Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - April 2012 - 04:04 by Arizona Gaming Guide

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Contents

FEATURE 12 APACHE GOLD CASINO RESORT A slot player’s paradise awaits outside of Globe, AZ.

GREAT GAMES 08 WMS’ CLUE AT TOTAL REWARDS CASINOS The classic mystery board game is transformed.

WINNING WAYS 10 JACKS OR BETTER VIDEO POKER Where to play the best quarter and dollar pay tables.

CASINO DINING 18 ASIAN FOOD AT ARIZONA’S CASINOS The editor’s picks of Asian food at the casinos.

FAST FACTS 21 GAMING NEWS Casino Arizona building a new Bingo hall. 23 GAMING NEWS Arizona Gaming Guide Fun Bus Schedule 24 GAMING NEWS Caesar's Foundation donates to DOVES and Talking Stick Resort adds an arena screen to their poker room.

CASINO ENTERTAINMENT 26 KOOL & THE GANG AT DESERT DIAMOND The editor’s picks of Arizona’s casino entertainment.

REGULAR RESPINS 04 EDITOR’S NOTE What’s on our mind. 06 PLAYERS TALK What’s on your mind. 28 FUN & GAMES Sudoku & Puzzles to keep your mind sharp. 30 SAMI’S SMACKDOWN Rants, raves & reflections. 30 CASINO DIRECTORY Slot machine image courtesy of WMS. © Copyright WMS. All Rights Reserved. www.wms.com Photo courtesy of Apache Gold Casino Resort. © Copyright Apache Gold Casino Resort. All Rights Reserved. www.apachegoldcasinoresort.com

26 azgamingguide.com | April 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide

EDITOR’S NOTE

Your Authority On Everything Gaming VOLUME 04 • ISSUE 04 PUBLISHER Chris Hoft chris@azgamingguide.com MANAGING DIRECTOR Elizabeth Torma liz@azgamingguide.com

Apache Gold & Hot New Slots! If you haven’t been over to Apache Gold Casino Resort near Globe recently, you have to go soon. Read all about the excitement in this month’s feature story. Plus, WMS and Harrah’s Ak Chin are bringing us the classic board game Clue in the beginning of this month. Total Rewards properties are the only casinos to have this game for the first month and a half. More on this new slot in the Game Review section. In addition to our Entertainment section, I also bring you my opinion of the best Asian food available at Arizona’s casinos in our Dining section! 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 enewsletter and find the current and back issues of the Arizona Gaming Guide on our website at www.azgamingguide.com. Let me know what you think of our April issue and have fun! Cheers!

Alexandra

Alexandra Lang Editor-in-Chief editor@azgamingguide.com

“Like” us on Facebook because

we “Like” you too!

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 Elizabeth Torma liz@azgamingguide.com MAILING INFORMATION Arizona Gaming Guide P.O. Box 20636 Mesa, Arizona 85277 INTERNET INFORMATION www.azgamingguide.com www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide Copyright © 2012 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 posts, e-mails 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 problemgambling.az.gov.

Arizona’s State Gaming Regulatory Agency: Arizona Department of Gaming 1110 W. Washington Street, Suite 450, Phoenix, 85007 1.602.771.4263 or azgaming.gov

www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide 04 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2012 | azgamingguide.com

Tribal Gaming Funded Problem Gambling Resource: Office of Problem Gambling 1.800.NEXT.STEP or 1.800.639.8783 1110 W. Washington Street, Suite 450, Phoenix, 85007 1.602.542.8998 or problemgambling.az.gov

PLAYERS TALK

Q&A On Everything Gaming

Q: LOOSER AISLE SLOTS Say there are six slots with all the same name down one row. Is the machine at the end the hot one? I think the casinos place the hot slots that pay more in the aisle just so the person on the end is winning and more people will start playing the other slots down the aisle. The people playing on the ends are always doing better than the people inside the aisle. Can you tell me if this is true please? My wife and I have different opinions about this. She doesn’t think I’m right. Am I taking her out to dinner or is she taking me out? David Bahr – Glendale, AZ A: David, ask your wife where she would like to go for dinner because it looks like you’re taking her out. Very, very rarely do casinos mix the payback percentages for a bank of games with the same title. In all the slot installs that my team and I have been privy to over the years, the end machines were not set higher or lower than the slots inside the aisle. In fact, based on numerous letters we’ve received from readers, many people actually believe the opposite—that slot machines on the aisles have lower payback percentages because most people would prefer to sit at the end of a row first before they move into the crowded part of a bank of slots. Players who hold this opinion seem to feel that the casinos take advantage of the fact that most players are more comfortable playing an end machine and therefore lower the percentages of these aisle machines. Both of these theories are false. The payback percentage of a slot is not determined based on whether it’s on the aisle or inside the bank. The fact of the matter is that the placement of slots, meaning their location in the casino, is usually what determines the payback percentage. How “loose” or how “tight” a bank of slots is set to when placed on the floor is not a haphazard decision for the Slot Department executives. Casinos always want to maximize revenues with all of their games. For example, the slots that are positioned in high volume traffic areas like in an aisle leading towards the buffet, hotel, or an entrance or exit tend to see a lot of play. For this reason, these games are customarily set “tight” with higher than average maximum bets. To read more about how to spot the “loose” or “tight” machines at a casino, please visit the “Back Issues” section on our website at: www.arizonagamingguide.com and click on February 2012.

