Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - January 2023 - 15:01

BRAND NEW SLOTS AT TALKING STICK RESORT

Read about two brand new slots, one from Aristocrat, the other from Scientific Gaming, ready for play.

BY READER REQUEST, THE TRAVEL SECTION IS BACK

Find out about Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel and their 7,000+ slots.

ROLL OUT THE NEW YEAR AT BUCKY’S CASINO

Try their new slots and win your share of $14,000 with their hot seats promo every Friday in January.

n January 22, 2023 the Lunar New Year will welcome the year of the Water Rabbit. The sign of the Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity. The prediction for 2023 is for a year of hope.

Famous Rabbit year people include Albert Einstein (1879), Michael Jordan (1963), David Beckham (1975) and Lionel Messi (1987).

People born in the year of the Rabbit (2023, 2011, 1999, 1987, 1976, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927, etc.) should avoid the numbers 1, 7, and 8, avoid the colors dark brown, dark yellow, and white, and their unlucky directions of North, West, and Southwest.

Things that may bring people born in the year of the Rabbit luck include the numbers 3, 4, 6, and numbers containing those digits (34, 36, 43, 46, etc.), the colors red, pink, purple, and blue, the jasmine flower, and the directions East, South, and Northwest. For extra luck, make sure to wear red underwear and socks, and carry or wear lucky dog trinkets.

The luckiest lunar year signs in this year of the Rabbit are Oxen (those born in the lunar years of 2021, 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937, etc.), Tigers (those born in the lunar years of 2022, 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, etc.), and Snakes (those born in the lunar years of 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929, etc.).

Alexandra

Alexandra Lang

Editor-in-Chief Editor@AZGamingGuide.com

Your Authority On Everything Gaming

VOLUME 15 • ISSUE 01

MANAGING DIRECTOR & VIDEO POKER GURU

Elizabeth Torma liz@azgamingguide.com

PUBLISHER & SLOT GURU Chris Höft chris@azgamingguide.com

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

ART DIRECTOR Melanie Mueller

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Al Moe Mark Novak TJ Jorgensen 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 AZGamingGuide.com Facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide

Copyright © 2009-2023 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. AGG is not liable for claims made in articles and/or advertisements. All pictures, images, logos, trademarks and trade names, etc. are the sole property of their respective owners. Intended for single use only. Reproduction in part or in whole in any form without consent is not permitted. Sale and/or distribution in any form without consent is not permitted. Check all details with the respective casino’s Players Club. Our full legal disclaimer can be found at AZGamingGuide.com/index_files/legal_disclaimer.html.

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 gaming.az.gov

Tribal Gaming Funded Problem Gambling Resource: Division 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

Have A Lucky Month and a Lucky New Year!

WHY AM I “PAYING” FOR GIFTS NOW?

How The Economy & Forceful Decisions Affect Your Promotions

Dear Editor,

I enjoy reading your magazine each month. Keep up the good work. I have a question about [Arizona’s casinos]. Why do we have to make points in order to get a gift now?

We’ve spent a lot of money [at the casinos]. We “bought” those gifts by playing the machines every time we went. Aren’t [the casinos] making enough money? [Why do they] have to make us earn points in order to get a gift? I was [at a casino] and I had to spend about $60.00 just to earn 200 points for a gift, [now it’s] 50 points to earn a free meal. It’s not fair! No wonder people aren't going on points days [anymore]. Please look into this problem OK?

Margaret Aguilar Tucson, AZ

Hi Margaret! Thanks for being a loyal reader, and for your great observation. You are not alone. We are receiving more and more mail, email, and social messages about how promotions at Arizona’s casinos are changing. What used to be a “free” gift, now has to be earned through points first. The same is now true for a “comped” meal or drink vouchers. Earn it first by making points through play!

Arizona’s casinos raked it in during the pandemic! That is, the casinos that were prepared to capitalize on the moment made money. Those that weren't, didn’t. And those that didn’t are having “budget problems.” Yet overall, Arizona’s casinos made about 30% more revenue (July 2021 through June 2022) than prior to the pandemic. That is a massive increase!

So, what’s going on? Well, for starters, the economy is off. Everything costs more, including food, gas, packaging, electronics, employees, etc. Arizona's casinos are affected by those increased costs and are adjusting accordingly. In addition, most financial advisors and banks the casinos interact with are providing them with cautious or negative forecasts for the next three to six months in terms of consumer expenditures of entertainment dollars and discretionary spending (as in, how much will the average consumer, like you and members of our team, decide to put aside for a gaming budget?). The casinos know everything

Thank

costs more and they’re being told (right or wrong) they should expect less customers with less money to spend in the near future. Casinos can easily raise their food prices and hotel room rates to generate more revenue to compensate. However, one of the few ways to “raise prices” on the slot floor is to either tighten the slots and/or change the rules for the promotions.

Is that fair to do to loyal customers? In our opinion, no. Can you do something about it? Yes! First, communicate your concerns to the casino you've been loyal to and listen to their response. Second, discuss the situation with your social circle (you reached out to us!). Finally, lower the amount you spend at a particular casino or simply take your business elsewhere if you feel your loyalty is no longer valued.

Ultimately, any casino is a business. Have you noticed how all the national pizza chains no longer put as many toppings on their food as they did before? That’s called “skimpflation.” Keep prices the same but provide less to the customer.

Inflation is when it costs more to purchase the same product. That’s the strategy the casino you mention seems to be applying to their customers like you and many others. Now, you are “paying” by having to earn points in order to receive a “free” gift. Pre-pandemic you were not “paying” for your “free” gifts.

If you’re familiar with Aesop’s fables, there’s a good one about patience called The Crow And The Pitcher. We’ve printed it below. Based on decades of experience working with casinos, working for slot manufacturers, and being casino customers, there are people in management in the casino industry who could benefit by reading this fable, and others. $

For weeks and weeks there had been no rain. The streams and pools had dried to dust, and all of the animals were thirsty. Two crows flying together in search of water, spotted a pitcher that had been left on a garden wall. They flew to it and saw that it was half full of water. But neither one could reach far enough inside the pitcher's narrow neck to get a drink.

"There must be a way to get that water," said the first crow. "If we think it through, we'll find an answer."

The second crow tried to push the pitcher over, straining with all of his might. But it was too heavy to budge. "It's hopeless!" he croaked, and flew away to look for water elsewhere.

Write us at Editor@AZGamingGuide.com

by mail at Editor, AZ Gaming Guide, PO BOX 20636, Mesa, AZ, 85277.

But the first crow stayed by the pitcher and thought, and after a time he had an idea. Picking up some pebbles in his beak, he dropped them one by one into the pitcher until at last the water rose to the brim. Then the clever bird happily quenched his thirst.

