Contents AUGUST
DEPARTMENTS 04 EDITOR’S NOTE 06 PLAYERS TALK 09 GREAT GAMES 14 WINNING WAYS 16 GAMING NEWS 21 FUN FACTS 22 FEATURE STORY 24 CASINO DINING 26 TRIBAL NEWS 28 TRAVEL 30 CASINO ENTERTAINMENT 32 CASINO NIGHTLIFE 34 FUN & GAMES 35 SAMI’S SMACKDOWN
22
GOING GREEN AND GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
36 CASINO BINGO DIRECTORY 38 CASINO DIRECTORY
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10
14
KONAMI, ARISTOCRAT, BALLY & WMS’ HOT SLOTS
DESERT DIAMOND CASINO & MULTIMEDIA GAMES
POKER TOURNAMENT PREPARATIONS
We break down where all the different slots are and give you the inside scoop on game play!
In August, they’ll be the first casino in the state to install the Class III versions of these popular slots!
How to max your edge while getting ready for poker tournaments around the state.
azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Your Authority On Everything Gaming VOLUME 04 • ISSUE 08 PUBLISHER Chris Hoft chris@azgamingguide.com MANAGING DIRECTOR Elizabeth Torma liz@azgamingguide.com
No Dog Days of Summer for Us! Wow! According to the Chinese Zodiac, we are in the year of the Dragon and we are supposed to expect growth. Let me tell you—we are! No boring Dog Days of Summer for the team here at the AZ Gaming Guide. Our Facebook fan page keeps growing and growing, our publication continues to evolve with new sections at our readers’ requests, our e-newsletter has more exclusive content, we keep giving away gas cards, prizes, concert tickets, and more through Facebook and our website, we are receiving more and more information from all of our casino contacts and sources every day that we can’t wait to share with you, and all indications point to Arizona becoming a slot machine battleground because of all the new games scheduled to arrive in the next few months. I couldn’t be happier with the direction our publication is headed in and we have our readers, fans, and advertisers to thank for that! 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 current and back issues of AZ Gaming Guide on our website at www.azgamingguide.com. Let me know what you think of our August 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 Ramses Ja Mark Novak Alex Stewart Samantha Becker Lana Hartmann 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 | August 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
FREQUENTLY ASKED SLOT QUESTIONS Q: Whenever I leave a machine, somebody else sits down and hits something after me. It’s so annoying. I get so mad by this that it’s hard for me to even have fun after I see somebody else win [on a machine] I was playing. I feel like it should have been mine! Maria Ramos – Yuma, AZ A: Maria, first of all, once you leave a machine NEVER look back because it’s really not worth the frustration. The likelihood that you and the person playing after you would have pressed the spin button at the exact same millisecond is very unlikely. The random number generator (RNG) is constantly shuffling through all possible combinations and is perpetually doing so even when the machine is not being played. The RNG stops on a combination only when the player presses the “Spin” button. Just consider that the RNG can go through 100,000 or more combinations in just one second! Now, imagine reaching into a bag of 100,000 balls and grabbing the exact same “winning” ball as the other person. That’s nearly impossible! Q: Casinos are constantly taking out the games with the big progressive money after it has been climbing and climbing. I’m just wondering what happens to that money? They shouldn’t be able to just remove a bunch of games just right before one of them will hit. Seems unfair. Fred Wilkins – Tucson, AZ A: Fred, all player contributions towards progressives have to be returned to players in some way. This is regulation and part of the Arizona Tribal State Gaming Compact. If a slot machine manufacturer were to shut down an entire wide area network of games (the Wheel of Fortune progressives for example), they wouldn’t be able to! They’d have to keep at least one machine running until the jackpot was hit. Then they could shut down the machine and remove it. However, if they were to install a new network of games, the money would roll over from the old games to the new games. Ultimately, even if it isn’t a wide-area jackpot progressive hosted by a slot manufacturer, but rather an in-house progressive, the casino is still obligated to distribute all the money onto other progressive games in the casino!
Q: When I have to pick something in a bonus to get credits, I always seem to pick the lowest amount or I’ll pick the box that will end the bonus right away. Is that bad picking or is it just set up that way? Margaret Hobbs – Glendale, AZ A: Margaret, we can make a large generalization and identify two types of slot bonuses that involve player choice. The first type of bonus is where you’re able to see what was behind all the items when the bonus is over and the second type is where only your pick is revealed at the completion of the bonus. Here’s how you can tell the difference: In the first type of bonus, the slot randomly picks and assigns bonus wins to the items that are displayed on screen and waits for you to choose from the options available. Afterwards, the values assigned to all of the objects are revealed at the conclusion of the bonus. During this type of bonus your pick DOES matter. If you pick the treasure chest with 100 credits but the one right next to it showed 1000 credits, well then, that’s what your bonus win could have been! On the other hand, if you’re playing a game that has what is called in the industry a “predetermined bonus,” the slot has already picked and assigned the bonus win for you. The game is just waiting for you to touch the screen so the computer can display the animation for your win. Once you make your selection, the other values behind the objects are not revealed at the conclusion of the bonus and you can’t see what you “missed.” In this type of bonus your pick DOES NOT matter. Be careful, some slot designers can be tricky by showing the values if there are several levels to a bonus, but then not do a reveal at the very end. This is a “predetermined bonus” in disguise. Although it may seem unfair that two different types of bonuses exist, and some of you may even feel cheated, you shouldn’t! Remember that it’s all about the way in which the designers decide to program the games. The math model still reflects an “average” bonus win over time. So, how it’s presented to the player doesn’t affect all the outcomes in the long run. $ Our team has many years of experience designing slot machine math models and we’ll keep sharing all of our knowledge with all of you! Best of Luck!
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 | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com
New Slots
Now At Fort McDowell
F
or the first time ever, one of music’s most influential and biggest-selling stars appears on casino floors with the Michael Jackson King of Pop slot machine by Bally Technologies. The legendary performer moonwalks across the game screen to some of the most recognizable tunes in history. Game Play This energetic slot game offers an astounding suite of features. It has Mystery Wilds bonuses and four Free Games bonus events based on some of Michael Jackson’s most popular singles including Don’t Stop Till you Get Enough, Billie Jean, Beat It, and Smooth Criminal.
GREAT GAMES
During the 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, the “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 music video clips make this game as irresistible as the King of Pop himself! $
GREASE Now At Talking Stick Resort Now At Mazatzal Play WMS’ new Epic Monopoly slot at Mazatzal Hotel & Casino now! Game Play This exciting new theme combines the Super Multi-Pay base game action with the Monopoly mega bonus excitement. And, the Bonus and Wild symbols on the main game transfer to the smaller reel sets! $
From Broadway to the big screen to the slot machine, the ever-popular classic 1950sinspired movie, Grease, has finally made its way to casino floors! Catchy bonus games, a super-HD experience, and a multi-area progressive, together with featured movie clips and music, will have all slot enthusiasts reliving this upbeat story! Game Play Grease, by Bally Technologies, features eight bonus events including T-Bird Mystery Wilds, a U-Spin Yearbook Bonus, two pick features, two styles of free games—The One That I Want Free Games and the Dance Off Free Games, and four any-bet progressives. Grease also offers four exciting bonus levels: Pink Lady, Rydell High Pick ’Em, Too Pure to be Pink, and The One That I Want. Players can use the base game or iDeck on selected bonuses, with certain picks sending them to the next level and offering a chance at higher rewards. $ azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide
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GREAT GAMES
New Slots
Desert Diamond First To Install New Multimedia Slots These brand new Class III slots will be ready for action during the second week in August!
