PLAYERS TALK

Q: I just wanted to say I’m so pleased [my favorite casino] is working so hard to keep everything clean. I love the smokefree air and I feel so much better knowing everyone has had their temperature checked on the way in the door. Can you please tell everyone you know from me “Thank you!” for the great job all the employees are doing. I’m getting up there in years and besides rare trips to the grocery store, the pharmacy, and to visit less than a handful of friends, my only way of getting out to see and talk to other people in person is to go to the casino. My kids and grandkids live in other states and won’t be visiting me for the holidays this year like they used to.

Anyway, tell everyone “Thanks” from me for their hard work keeping us safe. It allows me to get out of the house every now and then. I’m sure the casinos are doing more than what I talked about that I didn’t mention but they sure are doing a great job! Great magazine! I love every issue! June Macdougall—Sun City, Arizona

A: Thanks June! We all know how difficult 2020 has been on everyone from jobs to socializing to adapting to a different way of life. We are glad to hear how well you are coping and how you are still heading out to the casinos from time to time. Stay safe!

And yes, casinos are doing a lot. Even behind the scenes. We thought we’d share with you, and all our readers, the following news about the Tohono O’odham Nation.

On October 19, 2020, the Tohono O’odham Nation announced it is contributing $1 million each to the University of Arizona and Arizona State University to support their world-renowned medical researchers’ efforts to combat the COVID-19 coronavirus. The funding will come from the Nation’s 12% gaming revenue grants that are required under its compact to share with local community programs.

Both universities will use the funds to mitigate the impact and disruptive consequences of COVID-19, including new testing methods and tools to enable the effective and equitable deployment of emerging technologies.

Under the tribal-state gaming compact, the Nation and other tribes are required to share a percentage of gaming revenues with local governments and qualified nonprofits. The Nation has awarded more than 500 of these grants since enactment of the compact in 2003 and, with large awards such as these, the program allows for funding to come from multiple Fiscal Years.

Tohono O’odham Nation Chairman Ned Norris, Jr. said, “This virus is showing no signs of letting up, and until we have better testing, treatment, and a vaccine, our communities remain at risk and our economy will continue to falter. That is why the Nation made the decision to contribute these funds, which we were already committed to share, to support the world-class research taking place right here in Arizona that is working to overcome the pandemic.”

“Our success at Arizona State University is closely tied to our partnerships in the community and we are grateful for the support of the Tohono O’odham Nation, whose gift today will enable us to intensify our efforts to manage the complexities of this pandemic and prepare for future public health emergencies by investing in scientific preparedness,” said ASU President Michael M. Crow. “This generous investment will be put to use to help serve communities across the state.”

"The University of Arizona is proud to partner with the Tohono O'odham Nation, particularly as our main campus is located on their ancestral homelands,” said University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins. "As Arizona's land-grant university, our mission is to serve the entire state, and the Nation’s support will allow this work to continue and expand, and help Arizona emerge stronger from this pandemic."

The Tohono O’odham Nation is a federally recognized tribe with more than 35,000 enrolled citizens. The Nation has the second-largest tribal land base in the United States, with more than 2.8 million acres of reservation land in central and southern Arizona. The Tohono O’odham Nation operates casinos at three locations in southern Arizona (Tucson, Sahuarita, and Why) and one in the West Valley near Glendale, AZ.

Q: A long time ago, a guy told me that it’s possible to pull the handle in exactly the right way to hit something on a machine. Is that true? I don’t like pulling the handle, I’d rather just press the button if it doesn’t matter. Ed Mosley—Mesa, Arizona

A: Ed, Oh boy! This is just another crazy casino myth that keeps circulating around! The internet, social media, and people at the casinos are just filled with fairy tales, falsehoods, and foolish hopes that a slot can be “beaten” with a simple pull of a handle or push of a button. If that were really true, the casinos and slot manufacturers would be bankrupt.

First of all, there are no gears or levers or springs which control the outcome of a spin anymore on mechanical reel slot games. Both the video reels and the classic slot games with the sevens and bars are run off of a computer and a random number generator—they actually have been for many decades! Therefore, if you prefer pressing the spin button over pulling the handle, go ahead and do so because the result will be the same.

Just as an additional side note: stopping the reels while they’re spinning by pressing the spin button, or by pulling the handle down quickly or holding it down, also has no effect on the outcome of the game. It just ends the spin quicker.

Keep the questions coming! Write us at PO BOX 20636 Mesa, AZ 85277 or email us at Editor@AZGamingGuide.com. $