Contents OCTOBER
DEPARTMENTS 04 EDITOR’S NOTE 06 PLAYERS TALK 08 GREAT GAMES 15 WINNING WAYS 19 GAMING NEWS 22 ARIZONA LOTTERY 24 FEATURE STORY 26 CASINO DINING 28 TRIBAL NEWS 30 TRAVEL 31 FUN FACTS 32 CASINO ENTERTAINMENT 34 CASINO NIGHTLIFE 38 FUN & GAMES 40 CASINO BINGO DIRECTORY 42 ARIZONA DEPT. OF GAMING
24
44 HOT DEALS
LIBBY FRANCISCO INTERIM CEO DESERT DIAMOND CASINOS
45 SAMI’S SMACKDOWN 46 CASINO DIRECTORY
08
20
28
MONSTER JACKPOTS SLOT BY WMS IS FINALLY HERE
INVESTING MONEY IN THE GAMING INDUSTRY
DOING BUSINESS IN INDIAN COUNTRY
The game designers at WMS have delivered a hit yet again—8 bonuses all packed into one incredible slot!
Find out which casino gaming companies are publicly traded and how they have been performing recently!
A new trade show and conference at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, November 13-15, 2012!
azgamingguide.com | October 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide
03
EDITOR’S NOTE
Your Authority On Everything Gaming VOLUME 04 • ISSUE 10 PUBLISHER Chris Hoft chris@azgamingguide.com MANAGING DIRECTOR Elizabeth Torma liz@azgamingguide.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alexandra Lang editor@azgamingguide.com
More Please! I am excited to introduce you to Libby Francisco, Desert Diamond Casinos Interim CEO. She is a shining example of a strong, successful female holding a leadership position in the casino gaming industry. DJ Ramses Ja shows us what’s up at the top of Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale and we have the inside scoop on plenty of new slot machines all across Arizona! Also, starting this month, we are extremely excited to have partnered with Cocopah Resort and Casino near Yuma and Gila River Gaming Enterprises in Phoenix! The growth and expansion we anticipated and planned for this calendar year is definitely materializing and I couldn’t be more proud of the successes we have created for this magazine and personally for ourselves to date. And, yes, there is a lot more to come! 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 October issue and have fun! Cheers!
Alexandra Alexandra Lang Editor-in-Chief editor@azgamingguide.com
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ART DIRECTOR Melanie Mueller CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ramses Ja Cindy Esquer 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 | October 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: I enjoy your magazine very much, but can you please do more Keno articles? I play Video Poker and Video Keno and I’d like to know what’s easier, getting a Royal Flush or hitting 7 out of 7 spots? I’m guessing the pay back is higher for Video Poker and makes it the better game, right? Thank you for your response. Jerry Mueller – Show Low, AZ A: Jerry, the payback percentages for Video Poker are generally much higher than the payback percentages for Video Keno, but that doesn’t mean Video Poker is necessarily the better game. Numbers can be deceiving, especially in the case of payback percentages. When comparing these two games, it’s important to examine the hit frequency because in this particular case it’s just as important as the payback percentage! Hit frequency describes how often various wins occur and how much they return relative to the odds of hitting them. For the particular example you mention, when playing straight up Video Keno whose 7-spot pays 7,000 to 1, the odds of hitting this award are about 1 in 40,000 games. Well, guess what? These are the exact same odds of hitting a Royal Flush playing Video Poker using optimum strategy! In my opinion, the 7,000 to 1 payout for catching a 7-spot sure beats the 800 to 1 payout for a Royal! And, the 6 out of 7-spot for a 400 to 1 payout isn’t so shabby either, especially considering this win happens 1 in every 1,300 games on average! Thank you for your kind words. We’re very happy to have you as a fan and we’re always open to suggestions! In the future, we will make sure to include more information on both Video and Live Keno games. Q: I find it weird that I can’t keep my eyes open past 10pm or 11pm when at home, but get me into a casino and I can go all night without any problems. My friends say casinos put oxygen in the air to keep people wide awake and playing all night. Could that be true? Joan Koski – Mesa, AZ A: Joan, casinos do not pump oxygen, O2, into the ventilation systems under any circumstances. First of all, pumping oxygen
into a casino is illegal. No casino would commit a felony and risk losing their gaming license! Second of all, large amounts of oxygen pumped into a smoky environment would be a fire hazard. Almost anything burns like a torch in pure oxygen since it’s a highly flammable gas. If there was even the slightest fire anywhere in the casino, it would be fanned and magnified by the presence of excess oxygen. I don’t believe casino employees would want to potentially put themselves in harms way! And, finally, it would take truckloads and truckloads of an incredibly large volume of oxygen, literally, to even generate a minuscule effect considering the amount of air exchanged each hour in a large casino. The truth of the matter is that some casinos inject ozone, O3, into the air. Oxidized ozone eliminates tobacco odors and reduces other offensive gases and eye-burning compounds that are usually found in smoke-filled environments. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, small levels of ozone (up to 0.1 parts per million) are not harmful in any way. Casino filtration systems are designed to shut off the ozone automatically when levels reach between 0.03 and 0.05 parts per million. Whether casinos use oxidized ozone or some other air purification system, they’re just doing so to provide all of us with a clean and comfortable gaming environment! Q: I just won $50 on a scratcher that cost $2! I never played them before so it was very exciting. I’ve always just done the pick drawings. My friend told me I’d have to pay taxes on the spot for any winnings over $1,000. Is that true? Christa Hollander – Phoenix, AZ A: Christa, congratulations on your win! I’m sorry but your friend was misinformed. Actually, for any Arizona Lottery prize valued over $5,000, the Arizona Lottery is required (by law) to withhold 25% for federal taxes and 5% for state taxes for U.S. citizens or resident aliens. For non-resident aliens, the withholding tax is 30% for federal taxes and 6% for state taxes. Uncle Sam wants his cut, so it’s always a good idea to speak with a tax consultant concerning any gambling winnings. For more information on the Arizona Lottery, please visit their website at www.arizonalottery.com. $
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 | October 2012 | azgamingguide.com
GREAT GAMES
New Slots
MONSTER JACKPOTS Desert Diamond Casino & Hon Hon--Dah Casino
First In Arizona To Install Great New Slot By WMS
his brand new slot from WMS is so much fun to play! With enough action, thrills, chills, and bonus wins to fill up all the original monster movies from the past, every slot enthusiast will be entertained playing Monster Jackpots. This exciting game has the main character of every major monster to hit the big screen and they all play their own roles in delivering frightful amounts of bonus wins.
Free Spins Bonus This is the heart of the game! Triggered by three bonus symbols on the left, center and right reels, players are asked to choose their own level of volatility before the bonus starts. The fewer spins selected, the higher the jackpot amount! Collect torch symbols on the reels during the free spins to unlock the path through the floors of the monster mansion leading up to the top level and the ultimate prize!
8 Monster-Themed Features Dracula Bonus Dracula randomly adds up to 15 WILD symbols to the reels. He’s scary, but well worth the fright as he can turn a good winning screen into an amazing one!
Frankenstein Bonus This classic horrific creation randomly adds one or two WILD reels on the reels. The tension added by the game designers is a really good touch as you don’t know if Frankenstein manages to “push” the WILD over to the other reel for a few seconds. You’ll be sitting on the edge of your seat!
The Bride of Frankenstein Bonus Possibly the most entertaining bonus of all as the actress portraying the Bride of Frankenstein (Elsa Sullivan Lanchester) plays her character so well! She makes all visible Frankenstein symbols 2x WILD symbols for big wins!
08 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2012 | azgamingguide.com
New Slots
GREAT GAMES
POWER SPINS Play Now At Harrah’s Ak Ak--Chin
apitalizing on the successful game play mechanics offered as part of The Lord of The Rings slots series, WMS is now offering player favorite Power Spins in a variety of their slots outside of The Lord of The Rings theme. Players unfamiliar with the game mechanic need to understand the bonus functionality that allows reel symbols to be collected and used at a later time. With five different Power Spin awards, triggering random Wild symbols, multipliers, Wild reels, a free spin bonus triggered with just one symbol, or all pays awarded at the high symbol pays is just a touch of a button away!
The Wolf Man Bonus The longer the Wolf Man howls, the more credits you win! Plus see a cool video of the transformation from human to wolf straight from the original film!
The Invisible Man Bonus This bonus is basically like the Dracula Bonus, but featuring a different, and helpful, monster!
The Mummy Bonus A picking bonus for credits triggered by a bonus symbol on the center reel.
Creature From The Black Lagoon Bonus A slightly different version of the Mummy Bonus where a credit prize is up for grabs.
