Morongo is one of the few Indian casinos that stick with state law. Most other Indian casinos set their age limits to 21-years-old to prevent underage drinking on their premises. What sports betting options does Morongo Casino offer? You can find boxing cards and MMA fight cards at Morongo Casino from time to time. Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa is an Indian gaming casino, of the Morongo Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians, located in Cabazon, California, United States, near San Gorgonio Pass. The casino has 310 rooms and suites. A 44-acre (180,000 m 2), 27-story resort, Morongo is one of the largest.

Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa is an Indian gaming casino, of the Morongo Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians, located in Cabazon, California, United States, near San Gorgonio Pass. The casino has 310 rooms and suites. A 44-acre (180,000 m²), 27-story resort, Morongo is one of the largest casinos in California. At 330 feet (101 m) high, the casino tower is the tallest building in both Riverside County and the larger Inland Empire region.^[2]

History[edit]

On February 25, 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that neither the state of California nor Riverside County could regulate the bingo and card game operations of the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians set in motion a series of federal and state actions-including two ballot propositions-that dramatically expanded tribal casino operations in California and other states.^[3] In 1995, a new building was constructed for the bingo and card games, and slot machines were introduced. The new casino was called Casino Morongo and included a dance hall, bowling alley, and diner.^[4]

California Proposition 1A, also known as the Gambling on Tribal Lands Amendment, was on the March 7, 2000, ballot in California, where it was approved with a 64% win. It authorized the governor to negotiate compacts with federally recognized Indian tribes on Indian lands in California to operate slot machines, lotteries and banking and percentage card games, subject to legislative ratification.^[5]

The Jerde Partnership announced the official groundbreaking for the Morongo Hotel on May 28, 2003. Perini Building Company topped-out the resort on March 31, 2004. The $250-million Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa, which opened on December 10, 2004, is one of the largest tribal gaming facilities in the nation.^[6] Casino Morongo closed for gaming in 2004, and reopened in 2018 as a separate casino due to an expansion project at the larger casino, displacing 300 slot machines.^[7]

Facilities[edit]

Morongo is one of only six AAA four-diamond casino resorts in California, with Barona Casino, Viejas Casino, Pechanga Resort and Casino, Thunder Valley Casino Resort and the Chumash Casino Resort being the others. Morongo's main casino floor is 148,000 square feet (14,000 m²) with over 2,000 slots and table games.

Upon entering the casino, guests see a contemporary, retro-1960s interior. Light coves between overhead vaults, back-lit fabric draped between frames, and conically shaped light fixtures create a complex, ornate ceiling above the casino floor.

The casino offers more than a hundred table games, including four-card poker, Ultimate Texas Hold'Em, Mystery Card Roulette, blackjack, pai gow poker, mini-baccarat, and three card poker, as well as a 22-table poker room. High rollers can use a high-limit slot area with four table games and seven slots. The high-limit room also has a lounge with plasma TVs and complimentary food.

Morongo's hotel accommodates guests in 272 standard rooms, 32 double-bay suites, and six casitas, the latter of which are located on an upper level surrounding the pool.

Morongo's restaurants include the penthouse restaurant Cielo, Serrano (24-Hour Cafe), Tacos & Tequila, Sunset Bar & Grill, Natural 9 Noodle Company, and the Potrero Canyon Buffet, as well as a food court.

Guests must be 18 or older to gamble on the property.^[8]

Sports[edit]

Boxing[edit]

Boxing cards are held at Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa.^[9][10]

MMA[edit]

Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa hosts MMA fight cards at the Morongo Outdoor Pavilion.^[11][12]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^Hugo Martin (2004-12-10). 'Tribe Unveils Its Casino Royale'. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
2. ^Emporis GmbH. 'Morongo Casino Resort Hotel, Cabazon, U.S.A.' Emporis.com. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
3. ^'California Tribal Casinos: Questions and Answers'. lao.ca.gov. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
4. ^https://www.pe.com/2018/11/26/the-original-casino-morongo-is-back-in-action/
5. ^'California Proposition 1A, Gambling on Tribal Lands (2000)'. ballotpedia.org. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
6. ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2014-09-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
7. ^https://www.pe.com/2018/11/26/the-original-casino-morongo-is-back-in-action/
8. ^'Guest Services Morongo Casino Resort & Spa'. Retrieved 2015-01-24.
9. ^'Morongo casino hosts boxing card'. casinocitytimes.com. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
10. ^'Morongo Casino hosts Showtime boxing card Friday'. desertsun.com. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
11. ^'Legacy Fighting Alliance 36 (LFA 36)'. mixedmartialarts.com. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
12. ^'Legacy LFA 45: Silva vs. Barnes'. tapology.com. Retrieved 2018-07-18.

