DEPARTMENTS 04 EDITOR’S NOTE 06 PLAYERS TALK 08 GREAT GAMES 17 WINNING WAYS 18 GAMING NEWS 24 ARIZONA LOTTERY 26 FEATURE STORY 28 CASINO DINING 30 TRIBAL NEWS 33 CASINO GOLF 34 LAUGHLIN, NEVADA 38 CASINO ENTERTAINMENT 40 CASINO NIGHTLIFE 42 HOT DEALS 44 CASINO BINGO DIRECTORY 46 FUN & GAMES 48 SAMI’S SMACKDOWN 50 CASINO DIRECTORY
THE AZ OFFICE OF PROBLEM GAMBLING HOLDS THEIR SYMPOSIUM, MARCH 3RD.
MILLIONAIRE SEVENS BY BALLY TECHNOLOGIES
MGM’S THE LION’S SHARE SLOT “DUE” FOR JACKPOT
CASINO DJS RAMSES JA & Q WARD GIVE BACK
The popular game gets a makeover, retains the ladder bonus, and adds a choose your own free games bonus.
This machine at the MGM in Las Vegas hasn’t paid in years. Find out all the inside details about the slot.
Staff writer Ramses Ja lets us in on a new charitable venture he created to give back to the community.
azgamingguide.com | March 2014 | Arizona Gaming Guide
03
EDITOR’S NOTE
Your Authority On Everything Gaming VOLUME 06 • ISSUE 03 PUBLISHER Chris Höft chris@azgamingguide.com MANAGING DIRECTOR Elizabeth Torma liz@azgamingguide.com
Problem Gambling Awareness Is In March! Problem Gambling Awareness is always a serious topic for the Arizona Gam ing Guide. Every March, the Arizona Office of Problem Gambling hosts a symposium on the topic and Governor Jan Brewer officially makes the same week of the symposium Arizona’s Problem Gambling Awareness week. This year is no exception, the Problem Gambling Awareness Symposium is on Monday, March 3, 2014. This issue has the scoop on exciting new slots by Bally and other slot machine manufacturers with games coming to casinos near you. Plus, gaming industry veteran Al Moe gives us the inside scoop on Let It Ride. Staff writer Lee Allen provides us with an in-depth look at the Tohono O’odham’s Rodeo in Sells, Arizona. Entertainment writer Ramses Ja discusses the new charitable venture he is involved in. As always, we also give you the latest information on gaming news, hot deals, entertainment, bingo, and so much more! Please visit us at: facebook .co m /ArizonaGam ingGuid e , 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 Gam ing Guid e on our website at azgam ingguid e.com . Let me know what you think of our March 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 Al Moe Ramses Ja Cindy Esquer Lee Allen Rodric J. Hurdle-Bradford Riley Meredith 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 © 2014 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 | March 2014 | 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
azgamingguide.com | November 2013 | Arizona Gaming Guide
29
PLAYERS TALK
Q&A On Everything Gaming
Q: I have been playing video poker now for 36 years, gambling at least once a week. The only game that I still have not had a winner of Five-Of-A-Kind is Joker Poker. I have had Wild Royals, natural Royal Flushes but never Five-Of-A-Kind. My question is: what are the odds of hitting Five-Of-A-Kind in Joker Poker? Thank you. Love your magazine. Joan Muglia – Fountain Hills, AZ
Joker Poker
Kings
Aces
Two Pair
Natural Royal Flush
4000
4000
5000
Five-Of-A-Kind
1000
1000
500
Wild Royal Flush
500
500
250
Straight Flush
250
250
250
Joan, thank you for your kind words about our magazine and I am saddened to hear Joker Poker’s Five-Of-A-Kind eludes you! In fact, since you report winning Wild Royals and Royal Flushes, you should have had a few Five-Of-A-Kinds by now.
Four-Of-A-Kind
100
100
100
Full House
35
45
50
Flush
25
25
30
Straight
15
15
25
Three-Of-A-Kind
10
10
10
Two Pair
5
5
5
Aces Or Better
5
5
-
Kings Or Better
5
-
-
Payback
100.64%
98.42%
99.92%
As you may know, there are three versions of Joker Poker pay tables: Kings or better, Aces or better, and Two Pair or better. Within each pay table type, the actual pays of individual hands will vary from game to game and casino to casino. If we examine all three pay table categories along with all possible pay variations within each pay table and assume you play the game with perfect strategy, we find the chances of winning a Five-OfA-Kind to be between 0.000091 and 0.000094. This means you should see a Five-Of-A-Kind roughly once in every 10,638 to 10,989 hands. To put this value into some perspective, when we perform the same analysis for the Wild Royal, we see one Wild Royal roughly once in every 9,259 to 13,333 hands as the strategy for this hand varies greatly between pay tables. Looking at the same numbers for the Natural Royal, we see a Royal roughly once in every 38,461 to 62,500 hands. For Royals, the number we like to identify most often is 1 in 40,000 hands as it applies to almost all variants and pay tables of Video Poker. Essentially, when playing Joker Poker, you should experience a Five-Of-A-Kind every time you win a Wild Royal and you should see about four Five-Of-A-Kinds and four Wild Royals for every time you win a Royal Flush. Based on your account, you are long overdue for a Five-Of-A-Kind! By this time, playing Joker Poker for almost four decades you could have even had a Five-Of-A-Kind dealt to you! For your reference, we’ve listed the best pay tables for each type of Joker Poker on this page. We all hope your stats turn around soon on Joker Poker. Good luck and have fun!
Q: I really enjoy playing the slot with the Gold Class train game (Aristocrat’s Cash Express) but want to know if the minimum/maximum bet affects the slot game or the Cash Express part of the game. The Cash Express is affiliated with several slot games such as Pompeii, More Chilli and More Hearts. If I do the maximum bet will the games (Pompeii, More Chilli, and More Hearts) pay more? Also, if I bet the maximum amount and am lucky to get the Cash Express train cars would the train cars have higher amounts on them? I told my husband that I think the maximum bet would only affect the actual slot game such as Pompeii, More Chilli and More Hearts and not affect the Cash Express (train game). I’ve tried different bets but can’t figure this out. Any ideas as to the minimum or maximum bet to get the
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 | March 2014 | azgamingguide.com
Q&A On Everything Gaming most amounts on the train cars? Even if you don’t post this can you please send me an answer on email? Thank you. Judy Johnson – Sedona, AZ Judy, excellent question about Aristocrat’s Cash Express. This brand of progressive system for slots has been around for over a decade and has been very popular with players. The original version was introduced shortly after the millennium and the latest version (Cash Express Gold Class) was introduced just a few years ago. I’m sure you are not alone in wondering exactly how Cash Express works and what the best way to play the game is. Here’s what we know about how the system works. The higher your bet the more likely it is you will enter the Cash Express bonus, so it definitely benefits players to bet max when playing Cash Express. Furthermore, the values shown on the trains during the Cash Express game are the same regardless of the bet made. Your bet only influences your chances of being awarded the Cash Express and nothing else. Having played Cash Express over the years we do have some additional insights about the game. We estimate that once in the Cash Express game, players will win the Mini Jackpot
PLAYERS TALK
about 80% of the time, the Minor Jackpot about 18% of the time, the Major Jackpot about 1% of the time and the Grand Jackpot a fraction of a percent of the time. What this means is players will win the Mini every 1.25 times, Minor every 5.56 times, Major every 100 times, and Grand every 1000 times they trigger the Cash Express Bonus. (Please note that these values are estimates based on our experience as slot machine game designers having played Cash Express and represent long term probabilities.) Having played the game, we can tell you that the train car amounts don’t change with bet and neither do the jackpot values. All other wins on the slot game itself (Pompeii and so on) do scale with bet. However, since the wins on the slot scale proportionally, if you are not comfortable playing max bet, you aren’t missing out by playing minimum bet or some other nonmax bet value. Realize that the original version of Cash Express was far simpler than the current version of Cash Express Gold Class. The Gold Class games have two extra bonus games in addition to Cash Express (the Multiplier Wheel Bonus and the Gold Class Bonus). As a result, the new Cash Express is a very different experience from the original Cash Express. Hopefully this gives you the insight you are looking for. Good luck out there! $
azgamingguide.com | March 2014 | Arizona Gaming Guide
07
GREAT GAMES
Table Games—Let It Ride
By Al Moe
T
he table game of Let It Ride was one of the first new poker games introduced by the company Shufflemaster (now Bally Technologies) nearly 20 years ago. It uses a standard deck of 52-cards and offers a game with two unique twists: players may take back part of their original wager and the player does not play against the dealer. Instead, each player is dealt three cards, face-down, and the dealer keeps two community cards used by each player to make their best five-card hand. To begin play, each player must make three wagers (usually a minimum of $5), each the same, inside three circles. The first circle has a dollar sign and must play at all times. However, the next two wagers are different. After seeing their cards, players may choose to take one of their three wagers back. Then, the dealer will expose one of their cards and players may take back a second wager or follow the game’s namesake and “let it ride.” When the players have made their decisions, the dealer exposes their second card and then turns over each player’s cards in order to determine who gets paid. Any hand of a pair of tens or higher is paid. Players lose their wagers if their final hand is below a pair of tens. A standard pay scale for winning hands is: Royal Flush (Ace-King-Queen-Jack-Ten of the same suit) 1000 to 1 Straight Flush 200 to 1 Four of a Kind 50 to 1 Full House 11 to 1 Flush 8 to 1 Straight 5 to 1 Three of a Kind 3 to 1 Two Pair 2 to 1 Tens or Better 1 to 1
08 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2014 | azgamingguide.com
The game of Let It Ride has a house edge of 3.5% and goes at a decidedly slower pace than blackjack. However, it also offers two side or bonus bets. The first is a 3-card bonus, based solely on the player’s own three-card hand. The payoffs are similar to those in Three Card Poker and the wager is often called Pair Plus, since any pair or higher is a winner. This wager is usually a minimum of $5 and the house edge sits at about 7%. The second bonus wager costs just $1 to play and is made by placing a chip on the light-up circle in front of the other bets. This constitutes a wager on the player’s best five-card poker hand and pays with a minimum of a pair of tens, or two pair, depending on the casino. The highest payoff is for a Royal Flush, at 20,000 to 1. Let It Ride Simplified Strategy:
Take
advantage of the game’s option to pull your wagers back on poor hands.
