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Card Room Action Arizona Lottery News Casino Entertainment REEL REVIEWS – Cash Wizard Boyd’s Eye View of Video Poker Blackjack Corner – Late Night Tournament www.arizonaplayer.com
Vol. 20 No. 01 • January 2012
2012 White Mountains'
Winter Games - For the Love of Dogs Cover Story On Page 8
WWW.ARIZONAPLAYER.COM
PO Box 33393 • Phoenix Arizona 85067 • 602-373-8728 • azplayer@cox.net
Contributing Photography Contributing Writers Kevin Cummings Linda Boyd Nicole Gilotti Cindy Esquer Production Assistants Anne Groebner Anne Groebner Charlie Scheeler Melody Hudson TJ Jorgensen John Olson Rachel Lebo Terri Morris Terri Morris David Ramsey Graphic Design David Ramsey Shanna Wolfe CommuniGraphics Shanna Wolfe Editor Phil Scudella
Contents
Vol. 20 No. 01 • January 2012
Entertainment
6
Cover Story Hon-Dah Resort Casino Winter Games
8
Boyd’s Eye View Linda Boyd “Possibility vs Probability”
10
Card Room Action Table Game Information Around The State
12
Blackjack Corner TJ Jorgensen “Late Night Tournament”
14
Reel Reviews Kevin Cummings “Cash Wizard”
16
Lottery News
18
Winner Stories
Contest Page Win Great Prizes During The 20 Anniversary Year
20
Bingo News & Directory
22
Travel The Far East….Valley “Arizona Renaissance Festival”
25
David at the Snack Rar David Ramsey “Top Ten Movies of 2011”
28
Astrology, Jokes of the Month, & Casino Directory
30
th
Special Thanks to Anne Groebner and her staff at Hon-Dah Resort Casino and Conference Center for all their help with this January issue. The Arizona Player is published the first weekend of each month. All claims or guarantees are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. All comments and views of contributing writers are their own and do not reflect official policy of the Arizona Player which assumes no liability for any advertisement not supplied camera ready by the advertiser. Reproduction or use in whole or in part without written consent from the publisher and Copyright owners is prohibited.
4 ARIZONA PLAYER January 2012
ARIZONA PLAYER November 2011 5
Apache Gold Casino Resort
5 miles East of Globe on Hwy 70 1-800-272-2438 In the Pavilion: Jan 28 – Little Joe & La Familia w/ Angel Norteno Cabaret Lounge: free Little Joe weekend entertainment
BlueWater Resort and Casino
11300 Resort Dr., Parker 1-888-243-3360 BlueWater Showroom: Jan 14, Comics Williams & Ree Dig Lounge: Free live bands, Deejay or Karaoke nightly
Casino Arizona
101 at McKellips, Scottsdale 480-850-7734 In the Showroom: Jan 13 – Pow Wow Comedy Jam, Jan 19-21 – Jamestown, Jan 26-28 – Rock Lobster, Feb 2-4 - LoveShack Pima Lounge: Free entertainment nightly with top Arizona bands The Arizona Room Piano Lounge, free entertainment nightly
Casino Del Sol
5655 W. Valencia Rd., Tucson
520-838-6506
the b-52s
Desert Diamond Casino
1100 W. Pima Mine Rd., Tucson 520-294-7777 or 1-866-DDC-WINS Diamond Center: Jan 12, Temptations Jan 29, Rita Rudner
Fort McDowell Casino
N of Shea off Hwy 87, Fountain Hills 1-800-THE-FORT Lucky 7 Saloon: Free live entertainment Fri - Sun featuring: Furious George, Cowboy Floyd and the Kenny G project In the Bingo Hall: Saturday Jan 21 - Lunar Bingo – Music, dancing, crazy games and giveaways For updates – go to fortmcdowellcasino.com
Harrah’s Ak-Chin Resort and Casino
15406 Maricopa Rd., Maricopa 480-802-5000 Oasis Lounge: Free live entertainment every wkend Bingo Hall: Friday Jan 20, Feb 3 & 17 at 11pm – Party Bingo, deejay music, bingo, food and drink specials and fun giveaways For updated schedule, go to harrahsakchin.com
Hon-Dah Resort and Casino
Highways 260 and 73, Pinetop 1-800-WAY-UP-HIGH Free live entertainment In the Timbers Lounge: Monday - Comedy Night, Tues-Sat – Live Bands Jan 9-14 - Barrio latino Jan 17-21 - Groove Inc Jan 24-28 - Marble Heart Feb 7-11 - Doo-Wah Riders Feb 14-18 - Groove City Feb 21-25 - Creagles Feb 28 – Mar 3 - Skid Rodeo Mar 6-10 Midnight Riders
Lone Butte Casino
202 loop at the Kyrene exit – Chandler, 1-800-WIN-GILA Cascades Lounge: Free entertainment Mon-Sat, 4pm-1am w/bands like: Chuck E Baby, Smooth Groove, Otis & the Beat, Marty & the Party, Spotlight, Thaddeus Rose, Silhouette, Desert Dixie, Greywolf, Jadi Norris, Hamptons, Uptown Angels and Bob Villa Verona Chophouse: Talia (Fri & Sat), Bridget & the Aug (Sun) Bingo Hall: 11:30pm Saturdays - B.A.D BINGO (Bingo after Dark) DJ “Rockin’ Rob” music, light show, bingo & giveaways
entertainment
Talking Stick Resort
Loop 101 and Indian Bend Road - Scottsdale 480-850-7777 Talking Stick Showroom: Jan 12-14, 19-21 and 26-28, Direct from Las Vegas – An Evening at La Cage Feb 17, Toni Braxton Feb 18, Frankie Valli Degree 270 Lounge: live entertainment, dancing nightly with a spectacular view of the city.