External links[edit]

Coordinates: 33°55′12″N116°47′42″W / 33.9200°N 116.7950°W

Tribal casinos can be found throughout California, but few match the luxury and variety that Morongo Casino, Spa, and Resort provides. This iconic casino is located near San Gorgonio Pass in the Palm Springs area. It features tons of high-quality amenities and gambling activities, making it a great place to spend your next vacation.

Morongo Casino Fact Table

Games Offered At Morongo

Morongo features 195,000 ft.² of gaming space that includes over 4,000 loose slot games and over 80 table games. Of these tables, 13 are restricted to a poker room, where poker enthusiasts can play for real money and enjoy a variety of poker games like Texas Hold ‘Em and 7 Card Stud.

However, Morongo’s slots are arguably the biggest attraction. Its slot collection includes some of the newest games in the entire Palm Springs area. Slot costs are between a single cent up to $100, and you can find traditional reel games plus a bunch of new video machines. There’s also a high limit slot room area for games that pay out large sums.

Aside from these games and poker, you’ll also be able to enjoy a collection of classic table games like Fortune Pai Gow, 3 Card Poker, and Mississippi Stud. Many of these games take low bets or buy-ins but still include the potential for big winnings. Most of the gaming tables at Morongo are dedicated to these “Cal games”, which feature special rules and can be found at other legal California casinos.

Additionally, there’s a 440-seat bingo room. Not only does this accommodate bingo lovers with events every week, but it also comes with top-notch amenities for comfortable bingo playing.

Check out our complete Guide To California Tribal Casinos.

Morongo Events

Morongo is more than just a gaming casino. It’s also a place where you can find a variety of entertainment events and dining options that make it a holistic casino experience. Each year, it hosts several concerts, parties, and special events – stars like Michael Buble and Enrique Iglesias have appeared on the main Morongo stage more than once. Comedy shows are also included from time to time.

Morongo reserves 80,000 ft.² for its events and entertainment venues. It also features a 12,000 ft.² ballroom that accommodates banquets, weddings, and business meetings. You’ll be able to reserve the space for your own social get-together if you like. The space holds up to 600 guests, but you must reserve far in advance.

There’s an additional 27th-floor special ballroom that features panoramic views of the surrounding canyons and hanging chandeliers for added ambiance.

Morongo Amenities And Features

Morongo also has a lot to offer in terms of dining. There are several restaurants worth your time, including a Las Vegas-style buffet and a dedicated restaurant called Cielo, which offers fine dining and a selection of top-tier wines and spirits.

There’s also the Sunset Bar & Grill for classic Mexican food, plus the Good Times Café that serves breakfast items if you want to hang out in the casino during the first part of the day. In total, there are eight separate eating and drinking establishments within Morongo.

Lastly, many visitors will want to check out the dedicated spa at Morongo, which also includes salon services. Visitation to the spa is often part of the package when you reserve a room at the 27-story hotel, which includes 32 suites and 272 guest rooms. Check your reservation to see if you qualify.

There’s also plenty to do nearby. The Desert Hills Premium Outlets and the Cabazon Outlets are located near Morongo and offer over 130 premium retail stores. Canyon Lanes is located nearby with a Blacklight Family Bowl on Friday nights.

Guests at Morongo have easy access to two 18 hole Championship golf courses at Tukwet Canyon, home of the SoCal PGA. The facilities are senior-friendly and the courses are great for the beginner, novice, and experienced golfer.

Morongo History

Like all Indian casinos in California, Morongo is legal because of agreements between California’s state government and the local Indian tribes. These agreements allow Indian casinos to offer gambling even though its against California state law.

Morongo Resort originally opened in 1995 under the name Casino Morongo. At the time, it only included a dance hall, diner, and bowling alley. The casino was still under negotiation between tribal and state authorities.

The casino finally opened on December 10, 2004. Since then, Morongo has remained one of the largest tribal casinos in the entire country.

The casino, specifically, closed in 2014 only to reopen in 2018 as a separate building in order to expand its gaming space even further.

These days, you can still find the original bowling alley, a nightclub, and other entertainment venues on the original casino’s ground. However, the primary Morongo Resort building now houses most of the gaming activities and the main spa. The building includes the hotel as well.

Morongo Casino FAQ

Morongo Casino Age Limit

Casitas are suites that feature private living spaces, pool access, and other luxury amenities. They’re all located on an upper level that surrounds the main pool.

Morongo Casino Age Restriction 2019

The legal gambling age in California is 18-years-old, but Indian casinos may set their own age limits. Morongo is one of the few Indian casinos that stick with state law. Most other Indian casinos set their age limits to 21-years-old to prevent underage drinking on their premises.

You can find boxing cards and MMA fight cards at Morongo Casino from time to time. Most of these occur at the casino’s outdoor pavilion.

Morongo Casino Age Restriction Rules

Since the casino is a tribal establishment, Morongo is regulated by the National Indian Gaming Commission.

Morongo Casino California Age Limit

Yes. There is self-parking along with the option for valet.