arizona gaming guide magazine - january 2016 - 08:01
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Hints, Tips, And Advice On Your Favorite Casino Games! A Monthly Publication Created By Slot Machine Game Designers. The Arizona Gaming Guide is a free monthly magazine for people who enjoy visiting casinos and playing casino games. The magazine discusses Slot Machines, Video Slots, Reel Slots, Electronic Table Games like: Blackjack, Roulette, and Craps. Packed with in-depth features, advice, hints, tips, secrets, and so much more! GOT SLOTS? WE DO! THERE’S AN EXCITING NEW LINEUP OF GAMES HERE IN AZ! TRACKING YOUR GAMING BUDGET Here are some hints & tips to start using this year to analyze your play and maximize your return. THE TUCSON AMERICAN INDIAN ARTS EXPO Native art, music, and dance is an integral part of the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show. THE SKINNY ON STRAIGHT LINE BINGO Did you know a Straight Line Bingo can be won in only twelve different ways?TRANSCRIPT
24 GOT SLOTS? WE DO!
THERE’S AN EXCITING NEW
LINEUP OF GAMES HERE IN AZ!
04 EDITOR’S NOTE
06 PLAYERS TALK
10 TABLE GAMES
14 NEW SLOTS
20 WINNING WAYS
22 DINING
24 FEATURE STORY
26 TRIBAL NEWS
28 GAMING NEWS
34 LAUGHLIN, NEVADA
38 CASINO ENTERTAINMENT
40 CASINO BINGO
42 SAMI’S SMACKDOWN
43 FUN FACTS
44 FUN & GAMES
46 CASINO DIRECTORY
IN EVERY ISSUE
azgamingguide.com | January 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide 03
TRACKING YOUR GAMING
BUDGET
Here are some hints & tips to start
using this year to analyze your play
and maximize your return.
THE SKINNY ON STRAIGHT
LINE BINGO
Did you know a Straight Line Bingo
can be won in only twelve different
ways?
40 20
Contents JANUARY
THE TUCSON AMERICAN
INDIAN ARTS EXPO
Native art, music, and dance is an
integral part of the Tucson Gem &
Mineral Show.
26
he casino gaming industry has been my life for nearly 20 years and I’ve
been thrilled to share all my knowledge and experience I’ve acquired over
the years with gaming enthusiasts across the state of Arizona and beyond
through this magazine. Over the years, I’ve had an amazing time reading all of the
e-mails and letters sent to me. And, what I’ve learned is that we all share a com-
mon bond; our love for casino games. We all want to know about new games and
where we can play them. We also want to know about the best strategies and
ways to maximize our chances of winning. And, of course, we all want to be in the
loop on the latest casino gossip and industry trends. As we start off this New
Year, my team and I promise to deliver all of this and more to you in every issue
of the Arizona Gaming Guide . Happy New Year to all of you! We appreciate you
and your continued loyalty. May the New Year bring you much prosperity, joy,
and happiness!
In this issue, you’ll find plenty of reasons to make your next trip to any casino a
success. We’ve got the lowdown on a ton of new slots and those coming soon,
plenty of tips for you to incorporate into casino visits, and much more! Please visit
our Facebook at: 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 AZGamingGuide.com . Let
me know what you think of this issue and have fun!
Alexandra Lang
Editor-in-Chief
Alexandra
VOLUME 08 • ISSUE 01
PUBLISHER
Chris Höft
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Elizabeth Torma
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Alexandra Lang
ART DIRECTOR
Melanie Mueller
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Al Moe
Lee Allen
Mark Novak
Melody Hudson
Lana Hartmann
Samantha Becker
Rodric J. Hurdle-Bradford
ADVERTISING SALES
Elizabeth Torma
Nina Consiglio
MAILING INFORMATION
Arizona Gaming Guide
P.O. Box 20636
Mesa, Arizona 85277
INTERNET INFORMATION
www.azgamingguide.com
www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide
Copyright © 2015 The Arizona Gaming Guide.
