GREAT GAMES

Buffalo Gold Revolution

Now At Desert Diamond Casino—Sahuarita

tart a revolution—a buffalo revolution—at Desert Diamond Casino Sahuarita. Touted as a “bonus wheel with horns,” Aristrocrat’s Buffalo Gold Revolution takes the original Buffalo Gold and adds everyone’s favorite bonus wheel.S This spin on the popular classic game now has more reasons for players to shout “Buffalooo,” with more opportunities for symbols to be turned into Buffalo before the initiation of free games. Join the stampede and head on over to Desert Diamond Casino Sahuarita for Buffalo Gold Revolution. For more information on the latest slots, visit DDCAZ.com, call 1.866.DDC.WINS (1.866.332.9461), or follow on Facebook (@ddcaz), Twitter (@DiamondCasinos), and Instagram (@DiamondCasinos). $

Jumanji ULTRA

By IGT

Go on a wild, immersive adventure with IGT’s Jumanji ULTRA video slots. Utilizing themes from the blockbuster Jumanji movies, this six-reel game features an entertaining base game, a free games bonus, a wheel bonus and a five-level progressive jackpot.

If a gold Jumanji disc appears in full view over reels three and four in the base game, one symbol is revealed within the disc. Every occurrence of this symbol on the reels turns into a wild. If one of the animal figures on the pathway around the reels is stopped on a golden plate, then the revealed symbol generates additional wilds on the adjacent symbols to the right and the left, resulting in a big win. In addition, on top of any base game outcome, a pair of dice may appear on screen and the result of the roll will award the corresponding number of wilds anywhere on the reels.

The bonus is triggered by three bonus symbols, and players can choose between 5, 10, or 20 free games, each with special wild patterns or the wheel bonus. In the wheel bonus, after each wheel spin, the lowest credit group is removed and replaced with an exit symbol. Players accumulate credits on each spin until they land on an exit symbol. For more information, visit IGT.com. $

3X Wild Diamonds

By IGT

The new game, IGT’s 3X Wild Diamonds Slots, is sure to dazzle on any casino floor with its five progressive jackpot levels. This mechanical three reel, nine pay line theme is based on IGT’s player-favorite Triple Jackpot Jewels slots, and its five progressive jackpots are triggered by either the 3X symbol, various jewel symbols or combinations of both.

The different progressives are awarded in the following ways: three 3X symbols on the ninth pay line at the maximum bet awards the linked top progressive; three 3X symbols on any pay line award the second progressive; three ruby symbols award the third progressive; three emerald symbols award the fourth progressive; and a combination of mixed jewel symbols and 3X symbols award the bottom progressive. This theme allows for the excitement of big win potential and is available on IGT’s S3000 Classic cabinet.

For more information, visit IGT.com. $

Sizzling 7 Classic $ Edition

By IGT

Let the casino floor sizzle with IGT’s Sizzling 7 Classic $ Edition. This three reel, one pay line theme is a classic mechanical reel, player-favorite game with proven performance. Sizzling 7 symbols provide winning combinations and generate excitement, while three Sizzling 7 symbols on the pay line trigger the top award.

The theme features a familiar and simple symbol set including red 7s and stacks of bars that engage traditional players. Progressives are available at higher denominations, creating bigwin possibilities.

For more information, visit IGT.com. $

PUSH YOUR LUCK BLACKJACK

Why It Drives Players Crazy!

No, I’m not talking about pushing your luck by letting your winnings ride or playing after a half-dozen beers. I’m talking about the Push Your Luck side bet by the casino games manufacturer AGS. I’ve talked briefly about it before, but it is a very popular bonus wager in Arizona. So, here’s a little bit more.

The bet’s been around for more than ten years, and it’s popular because the house edge is super low (about 1.2%) and because it offers some severe fluctuations – both up and down. It’s a wild ride. Since you are wagering on a tie with the dealer, the variance is the size of a Winnebago. Your winnings can be too!

Overall, you’ll find that the house wins about 49% of all blackjack hands; the player wins about 43%, and you’ll tie about 8% of the time. Yeah, I rounded-off a little there, but you get the gist. So you make your standard blackjack wager, and if you want, you bet the Push Your Luck tie wager and hope for the best. The most you can bet is 50% of your blackjack wager, and you should. Most casinos cap the bonus bet at $25; a few braver ones cap it at $100.

