Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - October 2016 - 08:10

OCTOBER

Contents

IN EVERY ISSUE 04 EDITOR’S NOTE 06 PLAYERS TALK 10 TABLE GAMES 15 NEW SLOTS 20 WINNING WAYS 22 DINING 24 FEATURE STORY 26 TRIBAL NEWS 28 GAMING NEWS 34 LAUGHLIN, NEVADA 38 CASINO ENTERTAINMENT 40 BINGO 42 SAMI’S SMACKDOWN 43 FUN FACTS

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44 FUN & GAMES 46 CASINO DIRECTORY

MAZATZAL HOTEL & CASINO’S 2ND ANNUAL TESTICLE FESTIVAL ON OCTOBER 8!

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What will you find when you open the Cabinet o f Curio sities at Desert Diamond Casino In Tucson?

Suit up in your favorite team gear and head over to TSR and Casino Arizona this football season!

Spectra Comcast Spectator will further develop their Food Services and Hospitality Management.

CABINET OF CURIOSITIES AT DESERT DIAMOND

GET IN THE GAME AT CASINO ARIZONA & TSR

BLUEWATER RESORT AND CASINO’S FOOD SERVICE

azgamingguide.com | October 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide

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EDITOR’S NOTE

G2E Aftermath

Your Authority On Everything Gaming

Review Of New Slots Coming In November

VOLUME 08 • ISSUE 10 PUBLISHER Chris Höft chris@azgamingguide.com

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s this issue was being produced, we were in Las Vegas at the Global Gaming Expo checking out all of the newest slots which will be on casino floors very soon! As September’s issue was packed with G2E slot info, you’ll have to wait until the November issue for more on our experience at the show! We can’t wait and neither can you, right?

MANAGING DIRECTOR Elizabeth Torma liz@azgamingguide.com

This issue has no shortage of information on the latest slots available for play here in Arizona along with a great opportunity to get out of the Valley and travel up to Mazatzal Hotel & Casino for their 2nd Annual Testicle Festival. Check it out in the feature story! Plus, all the regular columns are back along with great articles from the front cover to the back page.

ART DIRECTOR Melanie Mueller

Our sincerest apologies to The Ak-Chin Indian Community. The Tribal News article in the September issue used some incorrect names to describe The Ak-Chin Indian Community and some of the many enterprises they operate including Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, and UltraStar MultiTainment Center at Ak-Chin Circle.

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

we “Like” you too!

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alexandra Lang editor@azgamingguide.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Al Moe Matt Probst Mark Novak Lana Hartmann Samantha Becker Rachel Brockway Tashina Wortham 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

www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide 04 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2016 | 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: I have a follow up to the Table Games article “The Dreaded Taxable” in the July 2016 issue of the Arizona Gaming Guide. I have noticed in small writing on progressive slot machines that certain payouts may be indemnified, or you can take a lower cash option. Why is this? Are you entitled to your winnings at the time of winning?

Ciro Rivera—Vail, AZ A: Ciro, you make a great point! Your answer lies within the help screen of the slot machine or on the slot itself as you point out. Large jackpots available on progressive slots are paid to the winner but generally as an annuity over 20 years. The statement about the 20 year annuity is listed somewhere on the slot machine. If the winner is not interested in the 20 year annuity, the slot manufacturer (not the casino!) offers cash on the spot in exchange. Generally this offer is around half the value of the 20 year annuity. If you do not see a disclaimer mentioning how the top jackpot is paid, you may assume it is paid in full when you win it. Generally, wins which are paid by annuity are over $100,000 and those without an annuity are below that threshold.

Q: Recently I noticed some new slots going in at [a casino] were Class II slots [slots with a centralized computer deter-

mining the random outcome imitating a bingo game]. Why would they put in Class II slots when they already have Class III slots? Would it be to avoid paying a share to the State?

James Peterson—Tucson, Arizona A: James, Class II slots are essentially based on the game of bingo which is a game not subject to taxation on tribal land. As such, a tribe operating a casino which houses Class II slots here in Arizona does not pay a tax to the State. However, don’t just look at this situation as having simply one issue, like taxation, in the balance. Here in Arizona, each tribe has a set number of casinos which it may operate and each casino has a set number of useable Class III slots (non-bingo based slots subject to taxation). Those numbers are determined by population and are updated yearly, but the maximum number of slots per casino at this time is 1,089 here in Arizona. In order to offer more games to patrons (possibly to meet customer demand during peak hours) beyond limits set by the State in the Tribal-State Gaming Compacts, a casino can install a Class II slot.

Q: My game of choice is electronic Keno and I have played Keno in several casinos in Arizona. They all have the same old tired Keno games yet new line games are introduced all the Continued on page 8

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PLAYERS TALK

Continued from page 6

time. In Montana there are probably 30 different Keno games available such as Coconut, Frantic Fruit, Ole's Treasure [sic] and others. These games put you in a bonus if you hit the bonus trigger and this puts a fun spin on watching numbers drop out of a container. The only bonus round Keno I have found in Arizona is Cleopatra Keno and to a limited extent, Power Keno and Caveman Keno. My question is why doesn't Arizona have more varieties of electronic Keno that offer bonus rounds?

Pamela Siek—Mesa, Arizona A: Based on the regulations (dated August 12, 2016) our staff reviewed set forth by the Montana Gaming Control Division of the Montana Department of Justice, Montana allows tribal casi-

nos to operate Class II slots and a limited number of establishments to operate a few Class II slots. According to the Montana Regulations, the maximum bet on Class II slots is $2 with a maximum payout of $800. The minimum return to player for Class II slots is 80% and the max is 92%. The regulations make repeated reference that the “video gambling machine” or Class II slot in Montana is specifically not a slot machine (Class III slot) in the traditional sense. Class II gaming devices simulate a bingo game and anything displayed on screen depicting a win or a loss, including bonus rounds, is purely entertainment. So, a Class II Keno slot has to simulate its wins to the player, sometimes through bonus games. Class III slots (like those in Arizona) don’t rely on simulation for their outcomes. Class III Keno slots let patrons play Keno and not a simulation of Keno. $

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.

08 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2016 | azgamingguide.com

TABLE GAMES

By Al Moe

NEW WORLD POKER TOUR GAME How To Play World Poker Tour Heads Up Hold ’Em

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here are a lot of poker tables in Arizona, and 95% of the games in the poker rooms are Texas Hold ’Em. It’s not just Arizona, it’s a national thing, and that’s why there are several Blackjack-style games that mimic Texas Hold ’Em. Admit it; you’ve done it yourself. “Ah,” you say, “Texas Hold ’Em, I can play that!” But be careful.

World Poker Tour Heads Up Hold ’Em is a variation by Galaxy Gaming that is now in Arizona. However, since the new game is dissimilar to traditional Texas Hold ‘Em found in the poker room in several ways, instead of comparing them, let’s just start from scratch.

You’ve got your chips; it’s a regular 52-card deck, and the table is likely a $5 minimum. To play, you must make a bet on Ante and an equal bet on Odds. There are three other places to wager, so come with the cash, and know the rules first!

As with any Texas Hold ‘Em game, you’ll get two cards face down. So will the dealer. After looking at your cards, you can wager 3x your Ante bet in the Play spot - a good idea if you start with at least one Ace, or a King with a 7 or higher - or check and wait for the flop. When all players have acted, the dealer will turn over three community cards.