Chamillion This game has all the non-stop free spins you crave! The Free Spin symbols turn wild and the reels will respin ten times during the bonus and all line awards are doubled! The free games hit about once every 160 spins and the game has a medium volatility.
Carnival In Rio Three or more Free Spin Bonus symbols scattered anywhere on the reels will trigger the bonus, all stacked Dancer symbols become wild and you can win up to 70 free spins! There are stacked symbols and stacked Wild symbols on all five reels during the game. Expect the free games every 110 games and get ready for action as the slot is volatile!
Wild Leopard With ten free spins initially and a multiplier starting at 2X for all line pays, the bonus in this slot is for everyone! After each winning free spin, the multiplier is increased for any remaining spins. If the bonus is retriggered, an additional ten free spins are awarded up to a total of 60! This is one game to sink your teeth into! Expect the free games every 110 spins and for volatile game play! Crown Jewels This slot features 40 lines and stacked wilds across a 5 x 4 reel window bringing maximum excitement for a 40 credit bet. Watch for 3 or more free games symbols to trigger the bonus roughly every 120 spins. You’ll start with 7 spins and a sixth multiplier reel, with values from 2X to 10X, increasing all your wins accordingly! Retriggers are possible up to 35 games. Of them all, this slot has the biggest potential for huge rewards!
Multimedia Games (www.multimediagames.com) Their innovations have pushed the gaming industry's technology envelope as they continue to evolve into a leading game content provider, delivering games that players want to play. They make it their business to understand their customers—and players—and challenge their developers to continue raising the bar in gaming systems and content design and development. Incorporated in Texas in 1991, Multimedia Games trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “MGAM.” They employ more than 400 full-time and part-time employees and are headquartered in Austin, Texas, with additional offices throughout the U.S. and in Mexico.
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Alakazam! This mystical, low volatility, 9-Reel, 32Line slot will grant players wishes with more bonus features than they can handle! The genie may mysteriously appear before the reels stop and place one to three Wild symbols on the reels. During the Make-A-Wish Bonus the genie stops the reels letting the player choose their own bonus! The Magic Bottle, The Magic Lamp, or the Free Spins. Bonuses are also played when the symbols land on lines 1, 7 or 8! The Mystery bonus happens about every 20 spins and the other bonuses happen roughly every 50 spins or so.
New Slots
GREAT GAMES
What you can win in the Land O’ Luck Bonus: • Leprechaun Free Spins – 1 of 4 Free Spin amounts • Clover Field Picks – pick from a field of clovers for credit awards. Find Gold Pots for additional awards • Lucky’s Pick Bonus – a picking bonus with a 40% chance at 250x your line bet • Local Area Progressive Cash Awards • Credit Awards
Brand new from WMS is another extremely entertaining community slot game called Leprechaun’s Gold—Land O’ Luck. BlueWater Resort & Casino in Parker, AZ already has the slot on their floor and we’re certain to see this slot spread across the state in the next few months. You can join Lucky the Leprechaun as he flies through a dynamic world on dual overhead 52” monitors, collecting coins and diamonds before triggering one of sixteen possible outcomes! Lucky careens through the expansive Land O’ Luck to award mini-bonuses, credit awards or even a Local Area Progressive Cash award to lucky triggering players. The community bonus on the giant monitors is triggered randomly while you play on one of the four slots below. The four slots are based on the G+ Deluxe series of games like Vampire’s Embrace and Dragon’s Fire, so if you enjoy playing those slots, you’ll love the added entertainment factor with the big bonus featured in Leprechaun’s Gold! Our staff played the entire bank as a group for over 60 minutes with only a $20 or $40 bankroll and we played the Land O’ Luck bonus several times. Two staff members walked away even and one staff member was up $80! $
azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide
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GREAT GAMES
L
New Slots Coming Soon
ead the way to great riches and fortunes with Mayan Chief, Konami Gaming Inc.’s latest K2V slot machine. Mayan Chief is a clone of their game China Shores, a popular player favorite. You’ll also find Mayan Chief similar to Rhythms of Rio and Money Blast, if you recall playing those games.
This slot is a 5-reel game in 20, 25 and 30-lines depending on which casino you are in. Unless the game forces you to bet all the lines, the minimum bet is 1 credit. Mayan Chief features “Action Stacked Symbols” and an entertaining free game bonus. In the base game any 3, 4 or 5 Relief symbols trigger 8, 10 or 15 free games respectively. All wins during the free games are doubled and additional free games can be triggered. The “Balance of Fortune” feature is activated when free games are triggered. Players may commence playing free games or exchange the free games for a credit prize. You’ll have this option when the number of remaining free games is greater than 20. The credit prize is a random amount that, on average, is greater when more free games are exchanged. The “Action Stacked Symbols” feature happens on every spin and has rapidly become a player favorite since Konami introduced it into many of their slot games several years ago. On each of the five reels, Konami set aside a certain number of positions which can be filled in with any of the base game symbols at the beginning of each spin. You’ll notice which symbol was selected while the reels are spinning. One spin will have a large block of King symbols, the next spin has a block of Bird symbols, then you’ll observe the Nine symbols in a large block on the reels. Which symbol is selected for the “Action Stacked Symbols” is randomly determined each spin and remember that gaming regulations and independent testing make sure the slot never knows what symbol was chosen for the last spin when it picks a new symbol. $ This slot has a high hit frequency of around 50%, payback percentage around 90% and is highly volatile due to Konami’s popular “Action Stacked Symbols.” Be prepared to win big on this game!
12 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com
WINNING WAYS
Hints & Tips
Body Language Basics At The Tables & In Life Gamblers should set aside time to watch a History Channel program called “Secrets of Body Language” on the web. While many body language observations are certainly subject to interpretation, there are many common clues the human body gives off unconsciously while communicating (or trying not to) with others. This short report details the body language intricacies of many world leaders, celebrities, and other people in a variety of different situations. The analysis, conclusions, and science behind body language as explained during the program serves poker players and the general public very well. Here’s a short list of what to watch for at the tables to assist in determining if an opponent is holding a strong hand (they will display a positive emotional response) or if they may be bluffing (they will display a negative emotional response). This list also serves as a guide for day-to-day human interactions. Common Positive Emotional Responses Include: Sitting upright or leaning forward, Glancing down at chips, Licking one’s lips, Eyebrows (or forehead) shooting up slightly, Glancing at cards quickly. Common Negative Emotional Responses Include: Slouching or sliding back in a chair, Covering one’s mouth, Chewing on the inside of the mouth, Idle hand movements.
Quick Tips On How To Ride Out A Cold Streak 1. Come with the right bankroll, or in the case of a tournament, inquire about any bonus buys or re-buys and already make the decision to use (or not use) them before starting to play. 2. Stick with one strategy for the tournament or play session. Changing strategies can deflate your confidence. 3. Don’t let your emotions take over. Celebrating a win is one thing, but your strategy relies on logic, facts, and reason, not emotion. 4. Don’t allow short term results to affect your attitude and perception of the game. We all want to be on a hot streak, but the cold streaks are a fact of life too. (Great advice for all types of gamblers!)