Q: LAST GAME RECALL Last night I saw a casino employee go back and look at the games that were played on a slot machine. At first I was shocked by all the games, but then when I thought about it I figured it made sense. These things are just like fancy computers. How many games can a slot store? Are we talking like a day or two worth of games or years? Irene Wilkinson – Mesa, AZ A: Irene, every slot manufacturer is required, by regulations, to incorporate what’s called “Last Game Recall” into a slot’s software program. In the event a patron has a question or dispute the floor attendant is able to bring up the audit menu on the screen and review its prior history. Information such as the credits bet, credits in the machine, credits won, and winning or losing combinations must be available for at least the last 10 games played. However, bonus rounds must be stored in their entirety. Bonuses that contain free spins may be required to store up to 50 free games during game recall. It’s unfortunate there isn’t enough game memory to store even more games, but this is why it’s extremely important that players stop playing and notify casino personnel immediately if they have any questions or there are any signs of a machine malfunction. There is very little a casino employee can do if notified of a problem after the game is no longer stored in “Last Game Recall.” Q: CLASS II VS. CLASS III SLOTS I read your article on the differences between Class II and Class III slots. I’m not sure what to think of them. If it wasn’t for the bingo card, I wouldn’t even be able to tell so why even have Class II slots? Maria Martinez – Chandler, AZ A: Maria, Class II slots mimic electronic bingo and that’s why they’re listed in a separate category than the Class III games. Their math models are just set up in a slightly different way than the math models for the Class III games—that’s all! Class II slots were originally invented so that certain jurisdictions that weren’t allowed to operate Class III games could benefit by offering slot games to their patrons. With so many great Class II game titles, slot directors in Class III jurisdictions have been intrigued enough to place them on their slot floors too!

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 | April 2012 | azgamingguide.com

Q&A On Everything Gaming

PLAYERS TALK

Q: CASHOUT VOUCHERS—FINDERS KEEPERS? If a player finds a casino ticket on the floor, whose property is it? I have heard the casino. P.S. I heard a story—A man found a $400.00 ticket and [cashed] it in to the cashier. Later he was notified and went to court and had to pay back the money plus court costs. I would appreciate knowing what the correct thing to do is. Gayle Harris – Flagstaff, AZ A: Tickets, or cashout vouchers, are technically “bearer instruments.” Officially, this means no records are intentionally kept as to who owns the cash represented by the voucher. Therefore, by definition, the individual (casino patron) possessing the ticket is the owner. However, once a lost cashout voucher is left in a ticket tray or dropped on the floor it legally becomes the property of the casino. This is, in fact, the case in all land-based casinos in the United States. If you find a cashout voucher, call the nearest casino employee, identify that you found the ticket and state your intent to return it to its rightful owner. You should head over to the main cashier cage at the casino with the employee and begin the paperwork necessary for the casino’s “lost and found” policy. Many casinos will even return the funds to you if their investigation into who the rightful owner is doesn’t provide any leads. Absolutely do not take a found ticket and cash it in or leave the casino with it. If you do, you are technically stealing either from the casino or the original patron. As we all know, in a casino, there are a lot of cameras, employees and patrons who are all potential witnesses. Furthermore, a patron’s player’s card can be used to determined who was playing at what slot machine at any particular time. This provides casino management multiple options to determine who was first in possession of a cashout voucher. The casino will always make every attempt to return the money to its rightful owner or ultimately just give it to the person who found the voucher.

Cashout Vouchers

Read the Fine Print B

efore leaving any machine make sure to verify the amount, the date and time, the casino name and address and whether or not a validation number and a barcode appear on the cashout voucher. Call a casino employee over immediately if any of the information is incorrect or missing! In addition, take a look at the back side; it highlights basic information concerning the ticket (varies from casino to casino) including:   

 

 The story you mention regarding the $400.00 ticket doesn’t present us with enough details to completely understand all the facts in that situation. The right thing to do is to turn in the ticket. In doing so, you are not stealing and can’t be held accountable for what happens next. If another patron truly did lose a ticket worth a large sum of money and you find it and turn it in, either the person who lost the cashout voucher will be grateful, or you’ll probably end up with some or all of the money if an investigation can’t determine who the rightful owner is. I’m sure if you ever lost a ticket at a casino you’d appreciate someone else doing the right thing by turning it in so you can claim what’s rightfully yours! $



The cashout voucher is a bearer instrument. The casino is not responsible for lost/stolen tickets. The patron is responsible for the accuracy of the ticket and must immediately contact casino employees if they believe there is a problem. (This also means you do not leave the slot machine you cashed out at!) If there is a problem with a ticket it is void. The casino is not responsible for the issuance, validation or payment, of lost, stolen, counterfeit or multiple cashout vouchers. The casino is discharged from any liability or claims once the cashout voucher is presented for redemption. The casino reserves the right to withhold validation and payment pending an investigation to determine whether the voucher is lost or stolen. Tickets are valid for a limited number of days. This timeframe keeps getting shorter. (Tickets used to be valid for up to one year. Currently, most cashout vouchers are only valid for 30, 60, or 90 days.) Instructions on how to redeem the cashout voucher. azgamingguide.com | April 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide

GREAT GAMES

New Slots

All New Clue

Exclusive to Total Rewards casinos for 45 days!

elect your character and start solving the mystery in this great new community-style slot by WMS based on the famous Hasbro CLUE game. There are seven unique bonuses (four unlockable) set through the famous CLUE mansion. You’ll be on the edge of your seat as you try to solve the mystery to win the progressive. Once you trigger the bonus, you’ll be given a chance to guess three parts of the classic “whodunit murder mystery” by picking a suspect (Colonel Mustard, Professor Plum, etc.), a room (the dining room, the kitchen, the library, etc.), and the weapon (a dagger, a pistol, a candlestick, etc.) used. The coolest part about this game is that if a player fails to solve the mystery, the next player attempting to solve it will have better odds at solving the mystery and winning the Community Progressive Jackpot! The staff at Harrah’s Ak-Chin are ready too! “We are excited to bring the fun and mystery of CLUE slots to our property! We hope our players will enjoy working together to solve the classic mystery and win big!” Get ready for some nonstop excitement with this next big hit from WMS.