Vee Quiva Casino
The West Valley’s only Casino 51st Ave, 4 miles S. of Baseline – Laveen 1-800-WIN-GILA Bingo Hall: Fridays at 11pm – Deejay music, light show & dancing Bingo Hall: 11:30pm, every other Saturday – BINGO ECLIPSE – Bingo, Deejay music, light show & giveaways
Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino
I-10 at Wild Horse Pass exit - Chandler 1-800-WIN-GILA In the Ovations LIVE! Showroom: Jan 14 - Tonic / Sister Hazel Jan 28 - Don Rickles Feb 3 - Rumble at the River III – Pro Boxing Feb 11- Neil Sedaka Feb 17 - Boyz II Men Feb 25 - Comic Rob Schneider Feb 26 - Roger Hodgson (lead singer Supertramp Mar 10 - Jose Carreras Mar 16 - Rodney Carrington Apr 22 – Engelbert Humperdinck Encore Lounge: Free entertainment (ThursMon) with: Route 66, Hamptons, Eagleheart, Powerdrive, Vinny DiJohn, Greywolf, Str8up band, Walkens, Pima Express, Rhythm Edition, Throne D & The Ledge, Powerdrive and JJs Band
Rumble at the River III Jose Benavidez
Mazatzal Hotel & Casino In the Event Center: Jan 15, The B-52s Paradiso Bar: Free live weekend entertainment featuring: 80’s Ladies (Jan 12) The Cougars (Jan13) Angel Norteno (Jan 14) Iron Maidens (Jan 19) Blue Tattoo (Jan 20) Tito Su Nuevo Son (Jan 21) Eagles Tribute (Jan 26) Festival (Jan 27) Sol Down (Jan 28) Bingo Hall: Cosmic Bingo Saturday nights featuring music, light show, wacky games and giveaways
Cliff Castle Casino
I-17 at exit 289 in Camp Verde 1-800-381-SLOT Dragonfly Lounge: Free weekend entertainment
Desert Diamond Casino Hotel
7350 South Nogales Hwy, Tucson Toll Free 1-866-DDC-WINS Monsoon Night Club: Live bands or deejay ThursSun
6 ARIZONA PLAYER January 2012
1/2-mile S. of Payson on Hwy 87 1-800-777-PLAY www.777play.com Feb 11, The Highwaymen (ultimate tribute to Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson) Call for updated schedule
Paradise Casino
450 Quechan Drive, Yuma 1-888-777-4946 Sharky’s Bar: Free entertainment, Karaoke on Wed, DJs on Thurs, live bands on weekends
Quechan Casino Resort
Frankie Valli
525 Algodones Rd, Winterhaven CA (5 mi West of Yuma) 1-877-783-2426 In the PIPA Event Center: Jan 13, ROOTS & BOOTS Concert Sammy Kershaw featuring: Joe Diffie, Sammy Kershaw & Aaron Tippen Jan 27, BRONCO Sidewinders bar: Free live entertainment every weekend
cover story
2012 White Mountains'
Winter Games - For the Love of Dogs
Every year, The Hon-Dah Resort Casino and Sunrise Ski Park Winter Games rolls in an abundance of snow, which is perfect for the snow-dependent festivities that draw visitors and mushers from around the world.
White Mountains’ Winter Games emcee Floyd Massey will keep you entertained at this year’s events White Mountain Apache Tribal Mushers say it is one of the best trails they have ever Councilman Arnold Beach welcomes everyone to the 2011 raced on. It’s considered a technical trail, because it Winter Games winds through the woods and takes some skill to keep
up speed and yet maneuver past corners, over hills and around trees. After adding 9,000 feet elevation to the mix — you have quite a challenge. On Sunday January 29th several mushers choose one of their dogs and invite kids to take a ride down the starting shoot on a sled. If you love dogs, this is the sport for you!
The weekend of January 28th & 29th will be the event’s 10th anniversary, and Hon-Dah Resort Casino is gearing up for an incredible two days of fun and adventure. There are so many things to do and see - including, of course, watching the amazing sled dogs compete in the annual races held at Sunrise Ski Park. Sunrise grooms a spectacular trail every year. Races start at 9am on Saturday and Sunday, and finish about noon. After Saturday’s race, Hon-Dah Casino hosts a winter festival at its Festival Grounds, starting at 1pm. continued on page 26
8 ARIZONA PLAYER January 2012
A BOYD’S EYE VIEW OF VIDEO POKER
Possibility
guess most gamblers have surreptitious daydreams about pie-in-the-sky by things like winning the Linda Boyd Mega Jackpot or the lottery. Of course these “way out there” meanderings are not shared with others least they think we’ve been eating the wrong kind of mushrooms. However, if we were to casually mention that we’re “overdue” for a royal (actually this makes no sense either since you’re never “due” for any particular hand) other video poker players accept the comment at face value. In this case both are possibilities but winning the lottery much less likely. You’d think this simple example would lead to logical thinking about ballpark odds so that players would better understand generalities of game theory and playing the odds. Unfortunately, that’s not the case at all. It is, however, a fundamental necessity if you want the best odds at any casino game with a skill component. Possibility: Extreme long shots, like being dealt a royal flush in video poker, are possible but unlikely. The likelihood of being dealt a royal, however, is approximately 1 in 650,000 given a deck of 52 cards. So you could safely make most any statement and attach the word “possible” to it and of course you’d be right. By not being more specific your words are rather meaningless as far as instructing another player on the correct game strategy. That’s why when somebody asks me for correct holds while playing video poker (VP) I cringe. I can tell you which cards to hold in
10 ARIZONA PLAYER January 2012
versus
a given VP hand and it’s based solely on the pay schedule compared with the likelihood of making any of several potential winning hands. Nobody can tell you the cards that you will draw, so if you make the statistically correct holds (per computer perfect software) it might not be the best play for that hand. Over time, however, you will be ahead by playing accurately since nobody outruns the numbers in the long run. Probability: This is an exact number indicating the likelihood of an event and must be understood by any good gambler wagering at a game of skill. If you toss a coin, you have an equal chance that it will land on heads or tails. Most importantly - the odds don’t change at the beginning of each flip of the coin regardless of past results. In other words, if you have a coin that lands on heads 5 consecutive times then the odds of it landing on heads before the sixth toss remain the same. That’s why Martingale schemes for roulette are doomed to fail. If you’re unfamiliar with the term it’s where a player will make consecutive bets on the same color, black or red assuming the opposite color is “due”, so doubling each bet. They’re sure the color will show up at some point (it will) and then they’ll have recovered all their bets. The problem is you may well run out of money before that happens or have so many landings on the same color that the wager required is more than allowed by the casino. (They all have limits.) My point is that many have little understanding of probability and so instead of practicing on VP software (WinPoker is the best out there in my opinion) they justify incorrect plays with a long shot success story.