All rights reserved.
The Arizona Gaming Guide (AGG) presents casino industry and
gaming related facts and editorial opinions. AGG accepts no
responsibility and no liability for any actions of readers based on
articles and/or advertisements presented within. Information
contained within is not guaranteed to be correct. All pictures,
images, logos, trademarks and trade names, etc. are the sole
property of their respective owners. Intended for single use. Sale
and/or distribution without written consent is not permitted.
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 | January 2016 | azgamingguide.com
“Like” us on Facebook because
we “Like” you too!
www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide
HAPPY NEW YEAR! This Is Our Promise To You
T
PLAYERS TALK FAQ About Class III Gaming
06 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2016 | azgamingguide.com
Q: Does stopping video reels affect a game’s outcome?
A: No, there is absolutely no way to affect a game’s outcome by
stopping the video reels! As soon as the “Spin” button on a slot
is pressed, the result is determined by the random number gen-
erator (RNG). The lights and animations that happen are only
for entertainment purposes and the outcome of the spin doesn’t
change no matter what a player does. The last bonus symbol
can’t be “caught” in time by touching the screen before it passes
by or a winning combination can’t occur by stopping the reels at
precisely the right moment with the Stop/Spin feature.
Q: If a slot hasn’t paid out a jackpot in a while, does that mean
it’s “due” to hit?
A: Every spin on a slot machine is independent of the spin be-
fore. The RNG program that picks which values will be dis-
played on screen after each spin has no ability to control the
future based on past outcomes. All gaming regulations state, at
the very minimum, that every single outcome on a slot machine
must be random at all times and that no slot game will adjust
the likelihood of an event happening based on the history of the
previous games and/or payouts. No matter what anyone says, a
slot is never “due” for a win, a bonus, or a jackpot! Never, ever,
“chase” after anything.
Q: Does cashing out a ticket reset a slot machine?
A: The action of cashing out does not “reset” a slot machine, nor
does it influence the future outcomes of the game. Each spin on
a slot is completely independent from all previous spins and
outcomes. In actuality, each time the “Spin” button is pressed
on a slot, the game starts over. The RNG has no memory of the
previous spin, so the practice of cashing out and placing the
ticket back in the machine only creates an additional paper tick-
et that will have to be tracked and stored by the casino.
Q: Can casinos “tighten” or “loosen” their slots whenever they
want?
A: Many players believe that casinos just “tighten” or “loosen”
their slots whenever they feel like it. Although this would be
and get a $25 gift or 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: [email protected].
quite advantageous for the casino to be able to do this, it’s a
very time-consuming process that needs to involve a lot of peo-
ple. When a new slot machine arrives at a casino, it is initialized
and the payback percentage is selected for the game. This is all
done with a member of the overseeing agency recording all the
settings of the game. It’s not in the best interest of any casino to
change a game’s percentage to make it “tighter” or “looser”
after the initial set-up because it requires downtime, permission
and oversight by a gaming agency, and additional administra-
tive hassle. No slot manager is ever going to want his or her
slots off for more than a few minutes, let alone the days it would
require to go through the rigorous routine of initializing a slot!
Q: Could that jackpot have been mine?
A: You leave a machine, somebody sits down after you and hits
a bonus, a large win or, worse yet, a jackpot! Could that have
been your luck had you not left the machine? Probably not! The
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. To say that both you and the person
who sat down after you would have pressed the button at the
exact same millisecond is very unlikely. Just consider the fact
that the RNG can go through 100,000 or more combinations in
just one second!
Q: Are your chances of losing greater when using free play?
A: Your chances of winning or losing using free play money for
credits are no different than when you use real currency or tick-
ets for credits. The slot machine does not change its behavior
because of the type of credits inserted. Since the casino gaming
industry is so heavily regulated here in the U.S., and in most
other countries around the world, there are many rules in place
which ensure free play is fair for all players. Here’s a hint: keep
track of how much you are winning with your free play money.
