February 2014 by Arizona Player

I nside

Gaming•Entertainment•Travel www.arizonaplayer.com

this I ssue Card Room Action Casino Entertainment REEL REVIEWS “ Roll The Bones” Lottery has a “Lucky Life” Winner! Boyd’s Eye View "Taxing Situation" Vol. 22 No. 2 • February 2014

WWW.ARIZONAPLAYER.COM

Contents

Gaming•Entertainment•Travel PO Box 33393 • Phoenix Arizona 85067 • 602-373-8728 • azplayer@cox.net Editor Phil Scudella Production Assistants John Olson Graphic Design CommuniGraphics

Contributing Photography Kevin Cummings Ben Fernandez Anne Groebner Melody Hudson Ivan Karpen Shane Kay David Ramsey Kayla Weimer

Contributing Writers Linda Boyd Kevin Cummings Cindy Esquer Ben Fernandez Melody Hudson TJ Jorgensen Shane Kay David Ramsey Shanna Wolfe

Special Thanks to: Shane Kay, Ben Fernandez and the staff and management at the Apache Gold Casino Resort for all their help putting this “Legend of the Southwest issue together! 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.

Vol. 22 No. 2 • February 2014

Gaming News First “Lucky Life” Winner & 5 Million “The Pick” Winner

Boyd’s Eye View of Video Poker Linda Boyd “Enquiring Minds”

Cover Story Apache Gold Casino Resort “The Legend of the Southwest”

Reel Reviews Kevin Cummings Bally’s “Roll The Bones”

Blackjack Corner TJ Jorgensen “What Do You Expect?”

Arizona Lottery News "More Big Arizona Lottery Winners"

Card Room Action Table Game Information Around the State

Travel “The Far East Valley – Arizona Renaissance Festival”

Gaming News Desert Diamond Tribute Card & Julio Iglesias Concert

Entertainment Casino Entertainment State-wide

Joke of the Month New Jokes to Lighten Your Day

David at the Snack Bar David Ramsey "Movie & DVD Reviews"

Gaming News AAA 4 Diamond Award to Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino

Astrology, Bingo Games and Casino Directory

ARIZONA PLAYER February 2014 3

gaming news Millions of reasons to play THE PICK Persistence pays a dividend

An aerial view of one lucky place to live - The Lakeside/Pinetop area

The Arizona Lottery announced on February 4th that the winner of the $4.9 million The Pick jackpot from the drawing on January 25th has been claimed by a resident from Pinetop. The winner (who wishes to remain anonymous), purchased his winning ticket from the Safeway store located at 20 E. White Mountain Blvd. in Lakeside, Arizona and elected to take the lump sum option of $2,972,633 before taxes. The winner, who came to the Lottery office with his wife and two brothers, said he had been playing The Pick using the same numbers for 23 years! Those numbers included his birth date and time of birth. The winner said he had stopped playing a while ago, but decided to play his numbers one more time on his birthday–January 25. Those lucky numbers were 1-5-7-12-25-40

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“The Pick is Arizona’s own jackpot game, so it is always exciting to present a large check to our jackpot winner,” said Karen Bach, director of budget, products, and communications for the Arizona Lottery. “What an incredible birthday present!” The Pick costs $1 per ticket, and players choose six numbers, 1 through 44. Players win a prize for matching a minimum of three numbers. Ticket sales stop at 7:59 p.m. the nights of the drawings, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

First Lucky Life Scratchers Winner! The Arizona Lottery has announced that the first Lucky Life top prize Scratchers ticket has been claimed by a Gila Bend resident. Maria Guadalupe Gomez purchased her $1 Lucky Life winning ticket from Love’s Country Store, in Gila Bend, her ticket turned out to be a top prize winning ticket of $500 a week for 20 years! Gomez elected to take the lump sum option of $338,000 before taxes. Maria, who cleans offices for a living, purchased a Lucky Life ticket at each price point offered because she liked the idea of winning money over a certain period of time. When she scratched the $1 ticket, she woke her son up to tell him the news and had him double-check the

ticket. Gomez said this win will allow her to buy a house, which is a blessing for her and her family. “Lucky Life has been extremely popular with our players, since each price point offers the highest top prizes ever for Scratchers tickets in Arizona,” said Karen Bach, director of budget, products and communications for the Arizona Lottery. “We look forward to presenting more top prize winning checks to Arizona players in the coming months.” Lucky Life offers a full range of tickets, with a chance to win up to $5,000 a week for 20 years. Winners also can choose a lump sum option. The Lucky Life series includes a Second Chance Drawing for non-winning tickets, with a chance to win up to $100,000! Players must be 21 years or older to purchase or redeem tickets. Winners have 180 days from the drawing date to claim their prize at an Arizona Lottery office or by mail. Overall odds vary by game. All sales are final. In accordance with the ADA, these materials may be made available in an alternative format. Gambling Problem? Call 1.800.NEXT STEP (1-800639-8783) Please Play Responsibly Scratchers is a registered service mark of the California Lottery.

A BOYD’S EYE VIEW OF VIDEO POKER

A Taxing Situation

ebruary is a yin and even talked to people who keep big wins from their spouse, including their copy of the W-2G. When yang time of the tax time comes you’ll be stuck paying on your gamyear. Valentine’s bling winnings and won’t have a record allowing Day brings visions of you to write off your losses. sweets in heart-shaped by Keeping Records: Keep detailed records on big boxes and fragrant Linda Boyd wins and losses, especially if you play at scattered blooms, but it’s also the casinos while traveling - Of course you’ll want win/ time to gather bits of paper and grumble through loss statements from your main stomping grounds, what you owe Big Brother. I find that the faster but it’s impractical to get written statements from I collect all my income and deduction data the all casinos. I suggest that you buy a notebook or keep better I sleep. this information on your smart phone. If my iPhone If you live in Arizona you’re allowed to write off your losses against what you won. So, the only thing is either lost or stolen I’ll be in trouble, even though I you have to worry about is your federal returns. Here try to back everything on my home computer. Form 5754: Sometimes gamblers are sharing are some tips for helping you during tax time. either lottery tickets or jackpot winnings. If there Thresholds: If your game is either; video poker or are two or more in on the pool then nobody wants slots then you probably already know that you’ll get a W-2G form any time a single jackpot is $1,200 to be stuck paying taxes on the entire amount, so if you’re the one holding the hot potato make sure or more. A matching copy, of course goes to the you complete a 5754 form. You will only owe taxes IRS. If your game is keno then the W-2G is given on your share of the jackpot. for Jackpots of $1500 or more. If you wager on U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens: There’s both Pari-mutuel pools, including horse and dog races, your winnings are subject to withholdings, but only good and bad news for gamblers who reside in the if the amount is both more than $5,000 and at least United States - Although the withholding rate is only 28% that’s neither a maximum nor a mini300 times as large as the money bet. mum. If you keep good records you can subtract Casino Records: Almost every casino will gladly your losses from your winnings and only owe taxes send you a win/loss statement for the calendar on the difference. Also the laws may change from year; in fact many will offer you a free diary to record your own notes as a back-up. The important year-to-year, but if you’re a really big winner, say the lottery, then you could end up owing a lot more thing to remember is that they can’t send you than 28% or 30%. what they don’t have. So if you’re one of those Here’s players who erroneously believes a player’s card oker_1/3page_vp ad.qxp 10/12/09 12:31 PM Page 1 an example for a typical casino player. Let’s say you have a number of W-2G’s and they along with is keeping you from winning here’s another good your other winnings total $250,000. You also have reason to always use your slot club card. I have

losses of $235,000 throughout the year. The difference is $15,000 that you won and that’s what you must pay taxes on. On the other hand if you won $235,000 and lost $250,000 you just write the amount won and claim only the $235,000 in losses, even though you lost more. The IRS isn’t too sympathetic and they don’t care about how much you lost overall. Sadly, you can’t do any form of multi-year averaging when it comes to taxes. Remember this is the IRS and they want your money so if you over pay all is well; however, it’s a major problem if you somehow pay less than is owed. Non-Resident Aliens: If you’re a foreign citizen residing outside of the United States both the tax rate and thus the withholding rate are 30%. The IRS already knows that you’re unlikely to file a special US tax return so they make sure they get their money up front. So if you win $25,000 on video poker or a slot, the casino will deduct $7,500 from your jackpot and pay you $17,500. Be aware that you’ll probably be taxed by your own government as well. Because this is like a double whammy for gamblers some countries have signed treaties with the U.S. protecting them from paying twice. It’s important that you determine if your country has an agreement and what it says before you start playing. 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 free strategy cards for the most popular games. Look for her story in the current editions of “American Casino Guide” (ACG) and her YouTube videos, also with ACG. Second Edition of her book is available in both paperback and kindle.Available at amazon.com, bookstores, Square One Publishers. www.squareonepublishers.com or 1-877-900-BOOK

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.

