FAST FACTS
Indian Gaming
20 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
DECEMBER
Contents
08
FEATURES 16 LUNAR BINGO—FT. MCDOWELL CASINO DJ Ramses Ja takes us inside the phenomenon.
GREAT GAMES 08 GHOSTBUSTERS BY IGT Invade Casino Arizona & Talking Stick Resort.
10
10 CASCADING REELS & 5X4 ANCIENT MAGICKE Brand new WMS slots at Hon-Dah Resort-Casino. 13 MICHAEL JACKSON KING OF POP BY BALLY One of a kind slot machine coming Summer 2012. 15 POKER Check out the poker room at Talking Stick Resort.
WINNING WAYS 20 VIDEO POKER Strategies to keep you playing. 22 QUICK GAMBLING TIPS If you want to win big—play these slots!
FAST FACTS 25 CASINO BUZZ New slots at Mazatzal in Payson. 26 NATIVE AMERICANS IN ARIZONA The IGRA & The ICA.
REGULAR RESPINS 04 EDITOR’S NOTE What’s on our mind 06 PLAYERS TALK What’s on your mind 27 ENTERTAINMENT Editor’s Picks 28 FUN & GAMES Sudoku & Riddles to keep your mind sharp 29 SAMI’S SMACKDOWN Rants, raves & reflections
13
16
Ramses Ja Lunar Bingo @ Fort McDowell Casino
30 CASINO SPONSOR DIRECTORY Slot machine images courtesy of WMS Gaming. © Copyright WMS Gaming. All Rights Reserved. www.wms.com Slot machine images courtesy of Bally Technologies. © Copyright Bally Technologies. All Rights Reserved. www.ballytech.com
azgamingguide.com | December 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide
03
EDITOR’S NOTE
Your Authority On Everything Gaming VOLUME 03 • ISSUE 05 PUBLISHER Chris Hoft chris@azgamingguide.com
Lunar Bingo At Fort McDowell Casino Hot music, cocktail specials, laser lights and a great time is what you can expect at Lunar Bingo at Fort McDowell casino presented by 101.1 FM The Beat. The spacious 1,700 seat state-of-the-art bingo hall is the place to be every third Saturday of the month! Ramses Ja, the man behind the music, gives us a glimpse at what happens when the lights go off at this exciting event in this month’s feature story! With the new 2012 year just around the corner, my team and I are reflecting on all of our achievements this year and setting even higher goals for ourselves for the coming year. As always, we will continue to deliver intriguing information on everything gaming to all of you through our magazine. And, in addition to our print publication and our social media outlets and applications, we are introducing our allnew electronic newsletter this month. Hot casino deals, new game installs, dining, entertainment, and gambling tips delivered straight to your inbox! We have a lot more exciting things planned for the new year—additions to the magazine, a fun bus, and more! Stay tuned! Please visit us at: www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide, become part of our community and share your thoughts and experiences with others who also love the same casino games you do. You can sign up for our e-newsletter and find the current and back issues of the Arizona Gaming Guide on our website at www.azgamingguide.com. For your convenience, we have included the QR codes for both web addresses in our directory. Let me know what you think of our November issue and have fun! Cheers! Alexandra Lang
Alexandra Editor-in-Chief editor@azgamingguide.com 04 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
MANAGING DIRECTOR Elizabeth Torma liz@azgamingguide.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alexandra Lang editor@azgamingguide.com ART DIRECTOR Melanie Mueller CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mark Novak Alex Stewart Samantha Becker Lana Hartmann Elizabeth Torma ADVERTISING SALES Nina Consiglio nina@azgamingguide.com Alex Stewart alex@azgamingguide.com MAILING INFORMATION Arizona Gaming Guide P.O. Box 20636 Mesa, Arizona 85277 INTERNET INFORMATION www.azgamingguide.com www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide
Copyright © 2011 The Arizona Gaming Guide. All rights reserved. The Arizona Gaming Guide (AGG) presents casino industry and gaming related facts as well as personal opinions and expects the reader to make his or her own decisions. All responses to reader emails and letters are to be considered as advice only. AGG accepts no responsibility and no liability for any actions of our readers based on the articles and advertisements presented within this publication. All pictures, images, logos, trademarks and trade names, etc. are the sole property of their respective owners. You must be 21 or older to gamble. Please play responsibly. Help is available at 1.800.NEXT.STEP or www.problemgambling.az.gov.