If you already wagered 3x, you are done. If you checked, you can wager 2x your Ante bet, or check again. Next, the dealer will expose the final two community cards. If you don’t have a Play bet, you may bet 1x your Ante wager or fold, losing your Ante and Odds bets.

When all players are finished, the dealer will turn over their 2card hand and make their best 5-card hand from these and the five community cards. If they can’t make at least a pair, they fold and pay the Play bet even money while the Ante is a push.

If the dealer does not fold and beats the player, both the Play and Ante wagers are lost. If the player’s hand is higher, both the Play and Ante are paid even money.

loses with their flush, they are paid 8 to 1 on the Odds wager. If the player wins the hand with less than a straight, they get a push. If they lose the hand with less than a straight, the Odds bet is lost too.

The Trips Plus and Pocket Bonus are side bets, paid only if the player makes at least trips or a pair – see the pay tables. The house edge on these side wagers is a bit higher than the house edge on the Ante wager – slightly under 2.4%.

If you decide to give World Pok er Tour Head s Up Hold ’Em a try at your favorite casino, let us know how it goes! Please send us an e-mail to editor@azgamingguide.com with “World Poker Tour Heads Up Hold ’Em” in the subject line. $

Something is Odd Here The Odds wager is paid when the player’s hand is at least a straight, according to the pay tables, even if the player’s hand loses to the dealer’s hand! Suppose the player wins the hand with a flush, the Odds will pay 1.5 to 1. However, if the player

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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

Buffalo Gold & More Now Available At Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino

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arrah’s Ak-Chin Casino always has a slot floor full of brand new games and classic player favorites. Home to one of the largest slot floors in Arizona month after month (that’s a total of 1,089 games!), September and now October have ushered in a whole host of new titles from such powerhouse slot manufacturers as Aristocrat and IGT. You just have to check out all of these new games!

On Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino’s floor from Aristocrat are Buff alo Gold Collection on the curved ARC cabinet (pictured on the right), Miss Kitty (an ARC game), Wonder Four (an ARC game), The Walking Dead (an ARC game), and Fortune’s Way. Buffalo Gold Collection has a new Gold bonus game to enhance the player experience offering a popular brand with additional features to keep players engaged. Upgrading the traditional Buff alo game is a 20 credit ante bet that gets players eligible for the Gold Bonus with substitute symbols and additional multipliers. The base game features 2X and 3X multipliers, something which was reserved for Buff alo’s free games. With Buffalo Gold Collection, players can win up to 20 free games. Once the free games start, players look to collect four Gold Buffalo symbols to change all Eagle symbols to the Buffalo symbol for the remainder of the free games. Collecting additional Gold Buffalo symbols will turn the Mountain Lion, Wolf, and Elk symbols to Buffalo symbols for the remainder of the free games. Collected Gold Buffalos change to Buffalo symbols for remainder of free games as well!

Card Poker and Powerhouse Poker on their floor as well! Super Draw 6 Card Poker allows video poker fans to play a six card hand while Powerhouse Poker lets players complete additional dealt hands on the top screen for extra wins!

For more information on Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino make sure to call 1.480.802.5000 or visit their website at harrahsakchin.com. $

Representing the slot manufacturer IGT, Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino installed Double Diam o nd Deluxe reel slots, Wild Red 7s reel slots, and Fu Gui Ji Li video slots (pictured on the right). Set on the Company’s CrystalDual cabinet, the Asian-inspired game family features four themes: Fu Gui Ji Li Dynasty Treasure, Golden Opportunity, Festival of Wealth, and Animal Treasure.

Each multi-level progressive theme displays a five reel pay line with 243 ways to win, and offers unique symbols and sounds that are designed to engage a wide variety of players. The mystery Jackpot Feature is randomly triggered by the Dragon sub symbol and enables players to enter a second-screen Jackpot Feature. Players then select golden orbs in this feature which reveal underlying symbols. Once three identical symbols are collected, the player wins the jackpot that corresponds to each symbol.

But wait! There’s even more! For all you video poker fans out there, Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino has placed IGT’s Super Draw 6 azgamingguide.com | October 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide

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NEW SLOTS

Lightning Link Now Available At Mazatzal Hotel & Casino

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he brand new progressive video slot Lightning Link by Aristocrat is available for play at Mazatzal Hotel & Casino in Payson, Arizona.

Lightning Link is an explosive set of linked games with progressives that have proven to be a hit with players in Australia, North America and Europe. Lightning Link is unique in the marketplace with player-selectable multi-denominations, a multi-format jackpot offering that combines both linked and stand alone jackpots, an excellent mix of games that attract a wide range of players, and a patented new jackpot mechanic for innovative game play and trigger methodology. Lightning Link creator Scott Olive said, “Lightning Link’s design was created specifically to appeal to all types of players – frequent players and more casual gamers, and to those who like a jackpot experience as well as those who prefer a more entertaining experience.” The game’s intuitive layout is easy to learn and play and, with frequent features and jackpots, the game keeps players and spectators entertained and energized. For more information about Aristocrat and their latest games visit their website at aristocratgaming.com. For more information on Mazatzal Hotel & Casino call 1.800.777.PLAY or visit mazatzal-casino.com. $

Cabinet Of Curiosities Now Available At Desert Diamond Casino

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hat will you find when you open the Cabinet of Curiosities? Southern Arizona has its first look at slot manufacturer Everi’s progressive jackpot, now featured at Desert Diamond Casino Tucson. Cabinet of Curiosities will also have its first look at you! Under a watchful eye, a swarm of enchanting butterflies may escape the cabinet, turning reel positions wild. Spiders may spin a web over the screen, revealing mystery multipliers. A creepy baby doll may pop up, doling out additional winnings. Opening cabinet doors will uncover objects to add to the progressive tier specimen shelves; fill a shelf and win a progressive prize. Featuring Mystery Credits, a Mystery Multiplier, and a Mystery Wild, the Cabinet of Curiosities may be too much of a curiosity for you to avoid.

Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment has locations in Tucson, Sahuarita, Why, and the West Valley. For more information on Everi’s slots, visit everi.com/games. For more info on the latest slots and Desert Diamond Casinos, visit ddcaz.com, call 1.866.DDC.WINS (1.866.332.9461), or you can follow them on Facebook (/ddcaz), Twitter (@DiamondCasinos), and Instagram (@DiamondCasinos). $

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NEW SLOTS

100 Lines Stack Now At BlueWater Resort & Casino

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lueWater Resort & Casino in Parker, Arizona has recently introduced a lot of new games from the slot manufacturer Aruze. The next time you visit, make sure to check out these popular 30 pay line stepper penny slots. They include The Gold , Crystal, and Platinum Jackpot each with an interactive mechanical top box, a bonus within a bonus, and bonus games within a bonus.

In addition, make sure to play the latest penny video slots from Aruze as well! Choose from Ultra Stack Feature Butterfly, 100 Lines Stack (pictured on the right), Dragon 500G, and Ultra Stack Feature Tiki.

