Tortoise Rock Casino

🎉 New Year's Eve Celebration 🎉 I had the best time ringing in the new year! The music was fantastic, creating an electric atmosphere that set the perfect tone for the night. A special thank you to our amazing casino host for making it all possible. The games were generous and really paying out, which only added to the excitement. It was wonderful to see everyone around us having a great time, sharing laughs and celebrating together. This experience was truly memorable,

This is our favorite Tesla Supercharger location when we're camping at Joshua Tree. The casino here is quite small, but it's perfectly fine for using the restroom and grabbing a drink while you wait for your car to charge. Don't expect much beyond that.

We stopped by on late Saturday evening in Feb because of Tesla Charger in their lot. Cozy place to stop buy play some games have a drink while car get charged.

Well, TRC is in the middle of nowhere it's small, but NEW provides some entertainment for a hole in the wall 29 palms. And you can win a little gas 💰 if you happen to be working out here. I can always use gas money. I do alright. But forget for a minute that u might win big if you keep dumping money in a machine. They are riged! I'm a small risk guy, $10 - $20 max. I nearly stop any casino if it is right in front of me. How can you win if u never try? I know by not losing. Ok, u have a point. But a lot of times, I spend $1 - $2 dollars, actually most of the time. I travel for work and to break from work. I keep track of how much I lose and win . My whole life gaming to date, I'm $85 dollars ahead. If I start with $2.00 & hit $10.00, I cash out. Put the ticket in my pocket. Take $2.00 cash out my pocket start over with my original amount I gave myself to lose that is it I never waver. Oh, I'm tempted, but I don't because I lose my $2.00 and go cash my ticket/tickers, and I now have 6.00 ahead. In 4 more days, I pass 3 more casinos. And now I'm 51.00 ahead. Ok, it's not much, but with food and gas, I make it 10 more days on that $51.00 Then I stop at some hole in the wall up on the slope of these LA mountains. No one ever wins in them. I drop 1.00, hit 68.00, cash out, and go home back to work. Had a great trip camped in the mountains a few days. went to the pier in the ocean side and fished no license needed off piers in California. Eat out every day. True, not much, but I like being thin. And stop and see friends and hang at the beach. Tortoise rock is a few blocks from where I'm staying and worked all winter. It has got to be the hardest place to squeeze $2.00, so I was ahead 9.00 for the whole time I gambled there 12 times. Then I tried craps. I won 20.00 before there. I play cat eyes and double 6's pay 15/1 & 30/1. Well, two nights ago, I Brock my 10.00 rule. Stuck 20.00 in Well I got to 30.00 I knew I should cash it. But first hand, let's see if I can double within 5 more rolls. Nope, hit 7 x 5 spins in a row! I thought if that's not riged, I'm a idiot. changed 3 crape machines, and each one did the same thing 3 to 5 times in a row hit 7 you out. Of Crouse, I was up set. That's got to be rigged. Really 13 x 7 back to back in a row 3 machines. Wow, I guess that was a lucky night? I've never seen anything like it! So, chock that up to I believe places do rig. So, I won't try that again. TRC I give it 2.75 stars why so much. It's clean employees a great, it out in no man's land. It's native american indian Casino. I like and love Dina' (the people). And if I don't try stepping in deep water, I hope I can win 1000.00 and just stick to my few dollar wins. I wouldn't be down to 85.00 dollars ahead for all time. Stop by if you're driving by 29 palms it's dialed lots of good eats in town mex, Chinese, and Japanese. The desert 🏜 is a wonder. Can you believe $1000 from under 20.00 bet. Never has happened. I would be so flipped out. I guess it probably will never happen. It's so funny how I don't need anything or want anything with the money. I just want to win something substantial, not that it's much. But I would make sure I stayed over 1000.00 ahead the rest of my life and talk about it! I'm so stupid. Can you imagine I have been going around the last 10 years talking about being a Head a couple hundred dollars gambling for my whole life. Win 200 twice and 500 once. I didn't gamble it a way but used it to travel around California coast up north and went to Oregon camped out and painted some and wove a grass basket 3 years ago up by Jennier by the sea. Then, I returned home to Hawaii. I always go home. JT medicineman plant talker. I like to go to rock and new wave concerts, too.