6 ARIZONA PLAYER February 2014

cover story

The Legend of the Southwest!

Apache Gold Casino Resort is just a short, scenic drive from Phoenix or Tucson. This high-desert oasis has over 500 of the latest and hottest slot machines, blackjack, poker and Bingo. Enjoy the 147 room Best Western Hotel, a 60 space RV Park with full hook ups, the championship 18-hole Apache Stronghold golf course, an event Pavilion and the brand new Cutter Coffee Company coffee shop. And that’s just the beginning; you’ll have tons of fun playing the wide selection of the newest games on the casino floor, including more penny machines than anywhere in the state, in short – there is something for every player to enjoy at Apache Gold Casino Resort. Wait – Maybe table games are your passion. Then wait no longer, head for the blackjack pit, its open daily at 3pm, plus you can enjoy live poker too, Wednesday through Sunday beginning also at 3pm. If bingo is your game, their bingo hall recently upgraded to electronic games increasing your chances to win! And, as if all that wasn’t enough, there are huge promotions going on all the time at Apache Gold like the Win Sensation promotion where they’re giving away not one, but two brand new Jeeps. Their first winner (chosen February 1st) got to choose between a brand new 2014 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, a spectacular new 2014 Jeep Wrangler Sport, or a new 2014 Jeep Compass. The lucky lady who won chose the beautiful black Jeep Wrangler 4 Door Rubicon. The next grand prize winner will have a choice between the remaining two Jeeps. So, don’t get left behind, drive over to Apache Gold Casino Resort and get your entry in. You could find the exciting dilemma of driving one car over, and two cars back!

Of course, the experience doesn’t end with the gaming floor. Apache Gold’s Wickiup Buffet offers the best deal in the Southwest with an all-you-can-eat Seafood Buffet on Friday nights for just $12.99! New to the menu is an Asian Buffet on Mondays. This is your chance to try a little of everything Asian. Si what Tuesdays brings your taste buds. It’s a fabulous Mexican Buffet for just $7.99 (lunch) and $8.99 for dinner.Now, add in the All-American Buffet Thursdays and it rounds out the week with a different cuisine every time you come out. Sure, these buffets are terrific, but please don’t forget the scrumptious ham and eggs breakfast special that is always just $4.49 in the Apache Grill.Did we mention the newestaddition to the Apache Gold family? It’s the brand new Cutter Coffee Company coffee shop located in front of the Apache Gold Convenience Store. Open daily at 5am, the Cutter Coffee Company offers fresh roasted coffee, pluspastries and ice-cream. You don’teven have to get out of your car! Just driveright up to the window. What other excitement can you experience at Apache Gold Casino Resort? Well, just recently they had a crowd of over 3,000 people for the Chris Young concert held on January 17th in the Pavilion. A great time was had by all. More exciting events like this are in the works right now at Apache Gold - so there truly is something for everyone

cover story including golf – so players, bring your clubs and see why golfers love this championship18 hole championship golf course! A recent freshening of the Apache Gold Logo coincides with the upcoming new facility - Apache Sky.This new casino is located on…get this, on highway 77! South of Globe and North of Tucson The new Apache Sky casino is due to open in the Dudleyville area in early 2015. The temporary structure will be 25-30 thousand square feet with 400 slot machines, 12 gaming tables, 6 poker tables and a small restaurant and lounge. Construction will provide for 200 temporary jobs and the casino will offer 400 permanent jobs, plus millions of dollars in local economic benefit from employment, housing and retail.This new

Apache Sky casino will be a short 45 minute drive from Catalina, Oro Valley and North Tucson! Apache Gold Casino Resort lies just 5 miles East of Globe on Highway 70 in San Carlos Arizona. Stop in and see everything they have to offer. For more information, visit their website at www. apache-gold-casino.com or call them at 1-800-272-

2438. They’re open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Come out to see what all the Gold has to offer – It’s yours for the taking! Now, let’s add the excitement by giving you a chance to WIN a two night getaway to the Apache Gold Casino Resort. We will have 3 GRAND PRIZE WINNERS! Plus 20 runner-up winners will win some great stuff also! See below for all the details.

ARIZONA PLAYER February 2014 9

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TJ’s Blackjack corner

What Can you Expect?

k you have basic strategy mastered, you have learned to count cards, what realistiby TJ Jorgensen cally can you expect? If I randomly flip a coin there are only two possible outcomes, a head or a tails. On any given flip there is a 50% chance that a head will be the result and a 50% chance that a tails will be the result. So if I flip a coin 100 times your expectation is to get 50 heads and 50 tales, but the reality may be different, the measure of that reality is called “Standard Deviation”. Standard Deviation is a term used in mathematical probabilities to predict the outcome of an event. In our coin flipping trial of 100 flips you would expect to get 50 heads and 50 tails, but two-thirds of the time you will get between 45 heads and 55 tails or just the reverse, or something in between, and that would not be unusual. This would occur 68.3% of the time, that measurement is one standard deviation from the expected outcome of 50 tails and 50 heads. Simply put, if you did a thousand trials of flipping a coin 100 times and recording the results, most of your results would fall between 45 and 55 either way. What would be unusual is to get a lot of trials where the result was actually 50 heads and 50 tails. After you master card counting your long term advantage over the casino will be about 1.5 %. Even though you have an edge it is possible that in the short run your expected results may not be the actual results that you get. Just like in the coin flipping example, one would expect five tails and five heads, but what you get maybe a different result. The same holds true when playing Blackjack. Even though you expect to win everytime you play it›s just not going to happen. However if you play the correct way it›s not a question of if you will come out ahead but when. On average I win seven out of every twelve times that I play, which is good enough to show a profit year after year. If the expected outcome and the actual outcome of negative expectation games were always equal, there would be no gambling because the player would always lose, and a card counter would always win. Any game in the casino can be mathematically broken down and a house edge can be calculated. For example if a Blackjack Player plays perfect basic strategy at a six deck game the house has

around a .55% advantage depending on the rules. So the casino›s expectation is to make 55 cents for every $100 wagered. If the casino›s expectation was always equal to the actual outcome the player would never win, but thanks to Standard Deviation the player does win. sometimes. In fact if you do play perfect basic strategy you have a 25% chance of being ahead after playing 25,000 hands. To overcome the house edge on a six deck game you would have to count cards and use a 1 to 12 betting spread, so at a $5 table your bets would be between $5 and $60. If you played this way and played several hundred three hour sessions your average win would be $22.50, however, like getting 50 tales and 50 heads in our coin example it would be rare to get an exact win of $22.50 after three hours of play. Two-thirds of the time you would wind up somewhere between a win of $191 and a loss of $147.