PLAYERS TALK
Q&A On Everything Gaming
Q: CASINO EMPLOYMENT I want to apply for a job at the casino. Can you tell me if I will need to get a gaming license? If so, what is the process involved? Thanks for your help with this. Anonymous – Tucson, AZ A: State Certification and/or a Tribal Gaming License is required by the Tribal-State Gaming Compacts before an individual may be employed by a gaming facility in Arizona. All Tribes with gaming facilities have a Tribal Gaming Office (TGO), as required by the Compacts, to assist in the regulation of Indian gaming. The TGO issues the Tribal Gaming License for the gaming facility; all gaming employees must have a Tribal Gaming License to work in a casino. Additionally, the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) issues the State Certification for non-tribal members or a Tribal Gaming License Recommendation for tribal members. The process for individuals to obtain employee certification is summarized below: - All prospective gaming employees must initiate the employee certification process through the casino's TGO. The TGO collects a fee from a potential employee and has him or her fill out an application form and then forwards the application and the fee to the ADG. - ADG then conducts an investigation into the background of the applicant upon receipt of the application and fee. At the same time, fingerprint cards are submitted to the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. - Within 20 days of receiving the completed application, ADG issues temporary certification to the applicant. If temporarily certified, the applicant can work in the gaming facility during the official background investigation. - If the completed background investigation reveals nothing that would preclude the applicant, ADG issues a State Certification and forwards it to the TGO. If the background investigation reveals that the applicant is not suitable for State Certification, ADG issues an intent to deny the application. Of course, the applicant has a right to protest the decision at a hearing.
- ADG makes a recommendation to the Tribe for Tribal members seeking employment at his or her Tribe's gaming facility as to whether the applicant should be licensed. ADG's recommendation may or may not be accepted by the Tribe. However, if the Tribe chooses not to accept a negative recommendation from the ADG, the ADG may request a Tribal Forum to make its case against the tribal member's employment. This should give you an idea of what you can expect when you apply for a job at a casino in Arizona. Many thanks to Talia Otto at the ADG for her assistance with this answer. For more information please visit their website at azgaming.gov. Q: PLAYERS CLUB CARDS I just turned 21 last April. I go to the casinos from time to time and I was wondering if it’s worth signing up for a card. Some people I know get free stuff, but I don’t think I spend enough to get anything. Natalie L. – Paradise Valley, AZ Natalie, a popular misconception is that the players club cards are only worthwhile to big bettors that spend a lot of money at the casinos. This is absolutely not the case. You can’t forget to take into account the aggregate total amount of ALL wins you get during a play session. For example, it’s not uncommon to put $20 in a machine and play through $200. The card reader records all the money played through the machine and not just the initial stake. Therefore, points do add up very quickly during a play session, even when placing low bets. The casinos are competing against each other for your business. The incentives they provide you in the form of free merchandise, rooms, food, entertainment, and cash back are just opportunities to entice you to come back and play at their casino. If you’re not using a players card then you’re giving the casino an even greater advantage. I would strongly suggest that you sign up for a players card. It may take a few casino trips until you begin to see the offers, but you will find that you don’t have to be a whale to enjoy a free buffet or some free play money. However, make sure you are using your players club card wisely, be an informed player, shop around and see which ca-
ASK THE EXPERTS and get a $25 gas card if we decide to print your question! Do you have a question for our staff of casino gaming industry professionals and slot experts? Write us with your questions and comments in any area of gaming and we will make every attempt to publish a response in upcoming issues. Space is limited so we are unable to print every letter or e-mail we receive. Please include your name and mailing address with all correspondence. Mail to: Arizona Gaming Guide PO BOX 20636 Mesa, AZ 85277 or E-mail to: editor@azgamingguide.com.