08 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2012 | azgamingguide.com

SLOT TYPE Five-Reel 30-line Video Pennies Denomination, Community-Style Slot, Second-Screen Bonus & Free-Spin Bonus

TIP There are special bonus events like free spin and pick ‘em bonuses that are assigned to each room in the mansion which are locked when you first start to play the game. The more you play, the more bonuses are unlocked. Therefore, since this is an “Adaptive” game you have to make sure to save your progress for the next time you play the game! What’s even better is that you can play this game for fun at home through the WMS “Player’s Life” website (www.playerslife.com/ games/online/100/4) and unlock new bonuses for the next time you play the game at the casino! The more bonuses you unlock at home, the greater your advantage at the casino!

New Slots

GREAT GAMES

Coming April 6 How To Play Select an available CLUE character – Colonel Mustard, Miss Scarlet, Professor Plum, Mr. Green, Mrs. White, or Mrs. Peacock – and start playing the Five-Reel Video base game. Your selected character becomes the highest paying symbol on the reels. After any base spin, the Time To Add WILDs Feature can trigger to offer up to 15 WILD symbols to your spin.

Bonuses Three scattered Mansion symbols open the Room Bonus Selection screen where you’ll select your bonus round from any unlocked Room Bonuses – up to six in all! The Ballroom Bonus and the Kitchen Bonus are both available the first time you play the CLUE slots and as you accumulate points you can unlock the Conservatory Bonus, the Billiard Room Bonus, the Dining Room Bonus, and the Library Bonus in random order. After any spin, the Lights Out Feature may trigger to award any of the six room bonuses regardless of whether you’ve currently unlocked those rooms or not!

Solve-The-Mystery Progressive After every bonus round you have a chance to correctly solve the classic “whodunit murder mystery” by correctly guessing the suspect, the room and the weapon to win the bankwide Solve-The-Mystery Progressive jackpot. If you incorrectly solve the mystery your chosen solution is removed as an option, making the mystery easier to solve for the next player attempting it.

azgamingguide.com | April 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide

WINNING WAYS

Jacks or Better Video Poker

Recognizing where to play your best Jacks or Better Video Poker Our email inbox (editor@azgamingguide.com) has always been flooded with a lot of video poker questions and comments. The topics always revolve around where the best video poker machines are and which casino has the best pay tables. Let’s take a close look at exactly where you should be taking your video poker bankroll, whether you are a 25¢ or $1 player!

25¢ TIP: Mazatzal Hotel & Casino near Payson Apache Gold Casino Resort near Globe Cliff Castle Casino Hotel near Camp Verde All three casinos offer 9/5 pay tables. Look for the games where you win 45 coins for a Full House and 25 coins for a Flush when betting 5 coins. These 9/5 pay tables can pay back over 98% in the long run when using the correct strategy.

Be aware that not all video poker machines in the casinos we mention here have these pay tables! The pay tables do vary within the casino. Also, don’t forget that specialty video poker games, like MultiStrike, have different pay tables than the games we are comparing here.

$1 TIP: Mazatzal Hotel & Casino near Payson Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino near Maricopa Fort McDowell Casino near Fountain Hills All three casinos offer 9/6 pay tables. Look for the games where you win 45 coins for a Full House and 30 coins for a Flush when betting 5 coins. These 9/6 pay tables can pay back over 99% in the long run when using the correct strategy.

Remember this! Jacks or Better pay tables and their value Name Hand

"9/6" Pay*

"9/5" Pay*

"8/6" Pay*

"8/5" Pay*

"7/5" Pay*

"6/5" Pay*

Royal flush

4000

Straight flush

250

Four of a kind

125

Full house

Flush

Straight

Three of a kind

Two pair

Pair Return**

99.5% 98.4% 98.3% 97.3% 96.1% 94.9%

* When playing 5 coins. ** Approximate long run return when using optimal strategy. Please note that in making our recommendations, we examined as many video poker machines in as many casinos as we could across the last few months. The possibility exists we may not have seen every machine in every casino around Arizona, but we are confident we looked at over 99% of the games out there. Casinos do move their slots around and may, on occasion, change their video poker pay tables. So, if you find a Jacks or Better video poker machine offering a pay table better than 9/5 in quarters or 9/6 in dollars, let us know. Send an email to editor@azgamingguide.com describing where it is, which casino you found it in, and we’ll check it out! Who knows, if you find a really great pay table we haven’t seen yet, and we can verify it, we may send you a little something for your efforts!

10 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2012 | azgamingguide.com

APACHE GOLD Casino Resort

Reasons to visit

Apache Gold A Slot Playerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Paradise!

12 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2012 | azgamingguide.com

PENNY SLOTS

Apache Gold has one of the largest selections of penny slots across Arizona.

P enny slots and more penny slots—Apache Gold is a slot player’s paradise! When’s the last time you felt like a kid in a candy store? Well, Apache Gold can definitely inspire that feeling of uncontrolled excitement from the moment you walk through the doors! But here’s a word of advice, make sure to investigate the entire casino before you’re tempted to sit down at the first slot that catches your eye. This casino has all the latest and greatest games from WMS, IGT, Aristocrat and Konami as well as the tried and true classic favorites. However, at Apache Gold there are many games that can’t be found in any other Arizona casino! So, in one word—explore!

Here’s a tip: Apache Gold is one of the only casinos who currently has all of the new WMS slots including The Princess Bride, Jackpot Block Party, the latest Cascading Reels series, the Colossal Reels slots, as well as the new additions to the G+ Deluxe series—just to name a few!

HIGH LIMIT SLOT

The High Limit slots section is the most recent addition to Apache Gold with more than 40 high denomination IGT and Konami slots as well as a large number of 3 reel stepper games!