Probability Bring a Horseshoe: Game manufacturers have the same ER software I’ve been using for years to determine the game’s expected return (ER) and they’ve passed it along to casino managers. As a result the best VP games available in most casinos only have a razor’s edge and you have to play them close to computer perfect for that. If you aren’t skilled and can’t locate the best games (some casinos have none) as well as compute other aspects of the play (promotion equity, slot points, multiple points and so on) then you’ll do just as well to play the slots and rely solely on lady luck. Final Thoughts: There are still excellent VP plays out there, but you must be able to locate them using pay schedules with the game’s ER (free and removable from my book) and play correctly to have an advantage. If you are still unable to see a difference between possible and probable then you should stick with the slots. Linda Boyd ,a long-time table game player before turning to video poker, also writes for “Southern Gaming” and “Midwest Gaming and Travel” her book, “The Video Poker Edge”, includes free removable pay schedules and her free strategy cards for the most popular games. Look for her story in “American Casino Guide” The 2010 Second Edition of her book is available in both paperback and kindle. Available at amazon. com, bookstores or Square One Publishers www. squareonepublishers.com or Toll Free: 877-900-BOOK
CARD ROOM ACTION Apache Gold Casino 800-272-2438
Desert Diamond Casino I-19 866-332-9467
BlueWater Casino 1-888-243-3360
Fort McDowell Casino 480-789-4284
Dealing blackjack, daily at 3pm
Poker Room is open daily at 4 pm Tues, 7pm, No-Limit Texas Hold Em “Bounty” Tournament - $35 buy-in w/one $20 re-buy Thurs, 7pm, NLHE - $60 buy-in, no re-buys – optional $5 High Hand Mon & Wed (first 3 each night) – Quads pay $75, Straight Flush $100, also High Hand pays $50 at 10pm Daily – Aces Cracked wins a rack & Royal Flush pays $400 – (Max 3 per day) Dealing blackjack daily starting at 9am
Bucky’s Casino 928-771-6779
Sat at 10am, Bounty No-Limit Hold Em Tournament - $80 buy w/ $10 Bounties Mon at 10am, and Mon, Wed & Thurs at 6pm - NLHE $40 entry fee w/ optional $10 re-buy, top 5 in the money and earn points toward $250 Player of the Month award Tues, 6pm, Ladies Only Texas Hold Em Shootouts - $15 buy-in “Aces Cracked” ($50) and “Kings Conquered” ($25) MonThurs 10am-10pm & Fri 10am-4pm Full House Frenzy during all NFL Playoff games – see poker room for details Progressive “Aces Cracked” Sat 11am-11pm - Starts at $ 50, increases till hit FREE Sunday buffet for seated poker players Dealing blackjack 24/7 - Now playing 3 card poker & Triple Attack Blackjack
Casino Arizona 101 & McKellips 480-850-7777
Dealing blackjack 24/7 Tuesday, 12pm - $1,000 added “Break at Noon” Blackjack Tournament, $ 50 buy-in Friday, 3am – The “Great Late” Blackjack Tournament, $ 25 buy-in
Casino Del Sol 520-838-6565
Mon-Fri, 10 am, $800 guaranteed NLHE, $15 buy-in w/ optional $15 add-on Mon 7pm & Sat noon – $1,200 Guaranteed, NLHE - $35 buy-in, $6 entry fee Sun & Tues at 7 pm – $15 buy-in – Optional $15 add-on, $ 1,000 guaranteed Wed, 7pm, Limit Omaha, $1,500 Prize Pool, $45 buy-in w/ $ 10 add-on Thurs, 7pm, $3,000 Guaranteed NLHE, $85 buy-in Sat, 9am, $200 added Limit Omaha Hi-Lo, $15 buy-in w/$5 re-buys $5 add-on Sun, 11 am $1,500 NLHE, $20 buy-in, $5 re-buys
Cliff Castle Casino Hotel 928-567-7952
Mon, Wed, Fri & Sun*, 10am, No-Limit Texas Hold Em Shoot-outs, $25 buy-in – Winner take all Tues & Thurs, 10am, Limit Hold Em Shoot-outs, $25 buy-in Wed, 7pm – NLHE $60 buy-in + Optional $10 & $20 addons w/one $20 re-buy Sat, Noon, $2,000 added – NLHE $120 buy-in, no re-buys *1st place “Shootout” winners qualify for Free Roll Shootout the last Sunday of each month Aces Cracked wins a $100 rack – Sun-Fri - See poker Room for details Also dealing blackjack 24/7
Cocopah Casino 800-237-5687
Dealing blackjack, Fri & Sat, 10am-3am; Sun-Thurs, 10am-2am
Desert Diamond Nogales Hwy 520-342-1810
Mon & Thurs at 9:30 am “Cup of Coffee” NLHE ($35 buyin) Max 40 players Tues, 7pm, $100 added per table NLHE, $75 buy-in, with one $60 re-buy Also dealing blackjack 24/7 12 ARIZONA PLAYER January 2012
Dealing blackjack 24/7
Mon-Fri, Noon, NLHE Tournaments $30 buy-in Sat at Noon, also Tues & Thurs at 7pm, $1,000 Guaranteed NLHE - $5 buy-in Sat 4pm & Sun at 7pm $1,000 Guaranteed NLHE - $10 buy-in Sun at Noon, $1,000 Deep Stack NLHE - $50 buy-in Fri at 7pm, Mega-Stack $50 Bounty NLHE - $120 buy-in Sat 9pm, $3,000 Guaranteed NLHE tournament - $20 buy-in Mon 7pm, NLHE Deep Stack tournament - $50 entry fee Wed 7pm, NLHE - $30 buy-in “Aces Cracked” win a rack – 24/7 See poker room for details “Easy way Jackpot” Aces full of anything beaten by Quads or better wins Jackpot “Double Aces Cracked” During NFL Playoff games & Super Bowl Also dealing blackjack 24/7
Lone Butte Casino 800-946-4452
Dealing blackjack 24/7 – with $5 games
Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino 480-802-5138
Pro Football “Splash Pots” Selected Playoff Games - $50 TD & &25 FG Feb 5th, Super Bowl Sunday $100 TD $50 FG Tues, 7:30pm, Limit Omaha H/L, $25 buy-in, $10 re-buys + $10 add-on Thurs, 7:30pm – NLHE, $10 Buy-in plus two $10 re-buys & $10 add-on Fri, 7:30pm, Sat, 12:30 & 5:30pm - NLHE, $40 buy-in, no re-buys Sat, 12:30 & 5:30pm – NLHE, $40 buy-in, no re-buys Sun, 12:30pm – NLHE, $25 buy-in, one $10 re-buy Coming in February WSOP Satellites on Sundays & Wednesdays! $ 25 Daily Splash pots on ALL tables every ½ hour from 9am-10pm $ 25 early morning Sat & Sun Splash pots on ALL tables every ½ hour from 6am-8:30am Also dealing blackjack 24/7
Hon-Dah Casino 1-800-929-8744
Mon, 6pm, New Tournament – call for details Tues, 4pm – Mid, “Aces ($50) & Faces ($25) Cracked” (first 10 total) Wed, 6pm, No-limit Hold Em, $40 buy-in, no re-buys Thurs, 6pm, Omaha Hi-Lo, $40 buy-in, no re-buys Sat, 4pm, No-limit Hold Em, $30 buy-in, $10 re-buys + $ 10 add-on Sun, 4pm, Crazy Pineapple $30 buy-in, $10 re-buys + $10 add-on Super Bowl Sunday – Special event, Call for details!