Monster Spin Bonus Randomly adds up to 49 clumped WILD symbols to the reels in an innovative manner as the monsters “drop” from the top screen onto the reels. $
By activating a Power Spin award at any time, players enjoy an enhanced free spin. During the base game, players randomly earn Power Spin awards. These awards may be played immediately or can be accumulated for a significantly more volatile experience—at up to a 50x bet multiplier. There are three unique math models: 40-Line Pirates of the Deep and Crescent Moon themes and the 243-ways Golden Apple theme. This is the exciting series that video slot fans have been waiting for! Those players looking to balance their game play sessions and seeking to influence upcoming spins with bonuses should give this slot a try. $
THE DETAILS Lightning Power Spin A random symbol becomes WILD. Fire Power Spin All non-bonus wins pay as the top award. Cyclone Power Spin A win is multiplied by 5x, 10x, 15x, 20x or 25x! Tidal Wave Power Spin One to five reels will change to WILD. Atomic Power Spin Any one BONUS symbol will award the Power Spins Free Spins. azgamingguide.com | October 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide
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New Slots
GREAT GAMES
Paradise Fishing Only At Apache Gold Casino Resort enny slots and more penny slots—Apache Gold Casino Resort near Globe is a slot player’s paradise. With some of the most unique slot selections in all of Arizona, there are always new games to experience that aren’t available at any of the other casinos in the state! The latest addition to their floor is Paradise Fishing by Aruze; a company that just recently began installing slots for the first time in select casinos in Arizona just a few months ago. This fully immersive slot experience includes five bonuses; two of them individual and three community style. The ability for up to six players to compete on three massive 60” screens above the bank of video slots each with their own base game (Napoleon Fish, Red Emperor, and Yellow fin Tuna), and a fishing rod allowing players to raise and lower their bait during the bonus to truly feel their bonus win provides players unique slot gaming action. The bigger the fish, the more players win! Gary Murrey, General Manager at Apache Gold Casino Resort
commented, "We are excited to be the first casino in Arizona to bring a new level of interactivity to our guests’ gaming experience. Paradise Fishing is another great example demonstrating our commitment to providing our customers with the best gaming options. You'll actually be able to feel the fishing bonus when you use the rod attached to the slot." With 5 different bonuses to experience, fishermen, fisherwomen, and all slot fans can enjoy the exciting action in bonus rounds like Sea Fishing Competition, Good Catch Competition, Big Game Fishing Competition, Sea Fishing Bonus, and Berley Bonus. No need to bring a rod, because it’s already on the slot waiting to land the big one! $
Big Buck Hunter Pro At Apache Gold Casino Resort & Lone Butte Casino ow can players hone those hunting skills and have the chance to bag bucks alike? Simple…Apache Gold Casino Resort and Lone Butte Casino now offer America’s favorite hunting game: Big Buck Hunter Pro Video Slot! As one of only a few elite casinos nationwide (and the only ones in Arizona) to premier this game, Arizona hunters can be one of the first in the nation to try this new MegaJackpot game and test their shootin’ skills. The world’s leading slot machine maker, International Game Technology, recently re-imagined Big Buck Hunter, to take players into the great outdoors with state-of-the-art graphics and a 55-inch Center Stage Duo screen. Best of all, players can grab for the game’s arcade-style gun hardware to fire at the Center Stage screen for five shooting bonus rounds. “The Big Buck Hunter bonus is a lot of fun to play and we encourage everyone to utilize their shooting skills to win credits. Players are really taken by the game and the slot is located in a very prominent area of the gaming floor,” added Apache Gold Casino Resort’s General Manager Gary Murrey. $
Target practice on a whole new level! Experience the rush of bagging a trophy elk, a big horn sheep, or a whitetail deer. Other bonus options include hunting ducks, gophers, UFOs, or even beer mugs! Players who prefer not to shoot, can play more traditional free games or a pick-style bonus. azgamingguide.com | October 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide
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GREAT GAMES
New Slots
Golden Panda
Only At Cocopah Casino
he exciting new slot, Golden Panda, is another title from the first family of Roadrunner-platform games from American Gaming Systems (AGS). This attractive game utilizes Chinese symbolism coupled with a 3-D panda character. The Golden Panda comes alive during game play, and the players live vicariously through his antics. Players will find this 5-reel, 30-line game irresistible with the Lock & Bump feature. Two or more Lanterns or Coins initiates the Lock & Bump feature where each reel with a Lantern or Coin locks and becomes Wild. Another stimulating feature of Golden Panda is the Lantern Bonus that is achieved by getting three or more Lanterns. In this bonus round, players choose objects until finding one of the premium awards. With max bet, the Lantern Bonus continues until winning a Progressive Jackpot! The Blue Moon Free Spins feature adds even more excitement to game play. When three coins appear, an initial set of 8 free spins is awarded; with four coins, 15 free spins are awarded; and with five coins, 21 free spins are awarded! For now, casino enthusiasts can only play Golden Panda (and another AGS game called Tropical Hideaways) at the Cocopah Casino near Yuma. Both games are connected to a five level progressive! $
12 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2012 | azgamingguide.com
merican Gaming Systems (AGS) is a manufacturer, designer, and operator of gaming machines. The company was just recently granted the license to both manufacture and distribute gaming devices in the State of Arizona. With roots in the gaming industry dating back to 1996, AGS’ current portfolio includes both Class III and Class II games, wide-area progressives, serverbased gambling equipment, and numerous specialty games. Based in Las Vegas and privately held by San Francisco-based Alpine investors, AGS is very excited to introduce their products to the casino market in Arizona. Cocopah Casino near Yuma is the first to offer the AGS games for their casino patrons, but there are sure to be more casinos that install these great games soon!
Hints & Tips
WINNING WAYS
BUFFALO The Secret Behind Its Success Most video slot games disappear into obscurity very quickly as soon as slot directors at casinos recognize which slots are underperforming for the house. For some slots, this can happen abruptly, in less than 90 days or so. For other slots, it may take many months or years before the revenue generated can be replaced with a slot which provides higher earning potential. Then there are those rare and very few slots that just continue to out perform other slots well over long periods of time. And Buffalo, by Aristocrat, happens to be one of those types of slot machines! Originally released in 2003, the graphics are not fancy at all, there isn’t a lot of music, and the game’s mechanic is very simple. Players wager 40 credits per spin on a slot offering scattered pays that must line up from left to right in an adjacent fashion, a wild symbol, and a simple free games bonus which allows for additional spins. Based on our expert and exclusive insider knowledge, the free games bonus hits about
once in every 130 games and there are only four payback percentage variations of the slot available for the casinos to install (88%, 90%, 92%, or 95%). During a game’s install, the slot department can set up this above average volatility slot in only one of these four ways. The majority of slots we’ve seen are configured as a 90% or 92% game. The numbers don’t lie when after almost one decade, casinos around the world list this slot as among their highest and consistently performing slots. In some situations, this slot makes more than twice the house average on casino floors. Translation: casino visitors are playing and playing and playing and playing this game! Why? This slot is fun and has some amazing pays in the free games! And, even more free games are won frequently as only two bonus symbols are required for a retrigger. The wilds transform to wilds with either a 2x or 3x multiplier per symbol enabling wins up to 27x their original value! If you have played this slot before, good for you, keep playing it. For those of you who haven’t, you should! $
Minimum bet of 40 credits, above average volatility, a free games bonus that hits about once in every 130 spins, only four versions available at approximately 88%, 90%, 92%, or 95% payback variants all add up to an awesome slot! azgamingguide.com | October 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 15
WINNING WAYS
Hints & Tips
Should I Play Video Poker or Ultimate X Poker?
