http://www.ddcaz.com/

http://www.playqcr.com/

04 EDITOR’S NOTE

06 PLAYERS TALK

09 GREAT GAMES

14 WINNING WAYS

16 GAMING NEWS

21 FUN FACTS

22 FEATURE STORY

24 CASINO DINING

26 TRIBAL NEWS

28 TRAVEL

30 CASINO ENTERTAINMENT

32 CASINO NIGHTLIFE

34 FUN & GAMES

35 SAMI’S SMACKDOWN

36 CASINO BINGO DIRECTORY

38 CASINO DIRECTORY

DEPARTMENTS

azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 03

KONAMI, ARISTOCRAT,

BALLY & WMS’ HOT SLOTS

We break down where all the differ-

ent slots are and give you the inside

scoop on game play!

DESERT DIAMOND CASINO

& MULTIMEDIA GAMES

In August, they’ll be the first casino

in the state to install the Class III

versions of these popular slots!

POKER TOURNAMENT

PREPARATIONS

How to max your edge while get-

ting ready for poker tournaments

around the state.

2222

1414 1010 0909

Contents AUGUST

GOING GREEN AND GIVING

BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

Alexandra

VOLUME 04 • ISSUE 08

PUBLISHER

Chris Hoft

chris@azgamingguide.com

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Elizabeth Torma

liz@azgamingguide.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Alexandra Lang

editor@azgamingguide.com

ART DIRECTOR

Melanie Mueller

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Ramses Ja

Mark Novak

Alex Stewart

Samantha Becker

Lana Hartmann

ADVERTISING SALES

Nina Consiglio

nina@azgamingguide.com

Elizabeth Torma

liz@azgamingguide.com

MAILING INFORMATION

Arizona Gaming Guide

P.O. Box 20636

Mesa, Arizona 85277

INTERNET INFORMATION

www.azgamingguide.com

www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide

Copyright © 2012 The Arizona Gaming Guide.

All rights reserved.

The Arizona Gaming Guide (AGG) presents casino industry and

gaming related facts as well as personal opinions and expects the

reader to make his or her own decisions. All responses to reader

posts, e-mails and letters are to be considered as advice only. AGG

accepts no responsibility and no liability for any actions of our

readers based on the articles and advertisements presented within

this publication. All pictures, images, logos, trademarks and trade

names, etc. are the sole property of their respective owners.

You must be 21 or older to gamble. Please play responsibly.

Help is available at 1.800.NEXT.STEP or problemgambling.az.gov.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Your Authority On Everything Gaming

Arizona’s State Gaming Regulatory Agency:

Arizona Department of Gaming

1110 W. Washington Street, Suite 450, Phoenix, 85007

1.602.771.4263 or azgaming.gov

Tribal Gaming Funded Problem Gambling Resource:

Office of Problem Gambling

1.800.NEXT.STEP or 1.800.639.8783

1110 W. Washington Street, Suite 450, Phoenix, 85007

1.602.542.8998 or problemgambling.az.gov

04 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com

“Like” us on Facebook because

we “Like” you too!

www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide

No Dog Days of Summer for Us!

Wow! According to the Chinese Zodiac, we are in the year of the Dragon and we

are supposed to expect growth. Let me tell you—we are! No boring Dog Days of

Summer for the team here at the AZ Gaming Guide. Our Facebook fan page keeps

growing and growing, our publication continues to evolve with new sections at

our readers’ requests, our e-newsletter has more exclusive content, we keep giving

away gas cards, prizes, concert tickets, and more through Facebook and our web-

site, we are receiving more and more information from all of our casino contacts

and sources every day that we can’t wait to share with you, and all indications

point to Arizona becoming a slot machine battleground because of all the new

games scheduled to arrive in the next few months. I couldn’t be happier with the

direction our publication is headed in and we have our readers, fans, and adver-

tisers to thank for that!

Please visit us at: www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide, become part of our com-

munity and share your thoughts and experiences with others who also love the

same casino games you do. You can sign up for our e-newsletter and find current

and back issues of AZ Gaming Guide on our website at www.azgamingguide.com. Let

me know what you think of our August issue and have fun!

Cheers!

Alexandra Lang

Editor-in-Chief

editor@azgamingguide.com

http://www.buckyscasino.com/

PLAYERS TALK Q&A On Everything Gaming

06 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com

FREQUENTLY ASKED SLOT QUESTIONS

Q: Whenever I leave a machine, somebody else sits

down and hits something after me. It’s so annoying. I

get so mad by this that it’s hard for me to even have fun

after I see somebody else win [on a machine] I was

playing. I feel like it should have been mine!

Maria Ramos – Yuma, AZ

A: Maria, first of all, once you leave a machine NEVER look

back because it’s really not worth the frustration. The likelihood

that you and the person playing after you would have pressed

the spin button at the exact same millisecond is very unlikely.

The random number generator (RNG) is constantly shuffling

through all possible combinations and is perpetually doing so

even when the machine is not being played. The RNG stops on

a combination only when the player presses the “Spin” button.

Just consider that the RNG can go through 100,000 or more

combinations in just one second! Now, imagine reaching into a

bag of 100,000 balls and grabbing the exact same “winning”

ball as the other person. That’s nearly impossible!

Q: Casinos are constantly taking out the games with the

big progressive money after it has been climbing and

climbing. I’m just wondering what happens to that

money? They shouldn’t be able to just remove a bunch

of games just right before one of them will hit. Seems

unfair.

Fred Wilkins – Tucson, AZ

A: Fred, all player contributions towards progressives have to

be returned to players in some way. This is regulation and part

of the Arizona Tribal State Gaming Compact. If a slot machine

manufacturer were to shut down an entire wide area network of

games (the Wheel of Fortune progressives for example), they

wouldn’t be able to! They’d have to keep at least one machine

running until the jackpot was hit. Then they could shut down

the machine and remove it. However, if they were to install a

new network of games, the money would roll over from the old

games to the new games. Ultimately, even if it isn’t a wide-area

jackpot progressive hosted by a slot manufacturer, but rather an

in-house progressive, the casino is still obligated to distribute

all the money onto other progressive games in the casino!

ASK THE EXPERTS and get a $25 gas card if we decide to print your question! Do you have a question for our staff of casino gaming industry professionals and slot experts? Write us with your questions

and comments in any area of gaming and we will make every attempt to publish a response in upcoming issues. Space is

limited so we are unable to print every letter or e-mail we receive. Please include your name and mailing address with all

correspondence. Mail to: Arizona Gaming Guide PO BOX 20636 Mesa, AZ 85277 or E-mail to: editor@azgamingguide.com.

Q: When I have to pick something in a bonus to get

credits, I always seem to pick the lowest amount or I’ll

pick the box that will end the bonus right away. Is that

bad picking or is it just set up that way?

Margaret Hobbs – Glendale, AZ

A: Margaret, we can make a large generalization and identify

two types of slot bonuses that involve player choice. The first

type of bonus is where you’re able to see what was behind all

the items when the bonus is over and the second type is where

only your pick is revealed at the completion of the bonus. Here’s

how you can tell the difference: In the first type of bonus, the

slot randomly picks and assigns bonus wins to the items that

are displayed on screen and waits for you to choose from the

options available. Afterwards, the values assigned to all of the

objects are revealed at the conclusion of the bonus. During this

type of bonus your pick DOES matter. If you pick the treasure

chest with 100 credits but the one right next to it showed 1000

credits, well then, that’s what your bonus win could have been!

On the other hand, if you’re playing a game that has what is

called in the industry a “predetermined bonus,” the slot has

already picked and assigned the bonus win for you. The game is

just waiting for you to touch the screen so the computer can

display the animation for your win. Once you make your selec-

tion, the other values behind the objects are not revealed at the

conclusion of the bonus and you can’t see what you “missed.”

In this type of bonus your pick DOES NOT matter. Be careful,

some slot designers can be tricky by showing the values if there

are several levels to a bonus, but then not do a reveal at the very

end. This is a “predetermined bonus” in disguise.

Although it may seem unfair that two different types of bonuses

exist, and some of you may even feel cheated, you shouldn’t!