Zorro Power Of Z At

Talking Stick Resort

Unmask excitement with every spin! Looking for double the action? Zorro by Aristocrat Gaming is your man in this game that offers Cash-on-Reels and huge wins. Whether you’re playing for all the extra thrills from more spins to credit prizes, and jackpots or bigger Cash-on-Reel values, Zorro Power Of Z Daybreak Duel leads you on an impressive showing of lucky spins and golden opportunities.

EXTRA SPINS: For each Zorro symbol that lands anywhere on the bottom reels, a gold Zorro symbol is added on the top reels, allowing players to earn extra spins

EXPANDED CASH-ON-REELS: Cash-on-Reel symbols activate on reels during the spin, awarding credit prizes, jackpots, or extra spins

SUPER SPINS: Triggered on the tenth spin unlocking all positions above selected reels with added Cash-on-Reel values

You can play this slot at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. For more information, visit AristocratGaming.com and TalkingStickResort.com. $

Gold Fish Feeding Time

At Talking Stick Resort

These gold fish will never go hungry with this newest underwater adventure game. Gold Fish Feeding Time - Castle is a fun and exciting aquatic-themed game on the all-new Kascada Dual Screen cabinet brought to you by Scientific Games; the perfect hardware to highlight the vibrant fish-themed graphics.

Gold, Blue, and Purple Fish Food symbols are Bonus symbols, and Free Spins are triggered by Gold, Blue, or Purple fish food symbols.

The Gold fish will be fed in the best way when 1 or more scattered Bonus Symbols are on the reels that may award the corresponding Bonus awarding 5 - 10 Free Spins!

An entertaining treasure of a game with multiple features, players will be immersed by the three Free Game and Bonus prizes!

You can play this slot at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. For more information, visit SGGaming.com and TalkingStickResort.com. $

Triple Fortune Dragon Rising

By IGT

The newest addition to IGT’s popular Triple Fortune Dragon family of Asian-themed games, Triple Fortune Dragon Rising offers a dynamic new look complete with a thrilling bonus feature!

The 3x5 reel, 243-payline game incorporates a vibrant art package with ornate Ming vases, fans, an emperor, and dragon symbols, complete with harmonious music. During the base game, when the wild symbol, represented by the golden dragon, lands on reels two or four, the win is multiplied three or nine times respectively.

The bonus is triggered when three or more symbols appear on consecutive reels with the possibility of retriggers. Adding to the gameplay excitement, the Dragon Rising feature is unlocked during the bonus when one or more dragon symbols land, expanding the reel sets up to two times for even more win potential. Triple Fortune Dragon Rising is a 25-credit cost-to-cover game. For more information, visit IGT.com. $

Format: 5 reels, 243 pay lines Payback Percentage Range: 92-97%

Five Treasures Explosion

By Scientific Games (now Light & Wonder)

The slot you remember and love, 5 Treasures has returned in an explosive new way! Like the original hit Duo Fu Duo Cai game, 5 Treasures Explosion features a Free Spins Bonus where players choose from five free game scenarios with added Wilds, as well as the famous Fu Babies Bonus where players pick to match three Fu Babies that correspond to one of four jackpots.

In 5 Treasures Explosion, these bonuses are taken to the next level when triggered by gold symbols. If the Free Spins Bonus is triggered by at least one Gold Door symbol, the number of Wilds that can be added to the reels increases – up to 138 Wilds!

If the Fu Babies Bonus trigger includes a Gold Fu symbol, the jackpots upgrade to Gold Jackpots, and when playing 588 credits or more, the Grand jackpot transforms into the Explosion Jackpot, a life changing Wide Area Progressive jackpot!

A friend of our team recently played this slot at a casino and we wanted to share their experience in the Free Spins Bonus with you. So, to experience the game via an exclusive video of this new slot, just go to our website at AZGamingGuide.com and click on “Videos”. The actual link is: www.azgamingguide.com/index_files/videos.html. You can also find the video on our Facebook (/ArizonaGamingGuide). Or, if you are reading this digitally, just click the slot’s picture to the right! $

VIDEO POKER CORNER

By Lana Hartmann

THE IMPACT OF PROGRESSIVES

What A Progressive Does To The Playing Strategy And The Casino’s Hold!

As you can see from the picture to the right, I took a photo of a Jacks Or Better (JOB) progressive with an 8/5 pay table (8 times bet for a Full House and 5 times bet for a Flush).

“Why?” you ask! Well, the progressive was high, I had free play to use, and my other video poker game was taken. I figured, a $20 stake from my bankroll, plus $20 in free play will be enough to see if this video poker unit is ready to pay the Royal Flush! Afterall, the base value is $1,000.00 and when I sat down, the jackpot was already past $1,720.00.

Several four of a kinds later, I was well over $100.00. The machine was, in my opinion, “hot.” I kept playing and eventually cashed out $40 when my credit meter took a nose dive from $100 to $50. I had my stake back, and turned the $20 in free play into cash. Not bad!

What is bad is JOB at 8/5! With perfect strategy, the long run return is around 97.29% (a 2.71% hold for the casino). However, with the progressive at the value in the picture, 8/5 JOB now has a long run return of around 98.92% (only a 1.08% hold). Unfortunately, a 9/6 JOB game, with perfect strategy, and this progressive, has a long run return of around 101.19% (there’s no hold at the moment for the casino). The video poker game I wanted, with perfect strategy, no progressive, has a long run return of around 98.50% (a 1.50% hold). So, long story short, the pictured 8/5 JOB with the progressive had a lower house hold than the game I wanted to play without the progressive!

However, you have to be prepared to play the game in the picture differently than you would a game without the progressive! Allow me to explain. The progressive in the picture is so high, it’s significantly increased the payback to almost 99%. This means the Royal Flush is a more valuable hand, by just over a factor of two! Let’s examine how that affects how a player needs to hold cards while playing.

STRATEGY FOR 8/5 JOB WITH NO PROGRESSIVE

1. Hold any Royal Flush, Straight Flush or Full House

2. Hold any Four of a Kind

3. Hold any 4 to a Royal Flush

4. Hold any 3 of a Kind

5. Hold any Straight or Flush

6. Hold any Two Pair

7. Hold any sequential or inside Straight Flush.

8. Hold a pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces.

9. Hold any 3 to a Royal Flush. Specifically, 10 Jack Ace, 10 Jack Queen, 10 Jack King, 10 Queen Ace, 10 Queen King, 10 King Ace, Jack Queen Ace, Jack Queen King, Jack King Ace, or Queen King Ace.