Q:
I love to play the penny video poker machines at Cliff Castle Casino and wondered how the payouts are in relation to the 25-cent video poker. I usually play 10 hands and play the max per hand which is 10 cents. So my total bet is $1.00 but I enjoy having 10 chances to win. It is the type of machine that has multipliers so if you win on a hand your next turn will give you a higher multiplier and so on. Please let me know if I am wasting my time and should be playing the 25-cent video poker machines instead. If I do this and play the maximum of $1.25 I have only one chance to win every turn but I know my winnings are worth more money. We moved here from Illinois so we are enjoying the different casinos and seeing some new machines here too. Thanks! Joyce Parsze, Flagstaff, AZ
A:
Joyce, this is a great question which encompasses multiple issues in order to answer correctly! In reading your question, we determined the video poker game you refer to is called Ultimate X Poker, made by the slot manufacturer IGT. To be clear, for those readers who are not familiar with the game, you can play three, five, or ten hands with a max bet of ten credits per hand. As you mention, you wager $1 on this penny game which converts to 100 credits. The hook in the game is when you have a winning hand. Not only are you paid immediately, but a multiplier remains in that hand's position for the subsequent hand! The multiplier can then increase again if the next hand is
another winner, and so on. You are paying five credits per hand with every wager in order to activate the “Ultimate X” feature, so your appropriate strategy is to always bet the max on every hand, until you are ready to cash out. If you decide to walk away from the game, you should leave when you have a losing hand across the entire game or only wager five coins per hand on your final wager as you do not want to leave a multiplier available for the next player. Likewise, when you first sit down, inspect all the available games to see if another player left multipliers on the game. Find the game with the highest and the most multipliers and then start playing. Hopefully you'll win on the multiplied hands immediately! In comparing Ultimate X Poker with a standard video poker variant in a 25-cent denomination, you have to examine a few pay tables to determine the payback percentages. As a serious video poker player, make sure you inspect the pay table of the Ultimate X Poker game you enjoy playing the most. Then, find the same video poker game in the 25-cent denomination and examine the pay table as well. See how the two pay tables on each machine compare. Since you mention you enjoy playing at Cliff Castle Casino Hotel, be careful. The pay tables offered at the casino are not the same across the entire floor and other casinos do have better pay tables for some of the video poker variants. Take the time to look around and inspect all the video poker games all over the floor at both bars and in every area of the floor. Then, find both pay tables on the charts on our website and compare the Optimal Return values. The higher Optimal Return value
16 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2012 | azgamingguide.com
is the better game to play in the long run when you use Optimal Strategy. For example, if Ultimate X Poker Jacks or Better pay table is an 8-5 (the full house to flush ratio at bet one) and the 25-cent video poker Jacks or Better pay table is also 8-5, play the Ultimate X Poker Jacks or Better because the Optimal Return is slightly higher (.979795 instead of .972984). However, if the Ultimate X Poker Jacks or Better pay table is only 6-5 (Optimal Return of .956740) and you find a 25-cent Jacks or Better pay table at 7-5 (Optimal Return of .961472), since the 25-cent pay table's Optimal Return is slightly higher, play the 25-cent video poker game over the Ultimate X Poker game. You now have the tools to figure out which game is "better" no matter where you play! Just visit www.azgamingguide.com or scan the QR code below and head over to “Winning Ways” for all the answers! While all the different variations of video poker are really interesting, exciting, and offer the potential for huge wins, we’d recommend you continue to play the nofrills versions of video poker if you are looking to play with the highest possible advantage at the casino. Feel free to write us with any of your casino gaming questions at: editor@azgamingguide.com! $ All the details about all the pay tables for both video poker and Ultimate X Poker are available on our website in the “Winning Ways” section!
SCAN ME!
GAMING NEWS Tohono O’odham Nation One Step Closer To Building New West Valley Casino
In a recent ruling, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has put the Tohono O’odham Nation one step closer to building a new casino property at 95th and Northern near Glendale’s sport-and-entertainment district. The court upheld the decision to allow the tribe to take 54 acres into trust as reservation land. In 2003, the Tohono O’odham tribe purchased property around Loop 101 and Northern Ave. to replace nearly 10,000 acres of ancestral reservation land damaged by a federal government dam. In 2010, the Department of the Interior declared the Glendale property a reservation. Ever since the Southern Arizona tribe has stated their intentions of building a casino, opponents have been challenging the decision. “Just as courts and federal agencies have done eight straight times before, now the Ninth Circuit weighed the arguments and then ruled in the Nation’s favor,” said O’odham Nation’s Chairman Ned Norris. He maintains, opponents of the casino should stop their legal actions against the development. We want to know what you think! E-mail us at editor@azgamingguide.com and tell us your opinion!
Rendering of the proposed casino near Glendale.
This month, the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) is taking place October 1-4, 2012 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. G2E is the premier trade show and conference event for the gaming entertainment industry and provides gaming professionals with access to cutting-edge products and technologies as well as educational programs and networking opportunities. This year, over 413 companies have registered for more than 259,000 square feet of exhibit hall space. The largest amount of area is always dedicated to the new slot games and slot manufacturers from around the world use this opportunity to wow the casino executives with their latest and greatest games. However, this year’s event is sure to see the highest increase in product categories such as mobile gaming, online and internet gaming, and interactive gaming! As always, the Arizona Gaming Guide team will be at G2E, so we can give you all a glimpse of what new slots and gaming technology will be coming to casino floors in 2013 and beyond. Watch for all the sneak peeks in our November issue!
Alcohol Approved For Sale At New Flagstaff Casino Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly has approved a bill to allow liquor to be sold at Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort which will open in 2013 near Flagstaff, AZ and at Antelope Point Marina near Page, AZ on an otherwise dry reservation. azgamingguide.com | October 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide
19
GAMING NEWS
Own Stock In Your Favorite Slot Or Casino!
M
any of today’s gaming equipment manufacturers and commercial casinos are publicly held companies traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ stock exchange. As of October 1, 2011, there were more than 330 public companies involved in the gaming industry in one way or another. And, despite the dire economy, gaming stocks have continued to perform strong and steady. Job creation in technology, gaming, and gambling equipment suppliers has always experienced growth over the long run. Every product available to players at casinos to interact with from the chairs to the chips to the slots to the cups and glasses you drink from to the uniforms worn by the casino employees are manufactured by outside companies. Each year technological innovations, along with time and cost saving methods and products, pour into the casino gaming industry and not just in Arizona, but around the world as well. Company Ameristar Casinos Aristocrat Technologies Bally Technologies Boyd Gaming Corporation Century Casinos Gaming Partners International Global Cash Access IGT Intralot S. A. Isle of Capri Casinos Konami Las Vegas Sands Lottomatica/GTech/Spielo MGM Resorts International Monarch Casino & Resort Multimedia Games Penn National Gaming Pinnacle Entertainment Scientific Games Shuffle Master Transact Technologies WMS Wynn Resorts
What They Do Casinos Slots & more Slots & more Casinos Casinos Table Games ATM Services Slots & more Lottery Games Casinos Slots & more Casinos Slots & more Casinos Casinos Slots Casinos Casinos Lottery Games Table Games Ticket Printers for Slots Slots & more Casinos
Symbol ASCA ALL BYI BYD CNTY GPIC GCA IGT INLOT ISLE KNM LVS LTO MGM MCRI MGAM PENN PNK SGMS SHFL TACT WMS WYNN
20 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2012 | azgamingguide.com
As a direct result of an ever increasing demand for casino gaming in Arizona, the United States and the World, companies, both public and private, react to the demand accordingly. All of this success leads to growth of the casino gaming industry suppliers which, in turn, presents investment opportunities with those companies which are public. Ultimately, owning stock in one of the casino gaming companies listed in the table below means part ownership in a casino, slot machine, table game, ATM transaction, the ticket printed out by a slot, and more! That sounds a little crazy right? What doesn’t sound so crazy is the over 150% increase in the stock value of Global Cash Access and over 200% increase in the stock value of Multimedia Games from August 2011 to 2012! $ All information provided "as is" for informational purposes only, not intended for trading purposes or advice. The Arizona Gaming Guide is not liable for any errors, incompleteness, or for any actions taken in reliance on information contained herein. Consult a trusted financial planner before purchasing stocks.
Exchange NASDAQ AX NYSE NYSE NASDAQ NASDAQ NYSE NYSE AT NASDAQ NYSE NYSE MI NYSE NASDAQ NASDAQ NASDAQ NYSE NASDAQ NASDAQ NASDAQ NYSE NASDAQ
Price on 08/31/2012 $16.85 AU$2.66 $44.29 $6.01 $2.63 $6.07 $7.67 $12.29 EUR€0.93 $6.26 $23.06 $42.39 EUR€16.56 $9.86 $7.54 $15.67 $39.29 $11.07 $7.33 $15.17 $7.17 $15.93 $103.17
Price on 08/31/2011 Percent Change $18.67 -9.75% AU$2.08 27.88% $31.38 41.14% $6.25 -3.84% $2.79 -5.73% $7.45 -18.52% $3.00 155.67% $15.26 -19.46% EUR€0.80 16.25% $6.54 -4.28% $37.04 -37.74% $46.57 -8.98% EUR€11.02 50.27% $11.07 -10.93% $10.17 -25.86% $4.93 217.85% $39.81 -1.31% $13.72 -19.31% $8.82 -16.89% $8.86 71.22% $9.76 -26.54% $21.82 -26.99% $154.72 -33.32%
GAMING NEWS
New Hand-Selected Private Label Available Exclusively in Shadows Lounge at Talking Stick Resort trip to Talking Stick Resort is a true sensory experience for guests. In addition to eye-opening views and the smell of fresh food from world-class restaurants, comfortable accommodations and shows for every music fan, the resort is now giving guests an actual "taste" of luxury. On September 14, the resort
debuted the Woodford Reserve Talking Stick Resort Personal Selection Bourbon, available exclusively at Shadows Lounge. "Each of the distinguished flavors were tasted, selected and combined by us for the guests of Talking Stick Resort," said Lyle Bighorn, director of food and beverage at Talking Stick Resort. "Our Personal Selection Bourbon is another exciting way we are enhancing the one-of-a-kind experience we offer."
