Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - April 2014 - 06:04

DEPARTMENTS 04 EDITOR’S NOTE 06 PLAYERS TALK 08 GREAT GAMES 15 WINNING WAYS 19 GAMING NEWS 22 CASINO DINING 24 ARIZONA LOTTERY 26 FEATURE STORY 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

DESERT DIAMOND CASINOS CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF FUN AND GAMES THIS MONTH!

48 SAMI’S SMACKDOWN 50 CASINO DIRECTORY

TWO BRAND NEW SLOTS

BY WMS GAMING

ROCKING WITH ZZ TOP

BY BALLY TECHNOLOGIES

QUECHAN TRIBE IN YUMA SUCCEEDS WITH GROWTH

Their game designers produce Star Trek Starship Enterprise and Reel ‘Em In Catch The Big One 2.

The wildly popular and infamous Texas Blues-Rock band makes a big entrance into casinos with their slot.

Staff writer Lee Allen provides the inside scoop on the different aspects of the Quechan Tribe.

azgamingguide.com | April 2014 | Arizona Gaming Guide

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Your Authority On Everything Gaming VOLUME 06 • ISSUE 04 PUBLISHER Chris Höft chris@azgamingguide.com MANAGING DIRECTOR Elizabeth Torma liz@azgamingguide.com

Desert Diamond Casinos Celebrates 30 Years!

Wow! Talk about an accomplishment for the Tohono O’odham tribe. They opened their first high-stakes bingo hall back in the 1980s and haven’t looked back! Now, they currently operate three casinos (Tucson, Sahuarita, and Why) and are celebrating their success all month long with special promotions and deals. Check out the pictures of what the bingo hall & casino used to look like in the feature story!

This issue has the scoop on exciting new slots by WMS and Bally and news about all the new slots installed in casinos around the state. Plus, gaming industry veteran Al Moe gives us the inside scoop on Pai Gow Poker. Staff writer Lee Allen provides us with an in-depth look at the Quechan Tribe in Yuma, AZ. Entertainment writer Ramses Ja discusses one of the really interesting gigs he has. 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 April issue and have fun!

Cheers!

Alexandra

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

“Like” us on Facebook because

we “Like” you too!

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alexandra Lang editor@azgamingguide.com ART DIRECTOR Melanie Mueller CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 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 | April 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

PLAYERS TALK

Q&A On Everything Gaming

Q: Hi, I have a rather complicated question that I figured you could answer here. I know right now, according to the gaming compacts that the tribes have, that all of the current casinos in Arizona have a limit of 1089 slot machines and $29 bets per spin. However, I recall that it gets revised every five years and the number adjusts/increases according to inflation and population.

The last revision came in 2008/2009 so aren’t we due for another one? How many more slots can casinos have? I did notice some casinos have installed machines recently that allow for bets of $30 so maybe it went into effect?

Kurt Kalocin—Scottsdale, AZ Kurt, what an excellent question! The Tribal State Gaming Compact is an evolving document that contemplates changes in the economy, inflation, population, etc. From time to time, modifications are made through Compact Amendments and/or Appendices. In 2008, the majority of the gaming tribes signed the Compact Amendment which, among other things, provided for the increase in wager limits based on CPI adjustments and inflation. We can confirm that in 2013, the wager limit increased to $35.00 for the Tribes that signed the 2008 Compact Amendment. For those that have not signed the 2008 Amendment, the wager limit increased to $32.00. With regard to the number of machines, the 2013 population numbers did not justify an increase so the machine counts have remained the same.

In addition, what everyone should know is as Arizona’s population increases, machine counts at each casino can increase.

However, the issue is not that simple as these adjustments are linked to negotiations between the State and individual Tribes after the State agency in charge of population statistics releases reports indicating a population increase. So, just because the U.S. Census data indicates a population increase in Arizona from one survey to the next, doesn't automatically translate into more machines in every Arizona Casino! Hopefully this gives you the insight you are looking for. Good luck out there!

Q: I have always been curious about how these slots work. All my friends tell me that they are set up, but

you keep talking about how they are random. I know you are experts because you make these games and know what is really going on so please explain how a slot picks how many free games you get in a bonus. I like to play a game that pays me 8, 10, 12, 15, or 20 free games. Usually I get the smaller numbers but sometimes I get the larger free games. My friends never get the large numbers when they play so that’s why they think it’s set up. What’s really going on here?

Jennifer M.—Phoenix, AZ

Jennifer, you are correct in stating a slot can randomly select the number of free games to award. If a slot’s bonus game can award a range of free games, like you mention, then that selection will be random. The program running the slot machine’s game will ask the random number generator (RNG) to provide a random value which is then converted into an award.

Here’s a peek behind the scenes as to how this gets created when the game is designed, produced, and developed. The game mathematician sets up a table with weights assigned to each award similar to this one: Award Weight Probability Range for RNG 8 free games 30 30% 1-30 10 free games 25 25% 31-55 12 free games 20 20% 56-70 15 free games 15 15% 76-90 20 free games 10 10% 91-100 Totals 100 100% 1-100 Notice the “Range for RNG” column. This is used at the beginning of the bonus game. The program asks for a random number from 1 to 100. Based on the result (say 63) the game awards the corresponding number of free games (63 is in the range of 56-70 so the game will award 12 free games).

If your friends don’t play this game for very long and only hit a few bonuses, guess which number of free games they are most likely to be awarded? Well, based on the table above, 75% of the time they’ll be awarded 8, 10, or 12 free games (Add the probability of each award: 30% + 25% + 20% = 75%). $

and get a $25 gas card if we decide to print your question!

Do you have a question for our staff of casino gaming industry professionals and slot experts? Write us with your questions and comments in any area of gaming and we will make every attempt to publish a response in upcoming issues. Space is limited so we are unable to print every letter or e-mail we receive. Please include your name and mailing address with all correspondence. Mail to: Arizona Gaming Guide PO BOX 20636 Mesa, AZ 85277 or E-mail to: editor@azgamingguide.com.

06 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2014 | azgamingguide.com

GREAT GAMES

Table Games—Pai Gow Poker

By Al Moe

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ai Gow sounds like an exotic Asian game filled with strange rules and hard to understand strategy. And it is, when you first sit down. After five minutes you’ll find that it’s really just a poker game where you are dealt seven cards from a regular deck of 52 cards plus a joker and you make two hands to try and beat the dealer’s hands.

Players make a wager on their hand, and may also wager on a bonus bet and a progressive jackpot if they wish. Each player and the dealer receive seven cards. The joker may be used to complete a straight or flush, or as an Ace. A straight flush is the highest hand. Pai Gow, or a hand with no pair, is the lowest, and a 9-high Pai Gow is lower than a 10-high Pai Gow. Each player must make a high-hand of five cards and a lower, two-card hand. To win, your high-hand must beat the dealer’s high-hand and your low-hand must also beat the dealer’s lowhand. If one wins and one loses, it is a push. If one is a tie and one loses the dealer wins, which also happens when both dealer hands beat both player hands.

progressive wager. The listed payoffs are tempting, but the house edge is high. Of course, it’s hard to resist a progressive wager when the jackpot is several hundred-thousand dollars!

Setting Your Hand The house uses a specific way of setting each hand to reduce the chance that it will lose both the high and the low, while sometimes passing on a chance to play the largest possible high hand. For instance, when the 7-card starting group includes two pair as well as a straight, the house will forego the straight and play the best pair in the high-hand, with the lower pair in the low-hand. You should do the same!

Now, suppose you are dealt four Aces with a King, Queen and Jack. Should you play the four Aces with the Jack in your highhand and the King-Queen in the low-hand and see if you get lucky and win, or play a pair of Aces in the low-hand, knowing you can’t get beat? In this case you should definitely play a pair of Aces in each hand. Don't gamble - always try to play a very good two-card low-hand to protect your wager and live to play another round!

In the game of Pai Gow, the highest straight is the Ace-KingQueen-Jack-Ten. However, the second highest straight is Acetwo-three-four-five. Keep that in mind when you set your hand.

Next time we’ll discuss Pai Gow strategy and learn about progressives and the bonus bet. $

The House Edge The tie aspect is what gives the house an edge, since two hands will tie about 2.6% of the time. In addition, the house charges a 5% commission on winning wagers, so your $10 bet gets paid $9.50. The house also has a larger edge on the bonus bet and the

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.

08 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2014 | azgamingguide.com

GREAT GAMES

WMS Gaming—New Slots Coming Soon

Boldly Go Where No Slot Has Gone Before!

