royal river casino

Tslammer

We stayed here for the second time in the last couple of years, when we visit our daughters who go to school in Brookings. Rather then paying $120.00 or more for a room in Brookings we choose to stay at the casino. Rooms are always clean and this trip they modernized with new flat screen tv's. The trip into Brookings is only 15 or 20 minutes, so we get to spend time with the kids, then shoot out to the casino. Rooms are only 40 to 50 bucks and we do the player deal where you get the room, 30 dollars of food coupons, and 20 dollars in free slot play for $90.00. The restaurant is very good and the service is great. The pool is very small and we have never used it. The Casino is small but slots seem to be loose...or maybe i was just lucky. Cant go wrong staying here.

SeasPlaces

The people working in the casino were friendly. That's the best part. The rest is that the machines seem old and in need of replacement, the air system doesn't seem to be working at all. The smoke odor was the worst we have experienced in a long time, which made us want to leave soon after arriving. My understanding is that tribal casinos have no oversight. Once opened, they can pretty much operate as they please; with just the size of the casino and number of machines limited. I was told they can change the odds while one is playing and don't have a regulatory structure like state-supervised casinos. Slot play was pitiful.If the weak quality of play wouldn't keep us away, the smoke definitely would. Granite Falls Casino, just barely in Iowa near Sioux Falls, is newer, cleaner and with far less smoke odor.

dave819

Stayed and played on a Friday and Saturday night. There is a smell of smoke throughout the hotel and casino, even in the non smoking rooms. Other than that, the hotel and rooms were nice and clean. We had a two room suite that only cost $135 per night and for that we also got $30 in food coupons and $20 of free slot play per night...a good deal. The casino is located in a small town, rural area. It is small and the casino room is also small, but not crowded on the weekend. The slots pay off well enough to play for hours on $20-40. We ate from the restaurant buffet both nights and the food was very good. Friday night was a sea food buffet with plenty of selections, plus stir fry to order bar. Saturday buffet included prime rib. You can also order from their full line of menu items. We enjoyed our stay there, but if you are really bothered by smoke smell, or you want the fancy, glitzy casino experience, this would not be the place for you.

NanaKelly-S177

Typically we like large casinos because they usually have a better variety of machines to play. This casino delivered like a big casino! Lots of different types of machines and the payouts keep you playing for awhile. The next time we are traveling near I-29 SD, we would make it a point to stop again!

Bluelight56

We came here for my husbands birthday. It wasn't very busy there was one guy whom was training at the place to get a club card. He was left alone and was not ready to be. We were waiting to do the birthday booth....it took a long time for someone to come help him and then get setup at the club. There were no kiosks either....I walked around while we waited and about 50 machines didn't even have a chair in front of them! So we finally got to go and we went to go play and my $5 slot play wasn't available because my pin never updated. So back to the club I go....poor guy had a line and the lady there kept her back to us the entire time. I said forget it told my husband play your stuff and we will just go....then his slot play from the birthday booth never loaded. The guy loaded it we played and left with no plans to ever go back. It was old run down and stinky...,,room prices were something to be desired as well. Dakota Sioux is running a $45 room and well worth the drive!!

MommaD40

I come to RRC on and off. The gambling is definitely gambling. Don't win much usually, but I enjoy the time with friends. Dislike the smoking everywhere. It would be nice to have an area of non- smoking. The buffet is very good! It's a nice alternative.

TerMar1981

This was our first visit to the Royal River Casino. We came in to see Ron White in the showroom or probably would have never came here. The air quality is poor; very smoky. The casino is small and consists of a lot of older slot machines. There was a big crowd when we visited but most of the gaming tables were closed. The seafood buffet came with our show tickets and was alright. The seafood was crab legs and fish, no shrimp etc. The only other meat was fried chicken. I won't complain much since this meal came with the tickets but I would have not been happy if I had to pay for it. On a positive note the stir fry bar was good and was attended by a very nice young man that did a great job. Everyone else we had contact with at the casino was nice and helpful. The showroom was small and the sound was not that good. We were in the second row from the stage and still had problems understanding. People were very confused on where to sit since the tickets all said FRONT ROW on them. Even the person helping us find our seats said he had complained to the managment about this problem.

NanaK71

Had a wonderful time; great staff ; great food ; great dealers; 1st time playing blackjack the dealer and patrons were willing to teach me

al_was_here

We celebrated our birthdays here and everything was awesome. The most friendly staff you could meet, the food was excellant and didnt have to wait a long time for it. We got in the birthday machine and won some freeplay! We didnt go home broke (a big plus). The hotel staff was extremely friendly answered every question we had and with coutesy. We are now gonna make monthly trips here as a group of friends and family. I definately recommend this casino and hotel!

dcfrisbie

Can't think of anything that we didn't enjoy here! Everyone was very nice...and the Black tables were great..

ErnestC100

Its a great place to gamble plus you can have more than one beer at a time.

BlueWaterSWO

Smaller casino that we're used to in Atlantic City or Las Vegas, but we had a good time on the slot machines. Looked to have plenty of activity at the poker tables.Plenty of staff around to help when you needed them. They kept the machines cleaned and trash picked up ... I observed a number of attendants that went around to clean up after people when they leave their machine, push chairs in, etc.Staff was very helpful and friendly ... definitely recommend a stop if you're in the area.

13mfr

great place to see a concert up close and personal... never won gambling here though...

ynotstern

This casino hasn't been updated in quite awhile and is always smokey and isn't that big. It can be hard to find a table game.

MZHUSKR

Royal River was the first full Vegas style casino in the area. It has become somewhat dated.