Its okay. Closest casino in the area. Have a good amount of slots. No top dollar or pinball tho. Been twice but couldn't win either time. Could be looser slots for the area considering fantasy springs and morongo and Auga Calente are pretty close. Not bad for a quick fix

Small and personable, every staff interaction was good and seemed genuine. They still have some slots with actual reels! Place was very clean, and I did not notice that they allow smoking must have some good air system. Smart casinos know that allowing overnight RV parking is good for business. Security will visit to register you (and this is good, it absolves them of liability against idiots). Go in and spend the 60 bucks you would have spent for an RV site at the Casino, have a drink try your chance, support local employment. It was great.

Update: 9/26/25 Came in to play the slots and decided if I had to order food I’d just get fries. My friend ordered the carne asada fries. After about 15 minutes I came back to check on the order and the gal behind the counter said, “It’s going to be a while”. Of course I’m wondering why but I shrug and walk back to the slots. At 25 min I walked back to see how two orders of fries are coming along. She seemed annoyed at this point that I was back. I explained that I don’t like cold fries so that’s why I was checking back. Then my curiosity got the better of me, I asked, why is it taking so long? She said, he has a steak on the grill so he can’t cook your food. I’m stunned that the cook has such a small grill he can only cook one thing at a time. In total it took 35 min to get our fries. Oh well, jokes on me, we should have gone to eat elsewhere. I made my original review seven years ago. Since then, the casino has changed a lot. Some of it due to Covid some of it not. The little restaurant inside has gone completely downhill. The food takes 25 to 30 minutes to arrive at the counter. They no longer bring it to your table. It’s often cooked improperly or burnt. They’ll forget your sour cream, or guacamole if it came with your order. Then they expect you to tip for that. You can still get free drinks, but you have to walk up to the bar to get them. Occasionally, you’ll see a girl walking around offering drinks, but only once in a while can you spot her and she zips by so fast you’d have to trip her to get her attention. I figure at this point the drink service is only there so they can claim it on their website. They used to have a soda fountain and coffee area where you could just get your own drinks. The last time I was there all they had was Diet Coke, bottled water or sparkling water. I know you might say but it’s free, but it’s not really free if you’re losing $200 or $300 there. The slot machines are very tight every night and you can run through your money in less than an hour. Gone are the days when you could lose a little then win a little, lose a little then win a little and get enough entertainment for your money that you felt like it was worth it even if you lost. It’s hilarious when the slot machines go nuts with the noise and the words on the screen say big win and you only won $12. I guess the best part about the place is that it has air conditioning at this point. I’m adding a picture of my completely charred chicken in my teriyaki bowl. So sad this old review doesn’t apply any more. 🫤 Small but fun. Free concerts Friday nights. Free soda and coffee. Tonight's tribute to Loverboy band, Turn Me Loose was the best band so far this season. They were great! I hope they're invited back next season.

Great staff who're attentive, friendly, and professional. The building is quite smokey as it's a smaller building. The comps are disappointing at best. I'd add that there's no high limit tables ie Agua Caliente. There's really no incentive to play more than the table minimum; especially at tables with such a low minimum bet.

We stopped by on late Saturday evening in Feb because of Tesla Charger in their lot. Cozy place to stop buy play some games have a drink while car get charged.

Ai ambulances are the most efficient way to transport passengers to the hospital as the Waynes of posters as the French walk is a European Train Station !

One big square room with slot machines and casino games. It smells like smoke inside... There is a restaurant/cafe. Bathrooms are nice with a lot of stalls There are 10 Tesla chargers!

My ongoing communication with the casino and hostess has been excellent. I've also had great interaction with floor staff and security personnel several times. I think the bad day that prompted my first review was probably a one-off for both of us.

