community often deal with added stress around these already anxiety-provoking areas.
“Financial anxiety right now is at a high—for everyone across the nation,” Le said. She shared a Northwestern Mutual’s 2025 Planning and Progress Study stating nearly 7 in 10 Americans say financial uncertainty has made them depressed and anxious.
Fears around a recession, rising prices due to tariffs—there’s a lot to worry Americans. Le said, “It’s my job as an advisor to be up to date with what’s happening in the world with any legislation changes so I can best navigate those conversations with my clients.”
Some issues are straightforward. Both women brought up family planning as an area that’s more complicated for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, whether it’s getting health insurance to cover fertility treatments, or navigating a system that still defaults to straight couples.
However, an individual’s situation is often more nuanced. Le said her clients often face a mix of “legal factors, cultural factors, family dynamics.” Fracturing of family or community ties, past trauma or abuse, less higher education, poverty, lower wages—these can all affect any group. However, LGBTQIA+ people face added discrimination. Everyone’s story is different, and there’s no single culprit to point to, only that belonging to a vulnerable population can complicate many different areas of life.
Whether with a healthcare provider or a financial advisor, a positive dynamic is vital. Le said, “Conversations around money are as difficult as they are already. We always want to make sure we’re creating a safe space so we’re not having to feel worried or judged.”
Acosta-Goldstein expanded by noting that it’s counterproductive to “come in being protective of yourself in a space where you’re supposed to be safe.” People can hold back from sharing key parts of their lives, like discussing their relationship without disclosing they’re polyamorous. Or they simply opt to not come to the doctor’s office at all.
While discussing safety, it’s important not to dismiss concerns as mere “anxiety.” While many providers feel neutral to “the other” or resolve to put their feelings aside in a professional setting, prejudice is real and strong enough to defy the workplace rulebook. It’s reasonable for people to be aware that they may face discrimination.
Even when providers have good intentions, they may lack training that goes beyond the straight/cisgender norm. In this case, Acosta-Goldstein said, “Now their patients have the burden of educating those physicians. And those are the physicians that are willing to listen or at least take the time, who aren’t just doing 10-minute visits.”
Both Le and Acosta-Goldstein are women in relationships with other women, which gives them a chance to establish an open dynamic. Le said, “If I’m open about my own life and my fiancée—she’s a woman—and I know that as long as I can share those parts of myself that allows people to say, ‘OK, well she’s going to share this about her …’—if they align with that, great.”
However, that’s just a starting point. Acosta-Goldstein pointed out, “Just because we’re all under the same LGBTQ+ umbrella, I’m not an expert on anyone else. I’m going to ask that person, if they come into my office, their experience. Use their terms. Use their language. And go in thinking this person knows more about themself than me. That’s an absolute truth! They know more about themself than you ever will.”
Both women emphasized an attitude of openness—something anyone can cultivate across communities. “We’re all learning,” Le said. “Having an awareness is huge.” Acosta-Goldstein added, “For providers my advice is always: ‘Be curious and be humble.’”
By contrast, corporate training in sensitivity can often have a “For Group A, do B; for Group C, remember D” format, which can unintentionally turn communities into monoliths and reinforce stereotypes.
Acosta-Goldstein said, “There are thoughts and opinions and ideas that are the norm that are kind of automatic in all of us. No matter if we’re straight or LGBTQ+ or trans or cis or whatever, we’re all socialized together and there’s these biases that we have that most people don’t challenge or check. When you’re an ‘other,’ you do.”
No matter what field of work or community someone belongs to, asking for help or giving help comes with vulnerability. There’s no secret code to create perfect safety and flawless understanding. There’s only willingness to approach with empathy. As Acosta-Goldstein said: “This patient, you’re not going to be able to google them and figure them out. You’ve got to ask them.”
Published in cooperation between FortuneCity and the East Bay Express
Baccarat is the espresso shot of casino games—fast, smooth and surprisingly strong. With nearly 50/50 odds and one of the lowest house edges around, it’s no wonder players love it.
But finding the best online baccarat sites? That’s where things get tricky.
We’ve made it easy by ranking the top 10 baccarat sites out there, starting with Ignition Casino. It impressed us with a killer selection of baccarat games and a comfortable player experience.
Still, don’t count the others out. Every site on this list is stacked with reasons to deal in. Let’s take a look.
Important: The sites listed in this guide are targeting English speakers around the world. Please remember to check your local laws to ensure online gambling is legal where you live. Also Adblock might get confused so please disable it if you have any issues with our links.
If you want to know how and why we rated these sites as the best online baccarat casinos in the business, read on as we’ve laid out everything in our reviews below.
Ignition may be popular as a poker casino, but its baccarat selection is also impressive. Pair that with a generous welcome bonus and a superb mobile gaming experience, and it’s easy to see why it’s the top online baccarat site players recommend.
Baccarat and Other Casino Games 4.9/5
Upon entering the live casino lobby at Ignition, you’re greeted with two options. You can enter the Dynamite Interactive section, which is powered by Visionary iGaming and hosts regular baccarat tables with stakes ranging from $5 up to $2,500.
Alternatively, there is the BetGames-powered Gold Tier section, which also offers some of the best baccarat games in a live casino format.
As for the RNG section, there are just three baccarat games among a full collection of games totalling over 500. As well as other live dealer games like roulette and blackjack, the casino delivers hundreds of online slots and video poker games.
Plus, don’t forget that Ignition started as an online poker room, so you also have a range of tournaments and cash games to look forward to.
Bonuses and Promotions 4.9/5
Ignition definitely knows how to roll out the red carpet to first-time depositors. New players get to choose between two welcome offers. If you’re depositing with fiat currencies, there’s a 100 percent match bonus up to $2,000 waiting for you. Those who prefer cryptocurrencies can score a 150 percent match worth up to $3,000 instead.
Keep in mind, both welcome packages are split between the casino and poker. That means you’ll get half your bonus for slots and the other half for poker tables. The wagering requirements? Just 25x on the bonus amount for casino play, which is impressive compared to many other online casinos.
The sad part is that, as with most welcome bonuses, it’s not worth using the bonus cash to play baccarat games. They only contribute 5 percent towards those wagering requirements.
Payout Speeds and Banking Methods 4.9/5
You can fund your account using USD via credit cards and vouchers, or go the crypto route with BTC, LTC, USDT, ETH or BCH. While some other sites offer a broader selection of coins, these are the most popular choices for crypto gamblers.
We suggest sticking with crypto, since Ignition applies fees to fiat deposits made with bank cards. Crypto deposits, on the other hand, are totally fee-free, aside from any fees charged by the blockchain.
When it comes to withdrawals, Ignition gets your cash out fast. The platform processes withdrawals within 24 hours.