Mazatzal Hotel & Casino 800-777-7529
Live Poker Wed-Sun - see poker room for details Sun, 1pm - NLHE Tournament, $25 buy-in no re-buys Wed & Sun, 6pm, NLHE Bounty Tournament, $50 buy-in High Hands - win up to $500 Dealing blackjack 10am-1am - Blackjack tournament, Mon at 6pm, $40 buy-in
Paradise Casino 888-777-4946
Special $59 room rates for poker players Poker Room Hours: Wed – Sun open at 10am, Mon & Tues at 5pm Dealing blackjack 24/7
Talking Stick Resort 480-850-7777
BIG Stack NLHE Saturdays at 11:15am - Feb 4, Mar 3, Apr 7, May 5, Jun 2, Jul 7, Aug 4, Sept 1, Oct 6, Nov 3 & Dec 1 - $300 Buy in w $30 sc SUPER BOUNTY BIG Stack NLHE Saturdays at 11:15am – Jan 14, Feb 11, Mar 10, Apr 14, May 12, Jun 9, Jul 14, Sept 15, Oct 13, Nov 10 & Dec 8 - $200 Buy in w $25 sc $ 100 Bounty for each player you knock out SUPER Turbo Super BOUNTY BIG Stack NLHE Saturdays at 11:15am – Jan 21, Mar 24, Apr 21, Jun 16, Jul 21 & Oct 13 - $200 Buy in w $25 sc - $100 Bounty for each player you knock out Last Saturday of the Month NLHE at 11:15am – Jan 28, Feb25, Mar 31, Apr 28, May 26, Jun 30, Jul 28, Aug 25, Sept 29, Oct 27, Nov 24 & Dec 29 - $125 Buy in w $25 sc Ladies NLHE – Sunday at 11:15am - Jan 15, Mar 11, May 20, July 15, Oct 14 & Dec 9 - $60 Buy-in w/ $15 sc Mon - Fri, 11:15 am - NLHE, $50 buy-in w/ $10 sc Tues & Wed, 7:15pm - NLHE, $115 buy-in + $15 s/c Daily, 2am-10am “Aces Cracked” Win $100 rack Royal Flush Promotion – Get a Royal, Spin the wheel – win $50 - $500 – see poker room for details Jack it Up! Tuesdays & Wednesdays - $20,000 added to Hold Em Progressive Bad Beat Jackpot - $5,000 to Omaha / Stud Also dealing blackjack 24/7
Vee Quiva Casino 800-946-4452 – Ext 1042
Sun - Thurs, 11am, No-Limit Hold Em, $1,000 Guaranteed - $30 buy-in w/ 1 $20 re-buy Wed at 7:30pm, & Sat at 11am, NLHE, $20 buy-in, $10 rebuys & $20 add-on “ACES CRACKED” wins a rack – daily from 6am - max 10 per day Big Money Royals, Any Royal Flush wins $500 Progressive Rolling Cash Fever drawings during live play every other hour - 24/7 Mon- Fri, 2am-6am -“High Hand” Promotion, Top 3 hands win $100, $75 & $50 Thursdays 4pm-8pm – “Match your stack” drawings every hour – 1 lucky seat at 3 tables wins up to $100 Pro football “Super-Splash pots” All Playoff Games, Super Bowl Sunday and the Pro Bowl - 5 tables splashed $100 for every TD, & 2 tables splashed for any FG Also dealing blackjack 24/7 – with $5 games
Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino 800-946-4452 ext 7375
Mon & Thurs Noon, NLHE, $30 buy-in, no re-buys - $150 added per table Tues & Wed at 7:30pm, NLHE Freeze Out - $50 entry fee w/ $10 optional add-on, with $1,000 added to prize pool “Big Hand – Big Money” High Hands Daily, Bonus Aces Cracked – daytime 1-4pm Sun – Thurs, 10pm – 1am “Hot Seat” Drawing –$100 each hour Pro Football “Splash Pots” – Selected playoff games, Super Bowl Sunday & Pro Bowl – see poker room for details College & Pro Basketball $50 Splash Pots, Selected games - see poker room for schedule “Aces & Faces” Cracked – Mon-Fri 1am-4am, win at least $ 100 w/ players Club Card Big Money Royals - Any Royal Flush wins $200 Also dealing blackjack 24/7 – with $5 games and “Triple Attack Blackjack”
Dealing Blackjack 5pm-1am
Quechan Casino & Resort 1-877-QUECHAN
Wed, 10am - close “Aces Cracked” wins $50 Thurs, 10am – Mid, Splash Pots Tues & Thurs at 7 pm, also Sat & Sun at 1pm - NLHE - $35 buy-in Sat, Jan 14 & 28 at 1pm, $5,000 Guaranteed NLHE, $75 buy-in
CARD ROOM MANAGERS Please send updates to azplayer@cox.net
TJ’s Blackjack corner
by TJ Jorgensen
The Great Late Blackjack Tournament
hursday night/Friday morning I didn’t have anything to do so I stopped by Casino Arizona at McKellips to play in their “Great Late Blackjack Tournament”. The tournament cost $25 to enter – plus you get a free breakfast. The tournament started at 2:45am and I was in the first qualifying round. The first round consisted of three tables of six players all starting with $5000 in play chips. Betting limits were a $25 minimum bet and no max bet. At the end of twenty-one hands, the player at each table with the most chips advances to the championship round or money round as I like to call it. The odds of winning your table and making it to the championship round based on luck alone are six to one. Since the tournament only pays first through third place in the championship round, your odds of getting paid are 18 to 1, better than most. When the round began, at my table there were some real aggressive betters trying to get an early lead, however for the first ten hands I bet close to the minimum. By hand 14, two of the players at my table ran out of chips and were gone, we were now down to four. At this point in the round, I calculated that I was going to have to bet first on the final hand, the worst betting position there is. I knew that I had to have the chip lead going into the final hand to have any kind of chance of winning my table. At hand 18, I called for a chip count and discovered I was in second place, behind by $1,100. On the next hand the chip leader made a bet of $200, so I bet $1500, that way if we both won the hand I would be the new chip leader by $200. We both won the hand and I had the lead. In hand 19 & 20, I matched the bet of the player in second place and we both won the two hands so I maintained my lead. It was now time for the final hand - #21, and I had to bet first, the very worst betting position. However I had attained my goal of being the chip leader. This is where correct tournament strategy is the difference between advancing to the money round, or going home. I had a total of $9200 in chips, the player to my left had $4200, the player betting third only had $500, so he was a non factor, and the player to my right had $8800. 14 ARIZONA PLAYER January 2012
I chose to bet $300, leaving me $8900 in un-bet chips, here’s why; I expected the player to my left to go all in, and even if he won and I lost he would only have $8400. The only situation where the player to my left could beat me is if he received blackjack. I also expected the player to my right to go all in, but I knew the chances of us both winning the hand were 30% and the chances of us both losing the hand are 31%, so the way I played the hand was the percentage play. As expected both the player to my left and right went all in. On the final hand I received a twelve, the player to my left had fourteen, the player to my right had a seven, and the dealer had an up card of a three. I stood on my hand as did the player on my left. The player on my right hit his seven and caught a ten for seventeen. The dealer then made a hand of seventeen, the player to my left and I both lost while the player to my right pushed. Since I held back $8900 and the player to my right had $8800 and pushed, I won the round and advanced to the championship round. There were two more qualifying rounds and we eventually had our six table winners for the championship round. In the money round only first, second, and third place get paid, so three players were going to go home empty handed. We all picked cards for our seat position in the final and I drew seat #5. That meant on the final hand I would have to bet third if no one was eliminated. As usual there were some aggressive bettors in the early hands but I stuck close to the minimum for the first ten hands. By hand fourteen two players had eliminated themselves and we were down to four players. I recalculated my betting position for the final hand and discovered I was going to get to bet last. This is the best betting position because you can adjust your bet according to what the other players have bet to give yourself the best chance to win. On hand twenty, the hand before the final hand, we did a chip count. The player that would have to bet first had $2600, the player betting second had $7200, the player betting third had $3600, and I was in second with $4100. On the final hand, player one went all in for $2600, player two only bet $200, and player three went
all in with $3600. The nice thing about betting last is it gives the other players opportunities to make mistakes - and they did. Player two should have bet $1300 to cover my all in and maintain his lead if we both won, which happens 30% of the time. I bet $4075 and left myself with one un-bet chip of $25. By betting this way, if everyone wins I would get first place, and if everyone lost I would have second place. On the final hand the dealer showed an up card of ten. Player one had seventeen and stood, player two had eighteen and stood, player three had thirteen, hit, caught a ten and busted. I was now assured of at least 3rd because I held back a $25 chip. I had eight and hit. I caught a seven for a fifteen. Rather than risk busting I stood. With player one having seventeen, I reasoned if the dealer had a hand it was going to be greater than seventeen and player one and I would both get beat, giving me second place. But if the dealer had to hit and busted then my fifteen would win and give me first place. The dealer turned over a six in the hole and busted out, giving me first place. For the win I took home $360, not bad for a twentyfive dollar entry fee. The tournament is a lot of fun, and I always meet some interesting people. So if you find yourself up late on a Thursday night stop by and play. Who knows, you might just run into me. Until next, remember money won is twice as sweet as money earned. T.J. Jorgensen has been a professional Blackjack player for over 20 years. He is well known for his live tournament play. He has competed against, and beaten, some of the top tournament players in the world and has won the prestigious World Series of Blackjack. His book, “Beating the Casino at theirown Game,” is available through his web site www. freewebs.com/tjsblackjackcorner or by e-mail TJ4justice1@msn.com
REEL REVIEWS by Kevin Cummings
lottery news A New Game in Town It was a busy day at the Arizona Lottery because two $50,000 winning Wheel of Fortune Scratchers tickets were redeemed almost backto-back – The winners, one from Peoria and one from Phoenix, purchased their tickets because it was a new game. One ticket was bought on an impulse by the Peoria winner when he stopped to gas up his car. He usually buys at least one Scratchers ticket almost every day. He scratched the ticket on the way to his car, then turned right around and took it back to have it scanned. As soon as he knew it was real, he signed the back of the ticket. The
Peoria winner plans to pay off some bills and perhaps take a small vacation. The Phoenix winner bought three of the Scratchers and shared them with her family. After they selected their tickets, she scratched the third ticket, which turned out to be the winner. She told them she needed a ride to the Lottery office. Then everyone in the family checked the ticket to be sure it was real – The winner has no immediate plans so, for now, the money is going into her savings account. The winning tickets were purchased at QuikTrip on 91st Ave in Peoria, and Fry’s Food Store, 520 E. Baseline Road in Phoenix.