Update, 2024: Welp, no pool yet, but they did add a cannabis dispensary. Open 24/7, in the black-and-red smoke shop trailer by the Tesla chargers. Note: this is the only legal dispensary in the hi-desert, because the towns have voted against it, and the county won't allow it in unincorporated areas. The dispensary has just opened, so YMMV. Also: most Friday nights in the summer, you can watch various cover bands play there - free. From 2015: Stopped in this little casino to kill some time while waiting for a friend. Like most Indian casinos, this one was filled with enough cigarette smoke to choke a horse, so if you're not already a smoker, be prepared to smell like one after spending fifteen minutes here. I'm more of a blackjack player, but the smoke drove me out before I had much chance to investigate that option here. It's such a tiny casino, I can't imagine spending much time here without another attraction - especially something outdoors, away from all that smoke. How about putting in a pool, Tortoise Rock? That's something fun that this area could really use. It would be a great attraction - you could put on Las Vegas style daytime pool parties. Hell, I'd love to come buy a drink and take a dip in the casino pool, listening to a band. Why not, Tortoise Rock? You're the only casino in town.

Great spot and location in terms of 29 palms. Not many places have $5 tables anymore so it's nice to go in, unwind, have some cheap drinks, and let loose. Friends and I go almost every Friday. Whether you're trying to gamble or just watch sports in a nice establishment, this is the spot. Only complaint is smokers. It's not always a huge problem, but sometimes you go in and there's a bunch of smokers and you walk out smelling like a cigarette.

Nice place clean and smoky. Staff is friendly and helpful. Usual loud music. Of course I lost not a lot but when you don't win at all that's usually a sign to walk away. Card tables, slots, roulette. There is a small snack bar to get sandwiches and other assorted food stuffs. There are workers roaming around asking if you want coffee, water and soda. It's a drive out to 29 Palms and would be good if you want to drive out for the day. But I wouldn't come for a big win.

Tortoise Rock Casino I really enjoy the entertainment when I'm there and it relaxes me it's therapy for me and the stafff are very polite, help and helpful I think by then building this casino it's helped a lot for this town and now I just pray that one day they will expand and put other things together to help the casino. Get more customers from everywhere. Thank you.

Really tired of winning nothing at Tortise Rock. Not very friendly casino. You just watch your money go poof and nothing in return not even enough to keep playing for entertainment value. No one can be that unlucky all the time. Very sad place to think you're gonna have fun!

Always a nice visit to the casino! Food is good and so are the drinks. The bartenders are always friendly and never keep you waiting!

Super small and while playing at the tables, they took forever to provide service. My clothes and hair smelled horrible like smoke after leaving. It also seems suspiciously hard to win here...... I'd hard pass if you're considering.

Just because it has Tesla charger. You needed to get two hundreds point to receive a gift.

Small, and if you like casinos- not overwhelming. There is even a nonsmokong area!!!got $15 free bucks from players club, won $29 of real money and left!!!!!

Don't even waste your time stopping here unless you need to use the restroom. Sister property is just as sad! I found games that didn't pay much of anything. There is nobody in this place because in my opinion the rent is due and your going to help pay the rent by playing here. Like the sister property there is more security than guest! How is this place still open???? Play somewhere else you'll be glad you did!

I won $100 and kept playing and I still loved it. People who put bad reviews are losers. Sure the place smells like cigarets. Just like old vegas. Super chill place. They have a restaurant which we did not try. I'll go back for sure.

Very small casino, but a nice place to spend and hour or two to kill time from the hot heat. The security team was really funny and nice!

It's a small casino They have a small restaurant the nachos are better than hard rock casino. The burgers are good. Price is very affordable. The ambient is very good.

Worst casino I've ever been too no cap I will never come here again sorry for the bad review but not worth it

It's super small!!! Maybe like 80 machines. It does take your money quickly though! Well I guess all casinos do right? It's cute and a good stop over . Too much smoking for me but I guess that's the norm for a lot of casinos.