Remember that it’s all about the way in which the designers

decide to program the games. The math model still reflects an

“average” bonus win over time. So, how it’s presented to the

player doesn’t affect all the outcomes in the long run. $

Our team has many years of experience designing slot

machine math models and we’ll keep sharing all of our

knowledge with all of you! Best of Luck!

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New Slots GREAT GAMES

azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 09

Now At Fort McDowell

or the first time ever, one of music’s most influential

and biggest-selling stars appears on casino floors with

the Michael Jackson King of Pop slot machine by

Bally Technologies. The legendary performer moon-

walks across the game screen to some of the most

recognizable tunes in history.

Game Play

This energetic slot game offers an astounding suite of features.

It has Mystery Wilds bonuses and four Free Games bonus

events based on some of Michael Jackson’s most popular singles

including Don’t Stop Till you Get Enough, Billie Jean, Beat It, and

Smooth Criminal.

F

During the Beat It Free Games,

Jackson appears on screen before

every spin, sometimes awarding

Locking Wilds which remain in

place for the duration of the bo-

nus. Billie Jean features the Big

Bang play mechanic in which Jack-

son appears on the top screen and

awards wilds. And, Jackson’s

trademark dance technique, the

“Moonwalk,” takes center stage in

Moonwalking Wilds.

Along with the unforgettable mu-

sic that spans all ages and his dis-

tinctive dance moves, King of Pop

uses favorite icons from Jackson’s

career including the famous white

glove, signature fedora, dance

loafers, and sunglasses. Stunning

imagery and an unprecedented

number of music video clips make

this game as irresistible as the

King of Pop himself! $

GREASEGREASENow At Talking Stick Resort

From Broadway to the big screen to the slot

machine, the ever-popular classic 1950s-

inspired movie, Grease, has finally made its

way to casino floors! Catchy bonus games, a

super-HD experience, and a multi-area pro-

gressive, together with featured movie clips

and music, will have all slot enthusiasts

reliving this upbeat story!

Game Play

Grease, by Bally Technologies, features eight

bonus events including T-Bird Mystery

Wilds, a U-Spin Yearbook Bonus, two pick

features, two styles of free games—The One

That I Want Free Games and the Dance Off

Free Games, and four any-bet progressives.

Grease also offers four exciting bonus levels:

Pink Lady, Rydell High Pick ’Em, Too Pure

to be Pink, and The One That I Want. Players

can use the base game or iDeck on selected

bonuses, with certain picks sending them to

the next level and offering a chance at higher

rewards. $

Play WMS’ new Epic

Monopoly slot at Ma-

zatzal Hotel & Casino

now!

Game Play

This exciting new

theme combines the

Super Multi-Pay base

game action with the

Monopoly mega bo-

nus excitement. And,

the Bonus and Wild

symbols on the main

game transfer to the

smaller reel sets! $

Now At Mazatzal

10 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com

GREAT GAMES New Slots

Desert Diamond First To Install New Multimedia SlotDesert Diamond First To Install New Multimedia Slotss

These brand new Class III slots will be ready for action during the second week in August!

Chamillion

This game has all the non-stop free spins you

crave! The Free Spin symbols turn wild and

the reels will respin ten times during the

bonus and all line awards are doubled! The

free games hit about once every 160 spins

and the game has a medium volatility.

Carnival In Rio

Three or more Free Spin Bonus symbols scat-

tered anywhere on the reels will trigger the

bonus, all stacked Dancer symbols become

wild and you can win up to 70 free spins!

There are stacked symbols and stacked Wild

symbols on all five reels during the game.

Expect the free games every 110 games and

get ready for action as the slot is volatile!

Wild Leopard

With ten free spins initially and a multiplier starting at 2X for all line pays, the bonus

in this slot is for everyone! After each win-

ning free spin, the multiplier is increased for

any remaining spins. If the bonus is retrig-

gered, an additional ten free spins are

awarded up to a total of 60! This is one game

to sink your teeth into! Expect the free games

every 110 spins and for volatile game play!

Crown Jewels

This slot features 40 lines and stacked wilds across a 5 x 4 reel window bringing maxi-

mum excitement for a 40 credit bet. Watch for 3 or more free games symbols to trigger

the bonus roughly every 120 spins. You’ll

start with 7 spins and a sixth multiplier reel,

with values from 2X to 10X, increasing all

your wins accordingly! Retriggers are possi-

ble up to 35 games. Of them all, this slot has

the biggest potential for huge rewards!

Alakazam!

This mystical, low volatility, 9-Reel, 32-

Line slot will grant players wishes with

more bonus features than they can

handle! The genie may mysteriously

appear before the reels stop and place

one to three Wild symbols on the reels.

During the Make-A-Wish Bonus the

genie stops the reels letting the player

choose their own bonus! The Magic

Bottle, The Magic Lamp, or the Free

Spins. Bonuses are also played when

the symbols land on lines 1, 7 or 8! The

Mystery bonus happens about every 20

spins and the other bonuses happen

roughly every 50 spins or so.

Multimedia Games (www.multimediagames.com)

Their innovations have pushed the gaming industry's technology envelope as they

continue to evolve into a leading game content provider, delivering games that play-

ers want to play. They make it their business to understand their customers—and

players—and challenge their developers to continue raising the bar in gaming sys-

tems and content design and development. Incorporated in Texas in 1991, Multime-

dia Games trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “MGAM.”

They employ more than 400 full-time and part-time employees and are headquar-

tered in Austin, Texas, with additional offices throughout the U.S. and in Mexico.

azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 11

Brand new from WMS is another extremely entertaining community slot game

called Leprechaun’s Gold—Land O’ Luck. BlueWater Resort & Casino in

Parker, AZ already has the slot on their floor and we’re certain to see this slot

spread across the state in the next few months.

You can join Lucky the Leprechaun as he flies through a dynamic world on

dual overhead 52” monitors, collecting coins and diamonds before triggering

one of sixteen possible outcomes! Lucky careens through the expansive Land

O’ Luck to award mini-bonuses, credit awards or even a Local Area Progres-

sive Cash award to lucky triggering players.

The community bonus on the giant monitors is triggered randomly while you

play on one of the four slots below. The four slots are based on the G+ Deluxe

series of games like Vampire’s Embrace and Dragon’s Fire, so if you enjoy

playing those slots, you’ll love the added entertainment factor with the big

bonus featured in Leprechaun’s Gold!

Our staff played the entire bank as a group for over 60 minutes with only a $20

or $40 bankroll and we played the Land O’ Luck bonus several times. Two

staff members walked away even and one staff member was up $80! $

New Slots GREAT GAMES

What you can win in the Land O’ Luck Bonus:

• Leprechaun Free Spins – 1 of 4 Free Spin amounts

• Clover Field Picks – pick from a field of clovers for credit

awards. Find Gold Pots for additional awards

• Lucky’s Pick Bonus – a picking bonus with a 40% chance

at 250x your line bet

• Local Area Progressive Cash Awards

• Credit Awards

GREAT GAMES New Slots Coming Soon

12 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com

ead the way to great riches and fortunes with Ma-

yan Chief, Konami Gaming Inc.’s latest K2V slot

machine. Mayan Chief is a clone of their game

China Shores, a popular player favorite. You’ll also

find Mayan Chief similar to Rhythms of Rio and

Money Blast, if you recall playing those games.

This slot is a 5-reel game in 20, 25 and 30-lines depending on

which casino you are in. Unless the game forces you to bet all

the lines, the minimum bet is 1 credit. Mayan Chief features

“Action Stacked Symbols” and an entertaining free game bonus.

In the base game any 3, 4 or 5 Relief symbols trigger 8, 10 or 15

free games respectively. All wins during the free games are

doubled and additional free games can be triggered. The

“Balance of Fortune” feature is activated when free games are

triggered. Players may commence playing free games or ex-

change the free games for a credit prize. You’ll have this option

when the number of remaining free games is greater than 20.

The credit prize is a random amount that, on average, is greater

when more free games are exchanged.