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he Star Trek Starship Enterprise theme is the first game to feature the Double Colossal Reels feature—the next evolution of the player-favorite Colossal Reels series! Featuring two 5x3 arrays with Kirk and Spock symbols that transfer to a 5x9 Enterprise array, the Star Trek Starship Enterprise game takes you to a whole new frontier.

Set your Phasers to stun in the Energize Feature and watch the Enterprise fire down, transferring WILD symbols from the main reel array to its corresponding Enterprise array and turning the full reel WILD. But that’s not all—spin the reels in the Phaser WILD Feature to see Kirk and Spock symbols beam over to their corresponding reels for a chance at even bigger wins.

With multiple bonuses such as the Red Alert and Trouble with Tribbles Free Spins enhanced by the synchronized motion of the Sensory Immersion 2.0 chair, you will find yourself sitting in the captain’s chair of the Enterprise as Kirk himself did, facing action and excitement as you explore the final frontier!

Boldly go where no one has gone before and head over to wms.com/ForPlayers to learn more about Star Trek Starship Enterprise Slots today! Live long and prosper.

Get Your Fish On With A Remake Of A Classic Slot Theme!

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pecifically designed with the mechanical player in mind, the Reel ‘Em In! Catch the Big One 2 theme offers a unique opportunity not only to hook one Local Area Progressive, but when accompanied by max bet, the potential to catch all eight progressives in one bonus round!

Trigger the Fishing Feature with three lure symbols in the free spin bonus, and cast your reels out to sea as eight progressive fish swim around the top screen. Catch a fish and remove it from the pool, as remaining fish continue to swim around eager for their chance to bite! Once all seven fish are caught, three additional lure symbols allow you the chance to catch the big one—the top progressive Rainbow Fish.

Featuring a round top with glass over an incandescent LED monitor, and a clear LED panel that allows full visibility of the reels, this low-denomination Blade stepper theme is sure to be a swimmingly good time—no trout about it!

Bait those hooks and cast your eyes over to wms.com/ForPlayers today for more information on this and other unique WMS gaming experiences!

10 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2014 | azgamingguide.com

Bally Technologies—New Slots Coming Soon

GREAT GAMES

By Riley Meredith

W

hether you’re a sharp-dressed man, wear cheap sunglasses, or just got paid, there’s something for every slot player in Bally’s new game ZZ Top Live from Texas. You’ll feel like you have front-row seats as you listen to all your favorite songs pumped from the surround-sound chair that truly envelops you in a concert-like experience.

ZZ Top Live from Texas includes some of the band’s classics like Sharp Dressed Man, Cheap Sunglasses, Just Got Paid, Legs, and Gimmie All Your Lovin’, along with plenty of concert footage that will keep you rockin’ to the band’s trademark blues-inspired rock.

Game play starts with the Just Got Paid instant win as you are awarded a pick-‘em feature which can earn credits, a Jackpot Wheel spin, or one of three unique Free Games bonuses. The Jackpot Wheel awards one of three progressive jackpots: The Whole Enchilada, Fandango, or Big as Texas and this fun feature is available at any bet level!

ZZ Top Live from Texas includes two more mystery features. In the Eliminator Wilds, a hot rod appears on screen during the base game and awards wilds on reels two through five, leading to big wins. The band’s VU Sound Meter also appears randomly in the base game and awards a two, three, or five-times multiplier to line wins for one spin depending on the audio level hit.

You’ll use U-Spin to touch and spin a ZZ Top Bonus Wheel to win one of the three Free Games Bonuses, a Jackpot Wheel spin, or a credit award on the Money Spin. In Live from Texas Free Games, you choose the volatility—picking between more spins with small multipliers, or few spins with bigger multipliers.

Either way, there are big wins to be had while enjoying classic concert footage.

Sharp Dressed Man Free Games give you the chance to pick from 12 ZZ Top-inspired items—like a lighter, cowboy boots, a bow tie, or a top hat—to get up to 35 free games with a 3 times multiplier. In Legs Free Games you’re awarded 8 free games with Lock ing Wild s. Each time a wild lands on any reel, it remains in place for the remainder of the free games.

Watch for ZZ Top Live from Texas to hit casino floors in the coming months. You never know, you might just get paid! To learn about this Bally game and others visit ballytech.com. $ azgamingguide.com | April 2014 | Arizona Gaming Guide

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GREAT GAMES

New Slots

Brand New Games @ Bucky’s & Yavapai

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etting in the car for the short trip to Bucky’s and Yavapai Casinos in Prescott means the drive won’t be very long for Arizona residents no matter what part of the state they live in. Why go? Well the slot department will have several brand new games ready for winning action starting on April 9th!

The new slots include Willy Wonk a by WMS, The Phantom of the Opera and Back to the Future by IGT. If you haven’t had a chance to play these games yet, you need to seize the day and check them out at Bucky’s and Yavapai Casinos in Prescott.

Plus, see if you can “Break the Code” with their April Hot Seat Drawing and win your share of approximately $36,000! With over 540 slot machines, plenty of non-smoking space, and the excitement of live table games, you’re sure to be entertained between the two casinos, Twice the Action, Twice the Fun! The casinos are located across from each other on Highway 69 in Prescott. For more information visit buckyscasino.com or call 800.756.8744. $

Brand New Games @ TSR & Casino Arizona Progressives is the first five-reel, mechanical game to introduce a communal gaming experience where players can actually share in the awards of others. When one player hits the community progressive, all other eligible players also win! One of the top three progressives is randomly selected as the community progressive. If one additional person is eligible, he or she will receive an additional progressive equal to the one received by the person triggering the progressive. If two additional people are eligible, each player splits the additional progressive award.

Any wager makes players eligible for the Free Games Bonus or the Mystery 7 Jackpot. Three or more bonus symbols landing on the reels triggers the Free Games Bonus.

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ll of your favorite brand new slot machine games are “stampeding” into Casino Arizona (CAZ) and Talking Stick Resort (TSR) in Scottsdale this April.

By the time you read this issue, you’ll be able to play IGT’s Fast Hit Progressives with exciting games like Double Gold, Triple Diamond, and Triple Double Hot Peppers at TSR. With these slots, only max bet can trigger a progressive win. If four of the same color symbols line up, that specific progressive is awarded to one player. But, there’s a great twist to these progressives! Fast Hit

12 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2014 | azgamingguide.com

Buffalo Stampede by Aristocrat is available for play at TSR and on April 2, CAZ will also have the game ready for action. We’ve mentioned Buff alo and Buffalo Stam ped e numerous times in recent issues because they are such good games. Plus, our sources at TSR and CAZ are telling us that Buffalo is one of the most popular games on their floors. So, make sure to check out the new games which offer a progressive starting at $15,000!

TSR has added IGT’s Valhalla to their High Limit Slot Room due to the overwhelming popularity of the existing games in the room. What a great example of a casino listening to the preferences of their players!

Plus, you can play a brand new The Price Is Right—Plinko Jackpots slot by WMS at CAZ and on April 4, IGT’s Plund er Bay will also be ready for winning at CAZ. For more information, visit casinoarizona.com or talkingstickresort.com. $

GREAT GAMES

New Slots

Brand New Games @ Desert Diamond Casinos

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ink your teeth into a juicy game at Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment on Nogales Highway with the new True Blood game by IGT, available in Tucson for the first time! Based on the hit HBO series, this standalone progressive game offers a 45-credit cost-to-cover while capturing the otherworldly Southern gothic elements from the iconic franchise. During the base game, near bonus triggers still have the potential to award credits. If two bonus symbols land on the reels, players select one to receive a random credit award or wild reels. Two bonus symbols, plus a third thematic bonus symbol, trigger one of three spine-tingling bonuses. The Blood Lust Bonus awards players with five free games with the potential of additional free games and wilds when a blood lust symbol lands on the reels. During the Merlotte’s Bonus, players look for Sookie by selecting drink coasters and winning credits. If a player finds a Sookie symbol, another random drink coaster is selected to award additional credits. Players spin the True Blood bottle during the Progressive Bonus to select one of the main characters. Once they enter the bonus, they pick from different objects relating to that True Blood character to try to win the progressive.

Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment on Nogales Highway is also the first in Tucson to offer the new Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory game from WMS, based on the original musical motion picture featuring Gene Wilder and Jack Albertson. The entertaining slot adventure offers numerous exciting bonus rounds drawn straight from the motion picture classic. Watch as Oom pa Lo om pas add WILDs to the reels while expanding them into the top screen for additional winning possibilities. Thrill as you encounter Free Spins where oversized symbols change each spin, covering 2, 3, 4 or even 5 reels at once! Settle into the motion system chair for a ride on the Chocolate River Boat – with motion effects perfectly aligned with ingame events for an exciting bonus like nothing you’ve seen before. There’s even a golden ticket hidden in a Wonk a bar that awards a $5,000 jackpot – with the odds of finding it increasing each time it is not won!