STRATEGY FOR 8/5 JOB WITH A $1,723 PROGRESSIVE

1. Hold any Royal Flush, Straight Flush or Full House

2. Hold any 4 to a Royal Flush

3. Hold any Four of a Kind

4. Hold any 3 of a Kind

5. Hold any Straight or Flush

6. Hold any Two Pair

7. Hold any sequential or inside Straight Flush.

8. Hold any 3 to a Royal Flush. Specifically, 10 Jack Ace, 10 Jack Queen, 10 Jack King, 10 Queen Ace, 10 Queen King, 10 King Ace, Jack Queen Ace, Jack Queen King, Jack King Ace, or Queen King Ace.

9. Hold a pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces.

Notice how holding 3 to a Royal Flush in the game with the progressive is more important than holding a pair! And that’s just at the beginning of the strategy. For example, 2 to a Royal Flush was not as important as holding for a Straight (Jack Queen King Ace). With the progressive, hold a suited Jack Queen, Jack King, or Queen King before holding for a Straight.

Send us an email if you want to know how to hold a hand! Doesn't matter if it’s holds you are seeing other people make, or if you just want to be sure about your own holds. Ask us if you have any kind of a video poker question, regardless of what it’s about! Write us at Editor@AZGamingGuide.com, or send a letter to: Editor, AZ Gaming Guide, PO BOX 20636, Mesa, AZ, 85277. $

By Al Moe

CASINO SURVIVOR GUIDE

Essential Things To Remember...

If you are new to casinos, you should go into your visit with your eyes wide open. That’s tough because we dream of winning, and Arizona casinos are bright and beautiful. Your senses may overdose as the images blast away at your brain. There are multi-colored lights, slot machines playing enticing melodies, and overhead music and announcements.

Across the way, you’ll see blackjack tables filled with players, roulette games with dealers pointing at the layout, and at craps there’s a dealer waving a large stick back and forth. What’s the scoop here?

Well, to start with, take a breath. It’s the ultimate adult playground; all you need is time, your nerve, and a little extra cash.

If you want to go through the experience nearly unscathed, you can seek out a quiet place like the Keno lounge, where you can sit, temper your enthusiasm, and relax. You’ll barely need to speak when you turn in your Keno ticket filled with ESPinduced numbers, and if you play multiple games or multipleway tickets, you might get by for just a buck a game. Keno is the ultimate bet-small and dream-big game. Arizona Keno jackpots pay up to $250,000 a game!

If you have ESPN-induced dreams, visit the sportsbook and pick teams to win your favorite sporting event, but temper your choices on your favorite teams because loyalty is great, but you’ll need a cool head to choose correctly.

The poker room might be just right for you if you've got an even disposition. Know the games and limits before you sit down. Texas Hold ’Em is king but wait on No-Limit. A $4-$8 is an excellent place to start if you’ve only played on the kitchen table. Remember that only chips ordered or on the table have action.

Essential Things to Remember in the Casino

Arizona casinos offer plenty of gambling choices, and the games are always dealt on the square. There won’t be any cheating or funny stuff by the dealers. Still, there are no do-overs. If you accidentally ask for another card at blackjack and bust, your chips go in the tray. Boom!

And, while you can tell the dealers at craps what bets you want, the action likely won’t start if the dice are in the air. Get your

bets in early.

You’ll need to make hand gestures at blackjack to get a hit, split, double down, and stand. Get those movements firm in your head before you make them while risking your cash!

You’ll also want to remember that casinos are profit joints. They want to beat you, keep paying their staff and build new hotel towers. They’ll only give you a chance to win when they have the advantage, except at craps where pass line and come bet odds have no house edge.

Don’t worry, it’s fair. They put up hundreds of millions of dollars, train staff, and pay good wages for a crack at your cash. You get to use your most important weapons against them, your patience, and your brains.

Learn the games first, limit your bankroll to what you can afford to lose, and don’t exceed that limit. Then, join the player’s club to earn perks, go easy on the free booze, and enjoy every minute, but be smart. $

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.

TABLE GAMES

By TJ Jorgensen

NEVER DO THIS AT A BLACKJACK TABLE A Surefire Way To End Your Day

Some of the points I make in this article will be obvious to the more seasoned players, but for the beginners they should help everyone become more comfortable when sitting down at a blackjack table.

1. Never use your mobile phone, don’t even look at it. If you need to answer your phone, step away from the table. Expect the dealer to exclude you from the hand, and the other players to get mad because you “messed up” the cards if they get a bad hand.

2. Use hand signals to inform the dealer what action you want to take on your hand. Don’t tell them. With hand signals, if there is a dispute about what action you wanted to take, the casino can call and play back the video. If you don’t know the hand signals for each action, the dealer can help you.

3. Never touch the chips in the betting circle once the first card has been dealt. If you want to split your hand or double down and don’t know how much you bet, ask the dealer to count it down. Under no circumstances should you touch your bet, the casino may think you are up to no good!

4. Don’t touch the cards! The dealer will freak out if you do! Almost all casinos in Arizona deal the cards face up, so don’t touch them! If you go to a casino that has a pitch game where the cards are dealt face down, it is permissible to touch the cards, but only with one hand.

5. Don’t hand your money directly to the dealer. Instead, place it on the table in front of you. That way if there is a dispute as to how much you put out, the casino can look at the video and verify it.

6. Don’t play at a 6 to 5 blackjack table! This means the casino is only paying $6 on a blackjack bet of $5 instead of $7.50 on a blackjack bet of $5 when playing at a 3 to 2 table. You will find very few basic strategy players who could win in the long run at a 6 to 5 table! The house edge goes from around 0.57% to up over 2%, which is around a 400% increase. My best advice to you: don’t play these tables! If enough players refuse to play these tables, the casinos will have no choice but to go back to 3 to 2 payouts on blackjack.

7. Don’t sit down at a table until you know basic strategy! Knowing when to hit and stand will greatly improve your chances of winning. And, making the wrong play can really upset the other players at the table, especially if it causes them to lose the hand.

8. Don’t get drunk at the table! Drinking and gambling don’t go well together. The casino often asks players to leave the casino if they get too drunk. Don’t be that person.

9. Keep your emotions out of the game. Players tend to make bad decisions when their emotions get involved. And, never yell at the dealer! Remember, they are only dealing the cards and most of the time they are rooting for the player. When you win, they win. That’s when dealers have a happy customer and will most likely earn a tip.

If you learn all these basic tips it will make you more comfortable at the table and help you enjoy your casino experience. $

Writer TJ Jorgensen has been a professional Blackjack player for over 25 years. He is well known for his tournament play and has beaten some of the top tournament players in the world. He has also won the World Series Of Blackjack. His newest book “How To Become A Blackjack Jedi” is available online at Amazon.com.