The “Action Stacked Symbols” feature happens on every spin

and has rapidly become a player favorite since Konami intro-

duced it into many of their slot games several years ago. On

each of the five reels, Konami set aside a certain number of posi-

tions which can be filled in with any of the base game symbols

at the beginning of each spin. You’ll notice which symbol was

selected while the reels are spinning. One spin will have a large

block of King symbols, the next spin has a block of Bird sym-

bols, then you’ll observe the Nine symbols in a large block on

the reels. Which symbol is selected for the “Action Stacked Sym-

bols” is randomly determined each spin and remember that

gaming regulations and independent testing make sure the slot

never knows what symbol was chosen for the last spin when it

picks a new symbol. $

This slot has a high hit frequency of around

50%, payback percentage around 90% and is

highly volatile due to Konami’s popular “Action

Stacked Symbols.” Be prepared to win big on

this game!

L

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14 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com

WINNING WAYS Hints & Tips

Body Language Basics

At The Tables & In Life

Gamblers should set aside time

to watch a History Channel pro-

gram called “Secrets of Body

Language” on the web. While

many body language observa-

tions are certainly subject to in-

terpretation, there are many

common clues the human body

gives off unconsciously while

communicating (or trying not to)

with others. This short report

details the body language intrica-

cies of many world leaders, ce-

lebrities, and other people in a

variety of different situations.

The analysis, conclusions, and science behind body language as

explained during the program serves poker players and the gen-

eral public very well. Here’s a short list of what to watch for at the

tables to assist in determining if an opponent is holding a strong

hand (they will display a positive emotional response) or if they

may be bluffing (they will display a negative emotional response).

This list also serves as a guide for day-to-day human interactions.

Common Positive Emotional Responses Include:

Sitting upright or leaning forward, Glancing down at chips, Lick-

ing one’s lips, Eyebrows (or forehead) shooting up slightly, Glanc-

ing at cards quickly.

Common Negative Emotional Responses Include:

Slouching or sliding back in a chair, Covering one’s mouth,

Chewing on the inside of the mouth, Idle hand movements.

Quick Tips On How To

Ride Out A Cold Streak

1. Come with the right bankroll, or in the case of a tour-

nament, inquire about any bonus buys or re-buys and

already make the decision to use (or not use) them before

starting to play.

2. Stick with one strategy for the tournament or play ses-

sion. Changing strategies can deflate your confidence.

3. Don’t let your emotions take over. Celebrating a win is

one thing, but your strategy relies on logic, facts, and

reason, not emotion.

4. Don’t allow short term results to affect your attitude

and perception of the game. We all want to be on a hot

streak, but the cold streaks are a fact of life too. (Great

advice for all types of gamblers!)

A Winner’s Checklist For Poker Tournaments

If you go into a tournament without a plan of some kind,

you might as well go home if you’re choosing solely to

side with luck. There are far too many other players and far

too many hands to be played during a tournament for you to

survive on luck alone! Here are a few simple, but important,

rules to follow:

Arrive at least 15 to 30 minutes early so you have a

chance to orient yourself, get comfortable, and start

studying your competition.

Familiarize yourself with the casino’s poker room. The

tournament director may completely change the room

layout that day!

Clear your schedule. No calls, no email, no Facebook,

and no Twitter. Make sure you are not hungry and

have comfortable clothes.

Don’t wear unnecessary or flashy accessories; even

consider removing your customary jewelry. Have you

ever noticed the amount of fidgeting inspired by a simple

wedding ring, necklace or watch in a poker room?

If you have difficulties focusing or concentrating, bring

along earplugs or, if allowed, play white noise through

your headphones.

Don’t let your clothes and general appearance indicate

to other players what personality type you are. Look-

ing flashy tends to exude a “risk taker” vibe, while a more

conservative styling can scream “cautious” to other players.

Remember your goal is to survive in a tournament. Be

the tortoise, not the hare. Slow and steady is always a

good rule of thumb.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

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16 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com

THE ANNUAL AZ STATE POKER CHAMPIONSHIP THE ANNUAL AZ STATE POKER CHAMPIONSHIP

NOW IN ITS 8TH YEAR AT TALKING STICK RESORT NOW IN ITS 8TH YEAR AT TALKING STICK RESORT

Players from across the country are perfecting their poker faces as they prepare

for the return of the Arizona State Poker Championship to Talking Stick Resort.

An annual fixture on the resort’s poker schedule, the five-day tournament takes

place August 10-14, and is expected to draw more than 1,000 players of various

skill levels, all competing for a share of the $1 million jackpot. “The Arizona

State Poker Championship is a big source of pride for us. It’s our biggest event

and continues to grow each year,” said Kent Odekirk, director of poker at Talk-

ing Stick Resort. “This year we have expanded the championship to run five

days and have taken the final table into our showroom to allow for a larger

viewing audience. We are always looking for ways to enhance it and make it a

better experience for guests.”

The No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em tournament will begin on Friday, Aug. 10 at 9

a.m. This year marks the third time in its eight-year history that the prize pool

has hit $1 million, which ensures the top 100 players walk away with a mini-

mum of $2,250. First place winner will take home a grand total of $208,300, a

championship ring and trophy. Second and third place winners will take home

$127,500 and $85,000 respectively, as well as trophies to commemorate their

win. To enter the state championship, players can pay a $1,000 buy-in, with an

additional $70 entry fee, or they can “win a seat” by participating in Talking

Stick Resort’s daily satellite tournaments or Sunday qualifier tournaments. En-

tries are unlimited, and the buy-in provides each player with $15,000 worth of

tournament chips. Players eliminated on days one or two will be allowed a re-

buy in order to continue play.

For the first time since the inception of the championship, the final table will be

played in the resort’s showroom and broadcasted throughout the property.

Earlier this year, Arizona’s largest poker room transformed into the ARENA

Poker Room and was updated with new arena-style screens with sports tickers

and the capabilities to host satellite tournaments and relay live poker games.

The large screens hang high above the room’s 47 poker tables and provide a

high-quality picture that can be seen from any angle, giving guests a better

gaming experience. For more information about the Arizona State Poker Cham-

pionship and other tournaments, visit the ARENA Poker Room at Talking Stick

Resort, www.TalkingStickResort.com or call (480) 850-7734. $

Tarzan Lord of the Jungle

One Of The Most Frequently

Hitting Slot Jackpots In America! Aristocrat’s Tarzan Lord of the Jungle video

slot game is the most award-winning and

one of the most frequently hitting slot games

in all of North America. Now, the game’s top

progressive jackpot has been hit again for

$309,338 at Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino

in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This is the 13th

time the top progressive has been hit since

the game was released last year! To date, the

game has paid out more than $4 million in

top jackpot awards since its debut! If you

haven’t played this game yet, we recom-

mend you give this game a spin at Mazatzal

Hotel & Casino in Payson or Bucky’s Casino

in Prescott.

A big congratulations

to Valerie Spicer, the

Executive Director of

the AZ Indian Gaming

Association, for being

one of six women to

receive the prestigious

2011 Great Women of

Gaming Award from

Casino Enterprise Management for her out-

standing Commitment, Drive, Mentorship,

Perseverance and Professionalism.

GAMING NEWS AIGA, Frequent Jackpots & AZ State Poker Championship

azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 17

Big Green Bus At Harrah’s Ak-Chin GAMING NEWS

On Saturday, July 14, thirteen Dartmouth College students

stopped at Harrah’s Ak-Chin for an important mission: To bring

enthusiasm for community involvement through environmental

action and to show off their alternative-fuel powered Big Green

Bus. Maricopa was the 16th stop on their 85–day, nationwide

campaign. The student-run Big Green Bus will cover 12,000

miles across 30 states, spending the entire summer engaging in

dialogue, spreading innovation and inspiring community ac-

tion, all on a waste vegetable oil-powered coach bus. “Harrah’s

Ak-Chin has a long history of implementing environmental

awareness initiatives on property. Through our recycling pro-

gram and CodeGreen efforts, we are continually reminding our

guests and staff about the importance of sustainability,” said

Robert Livingston, general manager of Harrah’s Ak-Chin Ca-

sino Resort. “We are proud to have the Big Green Bus visit us in

Maricopa.”

