I also later learned that there was a reason Morongo seemed so much like the Palms. The waitress charged Joe $5 for his beer. Morongo Casino did offer “whatever happens in Vegas,” with two exceptions: sports betting and free drinks.

Dealers worked the blackjack and poker tables. Truth be told, I’m not much of a gambler, but something about this version of roulette made me feel more like a video-keno player in a Laughlin, Nev., diner than a high-roller in Monte Carlo.Īside from those oddities, there were 2,000 hungry slot machines ready to take our nickels or bills. I lost $20 just trying to figure out how to play. Instead of putting chips on a numbered square on a table, you placed bets by touching squares on the screen. There was no dealer, only an unmanned wheel and people huddled around touch screens. I agreed after trying my hand at “California” roulette.

The action didn’t seem quite as fast-paced as Vegas to him. “It’s just so weird not to have dice,” Joe kept saying. The dealers pulled cards from decks stacked with aces through sixes.Ĭalifornia-style gambling“California Craps” - a fact of life when it comes to gaming here - took some getting used to. In the casino, Joe tried his luck at craps and was surprised that there were no dice.

Morongo casino happy hour