06 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
Q&A On Everything Gaming
PLAYERS TALK
sino is willing to give you the best deal and then choose where you spend your entertainment dollars. All this means knowing how much money you need to spend in order to earn 1 point, how many points it takes to earn back $1, and which casino games earn you points the fastest. All casinos have pamphlets that describe their players clubs and the hosts are always more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Q: VIDEO POKER My wife and I both play video poker and we have a lot of fun with the game, but we can’t agree on when it’s time to quit. I don’t continue playing after I get a really nice win, because I don’t think the machine will pay out anything else. My wife gets mad at me and tells me the machine could be hot and I should keep playing. Sometimes I listen to her and keep playing, but then I’ll get mad when I lose my money. What do you think? When is a good time to quit? H & M Alba – Phoenix, AZ H & M, there’s absolutely no reason to believe if a machine has “paid out” that it will not give another win for a while. All slot machines, including video poker, undergo hot streaks and cold streaks. Let’s consider the simple example of a coin toss. If we define “heads up” to signal a win and “tails up” to signal a loss, we know that the probability of either one occurring on each coin toss is 50%. We also know that there will be “streaks” of heads (wins) and “streaks” of tails (losses) during our coin tosses. This is the same behavior exhibited by slot machines. Even the random number generators in the slot machines behave in patterns and exhibit repetitious behavior. That is why I, personally, don’t leave a game right after a big win. I continue to see how it does for a little while if my bankroll permits. I would suggest that you and your wife decide on an amount that is acceptable to risk if you win before you start your play session and stick to it. The other option is to play off your bankroll and still leave with your wins. And, by “leave” I don’t mean leave the video poker machine you were playing and find another machine. I mean, leave—literally. Take those wins home and enjoy your good fortune! Q: TOP AWARD FREQUENCY How often does the highest jackpot usually occur on a slot machine? Tom McDonald—Douglas, AZ Tom, by Arizona regulations, the highest advertised award on a gaming device has to occur, statistically, once in every 50,000,000 spins. However, for most games (unless a wide-area progressive) it’s usually between 100,000 and 1,000,000. $ azgamingguide.com | December 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide
07
GREAT GAMES
New Slots
Ghostbusters™ Invade Scottsdale at Talking Stick Resort and Casino Arizona By Tessa Bajema at Allison & Partners with photography by Michael Jordan at mjpropics.com
T
he P.K.E. meters are going crazy at Talking Stick Resort and Casino Arizona with the new Ghostbusters™ Who Ya Gonna Call Spinning Reel Slots hitting casino floors. The slots, manufactured by International Game Technology (IGT), premiered last month during two special events that helped welcome the games to the Valley. At the events, a 30-foot Stay Puft marshmallow man towered over Casino Arizona to welcome gamers and die-hard Ghostbusters fans. Slurping down slime green drinks to mark the occasion, fans posed in front of
08 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
the original Ecto-1 on display at Talking Stick Resort and even enjoyed a visit from The Arizona Ghostbusters costuming fan club and their own Ecto-AZ car. "We were thrilled to be the first in the Valley to debut these fun and exciting slot machines. It’s events like these that help us reach our goal of always providing exclusive offerings to our guests at Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resort,” said David Chavez, director of slot operations at Talking Stick Resort and Casino Arizona.
New Slots
GREAT GAMES
The Ghostbusters™ Who Ya Gonna Call Spinning Reel Slots feature IGT’s new Center Stage Duo™ model, featuring the mischievous and lovable character Slimer teasing, mocking and awarding players with antics, multipliers and credits as he leads them through the game. A vivid 55-inch overhead LCD screen and chest-pumping MEGAfx Surround Chairs send players’ adrenaline racing during spectacular bonus rounds. Bonus games include Ballroom Busters Pick Bonus where players are awarded five proton shots to blow up the ballroom to find ghosts; Stay Puft Free Games Feature with marshmallows that fall from the sky, stick to symbol and turn them wild; Are You Psychic? Bonus where players guess the correct card to win credits and advance to the next round; and the Paranormal Pick Bonus that offers five levels of Paranormal Pick Bonuses allowing players to select from phantasm clouds for a chance to win the progressive jackpot. “Memorable characters, a catchy song and many unforgettable scenes have made Ghostbusters a pop culture mainstay and I think we’ve captured the fun of the brand in the Ghostbusters Slots,” said IGT Chief Operating Officer Eric Tom. “Players will be thrilled by the constant action and our graphic and sound technology will make for a ghoulishly good time.” IGT (NYSE: IGT) is a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of gaming machines and systems products, as well as online and mobile gaming solutions for regulated markets. More information about IGT is available at www.IGT.com or follow IGT on Twitter at @IGTNews or Facebook at www.facebook.com/IGT. $
Slot enthusiasts were having a blast playing the new video slot game Ghostbusters™ by IGT at Casino Arizona.
Promotional items and slime green drinks were available at both Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resort. azgamingguide.com | December 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide
09
GREAT GAMES
New Slots
CASCADING REELS™ 5x4 ANCIENT MAGICKE™
Play now at Hon-Dah Resort & Casino! Cascading Reels™ Feature In place of traditional reel spins, the reel symbols cascade into place as if dropped from above. All winning combinations pay as normal, but then something extra happens. The symbols in the winning combinations disappear, the remaining symbols fall and new symbols cascade down from above to take their place. Four or more consecutive cascades trigger the Free Play Bonus awarding up to 40 or more free spins and a chance at the MINOR or MAJOR jackpots.
Hon-Dah Resort & Casino recently installed these other great WMS penny products: Gems Gems Gems™, Silver Sword™, Great Eagle Returns™, Mystical Fortunes™, Kronos™, Queen of the Wild™, Vampire’s Embrace™, Invaders™ Planet Moolah™, Invaders™ Planet Wombat™, Zeus III™, and Wild Shootout™!