“Let It Ride” only with the following three cards: A winner Pair of tens or higher, Three cards to a straight flush, Pull back all the rest!
With four cards, “Let It Ride” with: A winner - Pair of tens or higher, Four cards to a flush, Four cards to a straight (but not an inside straight such as 4, 5, 7, 8), Pull back all the rest! $ Writer Al Moe has worked in the casino industry for many years. He has lived and worked in Las Vegas, Reno, and Lake Tahoe. He also attended the University of Nevada, Reno. He is an avid writer and blogger, author of “Vegas and the Mob"—available at Amazon. He is also the proud father of four beautiful girls.
New Slots
GREAT GAMES
Brand New Games @ TSR & Casino Arizona
P
lan a trip to Casino Arizona as soon as you finish reading this article. The slot department made Centiped e by IGT available for play on February 6th. Why should readers care? This slot is one of the only games out there where player skill affects the bonus round’s pays. Triggering the bonus in this game lets slot enthusiasts play Centiped e as if they were back in the arcades of the 1980s! Best of all, the further up the levels players go during the bonus, the more they win. And that’s not all, there are bonus meters (similar to a progressive) to be won on each level during the bonus round! Centipede’s base game uses the popular Super Times Pay math and functions like a standard slot machine. A skill-based bonus round with retro music and arcade symbols allows players to use the original Atari Centiped e play mechanics. During the bonus game, players use the joystick (sorry, there’s no track ball!) to move through three levels where they dodge spiders, fleas and the Centiped e while attempting to generate large wins. This Reel Ed ge slot is the only regulatory-approved, skill-based gaming system in the market.
Centipede Pop Culture Fun Facts: Over 20 million Atari Centipede games have been sold since 1980. Centipede has appeared in multiple major films from 1980 to 2010. The game has appeared on multiple gaming systems, including 25 different platforms ranging from mobile devices to other popular gaming consoles. $
All The New Slots At Talking Stick Resort: Sky Rider Golden Amulet and Sky Rider Silver Treasure by IGT. Deal or No Deal—In It To Win It by Spielo. Double Gold, Triple Diamond, and Triple Double Hot Peppers (Fast Hit Progressives) by IGT
At Casino Arizona: Double Gold, Triple Diamond, and Triple Double Hot Peppers (Fast Hit Progressives) by IGT. El Grand Festival, Island Eyes, Sumatran Storm, and The Swordsman by IGT. Centipede (Reel Edge Skill) by IGT. Sky Rider Golden Amulet and Sky Rider Silver Treasure by Aristocrat. Sex and The City by IGT was converted from 2 cents to 1 cent denomination. Carnival In Rio and Wild Pixies by Multimedia. azgamingguide.com | March 2014 | Arizona Gaming Guide
13
GREAT GAMES
New Slots
New WMS Slots at Mazatzal
I
f you haven't tried the new Lord of The Rings game by WMS, now is a great time to head up to Mazatzal in Payson, Arizona and check it out. This game has it all and then some! During the base game, three or more bonus symbols will trigger a bonus round. During the game, players may earn trophies for certain events. Certain trophies give the player the opportunity to unlock a new bonus the next time they trigger a bonus. For players who collected ‘miles’ during previous Lord of The Rings games, upon their initial sign-in to Player’s Life, their mile count will determine how many bonuses are unlocked by default. Bonus games include the Pelennor Fields Bonus, the One Ring Bonus, the Ring Bonus, Helm’s Deep, Lighting of the Beacons, Arwen and Aragorn, Fall of the Witch-king, and Crack of Doom. Make sure to play and trigger the Lighting of the Beacons free games bonus. 8 free spins at 2x are awarded at the beginning of the bonus. During the free spins, 3 bonus triggers will award 8 additional free spins. There are Beacon Wild symbols on the reels that depict an unlit beacon. Any time an unlit Beacon Wild appears on the reels, the beacon is lit and the multiplier increases. Make sure to visit www.youtube.com/wmsslots today for more information on this and other unique gaming experiences! $ Other brand new WMS slots at Mazatzal: •Ferris Bueller
•Wizard of Oz—Ruby Slippers 2
BlueWater first with Aristocrat’s Walking Dead
A
ristocrat’s newest slot game, The Walk ing Dead based on AMC’s hit TV series, is now at BlueWater Casino in Parker, Arizona!
The Walking Dead slot game has a 75 credit minimum bet and a 300 credit maximum bet and is packed with clips from the show, unique features, and an abundance of bonus opportunities. Bonus features include Reel Grow th, where reels 2, 3, 4, and 5 will randomly grow to a height of 5, 6, or 7 high; Wild Attack , where random positions in Reel Growth are replaced with Wilds; The Hord e, where horde reveals a winning combination on the reels in Reel Growth. In Atlanta Wheel Bonus, players win credits, jackpots, CDC Wheel or Escape from Atlanta Free Games. In CDC Wheel, players can win credits, multiple prizes with the Grenade or trigger Walker Bonus spins with a multiplier. Players win free games in Escape From Atlanta Free Games and there is a Grand Jackpot that starts at $500,000! Just like the show, Aristocrat has made sure this new slot will keep players on the edge of their seats! Plus, BlueWater is also the first casino to let us know about the new Bally slot machine with the curved screen featured in the New Slots section of the January 2014 issue! The 40-inch HD touchscreen monitor is curved inward. The unique design gives players an enormous area to play on without having to crane their neck up and down to take in all the action. It’s right there in front where one can reach out and touch all the action. $ Other brand new slots at BlueWater: Double Jackpot Triple Blazing 7’s and Double Jackpot Black & White on the brand new curved LCD Blade slot machine cabinet by Bally. The Walking Dead by Aristocrat. Wizard of Oz—Ruby Slippers 2, Super Monopoly Boardwalk Sevens, and Lord of The Rings Return of The King by WMS. Dynasty Riches, Dragon’s Law, Mystical Ruins, Solstice Celebration, Wealth of the Orient, Moolah Piccu, China Dream, Glittering Pyramids, Wall of Fortune, and Sparkling Twilight by Konami. True Blood by IGT.
14 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2014 | azgamingguide.com
Bally Technologies—New Slots Coming Soon
GREAT GAMES
One of Your Favorites Reborn By Riley Meredith
P
eople have been playing Bally’s Millionaire Sevens for years. There’s a good reason for that too; great games have a long lifetime on the casino floor. The old adage “Why fix what isn’t broken?” must be going through your mind. Unlike so many remakes – whether they are movies, games, slots, or otherwise – Bally was sure to keep what players love about the original and add even more of what we like. You will discover the exciting Millionaire Sevens on Bally’s popular “Hammerhead” cabinet. Other titles you may have played on this unique slot machine include Grease, Money Vault, Golden Pharaoh, and Betty Boop’s Fortune Teller. So first thing’s first – the Ladder Bonus. This is what we’ve loved about the game all along. There’s no doubt the anticipation and excitement reaches new heights when this bonus is triggered by three scattered Ladder Bonus symbols on reels one, three, and five. A large, single reel appears and spins, advancing your position up the ladder. You can move a single position or multiple positions each time it spins, and keep on climbing until “Collect” appears on the reel or you reach the top. You’ll be awarded a multiplier ranging from 2X to 100X or the enormous progressive jackpot if you can make it all the way. So why is Millionaire Sevens better than ever? This new version has the classic ladder bonus and a free-games feature that lets you pick your free-game theme. When the free-games feature is triggered, you’ll choose from one of three free-game options including a Multiplier Wheel, Extra Wild Wheel, and Extra Scatter Wheel. Each of these comes with a different number of free games you’ll receive: 15 free games with a credit multiplier, 10 free games with extra wild symbols, or six free games with an extra scatter-pay symbol. Once you make your choice, you spin the corresponding wheel using Bally’s award-winning USpin technology to find out what your multiplier, extra wild symbol, or extra scatter-pay symbol will be. All in all, this new version of Millionaire Sevens is shaping up to be as good as the original and then takes things a few rungs higher on the ladder of entertaining slots. Watch for Millionaire Sevens to hit casino floors in the next few months as well as the near-area progressive version, known as Tower of Power, a few months after that. To learn more about this game and other exciting new Bally products, visit ballytech.com. $ azgamingguide.com | March 2014 | Arizona Gaming Guide
15
WINNING WAYS
MGM’s Lion’s Share
The Slot Machine That Doesn’t Want To Hit By Lana Hartman
the MGM’s logo on the pay table glass and the reel strips. The practice of converting IGT’s steppers into custom slots was very common back in the day. There was a whole sub-industry devoted to making a “new” machine out of an old one. In fact, there was nothing technically wrong with doing this aside from IGT not liking it very much. As long as all the info was exactly the same on the pay glass and the reel strips IGT and the gaming regulators couldn’t really do anything about it. At times, IGT actually encouraged it and this may well be one of those cases. What is really interesting is this game is reportedly the last of an old bank of slots still on the MGM floor. Even more exciting is that the progressive has climbed to well over $2.3 million. The reset value is only $75,000. Talk about a slot being “due” to hit, this one is it!