The finely crafted American bourbon is the only one of its kind, created by Talking Stick Resort representatives, including Bighorn. The group traveled to the Woodford Reserve Distillery in Kentucky to collaborate with master distiller, Chris Morris. The team worked to create distinct and flavorful bourbon for everyone to enjoy. The legendary Woodford Reserve is the oldest distillery in Kentucky, and for more than 200 years has been crafting some of the world's finest bourbons. As the slowest working distillery, its long processing time allows drink flavors to fully develop into a noticeably richer taste. In the Talking Stick Resort Personal Selection Bourbon, guests will find a combination of pecan, malt, citrus and rye characters, complemented by the sweet taste of brown sugar, chocolate and spices. "Sip slowly to taste and smell the calming floral and citrus aromas, hints of cocoa and spices that tingle the senses," said Morris. He is responsible for maintaining the award-winning taste of each Woodford Reserve product. "I love keeping involved with the crafting of the brand." Talking Stick Resort hosted three exclusive tastings of the bourbon in Shadows on September 14 at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30pm. In October, Talking Stick Resort will welcome master distiller, Chris Morris to a private dinner at Orange Sky, the property's signature restaurant. During the dinner, he will discuss his craft and educate guests on the fine art of distilling. Additionally the property has created a customized drink menu to take full advantage of Talking Stick Resort's Personal Selection Bourbon. The menu includes eight specialty drinks including Woodford Reserve Latte Manhattan, Woodford Reserve Blackberry Manhattan and Woodford Reserve Long Shot. Shadows is one of Scottsdale's few indoor cigar bars, with a vast selection of drinks and cigars for true aficionados. The lounge has two patios that provide an ample amount of outdoor seating and is open daily from 2pm to 2am. Happy Hour is M-F, 4pm to 7pm. For more information, call 480-850-7777 or visit www.talkingstickresort.com. $ azgamingguide.com | October 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide
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ARIZONA LOTTERY
Winners & Jackpots $100,000 PAYOUT Bret Andrews stopped at the local Circle K before he went to his next service call for his work. After redeeming a small winning ticket, he purchased one $100,000 Payout. His hope was to hit one of the many payouts on the game, never daring to dream about the possibility of winning the top prize. And, since he always knows the Scratchers he’s going to purchase before he goes to the store he said, “If the store had been out of that game, I would have left and gone somewhere else.” Luckily for Bret, the store had the Scratchers in stock. Bret scratched the ticket in his truck while in the parking lot of the store. It took a few minutes for the amount to register, because even though he saw the amount of $100,000, his mind couldn’t quite accept it, “After all, this kind of win only happens to someone else.” Delaying his next service call, Bret and his winning Scratchers drove directly to the Arizona Lottery. Bret not only plays Scratchers, but he also plays most of the terminal generated games as well. And, he’s also a pretty lucky individual! In April of this year, he won $1,000 in the 30th Anniversary Second Chance Drawing. He has no special plans for his winnings, he just plans to pay off some bills and share a little with some family members.
JUMBO WIN WITH THE JUMBO CROSSWORD Nancy Krueger of Phoenix loves playing all of the various Crossword Scratchers because they take longer to play. Interestingly enough, she buys all of her Scratchers from a neighborhood store she’s shopped at for years. She bought ten of the Jumbo Crossword Scratchers (normally only purchases a couple, but will occasionally splurge) and unlike so many other players she knew immediately that she had won $100,000; no second guessing or uncertainty on her part. Although she did not have the ticket scanned at the store, because she’s shopped there for so many years, she did go back and tell them that she’d won a top prize on a Scratchers purchased from their store; before coming to the Lottery. As well as playing Scratchers, especially where the new ones are concerned, Nancy is also a regular Lottery player, purchasing Mega and Powerball twice a week. With regard to how she intends to use her winnings, she said, “I’m not a big spender as I’d rather hold onto it. I’ll most likely invest it for the future.” $
22 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2012 | azgamingguide.com
W
eekly Winnings is an exciting new draw game from the Arizona Lottery that gives players six different ways to win, with a top prize of $1,000 a week for an entire year (taxes paid) or a single payment of $52,000 (taxes paid). The overall odds of winning a prize are approximately 1 in 6.43 and the odds of winning the top prize are only 1 in 230,300. This is not bad considering the purchase price of a ticket is just $2! Game Play Sample Ticket For the top prize ($1,000 a week for an entire year), select four (4) numbers 1 through 50 on the pay slip or choose Quick Pick. For the 2nd prize ($10,000) and 3rd prize ($1,000), five (5) sets of Quick Pick numbers are generated by the terminal. Only the highest prize within each set of numbers will be paid. A set is defined as a line. Prizes The Top Prize is $1,000 a week for one year when all four (4) numbers match in the Top Prize set. The Second Prize is $10,000 when all four (4) numbers match in either of the two Second Prize sets of numbers. And, the Third Prize is $1,000 when all four (4) numbers match in either of the three Third Prize sets of numbers. Players can also win $50 for three (3) numbers in any set or $2 for two (2) numbers in any set. For more information on Weekly Winnings or other Arizona Lottery games, please visit their website at www.arizonalottery.com. For the winning numbers call (480) 829-7425 in Phoenix or (520) 325-9141 in Tucson. All other areas in Arizona, call 1-800-499-3798.
An eighteen year veteran of the casino gaming industry, Mrs. Francisco personally walked the floor of Desert Diamond Casino’s Sahuarita property with me. She knows every employee by name and had a kind word or personal question for each of them. Quick to point out how the property is constantly changing to bring guests even higher levels of service and entertainment, she informed me of the latest additions to their slot floor, how the floor layout recently changed to improve flow, and the sports bar was getting a facelift and would showcase a renewed focus on bands and music. She joked how everything eventually comes back to food in one way or another and the new paint colors inside the casino really drove that home for her with names like “cayenne” and “baguette.” Committed to leading Desert Diamond Casinos on behalf of the Tohono O’odham Tribe, she has more management experience (in and out of casinos) than most other casino executives and is a genuine and charismatic leader.
AGG: What were the stepping stones in your career path that led you towards such an accomplishment?
had the honor of working closely with a number of excellent chief executive officers.
LF: My mother and father played a major role in what I’ve accomplished due to the work ethic they instilled in me. It was my education that opened up many doors and made my career path possible. And, through the help and guidance of mentors, I have had the great fortune of being able to work in an environment and with people I love.
Under our charter, a primary focus of our operation is to employ, educate and promote tribal members. I am a product of this effort and am committed to ensuring that we have tools such as internship programs, career and development classes and others - to help members of the Tohono O’odham Nation succeed.
AGG: Did you have any mentors to help you learn the industry?
AGG: Can you tell us what challenges, if any, you had to overcome as a female in a male-dominated profession?
LF: When I first joined the Enterprise, I had a terrific mentor in then-Casino Manager Ned Norris, Jr., who is currently serving as Chairman of the Tohono O’odham Nation. He was very supportive and helped guide my transition into the corporate environment and set a great leadership example. As I moved through the organization and into senior management, I have
LF: During my early years with the Enterprise, when I was first promoted to Poker Room Manager, I was not welcomed by the players, management staff, or the employees, each for different reasons. I asked that they give me a chance to prove myself and, after three months, I had successfully transitioned into an environment that was primarily male-dominated.