Mal , mal y mal , no hay hotel , no hay gas , no hay restaurante, venden los peores cigarrillos, del universo, y la comida es mala, y 200 de juego gratis te duran , 25 minutos y el personal de seguridad es despota , no existe ningún motivo para visitar este lugar

We come here a couple of times a month usually in the evening. This morning we stopped here on our way home for a quick bite to eat. Waited 20 minutes for a bagel with cream cheese and it still wasn't ready. I asked for a refund because I had to get back in the road and they didn't know how to refund so I would have to wait for them to get the Supervisor. Needless to say, I left without my bagel and without my refund. The customer service was horrible as well.

A great place to watch PPV events,, the free outdoor concerts are cool. The problem is the whole place is a chain smokers paradise. They sell cheep cigarettes by the carton and the ventilation system can't keep up with the smoke, Everywhere you sit smoke is blowing in your face like a camp fire, ash trays full on the machines, chain smokers on most machine, I should wear a respirator next time I go. Oh and BTW the machines are very tight if you are ever able to ever get a bonus !

We stopped here to charge at a Tesla supercharger. The security literally drove by 30 times. Stopped us. Watched us. skip it.

I've been to several casinos in CA & NV & this is by far the worst I've been too. The security stopped me & asked me a bunch of questions when I was only in there for not even 5 minutes. I was dressed as normal as anyone else but they singled me out for some reason & they never told me why even after I asked them. There's like 7-9 Casinos in Palm Springs area that you can visit and have way more going for it anyway. They're larger, more games, in a safer area and that's way less windy then here. On the drive over here from Palm Springs, there was a police traffic stop that block the entire highway here. So you had to drive all the way around to get pass the traffic stop. This added at least 45 minutes to the trip. There are no traffic stop warnings on Google Maps either, so if you're planning on driving here, just know that. Its just over a 1 hour drive here from Palms Springs with no traffic and the wind is very high. This is very dangerous because semi-trucks can flip over & crush your car. You can see this on YouTube. My point being: why deal with all this just to play at the worst Casino in CA & NV especially when you have so many other options just in Palm Springs alone with better odds and more games? I would give this place a 0 if possible.

Been to this nice small casino, on Saturday may 13 , 2023, everything is oke, till you want to eat something. We had fish and ships and chicken tireyaki , it was eatable, but we had to pay twice , because the machine rol was broken .... I asked what happens when I pay on my creditcard two times te food price ? The manager told me that they will correct it in 3 days . I was oke, because we have to travel home the next day. Now after a week we still payed two times for the meal !!! NO CORRECTION

The worse Casino in the desert!!!! You will never win there it is a total scam no one ever wins there all that casino does is take your money don't listen to these fake ass reviews which are probably from employers or there family or friends because I have nothing to lose or gain and iam telling u as a resident of this area that casino is a scam no one ever wins there EVER.

Decent little casino located in Twentynine Palms. If you happen to have a gambling itch or want to lose money while hiking or camping in Joshua Tree, look no further. Don't expect much though. Limited tables and limited slots. I am actually surprised this place exists in the middle of the nowhere. Regret going in though...

This place is just weird. Too many security people constantly wandering around staring at you. Almost always dead and quiet inside. The gaming machines are typical stuff, nothing special. I've never had any luck in the 10 years since they opened. Machines are tight and you can just feel it sucking in as much money as they can. Lots of (assumption) homeless people just hanging out and some stinky ones. Great place to lose money and feel bad. Didn't see anyone enjoying themselves at all.

The smell of smoke was a bit overwhelming in this casino. Usually I'm pretty tolerant to that in casinos but this one made it harder to be in. The casino itself was super small, and minimal options for food or drinks. There was very little staff as well. The bathrooms were clean and the entire casino was well air conditioned. Overall completely fine as we were just stopping to charge the car and walk around, but wouldn't go out of my way to come here again.

Food has gotten better Help very friendly and better chance of winning here than Palm Springs casinos. I like it here.

OK - decided to stop and enjoy an hour or so of playing the slots but luck was with me...... and so five hours later and once it got dark i realized I had had a full day of fun. They have complementary soft drinks while one plays. Its a small nice little casino in Twenty Nine Palms.