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A Winner’s Checklist For Poker Tournaments If you go into a tournament without a plan of some kind, you might as well go home if you’re choosing solely to side with luck. There are far too many other players and far too many hands to be played during a tournament for you to survive on luck alone! Here are a few simple, but important, rules to follow:
1
Arrive at least 15 to 30 minutes early so you have a chance to orient yourself, get comfortable, and start studying your competition.
2
Familiarize yourself with the casino’s poker room. The tournament director may completely change the room layout that day!
3
Clear your schedule. No calls, no email, no Facebook, and no Twitter. Make sure you are not hungry and have comfortable clothes.
4
Don’t wear unnecessary or flashy accessories; even consider removing your customary jewelry. Have you ever noticed the amount of fidgeting inspired by a simple wedding ring, necklace or watch in a poker room?
5
If you have difficulties focusing or concentrating, bring along earplugs or, if allowed, play white noise through your headphones.
6
Don’t let your clothes and general appearance indicate to other players what personality type you are. Looking flashy tends to exude a “risk taker” vibe, while a more conservative styling can scream “cautious” to other players.
7
Remember your goal is to survive in a tournament. Be the tortoise, not the hare. Slow and steady is always a good rule of thumb.
GAMING NEWS
AIGA, Frequent Jackpots & AZ State Poker Championship
A big congratulations to Valerie Spicer, the Executive Director of the AZ Indian Gaming Association, for being one of six women to receive the prestigious 2011 Great Women of Gaming Award from Casino Enterprise Management for her outstanding Commitment, Drive, Mentorship, Perseverance and Professionalism.
THE ANNUAL AZ STATE POKER CHAMPIONSHIP NOW IN ITS 8TH YEAR AT TALKING STICK RESORT Tarzan Lord of the Jungle
One Of The Most Frequently Hitting Slot Jackpots In America! Aristocrat’s Tarzan Lord of the Jungle video slot game is the most award-winning and one of the most frequently hitting slot games in all of North America. Now, the game’s top progressive jackpot has been hit again for $309,338 at Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This is the 13th time the top progressive has been hit since the game was released last year! To date, the game has paid out more than $4 million in top jackpot awards since its debut! If you haven’t played this game yet, we recommend you give this game a spin at Mazatzal Hotel & Casino in Payson or Bucky’s Casino in Prescott.
Players from across the country are perfecting their poker faces as they prepare for the return of the Arizona State Poker Championship to Talking Stick Resort. An annual fixture on the resort’s poker schedule, the five-day tournament takes place August 10-14, and is expected to draw more than 1,000 players of various skill levels, all competing for a share of the $1 million jackpot. “The Arizona State Poker Championship is a big source of pride for us. It’s our biggest event and continues to grow each year,” said Kent Odekirk, director of poker at Talking Stick Resort. “This year we have expanded the championship to run five days and have taken the final table into our showroom to allow for a larger viewing audience. We are always looking for ways to enhance it and make it a better experience for guests.” The No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em tournament will begin on Friday, Aug. 10 at 9 a.m. This year marks the third time in its eight-year history that the prize pool has hit $1 million, which ensures the top 100 players walk away with a minimum of $2,250. First place winner will take home a grand total of $208,300, a championship ring and trophy. Second and third place winners will take home $127,500 and $85,000 respectively, as well as trophies to commemorate their win. To enter the state championship, players can pay a $1,000 buy-in, with an additional $70 entry fee, or they can “win a seat” by participating in Talking Stick Resort’s daily satellite tournaments or Sunday qualifier tournaments. Entries are unlimited, and the buy-in provides each player with $15,000 worth of tournament chips. Players eliminated on days one or two will be allowed a rebuy in order to continue play. For the first time since the inception of the championship, the final table will be played in the resort’s showroom and broadcasted throughout the property. Earlier this year, Arizona’s largest poker room transformed into the ARENA Poker Room and was updated with new arena-style screens with sports tickers and the capabilities to host satellite tournaments and relay live poker games. The large screens hang high above the room’s 47 poker tables and provide a high-quality picture that can be seen from any angle, giving guests a better gaming experience. For more information about the Arizona State Poker Championship and other tournaments, visit the ARENA Poker Room at Talking Stick Resort, www.TalkingStickResort.com or call (480) 850-7734. $
16 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com
Big Green Bus At Harrah’s Ak-Chin
GAMING NEWS
13 students, 1 veggie powered bus, 7 times around the country and counting … All for a greener tomorrow tomorrow!
On Saturday, July 14, thirteen Dartmouth College students stopped at Harrah’s Ak-Chin for an important mission: To bring enthusiasm for community involvement through environmental action and to show off their alternative-fuel powered Big Green Bus. Maricopa was the 16th stop on their 85–day, nationwide campaign. The student-run Big Green Bus will cover 12,000 miles across 30 states, spending the entire summer engaging in dialogue, spreading innovation and inspiring community action, all on a waste vegetable oil-powered coach bus. “Harrah’s Ak-Chin has a long history of implementing environmental awareness initiatives on property. Through our recycling program and CodeGreen efforts, we are continually reminding our guests and staff about the importance of sustainability,” said Robert Livingston, general manager of Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Resort. “We are proud to have the Big Green Bus visit us in Maricopa.”
azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide
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Twin Arrows Navajo Casino
GAMING NEWS
NAVAJO NATION PLANS MAY 2013 OPENING FOR ITS NEW $175 MILLION CASINO IN AZ.
M
ark your calendars for May 2013, because this is the proposed grand opening date of the brand new $175 million casino and hotel being built by the Navajo Nation near Twin Arrows about 20 miles east of Flagstaff. Around 800 employees will be hired to operate the new facility. The Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort, near Interstate 40, will have nearly 1,100 slot machines, blackjack and poker tables, 200 hotel rooms by winter of 2013-2014, a gift shop selling mostly low-price items, a food court, a sports bar, and ultimately a spa area. Longer-term plans include parking areas and amenities for high-end motor homes, a nightclub, a conference center, and a spa with steam rooms, massages and hot tubs. The casino is expected to draw tourists and outside visitors. It is not known how much water the casino will use, but it will be supplied from four wells in the area. The hotel will also go through a certification system to show it was built with conservation in mind. The Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort identity is a combined effort of the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise Board, staff, chapter officials and tribal members. The name Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort is trademarked and has been an exit on I-40 for many years.