2. Super Slots—Best Live Dealer Baccarat Casino Site
Pros
Low to high stakes baccarat games
Over 1,300 casino games
Nine tables offering online baccarat
Same-day payouts
300 wagerless free spins bonus
Cons
$100 cap on free spins winnings
No match deposit bonuses
Anyone after a place to call home for his baccarat action might appreciate Super Slots, an online casino renowned for an excellent loyalty program. The seven-tier program rewards loyal players with level-up bonuses, cash boosts, birthday presents and faster payouts.
Baccarat and Other Casino Games 4.9/5
Despite the casino’s name, Super Slots boasts some of the best baccarat games and other table games of the casinos we’ve reviewed. What will particularly appeal is the wide variety of stakes supported on baccarat tables. You can wager anything from $1 up to a maximum of $10,000. There are nine live tables in total and four virtual table games.
That said, slots are the main focus, with Super Slot offering over 1,200. These come courtesy of Betsoft, Blaze Gaming and many other top software providers.
Bonuses and Promotions 4.7/5
If you’re looking for a simple way to boost your budget before hitting the real money baccarat tables, we recommend claiming the 300 free spins welcome bonus. You’re given 30 per day for 10 days, with any bonus cash won coming with no wagering requirements. You’re free to use it on the baccarat tables of your choosing.
On the promotions page, you’ll also find a bunch of tournaments, daily cash races and even a refer-a-friend bonus that rewards you for bringing more players to the platform.
Payout Speeds and Banking Methods 4.8/5
You can expect Super Slots to process your withdrawal requests within 24 hours, and there’s a good variety of payment methods to use when funding or cashing out. We recommend one of the many cryptocurrencies for the fastest payouts, while your other options include bank cards, bank transfers and a few other options.
3. Lucky Creek—Best Baccarat Online Casino for Mobile
Pros
Lots of free spins bonus deals
A choice of two welcome bonuses
Play using crypto or fiat currencies
Several live Baccarat tables
Seamless mobile gaming experience
Cons
Bonus winnings capped at $1,000
Desktop version needs improvement
Another of the top online gambling sites to play baccarat online is Lucky Creek, a Western-themed online casino that could allow you to saddle up and ride out of town with big baccarat profits. This casino makes our top five not only for plenty of baccarat games, but also because it always has free spins to give you.
Baccarat and Other Casino Games 4.7/5
Lucky Creek does not have as many baccarat table games as some of our other recommendations, but there are enough to ensure you’ll always have a seat available. The best options are in the live casino, with several baccarat tables offering low, medium and high stakes action.
Slots are the most common type of game in the lobby at Lucky Creek, and these come from top-rated studios such as Betsoft and Rival Gaming. However, we did find a few virtual table games, while some quality video poker games are also offered.
Bonuses and Promotions 4.9/5
To help bolster your baccarat bankroll, there are plenty of bonus deals to claim at Lucky Creek Casino. Free spins bonuses, especially, are a regular treat here. For a start, you can receive 30 on top of a 200 percent regular welcome bonus worth up to $7,500. If you deposit using crypto, you receive a mouthwatering 600 percent up to $1,000.
Another eye—atching promo is a draw that allows you to win a car. You earn tickets each time you deposit $30. Get lucky, and you could drive to brick-and-mortar casinos to try out your best baccarat strategy in person.
Payout Speeds and Banking Methods 4.7/5
Lucky Creek offers the best of both worlds by supporting major fiat currencies and a handful of the most popular cryptocurrencies. The minimum deposit is $20, and you can fund your account using credit/debit cards and BTC, BCH, LTC, ETH or USDT.
As for payouts, keep in mind that these are only processed on Mondays and Thursdays. You’ll have to plan ahead to ensure you get your baccarat winnings as conveniently as possible.
4. BetOnline—Fastest Payouts of All Online Baccarat Casinos
Pros
25-plus years in the gambling industry
Baccarat tables with stakes up to $10,000
Payouts within minutes
A worthwhile VIP program
Supports crypto deposits and withdrawals
Cons
Needs cash welcome bonus for casino
Promotions are more sports-specific
Another online casino that’s great for playing online baccarat is BetOnline. This is a site that also offers everything from sports betting, online poker and a full online casino containing numerous other games, alongside a great collection of baccarat games.
Baccarat and Other Casino Games 4.6/5
There’s just a quartet of RNG baccarat games at BetOnline, but we appreciate its more than just the standard variation available. Players can enjoy Dragon Tiger, which is essentially a quicker version of the popular card game. Also, there’s even an exclusive BetOnline baccarat game, which is a nice touch.
As for live baccarat, there are nine tables courtesy of Visionary iGaming and Fresh Deck Studios, with stakes as low as $1 and up to a whopping $10,000. Complementing the live casino at BetOnline are 100-plus other casino games, with online slots and less popular games like online craps for real money.
Bonuses and Promotions 4.6/5
While the 100 free spins welcome bonus at BetOnline might seem underwhelming, if you’re primarily going to be playing baccarat, it’s probably better for you. You can use the 100 spins, which are given at a rate of 10 per day and then use the bonus cash to play online baccarat. There is a cap of $100 on winnings, so just keep that in mind.
There are no other bonus offers of note, but there is a VIP program that gives you the chance to level up and unlock perks and bonuses. You can receive weekly and monthly cash boosts, increase withdrawal limits and more.
Payout Speeds and Banking Methods 4.75/5
While BetOnline deserves praise for its superb collection of real money baccarat games, the biggest selling point of this platform is how quickly it pays out. The online casino claims to process withdrawals within an hour up to 24 hours, but ours always went through in minutes when using cryptocurrencies.
Speaking of crypto, over a dozen are supported for deposits and withdrawals. Other payment methods include Visa/Mastercard, Person 2 Person and Bank Wires.
Bovada is the sister site of Ignition and provides a very similar experience, so it makes sense that it also makes our top five. That said, we feel it has the better welcome bonus as it is not split between the casino and the online poker room. It has an identical selection of RNG and live dealer baccarat games and also provides quick payouts and over 500 casino games.
Baccarat and Other Casino Games 4.55/5
Bovada offers the same number of real money baccarat games as Ignition. They’re again separated into the Dynamite Interactive and Gold Tier sections, with the former offering baccarat tables hosted by Visionary and the latter by BetGames.
Both also contain dozens of other live tables featuring classic table games like roulette and blackjack. In fact, it’s one of the best blackjack sites we can recommend as well.
In terms of other casino games, you can expect over 500 slots and video poker games, while there’s also an online poker room, a racebook and virtual sports available.
