Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2016 - 08:03 by Arizona Gaming Guide

MARCH

Contents

IN EVERY ISSUE 04 EDITOR’S NOTE 06 PLAYERS TALK 10 TABLE GAMES 15 NEW SLOTS 18 WINNING WAYS

20 DINING 22 FEATURE STORY 26 TRIBAL NEWS 28 GAMING NEWS 34 LAUGHLIN, NEVADA 38 CASINO ENTERTAINMENT 40 CASINO BINGO 42 SAMI’S SMACKDOWN 43 FUN FACTS

44 FUN & GAMES 46 CASINO DIRECTORY

SCIENTIFIC GAMES SHOWCASES THEIR TWINSTAR CABINET AND EXCITING NEW TITLES AT NIGA

Get ready for this fun and exciting new progressive game featuring the quarter-stacked “Q” icon!

March is all about luck at Harrah’s Ak-Chin this month! Will the luck of the Irish be on your side?

Apache Gold Casino Resort near Globe adds a second casino to their collection of tribal enterprises.

IGT’S QUARTERMANIA NOW AT YAVAPAI CASINO

LUCK BE A LADY … OR A GENT AT HARRAH’S

SAN CARLOS APACHE TRIBE BREAKS GROUND

azgamingguide.com | March 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide

EDITOR’S NOTE

NIGA TRADESHOW The Premier Indian Gaming Event

very year, the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) Tradeshow & Convention is the premier event for the Indian Gaming industry. It’s a show place for the newest product and service innovations, the latest industry trends, along with a comprehensive schedule of workshops and plenty of networking events. Held at the Phoenix Convention Center from March 13-16, it is entering its 31st year and is the longest running gaming tradeshow in history! With the largest gathering of tribal leaders and casino executives in the country, the NIGA show is both the meeting place where the community gathers to learn, network and exchange industry-specific ideas and a cultural celebration of success, strength and self-reliance. As always, be assured that our team members will be at the show and eager to share all the information gathered with all of you! This month we hope you enjoy the NIGA sneak peek of the latest and greatest games coming our way! Next month, keep an eye out for our post-show review! Also in this issue, you’ll find plenty of reasons to make your next trip to any casino a success. We’ve got the lowdown on a ton of new slots and those coming soon, plenty of tips for you to incorporate into casino visits, and much more! Please visit our Facebook at: facebo ok .com /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 the Arizona Gam ing Guide on our website at AZGam ingGuid e.com . Let me know what you think of this issue and have fun!

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

“Like” us on Facebook because

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Your Authority On Everything Gaming VOLUME 08 • ISSUE 03 PUBLISHER Chris Höft chris@azgamingguide.com MANAGING DIRECTOR Elizabeth Torma liz@azgamingguide.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alexandra Lang editor@azgamingguide.com ART DIRECTOR Melanie Mueller CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Al Moe Lee Allen Mark Novak Caelen Tallant Melody Hudson Lana Hartmann Samantha Becker ADVERTISING SALES Elizabeth Torma liz@azgamingguide.com Nina Consiglio nina@azgamingguide.com MAILING INFORMATION Arizona Gaming Guide P.O. Box 20636 Mesa, Arizona 85277 INTERNET INFORMATION www.azgamingguide.com www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide

Copyright © 2016 The Arizona Gaming Guide. All rights reserved. The Arizona Gaming Guide (AGG) presents casino industry and gaming related facts and editorial opinions. AGG accepts no responsibility and no liability for any actions of readers based on articles and/or advertisements presented within. Information contained within is not guaranteed to be correct. All pictures, images, logos, trademarks and trade names, etc. are the sole property of their respective owners. Intended for single use. Sale and/or distribution without written consent is not permitted. 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

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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: Hi! I have a question regarding [non-progressive] slot machines. I don't have a lot of disposable income, so I always look for penny machines that allow me to choose 9 or 10 lines, for example, so that I spend 9 cents or 10 cents per game, as opposed to those machines that require a minimum of 30 cents or 60 cents (or even more). With all things being equal, are my chances worse playing less pennies per game? If I play three games of 10 lines each, is that roughly the same odds as playing 30 lines one time? Or put an even different way, if I play 100 games of one line each, is that roughly the same overall odds as playing two games of 50 lines each? Thank you. Suzanne Jakovac—Escondido, CA A: What a great question Suzanne! In order to respond accurately for you to make an informed decision, we’ll have to cover a few topics. First, when a video slot machine is designed with more than one pay line, the theoretical payback percentage is constant regardless of how many lines you select to play. Since you pay one credit to play one line and a second credit to play a second line, the math will work out to the same payback. Even in the case of games where one credit buys two pay lines, and two credits buys four pay lines (and so on). The payback percentage will remain constant across any number of pay lines you choose to play. There are some very rare exceptions to this rule involving “non-standard” slots. These non-standard slots are designed with bonuses triggered on pay lines and may have multiple bonus triggers. Fortunately, there are not a lot of these nonstandard slots available for play. In the event you happen to be playing such a non-standard slot, gaming regulations work in your favor as the payback percentage of a slot must be the same or increase as your wager increases. So, the more pay lines you play on a non-standard slot (which means the higher your bet is), the higher the payback percentage will be. Generally, the increase on non-standard slots is hundredths of a percent, but still the payback increases. Second, as a player selects more pay lines to play on a multiple pay line slot, the chances of having a winning outcome increases (called hit frequency or pulls to hit). If a slot is designed to have a one in twenty chance of spinning up a winning outcome on the first pay line, then the chance of having a winning outcome

on the second pay line is also one in twenty. When playing both pay lines the chances of winning are then (mathematically) doubled to two in twenty (or one in ten). Be aware that our simple calculation does not take into account wins occurring on both pay lines at the same time, effectively decreasing the chances of winning to less than two in twenty. In any event, this is how playing multiple pay lines increases your chances of lining up winning outcomes. Third, we don’t recommend players choose to play less than the maximum number of lines on any slot. Why? Well the first and second points above clearly make the case that either your payback percentage is increasing by playing all the pay lines and/or your chances of winning are increasing by playing all the lines. If you are not playing with the maximum number of pay lines on any given bet, you are potentially missing out on wins. Fourth, the same principle holds for games with no pay lines. There are games which pay for symbols in any position across the reels. Here, the more you wager, the more reels you buy and the same principle holds; the more you wager, the payback percentage must be equal or increase. And your chances of winning increases as you buy into playing more reels as well! Fifth, our team members each have over 15 years of experience creating the math and designing video and reel slots and a variety of other casino games and promotions. Therefore, we can conclusively tell you to always cover all the lines or buy all the reels. Better still, play max bet. If you can’t afford to play max bet then, at a minimum, cover all the lines or buy all the reels. However, please remember to always have fun and play responsibly. Play only with money you can afford to lose as part of your entertainment budget. Finally, taking into account the points above, in answer to your questions, we can tell you that playing less lines decreases your chances of having winning outcomes. And, playing one game at 30 pay lines has an increased chance of winning than playing three games at 10 pay lines. Put another way, playing two games at 50 pay lines has a better chance of winning on those two games than does playing 100 games at one pay line. Of course, all of these math stats are based on long run play, not short term play. By long run we mean at least 1,000,000 games! Continued on page 8

and get a $25 gift or 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.