The following concepts were used to design the logo: Two outward bound arrows to show a proactive approach to all things as well as the Journey of the Navajo throughout time. There are Four Sacred Mountains in the Navajo culture, beginning with the East, South, West and North. The mountain represented is the west sacred mountain known in Navajo as Dook’o’ooslííd which translates to Abalone Shell Mountain. In English, the mountain is known as the San Francisco Peaks. The color of the mountain is generally yellowish or the reflective shine of an abalone seashell. The turquoise arches represent the sky, the shape of the world and the implied shape of a female hooghan. The Navajo casino basket brand was added to unify the properties. Overall, the color scheme, white, turquoise, yellow and black incorporates the four sacred colors of the Diné. $
azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide
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FUN FACTS
Amazing Summer Room Specials At
Talking Stick Resort T
his summer, Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona is rewarding those looking to treat themselves to a luxurious stay at its hotel. The AAA Four Diamond resort is offering exclusive reservation deals and unbeatable seasonal rates that will make any visit easy to plan. Talking Stick Resort offers five unique room styles all exuding modern Southwestern-style and cultural representation of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Community. Each room is a blend of convenience and comfort in a serene and refined environment. In addition to no resort fees and complimentary Wi-Fi, the resort will offer the following packages now through August 29: Stay 2, Get $60 Guests looking for the perfect summer getaway need look no further than Talking Stick Resort. Those who book a two-night stay in one of the property’s well-appointed accommodations will not only enjoy rates starting out as low as $119, but also receive a $60 resort credit. Fit for a King Those in search of the royal treatment can upgrade to an Executive King room, with rates starting as low as $149 a night. With a twonight stay, they will receive $50 in resort credit. Talking Stick Resort’s Executive King guestrooms are positioned on the north and south ends of the hotel and feature oversized patios/balconies, offering unobstructed views of Camelback or Scottsdale's McDowell Mountains. $
Bet You Didn’t Know … >>> In the early 1900s, the Bell Fruit Gum Company created a slot machine that dispensed chewing gum in various fruit flavors depending on which fruit the player managed to line up on the pay line. And, the bar symbols were actually shaped like a stick of gum with the company’s logo written across! Now, a century later, slot machine manufacturers are still designing mechanical reel steppers with the same fruit and bar symbols originally created to promote chewing gum! >>> The number of slot machines and card tables that tribes can have in their casinos is calculated by the AZ Department of Gaming using a population based formula! >>> As of May 1, 2012, the exact number of slot machines in Arizona totaled 14,267 and 478 table games! >>> There are plenty of electronic versions of all the popular casino table games such as blackjack, roulette, and craps. However, live roulette and live craps are two games that are not currently allowed in the state of Arizona, because they are not among the list of approved Class III games in the Tribal-State Compact of 2002! >>> Sevens are lucky, but who ever heard of lucky eights? If you’re planning a trip to the Far East, then consider yourself a winner if you line up a bunch of eights! The number eight is considered lucky in Eastern culture because the word for “eight” sounds very similar to the word for “fortune” and “wealth.” $
8
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Gives Back by Going Green Ongoing efforts give back to the community and earth-friendly initiatives
H
arrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Resort is committed to giving back to the community by not only donating profits to civic and charitable causes but also by encouraging employees to donate their time and attention to benefit local organizations and various earth-friendly initiatives. H.E.R.O. (Harrah’s Entertainment Reaching Out) is an employee-based volunteer program in which participants make noteworthy, visible contributions to the community by lending their time and skills. From improving the environment by picking up trash to donating time and funds to support senior citizens, and from hosting a total wellness community event to collecting food items to donate to those in need, Harrah’s Ak-Chin is truly devoted to helping the community in many positive ways. As an organization, Harrah’s Ak-Chin surpassed their 2010 total of 4,676 hours by volunteering 9,945 hours in 2011 and are well on their way to surpassing that in 2012. The property has also provided monetary and in-kind donations amounting to more than $20,000 from involvement in events such as Earth Day, Keep Arizona Beautiful Luncheon, Clean the World campaign,
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the Ak-Chin Social Services’ food drives and many more. In addition, Harrah's Ak-Chin employees have improved their workplace by ramping up efforts to go green through A.C.E.S. (Ak-Chin Environmentalist Squad) and teaming up with the Recycling Association of Maricopa. Altogether, Harrah's AkChin reduced its waste by 148 tons in 2010, improving both the resort and the community that supports it. Moreover, the property has saved tens of thousands of pounds of oil (yellow) grease, recycled nearly 58 tons of cardboard, switched hundreds of employees to electronic pay checks and therefore eliminating paper waste, and created Harrah’s Ak-Chin’s first ever property “Green Zone” to recycle paper, cardboard and plastic. “Not only does this program bring together our employees, but it’s an amazing way for us to reach out to the community and give back to the local residents and programs that are most in need,” said HR Director of Harrah’s Ak-Chin Beth Amoroso. “With earth-friendly initiatives having been at the forefront in recent years, it’s truly become a focus of our organization and for our employees on an individual level.”
On-property CodeGreen initiatives included:
•The installation of new thermostat technology in the 152-room hotel tower, which automatically resets the thermostat to a set temperature to conserve energy once guests leave the room; •The implementation of property electronics recycling which totaled 70,000 lbs in 2011; •An increase in standard recycle streams to 15 different items, thus increasing by 239% since 2009; •The recycling of food cans by kitchen staff, which saved 2,800 lbs in just under a few months; •The implementation of front-of-house recycling for guests, with four bins on the casino floor and two large wall displays to show various Harrah’s AK-Chin recycle facts and energy tips. The innovation in H.E.R.O. volunteer efforts lies in the vast array of programs the property supports annually. More than 320 employees on property (out of 650 total) dedicated time to more than 50 worthy causes last year. In addition to the community outreach projects already mentioned, H.E.R.O. volunteers donated time and funding in support of the Esperanza Children’s Home, Girl Scouts, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Maricopa Schools, the Ronald McDonald House and many, many more individual causes. If an employee is passionate about a cause, Harrah’s Ak-Chin fully supports that employee’s dedication of time to that cause. Each year H.E.R.O. volunteers are finding new ways to contribute to their community and volunteers are even inspiring their fellow colleagues, family, and friends to join in their efforts and it shows because volunteer hours have increased steadily over the past seven years! Harrah’s Ak-Chin, as well as the entire Caesars Entertainment Corporation, has a commitment to its communities to help make them vibrant places to live and work. The H.E.R.O. program is a living embodiment of the company’s commitment to make a positive, real impact in the community! $ For more information on Harrah’s Ak-Chin and their H.E.R.O. program, visit their website at www.harrahsakchin.com or call 480.802.5000.
Candice Van Etten, a veteran poker dealer of seven years at Harrah’s Ak-Chin, her husband Craig Aykroyd and their 1985 VW Golf diesel (pictured above & below) which they converted to run on used vegetable oil.
