Tortoise Rock Casino - Twentynine Palms, California

mrs bananaslug (mrsbananaslug)

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.

Octavio Hernandez

The coolest little casino I've ever been to. Super clean, everyone is really nice. Sargent Alex (parking security) is one awesome dude! Gerardo (casino manager) is the man! Native American cannabis dispensary on site! Overnight parking allowed. We loved our stay here and will definitely be coming back. Thank you!

Rémi Ferrante

Today, on Thanksgiving, I walked into Tortoise Casino with my ADA-registered service dog, intending to enjoy some games and support the casino, despite it being a holiday I do not celebrate. However, my visit quickly turned into an unsettling experience regarding the treatment of service animals and compliance with federal laws.

Shortly after I entered, a security guard approached me and said that I could not be in the casino with my dog. I calmly explained that my dog is a trained service animal and that denying entry to a person with a service dog is a violation of federal civil rights laws. I mentioned the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which clearly prohibits such discrimination.

The security guard then escorted me to a sign stating that service dogs require 48 hours’ notice and a completed form to enter the casino. This policy is in direct conflict with the ADA, which states that businesses must allow service animals to accompany individuals with disabilities in all areas open to the public. Under the ADA, businesses may only ask two questions:
1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

Documentation, forms, or advance notice cannot be required by law. Additionally, the sign specified that dogs must be house-trained (a redundant point, as all service dogs are trained for specific tasks) and free of ticks or fleas. While cleanliness is a reasonable expectation, this is an impractical requirement for any visitor to guarantee 100% of the time.

Though the security guard eventually calmed down and courteously explained that he was simply enforcing the casino’s policies, I firmly believe those policies are not only discriminatory but also unlawful under federal law. The casino’s management should review and update their practices to comply with the ADA. Failure to do so could expose them to legal consequences and further alienate customers with disabilities.

I want to emphasize that I hold deep respect for Native American tribes and their businesses, but legal compliance is essential for creating an inclusive and respectful environment for all patrons. I hope Tortoise Casino takes this as an opportunity to educate their staff, revise their policies, and ensure that no other guests face similar discrimination.

For reference, the relevant law can be found under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title III, Section 36.302.

Chris Montoya

Cool lil casino. Live music. Nice, helpful staff. Definitely not loose slots around here but it's a good time regardless.

RM

I ordered 2 sides of fries from oasis grille and just they put it in a box. When I mentioned portion size looks too small to be even one they gave me these baskets to divvy them up. Cheap.

Chris Goble

This casino is smaller then many other casinos. It does have 7 Tesla superchargers for individuals to charge their cars. I visited this location around 9pm on a Thursday night and it wasn't that busy. The overall atmosphere was good but it was hard to find a waitress to order a drink while you are on the slots. But it does have a small bar. It also has table games and a café.

Donna Borrell

I enjoy going to the Tortoise Rock Casino... the people that work there are very kind, from the cleaning people to the host, and they have an excellent security team, and they always make me feel welcomed.. and they always check on me to make sure that I'm okay.. I love the free play I get during the month... I want to thank them all ... D. Borrell

JR. Scott

Very clean inside and out!.. true flower in the middle of surrounding weeds, looks so out of place with the neighborhood that surrounding it. Tough place to win on slots. Very tight on jackpots. Great sunrises....I took photos from parking lot week ago, stunning!