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PLAYERS TALK

Continued from page 6

As you know, short term play is always governed by the unpredictability of the slot machine’s random number generator. Ultimately, play max lines within your budget and max bet if you can. Keep playing those 9 and 10 pay line games while they still exist on the casino floors because they may not be around for much longer! We wish you lots of luck! Q: Dear Editor, I have read all the video poker magazines I could get my hands on and know most of the odds and pay tables. I play Jacks or Better, one dollar, at 8/5, which is the best I can find. I have been on a terrible losing streak this whole year with only one royal flush even though I have played more hands than ever. On my last outing, I counted the hands I was dealt and I went through 1386 hands without a Four-of-a-Kind and just gave up. The odds say I should hit Four-of-a-Kind every 200 to 400 hands but my odds are more like 800 hands on average! What's going on? Ken Menez—Maricopa, AZ A: We feel your pain Ken! Video poker is among the most volatile games at the casino and it sounds like you are experiencing that fact to the point of frustration. For an 8/5 Jacks or Better (8 coins for a Full House and 5 coins for a Flush) game with optimal playing strategy you are playing a 97.30% payback game, which is not bad. Please be aware that on average, over the long run, with optimal strategy, you should see a Four-of-a-Kind once in every 423.21 hands, not every 200 to 400 hands. A general rule of thumb for us is to multiply the number of hands by three (as a reasonable estimate for the statistical standard deviation) to determine when we’ll just walk away from a game. So, taking 423.21 and multiplying it by three, we get 1,269.63 hands which is just 117 less than your reported 1,386 hands. We think you made the right call to walk away. Since you keep track of the number of hands, based on the math of 8/5 Jacks or Better, you should have seen almost 16 Full Houses, 15 Flushes, almost 16 Straights, and around 103 Threeof-a-Kinds across the 1,386 hands. In our opinion, if you are not seeing the Full Houses, Flushes and Straights, you won’t see a Four-of-a-Kind either. We believe that you will work your way up the pay table as you play if you will be lucky enough to see the higher paying, less probable wins. That is, Three-of-a-Kinds lead to Full Houses and Four-of-a-Kinds, Flushes and Straights lead to Straight Flushes and eventually the Royal! Please be aware that there are a total of 19,933,230,517,200 possible outcomes for the 8/5 Jacks or Better game you are playing. That’s almost 20 Trillion hands! Over half of those hands are losers and you’ll only see the Royal once in every 40,169.75 hands and a Straight Flush once in every 9,288.13 hands! With these kinds of odds, Jacks or Better can be very frustrating when the cards are just not going your way.

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So what can you do? Keep counting hands during your next session and start tracking the Three-of-a-Kinds, Full Houses, and the Four-of-a-Kinds you hit. To lighten the load, stop counting the total hands and let your player’s club card do that counting for you. Since you can see how many points you earned while paying, just work backwards to figure out the number of hands you played. Let’s imagine it takes $10 to earn one point at your favorite casino. If you are playing a dollar game, like you mention, then one hand costs $5. At this rate it will take two hands to earn one point on your player’s club card. If you earn 100 points, that’s 200 hands, 250 points equal 500 hands, and so on. Now all you have to do is count Three-of-a-Kinds, Full Houses and Four-of-a-Kinds. As a Three-of-A-Kind should happen once every 13.43 hands, you should count around 37 of them across a 500 hand session (take 500 hands and divide by 13.43 hands per Three-of-a-Kind on your cell phone to get 37.23). Full Houses happen once every 86.85 hands so you should have around 5 or 6 of them across a 500 hand session (take 500 hands and divide by 86.85 hands per Full House on your cell phone to get 5.76). Then take the two Four-of-a-Kinds you counted across the 500 hands and realize that you are lucky enough to be ahead of the game (actually ahead of the math) because you have 250 hands per Four-of-a-Kind when the math predicts you should only have one (remember one Four-of-aKind for every 423 hands) as you only played 500 hands. The 8/5 Jacks or Better game you prefer to play is one of the lower volatility video poker games, however this is still not without pitfalls. Since we’ve done enough math for one day, we’ll simplify things for everyone and just provide benchmarks you should be aware of. If you want to have a chance of hitting a Four-of-a-Kind, we need a bankroll to get us to 423 hands. In order to last that number of hands, we’ll need a bankroll of just under 50 hands. Since you play dollars, you’ll need 50 times your standard bet of $5, or $250. If you want to hit the Royal we need to last around 40,170 hands (essentially). So to be sure, we’d need to start with a guarantee of 1,885 hands or $9,425. Flipping the tables around, if you plan on bringing $1,000 as your bankroll for a session at your favorite 8/5 Jacks or Better dollar game, those $1,000 buys you a guaranteed 200 hands. The math predicts you’ll last a total of 3,823 hands racking up a total of 1,911.5 points on your player’s club card. This allows you to have 9 Four-of-a-Kinds and a 41% chance (just under a 2 in 5 chance) at hitting a Straight Flush and a 9.5% chance (just over a 1 in 10 chance) of hitting a Royal. All of these numbers we discussed in this answer are based on the long run math, not short term outcomes. Again, long run means millions of hands played. Ken, and to everyone else out there, we hope this helped and you were right to walk away. On that day, for you, the video poker game was serving up way too much bad luck! We wish you many Four-of-a-Kinds! $

TABLE GAMES By Al Moe

HOW TO PLAY HIGH CARD FLUSH A Suits-Based Game That Requires No Knowledge Of Poker To Play

igh Card Flush is a table game similar to Three Card Poker. It is played with a standard deck of 52 cards. No joker or wild cards are used. As with so many poker-style games, play starts with a wager on the Ante space. An optional bonus wager is also available. The game is played with multiple players, all out to beat the dealer’s hand by making the highest flush. In poker, a flush is any set of suited cards (clubs, diamonds, hearts or spades). In High Card Flush, the number of cards in the flush and the ranking of the flush will determine the winner. After wagers are placed, each player and the dealer receive seven cards, face down. Players are then allowed to look at their hands, evaluate their options, and either fold (losing their Ante wager), or make a Call wager. The Call wager must be for an amount equal to the Ante wager if the player has 2, 3 or 4 suited cards. If the player finds a five-card flush in their hand, they may Call with double their Ante wager. A six or seven-card flush allows the player to call with triple their Ante wager. So, the better your flush hand, the more you can bet! But, there’s a catch. There’s always a catch and here it’s the dealer’s hand! When the dealer turns over their cards they must find at least a three-card flush, nine-high, to qualify. If they don’t, the players are paid even-money on their Ante wager and the Call wagers are a push. Argh! If the dealer does qualify, the Ante wagers and the Call wagers are “in action.” Each hand is “dealer against player,” so whichever one holds the most suited (flush) cards and the highestranking flush, wins. This means that any time the player has more suited cards than the dealer, they win even-money on both the Ante and the Call wagers. So a player with four cards of one suit beats the dealer’s three-cards of one suit. Not so bad, right? However, if both the player and the dealer have the same number of suited cards (say five each, or three each), then the highest ranked hand wins. Ace plays as high, so Ace-8-4-3-2 beats King-Queen-9-7-6. No specific suit is higher than another, it’s card-over-card.

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Bonus Wager The optional bonus wager pays any time the player achieves a four-card flush or higher. The standard payoff is 2 to 1 for any four-card flush; 5 to 1 for a five-card flush; 75 to 1 for a six-card flush; 300 to 1 for a seven-card flush. The house edge on the bonus wager is approximately 7.8%. Strategy The house has a 2.64% edge if players fold 3-suited cards ranked 9-7-4 and lower, and Call with higher ranked and numbered flushes – making the maximum Call wager at all times. A straight-flush bonus wager is available at some casinos with a house edge of slightly over 13%. With optimal play, a player will Call 67.86% of the time. The dealer will have a qualifying hand 75.36% of the time. And, the dealer and player will tie about 0.08% of the time. Therefore, bet with caution! All told, High Card Flush is a great non-blackjack table game that’s suits-based and requires no knowledge of poker to play. It’s quite easy to learn after just one hand and has tons of suspense and excitement. If you decide to give this great table game a try, send an e-mail to editor@azgamingguide.com with High Card Flush in the subject line and let us know how it went! Good luck and have fun! $

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

Quartermania Now Available At Yavapai Casino

he Q is back to ignite more excitement and it is now available for play at Yavapai casino in Prescott, AZ! Quartermania, by IGT, is the party bank that utilizes a synchronized base game and integrated signage that delivers a light and music show featuring the game’s fun-loving, quarter-stacked, “Q” icon. With a six credit max bet, players can win one of three Mini-Mania progressives as well as the top Quartermania progressive. All base games feature a Free Games Bonus where Mini-Mania progressives are awarded with any Scatter Mini-Mania symbols, and the Quarterm ania jackpot is triggered when three Quarterm ania symbols appear on a played line. During your visit to Yavapai Casino, make sure to also give some of their other recently installed slots a spin like Money Rain by ITS and 3D Sphinx and Dragons Temple by GTECH. Don’t forget that Bucky’s Casino is right across the street from Yavapai Casino! A quick walk or shuttle ride will take you to that casino where you can explore all the new installs there as well such as The Flintstones and Willy Wonk a Pure Im agination—both great titles by WMS (now Scientific Games). $