Harrah’s Ak-Chin’s H.E.R.O. Program Inspires Couple To Go Green arrah’s Ak-Chin employee Candice Van Etten and her husband Craig Aykroyd bypass the nearest gas station each week and instead fill up on vegetable oil from a restaurant to fuel their 1985 Volkswagen Golf with a converted diesel engine. “After having converted to vegetable oil it saves on fuel cost and air quality, in addition to emissions being much lower from having an exhaust that is a plant-based fuel,” said Van Etten. After the one-month project of converting the vehicle Van Etten now gets approximately 150 miles per gallon and saves $2,900 annually on fuel costs. And on a lighter note, Van Etten joked “the car smells like French fries, which I’m not sure is a good or bad thing!” “The first big step was getting rid of our Audi and purchasing an old 1985 VW Golf that had a diesel engine. Craig built a makeshift filtration system in our garage because the car consumes used vegetable oil he gets from a restaurant (but he’s lucky because lots of restaurants are now selling their used oil). Craig also built a system to heat the oil with the car engine and installed all the plumbing. There is a valve to switch between diesel and vegetable oil because you need to start the car and let it warm up before switching over to the vegetable oil” said Van Etten. “Aside from lower emissions, we have noticed many people are very interested in the idea. It was kind of cool because at Harrah’s there are corporate campaigns, including CodeGreen, encouraging everyone to do their part to be greener. I thought, hey, I really am doing my part and I’ve been inspired to make more changes – both at home and within the community” said Van Etten. Her husband Aykroyd is also looking at what they can continue to do in order to become more green. “While the car is old, slow, and noisy relative to newer car technology, others in our community are still very interested in pursuing the change to a more energy conscious drive to and from work. We are even looking into getting a second, newer car to convert!” Special thanks to Candice & Craig for sharing their story, comments, and photos with us and to Stephanie Lough at HMA Public Relations. azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 23
One of our staff members recently attended a business meeting at the Hammered Hog BBQ Hall & Saloon located at 3230 E. Thunderbird Road in Phoenix (just West of the 51 at the Thunderbird exit, www.hammeredhog.com). The group shared the Family Platter which consisted of a half rack of ribs, pulled pork, chopped brisket, hot links, corn bread, and a selection of sides. The immediate conclusion was that the entire staff has to go as soon as possible as the food was excellent! This prompted a discussion of what barbeque options we had all sampled at Arizona’s casinos and which ones were worth communicating to our readers. Here’s what we came up with … If you are headed towards Apache Gold Casino Resort in Globe, make sure you stop by on a Monday night for the Apache Grill’s Bottomless Beef Ribs served from 5 to 9pm. They are meaty, juicy, and bursting with flavor no matter what day you visit and they even make them available at the Wickiup Buffet from time to time.
24 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com
BlueWater Resort & Casino in Parker serves a menu item at the River Willow that is Asian inspired and well worth ordering. Try the Chicken Teriyaki which is 10 ounces of grilled chicken breast served with sauce, pineapple and toasted sliced almonds. While at Bucky’s and Yavapai casinos in Prescott, make sure you check out the new restaurant, Icha Maajoh, in the Prescott Resort adjacent to Bucky’s and order the Grilled Flat Iron Steak for dinner. The chimichurri sauce is an excellent companion to the meat and the garlic fries that come with the dish! At Casino Arizona in Scottsdale, do not miss the Chipotle BBQ Ribs at the Willows Restaurant. Your order of ribs arrive smothered with tangy chipotle barbeque sauce (finger-licking good), a cool order of coleslaw and French fries. Up at Cliff Castle Casino Hotel in Camp Verde, several members of the AGG staff have had the Bone-In BBQ Pork Chop, an
Barbeque at Arizona’s Casinos
CASINO DINING
excellent bang for your buck for dinner! You’ll get the grilled pork chop served with a sweet & tangy homemade barbeque sauce, a roll, soup or salad, and a choice of potato and vegetable of the day! That’s a lot of food, but our sources tell us that Cliff Castle’s restaurants and menus may undergo a makeover soon, so be sure to try this dish while you still can! The Agave restaurant inside the Desert Diamond Casino at the Sahuarita location near Tucson serves an awesome version of Chipotle Ribs which is a half rack of baby back ribs complete with ranchero beans and French fries. We are in the southwest after all, so too much chipotle is never a bad thing! At Fort McDowell Casino near Fountain Hills we strongly recommend two of their entrees. The first is the Brisket BBQ Beef sandwich at the Silver Platter by the bingo hall—a steal at less than $5 and the other is the Honey Glazed Salmon at Café 87. The 8 ounce filet comes with a salad, rolls, vegetables, and a choice of potatoes combining for a flavorful meal all for less than $12! At Harrah’s Ak-Chin in Maricopa, the new menu at the Range Steakhouse features several barbeque items, but we recommend getting the mix of meats with the Chicken & Pork entrée. That way you can enjoy a full rack of ribs and chicken breast, both Applewood-smoked. When you are ready for a big meal, make sure you visit HonDah Resort-Casino near Pinetop and enjoy the Indian Pine’s 12 ounce Ribeye Steak served with a wild mushroom demi glaze. We guarantee you will leave your table satisfied! Stop in at Mazatzal Hotel & Casino in Payson and visit the Cedar Ridge Restaurant for the Ultimate Feast. You’ll dine on a half rack of slow roasted ribs, a center cut top sirloin steak and three shrimp. The Blue Coyote Café at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale is a really great choice whenever we are in the area. The Filet Mignon is always an expensive dish, but it is 8 ounces of the best cut and they serve it with roasted red pepper butter. The more grilling the better! All restaurants have different hours of operation. Please verify all details and any age restrictions with each casino. We are not responsible for incorrect or outdated information.
azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide
25
TRIBAL NEWS
Arizona’s Tribal Lands
Arizona is home to 22 Native American tribes that represent more than 296,000 people. A total of 20 reservations cover more than 19,000,000 acres, ranging in size from the very large Navajo Reservation, which is the size of West Virginia or Ireland, to the small Tonto Apache tribal reservation that covers just over 85 acres. Visitors who want to travel to Arizona reservations may do so without prior permission. But if you want to know where to buy arts and crafts or observe dances or rodeos, you should contact the tribal offices in advance of your travel. Many tribes today are committed to diversifying their economies so in addition to casinos, you can visit and enjoy tribally-owned shopping malls, RV parks and convenience stores, resort hotels and golf courses along with trying your luck at the tables and machines. Courtesy of the Arizona Indian Gaming Association
26 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com
TRAVEL
Las Vegas
It’s A bird, It’s A plane, It’s Superman Slots At All Ten Station Casinos In Las Vegas Rockslide Bonus—Multiplier increases on losing spins
A
s of July 10, 2012, Las Vegas locals are now on the winning side of the most fantastically super heroic slot game ever! Aristocrat’s Superman The Movie slot debuted at all ten Station Casinos in the Las Vegas Valley and Station Casinos gave a super hero-sized welcome to the new game. From Noon until 8 p.m., Boarding Pass members could fly into their favorite Station Casinos location for a free pull that could reward $4,000 on the amazing new VIRIDIAN HYBRID game. Participating properties included Green Valley Ranch resort, Red Rock Resort, Sunset Station, Aliante Station, Fiesta Rancho, Texas Station, Santa Fe Station, Palace Station, Boulder Station and Fiesta Henderson. To receive their free play, Boarding Pass members visited their favorite Station Casinos location and the rewards center. Superman The Movie slot transports the original 1978 super hit film starring Christopher Reeve to the casino floor with incredi-
28 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com
Remix Bonus—Reel symbols are rearranged for extra pays
ble action that plays out in Aristocrat’s amazing VIRIDIAN HYBRID with Active Reel Technology. The slot brings Superman, Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and all of players’ favorite characters together again. In addition to the fun game and action-packed bonus features, lots of movie footage further engages and entertains players. This new slot has triple standalone progressives with a frequent feature hit rate. Free games and bonuses are waiting to be discovered in five incredible bonus features: Super Strength Rockslide, Superman Remix, Lex Luthor Lair, Save Lois Lane, and the Fortress of Solitude Progressive Jackpot. The Super Strength Rockslide bonus activates five free games. The first free game uses a 1X multiplier and if you do not get a win, the multiplier increases to 2X for the next spin. Additional losing spins allow the multiplier to climb up to 10X!