COVER STORY

Written By The American Gaming Association

The legal gaming industry is among the most highly regulated industries in America. Whether it is financial solvency and other licensing requirements, “know your customer” or anti-money laundering regulations, legal gaming operators and suppliers comply with thousands of laws and regulations designed to ensure consumer protections and confidence in gaming.

Illegal and unregulated gambling operators do not follow any of these standards, which exposes consumers to severe risk and undermines the economic and tax contributions of the legal gaming industry. This report, commissioned by the American Gaming Association (AGA) and prepared by The Innovation Group, quantifies for the first time the potential size of the illegal and unregulated gaming market across three verticals: sports betting, iCasinos (which we refer to as iGaming) and grey market slots, including those commonly referred to as “skill machines.”

Based primarily on a survey of more than 5,000 Americans and their gambling habits, as well as existing data on gaming participation rates and the known size of the legal market, the findings estimate that Americans bet more than $511 billion a year with illegal and unregulated operators. This costs the legal industry $44.2 billion in gaming revenue and state governments $13.3 billion in lost tax revenue.

By defying regulations, illegal and unlicensed operators capture revenue from the regulated market, thereby reducing tax revenue used by states to support critical public programs such as education and law enforcement. This further inhibits the considerable economic benefits that come with regulated gaming. The scale of the tax loss is enormous: more than half of all potential state gaming tax dollars are lost to unregulated operators.

Combatting the illegal market is one of the AGA’s top priorities and this research highlights the scope of the challenge: in 2021, the legal, regulated gaming industry generated $92 billion in combined commercial and tribal revenue, meaning that about a third of all gaming revenue each year is going to illegal or unregulated operators. The illegal and unregulated gambling mar-

ket takes many shapes – whether it is the corner bookie, offshore sportsbooks and iGaming sites, or unlicensed slot machines. Wherever they are found, illegal and unregulated operators prey on vulnerable consumers, offer no commitment to responsible gaming, give no recourse to bettors if something goes wrong, encourage money laundering and generate no economic benefit to states or tribal nations.

Americans bet nearly $64 billion each year with illegal online sportsbooks and nearly $338 billion with online casinos. These operators entice often-unsuspecting customers with advantageous odds since they don’t pay taxes or need to meet the stringent regulatory and licensing requirements that legal operators are bound by. The AGA understands the frustration of consumers in states without legal sports betting options and believes the best solution is to expand access to legal sports betting, which consumers consistently say they prefer over illegal sites that offer no protections. Nearly 90 percent of gamblers across verticals say it is important for them to bet legally, but unlicensed online operators often purport to be legal options, sowing widespread confusion.

Unregulated gaming machines also continue to proliferate. We estimate that there are more than 580,000 unregulated gaming machines across the country and that Americans bet more than $109 billion on those machines every year.

With 870,000 regulated machines in casinos and slot routes, that means 40% of all gaming machines in the U.S. are unlicensed. To make things worse, players are often losing money on these machines at three times the rate they would with regulated machines in Nevada.

These unregulated slot machines look and act just like the slot machines found in a casino, but operate instead in unlicensed environments like bars, taverns, convenience stores, and gas stations, where they prey on vulnerable consumers, including minors. Additionally, the lack of regulatory controls increases the risks they may be tied to criminal activity including money laundering, drug trafficking and violent crime. (Continued on

Recently, the American Gaming Association (AGA) released new research showing Americans gamble an estimated $511 billion each year with illegal and unregulated sportsbooks, iGaming websites and “skill game” machines.

ILLEGAL SPORTS BETTING

AGA’s report estimates that Americans wager $63.8 billion with illegal bookies and offshore sites at a cost of $3.8 billion in gaming revenue and $700 million in state taxes.

In Context: With Americans projected to place $100 billion in legal sports bets this year, these findings imply that illegal sportsbook operators are capturing nearly 40 percent of the U.S. sports betting market.

The Bottom Line: While the numbers are significant, they also demonstrate Americans’ movement to the regulated market with legal sports betting’s expansion to 36 states and the District of Columbia.

ESTIMATE BY U.S. CENSUS REGION

ILLEGAL SPORTS BETTING MARKET REVENUE & HANDLE

Northeast South Midwest West Revenue $621m $1.8b $1.0b $417m Handle $10.4b $29.5b $17b $7b Hold 6.0% 6.1% 5.9% 6.0% (m stands for millions, b stands for billions)

ILLEGAL IGAMING

Americans wager an estimated $337.9 billion with illegal iGaming websites, with a loss of $3.9 billion in state tax revenue. The illegal iGaming market with over $13.5 billion in estimated revenue is nearly three times the size of the legal U.S. iGaming market, estimated to be $5 billion in 2022.

In Context: With iGaming only legal in six states, nearly half of Americans (48%) that have played online slots or table games in the past year have played with illegal online casinos.

The Bottom Line: Illegal, offshore sites are taking advantage of the growth of legal gaming to confuse Americans into using predatory, unregulated websites.

ESTIMATE BY U.S. CENSUS REGION

ILLEGAL ICASINO MARKET REVENUE & HANDLE

Northeast South Midwest West Revenue $1.9 $6.0 $3.7 $2.0 Handle $46.1 $150.8 $91.8 $49.2 Hold 4.1% 4.0% 4.0% 4.1% (dollar amounts are in billions)

UNREGULATED “SKILL MACHINES”

Unregulated gaming machines or “skill machines” continue to proliferate, with an estimated 580,651 unregulated machines in the U.S. driving $26.9 billion in revenue loss and $8.7 billion in state tax loss.

In Context: With 870,000 regulated machines in casinos and slot routes, that means 40% of all gaming machines in the U.S. are unlicensed.

The Bottom Line: Tucked inside gas stations, restaurants and bars, these pervasive unregulated gaming machines look and act like slot machines but lack any of the regulatory oversight of the legal industry.

ESTIMATE BY U.S. CENSUS REGION UNREGULATED MACHINE MARKET REVENUE & HANDLE

Northeast South Midwest West Machines 121,398 260,266 99,353 99,634 Revenue $5.6 $12.0 $4.6 $4.6 Handle $22.9 $49.0 $18.7 $18.7 Hold 24.5% 24.9% 24.6% 24.6% (dollar amounts are in billions)

Participate in regulated gaming. In Arizona that means Tribal casinos and regulated sports betting. If you suspect there may be illegal gaming happening online or in a neighborhood near you, contact the Arizona Department of Gaming and local law enforcement. For more info, visit AmericanGaming.org. $

& Casino

YAAMAVA’ RESORT & CASINO

At San Manuel—Most Slots In The West!