Money Rain Now Available At Harrah’s Ak-Chin

he latest slot concept by Incredible Technologies (ITS) called Money Rain contains an unprecedented 25,000 ways to win with Scatter Ways! The Money Rain slot game takes the theme of “money” and flips it on its head, literally! The innovative reel mechanic featured in Money Rain showcases the colorful money symbols folding in half and flipping, similar to the numbers flipping on a digital clock! Players are hoping to land four or more yellow transforming symbols during the main game to unlock the Money Reel—a smaller 6th reel that is locked during game play. Once unlocked, the Money Reel spins to decide which uniform symbol will replace the mystery symbols as players are hoping to land a high paying scatter symbol for epic wins! Three or more rain cloud scatters trigger the Free Spin Bonus where the Money Reel is active but only includes the top four replacement symbols. The removal of the low paying scatter symbols creates opportunities for downpours of thundering wins. While at Harrah’s Ak-Chin, make sure to also try the other exciting ITS slot, Crazy Money! For more information about Money Rain, Crazy Money, and other great products by ITS, visit itsgames.com. $ azgamingguide.com | March 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide

NEW SLOTS

Fast Hit Progressives Now Available At BlueWater Casino

he Fast Hit Progressives by IGT is the first quick-hit community game to team players up against the house! Five progressives engage players with large win potential while creating a community aspect like never before. Only max bet can trigger a progressive win and if four of the same color symbols line up, that specific progressive is awarded to one player. The first two progressives are quick-hit to increase progressive excitement. 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. While the community progressive is not available during the bonus, randomly, a mystery 7 symbol will appear to award one of the three players with an additional jackpot. Fast Hit 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! Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find this exciting bank of games at BlueWater Casino with three different game themes for maximum playing action. For more information on these IGT video slots, visit igt.com. $

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WINNING WAYS By Caelen Tallant

LUCK BE A LADY … OR A GENT? March Is All About Luck At Harrah’s Ak-Chin

re you feeling lucky? March is all about luck as Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino prepares to celebrate the Luck of the Irish with St. Patrick’s Day! There’s no better place to test your luck than at Harrah’s Ak-Chin. While the honor of St. Patrick’s Day originated across the pond in Ireland, the celebration has made its way to Maricopa. St. Patrick’s Day began in Ireland as a feast day for St. Patrick, but has since transformed globally as an international festival celebrating Irish culture for the Irish and the Irish-at-heart. The celebration is often surrounded by four leaf clovers, leprechauns and green décor. During March, Harrah’s Ak-Chin will have continued “lucky” celebrations throughout the casino. Is It Your Lucky Day? If you’re a Total Rewards member, every Wednesday in March is your lucky day! On Wednesdays in March from 8am to 11:59pm, head to a promotional kiosk and swipe your Total Rewards card for a chance at up to a 10x Reward Credit Multiplier. That sounds pretty lucky! Also as a Total Rewards member, you can use your credits on your player’s club card at 40 different casinos throughout the United States. Your Total Rewards credits aren’t just limited to casino play! Use your credits for dining, hotel stays, show tickets, spas, shopping and more. Drink Up! While you’re testing your luck in the casino, how about something to quench your thirst? In addition to the drink of the month, the Frozen Grasshopper, casino guests can enjoy this delicious cocktail combination of Fat Tuesday Vanilla, Mint Syrup, and White Crème de Cacao. If you’re making a Frozen Grasshopper at home, try adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream to the mix. What’s better than your favorite spirits with a sweet treat? Don’t Be Afraid To Dance The Jig! On St. Paddy’s Day, don’t be alarmed if you hear bagpipes playing throughout the casino. Bagpipe players will be strolling throughout the casino during the afternoon at 2, 3 and 4pm on March 17. Don’t be afraid to get up and do a little Irish jig or Irish step dance!

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Irish Tradition? March 17 is St. Patrick’s designated feast day. What better way to celebrate than with traditional Irish grub—corned beef & cabbage. But wait, did you know that corned beef & cabbage wasn’t a traditional Irish dish? The dish eaten by most Irish folk was bacon & cabbage. It was Irish-Americans who created their own tradition of corned beef & cabbage. Make sure to visit the Agave Restaurant in Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino during your visit on St. Patrick’s Day as they will be serving a scrumptious holiday feast of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and carrots to celebrate the occasion. Will the Luck of the Irish be on your side? The slots, gaming tables and bingo games are ready for you to try. Make sure to wear green and head to Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino throughout the month of March. For more information about Harrah’s Ak-Chin, please visit their website at caesars.com/harrahs-ak-chin. $

CASINO DINING By Satara Williams & Lyra Manning

TACO TUESDAYS AT TALKING STICK Blue Coyote Cantina At TSR Offers A Variety Of Delicious $2 Tacos

uesdays just got a lot tastier! Blue Coyote Cantina, at the Talking Stick Resort, is now offering an assortment of $2 tacos on Tuesdays from 4pm to 10pm. Guests can stop by for their choice of tacos: Carne Asada, Chicken Tinga, Carnitas, Barbacoa (pictured right), Yucatan Shrimp, Al Pastor and Veggie. Located on the garden level of Talking Stick Resort, Blue Coyote Cantina offers an upscale vibe and daily live music after 6pm. Chef Doug Maschekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s southwestern-inspired menu includes tacos, burritos and more. Plus, the restaurant features more than 40 tequilas, Spanish wine and made-to-order Sangrias for the perfect food and spirit pairings. In addition to the Blue Coyote Cantina, Talking Stick Resort also has 10 other amazing restaurants and lounges for you to choose from! For more information about Talking Stick Resort, the Blue Coyote Cantina, or any of their other dining options, please visit their website at talkingstickresort.com/blue-coyote-cantina. When visiting Talking Stick Resort, make sure you also try your luck on one of their many slots or table games that span a floor thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nearly 300,000 square feet! $

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he National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) Tradeshow & Convention will be held from March 13 through 16 at the Phoenix Convention Center and it’s expected to be the largest gathering in the event’s 31 year history. Over the years, NIGA’s tradeshow has been the premier event for the Indian Gaming community and industry professionals. With a rich history in tradition, the event is a weeklong celebration of tribal gaming which includes educational seminars and networking events with key tribal leaders including the Tribal Leader’s Reception and a growing show floor of the latest and greatest new products for the gaming industry.

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“Indian Gaming is one of the strongest growing markets in the industry,” said NIGA Chairman Stevens. “Our mission is to focus on the community development of our tribes through gaming. Our Indian Gaming tradeshow represents the culmination each year of our efforts to advance tribal gaming through education, legislation and community. We’re thrilled at the progress we have made over 30 years and look forward to continuing to provide our tribal leaders new opportunities for development of their businesses.” As always, the Arizona Gam ing Guid e team is thrilled to offer our readers a sneak peek into just a few of the many new slot games that will be revealed at this year’s NIGA show. Make

sure to keep an eye out for our post-show review in next month’s issue! Content Is King! TwinStar Brings The Best Of Bally And WMS Game on! …And on… And on… You want games? They’ve got games! Keep an eye out for Tw inStar. It’s a new premium video cabinet from Scientific Games making its way to casinos right now. It has all the bells and whistles – great sound, beautiful screens and graphics, super bright interactive displays – but what sets it apart are all the games coming to it from both Bally and WMS. It has new adaptations of hit titles, along with brand new games never seen before. Gold Fish Deluxe is a brand new take on a WMS classic with updated bonuses, gameplay, art and sound and so much more. Showcasing six bonuses that offer multipliers, Free Spins, Wilds and huge credit prizes, this blast from the past will be a new player favorite! It’s a fresh new way to play. Other WMS favorites, Zeus Son of Kronos and Kronos Father of Zeus, also get fresh coats of paint and updated gameplay. “We’ve heard the requests from players and we listened,” said Scientific Games Senior Director of Product Marketing, Greg Colella. “We’re giving you bigger, better versions of your favorites and some new favorites along the way. Keep your eyes out on your favorite casino floors. Tw in Star games are on the way.”