Increased lines and increased max bets equal increased excitement! 100 Lines Stack is played at 5 reels and 100 lines. This 1¢ denomination video game uses the Ultra Stack Lion game play but with larger max bets to appeal to all players but most importantly, high denomination players. 100 Lines Stack offers multiple bonus features such as the Big Cat Feature, 8 Free Games, and an opportunity to retrigger the 8 Free Games. The Big Cat Feature can be triggered when 3 scattered Feature symbols appear on reels 2, 3, and 4. It consists of a Mini Game and 8 Free Games. During the Mini Game, choose from 1 of 5 silhouettes. Whichever Big Cat is revealed during the Mini Game will appear more frequently on the reels during the 8 Free Games. During the 8 Free Games, 3 scattered Feature symbols appearing on reels 2, 3, and 4 retrigger 8 additional Free Games. One hundred lines of stacked symbols mean one hundred ways to win and have fun! For more information about BlueWater Resort & Casino call 1.888.243.3360 or visit their website at bluewaterfun.com. $

Ultra Stack Feature Rose Now Available At Casino Del Sol

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here’s six brand new games at Casino del Sol in Tucson by Aruze Gaming. They are all Ultra Stack slots, with three different game themes including Feature Africa, Feature Butterfly, and Feature Rose .

Ultra Stack Feature Rose is red, violets are blue, Ultra Stack Wild symbols are all for you! Ultra Stack Feature Rose is a romantic, love themed G-Series title which is played at a denomination of 1¢. Let Cupid shoot you with his arrow as you fall in love with up to 200 Free Games and 50 stacked Wild Rose symbols in this 5 reel, 50 line video slot game. The Ultra Stack Free Games are triggered when a Feature symbol appears on 3 or more consecutive reels beginning with the leftmost reel.

When this takes place, a number will appear in each Feature symbol that was involved in triggering the Feature. Up to 10 Free Games are awarded for each Feature symbol. The sum of the numbers that appeared is awarded as the number of Ultra Stack Free Games which ranges from 3 to 200 games. At the start of the Free Games, 50 Rose Wild symbols will be added to the reels as stacked Wild symbols. Being in love has never offered this many roses!

Based on our experience playing the game, the bonus happens just over every 100 games, and the Ultra Stack Feature Rose slot is reasonably volatile, meaning it will have relatively large ups and downs during play.

For more information on Aruze Gaming’s slots, visit aruze-gaming.com. For additional info on Casino del Sol, call 1.855.SOL.STAY (1.855.765.7829) or visit casinodelsol.com. $

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WINNING WAYS

By Christina Borrego

GET IN THE GAME AT TSR & CASINO AZ Venues Gear Up For Football Season With Special Offers & Activities

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uit up in your favorite team gear and head over to Talking Stick Resort and Casino Arizona this football season!

There is nothing better than watching games on HD screens with other sport fanatics. One of these locations offers a game-viewing atmosphere that best fits you.

Every Sunday, from 10am until 10pm, make your way to Talking Stick Resort for irresistible food and drink specials at Blue Coyote Cantina Sunday Football Viewing Parties. The modern hot spot has an upscale ambiance and a modern southwestern menu. In terms of drinks, the bar at Blue Coyote Cantina will impress. Choose bottled or draft beer or opt for custom-made margaritas from a vast tequila list, the options to switch things up are endless!

And if you are looking to catch some rays and enjoy the beautiful fall weather while watching your favorite players make incredible plays, then the Football Season Cabanas at Talking Stick Resort are the choice for you. Equipped with a big screen TV and situated poolside, the cabanas are spacious enough for ten people to enjoy the game in comfort. The drink and food menus offer a variety of options! You may want to treat yourself and your friends to a Talking Stick Resort signature Tito’s Kickin’ Mule or to an ice cold beer bucket filled with your favorite domestic or premium beers. The Football Season Cabana Rentals require a $100 minimum purchase of food and beverages and can be reserved by calling 1.866.877.9897.

However, the weekend vibe doesn’t have to end on Sunday.

Casino Arizona has a plan to turn Monday nights into an exciting football viewing experience worth looking forward to every

week. Notorious for hosting some of the world’s best live entertainment, the spacious and classy Showroom is hosting Monday Night Football, an opportunity to watch your favorite teams alongside 250 other football fanatics from around the Valley.

The Showroom will be featuring every Monday night matchup broadcasted by ESPN throughout the season while boasting amazing food and drink specials with no cover at the door.

And if you arrive early for the game you can always grab a bite at one of the restaurants.

The Arizona Room Patio Grill at Casino Arizona has a great casual vibe, with an even more impressive menu bursting with Southwestern flavor. Regardless of what entrée you choose, you are bound to find a beer that best complements your meal. The bar offers handcrafted beers from local breweries, including Four Peaks and San Tan. One mouthwatering deal to try this season is the Burger/Sandwich & Beer Combo Special where you can dine for $9.00 and under! Another option is to order any sandwich/burger and your first draft beer is only $2.00.

Casino Arizona is also home to Eagles Buffet which offers excellent all-you-can-eat sushi along with all the extras one may desire including pickled ginger, wasabi, ponzu dipping sauce and edamame.

This football season, relocate from your living room to Talking Stick Resort or to The Showroom at Casino Arizona and make one of these places your game day headquarters.

For more information on Talking Stick Resort or Casino Arizona call 1.480.850.7777. You can also visit their websites online at talkingstickresort.com and at casinoarizona.com. $

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CASINO DINING

By Mark Novak

FOOTBALL SEASON MEANS ONE THING My Favorite Snack Food! Chicken Wings!

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hen I am ready to spend some time watching a game with my friends, I tend to gravitate towards meeting at a casino regardless of what time of year it happens to be. Why? First of all, all the games are available on multiple screens, generally in a comfortable environment. Second, access to a wide variety of libations, both hard and soft.

Third, and most importantly, access to an unlimited supply of excellent chicken wings whose price does not change depending on the time of day, like at other sports bars!

While you might argue with me over which casino has the best wings, I think that is just an expression of personal taste. Some people like their wings crispy, some don’t. Some connoisseurs look for the flavor and spice variety, others don’t. Me, I’m a simple guy, give me the game, my friends, the wings, and I’ll have a great time no matter the location.

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Take my word for it. Watch the games at the casino with good friends and some wings. You’ll always have a ball! $

Mazatzal Hotel & Casino

By Lana Hartmann

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ogether with The Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce, Mazatzal Hotel & Casino is hosting the Second Annual Testicle Festival On Saturday, October 8, 2016 in Payson, Arizona!

The festival begins at 10am and guests can enjoy great family friendly entertainment including the Mogollon Rim Country’s finest food and merchandise vendors. Plus, patrons can enter eating contests to win cash and prizes for free! The Cornhole Tournament begins at 10am on Saturday, October 8th with 2 person teams paying an entry fee of $40. Registration is available online at Mazatzal-casino.com or at the Mazatzal Hotel & Casino Cashier Cage.

At 2pm, the feeding frenzy of edible tournaments continues with a Hot Dog eating contest, followed by a Hot Wing eating contest at 3pm, a Kid’s Pie eating contest, and the big finale at 4:15pm with the Rocky Mountain Oyster eating contest! Signups for the eating contests begin when the gates open at 10am and continue until 15 minutes prior to the start of the contest.

Later in the evening, SouthBound, A Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band performs at 8pm. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the event. You’ll hear SouthBound perform songs such as Free Bird , Gimme Three Steps, Sweet Home Alabama, That

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Smell, and many more hits from the iconic Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Before and after the festival, the cool, crisp mountain air, friendly and knowledgeable staff, a great selection of casino games, excellent entertainment, quality food at reasonable prices, a variety of promotions, and so much more, is what makes Mazatzal Hotel & Casino a fantastic gaming destination.