10 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
12 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
Bally Technologies has unveiled a game that will have players dancing in their seats! For the first time ever, one of music’s most influential and biggest-selling stars appears on casino floors with Michael Jackson King of Pop™. The legendary performer moonwalks across the game screen to some of the most recognizable tunes in history. Michael Jackson King of Pop is a thriller of a game on Bally’s new Pro Series™ V22/32 cabinet. It combines Bally’s new life-changing Cash Connection wide-area progressive with six bonus events and a custom King of Pop surround-sound chair. Sitting in front of this game, players will experience mind-blowing professional true cinema digital surround sound and one of the world’s only Michael Jackson song mixes on a game. Michael Jackson King of Pop offers an astounding suite of features. It has mystery wilds bonuses and four Free Games bonus events based on some of his most popular singles, including Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough, Billie Jean, Beat It, and Smooth Criminal. The game is highlighted by the U-Spin™ Platinum Record Bonus in which the player touches and spins a virtual wheel to win credits and one of four Free Games experiences. The top progressive jackpot award is won with five scatter jackpots in the base game. In Beat It Free Games, Jackson appears on screen before every spin, sometimes awarding Locking Wilds which remain in place for the duration of the bonus. Billie Jean features the Big Bang play mechanic, in which Jackson appears on the top screen and awards wilds. And Jackson’s trademark dance technique, “Moonwalk”, takes center stage in Moonwalking Wilds. Along with the unforgettable music that spans all ages and his distinctive dance moves, King of Pop uses favorite icons from Jackson’s career including the famous white glove, signature fedora, dance loafers, and sunglasses. Stunning imagery and an unprecedented number of movie clips from some of Jackson’s legendary music videos make the game as irresistible as the King of Pop himself. This game will be on casino floors by the summer of 2012! $ azgamingguide.com | December 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide
13
Poker
GREAT GAMES
Poker room at Talking Stick Resort
POKER You’re gonna wanna
JACK IT UP!
T
he poker room at Talking Stick Resort offers a variety of poker games to satisfy your appetite, no matter what kind of poker player you are. This amazing card room houses 47 non-smoking tables and is home to the largest recorded bad beat jackpot of $500,000 in the state of Arizona! Games include a variety of Texas Hold‘em, Seven Card Stud, Omaha Hi-Lo, and many others, plus a full tournament schedule.
Jack it up— up—Tuesdays and Wednesdays! Hold‘em—$20,000 added to the Progressive Bad Beat Jackpot posted amount at 2 AM on both days. This additional money stays until the Bad Beat Jackpot is hit. Omaha/Stud—$5,000 added to the Progressive Bad Beat Jackpot posted amount at 2 AM on both days. Yes, you read that right! The $20,000 and the $5,000 are added on each day! Jack it up!
December Tournament Schedule Big Stack— Stack—Dec. 3, 2011 at 10 AM $300 Buy-In plus $30 Service Fee. Sign-ups begin Monday before the tournament at 12 PM at the Poker Cage.
Super BountyBounty-Super Big Stack— Stack—Dec. 17, 2011 at 9 AM $200 Buy-In plus $25 Service Fee. Sign-ups begin Monday before the tournament at 12 PM at the Poker Cage.
Jack & Jill Championship— Championship—Dec. 4, 2011 at 9 AM $100 Buy-In plus $15 Service Fee per couple. Sign-ups begin Monday before the tournament at 12 PM at the Poker Cage.
Last Saturday of the Month— Month—Dec. 24, 2011 at 10 AM No Limit Hold‘em $125 Buy-In plus $25 Service Fee. Signups begin Monday before the tournament at 12 PM at the Poker Cage. $
Omaha HiHi-Lo— Lo—Dec. 11, 2011 at 10 AM $120 Buy-In plus $30 Service Fee. Sign-ups begin Monday before the tournament at 12 PM at the Poker Cage.
azgamingguide.com | December 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide
15
By Ramses Ja, with layout by Princess T. Taylor & photos by Mattlocks
Often imitated, but never duplicated—The Fort McDowell Casino’s Lunar Bingo still reigns supreme for the nightlife/gaming experience! A nightclubworthy light show, the hottest music, and over a thousand “Lunartics” ensures that The Fort McDowell Casino’s bingo hall looks nothing like the one your grandma is used to!
16 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
Lunar Bingo is known for its huge payouts, free prize giveaways, and its party-like atmosphere! It takes place on the third Saturday of every month and is presented by 101.1 FM The Beat! We caught up with The Beat’s own Ramses Ja—the man behind the music—to gain some firsthand perspective into Lunar Bingo!