An experience unlike any other! With over 7,000 slot machines, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino has the most gaming options of any casino in the West. You’ll have the chance to try out the newest games on the market, as well as all your favorite classics, all on one floor.

These are some of the top games guests are currently loving.

Slot Mechanical Reels: Blazin’ Gems, Double Jackpot Lions Share, Triple Jackpot Gems, and Triple Wild Dragon by Everi. Plus the Diamonds of Dublin by Scientific Games (now Light & Wonder).

Video Reels: Buffalo Gold, Buffalo Gold Revolution, Wonder 4 Boost Gold, and Wonder 4 Spinning Fortunes by Aristocrat. Plus Colossal Diamonds by AGS.

Premium Slots: Dragon Link/Cash, Buffalo Link/Cash, and Lightning Link/Cash by Aristocrat. Plus Gold Standard Jackpots by Everi. Also Ultimate Fire Link Power 4 by Scientific Games.

Wide Area Progressive Slots: Dollar Storm and Buffalo Diamond by Aristocrat. Plus Monopoly Money Grab and Dancing Drums Explosion by Scientific Games. Also Megabucks Super Stacks by IGT.

More of a video poker type? Yaamava’ boasts over 200 latest and greatest video poker machines as well as the bar-top video poker in all of their casino lounges.

For a limited time, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino is matching all casino card tiers and offers! Bring in your other casino card and offer and they’ll match it! All offers are subject to verification and players have to inquire at Club Serrano about all the details and requirements.

Yaamava’ Resort & Casino is located in Highland, California near San Bernadino which is only 5 hours away by car from the Phoenix Metro Area.

Luxurious accommodations. World-class event venue. Premier gaming. Elevated dining. Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel has something for everyone. Step into a new dawn with them, and experience luxury like never before. To learn more, visit Yaamava.com. $

Oct.

Nov.

Nov.

Nov.

Nov.

1, 2022: Emerald Club Serrano member Natasha won $26,017.40 on Powerball Super Bank Cash Star.

17, 2022: Classic Club Serrano member Tony Won $20,087.33 on Fortune Filler Imperial Temple.

3, 2022: Classic Club Serrano member Jose Won $21,924.31 on Fu Dao Le.

30, 2022: Emerald Club Serrano member Kristel Won $27,130 on Golden Century Dragon Cash.

13, 2022: Classic Club Serrano member Baudelio Won $21,889.50 on Wild Wild Nugget.

Submitted By Yaamava' Resort

A view of the 7,000+ unit slot floor at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel.

Gila River Resorts & Casinos Hires Entertainment Power House To Bring A List Fun To Arizona

Roll Out The New Year At Bucky’s & Yavapai Casinos

Gila River Resorts & Casinos (GRRC) is thrilled to announce the new hire of Anastasia Palmer Johnson as corporate director of entertainment.

The veteran sports and entertainment executive was hired to develop a robust calendar of concerts and events for the rapidly expanding gaming enterprise. Johnson will oversee the portfolio of venues at all three locations including Vee Quiva, Lone Butte and the flagship Wildhorse Pass, and soon to be open fourth location Santan Mountain.

“With her connections, drive and dedication, we are honored to have A.P. elevate our entertainment offerings, “said Dominic Orozco, President and Chief Marketing Officer at Gila River Resorts & Casinos. “To hire someone like A.P. was the next natural step in the elevation of our newly designated resort brand. In her short time with the company, we are already seeing her thrive bringing on big acts such as Jake Paul, T-Pain and Rick Ross.”

A music aficionado, Johnson said, “Being able to bring exciting live music experiences to the Arizona stages is a true privilege. I am excited to introduce my long time Los Angeles promoter friends to an entirely new audience.”

Johnson resides in Tucson, AZ, with her family, two Labradors, and a quartet of feral to fabulous kitties saved from the streets of south Los Angeles.

For more information on the entertainment offerings at Gila River Resorts & Casinos, visit PlayAtGila.com. $

Roll out the New Year and move into 2023 at Bucky’s and Yavapai casinos with Scratch Off Hot Seats every Friday in January and win up to $1,000 hourly, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. at both casinos!

At Bucky’s and Yavapai Casinos, they have upped their game on their already exciting, smoke-free, casino floor offering a wide selection of entertainment including 200+ new slot machines.

Some of the slots you’ll find at Yavapai Casino include: Stinkin’ Rich Skunks Gone Wild by IGT, Mighty Cash Extra Reel by Aristocrat and Lanterns of Destiny by Everi.

Some of the slots you’ll find at Bucky’s Casino include: Conan and our go-to favorite Lightning Link (the multi-denomination version), both by Aristocrat and the super-fun Fu Gui Hao Men Glorious Fortunes & Splendid Fortunes by IGT.

PLUS…their ticket kiosks are now coinless and you can donate your change right from the kiosk to your favorite local charity. Also, when you sign up for your Gold Rush Club card, you can now access your account and all the benefits at multiple kiosks at both casinos. Visit BuckysRewards.com and see all your offers online!

AND…come roll your luck as they are now featuring live action Craps and Roulette, as well as Blackjack. You will find their Craps table open 4 p.m. to midnight, Wednesday through Sunday. “Let’s Play Preskitt!”

For more information, visit BuckysCasino.com $

“Let’s Play Preskitt!”

Rollin’ Vintage! Casino Del Sol Giving Away Travel Trailer On February 25

Rollin’ Vintage: Travel Trailer Giveaway: Club Sol Members can swipe daily to enter weekly Saturday drawings January 2nd – February 25th at 12 p.m., 3 p.m. & 6 p.m. They will have a chance to win up to $250 in Free Play & each winner qualifies for the finale. Every 100 slot/table points earned is an additional entry into the drawings. Winner of the Grand Finale on February 25th will receive $5,000 in Free Play and a 2022 Gulfstream RV Vintage Cruiser!

KickOff PickOff Final Weeks: Club Sol Members can participate in the football contest now thru January 14th. Select the most NFL winning teams each week for a chance to win a share of $2,500 in Free Play. One pick per Member, Tuesday thru Saturday. Participate all 18 weeks and pick the most NFL winning teams throughout the season and win the grand prize of $2,500 cash! (2022-2023 *Note end date includes time frame to redeem prizes once the NFL Season is over.)

Playoff Payoff: January 9th – February 7th Players can earn entries on Mondays and Tuesdays for a chance to win when the NFL Team scores during the playoff games. Players can earn entries when they get a suited BJ, win on zero or double zero straight up on roulette & winning side wagers on UTH, HCF, PG, TCP, baccarat & craps or winning a progressive bet on selected games. *See Table Games for complete details.

Moby’s: The Burger of the Month is a Nashville Hot Chicken (crispy chicken thigh, Nashville rub, pickles, Az citrus aioli & French fries) for $14. The Wings of the Month are Arizona orange-chipotle-honey wings (served with ranch or blue cheese & celery) for $14.