Players will have their chance at the $5,000 jackpot at the end of each bonus they play – with increased odds of winning for higher bet multipliers!

This April, sail on down to Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment on Pima Mine Road and hunt the white whale in Multimedia Games’ Moby Dick slot game, available in Tucson for the first time! In addition to the mystery wilds and stacked symbols, once three bonus symbols land scattered on reels 3, 4, and 5, players enter the picking bonus, where they are prompted to match four-of-a-kind for a possible prize of up to 160x total bet! When three Free Spin symbols land on reels 1, 3, and 5, the Free Spin Bonus begins, an alternate set of reels is used, and the player is awarded 10 free spins. As the typhoon rages a battle with the white whale, the White Whale symbol is Wild, and free spins can retrigger for up to 110 free spins! The story doesn’t end there though: at max bet, when six or more Doubloon symbols land scattered on the reels, the progressive prizes begin as the Doubloon Jackpots are triggered!

You’ll want to hoof it over to Desert Diamond Casinos on Nogales Highway for Buff alo Stam ped e from Aristocrat! The latest in the popular Buffalo game series, this one gets you over the hump by maintaining the spirit of the original with new and enhanced features. Roam the prairie with a single-site, two-level progressive jackpot, a new bet structure, free games, expanding Xtra Reel Power reels and much, much more!

Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment on Nogales Highway is also very excited to bring the Michael Jackson II Wanna be Startin’ Somethin’ slots game from Bally Technologies to Tucson! The follow up to the popular Michael Jack son King of Pop slot—another Tucson first at Desert Diamond Casinos—the new Michael Jackson Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ features familiar gameplay and all-new bonuses set to five of Michael Jackson’s most iconic hits: Bad , Billie Jean, Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough, The Way You Make Me Feel, and Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’. Players will be able to earn a life-changing jackpot on the Cash Connection wide-area progressive, with a near-area progressive option available. The game is highlighted by a U-Spin Platinum Record Bonus Spin that prompts players to touch the game screen to spin a platinum record with their fingers for bonus credits or to activate one of three special Free Games bonuses. The video for the song Bad plays during the Bad Free Games, while Michael dances to the song Billie Jean during the Billie Jean Free Games. Free Games, wilds, U-Spin bonuses, and video clips showcasing Michael Jackson make this game an exciting way to experience the influential performer.

For more information about Desert Diamond Casinos, visit ddcaz.com or call 1.866.DDC.WINS. $

14 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2014 | azgamingguide.com

WINNING WAYS

Tournament Time

AZ gaming tournaments heat up the spring & summer

By Rodric J. Hurdle-Bradford

D

uring the spring and summer in the desert every Arizonan is looking for a way to beat the heat while still enjoying the seasons. For those who love gaming, and poker in particular, there are several ways to spend these months capturing the camaraderie and competition at your local casino as well as casinos across the state.

Thanks to the poker craze that has dominated casinos in the last decade, it is not surprising that poker tournaments dominate Arizona’s competitive gaming landscape.

“Our property is proud to offer fun gaming tournaments during the long summer months,” says Christine Herron, poker manager at BlueWater Resort and Casino in Parker, Arizona. BlueWater Resort and Casino offers a poker tournament every Tuesday at 7pm and a $35 buy-in with a bounty and one $20 re-buy at any time during the first three rounds. Registration begins at 4pm. Every Thursday the poker tournament and registration begins at the same time, with this tournament having a $40 buyin with bounty and high hand, along with one $20 re-buy at any time during the first three rounds. Early bird chips are available with the game.

a $1000 add-on and a one-time dealer bonus add-on. The tournament is modified for Wednesday night at 7pm with a $40 buy in for $5000 in chips, a five-dollar rebuy for $1000 in chips and a $500 add-on available. Participants can earn bonus chips starting at 2pm.

For the weekend, the Saturday tournament begins at 5pm, with a 2pm registration time. Early bird chips are currently available, but may not be for the entire summer, so players are encouraged to take advantage of the special now. BlueWater is also considering the addition of a Friday tournament.

“To add to our offerings, we offer our Aces Cracked promotion from Sunday to Friday where players win progressive cash prizes when they lose with pocket aces,” says James Perry, spokesperson for Cliff Castle Casino Hotel. “Also, every day we offer a $100 bonus if they win with a royal flush.”

“It is still tentative, but with guests checking in for the weekend it would add to the value of our gaming entertainment options,” says Herron. “That is why our motto is Play it to the river on the Colorado River.”

For those visiting the Phoenix metropolitan area this summer, or for those poker-playing Phoenicians looking to stay closer to home, there are options in the Valley of the Sun too!

In Camp Verde, Arizona, Cliff Castle Casino Hotel has also established a dedicated summer poker tournament for those looking to beat the heat, the dealer and the competition, seven days a week.

Every weekday from Monday to Friday they host a No Limit Texas Hold ‘em tournament at 10am that features a $30 buy-in and (no re-buys available) $600 in chips. On Saturdays the tournament moves to Noon and has a $95 buy-in with $7500 in chips awarded. Bonus chips are available beginning at 8am, as well as

Gila River at Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino holds a Noon No Limit Texas Hold ‘em tournament on Mondays and Thursdays. $150 per table is added with a $30 buy-in. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays the tournament is held at 7:30pm with $1000 added to the prize pool and a $50 buy-in. The Sunday No Limit Texas Hold ‘em tournament has a $30 buy-in and one optional $20 add-on before the first break. The tournament begins at 3:30pm.

The casino also prides itself on the variety of unique tournaments it offers, including an Aces Cracked promotion that starts (Continued on page 18)

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WINNING WAYS (Continued from page 15)

Sunday night at 11pm through Friday at 6pm and includes an opportunity to spin the ‘Money Wheel’ to win up to $1000 for any straight flush with both hole cards playing.

ties), 15 from each division, win cash prizes from a prize pool of $19,955 in each division and an invitation to play in the summer divisional point championship on August 3 at 11:15am.

For basketball fans, the slam dunk basketball promotion has all tables splashed after every quarter of a NBA game. For those with good luck, the Rolling Cash Fever drawing is a $1000 progressive drawing held every two hours, 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week, while those with bad luck are treated to the Bad Beat Jackpot, for those who have aces full of 10 or better beat by a four-of-a-kind or better. For players with really bad luck, the super 77 Bad Beat Jackpot may be for you. If you play a hand of four 7s or better and it gets beat, you win!

Poker not your game? Tired of Texas Hold ‘em? There are several blackjack tournaments you can play to quench your summer thirst.

“We strive to create new and innovative tournaments for guests that sets us apart from the competition while offering a Las Vegas style experience,” says Melody Hudson, public relations manager for Gila River casinos. “Our casinos are confident that the tournament experience we offer our guests is unique and unlike any other tournaments in the Valley.”

Another Valley resource for poker tournaments is Talking Stick Resort with their 2014 Summer Divisional Point Challenge Promotion. Through July 26, players receive one point for every final table appearance. A final table experience consists of the last 10 players of any tournament. The top 30 point earners (and

18 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2014 | azgamingguide.com

For those who have not visited the all new Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino, they are offering several tournaments. Bulk up at the Friday Afternoon Tournament (FAT) at 2pm. Registration begins at Noon, with a $30 buy-in and winners are invited to play in the end of the month tournament. The last Saturday of the month blackjack tournament allows players a chance to win a share of up to $10,000. The prize pool is based on participation with a $1000 buy-in that pays all final table participants.

BlueWater Casino offers an interesting mix of two games with their blackjack bingo game every weekday from 10am to Noon and 6pm to 8pm. The Friday tournament features a $1000 ‘Must Go’ prize.

“It is a game worth mentioning to any casino visitor,” says Chris Charlwood, table games director at BlueWater Casino and Hotel. “It will add to the summer fun of Arizona’s gaming scene.” $

GAMING NEWS

Talking Stick Resort Adds New Outdoor Concert Venue To Pool

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his April, Scottsdale will be home to a new outdoor concert venue.

Talking Stick Resort, an enterprise of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, proudly announces renovations to its main pool to include a stage and capacity for over 4,000.