O
ur editorial team recently saw a news story on yahoo.com that discussed a classic three reel stepper slot machine still available for play at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Unfortunately a lot of the reporting about the actual slot game itself is incorrect and a quick internet search for more information on the slot turned up a whole host of websites and information about this slot (and others) that is simply plain wrong. So, we thought we’d set the record straight (as we always do) and remind everyone that most of what is written about slot machines outside of our magazine is incorrect or misleading. The Lion’s Share slot machine is still available for play at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The Slot is an old three reel stepper IGT S+ slot machine from the 1990s converted into an “MGM” slot machine. If you look closely, you’ll see
Our insights tell us that this is a reworked version of IGT’s Wild Cherry, if you remember that blast from the past, with massively increased pays for the Wild symbol. Wild Cherry is a pretty simple game. There are Blanks, some Bars, one Red Seven, and the Wild substituting for the other symbols. Wild
Cherry has a top award hit rate of around 1 in 375,000 spins on average. The hit frequency of any win on the game is probably around 1 in 5 depending on the exact pay table percentage selected by the casino. By the way, games that are this old do meet Nevada’s minimum payback percentage requirement of 75%. So Wild Cherry and Lion’s Share could be running at an insanely brutal long run 75% payback at the minimum bet of 1 credit! In order to make this game, IGT would have had to adjust the math design by making the probability of the Wild symbol landing on the pay line less likely in order to account for the vastly higher pays for the Wild symbol. Most likely, since the Wild was the only pay affected by a factor of 2.5 and 25 respectively (200 to 500 and 1,000 to 25,000 for the 1 credit Wild pays) between the versions, the chances of winning the progressive is at least on the order of 1 in 1 million. Of course, the odds could have been stretched to the max according to Nevada’s gaming regulation which limits odds on a slot’s highest prize to better than 1 in 50 million spins. What is interesting is that MGM actually could have removed the machine and redistributed the massive progressive onto similar games on their casino floor (Nevada Gaming Control Board, Regulation 5, Operation Of Gaming Establishments, Section 5.110 In-house progressive payoff schedules), but they didn’t. I guess they are capitalizing on the fact that the machine hasn’t hit in such a long, long time. Even with odds as “low” as 1 in 1 million, hitting the jackpot is not easy. The next time you are in Las Vegas, make sure to try out the slot at m ax bet. Be aware that because of the slot’s age, there’s no tickets and any and all “cash out” activities are done via slot attendant hand pays! $
azgamingguide.com | March 2014 | Arizona Gaming Guide
17
GAMING NEWS
The Market for Mobile: Casino Industry Braces for Widespread Introduction of Mobile Gaming By Rodric J. Hurdle-Bradford
A
Change to a Challenging Environment? The amazing growth of mobile gaming in both domestic and foreign markets is one of the casino gaming industry’s most talked about trends early in 2014. "The U.S. appears to be heading towards the legalization of online and mobile gaming," says Jacques LeDisco, publisher of Mobile Betting News. "Given the current legal restrictions in the U.S., the growth markets for mobile gaming are in social gaming, fantasy leagues and guest loyalty programs sponsored by land casinos." The main obstacle to the legalization of mobile gaming is the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992, an act that effectively outlawed sports betting nationwide, excluding a handful of states. The sports lotteries of Delaware, Montana and Oregon are excluded, along with the organized licensed sports books in Nevada. It is nicknamed the "Bradley Act" after then-New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley, ironically a former professional basketball player himself, who spearheaded the passing of the bill. In recent years, as individual states have felt the long-term revenue decline of the Great Recession, more challenges to appeal PASPA have occurred. Many industry insiders believe PASPA has backfired because it is outdated and has placed hundreds of billions of dollars in offshore gaming locations instead of keeping that revenue in the U.S. This outcome has been highly criti-
18 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2014 | azgamingguide.com
cized in the current economic environment. Dealing with the Devices Establishing mobile gaming products that operate across all platforms is a difficult task. The main operating systems of Android, Android tablets, Blackberry, iPhone and iPad cover over 90 percent of available smart phones. Not surprisingly, it is easy to make the correlation between the surge of the popularity of mobile gaming domestically and internationally with the most popular device, the iPhone. "The Apple economy and iPhone sales are the main drivers in mobile gaming," says LeDisco. "While iTunes does not allow real-money gaming apps for download in the U.S. market, every major mobile gaming operator in European gaming jurisdictions offers iPhone apps. The iTunes market faces competition from the Android market, which has more liberal restrictions on gaming applications, and from the growth of server-based mobile gaming platforms." Getting a Grip on Geolocation ‘Geolocation’ is the generic term used for the identification of the real-world geographic location of an inanimate object like a computer terminal, mobile phone or radar. The specificity of geolocation can range from broad targeting, like geographic coordinates, to a more specific target like a street address. “We recognize that geolocation is a very specialized field requiring
GAMING NEWS custom technology for gaming purposes,” says Anna Sainsbury, chief executive officer of GeoComply, a geolocation services provider. “We work with a wide range of stakeholders in gaming, from operators of casinos and lotteries to platform providers, as well as a number of partners providing services in payments, fraud and other forms of verification.” The pressing need for accurate geolocation services is exhibited by the demand from legalized online poker. According to the American Gaming Association, legalized online poker would create 10,000 new jobs and over $2 billion in new tax revenue. It took just over two weeks for UltimatePoker.com to deal a million hands of legal poker, demonstrating a widespread technological demand never seen in the gaming industry. “We currently use a third-party partner to provide location verification of the device by the associated carrier coupled with our proprietary technology to ensure there are stringent controls,” says Abe Hong, chief information officer of Station Casinos. “These controls are over the device, the phone number or SIM of the device, the user account, and the location of these attributes together to ensure we are complying with Nevada Gaming regulations.” Several state lotteries have already established an online presence by offering ticket sales through mobile devices. The same trends are also occurring in fantasy sports and the sports book sector. The Reality of Regulation As with every aspect of the gaming industry, the implementation of regulations will loom large with geolocation in regards to online and mobile gaming. Obtaining approvals from either state or federal regulatory agencies requires that user’s physical location within a state or territory be verified to allow bets to be placed. “We continue to build products and services that will conform to the evolving state regulations,” says Hong. For GeoComply, there are both consumer and regulatory benefits in keeping their technical product device-neutral. “We are always looking in the long-term,” says Sainsbury. “This is not just about getting a solution through the test lab and the regu-
lator. It is about doing that, meeting all regulations and enabling our customers to operate successfully while minimizing false negatives and customer imitation.” Free for All? Free play, or social gaming, has taken the U.S. by storm, as a prequel to the anticipated legislation to legalize mobile gaming in the near future. Well-known industry leader Zynga has served as the pioneer for social gaming on personal computers and mobile devices, partnering with Facebook so friends can play against each other. "Zynga Live Poker is by far the most popular mobile game," says LeDisco. "Of the roughly 25 poker apps in the App Store, none of them feature multiplayer networks rivaling Zynga's 4.8 million daily players on Facebook, up to 80,000 of whom are active at any moment. This large user base and network infrastructure allow Zynga to hold regular tournaments." To keep pace, traditional consolegame makers like Electronic Arts and slot manufacturer International Game Technology (IGT) sped up their product entries into the market. IGT began 2012 with a $500 million acquisition of Double Down Interactive, a developer of online casino games on Facebook. To increase IGT's relevance in the free play space, in early May the company announced that DoubleDown Casino has partnered with the U.S.' most popular television show, American Idol, to launch the free-to-play American Idol Social Slots. The game is available to all of DoubleDown's 5.4 million monthly social gamers. Bally Technologies showed the importance of free play to its casino game marketing in February 2013 by adding four new titles to its mobile app games library—Cash Wizard, Golden Pharoah, Fireball and Betty Boop's Love Meter. Using free play as an introduction to actual games players will see on the real casino property has been an efficient strategy. Key industry players have only just begun to utilize this strategy that already has been identified as vital to build a new generation of clientele, regardless of the geographic location. So, unlike the real estate industry, mobile gaming won’t be all about location, location, location! $ azgamingguide.com | March 2014 | Arizona Gaming Guide
19
GAMING NEWS
Talking Stick Visitor Center Opens Just In Time For Spring Training Season The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Talking Stick Resort and Butterfly Wonderland Will Offer Special Cultural Days
T
alking Stick, a Cultural and Entertainment Destination (TSCED) and initiative of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, has just opened the Talking Stick Visitor Center to the public on February 25. It is located at 9120 E. Indian Bend, Suite E-10 in the Pavilions shopping center right next to YC’s Mongolian restaurant. The TSCED area is home to Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Talking Stick Resort, Talking Stick Golf Club, The Pavilions at Talking Stick, the Courtyard by Marriott Scottsdale Salt River, Butterfly Wonderland and coming this spring, Top Golf. The visitor center is open for spring training now thru March 30, daily from 10am to 6pm and will serve two purposes. The first is to be an information hub for the TSCED partners. The Cultural ambassadors will be on hand to make tee times, dinner reservations or hand out brochures and information to guests. Second, it will offer visitors a unique experience into the rich heritage of the Akimel O’odham (Pima—Meaning river people) and Xalychidom Piipaash (Maricopa—Meaning people who live toward the water) cultures through song, dance and art. There are traditional dance performances and art demonstrations offered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 11am and 4pm. There is also an interpretive exhibit by the Huhugam Ki Museum and displays from the Salt River Two Waters Art Collection offered daily at no charge to visiting guests. “Whether it’s for the culture, recreation, shopping, staying or dining, baseball fans and their families will find that our destination area has an amenity to satisfy every need,” Marketing Project Manager Blessing McAnlis-Vasquez said. “The visitor center will highlight cultural aspects of the Community that provide our guests a unique and memorable experience. In addition, our destination partners offer specials, accommodation packages or cultural days and the best part is that they are all conveniently located along our complimentary trolley route to and from the new visitor center.” Yellow Bird world-renowned dancers will perform Fridays and Saturdays at 6pm in the Fire Garden at the Talking Stick Resort. “The desert climate this time of year is at its most inviting and we want our hotel guests to come sit under the stars and enjoy these legendary, Native American performers,” said Ramon
Martinez, Director of Public Relations for Talking Stick Resort. “Every Spring Training season we try to bring a new cultural offering to visitors around the country and around the world, music and dance is something everyone can celebrate.” Butterfly Wonderland, a destination partner that boasts the largest butterfly atrium in North America, will host cultural experience days on March 1, 15, and 29. Visitors will be able to hear short stories read by Martha Ludlow-Martinez, Miss salt River, and ambassador to the SRPMIC and her court. Children will be able to take home arts and crafts made with the assistance of SRPMIC Cultural Ambassadors while parents can enjoy traditional dance group performances. “This will be our first year feeling Spring Training Fever and Butterfly Wonderland is proud to participate with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community team by presenting its cultural days at Butterfly Wonderland,” said Executive Director Mike Fox. “Knowing that there is a meaningful, cultural significance of butterflies and nature to the Indian Community, we are confident that the planned activities will be home runs by stimulating, educating and entertaining visitors of all ages!” For a complete schedule of the planned cultural events and more information about the Talking Stick Visitor Center or the Talking Stick Cultural and Entertainment Destination, please visit their website at TalkingStickArizona.com. $
azgamingguide.com | March 2014 | Arizona Gaming Guide
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GAMING NEWS
Tribal Gaming Revenue Contributions
T
he Arizona Department of Gaming announced that tribal contributions to the state from gaming revenue will be approximately $13.5 million for the quarter that ended December 31, 2013. This is a 2.7 percent increase from the same quarter of last year. “While one quarter does not establish a trend, this increase is welcome news for state programs that benefit from tribal contributions,” said Dan Bergin, Director of the Arizona Department of Gaming. The quarterly tribal contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund will be distributed as follows: Instructional Improvement Fund/Education: Trauma and Emergency Services Fund: Arizona Department of Gaming operating costs: Arizona Wildlife Conservation Fund: State Tourism Fund: Problem Gambling: TOTAL tribal contributions
$ 6,501,499 $ 3,250,750 $ 1,581,034 $ 928,786 $ 928,786 $ 269,201 $13,460,056
The Arizona Department of Gaming, in partnership with Arizona’s tribes, regulates Indian gaming. Under the Arizona TribalState Gaming Compact, tribes with casinos contribute one to eight percent of their Class III gross gaming revenue to the state, cities, towns and counties. In Arizona, Class III gaming includes slot machines, jackpot poker, blackjack, keno and off-track parimutuel betting. There are currently 23 Class III casinos in the state. Tribes send contributions to the state Arizona Benefits Fund every three months. $
22 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2014 | azgamingguide.com
ARIZONA LOTTERY
Winners
$500,000 Golden Ticket pays off
Mohamed Aoufe
Soledad Morales
$50,000 King Sized Crossword
By Cindy Esquer
S
oledad Morales loves all of the Crossword as well as Bingo instant scratch tickets. Recently, Soledad purchased a King Size Crossword from a Lottery vending machine. She scratched the ticket at home.
