Morongo Casino Resort’s new app allows players to find their way. Literally.
Launched on Sept. 1 and available at both the App Store and Google Play, the app for one of Southern California’s largest casinos further reflects the intersection of gaming and technology.
After downloading the app, players can use the new wayfinder tool to help them pinpoint a particular slot machine or table game on the floor. Simon Farmer, executive director of marketing at Morongo, told the Press-Enterprise that slots are moved around the casino a lot.
“Morongo is a large casino with almost 3,800 slots, and as a result, we often have to rearrange our floor and move games around. So on the one hand, while it helps our guests find new games, it also creates a situation where your game may not be located in the same place every visit. The wayfinder piece is the all-in-one map and helps guests find exactly what they’re looking for.”
An app with some juice
Morongo Casino Resort east of Riverside is one of the state’s largest tribal-run casinos in California. The resort’s new app is loaded with five convenient links to enhance a customer’s gaming experience.
Besides finding their way with the app, players can:
- Earn and check rewards
- Get exclusive discounts
- See presales on concert tickets (comedian Tracy Morgan is coming Sept. 29)
- Book rooms, poolside casitas, spa treatments and dining reservations
Farmer said development of the app used research gleaned from how customers used Morongo’s main desktop website.
“We wanted to make it easier for guests to experience Morongo. It’s a less-is-more approach, with less time waiting in line, potentially being on hold for a reservation, searching for your favorite slot machine, and more time doing the things you enjoy.”
Anyone who downloads the app during September becomes eligible for a two-night stay at the resort. Drawings are held each day of the month.
Welcome to the machine
The wayfinder ability is akin to what exists at big amusement parks like Disneyland. Customers can instantly discover the direction of a ride and wait times on their phones.
One chief complaint from casino players is having trouble finding their favorite slot machine. Then, when they return for another visit, they discover the machine has been moved. Another problem can be finding an ATM.
The main floor at Morongo is 148,000 square feet, so finding one particular slot machine can be like finding the needle in a haystack. The wayfinder tool links directly to a property map to assist guests in finding ATMs, table games, slots and cashiers.
In a release on Indian Gaming, Richard St. Jean, Morongo’s chief operating officer, said enhancements on the app will continue.
“Our innovative and intuitive new app puts all of Morongo’s world-class amenities in the palm of our guests’ hand. We will continue to expand our state-of-the-art smartphone app to enhance our guests’ experience throughout the resort – whether they’re playing within the casino, making reservations or enjoying a stay in the hotel.”
Morongo looks to stand out in gaming market
Opened in 2004, the Morongo Casino Resort and Spa is one of the largest tribal gaming facilities in the nation. It is a AAA four-diamond casino resort. It features a hotel with a spa and 36 holes of golf (Sorry, the app won’t track your wayward drives off the tee … yet).
The resort is located next to the Cabazon Outlets and Desert Hills Premium Outlets shopping center, about 30 miles east of Riverside.
The app is another way for Morongo to differentiate itself in the market and provide a new service for customers, Farmer said.
“We know technology plays a big role in how people experience everything nowadays, but in particular to us, the modern casino resort destination is increasingly integrating new technologies. And this is what this app does for Morongo to really bring it to your fingertips.”