13 students, 1 veggie powered bus, 7 times around

the country and counting … All for a greener tomorroAll for a greener tomorroww!!

http://www.wms.com/superteam

azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 19

Twin Arrows Navajo Casino GAMING NEWS

ark your calendars for May 2013, because this is the proposed

grand opening date of the brand new $175 million casino and

hotel being built by the Navajo Nation near Twin Arrows about

20 miles east of Flagstaff. Around 800 employees will be hired to operate

the new facility. The Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort, near Interstate

40, will have nearly 1,100 slot machines, blackjack and poker tables, 200

hotel rooms by winter of 2013-2014, a gift shop selling mostly low-price

items, a food court, a sports bar, and ultimately a spa area. Longer-term

plans include parking areas and amenities for high-end motor homes, a

nightclub, a conference center, and a spa with steam rooms, massages and

hot tubs. The casino is expected to draw tourists and outside visitors. It is

not known how much water the casino will use, but it will be supplied

from four wells in the area. The hotel will also go through a certification

system to show it was built with conservation in mind.

The Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort identity is a combined effort of

the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise Board, staff, chapter officials and

tribal members. The name Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort is trade-

marked and has been an exit on I-40 for many years.

The following concepts were used to design the logo:

Two outward bound arrows to show a proactive ap-

proach to all things as well as the Journey of the Na-

vajo throughout time. There are Four Sacred Moun-

tains in the Navajo culture, beginning with the East,

South, West and North. The mountain represented is

the west sacred mountain known in Navajo as

Dook’o’ooslííd which translates to Abalone Shell

Mountain. In English, the mountain is known as the

San Francisco Peaks. The color of the mountain is

generally yellowish or the reflective shine of an aba-

lone seashell.

The turquoise arches represent the sky, the shape of

the world and the implied shape of a female hooghan.

The Navajo casino basket brand was added to unify

the properties. Overall, the color scheme, white, tur-

quoise, yellow and black incorporates the four sacred

colors of the Diné. $

NAVAJO NATION PLANS MAY 2013 OPENING FOR ITS NEW $175 MILLION CASINO IN AZ.

M

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FUN FACTS

azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 21

Amazing Summer Room Specials At

Talking Stick Resort

his summer, Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona is

rewarding those looking to treat themselves to a luxurious

stay at its hotel. The AAA Four Diamond resort is offering ex-

clusive reservation deals and unbeatable seasonal rates that will

make any visit easy to plan.

Talking Stick Resort offers five unique room styles all exuding

modern Southwestern-style and cultural representation of the

Salt River Pima-Maricopa Community. Each room is a blend of

convenience and comfort in a serene and refined environment.

In addition to no resort fees and complimentary Wi-Fi, the re-

sort will offer the following packages now through August 29:

Stay 2, Get $60

Guests looking for the perfect summer getaway need look no further

than Talking Stick Resort. Those who book a two-night stay in one of

the property’s well-appointed accommodations will not only enjoy

rates starting out as low as $119, but also receive a $60 resort credit.

Fit for a King

Those in search of the royal treatment can upgrade to an Executive

King room, with rates starting as low as $149 a night. With a two-

night stay, they will receive $50 in resort credit. Talking Stick Resort’s

Executive King guestrooms are positioned on the north and south ends

of the hotel and feature oversized patios/balconies, offering unob-

structed views of Camelback or Scottsdale's McDowell Mountains. $

T

>>> In the early 1900s, the Bell Fruit Gum Company created

a slot machine that dispensed chewing gum in various fruit

flavors depending on which fruit the player managed to

line up on the pay line. And, the bar symbols were actually

shaped like a stick of gum with the company’s logo written

across! Now, a century later, slot machine manufacturers

are still designing mechanical reel steppers with the same

fruit and bar symbols originally created to promote chew-

ing gum!

>>> The number of slot

machines and card tables

that tribes can have in

their casinos is calculated

by the AZ Department of

Gaming using a popula-

tion based formula!

>>> As of May 1, 2012, the exact number of slot machines in

Arizona totaled 14,267 and 478 table games!

>>> There are plenty of

electronic versions of all

the popular casino table

games such as blackjack,

roulette, and craps. How-

ever, live roulette and live

craps are two games that

are not currently allowed

in the state of Arizona,

because they are not among the list of approved Class III

games in the Tribal-State Compact of 2002!

>>> Sevens are lucky, but who ever heard of lucky eights? If

you’re planning a trip to the Far East, then consider your-

self a winner if you line up a bunch of eights!

The number eight is considered lucky in Eastern

culture because the word for “eight” sounds

very similar to the word for “fortune” and

“wealth.” $

Bet You Didn’t Know …

8

22 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com

arrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Resort is committed to giving

back to the community by not only donating profits to

civic and charitable causes but also by encouraging

employees to donate their time and attention to benefit local

organizations and various earth-friendly initiatives. H.E.R.O.

(Harrah’s Entertainment Reaching Out) is an employee-based

volunteer program in which participants make noteworthy,

visible contributions to the community by lending their time

and skills. From improving the environment by picking up

trash to donating time and funds to support senior citizens, and

from hosting a total wellness community event to collecting

food items to donate to those in need, Harrah’s Ak-Chin is truly

devoted to helping the community in many positive ways.

As an organization, Harrah’s Ak-Chin surpassed their 2010 total

of 4,676 hours by volunteering 9,945 hours in 2011 and are well

on their way to surpassing that in 2012. The property has also

provided monetary and in-kind donations amounting to more

than $20,000 from involvement in events such as Earth Day,

Keep Arizona Beautiful Luncheon, Clean the World campaign,

the Ak-Chin Social Services’ food drives and many more. In

addition, Harrah's Ak-Chin employees have improved their

workplace by ramping up efforts to go green through A.C.E.S.

(Ak-Chin Environmentalist Squad) and teaming up with the

Recycling Association of Maricopa. Altogether, Harrah's Ak-

Chin reduced its waste by 148 tons in 2010, improving both the

resort and the community that supports it. Moreover, the prop-

erty has saved tens of thousands of pounds of oil (yellow)

grease, recycled nearly 58 tons of cardboard, switched hundreds

of employees to electronic pay checks and therefore eliminating

paper waste, and created Harrah’s Ak-Chin’s first ever property

“Green Zone” to recycle paper, cardboard and plastic.

“Not only does this program bring together our employees, but

it’s an amazing way for us to reach out to the community and

give back to the local residents and programs that are most in

need,” said HR Director of Harrah’s Ak-Chin Beth Amoroso.

“With earth-friendly initiatives having been at the forefront in

recent years, it’s truly become a focus of our organization and

for our employees on an individual level.”

Ongoing efforts give back to the community and earth-friendly initiatives

Gives Back by Going Green

H

azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 23

arrah’s Ak-Chin employee Candice Van Etten and her husband Craig Aykroyd

bypass the nearest gas station each week and instead fill up on vegetable oil

from a restaurant to fuel their 1985 Volkswagen Golf with a converted diesel engine.

“After having converted to vegetable oil it saves on fuel cost and air quality, in addi-

tion to emissions being much lower from having an exhaust that is a plant-based

fuel,” said Van Etten. After the one-month project of converting the vehicle Van Etten

now gets approximately 150 miles per gallon and saves $2,900 annually on fuel costs.

And on a lighter note, Van Etten joked “the car smells like French fries, which I’m not

sure is a good or bad thing!”

“The first big step was getting rid of our Audi and purchasing an old 1985 VW Golf

that had a diesel engine. Craig built a makeshift filtration system in our garage be-

cause the car consumes used vegetable oil he gets from a restaurant (but he’s lucky

because lots of restaurants are now selling their used oil). Craig also built a system to

heat the oil with the car engine and installed all the plumbing. There is a valve to

switch between diesel and vegetable oil because you need to start the car and let it

warm up before switching over to the vegetable oil” said Van Etten.