A pache

Gold’s High Limit room has an impressive assortment of video slots and classic stepper games; many with just one pay line and a two or three credit maximum wager. You’ll find a host of familiar game title classics that most other casinos just don’t offer their patrons anymore.

TOURNAMENTS Slot players love to compete and that’s why Apache Gold hosts slot tournaments for their players on a regular basis.

The slot tournaments at Apache Gold have become

very popular with players and will continue through 2012. Every Wednesday at 7 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, 9 lucky players win anywhere from $100 in free play to $1,000 in cash. Apache Gold also hosts quarterly tournaments which lead up to a final tournament on December 30th, 2012 where the top player drives away in a Ford Focus! For more info on Apache Gold’s slot tournaments, contact the Player’s Club at 1.800.APACHE.8 (1.800.272.2438). azgamingguide.com | April 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide

VIDEO POKER

9/6 Double Double Bonus Poker. That’s right, and you don’t even have to play a $1 denomination! Apache Gold has some of the best video poker payback percentages.

GREAT FENG SHUI

Apache Gold adds extra value to their slot floor by design.

Good video poker games with full-pay schedules are extremely hard to find but Apache Gold continues to offer a large selection with high payback percentages. You’ll find a multitude of games spread out throughout the casino floor. SpinPoker, a favorite amongst many video poker players, isn’t offered at many casinos anymore but is still a popular game at Apache Gold along with Multi-Hand, Multi-Play and all the other traditional versions as well. If you’re a true video poker aficionado, then Jacks or Better is probably your game of choice. And, believe it or not, there are 9/5 pay tables for the Full House/Flush wins in both 25¢ and $1 on the floor at Apache Gold! Playing with optimal strategy, you can decrease the house edge to less than 2% on this slot! The true gold mine is the 9/6 version of Double Double Bonus in 25¢ and $1. Play using optimal strategy and you’ll be reducing the house edge to just over 1% on this slot as well! And that’s not all! Apache Gold’s Deuces Wild pay tables are set to just over a 1% house edge with optimal strategy in 25¢ and $1! Make sure to look for the machines that pay 125 for the Royal Flush with a Deuce, 75 for a Five-of-a-Kind, and 45 for the Straight Flush when betting 5 coins. 14 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2012 | azgamingguide.com

Apache

Gold continues to take advantage of its inherent circular layout. In general, circles and curves represent friendship, happiness, pleasure, and generosity. These are all of the qualities that make for a winning casino experience! The casino feels open, roomy, well lit, and has a number of different areas for players to explore. With over 630 slots to choose from as well as a number of table games (all part of the circular pattern as well), Apache Gold has created a truly inviting gaming environment. Over the past few months, casino management has changed the locations of many slots, bringing more room between aisles and has introduced groups of slots also arranged in a circle. For those players who enjoy having their space while playing, slots positioned in circular groups (called carousels) provide more breathing room and comfort.

EXCLUSIVE PROGRESSIVES Apache Legends and Apache Ponies bring mysterious winnings to slot play.

S everal banks of penny slots have random mystery pro-

gressive jackpots connected to them which can be won at any bet level. One bank, called Apache Legends, has four jackpots which are guaranteed to be awarded before certain dollar amounts. A second brand new progressive jackpot, available only at Apache Gold, is called Apache Ponies. Located across from the restaurants, you can play one of the many WMS slots or the IGT slots and still par-

ticipate in the winnings! Apache Gold spared no expense on this new jackpot system. All four levels hit often for a nice boost to anyone playing at the bank. A really cool jackpot feature is the themed lighting around the casino. You’ll notice the etched glass representing the local mountain landscape light up and change colors as different jackpots are won! The effect is entertaining to watch when you are playing or just walking the casino floor.

RESORT AMENITIES

Apache Gold offers great gaming and a whole lot more for their guests.

The resort amenities are first rate at Apache Gold, located just a few miles outside of Globe, Arizona. Play and stay

packages are available for as low as $59 and include $10 in free play and $5 towards breakfast. You’ll spend the night in one of their 147 resort-style rooms with all the extras, including high-speed internet access, a brand new fitness area and a spectacular heated pool. There’s plenty more reasons to visit Apache Gold as well! They have a 1,000 seat bingo hall, a 60 space RV park, an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Tom Doak, a lounge featuring live entertainment, meeting and conference facilities, a huge events center, restaurants, a full service bar, and a friendly Player’s Club staff which also includes VIP hosts for patrons who maintain a certain status. Visit Apache Gold’s website for more information on their current room rates where you can even book a room online through Best Western! For more information call 1.800.APACHE.8 or point your browser to www.apachegoldcasinoresort.com. $ 16 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2012 | azgamingguide.com

CASINO DINING

Asian Food at Arizona’s Casinos

ried rice with chicken or shrimp, and at times both, is what sucks us in every time! The temptation is sometimes just too great. There are several dining experience which stand out among all others from Arizona’s Casinos for us and most of them involve fried rice!

is always a very safe entry when exploring. There isn’t anything over the top in terms of spices in this dish and you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy the blend of rice, meat, eggs, peas, carrots, onions, soy sauce, and a few other seasonings without any risk to your stomach!