T
At first, she wasn’t quite sure what she’d won, but she kept checking and kept coming up with the same amount -- $50,000. To be sure, she took the ticket to the store to have it checked. When she was told she’d have to go to the Lottery to have it redeemed, she knew that she really had won $50,000. It was quite a shock, as the most Soledad had ever won was $25.
Mohamed scratched the ticket at home and knew immediately that he’d won $500,000. He yelled with excitement, which caused his significant other to come see what the fuss was about. At first, she didn’t believe him until he showed her the ticket. It was an exciting moment for both of them.
he color of the Gold en Tick et instant scratch ticket caught the attention of Mohamed Aoufe. When he buys tickets, he likes to play the higher-priced ones, as he likes the payouts. So it was a given that he would purchase this one.
Soledad came to the Lottery with members of her family for support, and she made sure she signed the back of the ticket before she left the house. Judging from the smile on her face, she was thrilled with her win. The money from this win will go a long way toward helping the family. Soledad would like to buy a house, and the money from this win might get her started.
Mohamed was born in New York, but moved here with family a few years ago. He has his own retail business and loves living here. If he gets homesick for snow, he said, “I can always visit the northern part of the state.” At the top of his list of how he’s going to spend the money is to share it with family. Then he plans to pay down the mortgage on his home and invest the rest.
The winning ticket was purchased at Safeway, 8021 N. 35th Ave., Phoenix.
The winning ticket was purchased at NR Tobacco and Gifts, 7445 W. Cactus Road, Peoria.
2 Massive Pick & Powerball Wins! T
he Arizona Lottery announced that the winner of the $4.9 million The Pick jackpot from the drawing on January 25 has been claimed by a resident from Pinetop. The winner, who wishes to remain anonymous, purchased his winning ticket from the Safeway located at 20 E. White Mountain Blvd. in Lakeside, AZ, and elected to take the lump sum option of $2,972,633 before taxes. The winner, who came to the Lottery office with his wife and two brothers, said he had been playing The Pick using the same numbers for 23 years that included his birth date and time of birth. The winner said he had stopped playing a while ago, but decided to play his numbers one more time on his birthday. “The Pick is Arizona’s own jackpot game, so it is always exciting to present a large check to our jackpot winner,” said Karen Bach, director of budget, products, and communications for the Arizona Lottery. “What an incredible birthday present!”
24 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2014 | azgamingguide.com
The Arizona Lottery announced that a Chandler resident has claimed Arizona’s Pow erball $2 million second prize winning ticket from the drawing on January 25. This is the 29th second place winning ticket won in Arizona since the game was changed to $2. Albert Yates purchased the Pow er Play option, which doubled his second place $1 million prize to $2 million. This is the first $2 million Pow erball with Pow er Play win in Arizona. Yates purchased his winning ticket at the Fry’s Marketplace located at 985 E. Riggs Road in Chandler. He purchased a total of three Quick Picks and said he always purchases the Pow er Play option. Since he has teased his wife about winning the Lottery in the past, she was in disbelief until she checked the ticket herself. Yates works in the computer field and plans to meet with a financial advisor to evaluate the best way to save for retirement. The couple also plans to pay off some bills and take a small trip to celebrate their win.
Winners
ARIZONA LOTTERY
visitors, he put the tickets away and forgot about them.
Mesa Man Wins $1 Million!
On Thursday, December 26, Audel remembered the tickets and took them to the store to be checked. Audel works in the construction field and was in a hurry to see a client.
Audel Acevedo
When the clerk told him he would have to redeem his ticket at the Lottery, he assumed he had won about $1,000. After his business was completed, he came to the Lottery and received quite a shock. His ticket was a million dollar winner.
T
he $1 million Mega Millions ticket from the December 24 drawing was redeemed today by a man who didn’t know how much he’d won. Audel Acevedo of Mesa, a regular player of Mega Millions, purchased a few more Quick Pick s than usual because it was Christmas Eve. Due to the holiday and the fact that there were a lot of family
Audel called his wife and children and, at his request, they drove to the Lottery to be with him. Audel said, “If I’d realized that the ticket was a winner, I would have been sure to sign it right away. I was lucky nothing happened to it.” The reality of winning this much money hadn’t really registered with the family. Everyone was shaky, but thrilled. Audel was trying to contact his CPA so they could decide on a game plan. In the meantime, he said, “Besides giving back to the community, there are a couple of things I would like to do that I couldn’t do before. I’d like to purchase some investment property and take my family to Brazil for the Soccer World Cup in 2014 if I can still get tickets.” The winning ticket was purchased at Fry’s Food Store, 20797 W. John Wayne Parkway, Maricopa. $
For more information on the Arizona Lottery, visit their website at 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.
azgamingguide.com | March 2014 | Arizona Gaming Guide
25
W
hile the vast majority of people can visit a casino for an hour or so, purchase a lottery ticket or buy into a football pool with friends and suffer no consequences, there are two to three percent of American adults for which the urge to gamble becomes overpowering. In fact, an estimated six million people in the United States are addicted to gambling. However, problem gambling affects far more people because each of those six million people has family and friends hurt by the collateral financial and emotional damage inflicted by the person struggling with gambling addiction.
questions relating to feelings, thoughts and behaviors associated with gambling addiction and may help determine whether or not someone has a gambling problem. Answering “yes” to one or more of the quiz questions below could indicate a gambling problem.
Healthcare professionals have identified behaviors which indicate a person could have a gambling problem:
gambling?
Using income or savings to gamble while bills go unpaid Repeated, unsuccessful attempts to stop gambling Breaking or considering breaking laws to finance gambling Having depressed or suicidal thoughts because of gambling losses Arguing with friends or family about gambling behavior
Compulsive gambling addiction, like drug and alcohol addiction, creates increasingly difficult life issues and situations for the gambler and gambler’s family. The following quiz asks
26 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2014 | azgamingguide.com
Have you ever felt the need to bet more and more money? Have you ever lied to people who are important to you
about the
amount you have gambled?
Have you repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop Do you gamble as a way of escaping emotional or physical pain? Have you ever relied on others to provide money to relieve a desperate financial situation caused by gambling?
Have you ever jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job or career because of your gambling?
Have you gambled to get money with which to pay debts or to solve other financial problems?
Have you borrowed money to finance your gambling? Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy? Do you gamble to try to get your money back?