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But while the industry has traditionally been predominantly male, I now see many women that are succeeding in executive positions. For example, within our operation we have numerous O’odham women serving at the manager’s level and above. AGG: What personal and professional accomplishments are you the most proud of that have helped shape you into the strong and confident woman you are today? LF: Personally, I overcame the obstacles and I am very proud of the completion of my bachelor’s degree. Professionally, I was very successful at earning promotions up thru the Enterprise. I worked hard for the Enterprise and was rewarded for my loyalty. AGG: What advice would you give someone, particularly females, who would like to pursue a career in the gaming industry? LF: The advice I’d offer to anyone interested in pursuing a gaming career would be to remain positive. Be flexible and do not be intimidated, you can do anything and everything. This is an
also have the added benefit of knowing that revenues are being used to the benefit of the Tohono O’odham Nation. AGG: How does the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise stand out from all the rest of the available casino resort properties? LF: We stand out by staying true to who we are. We have a strong sense of commitment to our guests, our employees, our community, and the Tohono O’odham Nation. We are gaming centric and focus on all our valued guests. It’s that sense of purpose that flows into every aspect of our business and distinguishes us from other operations. AGG: What do you want your casino visitors to take away from their experience when visiting any one of your three properties? LF: Guests experience a high caliber of services from fine dining to hotel stays, concerts, contests and the best in gaming entertainment. In order to create a positive experience you need to listen to your guests. We do this every day and know that they want the best gaming value, along with superior amenities and service. This is what we offer at our facilities and it is why we have such a strong loyalty from our guests. AGG: What’s the outlook for the future of the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise expansion?
industry that welcomes new talent and respects hard work. Most importantly, be yourself and take pride in what you do. AGG: What’s the secret to keeping everything running so smoothly? What’s your philosophy regarding leading and managing your team? How do you motivate your employees for success? LF: A great effort has to be placed on communication and working together as a team. When we’re all on the same page and understand our goals and the path to obtaining them, everyone is successful. At the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, we
LF: The outlook is excellent and the public support for this project continues to be absolutely overwhelming. The Tohono O’odham Nation plans to construct a state-of-the-art resort and casino in the West Valley near Glendale and Peoria that will create thousands of jobs right here in Arizona. While powerful interests continue to oppose this job creation and economic development, the courts and federal agencies have ruled in the Nation’s favor nine straight times. Plans are in place to proceed and we look forward to building a first-class facility that the Nation and the entire West Valley will be proud of. $ Special thanks to Libby, Treena, Danielle, Bree, Matt, and Eileen for their assistance with this article! - Chris Hoft, Publisher
azgamingguide.com | October 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide
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CASINO DINING
Desserts
Irresistable Indulgence D
esserts are an exquisite treat that most diners like to indulge in following a delicious meal. And, whether the sweet tooth craves heavenly delights made from fruits and exotic spices or the richness of creams and chocolates, there’s a myriad of scrumptious options available at Arizona’s casinos. Here are some of our most favorite pleasures: Best Prickly Pear Cheesecake Cholla Steakhouse at Casino Arizona Vanilla bean cheesecake with a prickly pear glaze served with chia seed prickly pear coulis and sorbet. Best Buffet Dessert Station Wandering Horse Buffet at Talking Stick Resort Hands down, the best dessert selection at a casino buffet in all of Arizona. Make sure to save room for the most
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mouth-watering assortment of various fruit tarts, crepes, gelatos, butter cream cakes, fruit pies, Crème Brulee, and even Banana Fosters (made to order). Watching the calories or sugar intake? Don’t forget to examine their vast selection of delectable sugar-free desserts as well! Best Bread Pudding Ironwood Steakhouse at Quechan Casino Resort A creamy, sweet, savory bread pudding served in a vanilla bourbon sauce. Their version of the popular Italian dessert, Tiramisu, is also simply divine! Best Hot Apple Pie A La Mode Café 87 at Fort McDowell Casino A delicious double-crusted pie generously filled with tart sliced apples, sweetened and lightly-spiced with cinnamon and topped with vanilla ice cream.
Lucinda Flores of Mazatzal Hotel & Casino
Luscious Chocolat Chocolatee Desserts
R
ich, sexy, and fabulous in bed! There is something so undeniably mystical and seductively irresistible about chocolate. The exquisitely sweet, creamy taste and intense, tantalizing aroma makes chocolate the preferred indulgence of diners. Here are our top picks: Ultimate Éclair Café 24/7 at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino This jumbo signature dessert weighs over one pound and is hand-crafted by Chef Ellie Black. Chocolate Royal Flush Cholla Steakhouse at Casino Arizona Layered milk chocolate croquantine crunch base with mascarpone truffle filling and topped with a chocolate peanut butter ganache and raspberry fluid. Crepe Suzette Wandering Horse Buffet at Talking Stick Resort Freshly made creamy chocolate filled crepes topped with a sweet strawberry glaze. Chophouse Chocolate Cake Verona Chophouse at Lone Butte Casino Chocolate sponge cake filled with butter cream and covered in dark chocolate ganache. Heavenly!
started working for the casino in 1995. She worked as a cashier and later as a Players Club Representative, but she loved to bake and often brought desserts from home to share with her fellow team members. In August of 2008, Lucinda participated in the Mazatzal Tribal Professional Development Program (TriPoD), the leadership development program with a focus on goal achievement. Her love of baking, experience working for a local bakery in the past, and encouragement from team members prompted Lucinda to set a goal of becoming a Pastry Chef. In 2009, she attended the Classic Cooking Academy Pastry Program led by Chef Pascal Dionot and in 2009, the Mazatzal Bakery opened. Lucinda was instrumental in the development and production of the many buffet, banquet, and special event desserts required for a busy casino and event center. She also added two signature desserts to the dinner menu, Chocolate Ganache Cake and Classic Carrot Cake. Since becoming a Pastry Chef, Lucinda has been active in the baking community. She has twice participated in “The Taste of the Rim” competition and twice donated her treats and time to the “Getting our Just Desserts,” a yearly event at the Phoenix Art Institute which provides scholarships for culinary arts programs. She has hosted a field trip to the bakery for Tribal Youth as she hopes to see more tribal members follow their dreams. Lucinda looks forward to continuing her pastry education and to a long and satisfying career spreading happiness with desserts that are delicious and pleasing to the eye. Fall is just around the corner and that means another Lucinda specialty, Autumn Cupcakes. Lucinda puts a seasonal spin on an old favorite, spice cake, with the addition of pumpkin and caramel. Be sure to get yours soon at Mazatzal’s Coffee Korner! Mazatzal Coffee Korner, located just inside the south entrance of the casino, recently opened and features assorted baked goods prepared fresh daily. The inviting café has comfortable chairs and tables in a relaxed setting, featuring two big screen monitors with the latest news and sports entertainment and the convenience of WIFI high speed connectivity. The menu features brewed coffees, espresso beverages, teas and cocoas, as well as iced classics, blended beverages, and the ever-popular smoothies made to order. We recommend the Caramel Frio or their daily coffee specials to accompany one of their delicious baked goods! $
Brownie Explosion Steakhouse at Tropicana Laughlin In the dessert arena, the Tropicana Laughlin has bragging rights. Recently voted “Best Desserts in Laughlin,” every restaurant offers delicious signature treats to tantalize the taste buds. HEALTH BENEFITS OF CHOCOLATE Studies show chocolate has cell-protecting antioxidants. It’s good for your heart, reduces blood pressure, increases blood flow, and may help fight against cancer and premature aging! Please verify all details and any age restrictions for restaurants with each casino. We are not responsible for incorrect or outdated information. Pictured above: Brownie Explosion at the Steakhouse & Jumbo Éclair from Carnegies Dining Car.
azgamingguide.com | October 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide
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TRIBAL NEWS
DOING BUSINESS IN INDIAN COUNTRY: A NEW TRADE SHOW & CONFERENCE NOV. 13-15, 2012 At Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino Arizona Indian Gaming Association (AIGA) is hosting a new trade show and conference November 13-15, 2012, at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino on the Gila River Indian Community. The conference is designed for the gaming industry and businesses desiring to provide services and products to tribes and tribal governments. “Business diversification is extremely important to tribes,” said Valerie Spicer, Executive Director of the AIGA. “So we’ve planned this conference with two separate tracks: one for gaming industry participants to update them on various trends and opportunities in our industry, and the other for business owners and representatives who want to learn how they can work with Indian Country. We know there’s a great demand for this type of information – everything from how to build relationships to what is required in terms of certification.” “Doing Business in Indian Country” opens Tuesday, November 13, with the Desert Classic Golf Tournament at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Arizona. That evening, the Arizona Chefs’ Challenge will be held at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino. Along with Native-inspired cuisine, the event will feature local wine and beer tastings. The working conference begins on Wednesday, November 14, 2012. The keynote speaker is Eugenio J. Alemán, Ph.D., the director and senior economist at Wells Fargo who forecasts the national, regional, and the international economic trends. His commentaries have appeared in national publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, San Francisco Chronicle, and Washington Post, as well as many national and international media outlets including Associated Press, Reuters, and the Bloomberg News. He has also made appearances on CNBC and in U.S. Hispanic media outlets. Conference attendees will hear from top executives of chambers of commerce throughout the State, including the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, American Indian Chamber of Com-
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Photo Courtesy of Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino. © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
merce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, as well as gaming experts and other business leaders. To see the agenda, visit www.azindiangaming.org and click on “Doing Business in Indian Country.” Spicer continued, “Gaming is a major player in the Arizona economy. Casinos have been called one of the new five “C’s”. This conference will be an opportunity not only to network, but to gain valuable information. Some of our panels will focus on the nuts and bolts of what you need to do in order to become successful partners with tribes. Spicer explained that the trade show is an excellent opportunity for businesses to showcase their services or products to Arizona tribal casinos and enterprises. Exhibitor and attendee information is at www.azindiangaming.org. “This is a new opportunity that hasn’t been available previously,” she said. “We are looking forward to reaching out to businesses so all of us can prosper and have a positive impact on the Arizona economy.” $
ABOUT THE ARIZONA INDIAN GAMING ASSOCIATION The Arizona Indian Gaming Association (AIGA), is a non-profit organization with a membership of 17 tribes representing 90% of the Indian people living on reservations in Arizona. AIGA was established on November 21, 1994, by Arizona tribal leaders. The Association is committed to advancing the lives of Indian peoples—economically, socially, and politically—so Indian tribes in Arizona can achieve their goal of self reliance. For more information about the AIGA visit www.azindiangaming.org.