With just over 400 slots, the floor has a great selection for every style of player. Mazatzal not only has games from all the popular manufacturers, but they even have exciting new slots from lesser-known companies that can’t be found at any other Arizona casinos. Several highlights of the gaming area, besides the unique assortment of slots, includes a prevalence of penny games, an abundant collection of video poker machines with excellent pay tables, several multi-denomination and high limit slots, steppers, and video keno games as well. In fact, fans of Caveman Keno should take note; Mazatzal is one of the last casinos in the state to still offer the original version which awards the 10X multiplier when all three eggs are chosen during a game!

Their card room, which boasts the “Best Blackjack in Arizona,” breaks tradition by using four-deck shoes instead of the usual six decks. Plus, their dealers stand on soft 17. Players can double

down on any two cards, and split up to four times (except aces).

Prefer Poker instead? The tables in the pines are always bustling with activity, offering weekly tournaments and hot progressive payouts.

Upcoming entertainment at Mazatzal Hotel & Casino includes the Hollywood Halloween Bash on Saturday, October 29, 2016, The Complete Beatle’s Experience on Wednesday, November 9, 2016, and the New Year’s Eve Celebration featuring Spin Fusion on December 31, 2016. Playing everything from today’s top dance favorites to disco to classic rock & pop, Spin Fusion will keep the New Year’s Celebration going all night long!

From the food to the service to the slot floor and everywhere in between, Mazatzal Hotel & Casino has everything for the casino gaming enthusiast in a location that can’t be beat. John Giles, Director of Marketing at the casino said, “Players have the perfect opportunity here at Mazatzal to enjoy Payson, the Rim Country, hiking, fishing, hunting, and so much more. Then, they can live it up with the same gaming available at Valley casinos. We have the best blackjack game in the state, plenty of the newest and most popular penny slots, great video poker machines, high limit slots, bingo specials, and much more!” For more info on Mazatzal Hotel & Casino, visit their website at mazatzal-casino.com or call 1.800.777.PLAY (1.800.777.7529). $

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TRIBAL NEWS

INTERIM GM WELCOMES SPECTRA BlueWater Resort & Casino Partners With Spectra For Food Services

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lueWater Resort & Casino (BWRC) interim General Manager Michelle Eddy, is proud to announce that Spectra Comcast Spectator has joined the team to further develop Food Services and Hospitality Management.

Spectra comes with vast experience in providing clients with a complete set of resources creating unforgettable dining experiences. Spectra’s Food Services & Hospitality now manages every detail for over 250,000 annual events, serving more than 30 million guests per year with its highly successful, “Everything’s Fresh” philosophy.

Currently, Spectra’s food service division is operating 156 different accounts throughout the United States and Canada ranging from casinos, to NFL and MLB stadiums, convention centers, arenas, museums, zoos, amphitheaters and universities.

Interim General Manager Michelle Eddy & Spectra Executive Director Joshua Pyle.

Photo courtesy of BWRC.

A Spectra spokesperson commented, “We look forward to helping grow the operation here at BWRC and look forward to joining the family here at BWRC. If you have any questions regarding the company, how we operate, or potential future goals or plans, please do not hesitate to reach out to any member of our onsite management team.”

Spectra began joint operations with BWCR on June 1, 2016.

BWCR, along the shores of the Colorado River in Parker, Arizona, is the entertainment capital of Western Arizona, an enterprise of the Colorado River Indian Tribes. BWCR features 200 river view rooms and suites, nearly 500 slot machines, table games, poker room and a bingo parlor.

Nationally renowned celebrities appear regularly at the BWCR Amphitheater, past performances include artists such as Wynona, Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam, Kenny Rogers and many others. The resort has a 100-slip marina, and several restaurants including River Willow, the Parker area’s most outstanding steakhouse. For reservations and more information, call 1.888.243.3360 or visit their website at bluewaterfun.com.

The Colorado River Indian Tribes are located in western Arizona and eastern California. The reservation stretches along the Colorado River on both the Arizona and California side. It includes almost 300,000 acres of land, with the river serving as the

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focal point and lifeblood of the area. The reservation was established on March 3, 1865 and is used for agriculture, recreation, commercial and residential sites.

The Colorado River Indian Tribes membership consists of four tribes: Mohave, Chemehuevi, Hopi and Navajo. With this vast diversity of people, the Tribe is one of the most unique Tribes throughout the state of Arizona. The Colorado River Indian Tribes is governed by its own Constitution and Bylaws as a sovereign nation and is recognized as a sovereign entity and government by the United States government. The Tribe would like to extend their hospitality and invite the general public to visit the Colorado River Indian Reservation. $

GAMING NEWS

Desert Diamond Casinos Presents Over $128,000 To Beneficiaries Of Their 2016 Golf Classic

The Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise presented checks on Tuesday, August 9, 2016 to four organizations that serve the Nation. Over $128,000 was presented as part of the funds raised at the 13th Annual Desert Diamond Casinos Golf Classic. Over the past 13 years, the Desert Diamond Casinos Golf Classic has become one of the preeminent golfing fundraisers in southern Arizona. This year’s tournament, featuring a PreHistoric Kingdom theme, was held at Omni Tucson National Golf Course in March and was another huge success. More than 240 individuals participated in the tournament, with support of many volunteers from Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment and beneficiaries. The tournament’s major sponsors included Hunt Construction/Penta Building Group, Delta Diversified, Konami Gaming, Inc., Scientific Games, Ricor and Pepsi.

This year’s recipients included: The Tohono O’odham Department of Health & Human Services Division of Prevention Kom Ckud Ki: Domestic Violence, which offers programs and services to prevent domestic violence and help individuals live free of abuse. The Tohono O’odham Veteran’s Affairs, which provides programs and services to support Tohono O’odham veterans of the U.S. military. The Tohono O’odham Community Action/Tohono O’odham Ki:Ki Association, which are collaborating on a joint project.

TOCA is dedicated to creating a healthy, culturally vital and sustainable community on the Tohono O'odham Nation, while Ki:Ki has provided housing services to the members of the Nation for 50 years.

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 at ddcaz.com or by calling 1.866.DDC.WINS. Follow Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment on Twitter and on Facebook. $

28 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2016 | azgamingguide.com

All In On At Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino This October Each October, individuals and organizations around the country show their support and raise awareness for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a cancer that affects 1 in 8 American women. This October, Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, an organization that has a long-standing tradition of caring about the health and well-being of its employees and guests, will once again be going above and beyond for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. “The breast cancer awareness campaign is something we are known for and we are so proud of what we have accomplished over the last several years,” said Robert Livingston, General Manager at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino. “Not only do our employees look forward to the activities every year, but it’s also an event our guests anticipate too.”

PINK will be the color of the month at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino! Throughout October guests will see employees donning their own PINK apparel and even PINK hair! And on Thursdays, guests are encouraged to wear PINK, enter their Total Reward Cards into any slot machine and after earning only 1 tier credit, receive $5 in free slot play. In addition, on October, 29 at 5pm, Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino is giving away $15,000 in free slot play! Throughout October, on Thursdays, guests who are Total Rewards Members can receive 10 entries for every 50 tier credits earned and also receive 10 free entries just for swiping their Total Rewards card at the promo kiosks.