Tell us a little about yourself! Well, I am a radio personality and programmer for 101.1 The Beat! I am on air Monday through Friday 10am until 2pm. I can be seen on Channel 3 on Fridays at 10am on a show called Your Life A to Z! I am also a member of the Bum Squad DJs, The DJ Vatican, and the R.E.D.Y. Set! I have worked in this city for years now, but my favorite event by far has been Lunar Bingo! What makes Lunar Bingo so much fun? Lunar Bingo really gives me a chance to flex my creative muscles when it comes to programming my playlist! There are so many people from all over, and my job is to make sure they all have a good time! It’s so festive and colorful, and the people all have such great energy! Even after doing it for so long, I still look forward to it e ver y month! For those who have never been, take us through your night at Lunar Bingo! 9:00pm Arrival—When I get to the bingo hall to set up, they are still playing the traditional bingo. The lights are all on, and the room is very quiet! People are being shushed—even me when I sound check!
9:15pm Setup—I get all set up to go, and map out my set for the evening! I also take time to cruise the casino floor to find out what else is going on at The Fort! They usually have something exciting in every room!
10:00pm Lights Off—This is usually my cue! The staff will cut the fluorescent lights and start the laser/black light show! This is when I play music that is closest to my radio station’s format! I have the promotions staff on hand from my station greeting people as they come in for the Lunar session! They hand out glow sticks and t-shirts for the next two hours! Once everyone has found their seats, the Lunartics use this time to take advantage of the drink specials and dance to the music!
12am Showtime—Now it’s official! The Lunar Bingo games start at midnight and go until all the prizes have been awarded! For the next few hours, I am spinning Hip-Hop, Ho use, Ro ck, Dub Step, and Old School music! I also do my best to hit every request that I can! We have a rule that if you win, you not only yell out ‘BINGO!’ but you also get up and dance! It’s cool to see the other Lunartics get in on the celebration! azgamingguide.com | December 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide
17
1:15am Cupid Shuffle—At some point in your life, I recommend doing the Cupid Shuffle with 1000 people! This has become a staple for us at Lunar Bingo! We hit it every time—and everyone joins in!
2:00am Potty Break—The Fort has free soft drinks. Sue me!
2:30am Last Game—After the last game, we thank everyone for coming out and invite them to the next session! I can tell that everyone has had a good time by the smiles and praises that I get afterwards! The lights come back on and I break everything down. They give me a hotel room, so that’s where I end up…once I’m done having a little bit more fun in the casino!
How can people keep up with you? The best way is at www.ramsesja.com. I’m also on Twitter @RamsesJa and at facebook.com/ramsesja.
Dates for Lunar Bingo for the year of 2012: January 28th February 11th Valentine Lunar March 17th April 21st May 5th Cinco de Mayo Lunar June 16th July 4th Lunar
July 21st August 18th September 15th October 27th Halloween Lunar November 17th December 22nd Christmas Lunar December 31st
Some Facts about Lunar Bingo: 1276 Seating Capacity! Minimum Buy-In-$5! Maximum Payout-$150,000! Only at Fort McDowell Casino!
azgamingguide.com | December 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide
19
WINNING WAYS
Video Poker
BANKROLL Determine your video poker bankroll before your next trip based on the denomination you will play and then stick to it! For pennies, try $20 for a 5 coin max bet per hand (for three or five-play games you’ll need $60 or $100). For nickels—try $80. For quarters—try $400. For dollars—try $1,600.
Here’s A Hint On How To Increase The Payback % On
VIDEO POKER THE BEST VIDEO POKER PROGRESSIVES If you enjoy playing video poker then you will definitely want to head right over to Desert Diamond Casinos in Tucson, Arizona because they have some great games connected to amazing progressives that reset much higher than at other casinos - even for the Royal Flush!
Any video poker game that is connected to a progressive will boost your long-term payback percentage! Therefore, you should be aware of the fact that one casino in Arizona may offer an 8/5 Jacks or Better pay table (8 for the full house and 5 for the flush at bet one) with no progressive and just a short drive away, another casino may offer the same pay table with a progressive. Using 8/5 Jacks or Better as an example, a common pay table in most casinos across Arizona, the long-run payback of this game is just over 97% using optimal strategy. Since a common increment rate for a video poker progressive is 1%, the long-run payback for the 8/5 Jacks or Better connected to the progressive can get over 98%!