Assume you have $10 in free play and you place 50¢ wagers.
This means the free play money will allow you to have 20 free
spins. Count the 20 spins, stop playing, look at your credit me-
ter and see how much you’ve won using your free play money.
That money is yours to do what you want with!
Continued on page 8
Q: Are progressive jackpots set up by the casinos?
A: All progressive systems are rigorously tested by an inde-
pendent laboratory before they make their way on to any casino
floor. A progressive hits when the RNG selects the winning
combination, so no one has any control or influence over when
that will happen. A fact that most players don’t realize is that
large progressive amounts (usually over $100,000) are paid by
the slot machine manufacturers and not the casinos! When huge
progressives hit, representatives from the slot manufacturer will
come out and verify the win.
Q: How many spins, on average, does it take to get into a slot
bonus?
A: Even though slot machines are based on random behavior,
there is a mathematical model behind each game. The average
number of spins (called the pulls-to-hit) it takes to trigger a bo-
nus varies from slot to slot, and it’s up to the game’s mathemati-
cian to determine how often a player will get into a bonus. Vola-
tile slots can take over 180 spins, on average, to get into a bonus
where less volatile slots have much lower pulls-to-hits of be-
tween 60 and 80 spins. Every slot enthusiast should be able to
have a good idea of approximately how many spins it takes to
get into their favorite slot’s bonus.
Q: When is the best time to visit a casino?
A: Many people believe that visiting a casino during a busy time
will increase their likelihood of winning. And, the reason for
this theory is because it just seems there are more jackpots, more
lights flashing, and altogether more action going on when the
casinos are packed. The misconception is that casinos intention-
ally make the machines pay out more when there are crowds to
see the wins. This is false! The RNG in a slot machine doesn’t
know how many people are in the casino. It’s just doing its job
of picking numbers randomly.
On the flip side, many people believe that the best time to visit a
casino is during a weekday when there’s the least amount of
people. Monday is a popular day for this myth since “the ma-
chines are full of money from all the weekend play and they are
ready to pay out.” The other reason some people prefer to play
during the week is because they feel casinos intentionally tight-
en the machines on the weekends. Again, the RNG doesn’t
know which day of the week it is, how many people are in a
casino at any given moment, or what the weather is like outside!
The best time to visit a casino is when you feel the happiest and
luckiest! It’s that simple! My team and I personally enjoy visit-
ing casinos during quieter times to avoid the crowds and to
increase our chances of getting the machines we enjoy playing. $
Q: I’ve heard that the Desert Diamond West Valley Resort
will be opening their doors soon, is that true? Can you
give me some information about this new casino? For ex-
ample, where exactly is it located, how big is it going to be,
how many slots, and so on. Thanks for any information
you can provide.
Gary Ziegelman—Sun City, Arizona
A: The new Desert Diamond Casino—West Valley opened
its doors to the public on Sunday, December 20, 2015. Offer-
ing over 1,089 Class II gaming devices, including some of
the most popular games on the market, there is something at
the casino for everyone to enjoy. For those looking to grab a
bite to eat, the property features a two-venue food court.
Guests interested in getting the most out of their play can
also sign up for a free Rewards Card at the casino Rewards
Center.
Conveniently located at 9431 W. Northern Avenue, east of
the Loop 101 freeway near Glendale, Arizona, the Desert
Diamond Casino—West Valley is just minutes away from
the University of Phoenix Stadium and the Westgate Enter-
tainment District. The new casino is open 24 hours per day,
seven days per week.
This is just the beginning for the Desert Diamond Casino—
West Valley. Construction of the site will continue in phases
over multiple years. Infrastructure for the next phases has
already been installed. Planned future additions include an
expanded gaming floor, hotel, convention and meeting
space, retail, restaurants, and other amenities. Once fully
complete, the facility will create more than 3,000 permanent
jobs in the community and have an annual economic impact
of more than $300 million.