Throughout October, if you like to eat PINK…pancakes that is there will be a PINK pancake breakfast special at Agave’s. In addition, on Saturday, October 22 Total Rewards guests can stop by the Ak-Chin Ballroom from 2-5pm to pick up their free breast cancer awareness blanket. Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino will host the PINK Pool Party for the third year in a row on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 7:30pm! There will be some Pretty In PINK drink specials and a live DJ! Of course the highlight of the party will be the Battle of the Bras fashion show. Each casino department will be able to design a bra for a male manager or supervisor to model at the party!

Picture yourself in PINK this October with Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino’s selfie booth that will be located in the hotel lobby near the entrance to the pool throughout the entire month. For more info, call 1.480.802.5000, or visit harrahsakchin.com. $

GAMING NEWS

Konami’s All-New Concerto Video Slot Lineup Brought New Depth And Diversity To G2E 2016

Konami Gaming, Inc. announced a record release of next generation slot products for the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas on September 27 – 29, 2016. Concerto SeleXion, Concerto Slant, Concerto Stack, and Concerto Crescent were on display for the first time, in addition to new premium releases, skill-based products, and multi-station slots.

“Konami brought unprecedented new product segments, game cabinets, and showcase technology solutions to G2E 2016, and everything that guests saw was focused on supporting casinos with diverse product types to reach new audiences,” said Matt Reback, Vice President, Marketing at Konami.

“For years, Konami has demonstrated performance success and product reliability, which we’re now expanding to an exciting array of emerging gambling entertainment that will drive the future of the market.”

Konami’s award-winning Co ncerto slots has shown strong global momentum since its G2E 2015 debut. “The core elements of Concerto were designed with the player in mind.

We’re now extending those key components to more industryleading video formats to equip operators to diversify their casino floor with a robust variety of cabinets and game content,” said Reback. “We know that no two players are the same, so the range and variety of our G2E lineup was focused on attracting different player types with unique products.”

Some of the games Konami introduced at this year’s G2E included the following new titles: Savage Eyes: Konami debuted an original new Xtra Rew ard feature at G2E 2016 that extends high-value symbols horizontally across the reels. In this new KP3+ game, Action Stack ed Symbols appearing on the first reel are merged across to any adjacent Action Stack ed Sym bols on the same position for reels 3, 4, and 5. These merged sandwich symbols create big potential line wins and awaken excitement by displaying close-eye encounters with the jungle’s most majestic predators.

Nouveau Beauties: Konami’s No uveau Beauties features a striking new art style inspired by the Art Nouveau movement with dramatic curves, natural elements, and strong female figures. Although originating in Europe, the Nouveau style was inspired by Japanese design, which now reaches players in this new Konami release. Four lovely heroines champion the reels of this Xtra Rew ard game and summon mystery multiplier awards up to 125x! $

30 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2016 | azgamingguide.com

GAMING NEWS

Internet Cafe Closed Down For Illegal Gambling In Glendale

Towards the end of August, investigators from the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) and members of the Glendale Police Department served a search warrant linked to an illegal gambling investigation at Mega Byte located at 5438 North 59th Avenue in Glendale, Arizona.

During the joint operation, several people were arrested in connection to the business and will be facing multiple charges including operating an illegal gaming facility, promotion of illegal gambling, and racketeering.

For several months, investigators have been looking into the business and found it was operating as an illegal gambling operation. Customers were allowed to pay cash for the chance to then play on computer terminals that offered casino style games.

The ADG takes complaints about illegal gambling businesses very seriously. These unregulated cash businesses often open near neighborhoods and can easily attract violent crimes to the area. The ongoing partnership between ADG and local police departments, such as Glendale, has lead to the closure of more than a dozen illegal gambling operations just this year.

The ADG, in partnership with Arizona’s tribes, regulates Indian gaming. Under the AZ Tribal-State Gaming Compact, tribes with casinos contribute one to eight percent of their Class III (slot machines, jackpot poker, blackjack, keno) gross gaming revenue to the state, cities, towns and counties. There are currently 23 Class III casinos in the state. Tribes send contributions every three months. $

32 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2016 | azgamingguide.com

GAMING NEWS

Celebrating 35 Years Of The Arizona Lottery: $3.5 Billion In Transfers To The State Of Arizona And Counting!

Arizona Lottery's Director of Sales, Raynie Hosto (pictured on the left), has been awarded with the prestigious North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries Powers Award. This honor recognizes a lottery employee's dedication and significant contributions through an exceptional job performance.

Raynie Hosto has been with the Arizona Lottery for 10 years in a sales capacity and has been instrumental to the success of the Arizona Lottery. Now the Director of Sales, Hosto is both diligent and dedicated to providing outstanding customer service to retailers and players alike.

Just in 2016, not only has the Arizona Lottery seen a 22% increase in retailer participation with an overall approval rating of 98%, but sales have continued to increase and Hosto's positive contributions have made a lasting impact on the Arizona Lottery.

When asked about new games the Arizona Lottery is expecting to release, Hosto immediately described the new Arizona Cardinals Scratchers game saying, “We’ve had a strong partnership with the Cardinals over the years and this year we’re doing something new. We’ll also launch our Super Tick et, replacing the Gam e Book . Plus, Cash Explosion has been a spotlight game at $185 million and we’re bumping that up to a $200 million prize pool. People love Cash Explosion because they regularly win when playing.”

The story does not end with Hosto’s major award. Over the past 35 years since July 1, 1986 the Arizona Lottery has posted: $12.2 billion in Sales $3.5 billion in Transfers to the State of Arizona (with $160 million in Transfers for Fiscal Year 2016) $6.1 billion in Prizes to Players $800.2 million in Commissions to Retailers.

In addition, Arizona Lottery dollars (just under $400,000) are also directed towards community nonprofit organizations.

Governed by six “Giving Back Pillars,” (including Arts & Edu-

cation, Community Enrichment, Economic Development, Environmental Conservation, Health and Human Services, and Public Safety) employees of the Arizona Lottery fund grant proposals from local outreach programs all over Arizona. For more information, interested groups can visit their website arizonalottery.com/givingback (click Community Sponsorships).

The newly appointed Executive Director Gregory Edgar (pictured on the right) said, “What I’m most excited about is our beneficiaries. In the end the Arizona Lottery is all about the 18 organizations that we fund through the dollars made at the lottery. I want to maximize those dollars, but more importantly, I want to maximize the awareness as to what it is the lottery does and where those dollars go. We do a lot of good and the public should know about the services provided to all Arizona residents, regardless if they play Arizona Lottery games or not. When a player puts a dollar down to buy a ticket, they’ve already won because they are making a huge contribution to our state!”

Director Edgar also commented on the strong commitment and dedication the employees at the lottery have toward serving the beneficiaries. “They all love our mission which gets me excited and as a group we have an opportunity to increase the impact of lottery in our state. One way is by introducing new ways of interacting with our players.”

Reflecting on why he enjoys working at the Arizona Lottery so much, Edgar said, “For me our work truly is all about the beneficiaries we generate funds for. The money goes to places which produce real impact. During fiscal year 2015, $1 million went to the Department of Economic Security which used that money to transition more than 1,800 Arizonans from homelessness to secure, stable, permanent housing. There’s $3 million dollars coming from our unclaimed prizes fund which goes to help foster children living within the system. That makes a big difference in the lives of these children and families!”