-reeks of cigarette smoke everywhere -no covid wipes available -My slots kept bugging out - they were disconnecting every few minutes! -Very tight slots - didn't see anyone around me win

Lost 5k while playing slots. Did not get any free games or bonuses from playing 7 different slot machines.

Clean and plenty of slot machines despite only having one floor. A nice bar to have a drink and relax.

In Joshua tree for a weekend and found out about this casino so decided to try it out, I wanted to play some dealer hold 'em, there was only one table and they were letting some lady play 2 seats, I asked if the second seat was open they said no there's a waitlist so I get on it, the lady leaves for half hour and even the players at the table are complaining they should let other players play. Over it after over an hour of waiting and they don't open up another table and keep letting the lady play 2 seats. I guess this is a watching casino not a playing casino so I leave. Will never come back, I can watch other people gambling on YouTube.

Me and my friends got to the casino at around 6:30pm to get a table to watch the UFC fights. We only got a bucket of beer (6 beers) and there was 4 of us at the table. Me and my friend walked to the bathroom together and when we were finished we were questioned by a female security guard in the bathroom. She asked us multiple questions like 'is your friend okay?' 'Who did you come here with?' 'Where are you sitting?' Mind you me and my friend are completely fine and were just holding conversation in the bathroom. (Not stumbling or falling over or puking or ANYTHING along those lines) so I tell her we are fine and leave the bathroom. She proceeds to go to the bar to cut off my friend from drinking because she believes she had too much to drink. So the main event is about to come on and then she proceeds to say we have to leave. We ask Her why.....she doesn't give an answer. We didn't cause a disruption... or start a fight... or drink too much. We were literally just having a few beers with our friends. We asked to speak with the Manager as well to get some sort of clarification as to why we were being kicked out, and again we got no straight answer. Seems to me that this female security guard had an agenda for the night and it was very strange the way she targeted us. It sucks when miserable people have to ruin a good time. Another time I went to the casino I ordered food (chicken tenders and French fries) when my order was ready and he gave it to me there were about 5 french fries in the tray. I asked the gentlemen who served me the food If this is normally how much food they serve people and he responded with 'yea it has to be 5oz ' or something along those lines. People really lack a lot of common sense.. very poor customer service and the security guards clearly have nothing better to do than to harass people.

Great place ! Closer than going all the way down below! Won $$$ & lost some but had a great time.

Drove from hemet to check this spot out tonight i won 200 bucks and was told i cant record by a security lady pretty pathetic never had a problem when i record what i win but hey explains why the casino is about 20 yards.. i would be mad if a customer won as well NEVER COMING BACK TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE!

The smell! The smell inside this building was so bad i started getting nauseous. They allow smoking throughout the casino and they dont have a adequate ventilation system to filter the air. Also the payouts on the machines are very low, because they dont have the person flow to drive the jackpots.

Suckie slots. Power tripping security parking lot attendants that bully. Crap food and bar services when it's slow or otherwise. And worse of All... SHITY LOUD MUSIC ! PS. If you don't smoke. Stay out. You'll choke.

We go here sometimes. Bathrooms very clean. Bartender in the morning is very rude. Drinks are not worth the price, not enough alcohol added. Food is not as good as most Casinos here in the desert area. Machine attendents are nice. Jackpots are rare. The worst thing is no drink service from 12am until 9am. No sodas or water even. No fun to play when your thirsty. You people cant afford one night waitress for cokes and water???