“Enhancing guest experience at Talking Stick Resort is our top priority,” said Patricia Tate, senior vice president and CFO for Talking Stick Resort. “The renovations to our pool provides us with more than ample space to hold exciting events like our Release pool parties and headline shows, while capitalizing on our state’s beautiful weather.”

As part of the changes, a new day lounge pool will be added. The shallow pool will allow guests to be half in and half out while soaking up the sun in one of the 16 lounge chairs that are immersed in the pool. Six cabanas will be added to the area bringing the total to 27. Each cabana is a VIP cabana outfitted with flat-screen TV’s, furniture, ceiling fans and refrigerators. Moreover, 12 daybeds will be added in the pool area including eight canopied daybeds.

Rounding out the new venue is the new stage. The Stageline Mobile Stage is a 40 by 60 foot SL320 and converts from trailer to a stage. Along with the stage will be state-of-the art sound and lighting sophisticated enough to pre-

sent some of the nation’s top headline acts. One of the first to perform will be American hard rock band, Staind on Sunday, June 8. Also booked in the coming months are Phoenix favorites Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers, Collective Soul, and 311. Details for these shows will be announced soon!

Tickets for Staind at the Pool at Talking Stick Resort are already on sale. Cabana rentals as well as general admission tickets are available. To purchase tickets, please visit talkingstickresort.com or call the TSR box office at 480.850.7734.

Talking Stick Resort is a AAA Four Diamond Rated Resort and a central landmark within the emerging Talking Stick Cultural and Entertainment Destination. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, just east of the Loop 101 on Indian Bend Road, TSR is locally owned and caringly operated by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.

The property offers culturally rich experiences and luxury accommodations throughout its 496 deluxe rooms, 240,000 square foot casino, 11 restaurants and lounges, world-class spa, 650 seat showroom, 25,000 square foot grand ballroom, thriving cultural center and more than 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space.

For more information about Talking Stick Resort, please visit their website at talkingstickresort.com. $ azgamingguide.com | April 2014 | Arizona Gaming Guide

19

GAMING NEWS

Big Winners & Big Changes At Valley Casinos

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ild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino will debut its new 5.6 acre, Festival Park with Sammy Hagar, the ‘Red Rocker’ and his Four Decades of Rock performance in conjunction with Phoenix Bik efest, April 4-6. This exciting new multipurpose outdoor venue boasts one of the valley’s best new entertainment options and is in a prime location, adjacent to the popular Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino. “The all-new Festival Park expands our entertainment and group business footprint,” said Michael Olujic, General Manager of Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino. “The Festival Park will allow us to accommodate up to 15,000 people in a concert setting and showcase major talent such as Sammy Hagar,” said Olujic.

B

rian Butts started off his week in grand style. The Valley resident won $105,826 when he hit the progressive jackpot on a Triple Double Red Hot 7s slot machine at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino early on the morning of February 20, 2014. Triple Double progressive slot machines are very popular among players at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino and have players fired up for one of the biggest Triple Double progressive payouts this year at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino.

The slot is a nickel game requiring a 45 credit max bet, or $2.25, by playing 9 lines at 5 credits per line to qualify for the big progressive. The photo above shows Brian next to the lucky machine. The progressive value reset to around $1,250 and is now climbing steadily waiting for the next lucky player! For more info on the casino, call 800.946.4452 or visit WinGilaRiver.com.

L

ady luck was with MariAnne Bort on March 1 when she played Talking Stick Resort’s Wheel of Fortune Triple Spin and won nearly half a million dollars! The Phoenix native dominated IGT’s television-themed slot machine and became the property’s latest jackpot winner, receiving a massive payout of $464,863.92! “Players visit Talking Stick Resort with the ultimate dream of a big win,” said Ramon Martinez, director of public relations for Talking Stick Resort. “Our facility is no stranger to daily jackpots, but that doesn’t diminish the excitement we feel when a deserving person claims such a huge prize.” Designed after the popular television program, IGT’s Wheel of Fortune Triple Spin is one of 700 slot machines offered at Talking Stick Resort. This is the second time the game has been hit since Gerald Allen Phillips, Jr. of Mesa won $5.7 million two years ago. Additional fan favorites featured on the casino floor include Tully’s Treasure Hunt, Texas Dice, Dolly Parton, Cherry Chance and Shining Seven, just to name a few. For more info on the casino, call 480.850.7777 or visit talkingstickresort.com.

20 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2014 | azgamingguide.com

The Festival Park encompasses 5.6 acres of outdoor land located between Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino and the recently opened Phoenix Premium Outlet Mall. The Festival Park is a multipurpose, outdoor facility designed to accommodate concerts and outdoor festivals of various sizes. Olujic went on to say, “With land and construction costs at a premium, we were able to economically design and build the Festival Park at Wild Horse Pass to meet the demands of smaller groups while also accommodating up to 15,000 guests for an outdoor concert. We estimate that the Festival Park can easily accommodate major outdoor festivals such as the inaugural Phoenix Bik efest or any other major outdoor festival.” To unveil Festival Park to the public, Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino has partnered with Phoenix Bikefest and R Entertainment Company to offer a coveted lineup of entertainment. British rock band The Cult will kick things off with its Electric 13 Concert Tour on April 4 followed by headliner “The Red Rocker” Sammy Hagar on April 5. Tickets start at just $20 and can be purchased on their website at WinGilaRiver.com, by phone at 877.840.0457, or by visiting the box office at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino. $

CASINO DINING

Enjoy Easter Brunch E

aster is here on April 20th and this year it coincides with the Orthodox Easter as well. As a result, many people of faith will be celebrating this traditional event. What better way to celebrate than to leave the cooking to the casinos?

At Talking Stick Resort, there are no less than five Easter Brunch menus available! In the Arena Poker Room, patrons playing at tables are able to order a Caesar salad, grilled lamb chops with sides, and dessert from 11am to 11pm for just $19. At the Wandering Horse Buffet (one of our staff’s all-time favorite places to have a lunch meeting) the menu includes a whole host of dishes including prime rib, wild boar, ham, veal, halibut, trout, kobe steaks, lamb chops, roasted chicken, ox tails, salmon, shrimp, oysters, and Chef Peggy’s assorted desserts, just to name some of the highlights.

The remaining three restaurants at Talking Stick Resort also have their individual Easter Brunch menus. These include lamb at Blue Coyote, creole bouillabaisse at Ocean Trail, and a buffet style starters table with a selection of eight entrees complete with Venetian style desserts and pastries at Orange Sky. Now that sounds delicious. Happy Easter to everyone! $

22 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2014 | azgamingguide.com

at Talking Stick Resort

ARIZONA LOTTERY

Winners

New Casino Slots Scratchers

Allison St. Pierre

$500,000 Windfall in Prescott

By Cindy Esquer

A

difficult day became a $500,000 winning day for Allison St. Pierre of Prescott. She had an instant scratch game to redeem for $10 as well as two $10 bills in her wallet. The Lottery vending machine wouldn’t take one of the bills, so she gave it to the cashier at the store, along with her ticket, and told the clerk, “Just give me a $20 bill.”

She put the $20 into the machine and purchased one Golden Ticket and went home. The rest is history!

Allison was busy so she didn’t scratch the ticket until late that evening. She was in a state of disbelief when she realized the ticket was a $500,000 top-prize winner. At 12:08am she called and texted her good friends asking, “Are you still awake?” They woke up, but didn’t return the call until the next morning.

After the ticket had been checked numerous times, it was almost an hour of texting back and forth before Allison and her friends developed a game plan for the day. The main part of the plan included redeeming her winning ticket.

Allison, who works in customer service, has already made arrangements to meet with a financial advisor. She wants to put this money to work for her as it will make a nice retirement cushion.

To sum it up, Allison said, “I plan to live happily ever after because of this winning ticket.”

To Claim Your Prize: Retailers pay prizes up to $100 and may pay prizes up to $599. The Arizona Lottery pays all prizes including prizes $600 and over. Any prize may be claimed by mail. Prizes subject to prior sales. Tampering with a Lottery ticket is a Class 3 felony punishable by law. All tickets, transactions, and winners are subject to Lottery Rules and State Law. You must be 21 years or older to purchase tickets. Expiration date: All prizes must be claimed no later than 180 days after the announced end of game date. For more information, winning numbers, lists of ended games and last day to redeem prizes, visit arizonalottery.com.

24 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2014 | azgamingguide.com

T

his brand new Scratchers game started last month and is right up any casino enthusiast’s alley! The cost to play is only $5 per card and players can win up to $50,000!

Once purchased, players must scratch each “Spin” on the card.