Bonuses and Promotions 4.5/5
Again, there are no special baccarat bonuses here, or any form of live casino-specific bonus deals. That’s standard at most online casino sites. However, the welcome bonus is still hard to ignore, especially if you play online slots on occasion.
New users can grab a 125 percent match bonus up to $1,250 on each of their first three deposits, meaning there’s a whopping $3,750 worth of bonus cash up for grabs.
Another way to earn extra cash is through a refer-a-friend bonus that awards you up to $275 if your friends make a crypto deposit. There’s also a fantastic Bovada Rewards loyalty program full of perks and exclusive bonuses.
Payout Speeds and Banking Methods 4.5/5
Just like Ignition, Bovada supports both fiat and crypto transactions for deposits and withdrawals. If you’re going the crypto route, the minimum deposit is just $20 using Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Ethereum, USDT or Litecoin. For credit card users, it’s slightly higher at $25.
As for quick payouts, your best bet is crypto, as your withdrawals are processed within an hour.
How We Selected the Best Sites to Play Baccarat for Real Money
We spent a few weeks testing dozens of online casinos offering the best baccarat games. While we considered various other factors to determine our top ten, the following are the main areas we focused on when ranking these excellent real money baccarat sites.
Baccarat and Other Casino Games
We evaluated the real money baccarat games that each online casino offers, whether live baccarat tables or their RNG counterparts. A platform should preferably offer a good quantity of titles, plenty of different variations, as well as a betting range. We also took into account each platform’s complete gaming library.
Bonuses and Promotions
The online casino experience is made better by excellent bonuses and promotions. While many casino bonus offers do not benefit players of high RTP table games like baccarat, we know that many of you play other games as well. For that reason, we evaluate the overall collection to see if it provides the variety and quantity required across multiple game verticals.
Payout Speeds and Banking Methods
Everybody wants convenient payment methods he can use to deposit and withdraw securely. Players also want fair withdrawal terms, fast payouts and no fees. We inspect each of those aspects at the baccarat online casinos we review.
The Basic Rules of Baccarat
Baccarat is a simple game at its core, as you just bet on the winner of a hand in a card game. However, there are specific rules you’ll need to know about and how the card values work. There also are different game variations, such as regular baccarat, mini baccarat, Dragon Tiger and Chemin de Fer.
Before we get into all that, we’ll provide you with an example of how a standard hand in the regular game of baccarat plays out:
You choose the size of your baccarat wager and bet it on the player or banker to win or the hand ending in a tie.
Both the player and banker positions are dealt two cards each.
If either position holds a hand value of 8 or 9, it wins, and no additional cards are dealt.
If either position’s hand is valued between 0 and 5, it’s dealt an additional card.
The hand ends, and the position with a hand value closest to 9 is declared the winner.
Your bets are settled.
Speaking of your bets getting settled, this is what you’ll win when betting on the player or banker to win or the hand ending in a tie:
Banker Bet (1.06 percent House Edge): Pays 0.95:1 due to 5 percent commission on winning bets.
Player Bet (1.36 percent House Edge): Pays 1:1.
Tie Bet (14.4 percent House Edge): Pays 14:1.
The Third Card Rule in Online Baccarat Explained
The Third Card Rule is what adds a twist to baccarat. Whether the player or banker draws a third card depends on specific hand values.
Here’s how it breaks down:
For the Player:
If the player’s total is 0 to 5, a third card is drawn.
If the total is 6 or 7, the player stands.
If the player has 8 or 9, that’s called a natural, and no more cards are drawn.
For the Banker:
The banker’s move depends on both its own hand and the player’s third card (if one is drawn):
Hand value of 0–3: The banker draws a third card.
Hand value of 4: Draws a third card if the player’s hand is valued 2 to 7.
Hand value of 5: Draws a third card if the player’s hand is valued 4 to 7.
Hand Value of 6: Draws a third card if the player’s hand is valued 6 to 7.
Hand value of 7: The banker stands.
Card Values in Baccarat
Now that you have a better understanding of how a hand plays out and when/if a third card is required, let’s look at the value of each card in a hand and how the cards create an overall hand value.
You might think cards are valued the same as in other games like poker and blackjack, but that’s far from the truth. In fact, the cards are valued:
Face cards and the 10 have zero value.
Ace has a value of 1.
All cards from 2 to 9 hold their face value.
To calculate a hand’s value:
Add the two cards together. If the total is more than 9, drop the first digit. Only the last digit counts.
Examples:
7 + 5 = 12, so the hand value is 2
9 + 3 = 12, so the hand value is 2
4 + 6 = 10, so the hand value is 0
The best possible score is a natural 9, and the goal is always to get as close to 9 as possible.
Why is Ignition the Best Baccarat Casino Online?
There’s more to being a top real money baccarat casino than simply offering many baccarat variants across both RNG and live dealer formats. We determined that Ignition was also the best platform to play baccarat online for the following reasons.
A Brand You Can Count On: With close to 10 years in the industry, Ignition has been one of the most reliable names in the crypto casino world. The site is regulated by the Anjouan Gaming Authority and previously operated under the Curacao regulatory framework. Both have allowed the casino site to operate in numerous iGaming markets.
Excellent Game Diversity: Aside from having a stellar poker reputation and being one of the best roulette sites online, Ignition also offers the best baccarat experience for players who enjoy the game.
A Welcome Offer With a Twist: First-time crypto depositors at Ignition can unlock up to $3,000 in bonuses, split evenly between the casino section and the popular poker room.
This unique 50/50 structure gives players the chance to explore both areas of the site from the start. Plus, if you’d rather use fiat currencies, you can choose a similar 200% percent match deposit bonus, although up to $2,000.
Best Online Baccarat Casinos–FAQs
Can I play free baccarat at these online casino sites?
Yes, most online casinos will offer free-to-play demo versions of their table games, including baccarat. For the most part, you will not be able to play live dealer baccarat for free.
What is the best online baccarat casino?
All of the baccarat online casinos we’ve listed offer a great collection of real money baccarat games and provide a solid gambling experience. Our No. 1 pick is Ignition, and we recommend you start there.
What are the best online baccarat games to play?
The answer is subjective and depends on which you prefer playing. A good title to start with is First Person Baccarat from Evolution Gaming. You can play an RNG version, which allows you to switch to its live dealer variant with the click of a button.
Is online baccarat safe?
That depends on where you decide to play the game. Only legit online casinos can guarantee a safe gaming experience for this well–loved online casino game.
Comparison of the Top 5 Real Money Baccarat Casinos
Just to remind you about our top-rated online baccarat casinos and why they’re better than the rest, let’s have a recap of what they offer:
Ignition: Taking the top spot on our list of the best online baccarat casinos is Ignition. Play baccarat live dealer games with stakes between $5 and $2,500. New players can grab up to $3,000 in bonuses.