When playing Deuces Wild, it’s all about what you hold with the Deuces. Here are some quick tips to remember: If you are dealt three Deuces, keep only a Wild Royal Flush and a Five-of-a-Kind. If you don’t have either of these hands, then keep only the three Deuces and discard the rest. If you are dealt two Deuces, keep all 4-of-a-Kinds or better and four to the Wild Royal Flush. Otherwise, keep the Deuces only. If dealt only one Deuce, then keep all the hands that pay, four to a Wild Royal Flush and four to a Straight Flush. Otherwise, keep only the one Deuce. 20 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
Let’s examine how the payback percentage increases as the progressive values increase by taking a look at the Royal Flush (when using optimal strategy): 5 Coin 25¢ 8/5 Jacks or Better Royal Flush is at least $1,000 Royal Flush is at least $1,200 Royal Flush is at least $1,350 Royal Flush is at least $1,500
Payback Percentage 97.30% 97.70% 98.00% 98.30%
Playing video poker at the casino is the smartest bet on the video slots, but make sure to shop around for the best pay tables, find the games connected to a progressive and then wait for those values to climb! $
WINNING WAYS
Quick Gambling Tips
If You Want To Win Big
Play These Slots T
he penny video slots can be extremely enjoyable however, they can also be very draining on your bankroll. As volatile as these slots have become over the years, their primary purpose is to entertain. If you want to increase your chances of winning, and you want to win BIG, then you have to play the mechanical 3reel stepper games in either quarter or dollar denominations. These “classic” slots are still on the casino floors for a reason! Smart gamblers continue to flock to them and jackpots of tens of thousands of dollars occur at each casino every day! Think you don’t have the proper bankroll to play these games? Think again! If you’re willing to play 75¢ on a penny video slot, then you should be willing to play the max bet of three quarters on a stepper game. A penny video slot game at a 75¢ bet will not give you a $5,000 or $10,000 hand pay the way that a stepper game will at the same bet! Here are some hints & tips to give you a slight advantage: 22 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
● Stick to the ‘tried and true’ favorites like Triply Lucky 7’s®, Double Diamond®, Ten Times Pay®, Blazing 7’s®, Triple Double Wild Cherry®, Triple Butterfly Sevens®, Sizzling 7’s®, and Red White & Blue®. ● Most mechanical reel slot games produce a win about once in every 12 to 20 games. However, if you stick with Double Diamond®, Blazing 7’s®, and Red White & Blue® you will have a win every 7 spins on average! ● Come prepared to risk at least 300x your wager. And, make sure you have documentation on you for those large taxable hand pays! ● The jackpot on the Double Diamond® slot hits often (1 in every 50,000 spins). This translates to approximately one jackpot every three days! ● You can find the best selection of stepper slots at Apache Gold, Desert Diamond, and Cliff Castle casinos. Give these games a try. Good luck! $
Casino Buzz
FAST FACTS
The leader of the pack is back! Coming to Mazatzal Hotel & Casino this month!
T
he new slot game Wolf Run 2 Into the Wild™ by IGT is the sequel to the enormously popular, Wolf Run®. An industry first, this video slot game interface and the entire symbol set are composed of award winning wildlife photography. The LCD screen on top alternates among several wildlife scenes, and the entire backdrop scene for the primary game changes every five minutes with breathtakingly beautiful visuals. In the Map Pick bonus events, players choose between Arctic Free Games or the Animal Tracking Bonus, which also includes a chance to multiply their wins. The Arctic Free Games bonus changes the interface and symbols to a snow covered theme. The Animal Tracking Bonus allows players to pick from sketches of big and small game animals in search for credits. The most exciting feature of this game that differentiates it from the original is the Random Extra Wilds feature which appears frequently to award even bigger awards! Play Wolf Run 2 Into the Wild™ this month at Mazatzal Hotel & Casino in Payson, Arizona. Other titles by IGT being installed now are: Gameking 8.0, Super Times Pay, Spin Poker Deluxe, Black Widow, Lobstermania 2, Siberian Storm, Golden Goddess, and Double Da Vinci Diamonds. While there, you’ll also want to try the recently installed Cashman Fever™ by Aristocrat Technologies! Good luck and have fun! $
Unlock bonuses by solving the mystery The classic board game CLUE ™ comes to life!
T Slot machine images courtesy of WMS. © Copyright WMS. All Rights Reserved. wms.com.
his exciting new slot game by WMS Gaming brings the classic board game CLUE™ to life! With six total bonuses (four unlockable) set throughout the famous CLUE™ mansion, players will be kept on the edge of their seats as they have a chance to solve the mystery at the end of each bonus round to win a Progressive award. Through a unique game play mechanic, if a player fails to solve the mystery the next player attempting to solve it has better odds at the Progressive! E-mail us at editor@azgamingguide.com and vote to have this game installed at your favorite casino. $ azgamingguide.com | December 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide
25
FAST FACTS
Native Americans
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
Indian Citizenship Act
● Only federally recognized tribes may operate gaming establishments in the United States under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). Indian groups that are not officially recognized by the United States government cannot operate gaming enterprises.