For more information, visit CasinoDelSol.com. $

Take A Load Off At Paradise Casino

Quechan Casino Resort Helping You Be Bill Free In

2023!

Paradise Casino is helping you Take a Load Off your monthly expenses in 2023! Player Rewards Card members can start earning drawing entries for this promotion beginning Sunday, January 1, 2023 through Saturday, January 28, 2023. You could win $2,000 a month for a year!

SPORTSBOOK

Football season is almost over! Rush into Paradise’s Sportsbook to place bets on your favorite teams and score! Grab a seat and watch Thursday Night Football with them every Thursday! Types of wagers offered include straight bets, parlays, round robins, match-ups, futures, player and team prop bets, custom teasers, in-play betting and more. Download the az.unibet app to place wagers directly from your phone! For more information, visit Paradise-Casinos.com.

TABLE GAMES

Take the casino’s wheels for a spin and let the dice decide for you! The Table Games at Paradise offer the best gaming thrills with Blackjack, Craps, and Roulette. No cards needed!

DINING SPECIALS

The Cove:

Steak & Eggs Available Daily 7 a.m. 11 a.m.| $7.95

Prime Rib Dinner $13.95

Available Friday Sunday | 4 p.m. 9 p.m.

The Reef: $5 Food Specials During all Live Televised NFL Games

For more information about these and other great promotions, visit Paradise-Casinos.com $

Quechan Casino Resort is helping you be Bill Free in 2023! You could win $2,000 a month for a year! Player Rewards Card members can start earning drawing entries for this promotion beginning Sunday, January 1, 2023 through Saturday, January 21, 2023.

Earn a gift from the bed and bath set! Take home a gift from the 4 piece gift set – Reversible Down Comforter, Gray Tassel Throw Blanket, Twin Pack Pillow Set and Sheet Set. Earn a Bed Gift by earning 125 Rewards Points Tuesdays or Wednesdays January 3 – 25. Earn a bath gift by earning 100 Rewards Points on Sundays January 8 – 29. Available bed gift items for the day will be able to be redeemed from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Quechan Players Club Booth. Available bath gift items for the day will be able to be redeemed from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Paradise Players Rewards Club Booth. All gifts will be issued on a first-come, first-serve basis.

DINING SPECIALS

Ironwood Steakhouse: Surf & Turf | $39.95

Open Tuesday – Saturday | 5 p.m. 9 p.m. For reservations, please call 1.760.572.1658

Sidewinders: Open Daily 11 a.m. 9 p.m.

Live Entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays | 9 p.m. 1 a.m. $13.95 New York Steak Special | Served Daily 4 p.m. 9 p.m. $15.95 Prime Rib Dinner | Served Daily 4 p.m. 9 p.m.

Ocotillo Buffet: Fridays: Fish Fry Friday | 4 p.m. 9 p.m. For more information about these and other great promotions, visit PlayQCR.com. $

21-Year Old Phoenix Resident Wins Million Dollar Jackpot At Gila River Resorts & Casinos Lone Butte

Christmas came early for Luis Rodriguez Gomez. The 21 year old hit a jackpot worth $1,100,075 while playing Blackjack at Gila River Resorts & Casinos Lone Butte; the largest table games jackpot in Arizona history. Arizona’s newest millionaire was ecstatic about the win and thrilled to share the experience with his brother who talked him into visiting the casino the night of the big win.

“I was actually down to my last hand when I put down a $15 bet and put $5 on the progressive circle. When I realized what I had won I immediately jumped on top of my brother,” Gomez said. Gomez triggered the progressive on the all-new King of Cards Table Games Progressive at Lone Butte. The game links a progressive jackpot across multiple table games at all three Gila River Resorts & Casinos locations. It is the largest table games progressive jackpot in the state of Arizona.

“I am so happy for Luis,” said Kenneth Manuel, Chief Executive Officer of Gila River Resorts & Casinos. “When we installed the new King of Cards Table Games Progressive this is exactly the exciting win we hoped to have,” said Manuel.

Gomez has generous plans for his big win. “I want to buy my parents a new house and I’d also like to buy a new car for me and my family,” said the winner. The King of Cards Table Games progressive will now reset across Gila River Resorts & Casinos and await an opportunity to crown the next King of Cards and create another millionaire.

For more information on Gila River Resorts & Casinos, visit PlayAtGila.com. $

AZ Dept Of Gaming Releases

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Donates $15,000 To F.O.R. Maricopa

Bettors in Arizona wagered over $360 million during the month of August, according to the most recent report just released by the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG). I am excited to see such strong wagering figures for August, which is the final monthly report for Arizona’s first year of legal sports betting,” said Ted Vogt, Director, ADG. “Through the first year of legal wagering, Arizona has seen over $5.4 billion wagered on sports, highlighting the strong start for the state’s new sports betting industry.”

Arizona ranked 5th nationally in total wagers placed during August. Privilege fees totaled nearly $2.8 million in the month, resulting in over $21 million in privilege fees collected by the state since the start of legal operations. The full report is available on the ADG website at Gaming AZ gov

DID YOU KNOW?

Every Tribal casino is regulated by a Tribal Gaming Office (TGO) and is monitored by ADG. The TGO also has sole authority to resolve patron disputes regarding wins and losses. You can view the entire process for resolving patron disputes in Section 14 of the Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compact (Compact), which is available on the ADG website.

ABOUT ADG

Established by the Arizona State Legislature in 1995, ADG is the state regulatory agency for tribal gaming, racing and parimutuel/simulcast wagering, event wagering/fantasy sports and unarmed combat sports. ADG also provides and supports education, prevention and treatment programs for people and families affected by problem gambling through its Division of Problem Gambling and 24-hour confidential helpline, 1.800.NEXT.STEP. $

Staying true to its commitment to support nonprofit organizations all throughout Maricopa, Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, through its community outreach program H.E.R.O., recently donated $15,000 to F.O.R. Maricopa, a local nonprofit organization that provides food, opportunity and resources to the Maricopa community.

“We are grateful for Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino and their continued support,” said F.O.R. Maricopa Executive Director Wendy Webb. “The H.E.R.O. program’s generous donation will help us continue to provide resources for those in need throughout Maricopa.”

According to Michael Kintner, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Harrah’s Ak-Chin Resort & Casino, “F.O.R. Maricopa has an immediate and significant impact on our Maricopa community. We’ve been a strong supporter since its inception and look forward to continuing our partnership in the years to come.”