Super Slots: Don’t let the name fool you, as Super Slots also offers a good variety of baccarat games aside from its top-tier slots. Get 300 free spins when you sign up today.
Lucky Creek: Lucky Creek is another top—ated online casino offering quality live baccarat games. The best part of this platform is the many free spins bonuses and the $7,500 offer.
BetOnline: For instant payouts and access to baccarat tables with $1 to $10,000 stakes, BetOnline is a good pick. The welcome bonus gives you 100 free spins.
Bovada: Ignition’s sister site is another of the best real money baccarat casino sites. New players can claim a $3,750 welcome bonus over their first three deposits.
How to Sign Up at the Best Online Baccarat Sites
If you want to start playing online baccarat at one of our recommended online casinos, the first step is to create an account. Thankfully, signing up is not as daunting as it might seem, and you can be placing your baccarat wagers in no time.
The process is similar at the best online baccarat sites, although there are always a few differences. Generally, though, signing up goes something like this:
Step 1: Choose Your Preferred Baccarat Online Gambling Site
Select from our list of recommendations.
Alternatively, find another trusted baccarat site.
Step Two: Start Signing Up
Hit the ‘Register’ or ‘Sign Up’ button at the top of the screen.
Enter the required information.
Step Three: Verify Your Email or Phone Number
Depending on the casino, you may need to verify your email address or phone number.
Some may not need verification at this point.
Step Four: Log In and Deposit
Log in to your new online casino account.
Go to the cashier and make your first deposit.
Start Playing at the Best Online Baccarat Casinos Now
Many online casinos allow you to play baccarat for real money, but it’s never a good idea to just sign up for the first site you see.
That’s why we’ve stepped in to make it easier for you to find highly reputable online casino sites that not only give you access to the best baccarat casino games but also offer great bonuses, quick payouts and an overall great casino experience.
Ignition came out on top from our testing and is a great place to start if you want the best online baccarat experience. However, you still have other top-quality options if that online baccarat casino does not match your expectations.
EastBayExpress may earn revenue from iGaming for audience referrals. The EastBayExpress newsroom and editorial staff maintains direction on this content, which is created by partner staff. Companies mentioned in the articles have no influence over our news coverage. See applicable operator site for its terms and conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER. Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. You are solely responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws to your use of the sites and their services.
On a sunlit corner in Berkeley, it hits me: LOE Gino isn’t just rapping—he’s running a masterclass in fan connection. We are on Telegraph and Durant handing out free t-shirts to his fans. What did they have to do to get one? Pre-download his now-released album, Caffeine & Constellations. A subtle transaction: one’s digital co-sign in exchange for his self-produced merch. It’s a street-team marketing plan that works.
Before Gino heads to perform at Juneteenth on the Bay over on Treasure Island, he’s taking the time to meet fans face-to-face and build what he calls “organic connection.” He’s not here for viral gimmicks. He’s here to be felt.
“I think that outside campaigning for yourself is getting lost, and I think that’s the only way to do it now,” he says between chicken bites at TKK Fried Chicken, our impromptu post-promo interview spot.
Born Roderick Fields, his rap name is both a survival story and a love letter—shaped by where he’s from and what he’s overcome. LOE stands for Loyalty Over Everything, a principle forged in the turbulence of his Berkeley upbringing. Gino is a tribute to his late mother, Gina, who nudged him into a sixth grade poetry class at Longfellow Middle School in Berkeley.
“Even when I was bad at poetry, I felt self-expression,” he says. “I didn’t know what it was, but I knew it felt like freedom.”
That sense of freedom threads itself through his music, but so does the grind. Like many California creatives, Gino had to juggle art with a day job—clocking in early mornings as a commercial driver for Constellation Brands to keep the bills paid while still chasing the booth. Think 3am alarms, early coffee runs and beer deliveries before most people hit snooze. That duality inspired his 2024 EP Sixty Hour Work Week, a working-man’s diary soundtracked by 808 beats, introspective lyrics and soul loops.
“I’m like, damn bro, for the last two years I’ve been waking up and getting caffeinated at three in the morning to be able to go out and deliver beer,” he says. That clarity—both caffeinated and cosmic—became the bedrock of Caffeine & Constellations.
The record, an immersive listen, is packed with jazzy keys, Bay Area slap drums and melodies perfect for a ride up to Grizzly Peak. But what separates Gino from the pack is the emotional weight he carries into every verse. He raps like he’s been through something—because he has. The album is a reflection of growth, of cutting ties with chaos and choosing peace.
The opener, “My Son Playing in the Yard,” flips a Sade sample into a gentle anthem about fatherhood, generational healing and the quiet joy of watching his toddler son laugh without a care. Elsewhere, on “Breathe.,” Gino turns inward, delivering affirmations over lush Teeko production, reminding himself—and us—that sometimes survival starts with a breath.
He calls it SUFY: Show Up For Yourself. More than a mantra, it’s a lifestyle that echoes throughout his catalog. In 2021, he dropped an EP by that name. In conversation, he talks about it with pride, reverence and a bit of evangelism.
“When I was developing SUFY, I felt like it was just me, and I was cool with it being just me,” he says. “I had to realize that if you love to do something, you have to show up and do it yourself.”
Gino’s not just about self-care bars and dad talk; he can still drop a banger that rattles one’s trunk. “Eucalyptus – Remix” features West Oakland rap vet—and his uncle—Shade Nate. The family chemistry is real. One can hear it in the way they trade verses like seasoned sparring partners finally linking up in the same ring.
“We don’t always rap about the same things,” Gino says, “but on this one, we found that middle ground.”
By the time the closer arrives, “Zach D. Films,” featuring Oakland’s Seiji Oda, Caffeine & Constellations feels less like an album and more like a wellness retreat soundtracked by real bars. It’s vulnerable. It’s gritty. And it hits.
For an artist from a place where realness isn’t optional, LOE Gino’s wealth is in his integrity. He’s not chasing viral fame or industry validation, he’s building something deeper: music that actually means something. No gimmicks, no flexing for social media. Just lived experience, poured into every verse. When I ask him what’s next, he laughs and says, “We’re about to be outside bro, guerrilla marketing at its best.”
Published in cooperation between Paradise Media and the East Bay Express
According to some surveys, 20 percent of married men and 13 percent of married women have reported sleeping with someone other than their spouse.
This begs the question, “Where are all these married but looking dates … I can’t seem to find any of them!” Yes, finding the elusive “married but looking” partner remains a challenge, which is why most people today use the best married dating sites.
In this review, we’re going to discuss the best dating websites for married folks, why they work and the best way to go about finding an affair online.