If three identical symbols are revealed in the same spin, players win the prize for that spin. Revealing two "7" symbols in the same spin will double the prize for that spin!

Did we mention there is also a bonus game? Just like on your favorite slot, players are treated to a bonus with this new Scratchers game as well. But instead of wondering when a bonus game might start, players can make that decision on their own! In the bonus game, if players reveal three identical symbols, they win the prize shown in the bonus legend for that symbol!

As of press time for the April 2014 issue, there are five $50,000 top prizes still available for Casino Slots Scratchers! The chances of winning individual prizes are listed in the table below.

PRIZE $50,000 $1,000 $500 $250 $100 $50 $40 $25 $20 $10 $5

ODDS 1 : 240,000 1 : 40,000 1 : 6,000 1 : 2,400 1 : 400 1 : 200 1 : 150 1 : 120 1 : 40 1 : 10.91 1 : 7.27

Overall odds are 1 in 3.61.

Winners

ARIZONA LOTTERY

checked, instead of four matching numbers, the ticket had five matching numbers for a winning jackpot of $81,000.

Chino Valley Woman Wins $81,000!

Julia Bowers

It took a while for the win to register with her, but then Julia yelled for her husband to come and look at the ticket. After checking the ticket several times, they took the ticket to the store to be validated.

F

antasy 5 is one of two games that Julia Bowers and her husband play on a regular basis. Using their own numbers, her husband purchased two lines for the Fantasy 5 draw of January 10. He purchased their ticket at the store where according to Julia, “We purchase about 90% of our tickets.”

After the drawing, as was her custom, Julia checked the numbers online. They recently had a ticket with four numbers worth $500. This time when she

When she gave the ticket to the clerk to check, Julia told the clerk, “Please keep it quiet.” All the clerk wanted to know was if they’d bought the ticket at that store, and was thrilled when told, “Yes!” Julia and her husband came to Arizona from Michigan over 12 years ago. Arizona’s wonderful weather was a major factor in their decision to leave the harsh winters. Her husband is already retired and Julia is looking to retire shortly.

The couple are thrilled with their win and plan to use the money to pay off some bills. Since they already have a trip planned to go back home to visit family, the timing of this win is excellent.

The winning ticket was purchased at Safeway, 1031 N. Hwy 89, Chino Valley. $

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 | April 2014 | Arizona Gaming Guide

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Then… and now...

Celebrates 30 Years!

By Lee Allen

I

f it’s true that the past is a prologue to the future, the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise has set a steady course over the last 30 years and continues to build on that success. For the moment, the Nation is taking the month of April to celebrate those three decades of gaming and giving.

Like many other Native American operations, gaming for the Tohono O’odham started quietly and modestly enough with their Spring 1984 opening of a bingo hall. Flash forward to today’s holdings --- three facilities (Tucson, Sahuarita, Why) --- along with a strong push for a 4th entity in the Phoenix area. Current employment runs more than 1,300 workers, making the casinos one of the region’s largest employers. When salaries, subcontractors, and services are combined, it’s estimated the tribe’s gaming operations inject over $25 million into Southern Arizona’s economy annually.

Revenues generated by these gaming operations have made a tremendous impact on improving the Nation’s economic self-sufficiency and allowing an investment in the future of its people. In addition, the State of Arizona has also benefitted through an estimated $950 million influx over the last decade from Arizona’s Indian casinos.

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Millions of dollars have gone into revenue sharing with nearly 200 local governments and community organizations in every corner of the state. Over 600 nonprofit organizations have received charitable contribution support and within the Nation; the police force has expanded; a fire department has been created; dollars have been allocated to a health clinic, dialysis center, and elderly care center; and scholarship monies have gone to numerous tribal members seeking higher education.

It’s taken a lot of hands to build a firm base for the Nation’s gaming endeavors and then move them forward.

Four of the most prominent persons who have guided the gaming evolution over the decades and remain involved today are Treena Parvello, Communications Director for the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise; Libby Francisco, Chief Operating Officer of Desert Diamond Casinos; Keno/Bingo Director Jesus Contreras, and Tribal Chairman Dr. Ned Norris, Jr., who managed

and marketed the casino operations in the early 1990s.

Parvello, who joined the Gaming Enterprise operation in 1998, says she has been able to watch the evolution of positive change, the growth, maturity, and sophistication that has taken place. “We’ve encountered lots of challenges, but we’ve overcome the obstacles and risen above them. We have constructed a strong model for building partnerships and working with communities and can see ourselves doing this for the next 30 years.”

Parvello, who got tribal support to pursue her MBA, says she’s “happily paying back my dues” in a job that gives her that opportunity. She is a mentor to others following in her path as cochair of the Global Gaming Women tribal community, pleased to play ”any small part I can in helping empower other women in the tribal gaming community.”

“We’re incredibly proud to be celebrating three decades as Southern Arizona’s entertainment leader and honored to have

developed strong partnerships with the community. That’s why we’re pulling out all the stops for our month-long party.”

Chief Operating Officer Libby Francisco, winner of Casino Enterprise Management’s Great Women of Gaming award, started as a shift manager in 1993.

“I was naïve of what benefits gaming could bring and voted against the gaming initiative when it was first presented by our nation. Now I’m proud of the work I do and the contributions I have made to the Enterprise.

In addition to ensuring we operate a business of integrity, I love the challenges that come from working for a dynamic, non-stop industry like ours. Every new development signifies a successful step forward. I learned early on that casino management was a community partnership of giving back and we’ve made a concerted effort to do that since Day One.” - Libby Francisco (Continued on page 28)

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27

(Continued from page 27)

Francisco’s comments echo the thought found on the tribe’s web page that, “We don’t just exist in a neighborhood, we participate.”

When it comes to longevity, Keno/Bingo Manager Jesus Contreras takes top honors. “I started when it was high stakes bingo, over 1,400 people in the hall. It was crazy,” he says. “Now it’s a different kind of crazy with bingo, Keno, slots, poker, and blackjack. I went there thinking it was going to be a part-time job and it became my lifelong career. I’ve been blessed because it was the right choice.”

Also among the industry trendsetters is the Nation’s Chairman himself, Dr. Ned Norris, Jr., who started in the gaming operation prior to being elected to serve the Tohono O’odham people for more than three decades. Dr. Norris worked in the publicity and marketing arenas as well as managing the tribe’s first casino.

Recognizing that a 30th anniversary only comes once, the Nation has pulled out all stops for its month of festivities that includes more than $1 million in giveaways.

A Million Dollar Diamond Spiniversary runs from April 7-27 with two end-of-the-month drawings for 30 lucky winners at each property. Entertainment options are on-going at the Monsoon Nightclub in Tucson and the Sports Bar in Sahuarita with

28 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2014 | azgamingguide.com

special presentations including the Doobie Brothers on April 4, Rob Thomas on April 12, and the Native American comedy group 49 Laughs on April 19.

April 17th is the key date, however, as it coincides with the official 1984 start of modern gaming for the tribe. In addition to an anniversary dinner for tribal dignitaries, community partners, casino leadership and long-time employees, the public can take advantage of dinner specials at Agave and The Steak House, discounted drink prices, and free anniversary cookies until supplies run out.

For gamers, table games will have $5 anniversary chips in play beginning 4/17 while Bingo/Keno will conduct 4 days of drawings for iPads, iPods and TVs along with Buy 1-Get 1 bingo packs and free anniversary daubers. An Anniversary Keno Tournament will run from April 17-20 with a $30 buy-in.

Slot machine vendors will offer free merchandise and on the anniversary day itself, table games players receive free hats along with t-shirts and coffee mugs for all guests.

“This is such a special event that we’re going all-out for a continuous month-long celebration with everyone invited,” says Francisco.

For more information on Desert Diamond Casinos, visit ddcaz.com or call 520.294.7777 or 1.866.DDC.WINS. $

TRIBAL NEWS

—Yuma, AZ

By Lee Allen

t’s been 20 years since the Quechan Tribe (once known as Yumans) entered the field of gaming with a 300-seat bingo hall. Today the tribe on the Fort Yuma-Quechan Reservation that straddles the Colorado River owns two bustling casinos --- one in Yuma and one just a few yards away on the other side of the river in Winterhaven, California.

I

tribe would be breaking ground on “a project so grand.” Today, tribal member Charles Montague Sr., General Manager of Paradise Casinos, says: “It was a wise move to put two casinos close together because initially Arizona didn’t have any table games, but California did. It was an economic boom time and gamers showed up left and right.”