DEALER SHOULD BUST WITH A BUST CARD Another misconception new players have is that when the dealer shows a bust card that they should bust most of the time. That’s not true. It may come as a shock to most players that the dealer will make their hand more often than they will “bust” no matter what “up” card they are dealt. Players that are of the opinion that the dealer should break most of the time when showing a six or less have an unrealistic expectation of the game. When the dealer doesn’t break when showing a small “up” card - you should expect it. This chart shows how often you can expect the dealer to “bust” given each “up” card.

Hand Value % Bust If You Hit 21 100% 20 92% 19 85% 18 77%

From this chart you can see why it is a “dumb” idea to double on hard twelve, or hit a hard seventeen. When hitting your hand of 14, 15, and 16, you can expect to bust over half of the time, so when you do, accept it as part of the game, and move on to the next hand. Just remember it is unlikely you will win every hand, and accept that losses are a part of the game.

Probability of Player hands You will often times hear Blackjack Players complain that they are getting “ugly” or “bad” cards, but actually you will get more “decision” hands than “pat” hands. The following chart will show you how often in the long run you can expect to receive each hand.

Two Card Count % Frequency Blackjack 4.8% 17-20 30.0 % 2-16 38.7% No Bust 26.5% TOTAL 100.0%

By knowing the probabilities in blackjack it gives the player a better understanding of the game, and a «realistic» idea of what to expect. Many players get mad when they don›t get a pat hand every time, or when the dealer doesn›t bust when showing an up card of six or less. In reality Dealer Up Card Dealer Bust % this is what you should expect to happen when 7 25.99% 2 35.30% playing. 8 23.86% 3 37.56% Just remember that the word «anger» is one 9 23.34% 4 40.28% letter short of the word «danger» and that defi10,J,Q,K 21.43% 5 42.89% nitely applies to blackjack. Keep your emotions out A 11.65% 6 42.08% of the game. Above all never get mad at the dealer, they are just dealing the cards, in fact most of Probability of the Player “busting” on a hit them are «rooting» for the player. I have seen many players who hit hard 17 against a dealer “up” card of a ten. The dealer will only have another ten in the hole once every 3 times, however you can see by the following chart that you will bust 69% or about two out of three T.J. Jorgensen has been a professional Blackjack player for over 20 years. He is well known for his live tournament times when hitting 17 making it a losing proposiplay and has competed against, and beaten, some of the tion. This chart will help you understand about top tournament players in the world. He has also won the prestigious World Series of Blackjack. His book, "Beating the how often the player will “bust” by taking a hit for Casino at Their Own Game," is available through his web each hand. site www.freewebs.com/tjsblackjackcorner or by e-mail TJ4justice1@msn.com

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17 69% 13 39% 16 62% 12 31% 15 58% 11 or Less 0% 14 56%

lottery news Superstitious….?Forget it!

$100,000 cup of coffee!

Who said Friday the 13th is an unlucky day? For Ramona Waltman of Queen Creek, Friday the 13th turned out to be a very lucky day when she decided to pick up the Arizona Lottery’s holiday Scratchersticket, Holiday Riches.. Ramona scratched the ticket and then took it to Quiktrip to see if she’d won. When the store clerk told her she’d won $100,000, she felt “shaky and blessed.” “My husband recently passed away. This money will help me pay my rent, utilities, and buy a few Christmas presents for my grandchildren,” said Ramona. When Ramona and her daughter claimed the prize at the Lottery office, she was still in shock and couldn’t believe this win happened at a time when she needed it the most. Ramona commented that the Lottery’s tagline is so true -- “You can’t win, if you don’t play.”The winning ticket was purchased at QuikTrip, 22185 S. Ellsworth Loop Road, Queen Creek.

Troy Bender, a Phoenix resident, went on his normal morning routine on December 30, buying coffee and a Lottery ticket at a local Circle K. He usually went with a friend from work and sometimes bought Scratchers tickets. This time, he went on his own and picked up a Holiday Riches Scratchers. He took the ticket to work, where he’s a maintenance worker, scratched it, and started to shake when he saw his $100,000 win. He checked the ticket “about 20 times” and called his friend to say, “Get here now so you can verify my ticket.” After his friend verified the ticket, they started to jump up and down and give each other high fives. Scratchers are not the only tickets Troy buys. He has been playing the Lottery for over 23 years and purchases Fantasy 5, Powerball, and Mega Millions, when the jackpot is high. Troy doesn’t realize that he purchased the last top prize ticket of Holiday Riches. He’s told everyone in his family and wants to use his winnings to purchase a truck for his son, who is in the military serving in Afghanistan.Troy purchased his ticket at the Circle K, located at 2524 West Thunderbird Road in Phoenix.

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CARD ROOM ACTION Apache Gold Casino 800-272-2438

Globe, AZ Dealing blackjack, and poker daily at 3pm

Arena Poker Room at Talking Stick Resort 480-850-7777

Scottsdale, AZ 3rd Annual Winter Poker Classic – Mar 15 thru 17 at 11:15 am

Ladies No-Limit Hold-Em Tournaments; – Mar 23, April 13 & May 18 at 11:15 am

Thurs, 7pm, NLHE - $40 buy-in, w/ one $20 re-buy Wed, 2pm – 8pm “High Hand of the Day” pays $50 at 8 pm also any straight flush pays $50 Fri – 4 of a kind pays $50 & Any Full House pays $15 Sat, 5pm – NLHE Tournament Sun – Spreading 2-8 Omaha Daily-“Aces Cracked” pays $40 and Royal Flush pays $200 Also dealing blackjack daily at 9am

Jack & Jill No-Limit Hold Em Tournaments; Mar 30, Apr 27 & May 25 Mon & Thurs, 11:15 am – Rebuy to survive, NLHE, $40 buy-in, $10 s/c - $40 re-buys (first 3 rounds) top 10% chop prize money Tues, Wed & Fri, 11:15 am – NLHE $70 buy-in w/ $10 s/c Tues & Wed, 7:15pm - NLHE, $115 buy-in w/ $15 s/c Sat, Mar 1, Apr 5 & May 3 at 11:15am – Big Stack NLHE – $300 buy-in w/$30 s/c (optional $15 dealer Add-0n) Sat, Mar 8, Apr 12 & May 10 at 11:15 am – “Super Bounty Super BIG Stack” NLHE - $200 Buy in w $25 s/c - $100 Bounties Sat Mar 22, Apr 19 & May 17 at 11:15 am – Turbo Bounty NLHE - $200 buy-in w/ $25 s/c Sat, Feb 22, Mar 29, Apr 26 & May 31 at 11:15 am – Last Saturday NLHE – $125 Buy in w/ $25 s/c High Hand Promotion (Monday thru Friday, 2pm – 10pm) $100 winner every ½ hour! Weekdays from 2am-10am “Aces Cracked” Win $100 rack Food Specials; $3 breakfast! (2 am – Noon) also $12 Prime Rib dinner Mondays & $15 Steak & Lobster dinner Thursdays (5-11pm)

Bucky’s Casino 928-771-6779

Also dealing blackjack 24/7

Casino Del Sol 520-838-6565

BlueWater Resort & Casino 1-888-243-3360

Parker, AZ Poker Room opens at 2pm, Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun and 4pm on Tues & Thurs Tues, 7pm, NLHE “Bounty” Tournament $35 buy-in ($5 bounties)

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Prescott, AZ Mon-Thurs, 2pm & 6pm - NLHE $40 entry w/$10 add-on, (top 3-5 cash) & top 5 earn points toward the $250 Player of Month award Mon – Thurs, 10am - NLHE $15 entry w/$5 dealer Add-on, House adds $10 per entry Sun at Noon – NLHE “Bounty” Tournament - $80 buy-in ($20 Bounties) Open Face Chinese Poker – 2, 3 or max 4 players to a table – you’re dealt 13 cards – an exciting fun game! Progressive “Aces Cracked” Sat 11am-11pm – increases by $50 each hour till hit Fridays, all day “Aces Cracked” wins a Rack “Random Rewards” Various times and days - see poker room for pay-outs Dealing blackjack 24/7 – Now playing “Texas Shoot Out” w/ Bonus jackpot and 3 Card Poker