For more info call 1.480.921.4400 or visit arizonalottery.com. $ azgamingguide.com | October 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide

33

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 July 2016 Slots

Hold % Tables

Hold %

2.16

Blackjack / 21

15.18

4.92

Craps

17.52

Multi-Denom 5.41

Roulette

20.90

$5

5.73

Pai Gow Poker

21.19

25¢

5.84

Let It Ride

23.72

5¢

9.20

Other Table Games 28.01

1¢

10.06

Three Card Poker

32.68

Tight Megabucks

13.04

6.47

Win Amount

Dollars

Bingo

9.53

Slots

33.0 mil.

Race Books

16.38

Tables

3.8 mil.

28.36

Other

0.5 mil.

Loose $25 $1

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 | October 2016 | azgamingguide.com

Other Loose Sports Pools

Tight Live Keno

Hold %

LAUGHLIN, NEVADA

By Lana Hartmann

THE GOLDEN NUGGET LAUGHLIN Plenty Of New Slots And Even More Reasons To Stay

T

his month at the Golden Nugget Laughlin there are a lot of reasons for patrons to visit. Now through October 31, the casino is hosting a $30,000 Monster Mash Cash Giveaway. All players have to do is play their favorite slots or table games to earn drawing tickets. 15 lucky winners take home cash every Saturday and on Halloween. In addition, the Golden Nugget Laughlin is hosting two tournaments this month. For only a $50 entry fee, play in the $20,000 bases loaded Blackjack tournament on October 14-16. The $40,000 Wacky & Wicked Slot Tournament is on October 20-22. There is a $100 entry fee, a $12,500 first place prize, and all participants win cash!

Plus, for all you golfers out there, the $15,000 Laughlin Golf Classic is on October 28-29. Teams can enter for only $200 and the top 10 teams win prize money. And, the Pick-A-Pumpkin promotion is available on Sundays to slot enthusiasts who play through $500 on their favorite machine with their 24 Karat Club Card inserted. The Pick-A-Pumpkin game appears just in time for some Halloween bonus fun. Select your favorite pumpkin and be awarded mystery free slot play!

Plus, the Golden Nugget Laughlin installed a lot of new slots on their floor. The big sensation everyone has to try out is Orange Is The New Black by IGT. The slot is inspired by one of the mostwatched series on Netflix. IGT’s Orange Is The New Black Video Slots capture authentic clips, music, characters and imagery from the show. The Orange Is The New Black slot offers two captivating game themes on the Company’s Center Stage Duo cabinet. The Orange game displays a 4x5 reel configuration and the Black game features a 3x5 reel in a 30 pay line game. Each game can award one of three multi-level progressive awards displayed on the impressive 55” top screen. The two game themes’ bonus features offer four character-driven bonus rounds, including Crazy Eyes’ Wild Feature, Alex’s More Symbol Feature, Mendoza’s Double Game Feature, and Piper’s All Features! that combines all characters’ bonus rounds together for big-win opportunities. Visit igt.com to learn more about IGT’s diverse portfolio of game themes.

For information on the Golden Nugget Casino in Laughlin, visit goldennugget.com/Laughlin or call 1.800.950.7700 for rooms, or call direct at 1.702.298.7111. $ azgamingguide.com | October 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide

35

LAUGHLIN, NEVADA

By Mark Novak

TROP LAUGHLIN HAS SPIN FERNO This Slot Tournament Bank Is Hot All The Time!

T

he Tropicana Laughlin has been hosting slot tournaments this summer on their brand new Spin Ferno games by IGT. The Spin Ferno base games are inspired by top performing, player-favorite themes, designed to be equally compelling during tournaments and in regular play mode.

Based on the top performing 20-payline version of Triple Double Diam ond Free Gam es Slots, the Spin Ferno themes Hotsy Totsy and Red Hot Lil’ Devil 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 slots feature three reels, 25 pay lines, and 2X and 3X multipliers. 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.

For room packages and more information, visit troplaughlin.com or call 1.800.343.4533. $

36 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2016 | azgamingguide.com

CASINO ENTERTAINMENT

Listings 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, Superhero Band—Fri. 8:30pm

Goo Goo Dolls Desert Diamond Casino—December 9 Multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated band Goo Goo Dolls will hit the road this fall for their second headline run in support of their latest release Boxes featuring support from SafetySuit.

The tour rolls into the Diamond Center on December 9, 2016.

The multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated Goo Goo Dolls are one of the most globally respected and influential forces in popular music, selling more than 12 million albums since 1986.

They have scored 14 Top 10 radio hits (more than any other artist in the history of the Hot AC format), including Nam e, Slide, and Iris, the latter spending nearly 12 straight months on the Billboard charts and holding the No. 1 position for 17 consecutive weeks. The band has toured the globe countless times, performed in front of millions of fans, received numerous awards (including four Grammy nominations), and recorded and released eleven studio albums. Goo Goo Dolls’ vocalist and guitarist John Rzeznik has also been honored with the Songwriters Hall of Fame Hal David Starlight Award.

Treena Parvello, Director of Public Relations and Communications for the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, said, “We are thrilled to bring the Goo Goo Dolls to Tucson this December! Don’t miss your chance to see this extraordinary band live in concert at the Diamond Center!”

Apache Gold Casino—Globe, AZ—800.272.2438 Events: Vetera n’s Day Celebrations—Nov. 11-13 BlueWater Casino—Parker, AZ—888.243.3360 Dig Lounge: Fea turing a va riety o f live music. Events: BlueWater Desert Challenge—Oct. 7-9, Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series—Oct. 14-16, BlueWater “336” Enduro Boat Races—Oct. 28-30 Casino Arizona—Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777 The Showroom: Bla sphemo us Rumo rs (Depeche Mo de Tribute) —Oct. 7-8, The Ultimate Stones (Rolling Stones Tribute)—Oct. 2122, Led Zepagain (Led Zeppelin Tribute)—Nov. 11-12, Aeromyth (Aerosmith Tribute)—Nov. 25-26 The Arizona Room: Arizona Room

38 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2016 | azgamingguide.com

Casino Del Sol—Tucson, AZ—520.838.6506 Paradiso Bar & Lounge: Thursday Tributes: The Iro n Ma idens (Iron Maiden Tribute)—Oct. 6, December ’63 (Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons Tribute)—Oct. 13, Ultimate Stones (Rolling Stones Tribute)—Oct. 20, I Don’t Know (Ozzy Osbourne Tribute)—Oct. 27, Masters Of Puppets (Metallica Tribute)—Nov. 3 Thursday Night Game Time: Wa tch & Win Thursda ys Ho sted by Da mien Ala meda & Dave Cooney with a live broadcast at Zeboz at 4:15pm—Nov. 6,13 & 20 Friday Nights: The Angel Perez Pro ject—Oct. 7, El Regresso (Tejano)—Oct. 14, Tony Corrales Band (Top 40, Country)— Oct. 21, Ritmo de Sanchez (Latin, Variety, Dance)—Oct. 28 Saturday Nights: Edna & Ely B-Cool (Latin Jazz, Variety Dance)—Oct. 1, Los Sociales (Tejano)—Oct. 8, Grind (Variety, Pop, Funk, Rock, Country, Dance)—Oct. 15, Relente 520 (Tejano)—Oct. 22, Los Centenarios (Norteno)—Oct. 29 AVA Amphitheater: Neil Young & Promise Of The Real—Oct. 6, Chris Young—Oct. 9, Los Tigres Del Norte & Alfredo Olivas—Oct. 14, Ramon Ayala & Intocable—Oct. 21, Telemundo Festival—Nov. 19, 12th Annual Tamal Festival—Dec. 3 Events: Octo berfest—Oct. 22-23 Cliff Castle Casino—Camp Verde, AZ—800.381.7568 Dragonfly Lounge: Featuring a variety of live entertainment.