For those of you who have never tried any dishes considered Asian Cuisine and fried rice, with or without a meat,

Do you have a favorite dish we should know about? Tell us now in an e-mail to editor@azgamingguide.com! $

18 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2012 | azgamingguide.com

Editor’s Picks of Asian Food

CASINO DINING

Must Visits: Diamond Grill & Wok Desert Diamond Casino Adding a little zest to your day by serving exotic Chinese culinary hits and much more! Desert Diamond Casino—Tucson—866.332.9467 Asian Food Hours: 7 days a week, 11am to 11pm

Noodles Sushiya Fort McDowell Casino The Fort’s sushi chefs can’t wait to serve you! Ready to serve its traditional soup favorites in a hearty Chinese and Vietnamese inspired noodles menu. Featuring favorites such as sashimi and rolls with the finest tuna, snow crab, yellowtail, salmon and other specialty fish, Noodles Sushiya has a traditional sitdown sushi bar as well as tables. The healthy noodle menu will feature fresh, spicy noodle and vegetable bowls with savory sauces. They are looking forward to teaching their guests how to select and eat the best sushi and noodles in town! Fort McDowell Casino—Fort McDowell—800.843.3678 Asian Food Hours: Su-Th 12pm-9pm, Fr & Sa 12pm-12am

Blue Coyote Café Talking Stick Resort Now offering a full sushi menu including Nigiri, Sashimi and rolls like Alaska, Rainbow and Boston. Talking Stick Resort—Scottsdale—480.850.7777 Asian Food Hours: 7 days a week, 11am – 10pm

Honorable Mentions: An Del Sol Featuring Mr. An’s famous sushi at his signature sushi bar, contemporary Chinese cuisine in the main dining room, and a lounge and bar offering specialty cocktails, Asian beers, and live sports and entertainment viewing. Casino del Sol—Tucson—855.765.7829 Asian Food Hours: Opens daily at 11am , closes Su-Th at 10pm, Fr & Sa at 11pm, call 520.838.7177 for reservations

Ling & Louie’s Where authentic Chinese food and distinct specialties from Asia come together in a vibrant contemporary restaurant. The Express features faster service of Asian dishes and fresh sushi selections for an extended dining period. Wild Horse Pass Casino—Chandler—800.946.4452 Asian Food Hours: Vary—call 520.796.7281 for more info All restaurants are open daily. Please verify all details and any age restrictions with each casino. We are not responsible for incorrect or outdated information.

azgamingguide.com | April 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide

Gaming News

FAST FACTS

Casino Arizona Begins Construction On NEW Bingo Hall

asino Arizona, an enterprise of the Salt River PimaMaricopa Indian Community, announced that the property has begun construction on a bingo hall. The expansion project, which began in December, marks a return to bingo for the casino located on Loop 101 and McKellips. “Casino Arizona is pleased to bring back bingo to our property,” said Ramon Martinez, director of public relations for Casino Arizona. “It has long been on the wish list of many of our loyal guests and we are fortunate to be in a position to accommodate them. Our bingo players will be thrilled to hear the news.” Accomplished architecture firm, Seaver Franks Architects AIA, will design the new addition. Based in Tucson, the firm is known for deference to the Southwest’s rich history and environment. The plan for the 26,000 square-foot expansion is for a multi-use room that is primarily used for bingo, but also can be used for large events. The room will seat 1,000 and is being built by contracting industry leader Kitchell Corporation. “As an independently owned and operated enterprise, it was essential that Casino Arizona chose the right partners to execute this type of project,” said Martinez. “Seaver Franks Architects and Kitchell Corporation see our vision and I am confident that they can carry it out.” Casino Arizona’s new bingo hall is slated for completion in October. For more info on Casino Arizona, please call 480-850-7777 or visit their website at www.casinoaz.com.

azgamingguide.com | April 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide

Arizona Gaming Guide Fun Bus

FAST FACTS

azgamingguide.com | April 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide

FAST FACTS

Gaming News

Arena-Sized TV Scoreboard Installed at TSR Showing the Most Sports in the Valley! Talking Stick Resort, an enterprise of the Salt River PimaMaricopa Indian Community, is amplifying the excitement of its poker room with the installation of an arena-sized scoreboard. Similar to the scoreboards used in professional sports, the scoreboard display features 16 55” high-definition televisions allowing guests to keep an eye on all the latest sports action. Already the largest poker room in Arizona, the addition of the scoreboard display on March 15 completes the room’s transformation in its new incarnation as The ARENA Poker Room at Talking Stick. The scoreboard hangs high above the room’s more than 50 poker tables, and also has a sports ticker and the capabilities to show live poker games from the room. “The scoreboard adds a new level of excitement and the name change reflects that,” said Kent Odekirk, director of poker at Talking Stick Resort. “The sheer size of the board effectively showcases the vast size of our room. Guests probably won’t truly appreciate the magnitude of our arena until they see the scoreboard. After all, they typically see panels that size in sports arenas.” Just in time for March Madness and with baseball season quickly approaching, guests can keep track of their favorite teams while keeping track of their poker hands. And The ARENA Poker Room offers players plenty of hands as the room maintains a full tournament schedule. Some of the tournaments include Daily No-Limit Hold ‘Em Tournaments, Last Saturday of the Month No-Limit Hold ‘Em Tournaments and Pot Limit Omaha High Only Tournaments. In August, The ARENA at Talking Stick will host the eighth annual Arizona State Poker Championship. The biggest of the year, the tournament will welcome more than 900 players, each vying for a chance to win their share of the $1 million jackpot. A similar tournament will be held just for women when the Arizona State Ladies Poker Tournament happens in September. Talking Stick Resort has 240,000 square feet of gaming, with more than 700 of the latest slot machines, exciting blackjack tables, keno, and a high limit lounge. The ARENA Poker Room has 50 tables, hosting games such as Texas Hold ‘Em, Omaha and 7-Card Stud. Poker and sports fans are encouraged to stop by The ARENA to try their luck at one of the tables, or checkout the impressive views. Visit www.TalkingStickResort.com for more info.