Casino Arizona 480-850-7777

Scottsdale, AZ Dealing blackjack 24/7 Blackjack Tournaments: Tues, noon $1,000 added “Break at Noon” $ 50 buy-in Fri, 3 am - The “Great Late” Tournament, $25 buy-in Tucson, AZ Winter Poker League, Mon-Fri, 10 am $800 Guaranteed NLHE, $15 buy-in/opt $15 add-on (Championship tournament March 5) Snowbird Poker League, Sun & Wed, 7pm - $800 Guaranteed NLHE, $15 buy-in/Opt $15 add-on (Championship on March 5)

Thurs, 7pm - $5,000 deep stack NLHE, $ 100 buy-in no re-buys Sun 11am & Tues at 7pm - $1,500 Guaranteed NLHE, $45 buy-in – no re-buys Sat, 9am – Limit Omaha Hi-Lo, $15 buy-in, $5 re-buys + $5 add-on Mon 7pm & Sat noon – $1,000 NLHE - $35 buy-in Progressive high hands 24/7 – win up to $500 – see poker room for details

Cliff Castle Casino Hotel 928-567-7952

Camp Verde, AZ Mon-Fri, 10am - NLHE Shoot-out, $30 buyin, w/ no re-buys Wed, 7pm – $500 Added NLHE Tournament $40 buy-in, $5 re-buy Fri, 7pm - NLHE Shoot-outs, $ 150 added per table of 10 - $25 buy-in – no re-buys Sat, Noon – 1,000 added – NLHE $105 buy-in, w/ dealer bonus add-on (Bonus chips for early live play) All Week – Royal Flush pays $100 “Progressive Aces Cracked” wins $50 - $200 Also dealing blackjack 24/7

Cocopah Casino 800-237-5687 Somerton, AZ Dealing blackjack daily at 10am

Desert Diamond Casino Hotel 520-342-1810

Tucson, AZ Mon & Thurs at 9:30 am, plus Tues & Wed at 7pm $500 added NLHE – $35 buy-in (max 40 – 50 players) Feb 28 thru Mar 2 “Chicanos Por La Causa” Poker Tournament - $10,000 GUARANTEED 1st place! Qualify on Friday & Saturday - Finals on Sunday, $200 buy-in with $70 of each entry going to the charity. “Round Ball Splash Off”– Selected games (all U of A games) each week thru April 7th (Final Four) see poker room for payouts Daily – Any Royal Flush $200 Hold Em and $100 Omaha, Straight Flush $100 Hold –Em $50 Omaha Special Poker Room menu at ½ off regular prices Dealing blackjack 24/7 with new progressive side bet and 3 card poker side bet

Desert Diamond I-19 Casino 1-866-332-9467 Sahuarita, AZ Dealing blackjack 24/7

Fort McDowell Casino 480-789-4284

Fountain Hills, AZ Mon-Fri at Noon & Sun at 7pm - NLHE $ 30 buy-in - $20 add-on - No-rebuys Sat at 7pm & Sun at Noon - NLHE Deep Stack tournament - $50 buy-in w/ $20 add-on at the break Tues, Wed & Thurs at 7pm & Sat at Noon & 4pm - NLHE - $5 buy-in Mon & Fri, 7pm, NLHE - $60 buy-in w/ one $5 add on Sun, Jan 19, 10am - Ladies NLHE Poker Tournament – $60 buy-in w/ $10 dealer Appreciation for extra 5,000 in chips “Aces Cracked” 24/7 win $100 (between 8am-11am) next 4 hands splashed $50, (10pm – 2am) $100 plus next 2 hands splashed $50 “Easy way Jackpot” Aces full of tens beaten by Quads or better wins Jackpot! Dealing blackjack 24/7

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino 480-802-5138

Maricopa, AZ WSOP TOURNAMENTS ARE BACK! Win a WSOP Seat! Sundays at 5:30pm - $50 buy-in w/two $25 re-buys to win a $1,000 WSOP Event seat Mondays Starting at 7:30pm - $40 WSOP “Sit & Go” Tournament (no re-buys) starts whenever there are 10 players seated Winner of each “Sit & Go” wins a seat into the Sat & Sun Finals on May 17th & 18th Finals, to win a $10,000 WSOP Main Event Seat! (You can also qualify to win a free entry into this tournament with live play now thru April 30) see poker room for details Wednesdays at 7:30pm – Win a $1,500 WSOP Event Seat! $65 buy-in w/two $25 re-buys Tues, 7:30pm, Omaha H/L, $15 buy-in, $10 re-buys + $10 add-on Thurs, 7:30pm – NLHE, $10 Buy-in plus three $10 re-buys & two $10 add-ons Fri, 7:30pm - NLHE, $40 buy-in, no re-buys

Sat, 12:30pm – Deep Stack Bounty NLHE - $25 buy-in, includes bounty chip $5 dealer appreciation = $2,000 extra chips $1,000 Saturdays & Sundays! Just get a full house and receive an entry to win $100 starting at 11am – See poker room for details Aces Cracked - Black aces $100, Red Aces $50 & Mixed $25 (Bonus 9-10am & 2am-3am =3X payout, 10am-noon, mid-2am) Start-up special – first 6 players each day, $20 back after 2 hours of play Weekday splash pots at top and bottom of the hour all day – see poker for details Also dealing blackjack 24/7 – including “Push the bet”

Hon-Dah Casino 928-369-7555

Pinetop, AZ Mon, 6pm - NLHE “$25 Bounty” Tournament, $45 buy-in (no re-buys) Tues, 6pm - NLHE “Speed Shoot-Out” $15 buy-in (no re-buys) Sun - Thurs – Aces & Faces Cracked wins $25 – $150 cash – see poker room for details Wed, 6pm - NLHE, $40 buy-in (no re-buys) “early bird” chips available every day & double on Tuesday Thurs, 6pm - No Limit Omaha Hi-Lo, $40 buy-in (no re-buys) “early bird” chips available Fri, 6pm – NLHE Double Stack, $25 buy-in w/ $25 re-buy Sat, 4pm - NLHE, $30 buy-in, $10 re-buys + $10 add-on Sun, 4pm, Crazy Pineapple $30 buy-in, $10 re-buys + $10 add-on

Lone Butte Casino 800-946-4452

Chandler, AZ Dealing blackjack 24/7 – Now playing “Push your Bet” PAI GOW Progressive Jackpot was over $221,000 as of Jan 7

Mazatzal Hotel & Casino 800-777-7529

Payson, AZ Live Poker Wed –Sun at 10am, High Hands, win up to $250 Wed & Sun at 6pm NLHE Tournament, $ 50 buy-in no-re buys Sat at 3pm, NLHE Tournament, $25 buy-in – no re-buys Aces cracked “wins a rack” various times daily – Max 3 per day (see poker room for details) Mar 6 at 6pm, “Ladies Only” NLHE tournament - $25 buy-in Dealing blackjack 10am to 1am, with $3 games daily till 3pm Mon - 6pm, Blackjack Tournament $40 buy-in w/two $25 re-buys

Quechan Casino & Resort 1-877-783-2426

Winterhaven, CA Open Wed-Sun at 10am, and Mon, Tues at 1pm - spreading 4/8 Hold Em with a kill, 4/8 Omaha hi-low split with a kill also 2-4, 3-6 & 4-8 limit Texas Hold-Em, plus 1-3 & 2-5 No Limit Texas Hold Em Sat & Sun, 1pm NLHE Tournaments $40 buy-in $5, 000 Guaranteed Last Saturday of the month (Feb 22 & Mar 29) NLHE -$80 buy-in Thurs, 7pm NLHE Deep Stack - $80 buy-in