Las Vegas
TRAVEL
The Superman Remix bonus gives players a chance to win three more times when Superman moves all the symbols around on the reels! In the Lex Luthor Lair bonus, you pick one of three doors. Once opened, the door takes players to Lex Luthor’s Lair or to Save Lois Lane. In Lex Luthor’s Lair, players select from five cases and use Superman’s X-ray vision to reveal the reel strips behind each case. The Save Lois Lane bonus lets players play Clark Kent free games and collect additional Superman free games which have stacked wilds, credits, and multipliers on every spin! The final Fortress of Solitude Progressive Jackpot bonus has players collecting Kryptonite symbols during 10 free games to win ever larger prizes. 1-5 Kryptonite symbols wins 400 credits, 6-10 Kryptonite symbols wins 600 credits, 11-15 Kryptonite symbols wins 1000 credits, 16-19 Kryptonite symbols wins 2000 credits, 20 Kryptonite symbols wins the Minor Jackpot, 25 Kryptonite symbols wins the Major Jackpot, and 28 Kryptonite symbols wins the Grand Jackpot! The slot is available in 1¢, 2¢ and 5¢ denominations and has a 50 credit minimum bet and a 250 credit max bet. $
Free Games Bonus—Collect more credits to win progressives
Station Casinos owns and operates 18 properties throughout Southern Nevada including Aliante Station, Boulder Station, Green Valley Ranch resort, Fiesta Rancho, Fiesta Henderson, Palace Station, Red Rock Resort, Santa Fe Station, Sunset Station, Texas Station, Wild Wild West and several smaller properties under the Wildfire Gaming division such as Gold Rush and Wildfire Casinos. More information about Station Casinos can be found on their website at www.sclv.com. Aristocrat Technologies Inc. is a subsidiary of Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL), a leading global provider of gaming solutions. The Company is licensed by more than 200 regulators and its products and services are available in more than 90 countries around the world. Aristocrat offers a diverse range of products and services including electronic gaming machines and casino management systems. For more information about Aristocrat services and products, visit their website at www.aristocratgaming.com. SUPERMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics. azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide
29
CASINO ENTERTAINMENT Apache Gold Casino—Globe, AZ—800.272.2438 Cabaret Lounge: Live bands every weekend—Aug. 3 & 4 Chaka & Friends BlueWater Casino—Parker, AZ—888.243.3360 Dig Lounge: Variety including live bands, karaoke & DJs—Daily at 5pm BlueWater Showroom: Aug. schedule not available at press time. Casino Arizona—Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777 The Showroom: Aug. schedule not available at press time. The Arizona Room Piano Lounge: Features a variety of music styles including the sounds of swing and jazz. Start times: 4pm weekdays & 5pm weekends Casino del Sol—Tucson, AZ—520.838.6506 AVA Amphitheater: Seal & Macy Gray—Aug. 3 at 8pm Los Tigres del Norte & Banda Recodo—Aug. 4 at 8pm Pitbull—Aug. 5 at 8pm All American Rejects—Aug. 9 at 8pm Duran Duran—Aug. 12 at 8pm George Clinton & The Masters of Funk—Aug. 17 at 8pm Lost Eighties Tour—Aug. 18 at 8pm Crosby, Stills and Nash—Sep. 5 at 8pm Def Leppard & Poison—Sep. 12 at 7pm Alejandro Fernandez—Sep. 14 at 8pm Jeff Dunham—Sep. 15 at 8pm Marco Antonio Solis—Sep. 21 at 8pm Brit Floyd—The World’s Greatest Pink Floyd Show—Sep. 26 at 8pm AVA Amphitheater: Seal & Macy Gray—Aug. 3 at 8pm Cliff Castle Casino—Camp Verde, AZ—800.381.7568 Stargazer Pavillion: Larry the Cable Guy—Sep. 2 at 8pm Dragonfly Lounge: Variety including live bands, karaoke & DJs—Ladies Night every Th, Open late on Fr & Sa. Cocopah Resort Casino—Somerton, AZ—800.237.5687 River Room: Zumba Fitness—Mo & Tu at 6pm Los Tigres Del Norte—Aug. 5 at 7pm Sunset Lounge: Live Jazz & Cocktails—Tu 6pm Karaoke—We-Fr at 8pm Desert Diamond Casino I—Tucson, AZ—866.332.9467 Monsoon Nightclub: Friday Night Groove—Join 106.3FM The Groove for a dance party now through Dec. 28. $5 cover, ladies free! Noches Caliente— Saturdays the hottest Tex Mex and Tejano music! Desert Diamond Casino II—Sahuarita, AZ—866.332.9467 Sports Bar:
30 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com
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: Back in Black (AC/DC Tribute)—Aug. 18 at 7pm Fort McDowell Casino—Fort McDowell, AZ—800.843.3678 Radisson Ballroom: Bad Boy Fight Night—Aug. 3 at 6pm Lucky 7 Saloon: Featuring a variety of live music every weekend including Furious George, Kenny G Project & Cowboy Floyd Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino—Maricopa, AZ—800.427.7247 Oasis Lounge: The Masters—Aug. 3 & 4 at 8pm The Walkens—Aug. 10 & 11 at 8pm Desert Dixie—Aug. 17 & 18 at 8pm Marty Ramirez—Aug. 24 & 25 at 8pm The Crystals—Aug. 29 at 1 & 3 pm Young Country—Aug. 31 & Sep. 1 at 8pm Hon-Dah Casino—Pinetop, AZ—800.929.8744 Timbers Lounge and Showroom: Munday Funday—Comedy Show Vol. 1 (Latin Dance Variety)—Jul.31-Aug.4 Affinity (Dance Variety)—Aug. 7-11 Clark County Express (Country)—Aug. 14-18 Barrio Latino (Latin Dance Variety)—Aug. 21-25 Marble Heart (Country)—Aug. 28-Sep. 1 Latin Vida (Latin Dance Variety)—Sep. 4-8 Creagles (CCR/Eagles Tribute)—Sep. 11-15 Clue & the Honkeytones (Variety)—Sep. 18-22 Groove City (R&B Variety)—Sep. 25-29 Tony Marques (Country)—Oct. 2-6 Lone Butte Casino—Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452 Cascades Lounge: Country Night—We Industry Night—Th Latin Night—Fr Top 40/Dance Night—Sa Verona Chophouse: Sunday Jazz Brunch Live—10am to 3pm Mazatzal Casino—Payson, AZ—800.777.7529 Event Center: Hotel California (Eagles Tribute)—Sep. 21 Paradise Casino—Yuma, AZ—888.777.4946 Sharky’s Bar & Bites: DJ Rudy Espinoza—Fr—9:30pm DJ Anthony—Sa—9:30pm Also featuring a variety of live music on the weekends. Quechan Casino—Winterhaven, CA—877.783.2426 Sidewinders Bar & Grill: Featuring a variety of live music on the weekends.