TRAVEL
Laughlin
$5,000 Golf Tournament Plus the chance to win a new car at Tropicana Laughlin! Tropicana Laughlin just announced its $5,000 Golf Tournament will be held October 12-13 at the Laughlin Ranch Golf Course in Bullhead City, Arizona. The $100 entry fee includes a one-night stay (choice of Friday or Saturday night), one golf tournament entry and a Cutter and Buck Polo shirt. The golf tournament event, held on Saturday, October 13 is a four-man scramble format with an 8 a.m. shotgun start. A certified handicap is required. Tournament will also include “Longest Drive” and “Closest to Pin” contests, as well as a putting contest where the player that hits a hole-in-one on the 17th hole will drive away in a 2012 Chevy Equinox courtesy of Findlay Motor Company. Players who register for the golf tournament package will also receive a buffet luncheon and two drink coupons. To RSVP, call 1-800-343-4533 and request promo T-9183. Additional details are available at the Trop Advantage Club inside the Tropicana, or online at www.TropicanaX.com. The Tropicana Laughlin is located at 2121 S. Casino Dr., Laughlin, NV.
Tropicana Laughlin first casino in Nevada to offer Aristocrat’s Tarzan and Jane Slot Machine The Tropicana Laughlin is the first casino in the State of Nevada to carry the Tarzan and Jane Forbidden Temple Multi-Play, MultiGame from Aristocrat. Tarzan and Jane Forbidden Temple features two sets of Reel Power reels for the minimum 50 credit bet. It's a four-level progressive with a $100,000 top award and eight high hit frequency bonus features. Guests can bet an additional 50 credits for the Wild Play option and a chance to win more bonuses, extra free games or additional Ape Battles and Elephant Crushes. You can find Tarzan and Jane Forbidden Temple at the Tropicana inside the main entrance on the wall by the Hotel Registration. Aristocrat's Tarzan and Jane Forbidden Temple is also available at the Tropicana's sister property, the River Palms Hotel and Casino. $
30 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2012 | azgamingguide.com
FUN FACTS
Bet You Didn’t Know … WMS, the slot manufacturer of popular video reel games such as Monopoly, also does Video Poker!
My Poker Multi-Game Video Poker Familiar Game Play & Pay Tables, Unprecedented Comfort & Personalization My Poker Video Poker games reflect extensive market, hardware and player research from WMS. The end results are Video Poker products that combine player-proven game solutions, specialized hardware and personalization to allow players to control and extend aspects of their gaming experience. The My Poker Multi-Game Poker product combines player-popular themes with better pay tables, optional Feature Bet games, Player’s Life® Web Services enabled personalization and a custom-built poker button panel with better sightlines, maximized visibility and superior padding. This Video Poker game offers the same levels of comfort and personalization while combining popular themes and pay tables with an exciting multihand feature offering higher win potential. Every Video Poker fan has to give these games a try!
The first step to playing WMS’ new Video Poker game is to create your own Player’s Life account. If you’ve already got one, then don’t forget to login as soon as you sit down at the slot since everything you set on this game while logged is saved for the next time you enjoy a night out at your favorite casino!
Taking a cue from their own successful video slot library, Spinning Streak, and a successful video poker product already popular with players, WMS introduces Winning Streak Poker! The Winning Streak feature is activated with the Streak Bet (4 credits per 1 credit wagered). During the Winning Streak event, every winning hand moves up a multiplier level and awards a free hand. Pays evaluate at the multiplier level at the end of a Winning Streak. Ultimately, a max bet Royal Flush pays 40,000 credits for a 25 credit wager ($400 for 25¢ or $10,000 for $6.25)!
This Video Poker game is the king of personalization. Players can now set all of the following options to their heart’s content: Speed, Volume, Brightness, Card Size, Card Art, Screen Art, Layout, Deal Alert, Highlight Wins, Celebrate Wins, Easy Deal, and the Timer. Players can then rely on their Player’s Life account to remember all their settings for their next casino visit, no matter where, or when, that visit may be. Players also have access to a statistics screen informing them of many different values including the number of hands played, the number of hands won, how many Royal Flush wins, the number of other significant wins, the longest winning streak, and the trophies awarded. $ azgamingguide.com | October 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 31
CASINO ENTERTAINMENT
Schedule of Events
Apache Gold Casino—Globe, AZ—800.272.2438 Cabaret Lounge: Live bands every weekend—Oct. schedule not available at press time. BlueWater Casino—Parker, AZ—888.243.3360 Dig Lounge: Variety including live bands, karaoke & DJs—Daily at 5pm BlueWater Showroom: Cage Rage 3—Oct. 27 at 7:30pm Desert Dreams Dream Show Custom Car Show & Hop Contest & Legends of Latin Hip Hop—Nov. 10 starting at 7am Casino Arizona—Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777 The Showroom: Oct. 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: The Macadelic Tour—Oct. 4 at 8pm Los Tucanes de Tijuana—Oct. 6 at 8pm George Thorogood & The Destroyers—Oct. 7 at 8pm John Fogerty—Oct. 18 at 8pm Counting Crows—Nov. 16 at 8pm Cliff Castle Casino—Camp Verde, AZ—800.381.7568 Stargazer Pavillion: Rocktober Concert—Oct. 6-7 at 7pm 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 Concerts/Events: Chris Cagle—Oct. 13 Comedy Machine—Oct. 20 ASU Alumni Association Halloween Party—Oct. 27 Gerardo Ortiz—Nov. 3 3rd Annual Benefit Car Show—Nov. 3 Sunset Lounge: Live Jazz & Free Cocktails—Tu 6pm Karaoke—We-Fr at 8pm La Vida Loca—Fr at 8pm Desert Diamond Casino I—Tucson, AZ—866.332.9467 Monsoon Nightclub: Thursday Thunder—Thursdays live country music with KIIM FM’s Shannon Black! 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: Friday Night Party—Music & dancing at 8pm or after the featured
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game. Saturday Night Party—Music & dancing at 8pm or after the featured game. Diamond Center: Twist & Shout (Beatles Tribute)—Nov. 2 & 3 at 8pm Fort McDowell Casino—Fort McDowell, AZ—800.843.3678 Radisson Ballroom: Oct. schedule not available at press time. Lucky 7 Saloon: Featuring a variety of live music every weekend. Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino—Maricopa, AZ—800.427.7247 Amphitheater: Country Fest featuring Dierks Bentley & more—Oct. 27 at 1pm Oasis Lounge: Cold Shott & The Hurricane Horns—Oct. 5-6 at 8 & 10pm Marty Ramirez—Oct. 12-13 at 8pm Adouma (A Tribute to Santana)—Oct. 19-20 at 8 & 10pm Ballroom: Halloween Contest—Oct. 31 at 6pm Hon-Dah Casino—Pinetop, AZ—800.929.8744 Conference Center: Halloween at Hon-Dah—Oct. 31 at 8pm New Year’s Party—Dec. 31 at 8pm Timbers Lounge and Showroom: Munday Funday—Comedy Show Tony Marques (Country)—Oct. 2-6th Blue Tattoo (Variety)—Oct. 9-13th Doo-Wah Riders (Country/Western Show)—Oct. 16-20th TBD—Oct. 23-27th TBD—Oct. 30-Nov. 3rd Barrio Latino (Latin Dance)—Nov. 6-10th Tony Marques (Country)—Nov. 13-17th Groove City (R&B Variety)—Nov. 20-24th
Editor’s Pick Lone Butte Casino—Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452 Cascades Lounge: Phoenix area bands & DJs offer free live entertainment Mo-Sa Verona Chophouse: Sunday Jazz Brunch Live—10am to 3pm Mazatzal Casino—Payson, AZ—800.777.7529 Event Center: Creedence Relived (CCR Tribute)—Oct. 5 New Year’s Eve Party—Dec. 31 Paradise Casino—Yuma, AZ—888.777.4946 Events: Desert Rage IX Battle at Paradise—Oct. 20 at 6pm Sharky’s Bar & Bites: DJ Rudy Espinoza—Fr—9:30pm Bling Bling Karaoke Sa Nights Quechan Casino—Winterhaven, CA—877.783.2426 Pipa Event Center: Featuring headlining acts on a regular basis. Sidewinders Bar & Grill: Featuring a variety of live music on the weekends. Talking Stick Resort—Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777 The Showroom & Grand Ballroom: Leon Russell—Oct. 17 Don Felder (An evening at the Hotel California)—Oct. 17 Cowboy Mouth—Oct. 26 Jackie Evancho—Nov. 3 Elayne Boosler—Nov. 10 Asia—Nov. 13 Blue October—Nov. 17 Styx—Nov. 18 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 nightly. Showroom: Melissa Etheridge—Oct. 5 Country Showdown—Oct. 6 Alfie Boe—Oct. 13 Jeff Garlin—Oct. 19 The Temptations—Oct. 26 Jim Brickman—Nov. 9 Riders in the Sky—Nov. 17 Legends of Country Music Show—Dec. 9
CASINO ENTERTAINMENT