CARD ROOM ACTION

Dealing blackjack 24/7 - Special room rates for poker players

Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort 928-856-7244

Flagstaff, AZ Live Poker Mon-Fri at noon, Sat & Sun at 10am NLHE Tournaments, Tues ($50) & Thurs ($30) at 7pm – Also Sat ($15) & Sun ($50) at Noon “Aces Cracked” and “Faces Cracked” – wins $50 (Max 3 per day for each special) see poker room for rules $25 Morning and Evening “Splash Pots” daily at noon,12:30, 1pm,1:30pm,2pm, 7pm,8pm,9pm,10pm,11pm and Mid. Progressive “High Hand” & Progressive Bad Beat Jackpots – see poker room for payouts Dealing blackjack 24/7

Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino 800-946-4452 – Ext 1507

Laveen, AZ Wed, 7:30pm, NLHE, $15 buy-in w/ $10 re-buys & $20 add-on Sat, 11am - NLHE, $20 buy-in w/ $10 re-buys & $20 add-on Sun 11am - NLHE, $30 buy in$20 add-on Big Money Royals, Any Royal Flush wins $ 200 – Plus “Bonus Royals” Mon-Thurs “Super 77” Progressive Bad-Beat Jackpot – (Quad 7’s or better beaten) jackpot was over $76,000 at press time “ACES CRACKED” wins a rack, Mid – Noon with unlimited winners “Rack Attack” Mon-Fri (noon-4pm) $100 hot seat and $100 splash pot on winner’s table each hour

NBA & NCAA “Splash Pots” Select TV Games – See poker room for payouts Dealing blackjack 24/7 – with $5 games PAI GOW Progressive Jackpot was over $314,000 at press time

Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino 800-946-4452 ext 7375

Chandler,AZ Mon & Thurs Noon - NLHE, $30 buy-in, no re-buys - $150 added per table Tues & Wed, 7:30pm - NLHE Freeze Out - $50 entry fee w/ $10 optional add-on $1,000 added to prize pool Sun, 3:30pm, NLHE - $30 buy- in, $5 dealer add-on, $20 add-at the break & bonus chips for play before tournament “Super 77” Progressive Bad-Beat Jackpot – (Quad 7’s or better beaten) was over $76,000 at press time NBA & NCAA “Splash Pots” Select TV Games – See poker room for payouts “Aces Cracked” Win a Rack - Sun 11pm until Fri at 6pm “Rolling Cash Fever” Drawing every other hour 24/7, $100 min, increases by $100 if not hit Big Money Royals - Any Royal Flush wins $ 200 Any straight flush gets to spin the wheel – win up to $1,000 Food specials: ½ price poker room menu Also dealing blackjack 24/7 - including “Push your bet” PAI GOW Progressive Jackpot was over $314,000 at press time

CARD ROOM MANAGERS Please send updates to azplayer@cox.net

ARIZONA PLAYER February 2014 17

travel TRAVEL – THE FAR EAST….VALLEY You do not need a passport to time travel to the 26th annual Arizona Renaissance Festival & Artisan Marketplace Put your daily cares aside and escape to the Royal Faire, 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 thirteen 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, Bathos The Muse, London Broil, The Tortuga Twins along with many, many more! And don’t miss the all NEW act: Washing Well Wenches! This is an Outdoor Circus of acrobats & merrymakers, where you never know what will happen next, on stage or off.

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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 in the 5,000 seat arena. 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 one and a half-hour extravaganza! Savor five courses of fine food and drink with a side order of raucous live entertainment - Admission ticket and souvenir goblet is included with Feast price. 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, and the NEW ride: Steam Pirate’s Airship 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 2000 medieval commoners, knights and royalty celebrates a 16th century day of play. Hours: Every Saturday and Sunday, February 8 – March 30 including Presidents’ Day Monday, February 17 from 10 am-6 pm. Advance discount tickets are available at Fry¹s or online - print at home. Prices are Adults $22 and $10 for ages 5-12. Tickets at the gate are slightly higher. Parking is FREE courtesy of FRY’S Food & Drug Stores. INFO LINE: 520-463-2700 or go to the website: www.RenFestInfo.com

gaming news TUCSON CASINO OFFERS TRIBUTE CARD FOR VETS!

JULIO IGLESIAS AT TALKING STICK RESORT

Beginning February 3, 2014, Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment became the first Arizona casino to honor America’s veterans and active-duty military service members with a special Tribute Card that provides discounts, monthly free play, and annual free hotel stays! To qualify, guests just need to present a valid military ID and their Diamond Rewards card at the casino Rewards Center during signup. If you don’t have a Diamond Rewards card – it’s free to sign up for one. Tribute Card members will enjoy a variety of benefits and special offers. $10 in Free Play will be Automatically loaded onto their cards on the 1st and 15th of each month, with the initial offer available a for a Minimum of 10 days following signup. Tribute Card holders can also enjoy up to 12 complimentary hotel nights per year, based on availability. Finally, Tribute Card holders will enjoy a 10% discount at restaurants and gift shops and a 50% discount on tickets for concerts and events. More information on the Tribute Card is available at the Rewards Center. TreenaParvello, Director of Public Relations and Communications for the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, said “Our new Tribute Card is one way for all of us at Desert Diamond Casinos to give backto those whose service defends the lives and freedom of all Americans. We are proud to be the firstArizona casino to offer this special benefit to veterans and service members!” Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment with three locations in Southern Arizona (Tucson, Sahuarita,and Why), is owned and operated by the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, an enterprise of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Additional information can be found at www.ddcaz.com or by calling 866-DDC-WINS. Follow Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment on Twitter (@ DiamondCasinos) and on Facebook

For one night only, Latin superstar Julio Iglesias will perform in Talking Stick Resort’s Salt River Grand Ballroom on March 28.The experience will truly be unforgettable as the singer-songwriter engages the crowd and plays a collection of his greatest hits including “All of You,” “When You Tell Me that You Love Me,” “Nathalie” and “Abrázame.” After a car accident left him severely injured at the age of 20, Iglesias turned his focus to music, playing guitar and writing songs during his recovery. The pastime soon turned into a lucrative career as the Spanish icon would go on to sell more than 300 million records worldwide, record songs in 14 languages and distribute 80 albums. He has continuously proven himself as an innovator throughout his musical journey, setting two World Guinness Records for selling the most records in the most languages and title for Best-Selling Latin Artist of all time. Tickets for Julio Iglesias are on sale now. To purchase tickets for the Julio Iglesias concert, visit the Talking Stick Resort Box Office, call (480) 850-7734 or go to www.Ticketmaster.com. Call (480) 850-7777 or visit www.talkingstickresort.com for more information. Please note you must be 21 or older to attend.

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entertainment Apache Gold Casino Resort

(5 miles East of Globe on Hwy 70) 1-800-272-2438 Event Center: Feb 15th, The 2nd Annual Heart Breakers Ball featuring the Adonis Male Revue “For her eyes only” 50 Shades of men tour 2014 Cabaret Lounge: Free live entertainment on weekends

BlueWater Resort and Casino

11300 Resort Dr., Parker 1-888-243-3360 Amphitheater: Mar 22 – Kenny Rogers Special Event: The Leonardo Da Vinci Exhibition – Now thru April! Call for tickets and information Dig Lounge: FREE Classic Movies Mondays at 10am & Free popcorn Live bands featuring Classic 50s & 60s music - 2pm Mon & Thurs also 3pm Tues & Wed Deejay 8pm-2am Thurs thru Sun and Karaoke Mondays

Casino Arizona

101 at McKellips, Scottsdale 480-8507734 Showroom: Feb 21 & 22 – AEROMYTH (Tribute to Aerosmith) Feb 28 & Mar 1 – “WANTED” Bon Jovi Tribute Band Mar 7 & 8 – The Long Run (Eagles Experience) Mar 21 & 22 – Fortunate Son – (CCR Tribute) Mar 28 & 29 – L.A. Vation (Tribute to U2) Arizona Room Patio Grill: Mon – “Pure Country Night” featuring Jordan Benson w/ Heartlyn Rae Tuesdays– “Latin Fire Dance Night” w/ free lessons w/ AZTEX Band Wed & Thurs – Country music and dance instruction w/ Laina lee Bingo Hall: Fri & Sat at Midnight, L-8 Night Bingo! light show, music, dancing and fun!