To capitalize on a flourishing tourist trade of snowbirds who flocked to the area when it got cold back home, the tribe expanded its initial recreation center/bingo hall/poker room to open casino gaming on the Arizona side of the reservation and it’s proven to be a smart decision.

Calling it “Fun and Leisure in Desert Luxury,” Quechan Casino Resort advertises, “Do what you love when you want to do it.

Escape into the extraordinary --- an immersion into sights, sounds, and experiences that will remain with you.” The Q’s nearly 3,000 square foot gaming space houses 1,000 gaming machines and two dozen table and poker games on a 24-hour basis.

Table games include six-deck and double-deck Blackjack, Pai Gow and Three Card Poker while eight live poker tables deal Texas Hold ’Em and Omaha Hi Low splits. High-rollers are awarded a VIP treatment in the region’s only high-limit room with multi-denomination reel slot machines, video reel slots, Keno and video poker machines and double-deck Blackjack.

Two restaurants are available to feed hungry gamers [Sidewinders Grill and Ironwood Steakhouse] and 166 guest rooms (including eight 800-square-foot suites) await exhausted fun seekers ready to call it a day. A resort-style heated pool offers a relaxing dip as part of the Southwest experience. The 20,000 square foot Pipa Event Center is one of the area’s largest venues for entertainment, special events and meetings with a

The time and the place brought quick success for the slot/live poker/keno/bingo operation and after several capital improvements were made to the original casino, a second facility was built on the other side of the state line to accommodate growing consumer demand. The newest addition was described as a ‘Mediterranean Oasis in the Desert’ where then-CEO Brian Parrish told the Yuma Sun newspaper that the employees, “our team members,” were responsible for the facilities success. “We try to make guests feel warm and welcome when they visit The Q for gaming, entertainment, food, and leisure. Other news outlets cited local stories on “the transformation of the sandcovered hills into a new $200 million casino-resort,” and quoted tribal president Mike Jackson as saying he never imagined the

30 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2014 | azgamingguide.com

TRIBAL NEWS full-size stage and seating for 2,300. Paradise Casino, on Quechan Drive in Yuma, keeps its 500 new and classic slot machines humming by continuing to add new floor games.

“Paradise is the spot for lucky slots,” they advertise. “Visit us and feel the energy for yourself.”

Despite a drop in gaming participation during the recession, the casinos brought in revenue that contributed to the tribe’s economic vitality. “Between both properties, we’ve met our obligations and shown improvement,” says Montague. Much of that improvement has been internal, short term goals that make dollar sense. “We’ve gone from a Triple C bond rating to a B positive rating, putting us in the Top 15% of Indian Country tribes that hold bonds. We’ve met both debt and tribal obligations as well as maintaining a reserve fund.”

Goals for the immediate future are to continue to improve the casino’s financial position and maintain or improve bond ratings even further to allow refinancing that will build up cash reserves and subsidize tribal services. “I’m satisfied we’re doing things correctly and heading in the right direction,” Montague says. Changes visible to the gaming public include replacement of casino participation machines with tribally-owned standalones as well as an infusion of new slots. “We’re bringing in new product and doing floor improvements at Paradise,” says the GM. “Looking at both properties, our trips are up over last year at Quechan Casino Resort and substantially up at the Paradise facility. The number of people coming through the front door is increasing and we’re getting more players at both sites.”

While the tribe now generates revenue through their casino, resort, and other business enterprises such as parking lots and RV parks, they also earn income from agricultural and commercial land leasing of the fertile flood plains of the Colorado River.

The Quechan, or Kwtsaan, meaning “those who descended (from a sacred mountain)” were traders, brokering shells and fishhooks from the Pacific Coast tribes in exchange for baskets and pottery from Eastern tribes. The Quechan are known for their distinct language, once the native tongue of Southeastern California and Southwestern Arizona. History has it that the Yuman Indians built fires in the belief that rain would come to the area. The word ‘uma’ means fire, thus the name Yuma.

Their reservation of some 45,000 acres borders the states of Arizona, California, Baja California, and Mexico. Because their lands are bisected by Interstate 8, several million cars annually drive through the reservation as travelers head to and from Phoenix and San Diego.

Now, with gaming facilities straddling both sides of the Interstate and the Colorado River, Quechan tribal members in both Southwestern Arizona and Southeastern California can extend an invitation for the gaming public to visit not just one but two of their casinos. For information on Quechan Casino visit playqcr.com or call 877.783.2426. For information on Paradise Casino visit paradise-casinos.com or call 888.777.4946. $

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TRIBAL NEWS Moenkopi Senior Center, Inc.—Their mission is to improve the quality of life for elders by offering recreational, educational, social activities and by providing support services for all Hopi Elders of Moenkopi Village (Upper & Lower) and the Hopi Reservation, including those with physical disabilities. The purpose of the Moenkopi Senior Center is to provide direct services that are vital to elders in maintaining their independence and living healthier, longer, fulfilled lives.

Native Americans for Community Action (NACA)—NACA’s vision for the individuals in Flagstaff and the surrounding communities is to embrace wellness, respect and self-sufficiency and contribute to a thriving community where indigenous values and cultural traditions are celebrated.

By Patrick McWhortor and Marissa Theisen

Native American Connections—This organization is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families through Native American culturally appropriate behavioral health, affordable housing, and community development services.

he biggest day of individual giving, Arizona Gives Day, is back for another year! The Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits and the Arizona Grantmakers Forum have once again teamed up to bring Arizona Gives Day, presented by FirstBank, back to our state on Wednesday, April 9. This 24hour online giving initiative encourages Arizonans to recognize and financially support the efforts of various nonprofits from across the state. In addition to fundraising, Arizona Gives Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the state’s nonprofit sector and educate communities on the benefits of online giving.

T

Native American Community Health Center, Inc.—They provide holistic, patient-centered, culturally sensitive health and wellness services. They are dedicated to providing the finest health care services available throughout the Metropolitan Phoenix area.

Beginning at midnight on April 9 and continuing until 11:59pm, Arizonans can go online at AZGives.org and pledge their financial support to the nonprofit of their choice. Donors will select the recipient of their online donation and the donation will go directly to their chosen organization. Among the hundreds of participating organizations, there are groups who have dedicated their time and resources in order to support Arizona’s tribal nations. Here are just a few:

Navajo Partnership For Housing, Inc.—This group was created to provide innovative and flexible home ownership financing opportunities on or near the Navajo Nation and empower Navajo Families with new knowledge, skills and understanding which will enable them to complete real estate transactions.

The Hopi Foundation—Their mission exemplifies the Hopi teaching of itam naapyani or "doing the work ourselves.” Established by local Hopis to promote self-sufficiency and proactive community participation in their own destiny, the Foundation has served the Hopi community since 1987 through the development of micro-enterprises and community-based projects that work to strengthen Hopi culture and Hopi values. The Foundation hosts a number of local projects and initiatives including KUYI Hopi Radio, HOPI Substance Abuse Prevention Center, Natwani Coalition, Owl and Panther Project, and the Hopi Leadership Program.

The Hopi School, Inc.—Also known as Hopitutukaiki, the school, through its summer apprenticeship program, has developed an interdisciplinary curriculum that encourages a culturally based, more holistic educational process both in the arts and sciences. The school’s long-term goal includes developing both an accredited elementary and secondary school with curricula that are rooted in Hopi philosophy and teachings.

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Native American Disability Law Center, Inc.—This center is a private, nonprofit organization that advocates for the legal rights of Native Americans with disabilities. Through advocacy and education, they empower Native people with disabilities to lead independent lives in their own communities.

Native Seeds/SEARCH—They are a nonprofit seed conservation organization based in Tucson, Arizona. Since its founding, they have been dedicated to the calling to conserve the rich agro-biodiversity of the arid Southwest because of its genetic and cultural importance.

Phoenix Indian Center—For more than 65 years, this center has been enriching the lives of American Indian people as the first urban Indian Center in the Nation of its kind. As one of the early American Indian nonprofits, they continue to be the connection to American Indian communities across the Nation, serving as a home-away-fromhome for the urban American Indian community.

Red Feather, Inc.—This group educates and empowers American Indian nations to create long-term, sustainable solutions to the severe housing crisis within reservation communities. Red Feather organizes volunteers and, alongside tribal members, builds needed homes using sustainable materials and techniques.

Donors can learn more about the nonprofits participating in their community by logging on to AZGives.org and then help spread the word by joining the movement on Facebook and Twitter. Every donation will help the nearly 1,000 deserving organizations statewide. Please help us make this our best Arizona Gives Day!