I have been wanting to check this casino out for awhile, but it's a little out of the way. I finally went there in February. The player's club booth was closed, so I had to wait in a pretty long line at the cashier. Finally when I got up to the front, the man working there asked what he can do for me. I asked to sign up for a player's card. He said hold on and walked away to count cash for an employee...strange customer service practice. Then he came back and I handed him my ID and he said...in a rude manner..."what is this for?!". I said I want to sign up for a players card. He muttered something else rudely. Then another woman took over. She was friendly, but the whole experience was just weird. Anyway, she told me as a new player there is a promotion of getting free play up to $500. Essentially you get what you lose back in free play. She said it takes a few weeks to process, but I will receive an email. Cool deal, right? Nope! It's a shady business practice. I never received the email, so I just thought that maybe they wrote my email down wrong. I went back in March and told them that I never received the email. She checked the one I provided and it was correct, they just didn't send an email. Then I asked about the free play...that I was supposed to get...and she said it expired. Well I never got the email as promised! I would have been fine with no promotion signing up, but don't promise something you don't stand by. She took down my information so a supervisor would call, but of course they never did. What a shady casino. There are too many nice casinos close enough ( that actually stand by the many promotions they have!) to even consider returning to a place that is so shady and lacking in customer service. Oh, I forgot to mention. When I returned in March they had the player's club open. I went over there and asked him about the free play offer. He had a puzzled look on his face and told me he doesn't deal with player's club and I would have to go to the cashier. What? You are in the player's club booth? Haha what a mess of a business. The slot machines themselves were fine. Win some, lose some like any casino. The food in the little food place was good, and the people working there were friendly.

2.5 Stars It's in 29 Palms. If you have the gambling itch and don't have the time to drive to Morongo Casino stop by here. The positives: + Air Condition casino. Nice to cool off while it's triple digits outside + Bar Area. Good place to watch the PPV Fights. Cheap beer when you order by the pitcher. Friendly servers/bartenders. + parking is never an issue + a few minutes off state route 62 + Food: Prices are good. Decent burgers too. + Close to the Base. Improvements: + A more distinct non-smoking section. It maybe a non-smoking section but the cigarette smoke makes it there anyways. + Available games/slots: You don't see some of the popular games/slots that you see in the bigger casinos. I like pai gow and the wheel of fortune slot. + Food: just a fast food option. Sub par Mexican food. Carne Adams burrito was almost all beans and rice without much meat. Rounded up to 3 stars.

Terrible casino, bad service, they allow people to smoke even during this Covid 19 period, poor promotion , smell bad like shit

My only suggestion for this place to the owner/management, is to have a better air circulation and smoke suctions. 1 minute in there, your clothes and hair already smells of cigarettes. I like the place, and kudos to the cleaning team of the bathroom (especially Women bathroom). It's clean, smells very nice... I probably prefer to stay in there than at the casino, due to the smells of the smoke.. lol. The employees that work there that I met, so far is very nice.

Completely incompetent and rude staff. Mixed drink had 0 alcohol, they insulted me and my girlfriend twice. I have no idea why we went back a second time. If you are looking for a drink in 29 Palms, go anywhere else besides Tortoise Rock. Virginian, Cactus Bar, anywhere besides this crapfest. It's only still in business because old people are addicted to slot machines.

Covid is happening and I check to see if they are enforcing masks and social distancing which according to their website they are. I get there and it's packed and half of people have no mask at all. I ask security and his answer is, "if you didn't want to deal with covid you shouldve stayed home, our bar is even open and it's not supposed to be" basically saying he didn't care. 4 security guards standing around chatting about their weekends while people could potentially die because they don't want to do their job. We all need to learn to live in the new normal but it starts with responsible businesses and this is casino is NOT SAFE

this place used to be so fun and you could play a lot on just under 100 dollars. now you can lose 5000 in a few hours and never hit 100 dollars. love the people that work in food service. the cage workers run hot and cold. if your winning everyone loves you if your not they act like they don't know you. had few good hits there but last 6 months nothing. you can play every machine in the casino bet low to high and nothing hits. hardly any locals go anymore and if they do they walk in and out losing their money n no time. was just there Thursday for scratchers. parking lot had 30 cars hoping to win. as I walked out those thirty cars all driving off as losers. did not see one person win free play. we are not a rich community and I see it getting poorer yes casino are there to make money but this is supposed to be entertainment. the price people pay does not even let them be entertained they have to leave. I do have say casino is very clean and the cigarettes are very reasonable.

We went to check out the casino but left immediately because it was so smoky that we couldn't handle it. Had to take a shower and wash all of our clothes immediately. I will never step foot in that place again.