Million Dollar Mania Winner
Crossword Games Take Longer to Play
A young Yuma resident put $10 into an Arizona Lottery Instant Ticket Vending Machine and purchased one $50 Million Money Mania Scratchers ticket. He scratched it and couldn’t believe what he saw – he’d won one of six $1,000,000 top prizes. He immediately drove home and showed the ticket to his dad, who also had a hard time believing it was real. It was his dad who told him to sign the back of the ticket right away as a safety feature. The new millionaire winner and his family drove to Phoenix to redeem his winning ticket. He was given the choice of taking the annuity or the cash option, he selected the cash option of a one-time, lump-sum payment of $625,000. He only plays Scratchers and has not told anyone outside of his immediate family about his win. He plans to continue working and may consider going back to school. With regard to his winnings, he plans to purchase ad.qxp a house10/12/09 and save12:31 the rest. Poker_1/3page_vp PM Page 1 The winning ticket was purchased at Barney’s 2381 S. Ave. B, Yuma.
A Globe resident, who loves any kind of crossword Scratchers, purchased one Sky High Crossword ticket and won the top prize of $100,000. The lucky winner likes all of the games dealing with words, as they take longer to play, and makes all of his purchases from two stores in town. He buys Scratchers almost every day and because he wins often enough - he’s basically playing with his winnings. When he saw what looked like a topprize winning ticket, he checked it at least 12 times, called his brother to come over and check it, and finally told his wife, who thought he was kidding until she looked at the ticket. He then signed it and took it to the store to be scanned. They plan to pay off bills, and the rest will be the cushion they’ve never had. The winning ticket was purchased at Circle K, 1250 W. Ash Street in Globe.
The book that Vegas doesn’t want you to read. Start your winning education with
The Video Poker Edge $17.95 • 2-Color throughout • Includes tear-out video poker “strategy cards” Available at bookstores everywhere, or call the publisher toll-free at 1-877-900-2665.
18 ARIZONA PLAYER January 2012
THE PICK Date Numbers
December
01-15-18-23-25-32 02-14-34-40-43-44 02-21-22-35-40-43 01-08-27-29-33-44 02-14-18-24-28-42 08-10-21-23-29-38 20-25-32-39-41-43 05-10-24-28-31-39 04-21-31-34-40-44
03 07 10 14 17 21 24 28 31
December
01 02 03 05 06 07 08 09 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 30 31
POWERBALL Numbers
PICK 3 CASH 4 2-7-1 4-7-3 6-5-8 0-1-2 4-2-3 3-2-8 1-8-6 1-9-7 7-5-1 0-2-9 6-9-5 5-1-8 4-4-7 1-5-7 8-1-8 3-4-3 4-1-3 0-7-3 4-1-5 0-5-9 0-3-6 8-7-9 9-8-1 1-6-2 5-1-7 0-1-7 3-0-4
PB PP
05-18-33-43-45 8 3 03-14-20-39-40 37 2 04-19-33-41-59 9 5 02-24-46-52-56 19 5 13-28-49-51-59 33 4 10-13-15-31-54 18 5 14-16-30-51-52 19 2 16-21-27-41-45 14 2 05-23-25-28-40 34 4
14-20-21-26 07-11-22-23 05-08-14-22 09-20-21-23 05-08-13-16 02-09-11-13 10-11-15-25 09-10-11-21 11-12-20-23 03-08-12-21 06-17-23-24 01-02-09-16 04-15-21-23 13-16-17-24 09-14-17-19 10-14-17-20 06-10-21-26 02-06-12-25 09-14-23-24 07-10-11-21 06-11-15-16 03-09-13-16 01-05-10-19 04-17-23-24 03-05-12-18 08-09-12-19 03-19-20-22
PICK 5 08-12-17-21-32 06-07-21-23-26 03-06-08-16-21 04-16-18-28-30 07-16-17-30-32 02-08-13-31-39 05-09-16-25-36 02-12-16-21-39 04-05-19-26-38 01-18-21-29-36 01-09-17-18-24 13-28-31-32-38 05-10-25-31-35 21-24-32-34-39 08-09-24-25-35 08-19-20-33-41 08-09-10-12-28 03-16-18-34-40 12-24-26-30-32 06-13-29-33-34 03-28-35-37-40 17-27-29-30-35 10-11-16-37-41 12-18-33-37-40 05-12-19-21-39 07-13-24-31-35 03-07-19-28-38
December
MEGA MILLIONS
MB
MP
02 06 09 13 16 20 23 27 30
24-30-48-51-56 07-21-29-35-49 04-12-29-49-51 05-06-22-26-41 02-04-26-36-39 20-24-27-45-51 03-05-08-18-29 23-32-33-39-43 04-24-45-46-52
45 39 44 06 27 31 14 08 01
4 4 4 4 3 4 4 3 4
In Phoenix catch the winning numbers first on ABC Channel 15 at 10:25 nightly. You can also call the Lottery Hotline at (480) 829-PICK (7425) in Phoenix or (520) 325-9141 in Tucson. For outlying areas in Arizona call 1-800-499-3798. Visit our website at arizonalottery.com or see a participating Lottery retailer for the winning numbers.