Fortunately there is help for those suffering from gambling addiction. The first step is to call the Arizona Office of Problem Gambling at 1-800-NEXT STEP to get free, confidential information. Each caller will be connected with a knowledgeable, caring professional who will listen in an empathetic, nonjudgmental way and connect sufferers with resources needed to deal with problem gambling. The Arizona Office of Problem Gambling website, www.problemgambling.az.gov, is an additional avenue for learning more ways to get support. The website offers a broad range of resources designed to help problem gamblers, including a list of the services provided. One of the most effective tools offered to problem gamblers is the self-exclusion program. This is an opt-in process which allows a self-acknowledged problem gambler to voluntarily exclude him or herself from entering all Tribal casinos within the state of Arizona for a specified period of time. Problem gamblers can also sign up to ban themselves from access to casino ATMs and Internet gambling sites. Other resources offered include:
Tribal/State-funded out-patient treatment Information on support programs for problem gamblers and their families, including Gamblers Anonymous and GamAnon
Statistics from various sources concerning problem gambling Each year the Arizona Office of Problem Gambling holds a symposium on problem gambling. This year’s event will be held Monday, March 3 at the Black Canyon Conference Center at 9440 N 25th Avenue in Phoenix, from 8am to 4pm. The theme this year is “Problem Gambling – Sharing Ideas and Resources.” The day will feature dynamic presentations on current topics related to the prevention, education and treatment of problem gambling. The symposium keynote speaker is Dr. Jon E. Grant. Dr. Grant is a Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Chicago, where he also supervises an out-patient clinic for addictive-impulsive-compulsive disorders. He is the author of ten books on impulsive and compulsive behaviors and more than 275 scientific articles. In addition, he is the Director of a Center of Excellence in Gambling Research supported by the National Center for Responsible Gaming and editor in chief of the Journal of Gambling Studies. Dr. Grant will discuss gambling disorder in connection to the DSM-5, along with the relationship between gambling and substance use and implications for treatment. Other topics to be presented include counseling for problem gamblers, music therapy methods in the treatment of addiction, mindfulness as a versatile approach for addictions and balanced living, as well as a breakout session with individuals sharing problem gaming recovery experiences. $
Arizona Office of Problem Gambling 2014 Symposium Event Details Monday, March 3 from 8am—4pm Black Canyon Conference Center 9440 N 25th Avenue, Phoenix For more information on this event, point your browser to www.problemgambling.az.gov. To register by phone, call (480) 990-1887. azgamingguide.com | March 2014 | Arizona Gaming Guide
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CASINO DINING
A
re you ready for some pizza? We certainly were the last time our team visited Desert Diamond Casinos in Tucson to have some fun and play some of their slots!
The entire team was hungry and we wanted something quick and along the lines of comfort food. Walking towards the food court at the casino we noticed the Classico Pizza sign and were immediately drawn in by their four specialty pizzas. The special pies included the Meat Jackpot containing Pepperoni, Italian Sausage, Bacon, Ham and Hamburger a delicious protein overload! Plus, our team’s favorite, the White Pizza with Alfredo Sauce, Grilled Chicken, Spinach and Mushrooms. We also tried the Desert Diamond Pizza which is a mash up of south of the border and Italian which offered Hamburger, Roasted Corn, Olives, Tomatoes, Cilantro, Black Beans, Jalapenos, Pepper Jack and Chipotle Ranch. Finally, we can’t say enough about the Philly Cheesesteak pizza. This special has Sliced Steak, Onion, Green Peppers, Mushrooms and, of course, Provolone Cheese! If
28 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2014 | azgamingguide.com
you aren’t in the mood for a specialty pizza, the chefs at Classico Pizza will gladly make one to order just for you! The next time you visit Desert Diamond Casinos in Tucson make sure to stop in and grab a slice or a whole pizza! $
TRIBAL NEWS
Photo: Ron Gilson Photo
By Lee Allen
In Sells, AZ
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Parade Grand Marshall was Verna Enos, who grew up in the community of Ge Oidag [Big Fields] and spent 27 years as a teacher. The belief in the importance of self-identity drove her to connect with O’odham children by instilling the importance of their way of life and the role it plays in everyday lives. “We need O’odham tradition and culture to be a priority.”
hen the Tohono O’odham Nation throws a parade, along with a carnival and a rodeo, everybody turns out, and everybody has a good time.
Southern Arizona’s sand people held their 76th annual pageantry in early February and the town of Sells turned out in force to welcome the festivities, lining the parade route along Main Street and filling arena seating at the nearby livestock complex. The tribal Rodeo and Fair Office termed it, “Our biggest and most attractive event of the year with a purse of $35,000.” Tribal Chairman Ned Norris Jr. was at the front of the nearly 100 parade entries telling the crowd, “A weekend like this brings us together as a community, unites us as family and friends, and provides an opportunity to hold true to our Him d ag, celebrating our tradition and history, our values, practices, and the heritage that guide us.”
30 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2014 | azgamingguide.com
Every entry got a chance to shine, from tribal administrators to Miss Tohono O’odham Nation Malaya Antone to local bands and cheerleaders to TOKA field game players. McGruff the Crime Fighting Dog rode with the Nation’s police department while veterans, elders, and little ones staffed their own floats and candy and balloons were everywhere. Once the parade ended, community attention turned to what Indian cowboys do best, rodeo, as ropers and riders saddled up
TRIBAL NEWS for two days of competition for buckles and cash prizes in Arizona’s longest-running all-Indian rodeo. With three quarters of a century of rodeo action as a lead-in, rodeo director Richard Saunders said, “Clearly the popularity began long before our time. Because of our great spring weather, this is the first stop for Indian rodeo contestants and kicks off the start of the season.” Two hundred cowboys and cowgirls from around the state, across the U.S., and Canada showed up to kick up dust. There was a Master Rodeo for the “seasoned” rodeo athletes along with a Buckaroo Division of age 5 and under who captured the crowd by challenging each other in stick horse racing
dust after riders went airborne and hit the dirt. 21-year-old Shoshane Kee, an Arizona Navajo cowboy, a 5-year veteran of chasing rodeo purses has had his share of flying through the air in Saddle Bronc competition. “I compete for cash as well as fun,” he says. “I go from rodeo to rodeo trying to make a living and, so far, it’s going great.” Some of the older cowboys still enjoy the sport, but leave the hard-riding to the younger generation. “I’ve ridden and roped and wrestled since 1968, even ridden a couple of bulls,” says Texas cowboy John South. “I’ve got a lot more sense than that now, so I judge how well others do.” Fellow judge Roger Dahozy, a Fort Defiance Navajo, used to be a bulldogger (steer wrestler) in his younger days until he got hurt. “When I recovered enough to ride a horse again, I decided judging would be a safer rodeo event for me.” New Mexico Navajo Hank Begay, a one-time saddle bronc rider, smiled at that comment and added, “Getting older with more brittle bones stopped me from competing. Now I let the younger generation take over.” Tucson Tohono O’odham team roper Cindy Garcia bridges the age gap at 48. Growing up in a ranching family on the northern part of the Nation, she climbed on her first saddle at age three and began satisfying her competitive streak. Then came a family and arena roping disappeared. Now that the family is grown, she has time to do whatever she wants to…and that’s be a heeler in women’s team roping events. “My competitive streak has subsided and now I’m out there riding just for pleasure.”
Photo: Lee Allen
and wooly riding. No age group was left out. The Pee Wee’s (ages 6-9) rode calves and roped ribbons while more experienced participants competed in the Junior (10-13) age group and the Seniors (14-17). A special All-Indian Team Roping Event for riders enrolled in the four O’odham sister tribes (Tohono, AkChin, Gila River, and Salt River – Maricopa). The lure of a 100% payback (with $500 added for each event) drew a horde of horseman with a will to win in bareback; steer wrestling; team roping; saddle bronc; ladies barrel racing; ladies breakaway; calf roping, and the ever-popular “most exciting 8 seconds in the world of sports,” bull riding. If you had cowboy boots, a hat, and a can-do attitude, there were plenty of opportunities to show your stuff. To get the testosterone flowing, 3-man teams partnered up for a Wild Horse Race where unsaddled equines lunge out of the chutes and cowboys are supposed to corral them and ride them back to the barn. In general, the feisty four-footed critters decided not to cooperate and left several cowboys dusting themselves off and walking out of the arena more slowly than they had entered. Western dress code was a prerequisite to enter the arena and all contestants complied, making it a colorful spectacle, even when the jeans and checkered shirts were covered in a coat of ring
Photo: Tom Harrison
The second day of arena activity began with a Cowboy Church at the Rodeo Arena, followed by a final Grand Entry and the concluding performances. By late that evening, the crowds had long since departed, livestock and cowboys had been trailered and were headed down the road to their next opportunity for adventure and coin, and the organizers were already looking ahead with a “See you next year” invitation. $
azgamingguide.com | March 2014 | Arizona Gaming Guide
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TRIBAL NEWS
Chairman Terry Rambler Named Influential Arizona Minority Business Leader
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he tribal leaders of the Arizona Indian Gaming Association (AIGA) congratulate Terry Rambler, Chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe and Chairman of the Arizona Indian Gaming Association for being selected one of the 25 Most Influential Minority Business Leaders in Arizona. The award is given by the AZ Business Magazine. "I am deeply honored and accept this on behalf of the San Carlos Apache Tribe and tribal leaders throughout this state who are working hard to diversify their economies, improve education and health opportunities and raise the quality of life for all tribal people," said Rambler. Terry Rambler was elected Chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe in 2010, having served on the Tribal Council in 2004 and 2008. His administration is focused on programs and projects that create good jobs and meet critical needs. On the federal level he leads negotiations to settle water rights for his Tribe and heads a national coalition to save sacred, public lands of profound religious, cultural, and historic significance to the Apache and other Indian people. The San Carlos Apache Reservation, in east central Arizona, spans more than 1.8 million acres of Sonoran desert to alpine
32 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2014 | azgamingguide.com
forests and is the tenthlargest Indian reservation in land area in the country. "This recognition of Chairman Rambler is well deserved. The San Carlos Apache Tribe has been diligent in its efforts to create economic opportunities for its people and the surrounding communities through jobs, significant contributions and neighborly goodwill. Chairman Rambler is also highly respected by his colleagues who have elected him to serve both as Chairman of the Arizona Indian Gaming Association (AIGA) and, at the same time, as President of the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona. Both of these organizations have greatly benefited from his vision, leadership and dedication," said Valerie Spicer, Executive Director AIGA. The Arizona Indian Gaming Association has a membership of 17 tribes representing more than 90% of the Indian people living on reservations in Arizona. $
CASINO GOLF
T
alking Stick Golf Club opened in 1998 with both the North and South courses designed by the team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. The North course is a links style adventure through grasslands and ingenious bunkering, while the South course is a more traditional layout with its tree-lined fairways, creative water hazards and smaller, sloped greens. The course is a 36-hole public facility managed by Troon Golf with a full service pro shop, shower facilities, rentals, and the Wildhorse Grille open for breakfast and lunch. Current course specials (valid through April 6) include the 36 Hole Special for $230 where players can play two rounds for one low price. There is also the $115 Arizona Resident Special for one round of golf and the Pro V1 Special which includes one round of golf and a dozen Pro V1 golf balls. Since opening, the course has won many awards and distinction, some of them several times over. The accolades include being named one of the To p 100 Resort Courses (Golfweek) for 2012 and 2013, Best Casino Courses (Golfweek) for 2011 and 2012, Best Courses You Can Play: State By State (Golfweek) for 2012 and 2013, and ranked 14th in the Natio n’s Top 40 Daily Fee Courses (Golf & Travel), among others. Located at 9998 East Indian Bend in Scottsdale, Arizona just East of Talking Stick Resort, players can call 480.860.2221 or just visit talkingstickgolfclub.com for more information about the course. $ azgamingguide.com | March 2014 | Arizona Gaming Guide
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LAUGHLIN, NEVADA
Directory & Gaming Statistics
Aquarius Casino Resort 800.662.LUCK aquariuscasinoresort.com. 1,250+ slots, no smoking slot area, high limit slots area, blackjack, table games, roulette, craps, keno, race/ sports book.