Visitors to the new casino might be amazed to know that a
little over a year ago the site was just an empty lot. Ground
was broken on the casino site in August 2014 and primary
construction started last December. More than 1,300 men
and women and 80 companies worked to build the casino’s
$200 million first phase.
Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment, with four loca-
tions in Arizona (Tucson, Sahuarita, West Valley, 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 DDCAZ.com or by
calling 866.DDC.WINS.
PLAYERS TALK
08 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2016 | azgamingguide.com
Continued from page 6
TABLE GAMES
10 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2016 | azgamingguide.com
Writer Al Moe has worked in the casino industry for many years.
He has lived and worked in Las Vegas, Reno, and Lake Tahoe. He
also attended the University of Nevada, Reno. He is an avid writer
and blogger, author of “Vegas and the Mob"—available at Amazon.
He is also the proud father of four beautiful girls.
Once on the casino floor, cards are logged into a special booklet,
and when the cards are moved to a table the decks are un-
wrapped and the seal is broken before each deck is verified
complete by the Floor Supervisor. This is always done at the
table and with surveillance watching and filming each step. The
cards are then spread on the table and verified by the dealer.
If you are in your favorite casino when games are being opened
you are welcome to watch the process, although you won’t be
able to sit at the table (another safety precaution) until the game
is ready. In addition, the cards are counted down at the end of
the day when the games close.
As for security during blackjack play, automatic shufflers being
employed by many casinos have computer boards and optics.
They can’t sort the cards, but the machine knows the composi-
tion of every deck. If any cards are missing or there are too
many cards, the machine stops and the error must be fixed. No
duplicate cards can be added. It’s a very safe system.
As a player, if you feel an error has been made, speak to your
Pit Boss. If necessary, they can always talk to surveillance for
verification. You can also ask to speak to a CRA officer or call
the Arizona Department of Gaming. They are there to help! $
By Al Moe
ver get the feeling that someone is watching you at the
casino? Well, you’re right! There are Pit Bosses, Floor
Supervisors, Dealers, Security, even the other players are
watching, and of course there’s the Eye-in-the-Sky! That’s the
good news. Casinos are very safe because they have to be, for
player safety and for internal security reasons, most set forth by
the State of Arizona.
Arizona Department of Gaming has the right to request current
identifications from gaming personnel at any time. And, in all
states, Field Agents watch games, dealers and players. They can
request a set of dice from a craps game or decks of cards from
specific or random games. The request cannot be refused.
Because of this, casinos are very careful about their internal con-
trols for dice and playing cards. Blackjack is the most popular
table game in casinos and it has a very small house edge. Be-
cause of this, each casino must have very good Floor Supervi-
sors and dealers as well as a strong surveillance team to watch
for errors. They also have very strict internal controls for how
decks of cards are handled.
Playing card manufacturers must be licensed by the state gam-
ing office. In Arizona, cards are delivered and placed into stor-
age at the casino under 24-hour camera coverage and are held in
a secured location. Access to cards is restricted to a Casino Reg-
ulatory Agency (CRA) officer, a Security officer and a Pit Boss or
Manager who must all accompany any movement from cards in
storage to the gaming pits. Movement is always under the
watchful eye (and cameras) of surveillance.
E
TABLE GAME CHEATING—PART II The Casino Industry Is Highly Regulated And Extremely Secure
14 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2016 | azgamingguide.com
By Lana Hartmann
NEW SLOTS Coming Soon
nd now, people of Gotham City, the moment you have all been waiting for – the
release of Batman Rogues Gallery , the newest video slot game from Aristocrat.
Batman Rogues Gallery is as big and fun as the 1966 TV series it brings to the casino
floor. Every viewer’s favorite characters are here: Batman, The Joker, Penguin, Catwoman,
The Riddler, Mr. Freeze and King Tut, and they are larger than life in Aristocrat’s tower-
ing Behemoth cabinet and in Aristocrat’s award-winning VERVEhd cabinet.