EDITOR’S PICK
THE GIPSY KINGS at TALKING STICK RESORT Sunday, August 19 at 7:30pm The Gipsy Kings consist of two bands of brothers – The Reyes and The Baliardos – both the offspring of Spanish gypsies that fled to France to escape Spain’s civil war. Their music pays homage to their Gitano heritage, blending Romani rhapsody with Spanish flamenco and salsa funk. The Gipsy Kings have made progressive flamenco popular across the world, and on Sunday, August 19, they’ll bring their signature sound to Talking Stick Resort.
Talking Stick Resort—Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777 The Showroom & Grand Ballroom: Con Funk Shun—Aug. 3 Lakeside—Aug. 11 Yes & Procul Harum—Aug. 17 Patti LaBelle—Aug. 18 Gipsy Kings—Aug. 19 David Cassidy—Aug. 24 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy—Aug. 25 Little Feat—Sep. 15 Joe Walsh—Sep. 21 TOTO—Sep. 23 Asia—Nov. 13 Coffee Garden: Dueling Pianos—Th, Fr & Sa from 8-11pm Wild Horse Pass Casino—Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452 Encore Lounge: Featuring a variety of live music. Showroom: Los Tigres del Norte—Aug. 3 Cinderella—Aug. 4 Friday Night Comedy—Aug. 10 America—Aug. 11 Tracy Morgan—Aug. 17 Friday Night Comedy—Aug. 24 Air Supply—Aug. 25 Latin Legends Live! - Sep. 7 Blood, Sweat and Tears—Sep. 14 49 Laughs—Sep. 15 Merle Haggard—Sep. 21 Psychedelic Furs—Sep. 27 Yavapai Casino—Prescott, AZ—800.756.8744 Yavapai Cantina: Karaoke with Cruisin’ Susan—Fr—8pm-Midnight Trivia—We, Live Bands—Th & Sa
In 1989, Gipsy Kings released their self-titled album in the United States, and it spent 40 weeks on the charts. Fan favorite songs include “Bamboleo,” “Djobi Djoba” and “Volare” as well as the band’s more recent remake of “Hotel California.” The Gipsy Kings will play those and more in a special appearance showcasing the emotional vocals, fast flamenco guitar leads and rhythmic strumming that has made them a worldwide sensation. The 2010 film Toy Story 3 featured a version of "You've Got a Friend in Me" performed and recorded by the Gipsy Kings; the Spanish release featured the Spanish version, titled "Hay un Amigo en Mi" and played in a flamenco style. They performed the song along with “Bamboleo” on Dancing With the Stars (ABC) in May of 2010 and are currently on a North American Tour. The Gipsy Kings plan to release their new album in the near future. Recently they collaborated with Yugoslavian born musician Goran Bregović on two songs “Presidente” and “Balkaneros” for his new album “Champagne for Gypsies.” The Gipsy Kings’ performances are always passionate and full of energy, an experience that is not to be missed! For tickets, starting at $45, call the Talking Stick Resort Box Office at 480850-7734 or visit www.talkingstickresort.com/gipsykings.aspx.
Verify all details & age restrictions for each event. Venues, times, dates, & ticket information are subject to change. Photos/images copyright of the individual artist(s), photographer(s), or venue(s). All Rights Reserved. We are not responsible for incorrect/outdated info.
azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide
31
CASINO NIGHTLIFE
Exclusively Featuring Ramses Ja
AZ CASINO OFFERS UPSCALE NIGHTCLUB By Ramses Ja
I
f you have ever been to the Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino in Chandler, you already know that it is easily one of the best casinos in the Southwest! This beautifully-designed property has a casino floor that rivals (and in some cases surpasses) those found in Vegas. In addition, the dining that is available is unmatched, the entertainment is always top-tier, and the hotel's amenities are among the best in the business. With this being the case, it's easy to see why this casino is one of the more popular destinations in the city! It isn't until you consider the fact that this property is also home to Airia Nightclub that you realize that Wild Horse Pass seeks to offer a world-class experience on all levels! The evolution of the nightlife can be experienced at this 5,500 sq. ft. party palace every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night! Chandler’s upscale nightclub treats partygoers to the best in House, Top 40, and Hip-Hop from some of the Valley’s best DJs including Benjamin Cutswell and 101.5 JamZ mixmaster DJ Decipha! For those who prefer the VIP treatment, Airia has the means to make sure you party like a rock star! Table and bottle service are available to those who want to own the night! Airia Nightclub is
32 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com
also prepared to receive parties of up to 100 people and offers cabanas, booths, and tables depending on your needs. The club’s spacious and modern design ensures that there is plenty of room for dancing and socializing. There is no need to travel to Nevada for the Las Vegas nightlife experience. Be sure to check out this crown jewel that sits atop the Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino every Thursday night through Saturday night! Visit airiathenightclub.com for more information and to learn more about both DJ Benjamin Cutswell and DJ Decipa visit their websites at www.deciphacity.com and www.cutswell.com. $
Ramses Ja hosts 6pm-12am weekdays on 101.1 FM The Beat in Phoenix! He is the resident DJ for Your Life A to Z Fridays at 10am on KTVK 3TV Channel 3, & Resident DJ for Talking Stick Resort. Visit www.ramsesja.com for more information.
azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide
33
FUN & GAMES
SUDOKU
FUN WITH NUMBERS
Each of the columns, rows, and nine 3 x 3 grids must contain all of the digits 1 - 9. None of the digits may appear more than once in each column, row, and 3 x 3 grid. (Solution on page 38)
2
Place the numbers 1—9 in the circles so that each side of the triangle adds up to 17. (Solution on page 38)
3 8 6
4
1
3
3
7
9
6 2
9 5 3
6 5
1
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4
CASINO MATH 101
WORD SEARCH
On a recent flyer from a local casino in Arizona, there was an offer for free slot play. The letter told a member of the editorial staff to place her player’s card into any slot machine and then to choose either a guaranteed amount of $70 or choose to “Risk It” and receive either $50 or $100 in free play. Let’s assume that $70 is the expected value for the game regardless of the decision a player makes. What are the chances of winning the $50 and the $100?
Find these words chosen to honor August—National Golf Month! Ace, Bogey, Caddie, Driver, Eagle, Fore, Green, Handicap, Irons, Links, Mulligan, Par, Rough, Scratch, Trolley, Woods Words appear left to right, right to left, top to bottom, bottom to top, and diagonally in any direction. (Solution on page 38)
Hints: Remember that to calculate expected value for this game you multiply the probability of getting a prize by the value of the prize and add it to the probability of the other prize multiplied by the value of the other prize. If you play this game you should keep the $70 unless you are feeling lucky because the chances of getting the $100 are less than the chances of getting the $50! (Solution on page 38)
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M U 34 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com
H
L
SAMI’S SMACKDOWN
By Sami Becker
Waiter! There’s a fly in my soup!