“Aside from lower emissions, we have noticed many people are very interested in the

idea. It was kind of cool because at Harrah’s there are corporate campaigns, including

CodeGreen, encouraging everyone to do their part to be greener. I thought, hey, I

really am doing my part and I’ve been inspired to make more changes – both at home

and within the community” said Van Etten. Her husband Aykroyd is also looking at

what they can continue to do in order to become more green. “While the car is old,

slow, and noisy relative to newer car technology, others in our community are still

very interested in pursuing

the change to a more en-

ergy conscious drive to and

from work. We are even look-

ing into getting a second,

newer car to convert!”

Special thanks to Candice & Craig

for sharing their story, comments,

and photos with us and to Stephanie

Lough at HMA Public Relations.

On-property CodeGreen initiatives

included:

•The installation of new thermostat tech-

nology in the 152-room hotel tower,

which automatically resets the thermostat

to a set temperature to conserve energy

once guests leave the room;

•The implementation of property elec-

tronics recycling which totaled 70,000 lbs

in 2011;

•An increase in standard recycle streams

to 15 different items, thus increasing by

239% since 2009;

•The recycling of food cans by kitchen

staff, which saved 2,800 lbs in just under a

few months;

•The implementation of front-of-house

recycling for guests, with four bins on the

casino floor and two large wall displays

to show various Harrah’s AK-Chin recy-

cle facts and energy tips.

The innovation in H.E.R.O. volunteer

efforts lies in the vast array of programs

the property supports annually. More

than 320 employees on property (out of

650 total) dedicated time to more than 50

worthy causes last year. In addition to the

community outreach projects already

mentioned, H.E.R.O. volunteers donated

time and funding in support of the

Esperanza Children’s Home, Girl Scouts,

the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Maricopa

Schools, the Ronald McDonald House and

many, many more individual causes.

If an employee is passionate about a

cause, Harrah’s Ak-Chin fully supports

that employee’s dedication of time to that

cause. Each year H.E.R.O. volunteers are

finding new ways to contribute to their

community and volunteers are even in-

spiring their fellow colleagues, family,

and friends to join in their efforts and it

shows because volunteer hours have in-

creased steadily over the past seven years!

Harrah’s Ak-Chin, as well as the entire

Caesars Entertainment Corporation, has a

commitment to its communities to help

make them vibrant places to live and

work. The H.E.R.O. program is a living

embodiment of the company’s commit-

ment to make a positive, real impact in

the community! $

For more information on Harrah’s Ak-Chin and

their H.E.R.O. program, visit their website at

www.harrahsakchin.com or call 480.802.5000.

Candice Van Etten, a veteran poker dealer of seven years at Harrah’s Ak-Chin, her husband Craig Aykroyd and their 1985

VW Golf diesel (pictured above & below) which they converted to run on used vegetable oil.

Harrah’s Ak-Chin’s H.E.R.O. Program

Inspires Couple To Go Green

24 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com

One of our staff members recently attended a business meeting

at the Hammered Hog BBQ Hall & Saloon located at 3230 E.

Thunderbird Road in Phoenix (just West of the 51 at the Thun-

derbird exit, www.hammeredhog.com). The group shared the

Family Platter which consisted of a half rack of ribs, pulled

pork, chopped brisket, hot links, corn bread, and a selection of

sides. The immediate conclusion was that the entire staff has to

go as soon as possible as the food was excellent! This prompted

a discussion of what barbeque options we had all sampled at

Arizona’s casinos and which ones were worth communicating

to our readers. Here’s what we came up with …

If you are headed towards Apache Gold Casino Resort in

Globe, make sure you stop by on a Monday night for the

Apache Grill’s Bottomless Beef Ribs served from 5 to 9pm. They

are meaty, juicy, and bursting with flavor no matter what day

you visit and they even make them available at the Wickiup

Buffet from time to time.

BlueWater Resort & Casino in Parker serves a menu item at the

River Willow that is Asian inspired and well worth ordering.

Try the Chicken Teriyaki which is 10 ounces of grilled chicken

breast served with sauce, pineapple and toasted sliced almonds.

While at Bucky’s and Yavapai casinos in Prescott, make sure

you check out the new restaurant, Icha Maajoh, in the Prescott

Resort adjacent to Bucky’s and order the Grilled Flat Iron Steak

for dinner. The chimichurri sauce is an excellent companion to

the meat and the garlic fries that come with the dish!

At Casino Arizona in Scottsdale, do not miss the Chipotle BBQ

Ribs at the Willows Restaurant. Your order of ribs arrive smoth-

ered with tangy chipotle barbeque sauce (finger-licking good), a

cool order of coleslaw and French fries.

Up at Cliff Castle Casino Hotel in Camp Verde, several mem-

bers of the AGG staff have had the Bone-In BBQ Pork Chop, an

azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 25

Barbeque at Arizona’s Casinos CASINO DINING

excellent bang for your buck for dinner! You’ll get the grilled

pork chop served with a sweet & tangy homemade barbeque

sauce, a roll, soup or salad, and a choice of potato and vegetable

of the day! That’s a lot of food, but our sources tell us that Cliff

Castle’s restaurants and menus may undergo a makeover soon,

so be sure to try this dish while you still can!

The Agave restaurant inside the Desert Diamond Casino at the

Sahuarita location near Tucson serves an awesome version of

Chipotle Ribs which is a half rack of baby back ribs complete

with ranchero beans and French fries. We are in the southwest

after all, so too much chipotle is never a bad thing!

At Fort McDowell Casino near Fountain Hills we strongly

recommend two of their entrees. The first is the Brisket BBQ

Beef sandwich at the Silver Platter by the bingo hall—a steal at

less than $5 and the other is the Honey Glazed Salmon at Café

87. The 8 ounce filet comes with a salad, rolls, vegetables, and a

choice of potatoes combining for a flavorful meal all for less

than $12!

At Harrah’s Ak-Chin in Maricopa, the new menu at the Range

Steakhouse features several barbeque items, but we recommend

getting the mix of meats with the Chicken & Pork entrée. That

way you can enjoy a full rack of ribs and chicken breast, both

Applewood-smoked.

When you are ready for a big meal, make sure you visit Hon-

Dah Resort-Casino near Pinetop and enjoy the Indian Pine’s 12

ounce Ribeye Steak served with a wild mushroom demi glaze.

We guarantee you will leave your table satisfied!

Stop in at Mazatzal Hotel & Casino in Payson and visit the

Cedar Ridge Restaurant for the Ultimate Feast. You’ll dine on a

half rack of slow roasted ribs, a center cut top sirloin steak and

three shrimp.

The Blue Coyote Café at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale is a

really great choice whenever we are in the area. The Filet Mi-

gnon is always an expensive dish, but it is 8 ounces of the best

cut and they serve it with roasted red pepper butter. The more

grilling the better!

All restaurants have different hours of operation. Please verify all details and any age

restrictions with each casino. We are not responsible for incorrect or outdated information.

26 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com

TRIBAL NEWS Arizona’s Tribal Lands

Courtesy of the Arizona Indian Gaming Association

Arizona is home to 22 Native American tribes that represent more

than 296,000 people. A total of 20 reservations cover more than

19,000,000 acres, ranging in size from the very large Navajo Res-

ervation, which is the size of West Virginia or Ireland, to the small

Tonto Apache tribal reservation that covers just over 85 acres.

Visitors who want to travel to Arizona reservations may do so

without prior permission. But if you want to know where to buy

arts and crafts or observe dances or rodeos, you should contact

the tribal offices in advance of your travel. Many tribes today are

committed to diversifying their economies so in addition to casi-

nos, you can visit and enjoy tribally-owned shopping malls, RV

parks and convenience stores, resort hotels and golf courses

along with trying your luck at the tables and machines.

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28 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com

TRAVEL Las Vegas

s of July 10, 2012, Las Vegas locals are now on the win-

ning side of the most fantastically super heroic slot game

ever! Aristocrat’s Superman The Movie slot debuted at all

ten Station Casinos in the Las Vegas Valley and Station Casinos

gave a super hero-sized welcome to the new game. From Noon

until 8 p.m., Boarding Pass members could fly into their favorite

Station Casinos location for a free pull that could reward $4,000

on the amazing new VIRIDIAN HYBRID game.