Under The Hood Of TwinStar TwinStar cabinet features dual, vivid, 24-inch full HD displays and builds on the award-winning iDeck button deck by offering a 150-percent larger area for player interaction. The Tw inStar 22inch full HD digital topper will be offered in two distinctive styles with animations that bring more fun to the experience. Both versions include chrome details, booming, multi-channel custom sound, and edge lighting, adding beauty and excitement to casino floors. The dual 24-inch monitors are high brightness and 1080p, showing off vivid graphics that grab your attention. “This is a very exciting new platform,” said Senior Vice President & Chief Design Officer Allon Englman. “This will really give players a variety of games to play and a beautiful way to experience all their own unique play styles and personalities.” A Star Is Born The Tw inStar cabinet delivers the best of both worlds: an array of choices from both Bally and WMS in a powerful, state-of-theart cabinet. The result will be an even greater, more distinctive player experience, available from no other manufacturer, all delivered on a single leading platform. It’s the perfect marriage of a powerful slot machine and the very best in gaming titles. To learn more about Tw inStar and all the great games on the way, visit their website at scientificgames.com/twinstar. (Continued on page 24)

New Bally Quick Hit titles are also on the way – Quick Hit Volcano and Quick Hit Jungle. Give the reels a spin on volcanic and safari landscapes, with classic five-reel gameplay and the potential to hit those ever-growing jackpots. “You’re going to find entirely new ways to play all your favorites Colella said. “And we’re really excited by the variety of new games we’ve created that really take advantage of all the power and beauty Tw inStar is capable of.” Other new games are the Quick Shot series from Bally – Duanwu and Zhong Qiu. Quick Shot – Duanwu and Quick Shot – Zhong Qiu are impressive games with features that pay big. Showcasing Free Games, a Pick Bonus with multipliers, and a Progressive, Quick Shot - Duanwu and Quick Shot - Zhong Qiu will make a winner out of every player! “There are so many games in the works,” Colella said. “We’re giving players a bounty of games to play that were never available all on one, beautiful slot machine. The variety, the action, the excitement is amazing! These games are really going to take hold of casino floors, whether they’re new takes on classics or classics in the making. We’re really excited about this content.” Other games on the horizon are all new, including Steam Dream, Cyber Fantasy, Guardians of the North, Guardians of the South, Call of the Moon, and Hot Blooded.

azgamingguide.com | March 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide

(Continued from page 23)

IGT Continues To Demonstrate Its Industry Leadership Highlights Include The Spin Ferno Tournament Solution Since the origins of Indian Gaming, IGT has proudly partnered with tribes across the nation to bring the latest in gaming innovation to casino floors. Over the years, IGT has paid more than $1.4 billion in jackpots to tribal casino players, while earning the distinction of being one of the largest gaming manufacturers in the Native American market. The Company continues to play a role in the expansion of Indian Gaming by serving as a resource to tribal partners in the midst of evolving gaming legislation. At the 2016 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention (NIGA), IGT will demonstrate its industry leadership with a selection of games, systems and solutions in booth #1147. Highlights include the Spin Ferno tournament solution for the S3000 cabinet. Fueled by the IGT Tournament Manager 5.0 systems solution, Spin Ferno enables operators to host single or multi-site slot tournaments on the S3000 cabinet and allows operators to quickly and efficiently switch EGMs from coin-in to tournament mode. Spin Ferno Is HOT, HOT, HOT Spin Ferno delivers industry-first synchronized lighting & sound technology that sets the casino floor on fire with a new level of player appeal and excitement. Music and voice commands alert players to tournament lead changes, while the leader board in the top box enables spectators to easily enjoy the action. Base games are inspired by top-performing, player-favorite themes, designed to be equally compelling during tournaments and in coin-in mode. Based on the top-performing, 20 pay line version of Triple Double Diam ond Free Games Slots, the Spin Ferno themes Ho tsy To tsy and Red Ho t Lil’ Devil S3000 Slots feature three reels, 20 pay lines, and 2x and 3x multipliers. Inspired by the top performing 25 pay line version of Triple Red Hot 7s Free Games Slots, Spin Ferno themes Fire Bells and Red Hot Diamonds S3000 Slots feature three reels, 25 pay lines, and 2x and 3x multipliers.

For the IGT Class II portfolio, the 2016 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention sets the stage for themes such as Air Heart, Quest for the Golden Statue and Riverboat Riches bingo. Representing IGT’s commanding leadership in Video Poker, the Company will offer Gam e King 8.3, in addition to Super Star, Five Star and the new Super Star 6 Card Poker. In keeping with its legacy of awarding jackpots, IGT will also feature the globally popular Megabuck s game.

Burnie Adds Fuel To The Fire Burnie the Spin Ferno mascot adds fuel to the fire. During the free games bonus, Burnie the devil spins the reels in the top box to show players an additional credit award that can be won. If players collect five Burnie symbols, the thermometer pops and awards the bonus credits shown in the top box. Free games can be retriggered if a Burnie symbol lands on each reel during a single spin.

IGT will also demonstrate its leadership in Systems innovation at the 2016 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention. Recent advancements to Casinolink, GALAXIS, SYSTEM2go, IGT Advantage and IGT Cloud products include a suite of comprehensive Intelligent Bonusing apps. Additionally, IGT will showcase its flexible Service Window solution supporting HTML5 and multiple real-time mobile applications including the Mobile Host and Mobile Responder apps.

During the 2016 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention, IGT will feature live Spin Ferno tournaments in its booth for all show attendees to experience. In addition, IGT will demonstrate a variety of Core stepper and video products, including new content featured on IGT’s new CrystalSlant cabinet. The Company will also feature highlights from its Premium product category at the show, including TRUE 3D titles with stunning, glasses-free 3D technology, and marquee licensed themes.

As part of its exclusive distribution agreement with LT Game, IGT offers electronic table game (ETG) player-favorites such as roulette and baccarat, now featured in North American casinos. ETG terminals will be included at IGT’s booth at the 2016 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention. For more information on these IGT games and systems solutions, please visit their website at igt.com.

24 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2016 | azgamingguide.com

Incredible Games By Incredible Technologies Players Will Go Crazy Over Crazy Money Deluxe The most popular game in Incredible Technologies’ slot history, Crazy Money, has been reimagined in an exciting new version! Crazy Money Deluxe is the launch title in the company’s premium Infinity Skybox product segment which features a visually enticing 55inch vertical monitor placed atop the Infinity U23 cabinet to display bonus events and progressive jackpot wins. Crazy Money Deluxe features an exciting 15 lines of fun with familiar easy-tounderstand gameplay including AnglePay line wins! Players will be rooting for three bonus scatters to land on reels 1, 3 and 5 to trigger the Sky Wheel. The Sky Wheel is a colorful digital wheel displayed on the vertical Skybox monitor overhead and showcases numerous bonus awards and progressive amounts that will draw players in from across the casino floor. Depending on where the Sky Wheel lands, players may be awarded instant credits which then trigger a secondary wheel that can award up to a 5x credit multiplier or a chance to respin the Sky Wheel. If the wheel lands on the BONUS slice, a secondary wheel appears and awards up to 100 “picks”! Fans of the original Crazy Money and Crazy Money II will surely recognize the Money Catch Bonus round as it maintains all of the fun and excitement of the original game. Players use their “picks” to grab flying dollar bills which reveal their credit value once touched. As the Sky Wheel spins, players will be on the edge of their seats hoping for it to finally stop on one of the four available progressive amounts (Mini, Minor, Major and Grand). At max bet, players can be awarded over $10,000 if the wheel lands on the Grand section of the wheel! Infinity Skybox featuring Crazy Money Deluxe is now available for sale and will be on display at the National Indian Gaming Association Tradeshow on March 15&16 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Visit Incredible Technologies in booth #1459 or go to their website itsgames.com for more information. Konami Showcases A Variety Of New Products Includes Never-Before-Seen Games For The Concerto Cabinet Original new games have seen strong success since the Concerto’s launch (including Dragon’s Law Twin Fever and Radiant Queen), and now Konami brings even more new titles to NIGA like Wonder Rose, Lamp of Destiny, Freya’s Magic, Burning Wolf, and Wheel of the Imperial Eggs. Ahead of its April market release, Konami’s Frogger themed slots will be a showcase product at this year’s NIGA. Two debut game themes (Great City Wild s and Wood land Wilds) will be shown, each with a 4-level standalone progressive. Both themes feature classic Konami game mechanics such as Action Stacked