Let’s start with a glance at the top nine, along with the No. 1 naughty site for married dating—Ashley Madison.
1. Ashley Madison—Best of the Married Dating Sites Overall
Pros
Most anonymous married dating site
Mask public photos
Keep a locked private photo gallery
Cons
Some fake profiles
Pricing
100 credits for 49 cents a credit
Ashley Madison started the whole “married but dating” trend in 2002, with the suggestive headline, “Life is short … have an affair.”
Years later, this site is still the world’s most popular married dating site and the most infamous reputation for casual dating.
Ashley Madison also makes it easy to arrange an affair, even if you’re not exactly in an open marriage. Besides anonymous texting, you can use online photo editing tools to blur or mask your face.
You can also keep a private photo gallery and share spicy photos with only your most trusted friends.
Ashley Madison is the most discreet way to experiment and see what temptations are out there.
2. VictoriaMilan—Safest of the Dating Sites for Married People
Pros
Discreet affair site with enhanced security
Verified profiles
Virtual gifts
Cons
Pricey membership fee
Pricing
$89.95 for 1 month
Victoria Milan is an affair site that promotes anonymity, discretion and a completely worry-free experience. Ideal for married dating, isn’t it?
Where other sites go wrong with lax security, Victoria Milan gets it right. The site doesn’t store personal information and has 256-bit top-level SSL security.
The site also adds a few extra features like virtual gifts and profile verification to prove you’re the real deal.
It’s discreet affair dating for someone who’s been burned before but still wants to play with fire.
3. HeatedAffairs—Most Flexible of the Affair Dating Sites
Pros
Flexible married dating options
Generous free preview
Fun interactive features
Cons
Membership numbers seem inflated
Pricing
$18.95 for 1 month
Heated Affairs is the most flexible of the married dating sites and one that lets you date according to your preferred style.
Here, you’ll find dating sites for married cheaters, poly/swinging couples, LGBTQ married, dating and even groups of marrieds looking to bring in more people.
For conversation starters, post in forums, groups or chat rooms or even rate your fellow active users in a Hot or Not game.
Lastly, you can watch live shows of models or amateur users and tip them generously. Or cheaply … that much is up to you!
Adult Friend Finder is probably the most NSFW married dating site of the bunch, with many explicit member photos, as well as a thriving and flirty community.
It’s the adult version of Facebook, with familiar features like public/private photo sharing, blogs, forums, live chat and even video streaming.
Whereas the typical married dating site is shrouded in secrecy, many will prefer Adult Friend Finder’s sociable approach. Make friends, flirt with people you like and date openly—even if you’re married.
Many members at AFF are poly, swingers or in an open marriage. No cheating is necessary to have a good time.
Reddit is one of the best married dating sites because of its many niche categories.
Over at the Affairs subreddit, you can read real-time classified ads from married but looking users.
Reddit is great for anonymity because there are no public photos or even dating profiles like most online dating sites. Instead, you get public posting, private chat or email and private photo sharing.
Reddit online dating is 100 percent free and a great option if you’re a bit camera-shy.
PURE was always designed as an anonymous, “self-destructing” affair site, and it’s just what married men and women need to keep things on the down-low.
PURE auto-deletes your profile after one hour. You can also delete all of your texts if you so choose.
Instead of making a detailed profile, you simply post what you want—a fantasy, your best feature, your perfect date and so on.
If you’re doubly paranoid about being found out, get PURE and be confident it all comes out in the wash.
Hush is a so-called soulmate finder … and let’s be honest, you usually find your soulmate after marrying the wrong person, right? Hush is broad-minded enough to let you look for an extramarital soulmate locally or globally.
Part of finding your soulmate requires knowing what you don’t want. Therefore, you can filter your searches, setting preferences for body type, language and ethnicity, religion and age.
We’re answering all the questions about married dating websites you’re afraid to ask.
What Are Married Dating Sites?
Unlike regular dating sites or “Chat With Girls” sites, married dating sites cater to married people cheating or in an open relationship.
The best affair dating sites also cater to polyamorous households and swinger couples.
You might have many reasons to join sites for married people. What matters is a judgment-free environment where you can be upfront about your situation and desires.
Is There a Free Dating Site for Married People?
There is a 100 percent free dating site for married people, and you’ve probably “Reddit” by now.
However, Reddit is not actually an online dating site. It’s more of a classified ads section. Sort of like other options you’ll find forescort sites.
Modern dating apps include premium features like photo editing onsite, private and public galleries, live video chat and forums for discussion.
Is Tinder Suitable for Married People?
Tinder is suitable for married people, according to the terms and conditions of the online dating site.
However, the user base is divided on the subject. Much of the Tinder user base is looking for single users only and will auto-reject anyone who’s married.
If you suspect your husband has married dating sites on his laptop, you may be onto something.
If you’ve noticed any secretive behavior, changes in personality or a more argumentative tone in his voice lately, this does fit the pattern of married dating.
The best solution may be to ask him about it, or openly discuss his satisfaction with the relationship. Jumping to conclusions may backfire though, so focus more on talking it out than making accusations.
Is Facebook Dating Safe for Married People?
Facebook Dating is one of the worst sites for married people, especially in terms of safety.
Facebook Dating matches you with friends of your friends, and it’s not hard to research who’s married, who’s leaving comments and who’s adding friends on the regular Facebook page.
Many tech companies are also openly criticizing Facebook Dating’s privacy policy.
What if I’m Married But Looking for Someone to Talk to?
If you’re married but looking for someone to talk to, then it’s best to join dating sites for married people.
When you use sites for married people, you are in a judgment-free zone and mingling with like-minded individuals who are also married and looking for the same open-mindedness.
Why Do Married Men Go on Tinder?
Married men go on Tinder because the dating app is free and easy to use.
However, married men seem to forget that “it’s a small world after all” in terms of meeting friends of your friends.
The safest way to approach married dating is to use a site like Ashley Madisonwhich protects your privacy and keeps affairs discreet.
Try Online Dating Sites Made for Married People
If you’re married but looking, it’s just not “good game” to hit up the best dating sites for singles.
Date smarter by narrowing down your potential matches. Look for other users that want extramarital relationships.
This approach helps you communicate honestly and avoids awkward moments in the conversation. No need to lie or get creative with the truth.
Published in cooperation between Wildz and the East Bay Express.
In just three years, Canada’s largest province has witnessed a remarkable transformation in its online casino landscape. Since the launch of a regulated iGaming market in 2022, what began as a cautious move away from gray-market operators has quickly evolved into a dynamic and competitive ecosystem. Today, over 50 licensed platforms operate within a robust framework built on transparency, security and player protection.