Avi Resort & Casino (Fort Mojave Tribe) 800.430.0721 avicasino.com. 1,000+ slots, bingo, blackjack, table games, craps, roulette, poker room, keno, race/sports book, KidsQuest.
Colorado Belle Hotel Casino 877.460.0777 coloradobelle.com. 750+ slots, blackjack, table games, craps, roulette, poker room, keno, race/sports book. Build your own amazing burger at Pint’s Brewery!
Riverside Resort Hotel & Casino 800.227.3849 riversideresort.com. 1,300+ slots, no smoking slot area, high limit slots area, bingo, blackjack, table games, craps, roulette, poker room, keno, race/sports book.
Edgewater Hotel Casino 800.677.4837 edgewater-casino.com. 750+ slots, no smoking slot area, high limit slots area, blackjack, table games, roulette, craps, race/sports book. Great all-around casino!
Golden Nugget Laughlin 800.237.1739 goldennugget.com/laughlin 1,000+ slots, blackjack, table games, craps, roulette, poker room, sports book. Sign up for the player’s club and spin for free play!
Harrah’s Laughlin 800.447.8700 harrahslaughlin.com 900+ slots, no smoking slot area, high limit slots area, blackjack, table games, craps, roulette, poker room, live keno, race/sports book.
Pioneer Hotel & Gambling Hall 800.634.3469 pioneerlaughlin.com 490 slots, blackjack, table games, craps, roulette, sports book. Make sure to check out the video poker & reel slots!
Laughlin’s Gaming Statistics December 2013 Slots
Hold % Tables
Hold %
-5.88
Blackjack / 21
16.19
$5
3.55
Roulette
16.84
$1
4.55
Craps
18.71
25¢
5.04
Other Table Games 24.75
Loose $25
River Palms Resort Casino 877.787.7256 river-palms.com 550+ slots, bingo, blackjack, table games, craps, roulette, sports book. Don’t miss the view of the river from Denny’s!
Tropicana Laughlin 800.243.6846 tropicanax.com 1,000+ slots, blackjack, table games, craps, roulette, and a sports book. Stop in for lunch at Carnegie’s or the Poolside Café and enjoy the food!
Multi-Denom 5.21
Pai Gow Poker
27.43
Megabucks
5.65
Let It Ride
28.78
5¢
6.92
Three Card Poker
32.78
Tight 1¢
9.78
Other We are not responsible for incorrect, missing, or outdated information. To inform us of updates, please email editor@azgamingguide.com. The Nevada Gaming Control Board publishes statistics on casino gaming activity in Nevada according to their state’s gaming regulations. The most current data for Laughlin at press time is from three months prior. *A negative hold percentage indicates that game overpaid during the stated month.
34 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2014 | azgamingguide.com
Loose Sports Pools Race Books
Tight Live Keno
Hold % Win Amount
Dollars
12.35
Slots
26.6 mil.
16.82
Tables
2.8 mil.
34.02
Other
0.6 mil.
LAUGHLIN, NEVADA
News
Harrah’s Laughlin Presents: T
Entertainment, Promotions & Top Sizzling Slots
here’s a lot going on at Harrah's Laughlin with something for everyone! Defend ing the Cavem an returns to the Fiesta Showroom March 29 through April 20. This is one comedy show you don’t want to miss! On April 26, you’ll want to catch Los Lobos & Los Lonely Boys. With tickets starting at $24 you’ll be sure to have an evening of great entertainment from two great performers for one low price! On June 14, funny man Jeff Dunham arrives with his Disord erly Cond uct Tour for a night of laughs. Harrah’s Laughlin is also hosting a big $20,000 Poker Tournament that is open to the public the weekend of March 14-16. The winner receives a $10,000 WSOP seat or $8,000 in cash! The entry fee is $200 and room rates start at only $59 per night with the buy-in! Every Sunday in March through April 20, Harrah’s Laughlin presents Wheel of Fortune Super Spin Sundays. Players have a one in five chance of winning a prize including free slot play, reward credits, dining credits, or a gift. Did you know that Harrah's Laughlin is home to plenty of Top
36 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2014 | azgamingguide.com
Sizzling Slots? Not only did they recently install over 400 new games, but they are also paying out over $9 million every month! So, the next time you visit, if you are a fan of video poker, make sure to play the IGT Multi-Denomination Triple Play/ Five Play/Ten Play machines in the High Limit room or the Video Poker Area. These are among their top paying games. If you prefer the slots, some of the hottest games on their floor are Aristocrat’s Buff alo Stam ped e near the South Tower, Aristocrat’s Wond er 4 near the Beach Café, and Bally’s Quick Hits also near the South Tower. Make sure you check out all of their hot slots! $
News
LAUGHLIN, NEVADA
REBA, RASCAL FLATTS & LOS TIGRES DEL NORTE Live At The Laughlin Event Center! O
ne of the most successful female recording artists in history, Reba has sold over 56 million albums worldwide and is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame. Reba's reign of #1 hits spans four decades and Billboard, Country Aircheck and Mediabase recognized her as the biggest female hitmaker in Country music history. She earned her 64th Top 10 hit and her 35th #1 with Turn On The Radio, from her most recent album, All The Women I Am. Reba's run of sales successes has garnered her in the upper echelon of #1 albums in the Country genre. She has also starred in the eponymous sitcom Reba, which ran for 6 seasons on the WBTV Network, and Malibu Country on ABC. On Saturday, March 15 she performs at the Laughlin Event Center. Contact your favorite Laughlin casino for tickets or event packages.
Reba McEntire—March 15
Rascal Flatts—April 12
Rascal Flatts' hunger for excellence has borne fruit in every aspect of their phenomenal career. They have won more than 40 major awards, including seven ACM trophies for Vocal Group of the Year and six trophies for CMA Vocal Group of the Year. Recently they added a Grand Ole Opry membership, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the prestigious Country Radio Seminar 2012 Artist Humanitarian Award to their list of accomplishments. It's an amazing track record for a band not much more than a decade in the public eye. In fact, the guys look on this transition period as the perfect segue to the next decade. They paid tribute to their new beginning with their white-themed Flatts Fest Tour. On Saturday, April 12 they will be performing live at the Laughlin Event Center. Contact your favorite Laughlin casino for tickets or event packages.