Symbols and Xtra Reward. Neither game is skill-based even though it looks like it is, but it does include a randomized rendition of the classic road and river crossing course. The brand new standalone progressive game called Luck y Sticks on Konami’s Rapid Revolver cabinet is seeing huge popularity nationwide. Look for popular base game favorites such as Riches with Daikoku, Lotus Land and China Shores. For more information about Konami, visit gaming.konami.com. For more information about NIGA, visit indiangaming.org. $

azgamingguide.com | March 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide

TRIBAL NEWS By Lee Allen

PETROGLYPHS: Pieces Of The Hohokam Puzzle—Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve

ot far away from where contemporary society whizzes by on busy Interstate 17 lies a clue or two about where and how an earlier civilization used those lands located just west of the Black Canyon Freeway on Deer Valley Road. The Hohokam people of central and southern Arizona once grew crops, built structures, crafted pottery and created a huge system of irrigation canals (much of which is still in use today). And yet, after thriving in this desert for over a millennium, the seemingly healthy populace abandoned their settlements in the 15th century and disappeared from archeological record, leaving historians to wonder “What happened to the Hohokam?” A current exhibit at the former Deer Valley Rock Art Center and now Arizona State University’s Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve [Pieces of the Puzzle: New Perspectives on the Hohokam] tackles the question of why three quarters of the more than 40,000 inhabitants there disappeared over a number of decades in 1300 AD. Using advances in artifact analysis technology, researchers are investigating the environmental and social stresses that caused that rapid depopulation and joining together pieces of that ancient puzzle. “The exhibit focuses on the Hohokam and what researchers believe happened to them, why they just disappeared,” says Elizabeth Gerold, Education and Programs Coordinator for the Center for Archeology and Society, School of Human Evolution & Social Change, ASU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “It debunks some of the myths and misconceptions of what happened and offers an explanation of the pressures they were under and the reasons why they had to change where they were living and disperse into other cultures in the area.”

on TripAdvisor.com. One called it, “A short walk to incredible history” noting that the Preserve “begins with an indoor display and explanation of area history while the less-than-half-mile outdoor walk has informative numbered signs posted near the petroglyphs which were around every corner, starting at signpost 5.” The basalt rock mountain is home to about 1500 Hohokam, Patayan, and Archaic stone art images scattered across some 600 basalt boulders on its rocky hillside. The rocks are ancient history too as they were formed in the Pliocene era when lava squeezed up through the fissures in the earth.

Nestled in the historic Hedgpeth Hills on the edge of Phoenix, the 47-acre Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve is home to the Valley’s largest concentration of Native American petroglyphs (pictures carved in stone) and serves as a gateway to Southwestern archaeology and Arizona’s rich cultural past.

“While there are other petroglyph sites in the Valley, we offer the highest concentration,” says Gerold. “This is artwork that was pecked into stone by hand anywhere from 2,000 to 7,000 years ago, but can still be plainly seen depending on the time of day they are viewed.” The suggestion is made to witness the rock art before the mid-afternoon sun makes viewing more difficult. Also suggested, because the images are faded and a ways away from the walking path, is the use of binoculars (available for rent at the preserve).

Previous visitors have taken the time to share their experience

The site, one of the 33 Phoenix Points of Pride locations lauded

26 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2016 | azgamingguide.com

TRIBAL NEWS

by the Phoenix Pride Commission in May 2000 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was constructed in 1994 as a staging area for viewing the ancient petroglyphs. Born out of an old dam project in the 1980s, the Preserve is the result of a partnership by a number of entities including the Army Corps of Engineers and ASU’s Center for Archaeology and Society, an organization that addresses enduring issues in the present by using archeology’s unique access to the diversity of solutions developed by ancient Southwestern cultures. According to the About Phoenix web page: “This location appears to have been known as a sacred site for many tribes and generations of Native American peoples, well-known to American Indians throughout the ages due to the confluence of various water sources and the fact that the site faces east, toward the rising sun.” The lure for visitors is the concentration of the art and the short distance needed to experience it. “We offer a simple way to experience Arizona in one quick stop, experiencing the connection to the past and seeing how prehistoric and modern times interact with each other,” says Gerold. “We’re centrally located near the junction of I-17 and Highway 101. We offer a simple hike of

a little over a quarter mile along a flat trail that gives viewers an opportunity to take in prehistoric culture as well as plants and animals without having to head out into raw desert landscape in order to experience it. Our visitors can quickly get that Arizona feeling.” Through April, preserve hours are Tuesday through Saturday (9am-5pm), changing in May to a summertime schedule of 8am4pm, an earlier start and earlier shutdown because of the heat. Most visitors take between one and two hours to fully enjoy the experience. Adult admission is $7 with discounts to seniors, ASU students, and AAA members. Discounted cultural passes are also available from the Phoenix Public Libraries. Phone 623.582.8007 or visit Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve online. Located at 3711 West Deer Valley Road, take I-17 north to Deer Valley Road and turn left, continuing in a westerly direction past 35th Avenue. The sign is on the right side of the road which leads to the base of the mountain a mile away. Upcoming events at the Petroglyph Preserve include: March 12—Outreach: Pueblo Grande Ancient Technology Day March 15—Life in the Desert Tour March 19—Archaeology Festival: Connecting Past & Present March 22—Life in the Desert Tour March 26—Junior Archaeologist Field Day March 29—Life in the Desert Tour March 31—Volunteer Field Trip/Enrichment: Behind-the-Scenes Tour at Alameda. $

azgamingguide.com | March 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide

GAMING NEWS By Amanda Jacinto

Steady Growth In Quarterly Tribal Gaming Contributions Continues Total Tribal Contributions For Last Quarter: $15,219,675 The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG), in partnership with Arizona’s tribes, regulates Indian gaming. Under the Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compact, tribes with casinos contribute one to eight percent of their Class III gross gaming revenue to the state, cities, towns and counties. Class III gaming includes slot machine, jackpot poker, blackjack, keno and offtrack pari-mutuel betting. The ADG recently announced that statewide tribal contributions increased for a sixth consecutive quarter. Tribal contributions to the State from gaming revenue will be approximately $15.2 million for the quarter ending on December 31, 2015. This is a 6.9% increase when compared to the same quarter of last year. “We have seen consistent growth in Tribal contributions for more than a year now, giving us further optimism for the future of State regulated gaming in Arizona,” said Daniel Bergin,

28 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2016 | azgamingguide.com

Director of the ADG. “This sustained growth is a positive sign not only for our State’s economy but, most importantly, for the crucial programs this funding supports.” The quarterly tribal contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund will be distributed as follows: Instructional Improvement Fund/Education: $7,585,486 Trauma and Emergency Services Fund: $3,792,743 Arizona Department of Gaming operating costs: 1,369,771 Arizona Wildlife Conservation Fund: $1,083,641 State Tourism Fund: $1,083,641 Problem Gambling: $304,393 TOTAL tribal contributions for the quarter ending December 31, 2015 are: $15,219,675. $

GAMING NEWS

San Carlos Apache Tribe Breaks Ground On New Casino

Andy Asselin Continues As CEO Of Tohono O’Odham Gaming The Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise (TOGE) Board will retain CEO Andy Asselin for another two years. Since joining TOGE in early 2013, Mr. Asselin has successfully led the Gaming Enterprise through the construction and opening of a beautiful new facility in the West Valley, to an overwhelmingly positive response from the community.

Christabelle Mull, GM, and Gary Murrey, COO, of Apache Gold

Mr. Asselin has more than 30 years of experience in the gaming and resort industry. In his extensive career, Asselin has run multiple-location facilities, overseen the construction of new facilities and operated award-winning casinos in Michigan, California and Nevada. “Andy’s expertise in these areas has been pivotal in guiding TOGE through challenging economic times and building a foundation for even greater success. We are honored to have him continue as CEO,” said Dr. Angelina Listo, Chairwoman of the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise Board.