Participating properties included Green Valley Ranch resort,

Red Rock Resort, Sunset Station, Aliante Station, Fiesta Rancho,

Texas Station, Santa Fe Station, Palace Station, Boulder Station

and Fiesta Henderson. To receive their free play, Boarding Pass

members visited their favorite Station Casinos location and the

rewards center.

Superman The Movie slot transports the original 1978 super hit

film starring Christopher Reeve to the casino floor with incredi-

ble action that plays out in Aristocrat’s amazing VIRIDIAN HY-

BRID with Active Reel Technology.

The slot brings Superman, Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor,

and all of players’ favorite characters together again. In addition

to the fun game and action-packed bonus features, lots of movie

footage further engages and entertains players.

This new slot has triple standalone progressives with a frequent

feature hit rate. Free games and bonuses are waiting to be dis-

covered in five incredible bonus features: Super Strength Rock-

slide, Superman Remix, Lex Luthor Lair, Save Lois Lane, and

the Fortress of Solitude Progressive Jackpot.

The Super Strength Rockslide bonus activates five free games.

The first free game uses a 1X multiplier and if you do not get a

win, the multiplier increases to 2X for the next spin. Additional

losing spins allow the multiplier to climb up to 10X!

Rockslide Bonus—Multiplier increases on losing spins Remix Bonus—Reel symbols are rearranged for extra pays

It’s A bird, It’s A plane, It’s Superman Slots At All Ten Station Casinos In Las Vegas

A

azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 29

Las Vegas TRAVEL

Free Games Bonus—Collect more credits to win progressives

Station Casinos owns and operates 18 properties throughout Southern

Nevada including Aliante Station, Boulder Station, Green Valley

Ranch resort, Fiesta Rancho, Fiesta Henderson, Palace Station, Red

Rock Resort, Santa Fe Station, Sunset Station, Texas Station, Wild

Wild West and several smaller properties under the Wildfire Gaming

division such as Gold Rush and Wildfire Casinos. More information

about Station Casinos can be found on their website at www.sclv.com.

Aristocrat Technologies Inc. is a subsidiary of Aristocrat Leisure Lim-

ited (ASX: ALL), a leading global provider of gaming solutions. The

Company is licensed by more than 200 regulators and its products and

services are available in more than 90 countries around the world.

Aristocrat offers a diverse range of products and services including

electronic gaming machines and casino management systems. For

more information about Aristocrat services and products, visit their

website at www.aristocratgaming.com.

SUPERMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks

of and © DC Comics.

The Superman Remix bonus gives players a chance to win three

more times when Superman moves all the symbols around on

the reels! In the Lex Luthor Lair bonus, you pick one of three

doors. Once opened, the door takes players to Lex Luthor’s Lair

or to Save Lois Lane. In Lex Luthor’s Lair, players select from

five cases and use Superman’s X-ray vision to reveal the reel

strips behind each case. The Save Lois Lane bonus lets players

play Clark Kent free games and collect additional Superman

free games which have stacked wilds, credits, and multipliers

on every spin!

The final Fortress of Solitude Progressive Jackpot bonus has

players collecting Kryptonite symbols during 10 free games to

win ever larger prizes. 1-5 Kryptonite symbols wins 400 credits,

6-10 Kryptonite symbols wins 600 credits, 11-15 Kryptonite

symbols wins 1000 credits, 16-19 Kryptonite symbols wins 2000

credits, 20 Kryptonite symbols wins the Minor Jackpot, 25 Kryp-

tonite symbols wins the Major Jackpot, and 28 Kryptonite sym-

bols wins the Grand Jackpot! The slot is available in 1¢, 2¢ and

5¢ denominations and has a 50 credit minimum bet and a 250

credit max bet. $

CASINO ENTERTAINMENT

30 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com

Apache Gold Casino—Globe, AZ—800.272.2438

Cabaret Lounge:

Live bands every weekend—Aug. 3 & 4 Chaka & Friends

BlueWater Casino—Parker, AZ—888.243.3360

Dig Lounge:

Variety including live bands, karaoke & DJs—Daily at 5pm

BlueWater Showroom:

Aug. schedule not available at press time.

Casino Arizona—Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777

The Showroom:

Aug. schedule not available at press time.

The Arizona Room Piano Lounge:

Features a variety of music styles including the sounds of swing and

jazz. Start times: 4pm weekdays & 5pm weekends

Casino del Sol—Tucson, AZ—520.838.6506

AVA Amphitheater:

Seal & Macy Gray—Aug. 3 at 8pm

Los Tigres del Norte & Banda Recodo—Aug. 4 at 8pm

Pitbull—Aug. 5 at 8pm

All American Rejects—Aug. 9 at 8pm

Duran Duran—Aug. 12 at 8pm

George Clinton & The Masters of Funk—Aug. 17 at 8pm

Lost Eighties Tour—Aug. 18 at 8pm

Crosby, Stills and Nash—Sep. 5 at 8pm

Def Leppard & Poison—Sep. 12 at 7pm

Alejandro Fernandez—Sep. 14 at 8pm

Jeff Dunham—Sep. 15 at 8pm

Marco Antonio Solis—Sep. 21 at 8pm

Brit Floyd—The World’s Greatest Pink Floyd Show—Sep. 26 at 8pm

AVA Amphitheater:

Seal & Macy Gray—Aug. 3 at 8pm

Cliff Castle Casino—Camp Verde, AZ—800.381.7568

Stargazer Pavillion:

Larry the Cable Guy—Sep. 2 at 8pm

Dragonfly Lounge:

Variety including live bands, karaoke & DJs—Ladies Night every Th,

Open late on Fr & Sa.

Cocopah Resort Casino—Somerton, AZ—800.237.5687

River Room:

Zumba Fitness—Mo & Tu at 6pm

Los Tigres Del Norte—Aug. 5 at 7pm

Sunset Lounge:

Live Jazz & Cocktails—Tu 6pm

Karaoke—We-Fr at 8pm

Desert Diamond Casino I—Tucson, AZ—866.332.9467

Monsoon Nightclub:

Friday Night Groove—Join 106.3FM The Groove for a dance party

now through Dec. 28. $5 cover, ladies free! Noches Caliente—

Saturdays the hottest Tex Mex and Tejano music!

Desert Diamond Casino II—Sahuarita, AZ—866.332.9467

Sports Bar:

Friday Night Party—Music & dancing at 8pm or after the featured

game. Saturday Night Party—Music & dancing at 8pm or after the

featured game.

Diamond Center:

Back in Black (AC/DC Tribute)—Aug. 18 at 7pm

Fort McDowell Casino—Fort McDowell, AZ—800.843.3678

Radisson Ballroom:

Bad Boy Fight Night—Aug. 3 at 6pm

Lucky 7 Saloon:

Featuring a variety of live music every weekend including Furious

George, Kenny G Project & Cowboy Floyd

Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino—Maricopa, AZ—800.427.7247

Oasis Lounge:

The Masters—Aug. 3 & 4 at 8pm

The Walkens—Aug. 10 & 11 at 8pm

Desert Dixie—Aug. 17 & 18 at 8pm

Marty Ramirez—Aug. 24 & 25 at 8pm

The Crystals—Aug. 29 at 1 & 3 pm

Young Country—Aug. 31 & Sep. 1 at 8pm

Hon-Dah Casino—Pinetop, AZ—800.929.8744

Timbers Lounge and Showroom:

Munday Funday—Comedy Show

Vol. 1 (Latin Dance Variety)—Jul.31-Aug.4

Affinity (Dance Variety)—Aug. 7-11

Clark County Express (Country)—Aug. 14-18

Barrio Latino (Latin Dance Variety)—Aug. 21-25

Marble Heart (Country)—Aug. 28-Sep. 1

Latin Vida (Latin Dance Variety)—Sep. 4-8

Creagles (CCR/Eagles Tribute)—Sep. 11-15

Clue & the Honkeytones (Variety)—Sep. 18-22

Groove City (R&B Variety)—Sep. 25-29

Tony Marques (Country)—Oct. 2-6

Lone Butte Casino—Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452

Cascades Lounge:

Country Night—We

Industry Night—Th

Latin Night—Fr

Top 40/Dance Night—Sa

Verona Chophouse:

Sunday Jazz Brunch Live—10am to 3pm

Mazatzal Casino—Payson, AZ—800.777.7529

Event Center:

Hotel California (Eagles Tribute)—Sep. 21

Paradise Casino—Yuma, AZ—888.777.4946

Sharky’s Bar & Bites:

DJ Rudy Espinoza—Fr—9:30pm

DJ Anthony—Sa—9:30pm

Also featuring a variety of live music on the weekends.