ABOUT HARRAH’S AK-CHIN

For nearly 30 years in Maricopa, Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino has been Arizona's first and only tribal casino to have an international management partner. Harrah's Ak-Chin is the only casino in Arizona that allows guests, through its Caesars Rewards program, to unlock benefits and other prizes that can be used worldwide at the entire Caesars' family of casinos. In addition to craps, roulette, sports betting, slot machines, video poker, video keno, statewide progressives, bingo and blackjack, Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino guests can also enjoy a variety of dining options, over 500 luxurious rooms in a complete resort with an outdoor pool (featuring a swim-up bar), a spa and fitness center, and much more. For info, visit HarrahsAkChin.com. $

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Senior Vice President & General Manager Michael Kintner (left) presents a $15,000 donation check to F.O.R. Maricopa Founder & Executive Director Wendy Webb and volunteers.

APACHE GOLD & SKY CASINOS Globe & Winkelman

No info submitted at press time. Contact casinos.

BLUEWATER CASINO Parker

No info submitted at press time. Contact casino.

BUCKY’S & YAVAPAI CASINOS Prescott

Live music at the Prescott Resort 6-9 p.m. Saturdays.

CASINO ARIZONA Scottsdale

Project Presley (Elvis) January 6 & 7

Strange Days (The Doors) January 20 & 21 4NR (Foreigner) January 27 & 28

Wanted (Bon Jovi) February 3 & 4

Sixtiesmania (1960s Hits) February 10 & 11 Rock N Roll Band (Boston) February 24 & 25

CASINO DEL SOL Tucson

Los Angeles Azules De Iztapalapa April 15

CLIFF CASTLE CASINO HOTEL Camp Verde Los Tucanes De Tijuana March 11

COCOPAH CASINO Somerton

No info submitted at press time. Contact casino.

DESERT DIAMOND CASINO Sahuarita

Felipe Esparza January 21, 2023

Jodeci January 28, 2023

Ladies Night Tour (S. Easton & T. Dayne) February 18 Jimmie Allen March 24

HARRAH’S AK-CHIN CASINO Maricopa

Theresa Caputo Live! The Experience January 21 Gary Allan Ruthless Tour March 11

HON-DAH RESORT CASINO Pinetop

Live Music Tuesdays Through Saturdays Monday Funday Comedy Shows

MAZATZAL CASINO Payson

No info submitted at press time. Contact casino.

QUECHAN CASINO RESORT Winterhaven

Jeff Foxworthy January 12

Jay Dupis (The Ultimate Elvis) January 19 Luis “El Flaco” Angel January 26 Kansas March 23

TALKING STICK RESORT Scottsdale

Aaron Lewis January 21

Fitz & The Tantrums January 28 Kathleen Madigan February 4

Shaq’s Fun House February 10

Sports Illustrated The Party February 11 Air Supply February 18

Tyler Henry (The Hollywood Medium) April 1 Scotty McCreery April 21

TWIN ARROWS CASINO Flagstaff

No info submitted at press time. Contact casino.

WE-KO-PA CASINO RESORT Fountain Hills

Live Music In Ember Steakhouse

Live Music In WKP Sports & Entertainment Live And Let Die (Paul McCartney) February 18

WILD HORSE PASS RESORT & CASINO Chandler

Lunar New Year Tinh Xuan January 14

Chris Cagle January 21

A Thrilling Tribute (Michael Jackson) February 3 Locash February 24

Shaq’s Fun House @ Talking Stick Resort

Sports Illustrated The Party @ Talking Stick Resort

Jeff Foxworthy Quechan Casino Resort January 12

Jeff Foxworthy is one of the most respected and successful comedians in the country.

He is the largest selling comedy-recording artist in history, a multiple Grammy Award nominee and best selling author of 26 books. Widely known for his redneck jokes, his act goes well beyond that to explore the humor in everyday family interactions and human nature, a style that has been compared to Mark Twain’s.

He is best known as a member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, which performed in front of sold-out audiences across the U.S., and its success also spawned a highly popular television series and three DVD movies.

Jeff hosted the FOX television game show Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader for several seasons, including its return to primetime this past fall. Jeff executive produced and starred in, Foxworthy’s Big Night Out and the television series, Blue Collar TV, which he created for the WB network. Blue Collar TV came about due to the success of Blue Collar Comedy Tour, the movie and the concert tour of the same name. The movie premiered on Comedy Central and was the highest rated movie in the channel’s history.

Tickets: $60 to $85 at etix.com Time: 8 p.m.

Venue: Pipa Event Center Must be 21+

Kansas Quechan Casino Resort

March 23

Fusing the complexity of British prog-rock with an American heartland sound representative of their name, Kansas is among the most popular bands of the late ’70s.

Kansas-whose founding members all hailed from the statefirst came together in 1970, shuffling through multiple lineups before releasing their self-titled debut LP in 1974. Extensive touring made Kansas a cult favorite, but the band broke through to a mass audience with 1976’s Leftoverture (#5 on the Billboard Album chart).

“Carry On Wayward Son,” their first major hit, is still one of the most-played songs on classic rock radio. “Dust in the Wind,” a last-minute addition to their 1977 LP, Point of Know Return, hit No.6 on the Billboard Hot 100, their only single to crack the US Top 10. Kansas’ 1998 LP, Always Never the Same, featured the London Symphony Orchestra and a cover of The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby.”

After nearly 20 years of lineup changes, all six original members briefly reunited in 1999 to record Somewhere to Elsewhere, which came out the following year. In 2005, the group was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame followed suit in 2013, as many members of the band now reside there.

Tickets: $65 to $80 at etix.com Time: 8 p.m.

Venue: Pipa Event Center Must be 21+

By Sami Becker

DOLLAR$ & SENSE

Lessons From Mr. Benjamin Franklin

The other day I picked up a penny (that was heads up for good luck) and I was reminded of a quote by the great Benjamin Franklin, “A penny saved is a penny earned!”

Then I got to thinking, wasn’t this the wise man who also said, “Honesty is the best policy” and “God helps those who help themselves?” Suddenly my mind was flooded with various other sayings like “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy wealthy and wise” and “Don’t leave for tomorrow what you can do today.”

I wondered, were all these sayings spoken by the great Ben Franklin himself? Well, after doing some research I learned that not only were all the above quotes his, indeed, but that several other lesser known Franklin adages all seemed to have a universal “gambling” premise! Lessons we can all be the wiser from

“He that waits upon fortune, is never sure of a dinner.”

Excellent words to keep in mind when planning a trip to the casino! Never go to the casino expecting to win money and never go with money that you can’t afford to lose.

“A small leak can sink a great ship.”

Make sure to limit your casino excursions, because even with carefully planned budgets frequent trips to the casino can start to have adverse effects on your wallet.