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Casino Del Sol

5655 W. Valencia Rd. Tucson 520-8386506 Paradiso Bar: Free entertainment weekends and Tribute Bands every Thursday Event Center: Feb 14 & 15 – George Lopez Feb 16 – Tejano Valentine’s Day Dance with Las Fenix & La Diferencia Mar 1 – WFF MMA (Pascua Yaqui Fights VI

Cliff Castle Casino Hotel

I-17 at exit 289 in Camp Verde 1-800-381-SLOT Dragonfly Lounge: live music on weekends: Feb 14 & 15 – Sammy Davis, Feb 21 & 22 – Sneezy Boyz, Feb 28 – Robin Dean Salmon and the Blackbird Band

Desert Diamond Casino Hotel

7350 South Nogales Hwy, Tucson 1-866-332-9467 Monsoon Night Club: Live bands or DJ, Thurs – Sat “Boots & Beer Country Fridays” Feb 7 - Greg Spivey Band, Feb 14 & 28 – Tony Corrales Band, Feb 28 - Jack Bishop Band “Noches Caliente Saturdays” Angle Norteno (Feb 8), Los Centenarios (Feb 15) and Grupo Latido (Feb 22)

Desert Diamond Casino I -19

1100 West Pima Mine Road, Sahuarita 1-866-332-9467 Diamond Center: Feb 22 - Rodney Atkins Mar 29 - Ron White Apr 4 - Doobie Brothers Apr 12 - Rob Thomas May 3 - Gloria Trevi Sports Bar: NBA Sports on big screens along with Karaoke on Wednesdays, Swingin’ Tuesdays and Golden Oldies Ron White every Thursday, plus music w/ Fiesta and Desert DJs on Fri & Sat nights

Fort McDowell Casino

N of Shea off Hwy 87, Fountain Hills 1-800-THE-FORT Lucky 7 Saloon: Free entertainment on Fri & Sat – featuring; Furiuos George (Feb 7 & 21, Kenny G Project (Feb 8, & 28, Rhythm Edition (Feb 15) and Basketball Jones (Feb 14 & 22) Radisson Ballroom: Bingo Hall: Saturday, Feb 15 – Late Night Lunar Bingo w/ music, games & giveaways Outdoors: Feb 22 – The FREE Mega Yard Sale (7am – 1pm) with $1.99 Breakfast Buffet with free Fortune Club Card March 14 & 15 – Silver Car Auction Radisson Ballroom: Mar 15 – Little River Band April 4th thru 6th – Fort McDowell’s 30th Anniversary POW WOW – FREE Admission Updates – go to fortmcdowellcasino.com

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Resort and Casino 15406 Maricopa Rd., Maricopa 480-802-5000 THE LOUNGE: Feb 28 – Kenny Cetera’s CHICAGO Experience Mar 28 – The Grass Roots April 5 – Maggie Rose Wed, Noon – 4pm; Silhouette, Trio 380, Swing Tips and 60’s Bandstand Shows Thurs – Sat at 8pm w/ bands; JJ’s Band, Hamptons, AZTEX, Da Ventures, B Platinum Band, The Walkens Trio, Bandstand Shows 70s, Quantum, Western Fusion, Bella Donna, Orchestra Caliente and Cold Shott & Hurricane Horns For updates, go to harrahsakchin.com

Hon-Dah Resort and Casino

Highways 260 and 73, Pinetop 1-800-WAY-UP-HIGH Timbers Lounge: Free entertainment, Monday is Comedy Night, Tues-Sat, Live bands Conference Center: Feb 14 – “Heart Alive” Tribute to Heart OUTDOORS at the Festival Grounds Feb 21 thru 23 – The 12th Annual White

Mountains Winter Games featuring; Sled dog races, dog show, food, vendors of all kinds, music and hosted by Phoenix Radio Personality Dave Pratt

Lone Butte Casino

202 loop at the Kyrene exit – Chandler, 1-800-WIN-GILA Cascades Lounge: Wednesdays: Country bands (8pmMid) Desert Dixie, Davis Highway Band, Western Sun, Western Fusion & Marbleheart Thursdays: Polka Party (noon-3pm) w/ Sylvia’s AZ band, Barefoot Becky, Sam’s Band, Mat Hodek, Jim Busta and The Varitones Thursdays: Disco / Funk (8pm-Mid) featuring; STR8UP and JJ’s Band Fridays: Latin (9pm-1am) Saturdays: Top 40 / Dance (9pm-1am) Verona Chophouse: Saturday: Talia 5-9pm & Sunday: (10am-3pm) live Jazz brunch Buffet Bingo Hall: 11pm Fri & Sat - B.A.D BINGO w/ DJ “Rockin’ Rob” music, light show, bingo & giveaways

Mazatzal Hotel & Casino

1/2-mile S. of Payson on Hwy 87 1-800-777-PLAY www.777play.com Event Center: Feb 14 – Valentine’s Day –“HOT AUGUST NIGHT” (Ultimate Neil Diamond Tribute) Feb 25 – Native American comedian JR Redwater Apache Spirits Lounge: Feb 14 & 15 & Mar 14 & 15 – DJ Brent Feb 26 – Live music by Torres & Hendrix Mar 4 – Celebrate Mardi Gras with live New Orleans Jazz

Paradise Casino

450 Quechan Drive, Yuma 1-888-777- 4946 Sharky’s Bar: Live bands on weekends

Quechan Casino Resort

525 Algodones Rd, Winterhaven CA (5 mi West of Yuma) 1-877-783-2426 PIPA Event Center: Feb 28 – Paul Anka Mar 28 – Dwight Yoakam Sidewinders bar: Free weekend entertainment

Talking Stick Resort

Loop 101 and Indian Bend Road Scottsdale 480-850-7734 Talking Stick Showroom: Feb 14 – Raven’s Red Hot Valentine’s Day Ball Feb 19 thru 23 - LEGENDS in Concert

Apr 10 – Rob Thomas TSR Lounge: DJ Juma, DJ Theresa and others – Weekends Palo Verde Lounge: featuring Aaron Howard and Chuck Peterson Shadows Lounge: featuring Paul Wells or Tino Melendez Degree 270 Lounge: Thurs – Sat, live bands & Top DJ’s from the West Coast Orange Sky Restaurant & Lounge: Live jazz featuring Peter Ritz

Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort 22181 Resort Blvd (I-40 @ exit 219) Flagstaff (928) 856-7200 Casino Floor: Live entertainment every weekend George Thorogood & The Destroyers Mar 1 - George Thorogood & The Destroyers Mar 7 - Phil Vassar Mar 8 - Burt Bacharach Mar 14 - California Transit Authority (Featuring Danny Seraphine & Bill Champlin of CHICAGO) Mar 22 - Michael McDonald Apr 5 - The Mavericks May 8 - Thunder From Down Under (Male revue) Grand Ballroom: Feb 22 – King of the Cage: Radar Lock Watch fights live! Mar 15 – PFX - The Pink Floyd Experience Mar 22 – Michael McDonald

Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino

The West Valley Casino 51st Ave, 4 miles S. of Baseline – Laveen 1-800-WIN-GILA Event Center: Feb 14 – Jo Dee Messina

Mar 15 – Under a Blood Red Sky (U2 Tribute) Mar 28 – The Piano Man (Tribute to Elton John & Billy Joel) Outdoor Patio: Live Bands (Mon-Fri, 4pm-7pm) Reality band, Latino Rebel Band, Marty & the Party, Michael & Manuel, Yumi La Rose, Pima Express, Lobo, Powerdrive, Mariachi Rodriquez, Eagleheart, John Eric band, Chaka & friends, Arroz Con Mango Band, mariachi Pasione, and Tyrone D & The Ledge - Watch Football on the BIG Screens, Monday & Thursday Nights, plus Saturdays & Sundays all day Bingo Park: Every Saturday at 11pm – BINGO ECLIPSE – Bingo, DJ music, light show & giveaways

Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino I-10 at Wild Horse Pass exit - Chandler 1-800-WIN-GILA Ovations LIVE! Showroom:

gaming news entertainment Apr 11 – SOS Band, Zapp band and Klymaxx Apr 12 – Comedy Legends CHEECH & CHONG Apr 26 – The Living Color Comedy Tour with Tommy Davidson and David Alan Grier AIRIA – “Nightlife Unplugged” live entertainment – Fridays featuring JJ’s Band, Static, Smooth Groove and Shining Star, plus deejays on Saturdays: DJ BKNY, DJ Identaty, DJ Raya, DJ Nerd, & DJ Raia, Encore Lounge: Mid-day entertainment Monday’s 11am-3pm & late night entertainment w/ bands; Powerdrive, Hamptons, Andrea & Los Guys, Str8up, Michael & Manuel, Yuvonne Brooks Quartet, Smoke Stack Lightning, Shining Star, JJ’s Band, The Walkens, Chaka and Friends, New Frequency, Smooth Groove, Eagleheart, Rhythm Edition, Pima Express & Route 66

Yavapai Casino

1505 East Hwy 69 – Prescott 1-800-756-8744 Yavapai Cantina: Fri – Karaoke w/ Cruisin’ Susan, Saturdays – Live Bands

Paul Anka

Little Joe y La familia

Julio Iglesias Mar 28 – Julio Iglesias

Feb 15 – Little Joe y La familia Feb 21 – “One Gun – One Love” Tribute to Bob Marley Feb 22 – UFC 170 – Rousey vs McMann Mar 7 – Comedy Series w/ Angle Ace Guillen & Jill Bryan

Feb 14 – Paul Anka Feb 15 – The Temptations, Feb 21 – Rodney Atkins Feb 22 – Vietnamese Lunar New Year Concert & Dance Feb 28 – Carlos Mencia Mar 7 – Merle Haggard Mar 8 – Ho’ Okena, Mar 14 – MC Hammer Mar 22 – Bobby Vinton Mar 23 – Kenny Rogers Mar 28 – Comic Ron White Apr 4 – Zucchero

Carlos Mencia

ARIZONA PLAYER February 2014 23

Joke page Golden Moments

Joke of the Month

In the dim and distant past When life’s tempo wasn’t so fast, Grandma used to rock and knit, Crochet, tat and baby sit.

Grandma was telling her granddaughter Greta what her own childhood was like:

When the kids were in a jam, They could always call on Gram. But today she’s in the gym exercising to keep slim.

We had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a huge tree in our back yard and we could swing all the way over the creek behind us.

She’s checking the web or surfing the net, Sending some e-mail or placing a bet. Nothing seems to stop or block her, Now that Grandma’s off her rocker.

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“We used to ice skate outside on a frozen pond all winter.

We rode ponies everywhere, picked wild raspberries in the woods, and in the summer, our Girl Scout troop used to camp out under the stars!” Her 6 year old granddaughter was wide-eyed after listening – then said “Grandma, I sure wish I’d known you sooner!’”

DAVID AT THE SNACK BAR The Lego Movie There is something wrong in Lego Town. Everyone seems to be happy but the evil Lord Business has a plan to end the Lego world as we know it. Emmet, a completely ordinary Lego mini-figure, is mistaken for a master by David Ramsey builder and recruited to join the underground movement to overthrow Lord Business. All the Lego characters are here including Batman, Superman, Iron Man and many of the older characters like Shaq. There are a lot of laughs with many quick one-liners and the animation is spectacular. I loved “The Lego Movie” until the live action “After School Special” ending.

David’s Video Details Gravity

When a disaster destroys their shuttle in orbit two American astronauts are left drifting in space. Matt is a seasoned veteran with a jet pack but Ryan is a scientist on her first mission. Matt has to find Ryan who is floating powerless deeper into space but first he has to keep her calm. Even if he can get to her how will they get back to Earth? “Gravity” is an edge of your seat thriller. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney are both at the top of their game and the special effects are amazing. On my list of the Top Ten Films of 2013

Nebraska

RoboCop In 2028 the US is using robot enforcers to keep peace in trouble spots around the world but strong legislation keeps them off American streets. The President of OmniCorp, the maker of the law enforcement robot, comes up with the idea of human-

Woody, an aging drunk, wants to travel from Montana to Nebraska to collect the million dollars he thinks he has won even if he has to walk there. After being brought back home a few times by the police his son agrees to drive him to Nebraska. Bruce Dern is perfect as the cantankerous Woody while June Squibb steals every scene she is in as his long-suffering wife. The road trip turns out to be something no one will ever forget. “Nebraska” is funny and touching, a brilliant film. On my list of the Top Ten Films of 2013

Thor: The Dark World izing them. Alex Murphy is a Detroit cop who is critically wounded and becomes the first RoboCop. He cleans up the streets up at what cost? Very slow at the beginning, manipulative and political this remake pales in comparison to the original, which was no masterpiece.

An ancient evil has returned. The Dark Elves ruled the universe before Odin’s grandfather defeated them many eons ago but now they are back and more powerful. After the Dark Elves and their leader, Melekith, attack Asgard. Thor must free the imprisoned Loki and unite with him to defeat them. Of course, everything leads to a show down on Earth and Thor must save Jane and the Universe. “Thor: The Dark World” is the better of the two Thor films, it has lots of action, some romance and just the right amount of special effects 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 his reviews on the CBS 5 Morning News every Friday between 5:30 and 6:30am and on ABC-15’s “Sonoran Living Live” every other Friday. Read more of his DVD reviews at WildAboutMovies. com. Contact him at David@TheSnackBar.net.

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gaming news AAA Four Diamond Awarded to Wild Horse Pass

Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino has been awarded the esteemed AAA Four Diamond Award. By meeting strict criteria measuring all aspects of service and amenities, Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino has proven to be among the top hotel properties in Arizona and has earned the award for a third year. “We are honored to be awarded this prestigious designation,” said General Manager, Michael Olujic. “The team here at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino has diligently worked hard since our opening to provide the best guest experience in the valley with the highest quality amenities. This recognition shows that tremendous effort has not gone unnoticed.” The AAA Diamond Rating process is North America’s premier hotel rating program. The program provides one of the industry’s most reliable ratings to guide lodging decisions for vacationers and business travelers in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. This is measured by the degree of hospitality, service, amenities and attention to detail a property offers its guests. The system provides hotel guests with a quick and dependable rating on service levels at thousands of hotel properties both locally and internationally. “AAA developed the Diamond rating system more than 75 years ago as a travel resource. It is one of the only rating systems that include on-site evaluations by anonymous inspectors,” said Linda Gorman, Communications

28 ARIZONA PLAYER February 2014

and Public Affairs Director for AAA Arizona. “Earning a Five or Four Diamond Award is one of the highest accolades in the travel industry.” Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino is one of three casinos owned and operated by the Gila River Indian Community. Opened in October of 2009, the property includes 990 slot machines, 71 table games, 242 modern hotel rooms, over 12,000 square feet of conference space, 7 dining options headlined by Arizona’s only Shula’s Steak House, and a 1,400 seat showroom. Gila River Gaming Enterprises, Inc. operates three Arizona casinos owned by the Gila River Indian Community including Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, Lone Butte Casino, and Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino. All three casinos offer a combination of slots, table games, bingo, poker and hotel and are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Additional information on these and other events is available by calling 1-800946-4452, or on our website at www.wingilariver.com.