Apache Gold Directors and Tribal Council Members

The San Carlos Apache Tribe, owners and operators of Apache Gold Casino Resort near Globe, Arizona, are planning to add a second casino to their collection of tribal enterprises. The new Apache Sky Casino will be located on the San Carlos Reservation in the breathtakingly beautiful Aravaipa area on Arizona Highway 77 at mile marker 127, roughly two miles south of Dudleyville, Arizona. The location is at the southernmost part of the San Carlos Reservation and is approximately 65 miles north of downtown Tucson and 100 miles southeast of downtown Phoenix. On Thursday, February 4, the San Carlos Apache Tribe broke ground for the new gaming facility with an anticipated grand opening as early as May of this year! Plans for the new Apache Sky Casino on the 230 acre site include a temporary facility housing hundreds of slots, table games, poker tables, a restaurant and lounge. $

30 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2016 | azgamingguide.com

Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment, with three locations in Southern Arizona (Tucson, Sahuarita, and Why) and one in the West Valley, is owned and operated by the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, an enterprise of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Additional information can be found on their website at ddcaz.com or by calling 866-DDC-WINS. You can also follow Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment on Twitter (@DiamondCasinos) and on Facebook (/DDCAZ). $ Desert Diamond West Valley Casino

GAMING NEWS By Melody Hudson

Richard Strafella Selected As Vice President Of Gaming For Gila River Casinos Richard Strafella was recently selected as the Corporate Vice President of Gaming for Gila River Casinos. With an extensive background in gaming spanning over thirty years, Richard brings his robust experience in the gaming industry to Gila River Casinos. In his role, Mr. Strafella will be responsible for the successful operation of slots, table games, poker and bingo at Gila River Casinos’ three properties—Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, Lone Butte Casino, and Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino.

Richard has had the opportunity to work for gaming facilities across the country including high profile casinos in the Las Vegas market. Richard’s career has allowed him to build a wealth of experience in all facets of gaming, which has significantly diversified his skill set and positioned him as a leader in the gaming industry.

“With his impressive track record in executive management of casino games and operations at other gaming facilities across the country, we look forward to Mr. Strafella contributing his expertise to Gila River Casinos,” said Joseph A. Magliarditi, Chief Executive Officer for Gila River Casinos.

“Gila River Casinos has created an admirable model for success and is continuing to build great momentum in Arizona. I look forward to contributing to the continued success of the enterprise,” said Richard Strafella, Corporate Vice President of Gaming for Gila River Casinos. $

azgamingguide.com | March 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide

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 850+ slots, blackjack, table games, craps, roulette, race/sports book, live keno. Sign up for the player’s club and spin for guaranteed 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 2015 Slots

Hold % Tables

Hold %

4.31

Blackjack / 21

16.95

4.35

Craps

21.24

Multi-Denom 5.24

Roulette

23.18

6.36

Pai Gow Poker

23.46

5¢

6.64

Other Table Games 27.45

1¢

9.76

Let It Ride

29.00

$25

11.46

Three Card Poker

31.42

Tight Megabucks

14.69

4.17

Win Amount

Dollars

Bingo

15.13

Slots

27.3 mil.

Race Books

16.62

Tables

2.7 mil.

32.13

Other

0.5 mil.

Loose $1 25¢

Laughlin River Lodge 800.835.7904 laughlinriverlodge.com 1,000+ guest rooms and suites, over 30,000 square feet of the hottest Vegas-style gaming, four restaurants, fast food options, & more!

Tropicana Laughlin 800.243.6846 troplaughlin.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!

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 2016 | azgamingguide.com

Other Loose Sports Pools

Tight Live Keno

Hold %

LAUGHLIN, NEVADA By Mark Novak

POOLSIDE CAFÉ AT THE TROPICANA Barista, Bagels, Bakery, Sandwiches, and More!

ooking for a quick bite to eat or just craving a fruit smoothie? The Poolside Café at the Tropicana Laughlin has you covered! Whether it’s a small snack, a full meal, or a delectable dessert with gourmet coffee you’re craving, you’ll find it here! This amazing café offers freshly baked bagels and breads, overstuffed sandwiches, paninis, salads, scrumptious sweets which include everything from donuts to European-style pastries, frozen yogurt and so much more! Hours of operation are Mondays—Thursdays 6am to 10pm, Fridays, Saturdays, and Holidays 6am to Midnight and Sundays 6am to 9pm. For more information about the Poolside Café and Tropicana Laughlin, visit troplaughlin.com. $

36 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2016 | azgamingguide.com

CASINO ENTERTAINMENT

Listings The Arizona Room: Cha d Freema n And Redline (Co untry)— Mon. 8pm, Arizona Room Trivia—Tue. 7pm, Country Dance Instruction (Learn to Dance)—Wed. 6pm, Daisy Train (Country)—Wed. 8pm, Latin Fire Dance Nights (Learn to Dance)—Thu. 6pm, Rhythm Of The Sun—Thu. 8pm, Superhero Band—Fri. 8:30pm

ABBA: The Concert Desert Diamond Casino—May 6 ABBA: The Concert—a Tribute to ABBA will bring one of the greatest pop phenomena in the history of music back to life at the Diamond Center on Friday, May 6, 2016. Tickets start at $12.50 and are on sale through Star Tickets and also available at the Desert Diamond Rewards Center. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm. ABBA: The Concert was formed in 1996 and rapidly became known for its amazing sound and excellent live “ABBA-esque” performance. The group has had many successful U.S. and international tours including trips to Germany, Spain, Scandinavia, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, England, and the Philippines, visiting over 20 countries with more than 1,000 shows. ABBA: The Concert continues to put on fantastic performances while playing legendary hits from ABBA, including Mam m a Mia, S.O.S., Money, Money, Money, The Winner Takes All, Waterloo, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, and Dancing Queen. ABBA: The Concert is recognized as the top ABBA tribute group in the world. Treena Parvello, Director of Public Relations and Communications for the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, said, “We are thrilled to host ABBA: The Concert at the Diamond Center and are looking forward to a great performance from the best ABBA since ABBA!” Apache Gold Casino—Globe, AZ—800.272.2438 Events: Apa che Go ld Po w Wo w —Mar. 12-13, BlueWater Casino—Parker, AZ—888.243.3360 Dig Lounge: Fea turing a va riety o f live music. Events: NWSRA Pa rk er Ma ra tho n Wa tersk i—Mar. 5-6, Colorado River Blues Festival—Mar. 12, CRIT Mega Throw—Mar. 18-19, Spring Classic Boat Races—Mar. 26-27 Casino Arizona—Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777 The Showroom: Urba n Sk ies (Keith Urba n Tribute)—Mar. 4-5, Iron Maidens (Iron Maiden Tribute)—Mar. 11-12, Bonfire (AC/DC Tribute)—Mar. 25-26, House of Floyd(Pink Floyd Tribute)—Apr. 1-2

