Just a few minutes out of Palm Springs and about a 2 hour drive from LA, Morongo Casino is an oasis of Vegas-style gaming. Relatively new, clean and modern, Morongo aspires to the kind of casual hipness that the Palms Casino in Las Vegas has, while welcoming to gamblers from twenty-one to eighty-one. The poker room is a little on the small side, but it's always busy. There are a LOT of slots to choose from (though I think they're not as 'loose' as the ones in Vegas), and a fair array of table games like blackjack and pai gow. The food court is usually packed, which makes for a cattle car experience, but the buffet is very good, with service and food to rival any buffet found on the Strip. Good for a gambling fix when you don't feel like hitting the traffic on I-15.
Pros: clean and modern decor, friendly service, vast array of slots and table games
Cons: crowded on weekends, food court is way too small to accomodate the crowds
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