STYX at TALKING STICK RESORT Sunday, November 18, 2012 Tommy Shaw, James “JY” Young, Lawrence Gowan, Todd Sucherman and Ricky Phillips (along with the occasional surprise appearance by original bassist Chuck Panozzo), have performed more live since ’99 than all of the previous years of its career combined. Two Super-Bowl appearances, Pollstar Box Office chart-topping tours with Def Leppard, Journey, Boston, REO Speedwagon, Bad Company (to name only a few), two more studio albums and no end in sight, STYX continues to conquer the planet, one venue at a time. Spawned from a suburban Chicago basement in the early ‘70s, Styx would eventually transform into the virtual arena rock prototype by the late '70s and early '80s, due to a fondness for big rockers and soaring power ballads. Early on, Styx's music reflected such then-current prog rockers as Emerson, Lake & Palmer and the Moody Blues, as evidenced by such releases as 1972's self-titled debut, 1973's Styx II, 1974's The Serpent Is Rising, and 1975's Man of Miracles. While the albums (as well as non-stop touring) helped the group build a substantial following locally, Styx failed to break through to the mainstream until a track originally from their second album, Lady, started to get substantial airplay in late '74 on the Chicago radio station WLSFM. On the eve of the tour in support of the album, original guitarist John Curulewski abruptly left the band and was replaced by Tommy Shaw. Shaw proved to be the missing piece of the puzzle for Styx, as most of their subsequent releases throughout the late '70s earned at least platinum certification (1976's Crystal Ball, 1977's The Grand Illusion, 1978's Pieces of Eight, and 1979's Cornerstone), and spawned such hit singles and classic rock radio standards as "Come Sail Away," "Renegade," "Blue Collar Man" and "Fooling Yourself.” For tickets, and more details, call the Talking Stick Resort Box Office at 480-850-7734 or visit www.talkingstickresort.com.
Yavapai Casino—Prescott, AZ—800.756.8744 Yavapai Cantina: Karaoke with Cruisin’ Susan—Fr—8pm-Midnight Trivia—We, Live Bands—Tu & Sa
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.
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33
CASINO NIGHTLIFE
Exclusively Featuring Ramses Ja
DJ Ramses Ja heads straight to the top of
Talking Stick Resort
T
By Natasha Castellanos
hose of you who have yet to visit Scottsdale’s Talking Stick Resort should know that you are missing out on some of the best gaming, dining, pampering, and entertainment in the valley. This grandiose monument boasts, perhaps, the best experience of any kind found in Arizona! The thing with most casinos is, traditionally, once the gaming is done, the meals are digested, and the shows are over, it’s usually time to head back to the hotel room and call it a night. Not so, says Talking Stick Resort! The jewel in the crown of this pleasure palace is Degree 270, a nightclub 14 stories in the sky! Open every Thursday through Saturday, Degree 270 boasts an awesome sound system, a killer light show, and a complete view of the city’s skyline! Perhaps most importantly, however, is the man behind the noise it’s making. Enter Ramses Ja. Known primarily as 101.1 FM The Beat’s afternoon drive host (weekdays 3-7pm) and resident DJ for Channel 3 (Fridays 10am), Ramses has established himself as an entertainment powerhouse in the southwest. Having held DJing residencies at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, and several nightclubs in Old Town Scottsdale means that Ramses has the perfect crosssection of experiences to headline Saturdays at Degree 270!
34 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2012 | azgamingguide.com
I caught up with Ramses on a mid-September Saturday evening (just before his set) to see firsthand what all the fuss was about. He greeted me at the grand entrance of Talking Stick with a smile that was as big as his gigantic Afro! The first thing I noticed about him was that, while small in stature, his energy beamed from him in all directions filling the room in which we were standing. He wore an eye-catching red dress shirt with a red tie and red converse all-stars. To say I felt as if I were meeting a celebrity would be an understatement. As we walked to the restaurant on the casino floor, I saw the reach of his magnetism…gamers, staff, and passers by either greeted him, waved, or smiled in his direction. continued on page 36
CASINO NIGHTLIFE
Exclusively Featuring Ramses Ja tooed on the inside of his arms) when he dropped the beat! As the night went on, he also took us through HipHop, Pop, Rock, Old-School, and even hit the Cupid Shuffle! The night was filled with birthday shout outs, congratulations, and enthusiastic (and quite creative) suggestions to dance! At around 1:45am, the last call was announced, and the lights started to rise revealing more details about the club, the staff, and the people who had come to party with their beautiful DJ (an actual compliment paid to Ramses by one of the female partiers). It was this that stayed with
continued from page 34 We took our seats and I got down to business asking him to convince me that Degree 270 was the best club in the valley. “I think our club is special in ways that other clubs may overlook. We all like to make sure that the experience is very personal for everyone that comes to party with us. Instead of ‘Here’s the party, come get with it’ it’s more like ‘Here’s the party, how can we make it special for you?’ The bar managers Pam, Kelly, Sara…Adam…the bartenders, the security…even Jonathan the bar back…everyone is on the same page! It’s a great approach for bachelorette parties, birthdays, divorce parties, whatever! We just think of reasons people come to Talking Stick Resort to celebrate and make sure to super-serve them!” Let’s see how this works… At around 10:30pm, I followed the man of the hour up to the club after our dinner. We walked past a line of guests, many of whom greeted him as he walked past. We took the elevator up to the 14th floor and the doors opened up to a colorful light show and a room filled with music. I followed him to the booth where he grabbed the microphone and asked the crowd: “Is everybody having a good time tonight??? My name is Ramses Ja from 101.1 The Beat and I’m gonna take over the tables in just a few minutes. Get ready to turn it up!!!” The reaction to his voice from the crowd was more than apparent. He began negotiating with the opening DJ to set up his equipment while simultaneously answering questions from partygoers, staff, and myself. When the clock struck 11:00pm, Ramses took over the party. He immediately went into popular house songs, commanding the crowd to put their hands up (a phrase he told me he has tat-
36 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2012 | azgamingguide.com
me. While I’m not the type to get caught up in the excitement of the man doing his job, I certainly saw his appeal and what all the fuss was about! With that being said, I’ll allow him his compliment because I had a beautiful time in a beautiful place with all the beautiful people and their beautiful DJ. My birthday is in May. Hmmm… $
Ramses Ja hosts 3-7pm 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. He continues to DJ at many casinos in Las Vegas and Arizona and is an official Bum Squad DJ. For more information on Ramses Ja visit his website at: www.ramsesja.com.
FUN & GAMES
SUDOKU 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 46)
8
9
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1
6 4 2
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WORD SEARCH Find these Halloween words: CANDY, CAULDRON, COSTUME, DARK, HAUNTED, MAKEUP, OCTOBER, PARTY, PUMPKINS, SKULL, TOMBSTONE, TREAT, TRICK, VAMPIRE, WITCH, ZOMBIE. Words appear in any direction. (Solution on page 46)
38 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2012 | azgamingguide.com
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CASINO BINGO DIRECTORY Spotlight on Paradise Casino’s Bingo—Yuma Matinee Bingo Sunday through Saturday @ 1:30pm Evening Bingo Sunday through Saturday @ 6pm Monday Night Frenzy—6pm Evening session 10 games paying out $150 each with $250 on specials Wednesday Evening—Rewards Night Receive a drawing ticket for a chance at $50 in free play Halloween Kozmic Bingo—Saturday October 27th Come dressed in your favorite costume! Spotlight on Casino Arizona’s Bingo—Scottsdale Casino Arizona’s brand new 1,000 seat bingo hall opens for play on Monday, November 1st with 11 sessions each week, L8 Nite Bingo on Fridays and Saturdays, and featuring an exclusive GemHunt speed bingo electronic game. The bingo hall will also have giant TVs and food & drink specials. Spotlight on Ft. McDowell Casino’s Bingo—Fountain Hills
You’ve only got another four chances to experience Lunar Bingo this year! The next session will be Halloween themed and takes place on October 27th. Did you know Fort McDowell Casino's Bingo has paid out over $14,000,000 in the last 12 months? That’s over $1,000,000, monthly, in Bingo payouts!