Caesars Foundation Contributes $10,000 to the Arizona Agency on Aging for its DOVES® Program.

aesar’s foundation donated $10,000 to the Arizona Agency on Aging’s DOVES® Program. The DOVES® Program assists adults over the age of 50 who are victims of late-life domestic violence or elder abuse. Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Resort coordinated the donation through Caesars Entertainment, the casino resort’s parent company. “We are so grateful to receive such a generous contribution from Caesars and the team at Harrah’s Ak-Chin,” said Cathy Shiroda, chairman of the board. “Our ability to care for victims long-term is crucial, but can be costly. This will help us provide for those in need.” The DOVES® Program provides a safe-haven and resources needed to meet the unique needs of older victims of abuse. The men and women in the program participate in group sessions, receive case management and support services, and are educated about the cycle of violence. Steps in the Program include emergency, transitional and interim housing to help the victims regain their self-sufficiency. “Caesars Entertainment, and locally here at Harrah’s Ak-Chin, has a long-standing reputation for volunteerism and support of our community,” said Robert Livingston, vice president/general manager of Harrah’s Ak-Chin. “We are happy to support such an important program.” To learn more about the DOVES® Program please visit www.dovesprogram.org.

Bet You Didn’t Know ... Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Resort opened in Maricopa, Arizona in 1994 and was Arizona’s first Indian casino to have a management partner. The 40,000 sq. ft. casino has 1,089 slot machines (the maximum allowed in an Arizona casino). Harrah’s also boasts the only Bingo hall in the entire Caesar’s organization, continuing the proud heritage of William F. Harrah who opened his first Bingo hall in Reno in 1937. 24 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2012 | azgamingguide.com

Pictured above (left to right): Michael Kintner, director of marketing, Harrah’s Ak-Chin; Cathy Shiroda, sales director, ResCare HomeCare & Chairman of Area Agency on Aging ELDERfriends® Board; and Robert Livingston, vice president/general manager, Harrah’s Ak-Chin.

ENTERTAINMENT

Casino Listings Call for more entertainment details* Dragonfly Lounge: BeatleMania LIVE!—May 16-20 Enjoy live music including Rock, Country, R&B, and Latin.

Apache Gold Casino Globe, AZ—800.272.2438 Cabaret Lounge: Call for more entertainment details*

BlueWater Casino Parker, AZ—888.243.3360 BlueWater Amphitheater: A.B. Quintanilla III And The Kumbia Kings/Allstarz—Mar. 23 at 7pm Dig Lounge: Fiesta Sundays—DJ with Latin Beats or Live Norteño & Latin Bands Mondays—Karaoke Tuesdays—Totally 80’s Wednesdays & Thursdays—Local & Regional Live Entertainment Fridays & Saturdays—House DJ playing Top 40 & Hip-Hop

Cocopah Resort Casino Somerton, AZ—800.237.5687 Call for more entertainment details*

BeatleMania LIVE! Cliff Castle Casino May 16th—20th

Desert Diamond Casino I Tucson, AZ—866.332.9467 Desert Diamond Sports Bar: Call for more entertainment details* Monsoon Nightclub: Friday Night Groove—Join 106.3FM The Groove for a dance party now through Dec. 28. $5 cover, ladies free!

Bucky's Casino

Desert Diamond Casino II

Prescott, AZ—800.756.8744 Call for more entertainment details*

Sahuarita, AZ—866.332.9467 Sports Bar: Friday Night Party—Music & dancing at 8pm or after the featured game. Saturday Night Party—Music & dancing at 8pm or after the featured game. Diamond Center: Hotel California—Apr. 15 at 7pm Nocho De Boxeo—May 4 at 6:30pm Kool And The Gang—Jun. 15 at 7pm

Casino Arizona Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777 The Showroom: Call for more entertainment details* The Pima Lounge: Local bands playing rock, pop, funk, old-school and more from the 60's, 70's, 80's 90's & today. Start times: 8pm SuTh & 5pm Fr-Sa. The Arizona Room Piano Lounge: Features a variety of music styles including the sounds of swing and jazz. Start times: 4pm weekdays & 5pm weekends

Kumbia Kings BlueWater Casino May 5th

Desert Diamond Casino III Why, AZ—866.332.9467 Call for more entertainment details*

Fort McDowell Casino Casino del Sol

Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino Maricopa, AZ—800.427.7247 Oasis Lounge: The Doo Wah Riders—Apr. 6-7 Bon Jovi Tribute—Apr. 20-21 Bill Haley’s Comets—Apr. 25 James Parks Band—Apr. 27 The 5th Dimension—Apr. 28

Casino of the Sun Tucson, AZ—520.879.5450 Call for more entertainment details*

Camp Verde, AZ—800.381.7568 Stargazer Pavillion:

George Jones Fort McDowell Casino June 15th

Fort McDowell, AZ— 800.843.3678 Event Center: Mega Yard Sale—Apr. 21 at 7am Radisson Ballroom: George Jones—June. 15 at 6pm Lucky 7 Saloon: Call for more entertainment details* Lunar Bingo: The one, the only, the original—Apr. 21

Tucson, AZ—520.838.6506 AVA Amphitheater: Kenny Wayne Shepherd & Robert Cray—Apr. 13 at 8pm The Beach Boys—Apr. 24 at 7:30pm 2012 Tucson International Mariachi Conference—Apr. 26-28 at 6pm George Lopez—Apr. 28 at 8pm REO Speedwagon & Styx—May 4 Gabriel Iglesias—May 12th at 8pm Chickenfoot—May 31 at 8pm Scorpions & Tesla—Jun. 17 at 8pm Chicago & Doobie Brothers—Jul. 11 Event Center: Craig Ferguson—Apr. 19 at 8pm Paradiso Bar & Lounge: Local & Regional Entertainment.