“In this world, nothing is for certain except death and taxes.”

Keep this one in mind next time you hear yourself or someone else saying, “I know the machine is due for a big win now.”

“Good sense is a thing we all need, few have, and none think they want.”

Don’t leave your common sense at the door when you visit a casino! Set a budget and don’t spend money you can’t afford to part with, read the help screens, have fun and never lose your head while at a casino.

“Time

is money.”

ve stayed longer at the casino than you expected to, chances are you spent more money than you would have liked to as well! Planning how long you want to be at the casino for is just as important as planning how much money you can afford to spend while there.

Now, every time I come across a $100 bill and see Benjamin s face staring back at me, I’m reminded of all his wonderful quotes. Take each and every one of these lessons to heart and keep them in the back of your mind the next time you visit

You can write me at Sami@AZGamingGuide.com. Thanks for your letters and emails! Have fun and good luck! $

WORD SEARCH

SUDOKU

Level: EASY (Solution on page 38)

Jokes & Quotes

Research shows that laughing stimulates the immune system and may help prevent or reverse some medical conditions.

True Story…

A group of older ladies walked in to a restaurant at the casino. They were all laughing and talking with each other, clearly in a great mood.

Their waiter approached the table and asked them if they wanted anything to drink. One of the ladies turned and asked, “How long will it take to get our drinks?”

The waiter replied, “Oh! Not long at all. There’s barely any people at the bar, and if you want water, soda, or coffee, I’ll get that right away!”

The old lady replied, “Good. I need a gin and tonic, quickly please. And I hope your service is faster than what your coworkers managed out there by the slots. Look at me, I walked in to the casino a brunette. Then I hit a jackpot and had to wait. I was waiting so long I’m no longer a brunette!”

Zodiac Lucky Numbers

Aries (March 21 – April 19): 6, 7, 23, 35, 44, 59

Taurus (April 20 – May 20): 11, 13, 14, 27, 56, 67

Gemini (May 21 – June 20): 4, 11, 18, 37, 45, 63

Cancer (June 21 – July 22): 9, 15, 21, 38, 55, 60

Leo (July 23 – August 22): 6, 21, 24, 35, 49, 68

Virgo (August 23 – September 22): 2, 16, 25, 40, 51, 69

Libra (September 23 – October 22): 12, 16, 22, 38, 56, 61

Scorpio (October 23 – November 21): 4, 5, 20, 28, 49, 61

Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21): 3, 4, 26, 29, 51, 58

Capricorn (December 22 – January 19): 3, 8, 26, 28, 43, 68

Aquarius (January 20 – February 18): 10, 13, 25, 37, 48, 60

Pisces (February 19 – March 20): 2, 4, 20, 34, 53, 67

Water Tiger Lunar Year

Ask for good luck: 1, 4, 6, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 29.

Best days to travel: 6, 9, 12, 14, 17, 26.

Best days to meet with someone: 5, 9, 11, 12, 23.

There is overlap on the 12th this month!

Ranking third in the Lunar zodiac, Tiger is the symbol of bravery in Asian cultures. People under the sign of the Tiger are usually friendly, brave, competitive, charming and endowed with good luck and authority.

Dates For Year Of The Tiger: 02/13/1926-02/01/27, 01/31/38-02/18/39, 02/17/5002/05/51, 02/05/62-01/24/63, 01/23/74-02/10/75, 02/09/86-01/28/87, 01/28/98-02/15/99, 02/14/2010-02/02/11, 02/01/22-01/21/23.

Next year of the Tiger is 02/19/2034-02/07/35.

O E E K S L T A R A D W D G U O R D I L O Z D O E H R E B E O B R I D O E B X R B Y Y Y

M N H S F D L C S X D O U E A B C M C H E O N J K N R P H O B E E S A R J F C Q U H W E N M I P O T E I U L Y H O P L G J E L J P M A F E H L O F U L U W O O D S O E Y V U D N I H

Resort

Casino

Resort Drive Parker 888-243-3360 483

Y

Y Y Y 05. Casino Arizona 101 & McKellips Scottsdale 480-850-7777 1,395 Y Y Y Y Y 06. Casino Del Sol 5655 W. Valencia Rd. Tucson 855-765-7829 1,068 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 07. Casino Del Sol Marketplace 5405 W Valencia Rd Tucson 855-765-7829 8 08. Casino Of The Sun 7406 S. Camino De Oeste Tucson 855-765-7829 281 Y 09. Cliff Castle Casino & Hotel I-17, Exit 289 Camp Verde 800-381-7568 643 Y Y Y Y Y Y 10. Cocopah Resort Casino 15318 S. Ave. B Somerton 800-237-5687 570 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

04. Bucky’s Casino 1500 E. Hwy. 69 Prescott 800-756-8744 258

11. Desert Diamond Casino-Tuc. 7350 S. Nogales Hwy. Tucson 866-332-9467 1,283 Y Y Y Y Y

12. Desert Diamond Casino-Sah. I-19, Exit 80 Sahuarita 866-332-9467 623 Y Y

13. Desert Diamond Casino-W.V. 101 & Northern Ave. Glendale 833-332-2946 1,450 Y Y

14. Desert Diamond Casino-Why Hwy. 86, Milepost 55 Why 866-332-9467 40 Y

15. We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort Hwy. 87 & Ft. McDowell Rd. Fort McDowell 800-843-3678 926 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

16. Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino 15406 N. Maricopa Rd. Maricopa 480-802-5000 1,126 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

17. Hon-Dah Casino 777 Hwy. 260 Pinetop 800-929-8744 806 Y Y Y Y Y

18. Lone Butte Casino 1077 S. Kyrene Rd. Chandler 800-946-4452 1,140 Y Y Y Y

19. Mazatzal Hotel & Casino Hwy. 87, 1/4 mi. S. of Payson Payson 800-777-7529 381 Y Y Y

20. Paradise Casino 450 Quechan Dr. Yuma 888-777-4946 447 Y Y

21. Quechan Casino I-8, Exit 166 Winterhaven, CA 877-783-2426 800+ Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

22. Spirit Mountain Casino 8555 Hwy. 95 Mohave Valley 888-837-4030 179 Y 23. Talking Stick Resort 101 & Indian Bend Scottsdale 480-850-7777 1,035 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 24. Twin Arrows Navajo Casino I-40, Exit 219 Flagstaff 855-946-8946 1,018 25. Vee Quiva Casino 6443 Komatke Ln. Laveen 800-946-4452 1,293 Y Y Y Y 26. Wild Horse Pass Casino 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd. Chandler 800-946-4452 1,126 Y Y Y Y Y Y 27. Yavapai Casino 1505 E. Hwy. 69 Prescott 800-756-8744 227 Y