Fourteen-time nominated and five-time Latin Grammy Award winners Los Tigres Del Norte will perform live in concert Saturday, May 3 in the all new Laughlin Event Center. Paquita la del Barrio will open for Los Tigres. Los Tigres del Norte's Norteño music with its polka roots is blended with stories of social injustice and news. They have recorded more than 55 albums that have earned Gold and Platinum Records in the United States and Mexico and have sold more than 32 million records. The San Jose, California based band tours internationally and has a recording repertoire of over 500 songs and corridos (ballads). Contact your favorite Laughlin casino for tickets or event packages. $
Los Tigres Del Norte—May 3 azgamingguide.com | March 2014 | Arizona Gaming Guide
37
CASINO ENTERTAINMENT
Listings
Apache Gold Casino—Globe, AZ—800.272.2438 Cabaret Lounge: Featuring a variety of live bands every weekend BlueWater Casino—Parker, AZ—888.243.3360 Dig Lounge: Featuring a variety of live bands, karaoke & DJs—Daily at 5pm BlueWater Showroom: Leonardo da Vinci Exhibition—Now-Apr. 22 Kenny Rogers—Mar. 22 Casino Arizona—Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777 The Showroom: The Long Run Experience (The Eagles Tribute)—Mar. 7-8 Fortunate Son (CCR Tribute)—Mar. 21-22 L.A.Vation (U2 Tribute)—Mar. 28-29 The Arizona Room: Jordan Benson with Heartlyn Rae (Country) - Mondays at 8pm Latin Fire Dance Nights (Learn to dance)—Tuesdays at 6pm Country Dance Nights (Learn to dance)—Wednesdays at 6pm Marley Taylor Band (Cover band)—Sundays from 9pm to 1am Casino Del Sol—Tucson, AZ—520.838.6506 Conference Center: No events available at press time Cliff Castle Casino—Camp Verde, AZ—800.381.7568 Dragonfly Lounge: Featuring a variety of live bands, karaoke & DJs Stargazer Pavillion: Lowrider Style Bagger & Custom Motorcycle Show—Apr. 26 Cocopah Resort Casino—Somerton, AZ—800.237.5687 Events: Karaoke with Bling Bling—We-Fr at 8pm La Vida Loca (Latin Music)—Fr at 9pm A variety of live music every Saturday night on the casino floor Desert Diamond Casino I—Tucson, AZ—866.332.9467 Monsoon Nightclub: Boots & Beers—Live country music every Friday night! Noches Caliente—Saturdays the hottest Tex Mex and Tejano music! 49 Laughs Native American Comedy Group—Apr. 19 Desert Diamond Casino II—Sahuarita, AZ—866.332.9467 Sports Bar: Swinging Tuesdays—Tuesdays 1–4pm Karaoke Night—Wednesdays 7-11pm Classic Golden Oldies—Thursdays 1-4pm Live music or DJs—Fridays & Saturdays Diamond Center: Ron “Tater Salad” White—Mar. 29 Doobie Brothers—Apr. 4 Rob Thomas—Apr. 12 Fort McDowell Casino—Fort McDowell, AZ—800.843.3678 Event Center: Silver Car Auction—Mar. 14
38 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2014 | azgamingguide.com
Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment's 30th Anniversary Month festivities continue with a double dose of hilarity from 49 Laughs. The Native American comedy group will be performing two live shows back to back in the Monsoon Nightclub on Saturday, April 19, 2014. Tickets start at $29.50 and are on sale through Star Tickets and at the casino Rewards Center, which offers a 10 percent discount on tickets to Diamond Rewards members. The 49 Laughs Comedy group features amazing and award-winning comedians including Adrianne Chalepah, Tatanka Means, James Junes, Pax Harvey, and Ernest Tsosie III. These five talented individuals have been excelling in the entertainment industry for years performing on stage and on movie screens. The comedy styles of each solo standup comic are so unique and original that there is always something for everyone. Treena Parvello, Director of Public Relations and Communications for the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, said “49 Laughs will tickle your funny bone with their unique brand of comedy. Don't miss your chance to see them live in the Monsoon Nightclub!” Radisson Ballroom: Little River Band—Mar. 15 Lucky 7 Saloon: Featuring a variety of live music every weekend Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino—Maricopa, AZ—480.802.5000 St. Patrick’s Day Weekend: Ba g Pipers—Mar. 15-17, Chuckwalla Rhythm Kings—Mar. 17 The Lounge: Smooth Groove—Mar. 7-8, Checker’d Past—Mar. 14-15, The Walkens—Mar. 21, The Grass Roots—Mar. 22, DSB (Journey Tribute)—Mar. 28-29 Wild Wednesdays No o n to 4pm: Sw ingtips—Mar. 5, Time and Time Again—Mar. 12, Guy Pennacchio—Mar. 19, The Chauffeurs— Mar. 26 Ladies Night o n Mo nda y nights (Live DJ-Mar. 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31) Hon-Dah Casino—Pinetop, AZ—800.929.8744 Timbers Lounge and Showroom: Munday Funday—Comedy Show begins at 7pm Featuring a variety of live local talent Tuesday through Saturday
Editor’s Pick Lone Butte Casino—Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452 Cascades Lounge: Phoenix area bands & DJs offer free live entertainment We—Country, Th—Polka Party 12-3pm & 70’s Disco Funk 8pmmidnight, Fr—Latin, Sa—Top 40/Dance Verona Chophouse: Talia Live— Saturdays 5-9pm Sunday Jazz Brunch Live—10am-3pm
CASINO ENTERTAINMENT Talking Stick Resort Presents
JULIO IGLESIAS March 28, 2014
Mazatzal Casino—Payson, AZ—800.777.7529 Apache Spirits Lounge: DJ Brent—Mar. 14-15 Bad Cactus Brass Band—Mar. 4 Paradise Casino—Yuma, AZ—888.777.4946 Sharky’s Bar & Bites: 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 Pipa Event Center: Dwight Yoakam—Mar. 28 Talking Stick Resort—Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777 The Showroom & Grand Ballroom: Phil Vassar—Mar. 7 Burt Bacharach—Mar. 8 California Transit Authority—Mar. 14 The Pink Floyd Experience—Mar. 15 Michael McDonald—Mar. 22 Julio Iglesias—Mar. 28 Twin Arrows Navajo Casino—Flagstaff, AZ—855.946.8946 Featuring a variety of local, regional & headlining acts. Call for info. Vee Quiva Casino—Laveen, AZ—800.946.4452 VQ Live: Featuring a variety of cover bands, local & regional acts. Call for info. Event Center: The New VQ Comedy Series—Mar. 7 Under a Blood Red Sky (U2 Tribute)—Mar. 14 The Piano Men (Elton John & Bill Joel Tribute)—Mar. 28 Wild Horse Pass Casino—Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452 AiRIA Unplugged—Live music Fri & Sat 4pm-2am Encore Lounge—Featuring a variety of live music nightly Classics With A Twist—Featuring jazz music & cocktails Thu-Sun Showroom: Merle Haggard—Mar. 7 Ho’ Okena—Mar. 8 MC Hammer—Mar. 14 Kenny Rogers—Mar. 23 Yavapai Casino—Prescott, AZ—800.756.8744 Yavapai Cantina: Karaoke with Cruisin’ Susan—Fr at 8pm-12am Featuring a variety of live bands on Saturdays from 7 to 10pm
Latin superstar Julio Iglesias will perform in Talking Stick Resort’s Salt River Grand Ballroom on March 28. The experience will truly be unforgettable as the singersongwriter engages the crowd and plays a collection of his greatest hits including All of Yo u, When You Tell Me That You Love Me, Nathalie and Abrázame. After a car accident left him severely injured at the age of 20, he turned his focus to music, playing guitar and writing songs during his recovery. The pastime soon turned into a lucrative career as the Spanish icon would go on to sell more than 300 million records worldwide, record songs in 14 languages and distribute 80 albums. He has continuously proven himself as an innovator throughout his musical journey, setting two World Guinness Records for selling the most records in the most languages and title for Best-Selling Latin Artist of all time. Tickets for the shows are on sale now. Call 480.850.7777 and ask for the box office or visit talkingstickresort.com.
Verify all details & age restrictions (generally 21 & over) 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, missing, or outdated information.
azgamingguide.com | March 2014 | Arizona Gaming Guide
39
CASINO NIGHTLIFE
Hashtag Lunch Bag By Ramses Ja
H
ello, all! My name is Ramses Ja and I am a radio and television personality here in Phoenix. I can be heard Monday through Friday on 101.1FM The Beat from 3pm – 7pm and seen Fridays at 10am on Channel 3. In the gaming industry, however, I am most prominently known as a DJ. That’s because for the past few years, I held a residency at Degree 270—Talking Stick Resort’s rooftop nightclub. Prior to that, I enjoyed two year-long contracts as Fort McDowell’s resident DJ for their Lunar Bingo sessions. I have also been fortunate enough to DJ and host events at Casino Arizona, Cliff Castle Casino, Wild Horse Pass, and even held a year-long residency at Planet Hollywood on the Las Vegas strip. Needless to say, I have a good idea of what casino culture is all about. Yes, they are businesses…and yes, they exist to generate a profit. But there is more to it than that. Casinos provide jobs, infrastructure, and fiscal resources to many native communities. My issue was that I could never directly see the benefits provided by the casinos for which I worked. Despite the fact that my maternal grandmother was full blooded Cherokee, I’d never even visited a reservation until I began working at Fort McDowell Casino. Additionally, for one reason or another, I could not always directly participate in their charitable contributions. This is when a conversation from my dear friend (current Degree 270 resident) DJ Q Ward piqued my interest. About 8 months ago, he suggested that we invite our casino coworkers all of the people who came to our clubs, our shows, partied with us, and followed our social media outlets to participate in a charity event of our own. After talking it out, we decided that we would feed the homeless. We knew there to be disproportionate numbers of Veterans, Native Americans, African Americans, and mentally ill individuals who didn’t have the resources to feed themselves. We wanted to be centrally based, so that all people could come and contribute. Finally, we wanted it to be fun…like the clubs we are known for rocking! Enter Hashtag Lunch Bag. Sky Lounge in Downtown Phoenix is the place we congregate on the last Sunday of each month. The doors open at 10am, and we are proud to say that every month since we started in September of last year, there is always a line of people waiting for us! It’s not only our casino gaming industry coworkers who come out. There are church
40 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2014 | azgamingguide.com
groups, youth clubs, businesses, radio and television personalities, families, couples, individuals and everything in between! The DJ (sometimes DJ Q Ward or I will spin, but we also invite guest DJs from Power 98.3, 101.1 The Beat, and Live 101.5) sets up and spins tunes as people dance, socialize, network, and of course prepare lunches. Usually at around noon, we start loading up vehicles and sending groups to various parts of town where homeless people tend to congregate. Once there, we simply invite those individuals who could use some extra food to come up, grab a meal and enjoy the rest of their day. It is absolutely the most rewarding experience you could imagine. This project was primarily organized and funded by DJ Q Ward, fashion models Nick Beam and Tajji Sharp, Frisko, my station’s marketing director Mattlocks, and me for the first few months. Since then, we have received several donations from food banks, and monetary donations from participants of the event. Our non-profit has granted us access to several other opportunities as well. We are looking to incorporate shoes and blankets into our charity because we get asked for those two items the most. Initially, we sought to promote our efforts online (hence the name Hashtag Lunch Bag) but now, we enjoy promotional consideration from several radio and television stations—English and Spanish, and some noteworthy publications…including the Arizona Gaming Guide. If you would like more information on this event, please do not hesitate to contact us on Twitter or Instagram @RamsesJa or @IamQWard, by email at hastaglunchbagphoenix@gmail.com or just pull us aside the next time you see us in the casino…we’d love to hear from you! $ Ramses Ja Rudi King-Taylor II
•Music Director/On-Air Host (3-7pm) for KNRJ-FM 101.1 The Beat
•Resident DJ/VJ for KTVK-3TV Friday 10am •Host of R.E.D.Y. Set Radio •Official Bum Squad DJ •DJ Vatican Member •For more information on Ramses Ja, visit his website at: ramsesja.com.