● Before World War I, Indians living on Arizona reservations were not legal U.S. citizens. Although Indians were exempt from the draft when the country entered the war in 1917, more than 8,000 Indian men and women voluntarily served in the Armed Forces.
● There are 565 federally recognized tribes that have the right to operate gaming establishments in the United States, but only 237 of these tribes conduct gaming operations.
● Congress passed the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924. Despite their being made U.S. citizens, Indians were not eligible to vote in Arizona.
● Some tribes have chosen not to operate gaming establishments because it goes against their culture and traditions. ● Tribes may only use the revenue generated from the gaming establishments as outlined in IGRA to advance the tribe’s economic development and general welfare of the tribe. For example, tribes can use gaming revenue to fund government programs such as hospitals, schools, police and fire departments or they can donate money to charitable organizations. $
26 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
● Facing World War II and the need for a universal draft, Congress again affirmed the citizenship of all Indian people on or off reservation in the Nationality Act of 1940. ● More than 25,000 Indian men and women served in the armed forces in World War II. However, in Arizona, Indians were still not allowed to vote. ● After a lawsuit filed by two Yavapai men, Frank Harrison and Harry Austin, the Supreme Court of Arizona finally ruled on July 15, 1948, that Indians had the right to vote. $
Editor’s Picks
ENTERTAINMENT
THE REFLECTION OF MICHAEL
THE TEMPTATIONS
Showroom Talking Stick Resort—Casino Arizona December 29th & 30th—Doors at 8PM Tickets start at $27—480.850.7734
Diamond Center Desert Diamond Casino—Sahuarita January 12th—Doors at 6PM Tickets start at $35—520.294.7777
Inspired by the biggest star to ever live, this incredible show promises to invigorate the crowd with the live vocals, a live band, singers, dancers, and the amazing Michael Firestone!
For over four decades, The Temptations have remained a major force in pop music. Adapting to the current music trends while maintaining their unique vocal style they stayed true to their original formula.
NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION
DON RICKLES
Event Center Mazatzal Hotel & Casino—Payson December 31st—Doors at 5:30PM Tickets start at $65—800.777.PLAY
Showroom Wild Horse Pass Casino—Chandler January 28th—Doors at 7PM Tickets start at $59—800.946.4452
Enjoy dinner, piano by Paul Penner, classic Las Vegas Rat Pack music by The Dean-O-Holics, a champagne toast, and a party to ring in 2012! The menu includes Prime Rib & Lobster Tail.
He has no plans to retire as he recently said in an interview: “I’m in good health. I’m working better than I ever have! The audiences are great. Why should I retire?”
Venues, times, dates, and ticket information may be subject to change. Please verify all details and any age restrictions with each venue as the event approaches. Photo copyrights belong to the artist. All rights reserved.
azgamingguide.com | December 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide
27
FUN & GAMES
SUDOKU
ODDS QUIZ
Each of the columns, rows, and nine 3x3 grids must contain all of the digits 1 - 9. None of the digits may appear more than once in each column, row, and 3x3 grid.
Gambling is mathematics, pure and simple. All games of chance involve probability, so if you like to gamble you should know some basics of probability.
(Solution on page 30)
(Solution on page 30)
5 6
3
4
2 5
8
7
2
3
7
1
9
4 3
6 1 9
1 3 5
4
5 6
28 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
A mouse has two doors to choose from. The first door has two tunnels behind it, one of which leads to cheese, the other does not. The second door has three tunnels behind it, one of which leads to cheese, the others do not. What is the probability that the mouse will get the cheese?