ASTROLOGY, Bingo & Casino directory Aquarius Jan 21 to Feb 19

Taurus April 21 to May 21

Leo July 23 to Aug 23

Scorpio Oct 24 to Nov 22

Pisces Feb 20 to Mar 20

Gemini May 22 to June 21

Virgo Aug 24 to Sept 23

Sagittarius Nov 23 to Dec 21

Cancer June 22 to July 22

Capricorn Dec 22 to Jan 20

Feb 10–16 Feb 17–23 Feb 24–28 Mar 1–7 Feb 10–16 Feb 17–23 Feb 24–28 Mar 1–7

Unexpected windfall Flop stuns everyone Big surprise coming Best time in ages

Working hard pays off Big excitement ahead Persistence earns reward Great time with new friend

Aries Mar 21 to April 20

Feb 10–16 Feb 17–23 Feb 24–28 Mar 1–7

Profitable adventure Fun time with friend Why not try it? Lucky place due to hit

Phoenix Metro Bingo Games

Casino Arizona 101 & McKellips Daily: 7pm (early birds: 6:30pm) Sat & Sun Matinee: 1pm (early birds: 6:30pm) Fri & Sat: Midnight - L8 Nite Games! Bingo, Music, Lights, Dancing & FUN Fort McDowell Casino Fountain Hills Area Mon,Wed,Thu,Fri: 9am,12:30pm, 6:30pm Tue: 12:30pm, 6:30pm Sat. Sun: 6:45& 9am,12:30 & 6:30pm, Fri & Sat: Midnight 3rd Sat of each month at Midnight "Lunar Bingo"

Feb 10–16 Feb 17–23 Feb 24–28 Mar 1–7 Feb 10–16 Feb 17–23 Feb 24–28 Mar 1–7 Feb 10–16 Feb 17–23 Feb 24–28 Mar 1–7

Take that earned trip Nice dinner and a winner Careful – use your head Friend wins and so do you

You get it right Forget the past! Pleasure filled weekend WOW – dream happening

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino 15406 Maricopa Rd Wed-Sun: 11:30am, 2:30, 3:30 & 6:30pm Lone Butte Casino SanTan Loop202 & Kyrene Daily: Noon & 6:30pm "B.A.D. Bingo" (Bingo After Dark) Fri & Sat: 11:30pm Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino 51st Ave. 10mi. S of I-10 Daily: 12:30 & 6:30pm "Bingo Eclipse" 2nd & 4th Sat 11pm

CASINO DIRECTORY a

1. Apache Gold Hotel Resort Casino • (Globe) San Carlos Apache Tribe-slots bingo & blackjack & Entertainment (800) 272-2438 2. BlueWater Resort Casino • (Parker) Colorado River Indian Tribe-slots bingo blackjack poker & Entertainment (888) 243-3360 3. Bucky’s Casino • (Prescott) Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe-slots, poker & blackjack (800) 756-8744 3a. Yavapai Casino & Gaming Center • (Prescott) Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe-slots & Entertainment (800) 756-8744 30 ARIZONA PLAYER February 2014

Fun memories this week More fun than expected Good things happen Play smart on the tables

Feb 10–16 Feb 17–23 Feb 24–28 Mar 1–7 Feb 10–16 Feb 17–23 Feb 24–28 Mar 1–7

Luck is holding up Promotion on the horizon Best is yet to come Stick with your decision Cards flop in your favor Promise kept brings $$$ Dream is nearly a reality Wild time all weekend

Libra Sept 24 to Oct 23

Feb 10–16 Feb 17–23 Feb 24–28 Mar 1–7

Fun is just beginning Unexpected visit from past Lucky is your new name They will be stunned

Statewide Bingo Games

Apache Gold Casino • Globe 5mi E of Globe on Hwy 70 Wed, Thu, & Sun: Noon; Fri & Sat: 7pm Bingo Blowout! 1st Mon: 7pm BlueWater Casino • Parker 11300 Resort Dr Sun 1:30pm, Mon-Thu 6:30pm Special Sessions:Birthday Bingo Call for Details Casino Del Sol • Tucson 5655 W. Valencia Mini Sessions: 11:30am & 1:30pm Matinee: 2:15pm Eves: 7:15pm

4. Casino Arizona Talking Stick Resort • (Scottsdale) Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community-slots poker blackjack Keno & Entertainment (480) 850-7777 5. Casino Arizona @ 101 & McKellips • (Scottsdale) Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community-slots bingo blackjack Keno & Entertainment (480) 850-7777 6. Casino Del Sol Resort • (Tucson) Pascua Yaqui Tribe-slots bingo poker blackjack & Entertainment (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 & Entertainment (800) 381-7568 9. Cocopah Casino • (Yuma) Cocopah Tribe-slots bingo blackjack & Entertainment (800) 237-5687 10. Desert Diamond Casino Hotel• (Tucson) Tohono O’Odham Nation-Old Nogales Hwy slots keno bingo poker & Entertainment (520) 294-7777 10a. Desert Diamond - I-19 • (south of Tucson) slots blackjack & Entertainment (520) 294-7777 11. Fort McDowell Casino • (Fountain Hills) Fort McDowell-Yavapai Nation-slots keno bingo poker blackjack & Entertainment (480) 837-1424 12. Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino • (Chandler) Gila River Indian Community-slots keno blackjack poker & Entertainment (800) 946-4452

Feb 10–16 Feb 17–23 Feb 24–28 Mar 1–7 Feb 10–16 Feb 17–23 Feb 24–28 Mar 1–7 Feb 10–16 Feb 17–23 Feb 24–28 Mar 1–7

You meet good luck charm Plan needed trip now Unexpected pleasure Trust yourself – it will work Help comes in strange way Late night excitement Right place – right time A well deserved rest Health is improving Terrific trip coming Nice visit from friend Never expected this win

Cocopah Casino•Yuma 15136 South Ave B Somerton Daily: 1 & 6pm Desert Diamond • Tucson 7350 S Nogales Hwy Daily: 1:30 & 7:15pm Mazatzal Casino• Payson Hwy 87 at mile post 251 Mon-Thu: Noon Tue & Thu: 6:30pm 1st Thu & 3rd Tue: 6:30pm Double Payouts all night! Paradise Casino • Yuma 450 Quechan Dr. Daily: 1:30 & 6pm

13. Gila River Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino • (Laveen) Gila River Indian Community-slots bingo blackjack poker & Entertainment (800) 946-4452 14. Gila River Lone Butte Casino • (Chandler) Gila River Indian Community-slots bingo blackjack & Entertainment (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 & Entertainment (480) 802-5000 17. Hon-Dah Resort-Casino • (Pinetop) White Mountain Apache Tribe - slots poker & Entertainment (800) 929-8744 18. Mazatzal Hotel Casino • (Payson) Tonto Apache Tribe - slots bingo poker blackjack & Entertainment (800) 777-7529 19. Paradise Casino • (Yuma) Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe - slots bingo.& Live Entertainment (888) 777-4946 19a Quechan Casino Resort • (Winterhaven, CA) Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe - slots table games poker & Entertainment 20. Spirit Mountain Casino • (Bullhead City) Fort Mohave Indian Tribe-slots (888) 837-4030 21. Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort • (Flagstaff) Navajo Nation - Slots, Table Games, Poker, Keno & Entertainment