Contest page
The Arizona Player 20th Anniversary I “LIKE” TO WIN SWEEPSTAKES
Do you like to win prizes, like concert, special event or sports tickets plus “Stay & Play” Packages at casinos around the state? – then just “Like” Arizona Player on Facebook and you could win one of several great ticket packages or even the Grand Prize - a 3 day 2 night getaway to an Arizona Casino! We will give 4 of these Grand Prize Packages away during this very special 20th Anniversary year.
Lots of terrific prizes will be given away every month. Our first Grand Prize Winner will be announced in the February issue of Arizona Player.
The lucky winner will receive a package that will also include Dinner and Breakfast for two and some other surprises. Trust me on this one - You’ll “LIKE” this prize, so get busy Now…Those of you, who are not Facebook friendly or don’t even use computer, Fear not – you can still win. Just send a 3 x 5 card with your name, address and Phone number to:
Arizona Player “I Like You” Contest PO Box 33393 Phoenix, AZ 85067 (There is a limit of 1 entry per person per month – limit 2 entries per address) In addition - the two most “creative” mailed in entries received before February 1st will each win $25 gift Certificates to a great family friendly Italian restaurant - the Olive Garden, ENJOY!
That first Grand Prize Package will include a 3 day – 2 Night stay in the spectacular White Mountains at the Hon-Dah Casino Resort and Conference Center – in the Lakeside-Pinetop area.
20 ARIZONA PLAYER January 2012
Here’s hoping that you go to Facebook ASAP and “Like” us...or as Dean Martin used to say (For nonFACEBOOK folks) “Just Keep those
cards and letters coming” - so that we can repeat what Sally Fields screamed at the 1985 Academy Awards “You like me, you really like me!” GOOD LUCK! Phil Scudella Publisher Arizona Player P.S. - Catch breaking casino news and entertainment updates every week in the Arizona Player sponsored PLAY pages of AZ Weekly Entertainment Magazine in nearly 1,000 locations in the Phoenix Metro Area!
bingo news & directory Happy Holidays with Big Bingo Win
PARTY BINGO AT HARRAH’S!
Mesa resident Vivian B. received an unexpected early Christmas present this holiday season when she won nearly $150,000 at Lone Butte Casino on Thursday December 22. The lucky winner was playing Lucky 7 Bingo when she hit the big jackpot. “What a blessing,” said Vivian about the win. The jackpot is a welcome gift for Vivian and will certainly make the holidays brighter. Lone Butte Casino offers Morning, Matinee and Evening sessions throughout the year in the state-ofthe-art 750 seat bingo hall. Games start as low $10. Lone Butte Casino is located at 1077 S. Kyrene Road in Chandler Visit wingilariver.com for more information.
“Boogie the night away” with hot music, cool prizes and lots of fun at Harrah’s new late night “Party Bingo” starting on Friday January 20th and then get ready to party on the 1st and 3rd Friday night at 11pm every month. DJ Alex Cortez from Symphonic Entertainment will lead the Bingo crowd in an energetic blend of “Party Music” in January and “80’s Music” in February. These special themed nights offer an extra chance to win prizes for those who attend in costume! Other ways to win include the best Friday Night Bingo boogie, Bingo Trivia, and door prize drawings – and don’t forget about the $2,500 in cash Bingo prizes too! Want to win some cool prizes? We will be giving some away, like t-shirts, daubers along with some very special prizes! Plus, our Friday Night Bingo players will receive $1.00 off beer and wine! Buy-in for only $10 on paper and $35 for electronic handheld bingo units. Sales begin at 9:15pm and the games will start at 11:00pm. Come Out and Play for great prizes, party music and fun! Visit HarrahsAkChin.com for more details and keep checking back for information on future themed nights!
Casino guest nets $148,524
22 ARIZONA PLAYER January 2012
Preferred Bingo Locations American Legion #29 6821 N. 58th Ave Mon & Thurs 6:30pm Wed 11:45am
Phoenix West Elks
5525 W. Colter Tues 6:45pm, Sun 12:45pm
Apache Gold Casino • Globe
5mi E of Globe on Hwy 70 Wed, Thur, & Sun @ noon; Fri & Sat 7pm Bingo Blowout! 1st Monday every Month,
BlueWater Casino • Parker Postal Worker’s Social Club 11300 Resort Dr 3720 W. Greenway Rd. Tues & Sun 6:30pm
Fort McDowell Casino
Fountain Hills Area Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri: 9am, 12:30pm, 6:30pm Tue: 12:30pm, 6:30pmSat. Sun: 6:45 & 9am, 12:30 & 6:30pm, Fri & Sat @ Midnight "Lunar Bingo" every 3rd Saturday @ Midnight
Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino
Daily 6:30pm
Casino Del Sol• Tucson
5655 W. Valencia Mini Sessions 11:30am & 1:30pm Matinee 2:15pm & Eves 7:15pm "Cosmic Bingo" 10:30 & 11:30pm every Saturday
Cocopah Casino•Yuma
15136 South Ave B Somerton Daily 1 & 6pm
Desert Diamond • Tucson 15406 Maricopa Rd 7350 S Nogales Hwy Daily 11:30am, 2:30, 3:30 Daily: 1:30 & 7:15pm & 6:30pm Party Bingo at 11:00pm on Mazatzal Casino• Payson 1st & 3rd Friday of the Month Hwy 87 at mile post 251 Mon-Thurs 12:45pm Lone Butte Casino Mon & Tues 6:30pm SanTan Loop202 & Kyrene Noon & 6:30pm Daily Paradise Casino • Yuma "B.A.D. Bingo" 450 Quechan Dr. (BingoAfterDark) Daily at 1 & 6pm Saturdays @ 11:30pm Vee Quiva Casino
51st Ave. 10mi. S of I-10 Daily: 12:30 & 6:30pm "Bingo Eclipse" every 2nd & 4th Saturday @ 11pm
Travel
The Far East…Valley - The Arizona Renaissance Festival Put your daily cares aside and escape to the Arizona Renaissance Festival, Feb 11 – April 1, located just east of Apache Junction on US Highway 60, near the Superstition Mountains. You will find life in the 16th century is festive and fun in a 30-acre medieval playground with five great attractions all rolled into one. There are twelve Stages of continuous live entertainment, each stage setting packed with a unique mix of comedy, music, and mischievous antics. Don Juan & Miguel brandishing whips and swords will have you laughing till your stomach hurts. The Ded Bob Sho is a real trip too - but you better think before you heckle this guy, or you’ll find yourself on stage as part of the act. Just some of the other hilarious acts include; Tartanic, The Tortuga Twins, Dextre Tripp – Rope Walking, London Broil – Jugglers on
Fire! Lord Franco – Master Hypnotist, Hey Nunnie- Nunnie, Sword Swallowing by Thom Selectomy, along with many, many more hilarious acts. Don’t miss the Outdoor Circus of acrobats & merrymakers, where you never know what will happen next, on stage or off. A Medieval Arts and Crafts Fair with over 200 storybook shops, charming tents, and carts plus artisan demonstrations of the fine skills of weaving, woodcarving, blacksmithing, glassblowing, pottery and jewelry.