Quechan Casino—Winterhaven, CA—877.783.2426

Sidewinders Bar & Grill:

Featuring a variety of live music on the weekends.

EDITOR’S PICK

azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 31

Talking Stick Resort—Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777

The Showroom & Grand Ballroom:

Con Funk Shun—Aug. 3

Lakeside—Aug. 11

Yes & Procul Harum—Aug. 17

Patti LaBelle—Aug. 18

Gipsy Kings—Aug. 19

David Cassidy—Aug. 24

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy—Aug. 25

Little Feat—Sep. 15

Joe Walsh—Sep. 21

TOTO—Sep. 23

Asia—Nov. 13

Coffee Garden:

Dueling Pianos—Th, Fr & Sa from 8-11pm

Wild Horse Pass Casino—Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452

Encore Lounge:

Featuring a variety of live music.

Showroom:

Los Tigres del Norte—Aug. 3

Cinderella—Aug. 4

Friday Night Comedy—Aug. 10

America—Aug. 11

Tracy Morgan—Aug. 17

Friday Night Comedy—Aug. 24

Air Supply—Aug. 25

Latin Legends Live! - Sep. 7

Blood, Sweat and Tears—Sep. 14

49 Laughs—Sep. 15

Merle Haggard—Sep. 21

Psychedelic Furs—Sep. 27

Yavapai Casino—Prescott, AZ—800.756.8744

Yavapai Cantina:

Karaoke with Cruisin’ Susan—Fr—8pm-Midnight

Trivia—We, Live Bands—Th & Sa

THE GIPSY KINGS at TALKING STICK RESORT

Sunday, August 19 at 7:30pm

The Gipsy Kings consist of two bands of brothers – The Reyes

and The Baliardos – both the offspring of Spanish gypsies that

fled to France to escape Spain’s civil war. Their music pays

homage to their Gitano heritage, blending Romani rhapsody

with Spanish flamenco and salsa funk. The Gipsy Kings have

made progressive flamenco popular across the world, and on

Sunday, August 19, they’ll bring their signature sound to Talk-

ing Stick Resort.

In 1989, Gipsy Kings released their self-titled album in the

United States, and it spent 40 weeks on the charts. Fan favorite

songs include “Bamboleo,” “Djobi Djoba” and “Volare” as well

as the band’s more recent remake of “Hotel California.” The

Gipsy Kings will play those and more in a special appearance

showcasing the emotional vocals, fast flamenco guitar leads and

rhythmic strumming that has made them a worldwide sensa-

tion.

The 2010 film Toy Story 3 featured a version of "You've Got a

Friend in Me" performed and recorded by the Gipsy Kings; the

Spanish release featured the Spanish version, titled "Hay un

Amigo en Mi" and played in a flamenco style. They performed

the song along with “Bamboleo” on Dancing With the Stars

(ABC) in May of 2010 and are currently on a North American

Tour. The Gipsy Kings plan to release their new album in the

near future. Recently they collaborated with Yugoslavian born

musician Goran Bregović on two songs “Presidente” and

“Balkaneros” for his new album “Champagne for Gypsies.”

The Gipsy Kings’ performances are always passionate and full

of energy, an experience that is not to be missed! For tickets,

starting at $45, call the Talking Stick Resort Box Office at 480-

850-7734 or visit www.talkingstickresort.com/gipsykings.aspx.

Verify all details & age restrictions for each event. Venues, times, dates, & ticket information are subject

to change. Photos/images copyright of the individual artist(s), photographer(s), or venue(s). All Rights

Reserved. We are not responsible for incorrect/outdated info.

32 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com

CASINO NIGHTLIFE Exclusively Featuring Ramses Ja

f you have ever been to the Wild Horse Pass Hotel &

Casino in Chandler, you already know that it is easily

one of the best casinos in the Southwest! This beauti-

fully-designed property has a casino floor that rivals

(and in some cases surpasses) those found in Vegas. In addition,

the dining that is available is unmatched, the entertainment is

always top-tier, and the hotel's amenities are among the best in

the business. With this being the case, it's easy to see why this

casino is one of the more popular destinations in the city!

It isn't until you consider the fact that this property is also home

to Airia Nightclub that you realize that Wild Horse Pass seeks

to offer a world-class experience on all levels! The evolution of

the nightlife can be experienced at this 5,500 sq. ft. party palace

every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night! Chandler’s upscale

nightclub treats partygoers to the best in House, Top 40, and

Hip-Hop from some of the Valley’s best DJs including Benjamin

Cutswell and 101.5 JamZ mixmaster DJ Decipha!

For those who prefer the VIP treatment, Airia has the means to

make sure you party like a rock star! Table and bottle service are

available to those who want to own the night! Airia Nightclub is

I

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also prepared to receive parties of up to 100 people and offers

cabanas, booths, and tables depending on your needs. The

club’s spacious and modern design ensures that there is plenty

of room for dancing and socializing.

There is no need to travel to Nevada for the Las Vegas nightlife

experience. Be sure to check out this crown jewel that sits atop

the Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino every Thursday night

through Saturday night! Visit airiathenightclub.com for more

information and to learn more about both DJ Benjamin Cutswell

and DJ Decipa visit their websites at www.deciphacity.com and

www.cutswell.com. $

Ramses Ja hosts 6pm-12am weekdays on 101.1

FM The Beat in Phoenix! He is the resident DJ

for Your Life A to Z Fridays at 10am on KTVK

3TV Channel 3, & Resident DJ for Talking Stick

Resort.

Visit www.ramsesja.com

for more information.

AZ CASINO OFFERS UPSCALE NIGHTCLUBAZ CASINO OFFERS UPSCALE NIGHTCLUB

azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 33

FUN & GAMES

SUDOKU Each of the columns, rows, and nine 3 x 3 grids must contain

all of the digits 1 - 9. None of the digits may appear more than

once in each column, row, and 3 x 3 grid.

(Solution on page 38)

CASINO MATH 101

On a recent flyer from a local casino in Arizona, there was an offer for

free slot play. The letter told a member of the editorial staff to place

her player’s card into any slot machine and then to choose either a

guaranteed amount of $70 or choose to “Risk It” and receive either

$50 or $100 in free play. Let’s assume that $70 is the expected value

for the game regardless of the decision a player makes. What are the

chances of winning the $50 and the $100?

Hints: Remember that to calculate expected value for this game you multiply

the probability of getting a prize by the value of the prize and add it to the

probability of the other prize multiplied by the value of the other prize. If you

play this game you should keep the $70 unless you are feeling lucky because

the chances of getting the $100 are less than the chances of getting the $50!

(Solution on page 38)

WORD SEARCH

Find these words chosen to honor August—National Golf

Month! Ace, Bogey, Caddie, Driver, Eagle, Fore, Green,

Handicap, Irons, Links, Mulligan, Par, Rough, Scratch, Trol-

ley, Woods

Words appear left to right, right to left, top to bottom, bottom to top,

and diagonally in any direction. (Solution on page 38)

FUN WITH

NUMBERS

Place the numbers 1—9 in the circles so that

each side of the triangle adds up to 17.