38 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2016 | azgamingguide.com

Casino Del Sol—Tucson, AZ—520.838.6506 Paradiso Bar & Lounge: Sa turda y Night Fever (Bee Gees Tribute)—Mar. 3, Jacque Taylor & the Real Deal Band—Mar. 4, Live Music—Mar. 5. Garth Brooks Tribute—Mar. 10, Rhythm Edition— Mar. 11, Ritmo de Sanchez—Mar. 12, One (U2 Tribute)—Mar. 17, Sonida Cuarto—Mar. 18, Uptown Band—Mar. 19, Selena Tribute— Mar. 31 Conference Center: Luna r New Yea r Celebra tio n—Mar. 5, Jim Jeffries—Mar. 11 Cliff Castle Casino—Camp Verde, AZ—800.381.7568 Dragonfly Lounge: Fea turing a va riety o f live enterta inment. Cocopah Resort Casino—Somerton, AZ—800.237.5687 Events: Ka ra o k e w ith Bling Bling—Th & Fr at 8pm, Martin Castillo en Concierto—Mar. 11 Desert Diamond Casino I—Tucson, AZ—866.332.9467 Monsoon Nightclub: Gro o ve Live w ith DJ Bla de—Fridays, Old School Mix! Noches Caliente—Saturdays, The hottest Tex Mex and Tejano music! Desert Diamond Casino II—Sahuarita, AZ—866.332.9467 Sports Bar: Live music o r DJs—Fr & Sa Diamond Center: Ca ge Ra ge a t The Dia mo nd—Mar. 5, Marisela—Mar. 19, The MVPS—Mar. 25, Rick Springfield—Mar. 26, ABBA: The Concert—May 6 Fort McDowell Casino—Fort McDowell, AZ—800.843.3678 Lucky 7 Saloon: Featuring a variety of live entertainment. Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino—Maricopa, AZ—480.802.5000 Featured Entertainment: Fra nk ie Ba lla rd—Mar. 26 (at the UltraStar Amphitheater) St. Patrick’s Day Bagpipes: Thursda y, Ma rch 17th a t 2, 3, a nd 4pm throughout the casino. The Lounge: Fea turing live music a ll mo nth lo ng. Terri Cla rk — 4th, Chucky Baby & the AllStars—5th, DSB (Journey Tribute)—11th & 12th, Western Fusion—18th, Mick Adams & The Stones (Rollong Stones Tribute)—19th, Quantum—25th, John Eric Band—26th Wednesdays In The Lounge: Enjo y live music fro m No o n—4pm. Swingtips—2nd, Jukebox 6—6th, Walkens Trio—16th, December ‘63 (Four Seasons Tribute)—23rd, Marcini the Band—30th Thursdays In The Lounge: DJ Pete every Thursda y fro m 10a m to no o n Sundays In The Lounge: Wa lk ens Trio —6th, Paul Wells—13th & 20th, Freddie Duran Duo—27th The Lounge Happy Hour: Enjoy Happy hour and live music Monday—Thursday from 5 – 8pm. Harry Luge—1st, Chuck Baby Duo—2nd & 16th, 2 Shades of Blue—3rd, Karen & Marcus—7th & 28th, Stanley Serano Duo—8th, 9th & 15th, Freddie Duran Duo—10th, Flavour—14th & 21st, Van & Melanie

Editor’s Pick Duo—17th, John Eric Duo—22nd & 29th, Silhouette—23rd, Thaddeus Rose—24th, Walkens Duo—30th, Unique—31st Hon-Dah Casino—Pinetop, AZ—800.929.8744 Timbers Lounge and Showroom: Munda y Funda y—Comedy Show 7pm, Groove City Band (R&B Variety)—Mar. 1-5, Rockhall Doctors (Classic Rock)—Mar. 8-12, Closed for Repairs—Mar. 14-19, CJ Simmons (Country)—Mar. 22-26, Vol. 1 (Latin Tribute)—Mar. 29-Apr. 2 Conference Center: ABBA Fa b (ABBA Tribute)—Mar. 25

CASINO ENTERTAINMENT ROGER CLYNE & THE PEACEMAKERS Talking Stick Resort April 2

Lone Butte Casino—Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452 Cascades Lounge—Phoenix area bands & DJs offer free live entertainment throughout the week featuring the Valley's best local bands & DJs Cities Bar & Grille—Sunday Brunch featuring live entertainment from 10am-4pm Events: Ka rl & the Co untry Dutchmen—Mar. 3, Lone Butte Comedy with Barry Neal and Debbie Praver—Mar. 5, The Leon Olsen Show—Mar. 10, Sylvia’s Arizona Dance Band—Mar. 17, The Softones—Mar. 24, The Varitones—Mar. 31 Mazatzal Casino—Payson, AZ—800.777.7529 Apache Spirits Lounge: Fea turing a va riety o f live music. Events: Hunk s—Apr. 15, Neon Circus (Brooks & Dunn Tribute)— May 21, The Troubadour Experience (George Straight Tribute)— Aug. 13 Paradise Casino—Yuma, AZ—888.777.4946 Sharky’s Bar & Bites: Do w ntime—Mar. 4-5, Paloma—Mar. 1112, Mirage—Mar. 18-19 Quechan Casino—Winterhaven, CA—877.783.2426 Sidewinders: Fea turing a va riety o f live enterta inment. Talking Stick Resort—Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777 The Showroom & Grand Ballroom: Jo e Sa tria ni—Mar. 5, BoDeans—Mar. 12, Legends In Concert—Mar. 16-20, TESLA— Mar. 25, An Evening With David Crosby—Mar. 26 Twin Arrows Navajo Casino—Flagstaff, AZ—855.946.8946 Featuring a variety of live entertainment. Vee Quiva Casino—Laveen, AZ—800.946.4452 Event Center: La tin Ro ya le (Sa nta na , Selena , Rick y Ma rtin Tribute)—Mar. 12, Motown Magic (Motown Tribute)—Mar. 26 Wild Horse Pass Casino—Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452 Chrome Nightclub—Fri & Sat 9pm-2am, The Lounge—Featuring a variety of live music nightly, Festival Park—Live music outdoors Showroom: Go rdo n Lightfo o t—Mar. 4, Pesado—Mar. 5, Nashville Gold—Mar. 6, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers—Mar. 11, 38 Special—Mar. 12, Dion Pride (Charley Pride Tribute)—Mar. 18, Magic of Manilow—Mar. 20, Jim Jeffries—Mar. 25, Richard Marx— Mar. 26, Belinda Carlile—Apr. 1, Sinbad—Apr. 8 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.

Hometown favorites Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers are kicking off Talking Stick Resort’s outdoor concert series with a live performance on April 2 with a track-by-track performance of Roger Clyne’s major label debut. Released in 1996 by Clyne’s first band, The Refreshments, Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy, is an album which holds a rare status, being beloved by both cult and mainstream music lovers for two decades. Featuring perennial melodies and hooks on songs including, Banditos, Mekong, and Down Together. Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers will get the poolside fiesta rocking as they play fan-favorites from their 10 album catalog, including Americano, Switchblade, Green & Dumb, and will conclude the evening with a track-by-track performance of Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy! Following the end of their original group, The Refreshments, Roger Clyne and drummer Paul P.H. Naffah formed Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers nearly 18 years ago in Tempe. The band has since released more than 10 live and studio albums, maintained a devoted throng of followers, produced seven consecutive studio albums that hit the top 10 on Billboard's Internet Sales Chart, and performed in front of numerous sold-out crowds across the country. Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers never disappoints their fans and always delivers energetic lively performances. You won’t want to miss their live performance in Scottsdale! Tickets for Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers’ live show are available now. Please call the Talking Stick Resort Box Office at 480.850.7734 or visit talkingstickresort.com for more information. Must be 21 or older to attend. $

azgamingguide.com | March 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide

CASINO BINGO

$20,000 BINGO BASH AT CASINO DEL SOL Evening Bingo Bash To Be Held March 23 With Over $20,000 In Payouts

n March 23, Casino del Sol will host the $20,000 Evening Bingo Bash! Get ready, because there will be over $20,000 in payouts with regular session games paying $1,199 and the last game of the session paying $10,000! Did you know that the bingo hall at Casino del Sol in Tucson seats up to 600 players and has both smoking and non-smoking sections? You’ll find plenty of leg and elbow room when you visit their hall to play an array of diverse bingo games with the friendliest staff you’ll ever meet! Casino del Sol also hosts Arizona’s largest and most exciting linked progressive jackpots that could win you hundreds of thousands of dollars through Planet Bingo’s MPBingo jackpots. Just ask Mary who won more than $200,000 with the blue jackpot line just recently. With MPBingo, you’ll receive ten chances to win five different progressive colored jackpots during the main sessions. For a detailed listing of Casino del Sol’s bingo sessions and special promotions, please visit their website at casinodelsol.com/tucson-casino/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

Yes

BlueWater

Mo-We 6:30pm. Su at 1:30pm.

400

Yes

Casino Arizona

Mo-Su at 6:30pm Daily Matinees at 12:30pm

1000

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

Cosmic Bingo Sa at 11pm.

Cocopah

Th-Su at 6:30pm

350

Yes

Desert Diamond I

We-Mo 1:30, 2, 6, 6:30 & 7pm

300

Yes

Fort McDowell

Sa & Su at 6:45am. We-Mo at 9am. Daily at 12:30 & 6:30pm.