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 Nov. 1st 2012! 11 sessions per week
1000
(To Be Determined)
Yes
Fr & Sa
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 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
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 9/01/12, 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.
40 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2012 | azgamingguide.com
Gambling Among College Students:
A Growing Problem
A
bout six million Americans are addicted to gambling. That’s a large number, but it doesn’t tell the whole story – problem gambling affects far more people than you might realize. Each one of those six million people has family and friends who are hurt by the lies and financial and emotional instability which are the collateral damage wrought by problem gambling. Many of us continue to view gambling as being a harmless behavior with no possible harmful or negative consequences. Problem gambling is becoming increasingly prevalent among people in college, as gambling is both more accessible and acceptable on college campuses than ever. Students are just a couple of mouse clicks away from being able to gamble on their laptop computers and off-shore gambling sites advertise in campus newspapers. Young adults are inundated with the message that gambling is a fun, benign pastime. As a result, a young adult in a rural college town can develop a gambling problem as easily as his grandmother who lives in a big-city retirement community.
42 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2012 | azgamingguide.com
One national survey found that twenty percent of males and five percent of female students reported wagering on collegiate sporting events in the past year. Experts tell us that students with gambling problems aren’t taking advantage of the counseling and treatment available to them, because they don’t think of gambling as being as serious as other addictive behaviors. The stigma of seeking help for a gambling problem also keeps some students from coming forward. If you think you may have a problem with your gambling – whether you’re a college student or not – I urge you to get help. Log onto the problemgambling.az.gov website or call 1-800-NEXTSTEP to get more information on realistic ways to get the help you need. Together, we can diminish the impact of problem gambling in Arizona.
Rick Pyper—Director Arizona Office of Problem Gambling
HOT DEALS
BEST
You get the very of Casino Offers Statewide!
J
ust when you thought we couldn’t pack more information and value into our magazine, we give you even more! Moving forward, you’ll be treated to the best deals we’ve been given access to by the casinos around the state. From time to time we may even have some out of state deals to share with you! This month, golf is on everybody’s mind as the courses will be getting prepared for the winter season. In addition, we’d like to see more slot tournaments offered by the casinos, so we’ll get you started by sending you off to Apache Gold & Hon-Dah for their upcoming events! Don’t forget to call ahead and get all the information as the details, dates and times are subject to change!
Total Rewards® October Golf Special: $79 for Total Rewards® Members. 18 Holes Green Fee: Includes Golf Cart & Practice Balls, $10 Food & Beverage Voucher (good for use in the restaurant or on the beverage cart, certain restrictions apply) Rules: Offer good everyday, must mention Total Rewards® membership when making tee time reservation, and must show Total Rewards® card at check-in. For reservations, visit their website at www.GolfSouthernDunes.com or call 480.367.8949 for more information.
Bucky’s & Yavapai Casinos Birthday 4X Points Oct. 1—Dec. 31 Any Gold Rush Club member will automatically receive 4X points during the week of their birthday (Sunday through Saturday). There is no need to visit the Gold Rush Club to activate the points multiplier; simply insert your Gold Rush Club card in any machine at Bucky’s or Yavapai Casinos.
Talking Stick Resort For Him & For Her Stay & Play Packages The “Fairway To Heaven Package” includes accommodations, a round of golf at the Talking Stick Golf Club and your choice of a 60 minute Mission Fig Body Polish & Wrap or a Simply Swedish Massage or an Opulence Facial. The “Par Fore The Course Package” includes accommodations and a round of golf, per person, at the Talking Stick Golf Club. Call 480.850.7777 for more information.
Food for Free Play—October 1-31 Bucky’s and Yavapai Casinos, as part of their Quad City Hunger Challenge, will be offering Free Play for non-perishable food items donated at either Casino. Gold Rush Club members will receive $5 in Free Play for each case of food they donate (limit is one case per day). Members should visit the Gold Rush Club for the definition of a “case” and other rules.
Slot Tournaments At Apache Gold Casino Resort Every Tuesday at Noon & 2pm: Signups for each tournament begin at 8am up to 54 people per session, first come, first served. The top prize is $150. Every Wednesday at 7pm: 9 winners—1st is $1,000 cash, 2nd is $400 cash & $100 free play, 3rd is $200 cash & $100 free play, 4th-9th is $100 free play. Every Sunday at 2pm: 9 winners—1st is $1,000 cash, 2nd is $400 cash & $100 free play, 3rd is $200 cash & $100 free play, 4th-9th is $100 free play. Wednesday & Sunday tournaments lead up to a final tournament on December 30, 2012 where the top prize is a 2012 Ford Focus. Call 1.800.APACHE.8 for info. Slot Tournaments At Hon-Dah Resort Casino “Oktoberfest” Slot Tournament on Saturday, October 13th. “Thomas T” Slot Tournament on Saturday, November 10th. Call 1.800.WAY.UP.HI for info.
44 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2012 | azgamingguide.com
SAMI’S SMACKDOWN
By Sami Becker
Lesson Learned … If There Seems To Be A Problem With A Slot, Don’t Do Anything!
Two of our staff members recently visited a casino in Arizona they hadn’t been to in a long time. One of them had a player’s card account at the casino which actually had to be reactivated and upon doing so, the friendly player’s club representative placed $10 in free play on the account to be downloaded onto a machine of their choice.
tech shift supervisor and the floor supervisor. Now here is where things got very sticky! The casino employees went into the slot’s service menu and determined multiple items that were in the favor of our staff member including: the free play transfer, the receipt of the free play, no money had been inserted into the game after the transfer, no money had been cashed out after the transfer, and no games had been played after the transfer.
Apparently our staff member decided to download the entire $10 onto a newer WMS Gaming machine. The slot showed a transaction in progress message, as did the player tracking system display. After several of the same messages flashed back and forth, $10.00 worth of credits appeared on the slot. Our staff member then removed the card from the player tracking system, the $10.00 in credits disappeared, and the slot went into “tilt” mode!
Without the service log to verify the incident our staff member was involved in, the casino employees would not have quickly returned the $10 in free play back on to the player’s card! Lesson learned! If there seems to be a problem with a slot, don’t do anything! Don’t cash out, don’t play a game; call casino employees over for their help immediately. If necessary, remind them they can verify what happened in the game’s service menu! $
The staff member waited less than five minutes for the casino’s slot staff to notice and come over. They explained the situation and the slot staff called over the slot shift supervisor, the slot
Do YOU have something to rant, rave, or reflect about? Write me at: sami@azgamingguide.com
azgamingguide.com | October 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide
45
Y
Y
Y
Y Y
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 927
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
Y
Camp Verde
800-381-7568 656
15318 S. Ave. B
Somerton
800-237-5687 503
Y
Y
Y
7350 S. Nogales Hwy.
Tucson
866-332-9467 1,089
Y
Y
Y
Y
I-19, Exit 80
Tucson
866-332-9467 736
Y
Y
Hwy. 86, Milepost 55
Why
866-332-9467
Y
Y Y*
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Maricopa
480-802-5000 1,089
Pinetop
800-929-8744 808
1077 S. Kyrene Rd.
Chandler
800-946-4452 850
Hwy. 87, 1/4 mi. S. of Payson
Payson
800-777-7529 422
Y
450 Quechan Dr.
Yuma
888-777-4946 506
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 736
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 883
101 & Indian Bend
Y
Y
I-17, Exit 289
17. Paradise Casino
22. Wild Horse Pass Casino
Y
855-765-7829 322
15406 N. Maricopa Rd.
20. Talking Stick Resort
Y
Y
855-765-7829 1,015
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
Y
Y
Y
Y Y
Y Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y Y
Y
Y
Y Y
Sources: Arizona Department of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 9/01/12, 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
For information on the casinos & much more, scan our QR codes with your smartphone!
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Word Search Solution M A K E U P N
T R E A T O
C O S T U M E T R
E N H Z H O A
R I D L Y T C P U M P K
O T S B C T I W D A E S K U M R U B I N I P C K T E U A C E R A P A N D Y I N S
M O T R K O L L C T O B M E A R D V
Sudoku Solution 3
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46 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2012 | azgamingguide.com
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
Bingo
Casino
High Limit Area
CASINO DIRECTORY
Y Y