CASINO GOLF

D

id you know that out of the 23 casinos in Arizona, more than one quarter of them have their own golf courses? In a state known for its courses, practically no matter where you play on the casino floor around the state, you can play on green grass too! But, it is nice not to have to go very far to enjoy a round and in many cases the casino offers guests special deals and discounts on golf. So bring your bankroll and your clubs and make a long weekend out of your next casino trip!

Casino courses include Apache Gold Casino Resort near Globe, Casino del Sol near Tucson, Cocopah Resort Casino near Yuma, Fort McDowell Casino near Fountain Hills, Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino near Maricopa, Talking Stick Resort near Scottsdale, and Wild Horse Pass Casino near Chandler. $

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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 January 2014 Slots

Hold % Tables

Hold %

5.00

Blackjack / 21

17.90

$25

5.59

Pai Gow Poker

18.64

25¢

5.90

Craps

18.87

Multi-Denom 6.22

Roulette

22.19

$5

6.65

Other Table Games 28.14

Megabucks

7.01

Let It Ride

28.93

5¢

7.58

Three Card Poker

31.20

Loose $1

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!

Tight 1¢

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.

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Loose Sports Pools Race Books

Tight Live Keno

12.23

Hold % Win Amount

Dollars

2.49

Slots

36.0 mil.

16.86

Tables

3.3 mil.

29.20

Other

0.3 mil.

LAUGHLIN, NEVADA

News

Harrah’s Laughlin Presents: T

Entertainment, Promotions & Top Sizzling Slots

here’s a lot going on at Harrah's Laughlin in April and May! Divas returns to the Fiesta Showroom May 6 through 27. Tickets start at $35 with show times nightly at 8pm (dark May 12, 17 and 19). Harrah’s Laughlin is hosting another $20,000 Poker Tournament that is open to the public the weekend of April 8-10. The winner receives a $10,000 WSOP seat or $8,000 in cash! The entry fee is $100 and room rates start at only $15.99 per night with the buy-in! The poker room has two more regular weekly tournaments lined up for players looking for card room action. The Omaha High Tournament starts at 2pm on Sundays and is no limit. A $50 buy-in gives players 5,000 in tournament chips. The blind levels are every 20 minutes starting at 25/50. The Tournament of Chance is the newest, most interesting and fun tournament on the river! On Friday and Saturday nights at 7pm, a $65 buy-in gives players 5,000 in tournament chips and a chance to play No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em. The blinds start at 25/50 with levels every 20 minutes. The twist comes when one player eliminates a competitor. A Chance Card is awarded for each elimination that may earn players extra cash, extra chips, or having players pay a penalty! Don’t forget that Harrah's Laughlin is still the home of Top Sizzling Slots! The 400 new games on the floor are getting hotter and hotter as the

36 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2014 | azgamingguide.com

casino paid out over $10.5 million to players in February (March figures not available by press time)! Our sources tell us that the IGT Multi-Denomination Triple Play/Five Play/Ten Play machines in the High Limit room or the Video Poker Area are always hot and that recently an All Star Video Poker game in the High Limit room climbed into the top of the charts. For all of the slot enthusiasts among our readers, some of the hottest games on their floor are Aristocrat’s Buffalo Stampede near the South Tower and also the Cage, Aristocrat’s Wond er 4 near the Beach Café, and Bally’s Quick Hits also near the South Tower. A newcomer to the top of the list is an African Diam ond slot near the Beach Café. Make sure you check out all of their hot slots! $

News

LAUGHLIN, NEVADA

Tropicana Laughlin Launches New Poolside Entertainment Activity!

T

he Tropicana Laughlin Hotel & Casino recently launched its “Big Screen Dive-In” entertainment amenity, a first of its kind at the resort. The “Big Screen Dive-In” is a 160-inch high density display screen fitted with a Bose surround-sound system and is located at the resort’s pool area. The new addition provides the resort’s guests with an outdoor theater-style experience as they relax poolside.

The big screen offers the resort the capability of broadcasting pay-per-view specials such as concerts and sporting events, music videos, theatrical films, television programs as well as daily news, business and weather reports.

The resort’s pool area also features a Jacuzzi, private for-rent cabanas and pool shack bar. The surrounding courtyard area offers ample seating at umbrella-covered tables and easy access to the resort’s restaurants, casino and hotel rooms.

Tropicana Laughlin features more than 1400 well-appointed rooms and suites, seven restaurants, nightly lounge entertainment, and slot, table and sports book gaming options. The Trop Advantage player loyalty program offers cardholders benefits such as same day cash back, discounts and an array of member amenities and rewards. For more information about the Tropicana Laughlin Hotel & Casino visit tropicanax.com. $ azgamingguide.com | April 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 Casino Arizona—Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777 The Showroom: Space Oddity (David Bowie Tribute)—Apr. 7-8 BOSTYX (Boston & STYX Tribute)—Apr. 11-12 Blasphemous Rumors (Depeche Mode Tribute)—Apr. 18-19 Bella Donna (Stevie Nicks & Fleetwood Mac Tribute)—May 2-3 The Arizona Room: Jordan Benson with Heartlyn Rae (Country)—Mondays 8pm Latin Fire Dance Nights (Learn to dance)—Tuesdays at 6pm The AZTEX Band (Latin, R&B, Old School, Funk)—Tuesdays 8pm Country Dance Nights (Learn to dance)—Wednesdays at 6pm The Tommy Ash Band (Country)—Wednesdays & Thursdays 8pm Marley Taylor Band (Cover band)—Sundays from 9pm to 1am Casino Del Sol—Tucson, AZ—520.838.6506 AVA Amphitheater: Gabriel Iglesias—Apr. 26 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 Comedy Night Showcase with Dave Burleigh—Apr. 19 Charlie Worsham—Apr. 26 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: Doobie Brothers—Apr. 4 Rob Thomas—Apr. 12 Gloria Trevi—May 3

38 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2014 | azgamingguide.com

Comedian, actor, singer and writer Rodney Carrington will be live in the Diamond Center for a night of laughs on Saturday, May 31, 2014. Tickets start at $27.50 and are on sale through Star Tickets. Tickets are also available at the casino Rewards Center, which offers a 10 percent discount to Diamond Rewards members. Active, retired or veterans of the military who have the casino Tribute Card also receive 50 percent off a pair of tickets—offer only available at the Rewards Center.

Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm. This is an 18+ show; all seats are reserved. Rodney Carrington has recorded eight major record label comedy albums selling over 3 million copies. Rodney also starred in his own TV sitcom Rod ney, which ran for two seasons on ABC. Treena Parvello, Director of Public Relations and Communications for the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, said “We’re ready for a night of laughter and this Funny Man is guaranteed to make you smile! We cannot wait for Rodney Carrington to take the Diamond Center stage this May!” Fort McDowell Casino—Fort McDowell, AZ—800.843.3678 Lucky 7 Saloon: Featuring a variety of live music every weekend Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino—Maricopa, AZ—480.802.5000 The Lounge: Delta Sa ints—Apr. 4, Maggie Rose—Apr. 5, Shining Stars—Apr. 11, The Spinners—Apr. 12, The JJ’s—Apr. 18-19, Rhythm Edition—Apr. 25, Harry Luge—Apr. 26 Wild Wednesdays No o n to 4pm: Vinny DiJo hn—Apr. 2, XO feat.

Julia Roth—Apr. 9, The Top Cats—Apr. 16, BandStand Shows—Apr. 23, The Buddy Holly Review—Apr. 30 Ladies Night o n Mo nda y nights (Live DJ-Apr. 7, 14, 21 & 28) 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 Lone Butte Casino—Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452 Cascades Lounge: Phoenix area bands & DJs offer free live entertainment throughout the

Editor’s Pick week featuring the Valley's best local bands & DJs Verona Chophouse: Talia Live— Saturdays 5-9pm Sunday Jazz Brunch Live—10am-3pm

CASINO ENTERTAINMENT Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Resort Presents

Maggie Rose Saturday, April 5, 2014

Mazatzal Casino—Payson, AZ—800.777.7529 Apache Spirits Lounge: DJ Brent—Apr. 18-19, May 23-24 Torres and Hendrix—May 5 DJ Earful May 16-17 Event Center: Aquarius 68—May 23 All My Rowdy Friends (Hank Williams Jr. Tribute)—Jun. 14 One More From The Road (Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute)—Aug. 8 Paradise Casino—Yuma, AZ—888.777.4946 Sharky’s Bar & Bites: Featuring a variety of live music on the weekends Little Joe—Apr. 26 Australia’s Thunder From Down Under—Jun. 7 Zapp Band & Candyman—Aug. 16 Quechan Casino—Winterhaven, CA—877.783.2426 Sidewinders Bar & Grill: Featuring a variety of live music on the weekends Pipa Event Center: Mariachi Festival—May 2 Talking Stick Resort—Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777 The Showroom & Grand Ballroom: Rob Thomas—Apr. 10 Robert Cray Band—Apr. 17 Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam World Tour—Apr. 19 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 Pettybreakers (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Tribute)—Apr. 4 Como La Flor (Selena Tribute)—Apr. 18 Jaleo Band—Apr. 19 Michael Salgado—Apr. 26 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: Cheech and Chong—Apr. 12 Wilson Phillips—Apr. 18 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

Maggie Rose, an up-and-coming country star, is returning to the Valley! Country fans will remember Rose from her appearance at the Scottsdale Showdown, and now she is back and will be live at The Lounge at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino! With hits like Preacher's Daughter, Better Off and Looking Back Now, this is a must-see for all country fans! She will perform two shows in the lounge at 8 and 10pm.