1700

(2 sections: enclosed or in general seating)

Yes

Fr & Sa at 11:30pm. Call for Lunar Bingo schedule.

Harrah’s Ak-Chin

We-Su at 11:30am, 2:30, 3:30, and 6:30pm

470

Yes

Lone Butte

Sa & Su: 10, Noon, 3:45, 5:30pm. Daily: Noon & 6:30pm.

750

Yes

B.A.D. Bingo Fr & Sa at 11:30pm.

Mazatzal

Mo-Th at Noon. Tu & Th at 6:30pm.

280

Yes

Paradise

Daily at 1:30pm. Mo-Fr at 6pm.

300

Yes

Call for Kozmic Bingo & Other Special Dates

Twin Arrows

Th-Su at 7pm & Su at 3pm.

100

Yes

Vee Quiva

Daily at Noon & 6:30pm.

366

Yes

Bingo Eclipse Sa at 11pm.

Yes

Late Night

Sources: Arizona Department of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 01/01/15 & direct inquiries by press time. We are not responsible for incorrect, missing, or outdated information. Contact editor@azgamingguide.com to make updates.

40 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2016 | azgamingguide.com

SAMI’S SMACKDOWN By Sami Becker

HAVING BAD LUCK? It Just May Not Be Your Lucky Day

uring a recent casino visit, I was sitting at a bank of three slot machines with another gentleman; I was at one end of the bank and he was at the other. This guy must have broken a mirror or walked under a ladder that day because he truly was having some crazy bad luck! I’ve never seen anyone play a slot machine for more than one hour straight and not get a single bonus. Then, his ticket jammed when he finally decided to cash out. Frustrated and vociferously protesting up a storm, he decided to move over to the vacant chair in the middle. Unfortunately, his luck didn’t change as he started to hammer away again to no avail. Eventually he got the free spins bonus but made 0 credits! No kidding. The presentation screen at the end of the bonus just said, “Bonus Complete.” I genuinely felt bad for him. Then, this man made it his mission to not let anyone else sit down and play at the bank. His advice to everyone who would listen was “Don’t play these machines,

42 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2016 | azgamingguide.com

there’s something wrong with them!” Surprisingly, people were actually listening to him! The man finally decided to put himself out of his misery and leave. Just minutes later, a couple sat down at the two machines he had been playing and started having a grand old time enjoying their luck on both machines. So, as Kenny Rogers would say, “You gotta know when to hold’em and know when to fold’em.” If you’re having some really bad luck, go home and give it a try some other time! $

Do YOU have something to RANT

OR RAVE about that you feel is worth a $25 gift card?

If so, write me at: sami@azgamingguide.com or by mail at: “Sami” Arizona Gaming Guide PO BOX 20636 Mesa, AZ 85277. If I pick your topic for publication in a future issue, you’ll get a $25 gift card!

FUN FACTS By Lana Hartmann

A LITTLE THING CALLED LUCK St. Patrick’s Day In March Reminds Us Of Some Interesting Anecdotes

n the Irish tradition, the Shamrock (or the three leaf clover) represents the Holy Trinity. There is one leaf for the Son, one leaf for the Father and one leaf for the Holy Spirit. When a Shamrock with four leaves is found, the fourth leaf represents God’s grace. A four leaf clover is considered a lucky symbol because the first three leaves symbolize faith, hope, and love and the fourth leaf symbolizes luck. Not expecting to find a four leaf clover any time soon to bring you some luck? Well, here’s the definition of luck according to Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Nam ed Desire: “You know what luck is? Luck is believing you’re lucky, that’s all...To hold a front position in this rat race, you’ve got to believe you’re lucky.” I will tell you that feeling lucky makes people feel happy. And, I know that the people who feel happy are usually the ones who are having the most fun and enjoying themselves at

the casinos. So, next time you visit a casino and would like a little bit of luck and good fortune to fall upon you, just believe you’re lucky! $

azgamingguide.com | March 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide

FUN & GAMES

WORD SEARCH To celebrate Arizonaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Indian Tribes, find: AKCHIN, APACHE, COCOPAH, COLORADO, GILA, HAVASUPAI, HOPI, HUALAPAI, KAIBAB, MARICOPA, MOJAVE, NAVAJO, OODHAM, PAIUTE, PASCUA, PIMA, QUECHAN, TOHONO, YAQUI, YAVAPAI, ZUNI. Words appear in any direction. (Solution on page 46)

A Q

A H

G O

N O N

N W N A

A W U O

H G

A M

M U

O W P

A A

N M

M M M

L W

G M

A H

A M N

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. Level: Medium. (Solution on page 46)

8 3

6 9

5 7

8 7

1 8

5 7

44 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2016 | azgamingguide.com

101 & McKellips

Scottsdale

480-850-7777 898

05. Casino Del Sol

5655 W. Valencia Rd.

Tucson

855-765-7829 1,079

7406 S. Camino De Oeste

Tucson

855-765-7829 283

07. Cliff Castle Casino & Hotel

I-17, Exit 289

Camp Verde

800-381-7568 656

15318 S. Ave. B

Somerton

800-237-5687 512

7350 S. Nogales Hwy.

Tucson

866-332-9467 1,016

I-19, Exit 80

Tucson

866-332-9467 563

101 & Northern Ave.

Glendale

866-332-9467 1,089

08. Cocopah Resort Casino 09. Desert Diamond Casino I 10. Desert Diamond Casino II 11. Desert Diamond Casino-W.V. 12. Desert Diamond Casino-Why 13. Fort McDowell Casino

Hwy. 86, Milepost 55

Why

Hwy. 87 & Ft. McDowell Rd.

14. Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino

17. Mazatzal Hotel & Casino

Maricopa

480-802-5000 1,089

777 Hwy. 260

Pinetop

800-929-8744 824

Chandler

800-946-4452 786

Hwy. 87, 1/4 mi. S. of Payson

Payson

800-777-7529 420

Yuma

888-777-4946 487

18. Paradise Casino

450 Quechan Dr.

19. Quechan Casino

I-8, Exit 166

Winterhaven, CA 877-783-2426 1,000+

8555 Hwy. 95

Mohave Valley 928-346-2000 235

20. Spirit Mountain Casino 21. Talking Stick Resort 22. Twin Arrows Navajo Casino 23. Vee Quiva Casino 24. Wild Horse Pass Casino

V A N O C O P A T O H A O V H A I U C C S H P I I M E

Y P I O

A A U N

Q U I H T E O L A R O A L A Y O P C A O C J H A N V E H U A L A P A I D H A M

G O I D A A Q P U O E C M C I B H R A A A B NM I A K

800-946-4452 950

1505 E. Hwy. 69

Prescott

800-756-8744 243

46 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2016 | azgamingguide.com

Laveen

Y Y

Chandler

855-946-8946 1,080

480-850-7777 765

Flagstaff

Scottsdale

Sudoku Solution

6443 Komatke Ln.

Word Search Solution O J A I C A I P Z P U H A N A K V A S A U P P A A I O O

I-40, Exit 219

facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide

Sources: Arizona Department of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 01/01/16 & direct inquiries by press time. We are not responsible for incorrect, missing, or outdated information. Contact editor@azgamingguide.com to make updates.

azgamingguide.com

101 & Indian Bend

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

5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd.

25. Yavapai Casino

1077 S. Kyrene Rd.

16. Lone Butte Casino

Fort McDowell 800-843-3678 857

15406 N. Maricopa Rd.

15. Hon-Dah Casino

866-332-9467

Spa

04. Casino Arizona

Golf

800-756-8744 323

RV Park

888-243-3360 526

Prescott

Hotel

Parker

1500 E. Hwy. 69

Smoke-Free Area

11300 Resort Drive

Arcade

02. BlueWater Resort & Casino

Poker Room

800-272-2438 577

Table Games Y

Globe

Live Keno

City

Hwy. 70, 5 mi. E. of Globe

06. Casino of the Sun

Slots

Location

01. Apache Gold Casino Resort 03. Bucky’s Casino

Phone

Bingo

Casino

High Limit Area

CASINO DIRECTORY

Y Y

Y Y Y