Today, players enjoy personalized gaming experiences, seamless mobile access and built-in safeguards that prioritize player well-being. Companies like Wildz have helped set the bar, offering tailored features and responsible gaming tools that redefine what online casinos can be. Ontario’s model blends modern tech with thoughtful regulation, and the results speak for themselves. Platforms like Online Casino Ontario are now leading examples of how innovation and responsibility can coexist in the gaming world.
From Regulation to Innovation
What sets this system apart is its unique approach to opening the market. Instead of relying on a government monopoly, private companies were invited to participate under the supervision of a dedicated regulatory body. This balance of oversight and competition led to rapid innovation, as platforms focused on design, usability and safety to differentiate themselves.
With clear rules in place, licensed operators have been able to prioritise user experience without the legal uncertainty that previously surrounded the industry. The digital casino environment has matured into a space where user expectations, shaped by streaming platforms and social media, are now being met with highly customized offerings.
Custom Experiences: Personalization at the Core
Today’s platforms are increasingly shaped by individual preferences. Whether it’s game suggestions, dynamic promotions or adaptive interfaces, users find their experience reflects their own behaviours. Many sites now include features like gamified rewards or mini-games tied to activity, designed to enhance engagement without overwhelming the player.
Many platforms now explore features like gamified rewards or mini-games that respond to player activity. These tools aim to make the experience more engaging without being overwhelming. Similarly, AI-driven systems are commonly used to analyze user behavior and recommend relevant content instead of displaying random options.
Ontario’s platforms are drawing on cutting-edge techniques from broader tech trends, like AI agents that bring content to users (mirroring Google’s new AI model for deeper search and comparisons), to reshape how interfaces recommend, summarise and personalise experiences in real time.
Mobile Gaming Becomes the Norm
The dominance of smartphones has reshaped digital gaming habits. Most users now prefer mobile access, whether it’s a short gaming session during a commute or a late-night play from the couch. This shift has prompted many operators to focus on responsive web design, ensuring full functionality and intuitive navigation across screen sizes.
Smooth performance, secure payments and fast loading times have become standard. This mobile-centric approach allows players to enjoy games as naturally as they would scroll social media or stream a show. Gaming has been embedded into daily routines, making it more accessible than ever before.
Tech Meets Responsibility
While the sector has embraced rapid innovation, it hasn’t lost sight of player safety. Regulatory requirements mandate a suite of responsible gaming tools. These include deposit limits, session reminders and self-exclusion options, all aimed at supporting healthy usage habits.
Beyond compliance, platforms are now using technology proactively. If a user’s behavior shifts significantly, subtle prompts or time-out features can be triggered. AI and behavioral analytics help identify risks early, enabling a safer environment without interrupting the experience. Innovation in this space isn’t just about flashy features; it’s also about building trust and encouraging sustainable play.
Beyond the Screen: AR, VR and New Frontiers
New technologies are already shaping the next phase of gaming. Augmented and virtual reality are being explored as ways to create more immersive environments—think avatar-based lobbies, virtual dealer tables or enhanced game interactions with AR overlays.
These developments mirror broader movements in digital innovation, where immersive technologies are increasingly being adopted across industries. In the gaming world, virtual and augmented reality are poised to offer players entirely new ways to interact with their digital surroundings, creating more engaging and personalised experiences.
Online casinos are no longer on the fringe of digital entertainment. With strong regulation and mainstream visibility, they’ve become part of the regular digital routine for many. Players now share game experiences online, stream sessions and engage socially around gameplay, echoing trends in the broader entertainment space.
This shift has helped destigmatize online gambling, especially when platforms operate transparently and are held to high standards. As a result, more players feel comfortable participating, discussing and even celebrating their gaming experiences.
Economic Impact and Growth
The benefits of regulation extend beyond user experience. The iGaming sector has contributed significantly to the economy, generating billions in wagers and millions in revenue. Beyond that, it has created high-skilled jobs in tech, marketing and support and has attracted interest from international investors.
Other provinces and even U.S. states are now looking to replicate the model. The success of this market shows that when oversight and innovation align, sustainable growth is possible. It’s a compelling case for how regulation can support, not hinder, creativity in the digital economy.
The Road Ahead
The momentum behind personalized, mobile-first and responsible digital casinos is only expected to grow. Future developments may include more social elements, enhanced user control and integrations with broader tech ecosystems. Players increasingly expect experiences that reflect their habits and values.
With emerging technologies, a robust regulatory framework and user-first design, Canada’s digital casino ecosystem is shaping the future of gaming. The combination of accessibility, personalisation, and safety has redefined expectations, not just locally, but across North America.
Be sure to know the laws governing online casinos in your jurisdiction as they vary broadly.
What’s better than a Greek family band? Not much! Combining the Govetas family with Nick Maroussis, Drómeno brings the Balkans to the Americas with their traditional sounds from the mountains. Their music conjures its ancestral lands, rolling hills, green fields and crystal-clear blue waters. It might be a surprise to learn they come from … Seattle?!? But don’t think Drómeno is a bunch of posers. In fact, band leader and clarinetist Christos Govetas’ earliest memories are from Northern Greece’s Serres region. Check out their 2023 album, Music From Epirus, to hear what all the rage is about. – MAT WEIR
Oakland’s King Isis identifies proudly as a “punk rock fairy” who writes music for “faes and freaks.” The description is apt: Hints of mischief and mystery weave in and out of her otherwise heartfelt, grungy alt-pop style. In songs like “Dissonance,” she blends R&B inspiration with empowering lyricism, singing the refrain, “I’m in love with dissonance / She makes me feel / She makes me heal.” The rising artist has had a big year, recording a Spotify Singles version of “Flower Boy” in August 2024, hitting SXSW and releasing her third EP, Sirenity, this month. She’ll take the museum’s Garden Stage to celebrate Pride Month. – ADDIE MAHMASSANI
INFO: Fri, 7pm, OMCA, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. Free. 510.318.8400.
FRIDAY, JUNE 27
JAZZ
JUDY WEXLER
Los Angeles jazz vocalist Judy Wexler possesses a subtle, petite voice that she wields to big effect. Over the years she’s honed a scintillating repertoire distinguished by songs collected far outside the pages of the Great American Songbook, often showcasing work by fellow vocalists. She returns to the Sound Room with her primary accompanist and arranger, pianist Jeff Colella, and an ace Bay Area rhythm section tandem of bassist Doug Miller and drummer Sylvia Cuenca. She’s focusing on material from her seventh album, No Wonder, which takes its name from the opening track by brilliant Brazilian vocalist Luciana Souza. For anyone looking for smart jazz vocals telling unfamiliar stories, Wexler is the woman. – ANDREW GILBERT
Thom Wasluck started his solo music project, Planning For Burial, 20 years ago after losing his grandmother and witnessing his grandfather begin preparations for his own death. As such, his distinctive blend of shoegaze, slowcore and doom metal has never shied away from dark subject material. After a long wait, he’s back with the album It’s Closeness, It’s Easy, which takes on some of the more subtle, slow-motion kinds of emotion one faces in middle-age. In his recent Pitchfork review, Colin Joyce attests, “On It’s Closeness, It’s Easy, more than on Wasluck’s past records, optimism and anxiety are braided together.” – AM
INFO: Sat, 9pm, Eli’s Mile High Club, 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. $20/adv, $25/door. 510.808.7565.