Jousting Tournaments, three performances daily with armored knights on noble steeds challenging one another, re-create history’s original Super bowl bash. Be there for the Knighting Ceremony, fools court and Story-time with the Queen. A Day-Long Feast with hearty foods to satisfy your appetite plus beer and wine to quench your thirst. You can also make reservations for The Pleasure Feast
- a two-hour extravaganza! Savor six courses of fine food and drink with a side order of raucous live entertainment. Kids love the interactive games and people-powered rides: Da Vinci’s Flying Machine, the Slider Joust, Piccolo Pony - a rocking horse bigger than an elephant - the Dragon Climbing Tower, Castle Siege, a Maze, Archery Range and much more. One of the special features of the Festival is that entertainment takes place throughout the day right in front of your eyes on the streets of the village, as a costumed cast of 800 medieval commoners, knights and royalty celebrates a 16th century day of play. Hours: Every Saturday and Sunday, February 11 – April 1 including Presidents’ Day Monday, Feb. 20 from 10 am-6 pm. Advance discount tickets are available at Fry¹s or online - print at home. Prices are Adults, $20 and kids ages 5-12, just $10 Tickets at the gate are $2 more. Parking is FREE courtesy of FRY’S Food & Drug Stores. INFO LINE: 520-463-2700 or go to the website: www.RenFestInfo.com
ARIZONA PLAYER January 2012 25
Cover Story continued from page 8
This year, there will be Chili, Corn Bread and Salsa Cook-Off Competitions with People’s Choice Awards. (Contestants can prepared foods in advance - if they so choose) Come taste the goods and make a meal of it. Also, to raise money for one of the White Mountains’ No-Kill Shelters, there will be a Northern Pure-breed Dog Show, a “Mountain Mutt” Dog show and a Dog Weight Pull competition.
If you’ve never witnessed ice carving, this event draws a crowd like none other. There will also be live entertainment this year by Marble Heart (formerly Billy’s Gone). More than 500 people and their four legged friends (dogs are allowed with leash) packed the grounds last year, and stayed until the very end. The last event is the Dog Weight Pull competition, and you will find yourself cheering for your favorite canine contestant. All event registration forms can be found at www.wintergames.hon-dah. com or you can call any of these numbers: 928-369-7574, 928-369-7573 or 928-367-4290. So pack up the kids and friends, along with ski’s snowboards, toboggans, inner-tubes and warm jackets. Then, head to where the snow-filled fun is - at The 2012 White Mountains’ Winter Games! Hon-Dah Resort Casino and Conference Center is located at 777 Hwy 260 in Pinetop (3 miles south of Pinetop).
ARIZONA PLAYER January 2012 26
24th Annual Arizona
FEBRUARY 11th-APRIL 1st
Saturdays, Sundays & Presidents’ Day •10:00am-6:00pm NEW STAGE & STREET SHOWS
MUSIC • COMEDY • JOUSTING OVER 1000 COSTUMED CHARACTERS
FEASTING • GAMES • RIDES
OVER 300 ARTISANS AND CRAFTERS CIRCUS ENTER TAINMENTS 30 ACRE VILLAGE MARKETPLACE
INFORMATION (520) 463-2700 EAST ON HWY 60 PAST GOLD CANYON RESORT SAVE WITH VIP DISCOUNT TICKETS AT
ORDER TICKETS ONLINE!
RENFESTINFO.COM
Be a Fan and follow us on:
DAVID AT THE SNACK BAR
by David Ramsey
The Top Ten Films of 2010
1. Midnight in Paris
3. Drive
While in Paris with his fiancé and her family Gil goes for a walk at midnight and is mysteriously whisked to Paris in the 1920s where he parties with celebrities of the time. He returns the present every morning and before long he is wondering if he wouldn’t rather stay in the past. The acting is perfect, Woody Allen’s script and direction are inspired, it has a moral and it is funny. “Midnight in Paris” is one of those wonderful movies that will not only entertain you - it leaves you staring at the screen in awe.
Driver (Ryan Gosling) is a Los Angeles wheelman for hire, by day he does stunt driving for the movies but at night he is an amazing getaway driver with his own set of rules. The direction is mesmerizing with a slow thoughtful mood punctuated by shocking graphic violence that perfectly reflects Driver’s personality. The cast is outstanding and while not for everyone “Driver” is a heck of a film.
4. Crazy, Stupid, Love
Recently divorced Cal, who has only been with one ugo woman in his life, Hugo is an orphan has to navigate the who lives in the Paris single scene. Night train station of the after night he makes 1930s. His uncle disa fool of himself appeared leaving him in the same bar to keep the clocks until Jacob (Ryan wound and working. Gosling) can’t take When not scroungit any longer and offers to help him. Jacob is a ing for food he is master at picking up girls until he meets Hannah looking for parts to (Emma Stone) who is impervious to his charm. repair a wind-up “Crazy Stupid” Love is a smart funny romantic toy his father left comedy with great characters and a perfect cast. him. The station’s constable and many of the local merchants consider him a thief and he must cony eek with arilyn stantly keep a step ahead of them. Then with the Marilyn Monroe help of Isabelle, the granddaughter of a merchant, (Michelle Williams) he stumbles upon something amazing. “Hugo” is a comes to England to magical and awe inspiring film with the best 3D I co-star with Laurence have seen. Olivier in his latest film. She comes with her insecurities and her acting coach. She is dealing with her personal issues and is
2. H
5. M W
28 ARIZONA PLAYER January 2012
M
constantly late. Colin is new to the movie business and gets the job of making sure she is on the set on time. “My Week with Marilyn” is based on the true story of their friendship. While the acting is exceptional it is highlighted by Williams breathtaking performance.
6. Win Win Mike is the coach of the local High School wrestling team that hasn’t won a match and his business is doing just as well. When a client’s grandson, Kyle, shows up Mike and wife take him in. Kyle is a great wrestler and it looks like Mike is on a winning streak until Kyle’s mother shows up to wreck everything. The cast is perfect but it’s the script that makes this one of the best films of the year. “Win Win” is a wonderful film about family, responsibility and relationships..
7. The Way Tom learns his son, Daniel, died while travelling in Europe. Tom goes to France to bring his remains home. Once there he learns that Daniel died while walking the Camino de Santiago, an 800 kilometer trek also known as the Way of Saint James. Tom decides to complete the pilgrimage to honor his son’s memory and spread his ashes along the way. While walking Tom meets other pilgrims from around the world all dealing with their own issues and reasons for walking the Camino. ‘The Way’ is a wonderful, insightful experience for the entire family.
8. The Help It’s 1963 and Skeeter (Emma Stone) returns home from college to Jackson, Mississippi determined to become a writer. After watching how the servants are treated she thinks their stories would make a good book. It turns out that they have a lot to say. “The Help” is one of the best films of the year highlighted by great writing, wonderfully believable characters and amazing acting.
9. Super 8 Joe and his friends sneak out to the local train depot to film a scene for the monster movie they are making. Using an approaching train as a backdrop they continue to
film until suddenly the train is derailed throwing train cars everywhere. The next day the train wreck is big news, it turns out it was an Air Force train carrying important cargo. And something is missing from the train. This is a unique film that combines a sweet coming of age story with a thriller monster story and does it brilliantly. “Super 8” is a truly great movie that is an instant classic on the level of “The Goonies” and “E. T.”