Sami, my wife and I frequent [casinos] in Arizona and [casinos] in Laughlin regularly. A few friends think we are neat freaks, but we just like things clean, clean, clean. Always looking at a dirty table in all the same casino restaurants with flies, stained and old carpets or tiles, crumbs in all corners, and what looks like today’s and yesterday’s food all over the chairs, booths, and floors is just gross to both of us. Why don’t casinos pay more attention to this? I don’t think we have unreasonable expectations. Robert J.—Flagstaff Oh! I totally agree Robert! Disgusted does not even begin to describe how your observations make me feel! The only way to make a casino pay more attention to the cleanliness of their restaurants, and their property in general, is to communicate your observations and opinions to them. There are generally a wide variety of methods to do this. Most casinos have comment cards which can be filled out anonymously and returned back to a casino representative. But I always think a face to face conversation is better than a comment card. Talk to the restaurant man-
ager or go back to the Player’s Club and talk to a representative there. Ultimately the situation will resolve itself because one would hope the message is passed along to the restaurant manager who is concerned about cleanliness and will ensure workers will take the time to put in the necessary effort to keep the dining area looking spotless at all times. If the situation is not corrected within one week or so, I’d say try communicating your discontent one last time. If nothing has changed during your next visit, skip that restaurant or casino altogether. If the restaurant isn’t up to your standards of clean, neither is the kitchen, nor the rest of the casino, so it’s time to move on to a casino that takes clean seriously. You and your entertainment dollars should go elsewhere! $
Do YOU have something to rant about? Write me at: sami@azgamingguide.com
azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide
35
CASINO BINGO DIRECTORY
Casino
Sessions
Seats Smoke-Free Area Electronic
Late Night
Apache Gold
Su, We, Th at Noon. Fr & Sa at 7pm. 1st Mo of the month at 7pm
1000
No
No
No
BlueWater
Su at 1pm. Mo-We at 6pm.
350
Yes
Yes
No
Casino Arizona
Arriving Oct. 2012!
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Casino del Sol
Daily at Noon, 1:30, 2:15, 6:30 & 7:15pm
694
Yes
Yes
Cosmic Bingo Sa at 11pm.
Cocopah
Daily at 1:30 & 6:30pm
350
Yes*
Yes
No
Desert Diamond I
Th-Mo 1:30, 2, 6, 6:30 & 7pm
270
No
Yes
No
Fort McDowell
Sa & Su at 6:45am. We-Mo at 9am. Daily at 12:30 & 6:30pm.
1275
Yes (2 sections: enclosed or in general seating)
Yes
Fr & Sa at 12:10am. Lunar Bingo 8/18, 9/15, 10/27, 11/17, 12/22 & 12/31.
Harrah’s Ak-Chin
We-Su at 11:30am, 2:30, 3:30, and 6:30pm
470
Yes
Yes
No
Lone Butte
Sa & Su at 10am, Noon, 3:45, 5:30 & 6pm. Daily at Noon & 6:30pm.
750
Yes
Yes
B.A.D. Bingo 2 Fr at 11:30pm & B.A.D. Bingo Sa at 11:30pm.
Mazatzal
Mo-Th at Noon. Tu & Th at 6:30pm.
280
Yes
Yes
No
Paradise
Daily at 1:30 & 6pm.
300
Yes
Yes
Sa at 11pm varies-888.777.4946.
Vee Quiva
Daily at 12:30 & 6:30pm.
366
Yes
Yes
Bingo Eclipse Sa at 11pm.
Sources: Arizona Department of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 5/01/12, casino websites & direct inquiries by press time. We are not responsible for incorrect, missing, or outdated information. Contact editor@azgamingguide.com to make updates. *Cocopah Resort Casino offers “Smoke-Free Sundays” which is a casino-wide non-smoking experience every week from 4am Sunday to 4am Monday.
36 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com
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11300 Resort Drive
Parker
888-243-3360 493
03. Bucky’s Casino
1500 E. Hwy. 69
Prescott
800-756-8744 303
04. Casino Arizona
101 & McKellips
Scottsdale
480-850-7777 931
Y Y
05. Casino del Sol 06. Casino of the Sun
12. Fort McDowell Casino
16. Mazatzal Hotel & Casino
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
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Camp Verde
800-381-7568 656
15318 S. Ave. B
Somerton
800-237-5687 504
Y
Y
Y
7350 S. Nogales Hwy.
Tucson
866-332-9467 1,065
Y
Y
Y
Y
I-19, Exit 80
Tucson
866-332-9467 738
Y
Y
Hwy. 86, Milepost 55
Why
866-332-9467
Y
Y Y*
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Y
Y
Y
Y
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Y
Y
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Maricopa
480-802-5000 1,089
Pinetop
800-929-8744 802
1077 S. Kyrene Rd.
Chandler
800-946-4452 850
Hwy. 87, 1/4 mi. S. of Payson
Payson
800-777-7529 407
Y
450 Quechan Dr.
Yuma
888-777-4946 470
Y
18. Quechan Casino
I-8, Exit 166
Winterhaven, CA 877-783-2426 1,000+
19. Spirit Mountain Casino
8555 Hwy. 95
Mohave Valley 928-346-2000 247 Scottsdale
480-850-7777 732
6443 Komatke Ln.
Laveen
800-946-4452 846
5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd.
Chandler
800-946-4452 990
1505 E. Hwy. 69
Prescott
800-756-8744 236
23. Yavapai Casino
Y
Y
777 Hwy. 260
21. Vee Quiva Casino
Y
66
Fort McDowell 800-843-3678 906
101 & Indian Bend
Y
Y
I-17, Exit 289
17. Paradise Casino
22. Wild Horse Pass Casino
Y
855-765-7829 966
15406 N. Maricopa Rd.
20. Talking Stick Resort
Y
Y
855-765-7829 324
14. Hon-Dah Casino 15. Lone Butte Casino
Y
Y
Tucson
Hwy. 87 & Ft. McDowell Rd.
13. Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino
Y
Tucson
10. Desert Diamond Casino II 11. Desert Diamond Casino-Why
Y
5655 W. Valencia Rd.
08. Cocopah Resort Casino
Y
Y
7406 S. Camino De Oeste
07. Cliff Castle Casino & Hotel 09. Desert Diamond Casino I
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Word Search Solution H A N D I C A P H L I N K S I C S G B R T D R O O A O A E G N R O C E E S C W E N Y S H G U O R E L G A E R E V I R D P A R F O R E C A D D I E Y E L L O R T M U L L I G A N Casino Math: 50 x 60% + 100 x 40% = 70 The chances are 60% for $50 and 40% for $100. Fun With Numbers: Starting at the top and moving around clockwise 1,4,9,3,7,5,2,8,6.
Sudoku Solution 2
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1
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1
7
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2
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1
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1
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9
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4
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1
2
6
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2
9
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1
8
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9
38 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com
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Sources: Arizona Department of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 5/01/12, casino websites & direct inquiries by press time. We are not responsible for incorrect, missing, or outdated information. Contact editor@azgamingguide.com to make updates. *Cocopah Resort Casino offers “Smoke-Free Sundays” which is a casino-wide non-smoking experience every week from 4AM Sunday to 4AM Monday
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Smoke-Free Area
02. BlueWater Resort & Casino
Y
Arcade
800-272-2438 634
Spa
Globe
RV Park
Hwy. 70, 5 mi. E. of Globe
Golf
01. Apache Gold Casino Resort
Hotel
Slots
Poker Room
Phone
Table Games
City
Live Keno
Location
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High Limit Area
CASINO DIRECTORY
Y Y