(Solution on page 38) 2 3

6

1 3

8

3

4 9

7

6

2

9

5 1

3 7

5 4

8

6

1

8

6 4

I W N H A N D I C A P H

X W L I N K S X T I M C

S P G S N N N B C R G T

D G A R R I P O K O L A

O A O P E S B G L N X R

O U C S A E Z E S S C C

W Q U E F U N Y J R Q S

O H H G U O R E L G A E

Q Y H R E V I R D P A R

F O R E G K C A D D I E

C A W L O Y E L L O R T

M U L L I G A N B Q N F

34 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com

By Sami Becker

azgamingguide.com | August 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 35

SAMI’S SMACKDOWN

Waiter! There’s a fly in my soup! Sami, my wife and I frequent [casinos] in Arizona and

[casinos] in Laughlin regularly. A few friends think we are

neat freaks, but we just like things clean, clean, clean. Always

looking at a dirty table in all the same casino restaurants with

flies, stained and old carpets or tiles, crumbs in all corners,

and what looks like today’s and yesterday’s food all over the

chairs, booths, and floors is just gross to both of us. Why don’t

casinos pay more attention to this? I don’t think we have un-

reasonable expectations. Robert J.—Flagstaff

Oh! I totally agree Robert! Disgusted does not even begin to

describe how your observations make me feel! The only way to

make a casino pay more attention to the cleanliness of their res-

taurants, and their property in general, is to communicate your

observations and opinions to them. There are generally a wide

variety of methods to do this. Most casinos have comment cards

which can be filled out anonymously and returned back to a

casino representative. But I always think a face to face conversa-

tion is better than a comment card. Talk to the restaurant man-

ager or go back to the Player’s Club and talk to a representative

there.

Ultimately the situation will resolve itself because one would

hope the message is passed along to the restaurant manager

who is concerned about cleanliness and will ensure workers

will take the time to put in the necessary effort to keep the din-

ing area looking spotless at all times. If the situation is not cor-

rected within one week or so, I’d say try communicating your

discontent one last time. If nothing has changed during your

next visit, skip that restaurant or casino altogether. If the restau-

rant isn’t up to your standards of clean, neither is the kitchen,

nor the rest of the casino, so it’s time to move on to a casino that

takes clean seriously. You and your entertainment dollars

should go elsewhere! $

Do YOU have something to rant about?

Write me at: sami@azgamingguide.com

Casino Sessions Seats Smoke-Free Area Electronic Late Night

Apache Gold Su, We, Th at Noon. Fr & Sa at

7pm. 1st Mo of the month at 7pm 1000 No No No

BlueWater Su at 1pm. Mo-We at 6pm. 350 Yes Yes No

Casino Arizona Arriving Oct. 2012! n/a n/a n/a n/a

Casino del Sol Daily at Noon, 1:30, 2:15, 6:30 &

7:15pm 694 Yes Yes Cosmic Bingo Sa at 11pm.

Cocopah Daily at 1:30 & 6:30pm 350 Yes* Yes No

Desert Diamond I Th-Mo 1:30, 2, 6, 6:30 & 7pm 270 No Yes No

Fort McDowell Sa & Su at 6:45am. We-Mo at

9am. Daily at 12:30 & 6:30pm. 1275

Yes

(2 sections: enclosed

or in general seating)

Yes

Fr & Sa at 12:10am. Lunar Bingo

8/18, 9/15, 10/27, 11/17,

12/22 & 12/31.

Harrah’s Ak-Chin We-Su at 11:30am, 2:30, 3:30,

and 6:30pm 470 Yes Yes No

Lone Butte

Sa & Su at 10am, Noon, 3:45,

5:30 & 6pm. Daily at Noon &

6:30pm.

750 Yes Yes B.A.D. Bingo 2 Fr at 11:30pm &

B.A.D. Bingo Sa at 11:30pm.

Mazatzal Mo-Th at Noon. Tu & Th at

6:30pm. 280 Yes Yes No

Paradise Daily at 1:30 & 6pm. 300 Yes Yes Sa at 11pm varies-888.777.4946.

Vee Quiva Daily at 12:30 & 6:30pm. 366 Yes Yes Bingo Eclipse Sa at 11pm.

Sources: Arizona Department of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 5/01/12, casino websites & direct inquiries by press time. We are not responsible for incorrect, missing, or outdated information.

Contact editor@azgamingguide.com to make updates. *Cocopah Resort Casino offers “Smoke-Free Sundays” which is a casino-wide non-smoking experience every week from 4am Sunday to 4am Monday.

36 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com

CASINO BINGO DIRECTORY

https://www.gaming.konami.com/

CASINO DIRECTORY

38 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2012 | azgamingguide.com

City Phone Slots Hig

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Sources: Arizona Department of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 5/01/12, casino websites & direct inquiries by press time. We are not responsible for incorrect, missing, or outdated information.

Contact editor@azgamingguide.com to make updates. *Cocopah Resort Casino offers “Smoke-Free Sundays” which is a casino-wide non-smoking experience every week from 4AM Sunday to 4AM Monday

RV

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azgamingguide.com facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide

For information on the casinos & much more,

scan our QR codes with your smartphone!

01. Apache Gold Casino Resort Hwy. 70, 5 mi. E. of Globe Globe 800-272-2438 634 Y Y Y Y Y Y

02. BlueWater Resort & Casino 11300 Resort Drive Parker 888-243-3360 493 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

03. Bucky’s Casino 1500 E. Hwy. 69 Prescott 800-756-8744 303 Y Y Y

04. Casino Arizona 101 & McKellips Scottsdale 480-850-7777 931 Y Y Y

05. Casino del Sol 5655 W. Valencia Rd. Tucson 855-765-7829 324 Y Y Y Y Y Y

06. Casino of the Sun 7406 S. Camino De Oeste Tucson 855-765-7829 966

07. Cliff Castle Casino & Hotel I-17, Exit 289 Camp Verde 800-381-7568 656 Y Y Y Y Y

08. Cocopah Resort Casino 15318 S. Ave. B Somerton 800-237-5687 504 Y Y Y Y Y* Y Y Y

09. Desert Diamond Casino I 7350 S. Nogales Hwy. Tucson 866-332-9467 1,065 Y Y Y Y Y Y

10. Desert Diamond Casino II I-19, Exit 80 Tucson 866-332-9467 738 Y Y

11. Desert Diamond Casino-Why Hwy. 86, Milepost 55 Why 866-332-9467 66

12. Fort McDowell Casino Hwy. 87 & Ft. McDowell Rd. Fort McDowell 800-843-3678 906 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

13. Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino 15406 N. Maricopa Rd. Maricopa 480-802-5000 1,089 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

14. Hon-Dah Casino 777 Hwy. 260 Pinetop 800-929-8744 802 Y Y Y Y Y Y

15. Lone Butte Casino 1077 S. Kyrene Rd. Chandler 800-946-4452 850 Y Y Y Y

16. Mazatzal Hotel & Casino Hwy. 87, 1/4 mi. S. of Payson Payson 800-777-7529 407 Y Y Y Y Y Y

17. Paradise Casino 450 Quechan Dr. Yuma 888-777-4946 470 Y

18. Quechan Casino I-8, Exit 166 Winterhaven, CA 877-783-2426 1,000+ Y Y Y Y Y Y

19. Spirit Mountain Casino 8555 Hwy. 95 Mohave Valley 928-346-2000 247

20. Talking Stick Resort 101 & Indian Bend Scottsdale 480-850-7777 732 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

21. Vee Quiva Casino 6443 Komatke Ln. Laveen 800-946-4452 846 Y Y Y

22. Wild Horse Pass Casino 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd. Chandler 800-946-4452 990 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

23. Yavapai Casino 1505 E. Hwy. 69 Prescott 800-756-8744 236 Y

Word Search Solution Sudoku Solution

2 3 8

4 7 1

9 6 5

7 4 9

6 5 2

1 3 8

1 6 5

8 9 3

4 2 7

5 2 3

7 4 9

8 1 6

4 1 7

3 8 6

9 2 5

9 8 6

2 5 1

3 7 4

3 9 7

6 5 4

1 8 2

8 6 4

2 9 1

5 7 3

5 1 2

7 3 8

6 4 9

H A N D I C A P H

L I N K S I C

S G B R T

D R O O A

O A E G N R

O C E E S C

W E N Y S

H G U O R E L G A E

R E V I R D P A R

F O R E C A D D I E

Y E L L O R T

M U L L I G A N

Casino Math: 50 x 60% + 100 x 40% = 70

The chances are 60% for $50 and 40% for $100.

Fun With Numbers: Starting at the top and

moving around clockwise 1,4,9,3,7,5,2,8,6.

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