10. Moneyball Oakland A’s lost General Manager, Billy Beane knows his small market team is not able to complete financially with the big dollar teams in the league. He defies conventions and the advice of the team’s experienced staff, scouts and his manager. The true story of how Billy Beane changed baseball by successfully putting together a winning team on a budget by employing computer-generated analysis of players is not your typical baseball film. Moneyball is an underdog story about fighting convention and believing in yourself.
Honorable Mention: (in alphabetical order)
The Adjustment Bureau, Arthur Christmas, The Artist, Captain America: The First Avenger The Guard, Hanna, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow, Part 2 Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, The Muppets, Rango, X-Men: First Class David Ramsey is the President and co-founder of the Phoenix Film Critics Society and a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (The Critics Choice Awards). Watch him on the CBS 5 Morning News every Friday around 6:20am and on ABC-15’s “Sonoran Living Live” every other Friday at 11am. Read his DVD reviews at WildAboutMovies.com. Contact him at David@ TheSnackBar.net.
ARIZONA PLAYER January 2012 29
ASTROLOGY & Joke Capricorn Dec 22 to Jan 20
Aquarius Jan 21 to Feb 19
Pisces Feb 20 to Mar 20
Jan 10–16 Jan 17–23 Jan 24–31 Feb 1–7 Jan 10–16 Jan 17–23 Jan 24–31 Feb 1–7 Jan 10–16 Jan 17–23 Jan 24–31 Feb 1–7
Here’s that lucky week Fun with family & friends Play favorite machine Exciting trip ahead WOW – what a week Take time for yourself Best friend is right Plan that big trip Strange weekend Safe but sure bet Good time & nice win Tough times ending
Aries Mar 21 to April 20
Cancer June 22 to July 22
Taurus April 21 to May 21
Leo July 23 to Aug 23
Scorpio Oct 24 to Nov 22
Gemini May 22 to June 21
Virgo Aug 24 to Sept 23
Sagittarius Nov 23 to Dec 21
Jan 10–16 Think before doing it Jan 17–23 Idea is a good choice Jan 24–31 Future is looking bright Feb 1–7 Stick to your convictions Jan 10–16 Jan 17–23 Jan 24–31 Feb 1–7 Jan 10–16 Jan 17–23 Jan 24–31 Feb 1–7
Old friend needs help Big WIN soon Persistence rewarded Things are looking up
Great attitude pays off In the nick of time First thought was right Trust is a must
Jan 10–16 Jan 17–23 Jan 24–31 Feb 1–7 Jan 10–16 Jan 17–23 Jan 24–31 Feb 1–7 Jan 10–16 Jan 17–23 Jan 24–31 Feb 1–7
Cards are the answer Take friends advice Best is yet to come Take pal with on trip Go with sure thing Cash windfall ahead Play late to win True love finally
Hunch pays off Interesting encounter Need direction change Timing is important
Libra Sept 24 to Oct 23
Jan 10–16 Jan 17–23 Jan 24–31 Feb 1–7 Jan 10–16 Jan 17–23 Jan 24–31 Feb 1–7 Jan 10–16 Jan 17–23 Jan 24–31 Feb 1–7
Try something new Out of town win Really strange week Why not give it a chance Bust out of your routine Relax with good friend You will be surprised Believe it will happen
Think positive, always Repair old friendship Rip roaring fun ahead Unexpected new friendship
Jokes of the Month As we celebrate our 20th Anniversary at Arizona Player – Here are just 2 of our readers favorite jokes over the past 20 years – Phil Scudella - Publisher
The Dilemma
Here’s your dilemma – You’re on a horse galloping at a constant speed…on your right is a sheer drop off – To your left is an elephant traveling at the same speed… Just ahead of you is a kangaroo that you seem to be unable to overtake…and behind you is a vicious lion bounding towards you! WHAT MUST YOU DO TO GET OUT OF THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION? Get your drunken ass off the Merry-Go-Round
CASINO DIRECTORY
1. Apache Gold Hotel Resort Casino • (Globe) San Carlos Apache Tribe–slots bingo & blackjack. (800) 272-2438 2. BlueWater Resort Casino • (Parker) Colorado River Indian Tribe–slots bingo blackjack & poker. (888) 243-3360 3. Bucky’s Casino • (Prescott) Yavapai–Prescott Indian Tribe–slots, poker & blackjack.. (800) 756-8744 4. Casino Arizona Talking Stick Resort • (Scottsdale) Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community–slots poker blackjack & Keno (480) 850-7777 30 ARIZONA PLAYER January 2012
The Helpful Husband Billy opened his eyes and saw paramedics kneeling around him in his bathroom. “What happened”? He was asked “Well, I must have fainted or slipped and fell” remarked Billy “What’s the last thing you can recall? Asked the medic “Let’s see” replied Billy rubbing the bump on his head…”I stepped out of the shower and began toweling my hair as my wife Jenny walked into the bathroom and looked into the mirror” then she said –“ Look at me Billy, I’m getting fat, I’m getting old and I’m getting wrinkled….I need a complement” So I said…”Well, honey, you still have great eyesight…. That’s the last thing I remember”
5. Casino Arizona @ 101 & McKellips • (Scottsdale) Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community– slots blackjack & Keno (480) 850-7777 6. Casino Del Sol • (Tucson) Pascua Yaqui Tribe–slots poker & blackjack (800) 344-9435 7. Casino of the Sun • (Tucson) Pascua Yaqui Tribe–slots (520) 883-1700 8. Cliff Castle Casino Hotel • (Camp Verde) Yavapai-Apache Nation–slots blackjack & poker. (800) 381-7568 9. Cocopah Casino • (Yuma) Cocopah Tribe–slots bingo & blackjack (800) 237-5687 10. Desert Diamond Casino Hotel• (Tucson) Tohono O’Odham Nation–Old Nogales Hwy slots keno bingo & poker (520) 294-7777 10a. Desert Diamond - I-19 • (south of Tucson) slots & blackjack. (520) 294-7777 11. Fort McDowell Casino • (Fountain Hills) Fort McDowell-Yavapai Nation–slots keno bingo poker & blackjack. (480) 837-1424 12. Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino • (Chandler) Gila River Indian Community–slots keno blackjack & poker. (800) 946-4452
13. Gila River Vee Quiva Casino • (Laveen) Gila River Indian Community–slots bingo blackjack & poker. (800) 946-4452 14. Gila River Lone Butte Casino • (Chandler) Gila River Indian Community–slots bingo & blackjack. (800) 946-4452 15. Golden Ha’ San Casino • (Why) Tohono O’Odham Nation–Slots 16. Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino (Maricopa) Ak-Chin Indian Community–slots keno poker bingo & blackjack. (480) 802-5000 17. Hon-Dah Resort-Casino • (Pinetop) White Mountain Apache Tribe–slots blackjack & poker. (800) 929-8744 18. Mazatzal Hotel Casino • (Payson) Tonto Apache Tribe–slots keno bingo poker blackjack (800) 777-7529 19. Paradise Casino • (Yuma) Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe–slots keno bingo poker & blackjack. (888) 777-4946 20. Spirit Mountain Casino • (Bullhead City) Fort Mohave Indian Tribe–slots. (888) 837-4030 21. Yavapai Casino & Gaming Center • (Prescott) Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe–slots (800) 756-8744