SAMI’S SMACKDOWN
‘Tis The Season For Giving By Sami Becker
D
eep within the pockets of societal standards lurk the frugal outliers that spoil it for all the rest of us—the cheapskates. There’s nothing that infuriates me more than watching the pennypinching tightwads of the world stiff hard-working service employees. To all the Ebenezer Scrooges out there I say, “Bah, humbag” to you. If you pinch your penny too hard you might just break it in half (gasp) and then what? Just remember, Karma is a harsh mistress. Make just one less bet at the blackjack table or on the slot machine and give it to a well-deserving casino employee this holiday season. Put a smile on someone else’s face and see how a small gesture can mean so much to a person. $
Tipping Guidelines: ● Give at least $1 to the drink servers & bartenders (Add a couple more bucks for a round of drinks) ● Give 15-20% as a tip for good service to wait staff and buffet servers should receive $1—$2 per head. ● Give bellmen and doormen $1—$2 for each bag. The concierge staff usually receives at least $5 for arranging show tickets, tours or other special services. ● Give at least $1-$2 per day to the maid service ● Give at least 1% to the slot attendants ● Give the valet parking attendants at least $2 ● Give at least $1 to the bus driver
azgamingguide.com | December 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide
29
DIRECTORY OF CASINO SPONSORS Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Fort McDowell Gaming Center Beeline Hwy (SR 87) and Fort McDowell Rd North of Fountain Hills 1-800-843-3678 fortmcdowellcasino.com 843 Class III Slots, 37 Class II Slots, Live Keno, 1,700 Seat Bingo Hall, 15 Poker Tables, 13 Blackjack Tables
Our Website QR Code
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Casino Arizona—Salt River 524 N. 92nd St, Scottsdale E of Loop 101 at McKellips Rd and 92nd St 1-480-850-7777 casinoaz.com Over 900 Class III Slots, Live Keno, 54 Table Games
azgamingguide.com
Casino Arizona—Talking Stick Resort 9700 E. Indian Bend Rd, Scottsdale 1 mile E of Loop 101 on Indian Bend Rd 1-480-850-7777 casinoaz.com Over 800 Class III Slots, Live Keno, 47 Poker Tables, 54 Table Games
Our Facebook QR Code
Tohono O'odham Nation Desert Diamond Casino 7350 S. Nogales Highway, Tucson 1 mile S of Valencia Rd on Nogales Highway 1-520-294-7777 desertdiamondcasino.com 1089 Class III Slots, Live Keno, 270 Seat Bingo Hall 17 Poker Tables, 19 Blackjack Tables Desert Diamond Casino 1100 W. Pima Mine Rd, Sahuarita S of Tucson at I-19 and Exit 80 (Pima Mine Rd) 1-866-332-9467 desertdiamondcasino.com 890 Class III Slots, 2 Poker Tables, 8 Blackjack Tables Desert Diamond Casino Highway 86, Why 1½ miles E of Why, AZ on Highway 86 1-866-332-9467 desertdiamondcasino.com 76 Class III Slots Tonto Apache Tribe Mazatzal Hotel & Casino Highway 87, Payson S of Payson on Beeline Highway(SR 87) 1-800-777-7529 777play.com 413 Class III Slots, 6 Class II Slots, Live Keno, 280 Seat Bingo Hall, 3 Poker Tables, 5 Blackjack Tables White Mountain Apache Tribe Hon-Dah Casino, Resort & Conference Center 777 Highway 260, Pinetop 3 miles outside Pinetop at Highways 260 & 73 1-800-929-8744 hon-dah.com 802 Class III Slots, 3 Poker Tables, 4 Blackjack Tables Yavapai-Apache Nation Cliff Castle Casino & Hotel 555 Middle Verde Rd, Camp Verde 1 mile E of I-17 on Middle Verde Rd 1-800-381-7568 cliffcastlecasino.net 656 Class III Slots, 8 Poker Tables, 10 Blackjack Tables Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe Bucky's Casino Highway 69 and Heather Heights, Prescott N at top of hill next to the Prescott Resort 1-800-756-8744 buckyscasino.com 301 Class III Slots, 7 Poker Tables, 10 Blackjack Tables Yavapai Casino 1500 E. Highway 69, Prescott Hwy. 69 at Heather Heights on S side of SR 69 1-800-756-8744 buckyscasino.com 235 Class III Slots Arizona Department of Gaming 1110 W. Washington Street, Suite 450 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 1-602-771-4263 azgaming.gov Office of Problem Gambling (1-800-NEXT STEP or 1-800-639-8783 ) 1110 W. Washington Street, Suite 450 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 1-602-542-8998 problemgambling.az.gov Source: Arizona Department of Gaming-Tribal Gaming Status-11/01/11
30 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide
Solutions to “Odds Quiz” If we assume the mouse makes random decisions and can’t retrace its steps, the mouse has a 1/2 X 1/2 + 1/2 X 1/3 = 1/4 + 1/6 = 3/12 + 2/12 = 5/12 = 41.67% chance of finding the cheese! The 1/2 is assigned to each decision point with two doors (or tunnels), the 1/3 is assigned to the decision point with three tunnels. We multiply the probabilities for each decision point along both paths the mouse could take, and then add the result.
Solution to the Sudoku
1
7
5
9
8
6
3
4
2
9
6
4
3
7
2
8
5
1
8
3
2
5
4
1
6
7
9
5
1
9
4
6
3
7
2
8
7
2
3
8
1
9
4
6
5
6
4
8
7
2
5
9
1
3
3
5
6
1
9
7
2
8
4
2
8
1
6
3
4
5
9
7
4
9
7
2
5
8
1
3
6