SATURDAY, JUNE 28
PUNK
45 GRAVE
45 Grave emerged from the shadows of ’80s Los Angeles, bringing gothic rock to America with a grin full of fangs. Fronted by the magnetic Dinah Cancer, the band stitches horror-punk, surf and goth into something campy, chaotic and cheeky. Their cult-classic album Sleep in Safety is a haunted house of reverb-drenched riffs and cemetery wails, where B-movie theatrics meet real punk menace. Macabre and mischievous, 45 Grave helped invent the soundtrack for the undead, and they’re still howling through multiple decades and lineups. This isn’t a comeback, it’s a resurrection. – SONYA BENNETT-BRANDT
INFO: Sat, 8:30pm, Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Ave., Albany. $26. 510.526.5888.
SATURDAY, JUNE 28
COMEDY
RACHEL SCANLON
Scanlon is polite, plays dyke pinball, rattles cages and carabiners, and co-hosts the podcast and nationally touring live show, Two Dykes and a Mic. Embarked on a rapidly selling-out tour following the 2024 release of her nearly notorious one-hour special, Gay Fantasy, Crybaby plays host to a hilarious night with the L.A.-based, queer comedian. Like an infusion of high-voltage, be-who-you-are energy, the space for queers and their allies is chiseled, cheeky and chock full of fun. Scanlon is anything but shy, so check the setting on the sensibility meter, loosen it and enter, knowing the greatest risk is laughing so often and so hard a seam splits. – LOU FANCHER
Attending a show celebrating the LGBTQ+ and—mostly—Black musicians who identify as women, nonbinary, trans, queer or gender fluid in 2025 is revolutionary. This year’s Pride Concert, while radical due to the cultural climate, couldn’t be called a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, except that it can. Why? Because it’s no stretch to say this combination of top-tier Bay Area artists will ever again appear in one night on the same stage. The indomitable vocalist/multi-instrumentalist/composer Vicki Randle has curated a roster that includes Linda Tillery, Valerie Troutt, Pangaea Colter, B DeVeaux, Genesis Fermin, Diana Alvarez, Black Gold Sun and Tribe 8. Strike up the revolution. Be radical. See and be seen. – LF
Bay Area pianist, composer and activist Glenn Horiuchi (1955-2000) was a prime mover in the Asian-American jazz movement of the 1980s and ’90s, creating historically informed work that incorporated traditional Japanese forms and instrumentation. A cast of musicians has revived his music over the past two years. The Zen of Glenn includes tenor saxophonist Francis Wong, an early Horiuchi collaborator and co-founder of the Asian Improv label that released most of his early albums. This afternoon’s concert also features Berkeley pianist, flutist and composer Erika Oba; vocalist Helen Palma; drummer Carrie Jahde; and bassist/composer Chris Trinidad. – AG
This brother-and-sister duo, Elizabeth and Hugo Valdivieso, hail from Oaxaca and proudly embrace their Mexican culture throughout their music. It’s a catchy but chaotic mix of electropop that flows through dreamwave to hyperpop. Despite sounding sugary on the outside, its deep, chewy center asks to be bitten into. After all, how many other pop bands would make a song like “Hijos de Caos,” which touches on Jungian themes of needing pain to awaken consciousness. Joining them are Tricky FM, 55 Castles and Skoto delivering the night with a soundtrack of futuristic pop to listen to at the end of the world. – MW
Pegboy came out of Chicago with rustbelt fists and punk hearts, fueled by working-class grit. Their sound is an early ’90s blunt-force hybrid: melodic enough to hum, mean enough to bruise. Anchored by Larry Damore’s gravel growl and John Haggerty’s surgical guitar attack, they deliver no-frills, gut-punch songs. Pegboy never chased scenes or softened edges, so 30 years on they’re staying loud, raw and real, still giving that sweaty basement floor terror. – SBB
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.
State leaders have been talking a lot lately about cleaning up California’s homeless encampments and moving people indoors. But the tentative budget they’ve drawn up for the upcoming year has many asking: With what money?
Both Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature have proposed gutting the state’s main source of homelessness funding in the 2025-26 budget, sending a wave of panic through the cities, counties and service providers that have been relying on that money for years. Now, those critics warn that thousands of Californians could end up back on the streets, undoing the tenuous progress the state has made in addressing the problem.
“It’s extremely frustrating,” said San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, whose city had been receiving about $30 million a year from that pot of homelessness funding—enough to pay for about 1,000 interim housing placements. “Residents of California tell us consistently that ending unsheltered homelessness is one of their very top priorities…So the idea that the state can’t make a substantial, consistent investment in residents’ top priority makes me question whether or not they’re really listening to the people of California.”
The Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program has doled out funds for cities and counties to spend on everything from temporary shelter to services to permanent housing since its creation six years ago. It started with $650 million in the 2019-20 budget, and has since grown to $1 billion last year.
Since 2023, the program has provided housing for more than 57,000 Californians, according to the Bring California Home Coalition, made up of affordable housing providers, advocates for homeless individuals and government staff.
But with the state facing an expected deficit of $12 billion this year, those funds ended up on the chopping block. The 2025-26 budget proposed by the Legislature June 9 allocates $0. Lawmakers passed a placeholder June 13, but the budget still has to undergo additional negotiations between Newsom and lawmakers before it becomes final. Even so, the governor already has indicated he’s fine with stripping homelessness funding.
At the same time, California could soon also be reeling from federal cuts. President Donald Trump’s proposed budget would reduce funding to the Housing and Urban Development department by 44%, slashing the rental subsidies and federal homelessness funding that flows to California.
Newsom has, in a sense, been preparing cities and counties for a blow to state funds. He has for years resisted calls to make homelessness money permanent, instead preferring to dole it out year by year in a one-time grant—making it easier to cut in a tough budget year.
Despite ramping up spending on the issue to unprecedented levels after taking office (last year the Legislative Analyst’s Office found the administration had spent $24 billion on housing and homelessness), the governor changed his tune in recent months. His message now is more along the lines of: I’ve done my part, now cities need to step up and take care of the crisis on their streets.