Celebrating 20 years in Maricopa, Arizona, Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino is Arizona’s first and only tribal casino to have an international management partner.

Offering the largest selection of the latest slots in a range of denominations, Harrah’s Ak-Chin features a variety of slot machines, video poker, video keno as well as popular statewide progressives and live-action poker and Blackjack.

Casino guests can also enjoy live entertainment in the newly remodeled Lounge and a variety of dining options including the Copper Cactus Grill, The Range Steakhouse, Agave’s Restaurant, The Buffet and allnew Dunkin Donuts. Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Resort features 300 luxurious resort and tower guestrooms and an outdoor swimming pool with swim-up bar.

For a full listing of entertainment this month and for more information, call 480. 802.5000 or visit their website at harrahsakchin.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 | April 2014 | Arizona Gaming Guide

39

CASINO NIGHTLIFE

Loud Rumor @ Degree 270

By Ramses Ja

L

ooking to have a fun night out with business owners and entrepreneurs? Loud Rumor’s events are the place to be!

Loud Rumor is a marketing company in Phoenix, Arizona that focuses on the way local businesses grow their companies.

They’ve hosted 13 quarterly events, all at the beautiful Talking Stick Resort on the 14th floor, Degree 270 Lounge, and I've been their DJ every time!

Michael Arce, the founder of Loud Rumor and event host, states “We believe in creating a fun atmosphere with many talking points. We have DJ Ramses Ja mixing fun songs throughout the night. He’s very talented, and he’s really great about playing at the perfect volume - loud enough to enjoy the music, but not too loud to talk business in a detailed manner.”

Mike believes that what makes the average networking mixer boring is all the talking about how companies started, how many employees and clients, quarterly and annual goals, etc.

Loud Rumor fills the room with many other fun talking points, too. There’s always some sort of entertainment such as hypnotists, mentalists, magicians, professional dancers, and so on.

Luke Brady, mentalist and magician, seems to be a regular at the events.

“Luke will put two people about 15 feet away from each other and have them close their eyes,” says Tom DiPasquale, business developer at Loud Rumor, “then tap one of their shoulders 3 times and have them both open their eyes. He’ll then ask the person he didn’t touch ‘Did you feel anything?’ The person will say he felt someone tap his shoulders 3 times. It’s pretty unbelievable, but I’ve seen him do it many times so I guess I believe it,” jokes Tom. There are also two massage therapists at each event giving out massages to attendees and even a bright green drink (Loud Ru-

40 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2014 | azgamingguide.com

mor’s company color) that you can order at the bar called Loud Rumor. Talking Stick Resort’s Food and Beverage staff created this exclusive drink for Loud Rumor as a tribute for their events.

The event takes place 14 floors up, overseeing the city of Scottsdale, Arizona, along with a beautiful golf course. “We have this event for a few reasons,” Mike said. “We always invite all of our clients, as well as many other local businesses. Our clients get a chance to meet each other, share ideas and their experiences with each other, as well as with non-clients. This helps us promote what we do in such a different way. Printed testimonials online are great, video testimonials are better, but shaking hands with a client and having a conversation about how much our company helps their business is phenomenal.”

The events aren't just for business owners and entrepreneurs...they are open to, and fun for everyone! Loud Rumor always has their events from 6pm to 9pm and they usually fall on a Thursday. Their next event will be in June, and information about the event is at LoudRumorEvent.com. To learn more about Loud Rumor and what they do for their clients, you can read more on their website at LoudRumor.com. $

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

Caesars Entertainment Invites You To Go Get Wet

T

his month, we thought we’d share with you one really good deal we found out about from Caesars Entertainment just before we went to press with this issue.

They are calling this Las Vegas promotion “Go Get Wet” and it will be valid now through October of this year. If you point your browser to totalrewards.com/microsites/las-vegas/pools, you can take advantage of room rates starting at just $48 per night which includes a $25 poolside food & beverage credit!

Essentially, you’ll get a room for $23 per night, plus tax and fees, but that’s a really good deal! Of course, the idea is to promote the spring and summer pool parties but your participation is optional and you’re not forced to go to the pool parties themselves. So, treat yourself to a nice room in Las Vegas at an extremely low rate and enjoy the view at the pool while you enjoy an ice cold beverage or hot snack.

Participating hotels include Caesars Palace, Paris, Planet Hollywood, Harrah’s, Bally’s, the Flamingo, and the Rio. Be aware that rates and availability are subject to change and are beyond our control. $

42 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2014 | azgamingguide.com

CASINO BINGO DIRECTORY Fort McDowell’s Recent MPBingo Winner

The Red MPBingo Progressive Jackpot holds its own when it comes to awarding large prizes. While many players follow the enormous Blue and Green MPBingo Jackpots, the Red, Purple and Yellow Jackpots constantly, but quietly, award thousands to players nationwide. Sycuan Casino in El Cajon, CA recently awarded a $7,100.00 Red MPBingo Jackpot while Fort McDowell Casino in Phoenix, AZ recently awarded a $4,015.00 Jackpot (winner pictured) for a grand total of $11,115.00 in Red MPBingo Jackpots. Playing MPBingo at any participating location gives you a chance to win 5 additional progressive jackpots that could line your pockets and purses with thousands of dollars in extra cash.

Visit planetbingo.com for a list of participating MPBingo HighStakes Bingo locations. $

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 03/01/14 & 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 | April 2014 | azgamingguide.com

FUN & GAMES

WORD SEARCH In honor of Pretzel Day on April 26th, find: PRETZEL, THICK, THIN, STRAIGHT, TWISTED, CRISP, CRUNCHY, SOFT, SALTED, UNSALTED, MUSTARD, FLAVORED, FRANCE, MONKS, PRAYER. 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 4 6

2

8

6

7

2 7

8

5

4 7

8 1

3 6

9

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3

7 2

46 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2014 | azgamingguide.com

4

1

SAMI’S SMACKDOWN

Your chances of winning

Don’t get angry over random events...

By Sami Becker

D

uring a recent casino trip, I overheard a casino patron laying in pretty heavy to a Food & Beverage (F&B) shift supervisor about how the current month’s promotion was completely rigged and that the casino was misrepresenting the odds to its customers.

First of all, I understand that we all want to express our discontentment over an issue or problem at the casino to any available casino employee whether we personally know the individual or not. However, using some tact and common sense will probably assist you in gaining some resolution to your issue. Complaining to a F&B employee about a promotion won’t get you very far because, ultimately, they aren’t in a position to help you! If you have an issue with a promotion, the best place to start is to talk with someone that’s part of the Promotions staff.

Now, from what I could gather from the long-winded rant was

48 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 2014 | azgamingguide.com

that the chance of winning a prize during the promotion was advertised by the casino as one in three. The patron was upset that he only won once during the twelve times he participated arguing the casino lied about their chances of winning, because he should have won four times! The player was adamant the real chance of winning was one in twelve and that the whole thing was a setup and a lie!

Based on what I overheard, there was a 33.33% chance of winning a prize. This ‘chance of winning’ is only an expression of probability based on the results of long-run random events and does not represent a guarantee. When flipping a coin, there’s a one in two chance of getting heads or tails (50%) but there’s no assurance of either in the short term—keep that in mind! $

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 03/01/14 & 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

For information on the casinos & much more, scan our QR codes with your smartphone!

azgamingguide.com

facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide

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Sudoku Solution 7

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50 Arizona Gaming Guide | April 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

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