Cliff Castle Casino

Chickenfoot AVA Amphitheater May 31st

Jay Leno Talking Stick Resort May 26th

26 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2012 | azgamingguide.com

Hon-Dah Casino Pinetop, AZ—800.929.8744 Conference Center: Catch A Wave—Beach Boys Tribute Apr. 6—call for more info

Hotel California Desert Diamond Casino April 15th and at Mazatzal Casino September 21st

Editor’s Pick Timbers Lounge and Showroom: Munday Funday—Comedy Show Clue & The Honkeytones—Apr. 3-7 The Doo Wah Riders—Apr. 17-21 Barrio Latino—May 1-5 Classic Cowboys—May 8-12 Groove City—May 22-26 The Doo Wah Riders—May 29 through June 2

Lone Butte Casino Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452 Call for more entertainment details*

ENTERTAINMENT

Catch A Wave Hon-Dah Casino April 6th

Mazatzal Casino Payson, AZ—800.777.7529 Event Center: Surfin’ Safari—Jul. 28 Hotel California—Sep. 21

KOOL & THE GANG

Paradise Casino Yuma, AZ—888.777.4946 Sharky’s Bar & Bites: Jimmy Caves—We—5-8pm Live entertainment—Fr & Sa

Diamond Center Desert Diamond Casino—Sahuarita June 15th Tickets start at $35—520.294.7777

Quechan Casino Winterhaven, CA—877.783.2426 Pipa Event Center: Call for more entertainment details* Sidewinders Bar & Grill: Call for more entertainment details*

Surfin’ Safari Mazatzal Casino July 28th

Spirit Mountain Casino Mohave Valley, AZ— 888.837.4030 Call for more entertainment details*

Talking Stick Resort

Kool & The Gang's story starts in the Jersey City projects. They were teenagers, studying Miles Davis albums and James Brown singles, jamming in basements, and partying for the people. In 1969 they made their first record. Still teenagers, and full of confidence, they named that first record after themselves. Their confidence and creativity produced a string of loose-buttight, "fun" records, culminating in the pop chart smash “Jungle Boogie.”

Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777 The Showroom: Jay Leno—May 26 at 8pm Smokey Robinson—May 27 at 8pm Coffee Garden: Dueling Pianos—Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays from 8-11pm

Vee Quiva Casino Laveen, AZ—800.946.4452 Call for more entertainment details*

Wild Horse Pass Casino Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452 Showroom: Roberta Flack—Apr. 27

Yavapai Casino Prescott, AZ—800.756.8744 Yavapai Cantina: Karaoke—Fridays 8pm to Midnight with Cruisin’ Susan Call for more entertainment details*

Kool & The Gang found a special sound at the unique intersection of jazz, R&B, funk and pop. Their music has been created by the same core of players for over thirty years: Robert "Kool" Bell, his brother Khalis Bayyan, their longtime friends Dennis "DT" Thomas and George "Funky" Brown, and past members Robert "Spike" Mickens, the late Charles Smith, Ricky West, and Woody Sparrow.

Smokey Robinson Talking Stick Resort May 27

Verify all details & age restrictions for each event. Venues, times, dates, and ticket information are subject to change. Photos/images are copyright of the individual artist(s) or photographer(s). All Rights Reserved. Not responsible for incorrect or outdated info. *More info from casino not available by press time.

Just recently, Kool & The Gang became the opening act for the mighty Van Halen! What better way to kick off the '80s revival party than with the band responsible for some of the decade's best party anthems, like "Celebration" and "Ladies Night"? Frontman David Lee Roth lobbied to have the R&B act open for Van Halen after seeing the band perform at the 2011 Glastonbury Festival, co-founder Robert "Kool" Bell told Billboard.com. "I was kind of surprised, because Van Halen is more on the rock side and we do what we do," Bell said. "I said, 'That's an interesting combination . . .' It really caught us by surprise. But the more people I mention it to, the more interesting they're saying it is." $ azgamingguide.com | April 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide

FUN & GAMES

SUDOKU

CASINO MATH 101

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.

How well can you play a casino promotion? Can you come up with the right answers?

(Solution on page 30)

8 6

8 3 7

6 8

Suppose you are lucky enough to have your name chosen from a barrel full of thousands of entries at your favorite casino. As the winner you have to pick one of ten cards off a wall. The card you pick has a prize of $50 in free play on it.

2 7

The casinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s promotions person then asks you if you want to keep the $50 in free play or draw one new card from the remaining nine and have that be your prize.

4 1

3 You are told that the remaining cards have either $5, $10, $15, $20, $25, $30, $100, $250 or $500 in free play on them. Should you keep the $50 or draw a new card?

7 1 6

8 3

1 6

28 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2012 | azgamingguide.com

In general, when you draw your first card for this promotion, which prizes should you keep and which ones should you discard and draw a new card? (Solutions on page 30)

SAMI’S SMACKDOWN Nobody wants to be ignored, or deleted! Over the course of the past few months, I’ve been getting more and By Sami Becker more e-mails regarding casino social media pages. Here’s a recent sample from a fan that wants to remain anonymous, yet represents a common theme in my inbox. Dear Sami, I’ve liked your page and a bunch of the casino pages too. Why don’t the casinos get back to me when I ask a question on Facebook? I don’t understand how they can overlook me when they get back to other people. I’ll say something and then they never get back or delete my post! What are we, in Kindergarten? Please tell your casino connections to pay attention to their fans. – Anonymous in Chandler