HOT DEALS
Desert Diamond Casinos Brand New Tiered Rewards Cards
I
n February, Desert Diamond Casinos introduced a tiered rewards system for Diamond Rewards card members. The new system will let guests earn reward points twice as fast, as well as giving them access to new perks as they earn more points. There are four tiers of Rewards Cards: Classic (0—999 points), Silver (1,000—6,999 points), Gold (7,000—49,999 points), and Diamond (50,000+ points). Each tier offers new perks, discounts and rewards to their guests. One exciting new feature introduced with the new cards are Reward Dollars, which are credits that can be used for payment at any food & beverage venues, Casino Bars and Retail Shops. Reward Dollars are earned based on play with a Rewards Card at Slot Machines and Table Games. Guests who only play Keno, Bingo or Poker can visit the Rewards Center to pick up a voucher based on the points they have earned based on play, which can then be redeemed at any food & beverage venues, Casino Bars and Retail Shops. Reward Dollars can only be redeemed for casino services and will expire after 13 months of inactivity. Current Rewards Card holders who qualify for higher tiers can simply visit their Rewards Center to receive their new tier Rewards card. Classic level guests can continue to play with their cards and earn rewards. Free play will automatically transfer to the new tier Rewards cards. The qualifying period for the tier levels was January 1, 2012 through Decem-
42 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2014 | azgamingguide.com
ber 31, 2013. Renewals are September 1, 2013 through August 31, 2014. In February, Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment also became the first Arizona casino to honor America’s veterans and active-duty military service members with a special Tribute Card providing discounts, monthly free play, and annual free hotel stays. To qualify, guests must present a valid military ID and their Diamond Rewards card at the casino Rewards Center during signup. Tribute Card members will enjoy a variety of benefits and special offers. $10 in Free Play will be automatically loaded onto their cards on the 1st and 15th of each month, with the initial offer available a minimum of 10 days following signup. Tribute Card holders can also enjoy up to 12 complimentary hotel nights per year, based on availability. Finally, Tribute Card holders will enjoy a 10% discount at restaurants and gift shops and a 50% discount on tickets for concerts and events. More information on the Tribute Card is available at the Rewards Center. Treena Parvello, Director of Public Relations and Communications for the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, said “Our new Tribute Card is one way for all of us at Desert Diamond Casinos to give back to those whose service defends the lives and freedom of all Americans. We are proud to be the first Arizona casino to offer this special benefit to veterans and service members!” For more info call 866.DDC.WINS or visit ddcaz.com. $
CASINO BINGO DIRECTORY
This Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras), the hall has a $500 Must go Special for the 6pm session with free beads while they last. On Saturday, March 8th the hall hosts a Mardi Gras-themed Kozmic Bingo at 10pm. The costs are $10 Paper Buy-In, $17 Electronic, and $27 for the Kozmic Special. Music is by $DJ MONEY$ and make sure to come in your masks, feathers and beads to receive a free extra book. If you bingo on the free book, you double the payout! On Monday, March 17th (St. Patrick’s Day) there is the 6pm session with a $25 paper Buy-In, $47/$77 Electronic Buy-In and $300 payouts on main games, $500 specials, and $1,199 coverall. For info, call 800.777.4946 or visit paradise-casinos.com. $
Luella Kaznak wins over $5,000 at Paradise Casino’s Bingo
Casino
Sessions
Seats Smoke-Free Area Electronic
Apache Gold
Su, We, Th at Noon. Fr & Sa at 7pm. 1st Mo of the month at 7pm
200
No
No
No
BlueWater
Mo-We 4:30pm. Su at 11:30am.
400
Yes
Yes
No
Casino Arizona
Mo-Su at 6:30pm Daily Matinees at 12:30pm
1000
Yes
Yes
L8 Nite Bingo Fr & Sa Doors at 10pm. Games at midnight
Casino Del Sol
Daily at Noon, 1:30, 2:15, 6:30 & 7:15pm
600
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
(2 sections: enclosed or in general seating)
Yes
Fr & Sa at 12:10am. Call for Lunar Bingo schedule.
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, 5:30pm. 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 11:30am & 1:30pm Mo-Sa at 6pm.
300
Yes
Yes
Call for Kozmic Bingo & Other Special Dates
Vee Quiva
Daily at Noon & 6:30pm.
366
Yes
Yes
Bingo Eclipse Sa at 11pm.
Yes
Late Night
Sources: Arizona Department of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 02/01/14 & 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.
44 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2014 | azgamingguide.com
FUN & GAMES
WORD SEARCH In honor of the UN’s International Women’s Day on March 8th, find: ACTIVIST, CONFIDENCE, CREATIVITY, EDUCATE, EMPOWERMENT, EQUALITY, FREEDOM, LIBERATION, MOVEMENT, OPPRESSION, PROGRESS, REFORM, RIGHTS, SELFESTEEM, SISTERHOOD, SOCIAL, STUGGLE, SUFFRAGE, VINDICATION, WOMEN. Words appear in any direction. (Solution on page 50)
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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 50)
5
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1
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46 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2014 | azgamingguide.com
4 8
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SAMI’S SMACKDOWN
Don’t Forget The Tip
At The Casino Cashier That Is...
By Sami Becker
L
oved your article in this month’s Arizona Gaming Guide [January 2014]. I wanted to add to your tipped list of people … the cage cashier … we are providing a service along with the slot attendants etc. … a little bit goes along way … I figure if I help 100 people a day and each person dropped me a quarter I’d have $25 a day. Also, I read the page about people winning the top prizes in Scratchers … is it just me or does it seem all the top winners are coming from northern Arizona rather than from southern Arizona? Thanks! Jason F.—Via E-mail Jason, how right you are! The casino cage cashiers are definitely worth tipping every time you make a transaction. Furthermore, our staff has never had a bad experience interacting with cashier staff at any of the many, many casinos we’ve visited. Everyone
48 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2014 | azgamingguide.com
is always so friendly and has at least a few kinds words to say when you are at the window. Thank you for what you do! With respect to reading about winners of top prizes when playing Scratchers. I think one has to consider Arizona’s population distribution and the fact that the Arizona Lottery has two offices, one in Phoenix and the other in Tucson. Guess which office has the PR department in it? That’s right, the Phoenix office. As a result, the Arizona Lottery may be skewing their own coverage of winners. In terms of population, we know 50% of Arizona’s residents live in the Phoenix Metro Area. Therefore, most of the Arizona Lottery’s Scratchers tickets will be sold in the Phoenix area, practically guaranteeing more winners from Phoenix than anywhere else! $
Do YOU have something to rant or rave about? Write me at: sami@azgamingguide.com
Y
Y
Y
Y Y
11300 Resort Drive
Parker
888-243-3360 523
03. Bucky’s Casino
1500 E. Hwy. 69
Prescott
800-756-8744 309
04. Casino Arizona
101 & McKellips
Scottsdale
480-850-7777 911
Y
Y
Y
Y
05. Casino Del Sol 06. Casino of the Sun
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
I-17, Exit 289
Camp Verde
800-381-7568 656
15318 S. Ave. B
Somerton
800-237-5687 513
Y
Y
Y
7350 S. Nogales Hwy.
Tucson
866-332-9467 1,089
Y
Y
Y
I-19, Exit 80
Tucson
866-332-9467 688
Hwy. 86, Milepost 55
Why
866-332-9467
Maricopa
480-802-5000 1,089
Pinetop
800-929-8744 838
1077 S. Kyrene Rd.
Chandler
800-946-4452 786
Hwy. 87, 1/4 mi. S. of Payson
Payson
450 Quechan Dr.
Yuma
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
800-777-7529 425
Y
Y
Y
Y
888-777-4946 506
Y Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
I-8, Exit 166
Winterhaven, CA 877-783-2426 1,000+ Mohave Valley 928-346-2000 247
101 & Indian Bend
Scottsdale
480-850-7777 752
I-40, Exit 219
Flagstaff
855-946-8946 1,089
6443 Komatke Ln.
Laveen
800-946-4452 950
5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd.
Chandler
800-946-4452 950
1505 E. Hwy. 69
Prescott
800-756-8744 244
24. Yavapai Casino
Y
Y
8555 Hwy. 95
22. Vee Quiva Casino
Y
Y
19. Spirit Mountain Casino
Y
Y
Y
18. Quechan Casino
21. Twin Arrows Navajo Casino
Y
Y Y
Y Y* Y
Y
Fort McDowell 800-843-3678 891
777 Hwy. 260
20. Talking Stick Resort
Y
Y
55
15406 N. Maricopa Rd.
17. Paradise Casino
Y
Y
855-765-7829 294
15. Lone Butte Casino
23. Wild Horse Pass Casino
Y
Y
855-765-7829 1,085
14. Hon-Dah Casino 16. Mazatzal Hotel & Casino
Y
Y
Tucson
Hwy. 87 & Ft. McDowell Rd.
13. Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino
Y
Tucson
10. Desert Diamond Casino II 12. Fort McDowell Casino
Y
5655 W. Valencia Rd.
08. Cocopah Resort Casino
11. Desert Diamond Casino-Why
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 Y
Y
Y
Sources: Arizona Department of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 02/01/14 & 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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Sudoku Solution
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7
2
1
5
9
8
6
4
3
A
50 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2014 | azgamingguide.com
Smoke-Free Area
02. BlueWater Resort & Casino
Y
Arcade
800-272-2438 619
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