Cocopah Resort Casino—Somerton, AZ—800.237.5687 Events: Ka ra o k e w ith Bling Bling—Fr & Sa, Bridget’s Gifts presents Thompson Square & Lauren Alaina—Oct. 22 Desert Diamond Casino I—Tucson, AZ—866.332.9467 Monsoon Nightclub: Fla shba ck Frida ys—Classic Hip-Hop and Old School fun with primetime DJs, Noches Caliente—Saturdays with the hottest live Latin music!

Desert Diamond Casino II—Sahuarita, AZ—866.332.9467 Sports Bar: Dub So unds DJs—Fr & Sa Diamond Center: Gary Allan—Dec. 3, Goo Goo Dolls—Dec. 8 Fort McDowell Casino—Fort McDowell, AZ—800.843.3678 Lucky 7 Saloon: Featuring a variety of live entertainment. Events: Ramon Ayala Y Sus Bravos Del Norte—Oct. 22 Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino—Maricopa, AZ—480.802.5000 Featured Entertainment: Yo ung Co untry—Oct. 14, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy—Oct. 28 Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays In The Lounge: Enjo y live music in the evenings. Furio us Geo rge —Oct. 1, Live DJ—Oct. 7-8, Queen Nation (Queen Tribute)—Oct. 7-8, Soundwave—Oct. 15, Quantum—Oct. 21, Super Hero—Oct. 22, Live DJ—Oct. 28, Doo Wah Riders—Oct. 29 Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays In The Lounge: Enjo y live music in the a fternoon. Western Fusion Trio—Oct. 4, Yesterday Once More—Oct. 5, Walkens Trio—Oct. 5, John Eric Duo—Oct. 11, Chance Tinder (Elvis Tribute)—Oct. 12, Walkens Trio—Oct. 12, Freddie Duran Duo— Oct. 18, Silhouette—Oct. 19Stanley Serrano Trio—Oct. 19, Karen &

Editor’s Pick Marcus—Oct. 25, ABBAFab (ABBA Tribute)—Oct. 26, Stanley Serrano Trio—Oct. 26 Hon-Dah Casino—Pinetop, AZ—800.929.8744 Timbers Lounge and Showroom: Ra dio Ra ve (Va riety)—Oct. 48, Rockhall Doctors (Classic Rock)—Oct. 11-15, The Strip Kings (Variety)—Oct. 18-22, TBD—Oct. 25-29, The Doo-Wah Riders (Country)—Nov. 1-5 Events: Don’t Look Back (Journey Tribute)— Oct. 14

CASINO ENTERTAINMENT Kris Kristofferson Talking Stick Resort November 3

Lone Butte Casino—Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452 Cascades Lounge: Pho enix a rea ba nds & DJs o ffer free live entertainment throughout the week.

Mazatzal Casino—Payson, AZ—800.777.7529 Apache Spirits Lounge: Fea turing a va riety o f live music.

Events: 2nd Annua l Testicle Festiva l—Oct. 8, Southbound (Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute)—Oct. 8, Hollywood Halloween Bash— Oct. 29, The Complete Beatle’s Experience—Nov. 9, New Year’s Eve Celebration Featuring Spin Fusion—Dec. 31 Paradise Casino—Yuma, AZ—888.777.4946 Sharky’s Bar & Bites: Fea turing a va riety o f live enterta inment.

Quechan Casino—Winterhaven, CA—877.783.2426 Sidewinders: Fea turing a va riety o f live enterta inment.

Pipa Event Center: Bo z Sk a ggs—Oct. 29 Talking Stick Resort—Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777 The Showroom, Grand Ballroom & Pool: Dw eezil Za ppa—Oct. 1, Cyndi Lauper—Oct. 7, ZZ Top—Oct. 9, Phoenix Fashion Week— Oct. 12, Los Lobos—Oct. 14, Foreigner—Oct. 16, Kris Kristofferson—Nov. 3, Terry Fator—Nov. 18, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias—Nov. 20, Johnny Lang—Dec. 9 Twin Arrows Navajo Casino—Flagstaff, AZ—855.946.8946 Featuring a variety of live entertainment.

Vee Quiva Casino—Laveen, AZ—800.946.4452 Events: So no ra Sa nta nera —Oct. 15, Grupo Yndio—Oct. 18 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: Vo z De Ma ndo —Oct. 14, Latin Comedy Jam: Paul Rodriguez Featuring DJ Kane of the Kumbia Kings—Oct. 22, Redfoo & The Party Rock Crew Halloween Party—Oct. 29, Sinatra and Friends Starring Bob Anderson—Nov. 12, WFF Wild Horse Pass Fights Live MMA—Nov. 19, Charlie Daniels Band—Dec. 10, Tower Of Power—Dec. 15, Motown Magic Holiday Tribute—Dec. 18, Hollywood U2 (U2Tribute)—Dec. 23

Kris Kristofferson, the award-winning singer, songwriter and actor, will perform his collection of hits at Talking Stick Resort’s Showroom on November 3. The country music crooner is best known for his songwriting with classics like, Me and Bobby McGee (immortalized by Janis Joplin), Help Me Make It Through the Night, For the Good Times and Sunday Morning Coming Down. He was also a part of the iconic country super group, The Highwaymen, with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash. Kristofferson has recorded 28 albums and his latest was released earlier this year, Cedar Creek Sessions, just before he turned 80 years old.

Kristofferson’s success in songwriting helped trigger his next passion as a film actor. He has acted in more than 70 films and won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in A Star Is Born. Most recently he has appeared in Fast Food Nation, He’s Just Not That In To You and Dolphin Tale. In addition to his Golden Globe award, Kristofferson is also a threetime Grammy winner, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, and in 2014 was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

To learn more information about the show, call the Talking Stick Resort Box Office at 1.480.850.7734 or visit their website talkingstickresort.com. Must be 21 or older to attend. $

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 | October 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide

39

CASINO BINGO

PLAY BINGO AT PARADISE CASINO The Place For Bingo In Yuma, Arizona!

M

ake sure you head over to Paradise Casino in Yuma, Arizona this month to participate in one of their many bingo sessions!

Sunday through Saturday: 11:30am Mini Session with a $4 paper buy-in or a $10 electronic buy-in with $40 payouts and $75 payouts on specials.

Monday through Friday: 1:30pm Matinee Session with a $10 paper buy-in or a $17 electronic buy-in and a $22 Manager’s Special with $75 payouts and $100 payouts on specials.

Friday, October 14th—Indian Day:

Come celebrate Indian Day! Bring in your Tribal ID to receive a coupon for a free paper buy-in or $5 off your electronic buy-in.

Monday, October 31st—Halloween: The 6pm session includes $300 payouts with $500 payouts on specials with one $1,199 jackpot. The cost to play is $25 for a paper buy-in and $47 or $77 electronic buy-ins. Join the Halloween Costume contest for the following prizes: 1st Place receives $200 plus $100 in Bingo Play, 2nd Place receives $150 plus $75 in Bingo Play, 3rd Place receives $100 plus $50 in Bingo Play. Start collecting Halloween Bingo Bucks on October 1st to redeem at the Halloween Session to play for $200-$500. Players must have a valid buy-in. Plus there will be free daubers while they last!