Why It Drives Players Crazy

Push Your Luck doesn’t drive all players crazy. Just a few who are playing it – and most who aren’t. Why? Because the ones who aren’t making a push bet don’t understand why a player would intentionally hit their 12 against a dealer 14 or 15.

To win the side bet, both the dealer and the player must have the same final total – 17, 18, 19, 20, or 21. Blackjacks can only tie blackjacks. Bust hands cannot tie. All ties pay 10 to 1. So, what to do when you’ve got a $20 blackjack wager and $10 on the bonus? You have a chance to win $20 if you beat the dealer or $100 if you tie, so hit. The only hands under 17 you should stand on, against any dealer upcard, are a 16 against a 5 or 6 and a 15 against a 6.

As for your double-downs, keep them to soft 15, 16, and 17 against a 6 upcard. This is because if you hit and get a card that doesn’t make a hard 17 or soft 18-21, you’ll want to hit again for another shot at possibly winning a tie. Doubling down with hard hands should be limited to 10’s and 11’s against a dealer 2 through 7, and with hard 9 against 5 or 6. Always split your Aces, eights, and sevens against 2 through 10 (yeah, it’s the best play). It would be best if you also split your 9’s against a 9 or 10 upcard. Yes, the blackjack world is upside down on this side bet, but you’ll live. Breathe, breathe.

It would help if you also doubled down on your 5’s against a 2 through 6. To round everything else off, hit all your remaining pairs of 2’s through 6’s, but split your 2’s and 3’s against 7’s and 8’s.

If you can remember those rules, you can drive a few players nuts while driving the overall house edge for your blackjack wager and the side bet to about a quarter of a percent. $

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. His book, “Vegas and the Mob," is available online at Amazon.com. He is also the proud father of four beautiful girls.

EXCITEMENT OF MORE TABLE GAMES

Years Ago You Read About It Here First & Now They’re Coming!

Arizona casinos started with slot machines and added poker more than 20 years ago. Then an expanded compact included poker-style games (Crazy 4 Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold ’Em, and even War) plus blackjack. Adding additional table games has been a long process, but I’m sure you’ll be happy to have more choices arriving at your favorite casino over the next few months.

One reason to be happy is that while poker-style table games are fun, many have higher casino win rates than the coming games. Three Card Poker is excellent, but it’s also the highest percentage earning game in town with a 30% hold!

Keep in mind that the 30% number is the overall percentage the house wins, not the house edge. The house edge on the Pass Line wager at craps is a mere 1.41% and wagering on the Banker bet at baccarat has a house edge of just 1.06%, both lower than the house edge most blackjack players get.

The Sneaky Thing About Craps and Roulette

One of the exciting things about craps and roulette is that you’ll feel like you are really into the game, making bets, getting loud, and rooting together for great rolls and spins. But at the same time, you can have bets that keep winning roll after roll, spin after spin! And at new higher limits if you want!

Craps and roulette have many different wagers, but if you stick to your favorites, you’ll make fewer wagers and encounter a lower bet total by the end of your play. At craps, this happens because it takes an average of three to four rolls for your Pass line bet to get resolved.

When you make a wager on the Pass line, you win or lose on the first roll (2, 3, 7, 11, 12), or have to wait until your point (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) is rolled again before a seven to find out if you win or lose. Since there are fewer rolls per hour at craps than hands per hour at blackjack, you’ll only have about 30% as many decisions on your wager! So, you can get all the fun while risking less than at blackjack.

At roulette, you can cover several numbers with just a single chip. So even if you don’t hit your favorite, you can get a piece of the winning action from a layout neighbor number. And it takes a while between spins to get all the bets paid and get the new ones in place. So, like craps, you won’t have as many decisions (spins) per hour as you might think.

Live and Electronic Versions

You’ll find electronic versions of the coming table games at casinos in Arizona right now, so you can check them out and get a feel for the games immediately. And they’ll probably still be available for a while even after the live games open. Electronic games go faster than the live tables, so don’t worry about playing the real thing when they get to your casino!

The dealers will be happy to explain how to bet, play, and even toss the dice at craps. There are some tricks and tips you’ll want to know, but those will have to wait until next month. See you then! $ 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. His book, “Vegas and the Mob," is available online at Amazon.com. He is also the proud father of four beautiful girls.