“I’m not interested anymore, period full stop, in funding failure,” Newsom said last month, a refrain he’s been repeating often.
But the cities and service providers that rely on those funds say it appears he’s no longer interested in funding success, either: While California’s homeless population remains the biggest in the nation — with more than 187,000 people sleeping on the street and in shelters—it increased just 3% last year, compared to a nationwide increase of about 18%.
Critics worry gutting funding will erode that modicum of progress.
“Simply put, this choice will lead to more people moving onto California’s streets and fewer avenues off the streets,” the Bring California Home Coalition said in a statement.
In San Jose, the state homelessness funding has been crucial in the city’s push to move people out of encampments and into temporary placements in tiny homes and converted motels. Like other cities, San Jose still is waiting to receive its homelessness allocation from the last budget. But once that money is spent, probably by next summer, San Jose will feel the hit, Mahan said. When that happens, the city probably won’t have to close existing programs, because it’s lucky enough to have other funding sources, he said. But it won’t be able to build new units, effectively stalling the city’s plan to get everyone off its streets.
Mahan and other California mayors have for months been urging state leaders to reconsider ever since Newsom’s initial January budget proposal zeroed out the homelessness funds.
Instead, the Legislature suggested adding $500 million back into the state homeless funding program—but not until in the 2026-27 fiscal year. That would be a 50% reduction from last year’s allocation. And there’s no guarantee that money will come through at all. In addition, lawmakers proposed reducing another, smaller homelessness program—which provides money to cities specifically for cleaning up encampments and moving occupants indoors—by $100 million.
It’s not all bad news, pointed out Ben Metcalf, managing director of UC Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation. The Legislature’s budget includes $500 million in low-income housing tax credits to fund the construction of new affordable housing, and $120 million for the Multifamily Housing Program, which provides loans for low-income housing.
But the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program may have been politically easier to gut, Metcalf said. That program doesn’t benefit from deep-pocketed lobbyists defending it in Sacramento.
And because of the complex, intractable nature of the homelessness crisis, the money hasn’t produced the kind of tangible, grand-slam results voters want to see on their streets. Instead, homelessness remains a persistent problem, and encampments still dot California’s cities.
But without that money, some shelters and housing programs are likely to close, Metcalf said. Others could simply become less effective. The state program provided funding for the types of counseling, case workers and other services that help people transition from shelters into permanent housing, he said. Without that extra help, people often languish in shelters.
“So what you end up with, probably, is more Band-Aids,” Metcalf said, “or patchworks of systems that are providing some modest amount of (improvement in) the quality of life but not really helping transition people permanently out of homelessness.”
Andrea Gordon is on a mission to save small theater. The longtime director and playwright, born in Berkeley and now living in Oakland, staunchly supports the essential work smaller, local theaters do in nurturing new drama and new talent, something that was emphasized at the recent Tony Awards, when Tony-winning playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, author of Purpose, urged the viewing audience to support local theaters.
To that end, Gordon chose and has been directing all the plays in San Francisco’s Magic Theatre Classics! free reading series with her own company, Rainbow Zebra. All the selected plays had their world premieres at the Magic, and the reading series is a salute to that theater’s vital role in launching major works. The series includes Sam Shepard’s Fool for Love (1982), Julie Hébert’s True Beauties (1986), Luis Alfaro’s Oedipus El Rey (2009) and Wendy MacLeod’s The House of Yes (1990).
The series concludes on June 30 with another Shepard play, Buried Child, which premiered at the Magic in 1978, where Shepard was playwright-in-residence. The piece didn’t resonate with all viewers at that time. One theater student asked another at intermission, “What do you think of it?” The reply was, “I think he has damn little to say and is taking a damn long time to say it.”
This opinion was notably overridden, as Buried Child won the 1979 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Obie Award for Playwriting, and the 1996 Broadway revival received five Tonys, including “Best Play.” Set on an Illinois farm during the rural economic ravages of the 1970s, it follows the disintegration of a family and the failure of the American Dream.
“They are dealing with how [the Dream] has become an illusion,” Gordon said. Although an actual child’s death is involved, “the family’s secrets are the buried children,” she said.
The cast includes Brian Rivera, Chanel Tilghman, Khary L. Moye, Donald E. Lacy Jr., Edris Cooper-Anifowoshe, Chuck Lacson and Caleb Cabrera. Gordon is passionate about using talented local actors and laments that some Bay Area theaters do not make better use of them.
The reading will be followed by a talkback, as all the others have. Gordon tracks the comments as part of her quest to find out what brings contemporary audiences to the theater. “We need this information to make theater sustainable,” she said.
Readings, Gordon said, allow audiences to focus on the text, and, with casts of outstanding professional actors, are deeply engaging. Taking another look at plays that premiered decades ago, she has reexamined them—for example, she said, reversing the genders in Fool for Love.
The reading of Oedipus El Rey, she added, was a reminder to audiences of playwright Alfaro’s talent, as the Magic prepares to present his new piece, Aztlán, which “links 959 years of history through three playlets,” according to theater materials, “… using mythic Mayan imagery to tell a contemporary tale of a young man on parole, attempting to reimagine a new future for himself.” Aztlán opens June 25 and plays through July 13.
In August, Gordon will launch the nine-month-long Rainbow Zebra/Magic Theatre Reading Extravaganza, featuring all new plays. First up is Michael Lynch’s House of Glass on Aug. 19. She is working on a series of plays by women over 50, which she intends to anthologize in book form, available for other theaters to present. “They all have good roles for older people,” she said.
She will also be involved in revitalizing the Magic’s Young People’s Theatre. “I’m writing the play [for the program] this year,” she said, reinforcing that exposure to live theater at a young age is crucial in creating a theater-goer for life.
Buried Child,’ the final reading in the Magic Classics! series, takes place at 7pm, June 30, at Magic Theatre, 2 Marina Blvd., Landmark Building D, Third Floor (in Fort Mason). Free, but donations are welcome: giving.classy.org/campaign/687874/donate. There will be a post-show discussion. 415.441.8822. magictheatre.org
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State leaders have been talking a lot lately about cleaning up California’s homeless encampments and moving people indoors. But the tentative budget they’ve drawn up for the upcoming year has many asking: With what money?
Both Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature have proposed gutting the state’s main source...
Andrea Gordon is on a mission to save small theater. The longtime director and playwright, born in Berkeley and now living in Oakland, staunchly supports the essential work smaller, local theaters do in nurturing new drama and new talent, something that was emphasized at the recent Tony Awards, when Tony-winning playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, author of Purpose, urged the viewing...