For more info call 1.888.777.4946 or visit paradise-casinos.com. $

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

Yes

No

BlueWater

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

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

Th-Su at 6:30pm

350

No

Yes

No

Desert Diamond I

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

300

Yes

Yes

No

Fort McDowell

We-Mo at 9am.

Daily at 12:30 & 6:30pm.

1200

(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

Yes

No

Lone Butte

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

Daily: Noon & 6:30pm.

750

Yes

Yes

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

Mazatzal

Mo-Th at Noon.

Tu & Th at 6:30pm.

280

Yes

Yes

No

Paradise

Daily at 1:30pm.

Mo-Fr at 6pm.

300

Yes

Yes

Call for Kozmic Bingo & Other Special Dates

Twin Arrows

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

100

No

Yes

No

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 09/01/15 & 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 | October 2016 | azgamingguide.com

azgamingguide.com | October 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide

41

SAMI’S SMACKDOWN

By Sami Becker

A MILLENIAL? WHAT’S THAT? Casinos Should Focus On Expanding Their Existing Audience

L

ook, our readers know me by now. After almost nine years of writing columns for the Arizona Gaming Guid e, I think our readers understand I tell it like it is. No holds barred, right?

What I am most disappointed by is the growing number of “kids” in the casinos all over the place. I use the term loosely because I literally mean 0 to 35 year olds. The most obnoxious sub group is the 21 to 35 year olds. Many seem to want to reenact The Hangover movie as quickly as possible and cause chaos on the casino floor like it’s going out of style.

I think this “Millennials” demographic is useless for casinos. I understand the need to attract new (yes even younger) gamblers, but don’t forget that women aged 45 to 60 are in control of over 60% of all wealth in the United States. When you then con-

42 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2016 | azgamingguide.com

sider that women hold 75% of the purchasing power within US households, that really adds up. I don’t think the Millennials can top those numbers. Nope, not a chance! Especially when women in this age range and beyond will inherit money from parents, or significant others, or both!

Based on my observations, some Millennials are rude, selfcentered, disrespectful annoyances on a casino floor who are drinking themselves into oblivion. I think casinos should focus on targeting women between 45 and up instead! $

Do YOU have a RANT OR RAVE? 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

CASINO CHIPS The First Chips Made Were Out Of Clay

W

hile the first casino opened in Venice, Italy in 1626, casino chips were not used for another two hundred years. During the 1880s through the late 1930s a variety of companies began making clay chips, most of which were white, red, blue, and yellow. Prior to that time, casino patrons and poker players used cash, valuable objects, gold pieces, gold nuggets, gold dust, coins, and markers made from ivory, bone, paper, and so on.

Modern clay chips (post 1950) are compression molded using clay and other materials including sand, chalk, and clay also used in cat litter. Hopefully unused cat litter! The use of chips within the casino allow each casino to maintain their own unique set of markers to represent currency. This aids as a counterfeit deterrent, allows dealers and other employees to easily identify the value of each chip, and they can be weighed to

quickly determine their total value when presented with large quantities of chips!

Security features on modern chips include RFID technology, which embeds a small circuit board within the chip allowing scanners to verify the chip, custom color combinations on chip edges, UV markings in the inlay surface, manufacturer’s marks, and even audible tagging where a simple scanner beeps if the chip is valid.

What is interesting to note is that there is no color standard for chips. At times colors can be regulated by a gaming control board, but this is not always the case. Also, and perhaps obviously, with the exception of Las Vegas, casino chips are not interchangeable between casinos. High denomination chips, typically over $1,000 are restricted to high limit areas. $

azgamingguide.com | October 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide

43

FUN & GAMES

WORD SEARCH To Celebrate Octoberfest, Find: OKTOBERFEST, GERMAN, BAVARIA, MUNICH, BEER, CELEBRATION, PROST, DANCING, FOOD, MUSIC, MUG, PARTY, DIRNDL, LEDERHOSEN. Words appear in any direction. (Solution on page 46)

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A

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)

7

3

1

4

7 3

8

5

2 1

4

5

4 4

7

8

3

1

9

7

6

4

3 9

6

44 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2016 | azgamingguide.com

azgamingguide.com | October 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide

45

Y

Y

Y

02. BlueWater Resort & Casino

11300 Resort Drive

Parker

888-243-3360 524

Y

Y

Y

1500 E. Hwy. 69

Prescott

800-756-8744 330

Y

04. Casino Arizona

101 & McKellips

Scottsdale

480-850-7777 898

Y

Y

05. Casino Del Sol

5655 W. Valencia Rd.

Tucson

855-765-7829 1,049

Y

Y

7406 S. Camino De Oeste

Tucson

855-765-7829 279

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 828

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

Payson

800-777-7529 412

Yuma

888-777-4946 480

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 245

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

Y

Y Y

Y

M U S P H C I R O S G U T N E S

L D N R I D

I C N U M

800-946-4452 908

Y

800-946-4452 950

Y

1505 E. Hwy. 69

Prescott

800-756-8744 236

Y T M R R E A O H R P A I R G E T S E F R E B R C E L E B R A M A D A N C I N F O

E B E D E L A V A B O T K O T I O N N G O D

9

8

7

6

3

1

4

7

8

5

2

7

8

5

3

6

2

9

1

4

3

1

6

7

2

9

4

8

5

5

9

2

4

8

3

1

7

6

8

4

7

6

1

5

2

3

9

2

5

3

9

7

1

6

4

8

1

6

8

2

5

4

3

9

7

9

7

4

8

3

6

5

2

1

46 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2016 | azgamingguide.com

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Spa

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Laveen Chandler

5

Y

Y

Y

9

Y

Y

Y

1

Y

Y

Y

3

Y

Y Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y Y

Y

Y

855-946-8946 1,078

2

Y

Y

Y

Y

480-850-7777 765

6

Y

Y

Flagstaff

4

Y

Y

Scottsdale

Sudoku Solution

Y

Y

Y Y

6443 Komatke Ln.

Word Search Solution

Y

Y

Y

I-40, Exit 219

facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide

Y

Y

Sources: Arizona Department of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 09/01/16 & direct inquiries by press time.

We are not responsible for incorrect, missing, or outdated information. Contact editor@azgamingguide.com to make updates.

azgamingguide.com

Y

Y

Y

101 & Indian Bend

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

Y

Y

5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd.

25. Yavapai Casino

Y

Y

58

1077 S. Kyrene Rd.

16. Lone Butte Casino

Y

Fort McDowell 800-843-3678 897

15406 N. Maricopa Rd.

15. Hon-Dah Casino

866-332-9467

Y

Golf

07. Cliff Castle Casino & Hotel

Y

RV Park

06. Casino of the Sun

Slots

Hotel

03. Bucky’s Casino

Phone

Smoke-Free Area

800-272-2438 563

Arcade

Globe

Poker Room

Bingo

Hwy. 70, 5 mi. E. of Globe

Table Games

City

01. Apache Gold Casino Resort

Casino

Live Keno

Location

High Limit Area

CASINO DIRECTORY

Y

Y Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y Y

Y

Y

Y Y Y