I have come to the conclusion that some of the casino social media administrators have a difficult time understanding their fans, who also happen to be their customers. There are extremely obvious disconnects between what a fan’s expectations and topics of conversation are and what a casino’s expectations and topics are for the exact same social media page! Don’t take it personally if you are ignored, or if your comment is deleted. Just remember that the casino makes a powerful statement by ignoring you or dismissing you. That particular casino clearly doesn’t care about you, your business, and their customer service. At this point, some casinos don’t comprehend that while their social media pages are public, their actions, or inactions are as well. All told, their social media presence and interactions are part of their overall customer service and casino experience. When the people in charge of casino social media outlets don’t understand social media, the casino gaming industry, their own customers, or their own establishments, it’s a recipe for disaster! Would you be surprised to learn that some casino social media sites aren’t even maintained by casino employees? It’s true! However, rest assured that some casino executives from other properties pick up on what is and isn’t working on social media pages by watching their competitor’s pages. As a result, you can easily identify who “gets it” and who does not. If you are ignored on a social media page, you’re being ignored in the casino as well. Not a good move on the casino’s part, in my opinion. Take your business and your “likes” elsewhere! $ Do YOU have something to rant about? Write me at: sami@azgamingguide.com

30 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2012 | azgamingguide.com

Casino Gaming Directory Apache Gold Casino Resort 5 miles East of Globe on Highway 70 1-800-272-2438 or apachegoldcasinoresort.com 634 Class III Slots, 1,000 Seat Bingo Hall, 4 Blackjack Tables BlueWater Resort & Casino 11300 Resort Drive, Parker 1-888-243-3360 or bluewaterfun.com 493 Class III Slots, 350 Seat Bingo Hall, 6 Poker Tables, 7 Blackjack Tables Bucky's Casino Highway 69 and Heather Heights, Prescott 1-800-756-8744 or buckyscasino.com 307 Class III Slots, 10Poker & 7Blackjack Tables Casino Arizona 524 N. 92nd St, Scottsdale 1-480-850-7777 or casinoaz.com 900+ Class III Slots, Live Keno, 48 Table Games Casino del Sol 5655 W. Valencia Rd, Tucson 1-855-765-7829 or casinodelsol.com 962 Class III Slots, 694 Seat Bingo Hall, 16 Poker Tables, 19 Blackjack Tables Casino of the Sun 7406 S. Camino de Oeste, Tucson 1-855-765-7829 or casinodelsol.com 316 Class III Slots, 12 Class II Slots Cliff Castle Casino & Hotel 555 Middle Verde Rd, Camp Verde 1-800-381-7568 or cliffcastlecasinohotel.com 656 Class III Slots, 10 Poker & 8 Blackjack Tables Cocopah Resort Casino 15318 S. Avenue B, Somerton 1-800-237-5687 or cocopahresort.com 506 Class III Slots, 350 Seat Bingo Hall, 8 Blackjack Tables Desert Diamond Casino I —Tucson 7350 S. Nogales Highway, Tucson 1-520-294-7777 or desertdiamondcasino.com 1,089 Class III Slots, Live Keno, 270 Seat Bingo Hall, 17 Poker Tables, 19 Blackjack Tables Desert Diamond Casino II —Sahuarita 1100 W. Pima Mine Rd, Sahuarita 1-866-332-9467 or desertdiamondcasino.com 789 Class III Slots, 2 Poker & 8 Blackjack Tables Desert Diamond Casino—Why Highway 86, Why 1-866-332-9467 or desertdiamondcasino.com 66 Class III Slots Fort McDowell Casino Beeline Highway 87 and Fort McDowell Rd

1-800-843-3678 or fortmcdowellcasino.com 843 Class III Slots, 40 Class II Slots, Keno, 1,700 Seat Bingo Hall, 17 Poker & 11 Blackjack Tables Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino 15406 N. Maricopa Road, Maricopa 1-800-427-7247 or harrahsakchin.com 1,089 Class III Slots, Keno, 470 Seat Bingo Hall, 13 Poker Tables, 13 Blackjack & Table Games Hon-Dah Casino, Resort & Conference Center 777 Highway 260, Pinetop 1-800-929-8744 or hon-dah.com 802 Class III Slots, 3 Poker & 4 Blackjack Tables Lone Butte Casino 1077 S Kyrene Rd, Chandler 1-800-946-4452 or wingilariver.com 850 Class III Slots, 1,500 Seat Bingo Hall, 6 Poker & 16 Blackjack Tables Mazatzal Hotel & Casino Highway 87, Payson 1-800-777-7529 or 777play.com 407 Class III Slots, 12 Class II Slots, Keno, 280 Seat Bingo Hall, 3 Poker & 5 Blackjack Tables Paradise Casino 450 Quechan Drive, Yuma 1-888-777-4946 or paradise-casino.com 470 Class III Slots, 300 Seat Bingo Hall Quechan Casino 525 Algodones Road, Winterhaven, CA 1-877-783-2426 or playqcr.com 1,000+ Class III Slots featuring a High Limit Slot Room, 10 Poker Tables, 15 Table Games Spirit Mountain Casino 8555 Highway 95, Mohave Valley 1-928-346-2000 with 247 Class III Slots Talking Stick Resort 9700 E. Indian Bend Rd, Scottsdale 1-480-850-7777 or talkingstickresort.com 700+ Class III Slots, Live Keno, 55 Poker Tables, 50 Table Games Vee Quiva Casino 6443 N. Komatke Lane, Laveen 1-800-946-4452 or wingilariver.com 846 Class III Slots, 500 Seat Bingo Hall & Tables Wild Horse Pass Casino 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd, Chandler 1-800-946-4452 or wingilariver.com 990 Class III Slots, 23Poker&37Blackjack Tables Yavapai Casino 1500 E. Highway 69, Prescott 1-800-756-8744 or buckyscasino.com 236 Class III Slots Source: Arizona Department of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 3/01/2012 & available casino info by press time.

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Casino Math Solutions #1 As the expected value (EV) of drawing a new prize is over $100 in free play, you should pick a new prize. #2 Keep the $100, $250, and $500 prizes and discard all others. (The EV when you have the $100 first is only $100.55. Technically, this is a larger EV than what you have, but since it is such a small difference, we’ll ignore it and tell you to keep the original $100 in free play!)

Sudoku Solution 5