Batman Rogues Gallery is a 4x5 Reel Power game with a two-level single-site progressive jack-
pot and is feature-rich with zany fun, including:
Reel Growth feature, where a wheel will spin awards either credits or from 1-5 reels
growing up to reveal two additional symbols on the reels.
Additional Batman Symbols, where a wheel will spin awards either credits or from 1-5
additional Batman to the top of the reel area.
Free Spins Feature, where 2, 3, 4, or 5 Scattered Bonus symbols award an additional 5, 8,
15, or 20 Free Spins respectively.
Batman Rogues Gallery is configured for 1c - $20 and has a 50/75 credit minimum bet. Make
the big play when you see Batman Rogues Gallery on your favorite casino floor! $
A
Batman Rogues Gallery By Aristocrat
azgamingguide.com | January 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide 15
The Flintstones 3 Reel By Scientific Games
his is a three-reel beauty that will go down in history. The Flintstones 3 Reel Mechanical by
Scientific Games combines the sights and sounds of the classic television series with player-
popular Transmissive Reels feature and Sensory Immersion technology.
Three Fred symbols trigger the top box bonus, randomly awarding a bonus featuring one of the clas-
sic characters. One free spin is awarded with a random multiplier of up to 50x in the Slate Bonus; 2-9
Wild symbols randomly cover the wheels in the Poobah Bonus; a 3-high Wilma symbol covers the
middle reel while reels one and three spin until a winning combination is awarded; once a winning
combination is awarded, the reels will respin 1-5 more times, awarding the same win in the Wilma
Bonus; win up to a 10x multiplier in the Betty Bonus; watch the reels climb up to 5-high in the Fred
Bonus with up to a 10x multiplier, or as locked 2x WILD symbols stay on the reels in the Barney Bo-
nus.
The top box also features credit prizes of a Free Spin Bonus, awarding up to 25 Free Spins! No matter
what the reels show, you’ll have a yabba-dabba-doo time. For more info visit, now.wms.com. $
Coming Soon NEW SLOTS
T
Burning Hot 7 By Aruze
ow available from the Cube-X Innovator series is Burning Hot 7 by Aruze! This
high-volatility game comes with fiery hot pays based on credits staked. Bets of
2 or 3 credits buys access to pay tables with higher pays! Summer has passed
but you can still keep things heated with Burning Hot 7!
The Progressive Jackpots, reel actions, sounds and other game details are customizable.
There are 3 graphs that offer players the excitement of predicting when the next big win
may occur. These informative graphs are based on a game history of the last 500 games!
Being one of the first high denomination 3 reel to be released by Aruze, the excitement
level is through the roof. Placed in the Cube-X cabinet, this 3-reel product has been
transformed into one of the most entertaining experiences one can go through on a casi-
no floor. For more information about this game and other exciting new products by
Aruze, visit their website at aruze.com. $
N
16 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2016 | azgamingguide.com
NEW SLOTS Coming Soon
n December 14, 2015, Scientific Games Corporation
announced gaming regulators have approved the new
TwinStar dual-screen cabinet, a radical first in slot gam-
ing with a stunning, single platform capable of delivering both
WMS and Bally games with maximum results. The new cabinet
is the first to incorporate the Company's next-generation ArgOS
operating system providing enhanced game characteristics and
play features, and will launch with new versions of some of the
Company's most popular game titles, Gold Fish Deluxe and
Quick Shot Dwanwu.
The TwinStar cabinet, the ArgOS operating system and these
two new game themes are approved in multiple jurisdictions
(California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Oklaho-
ma, Minnesota, Wisconsin and New York). Additional approv-
als are anticipated in the coming weeks, including Arizona!
Gavin Isaacs, President and CEO, said, "The TwinStar cabinet is
a major achievement in our integration strategy, involving the
collaboration of our hardware, operating systems, game devel-
opment, quality assurance and many other support teams
around the globe. I am delighted that the initial production of
our TwinStar units is sold out for this quarter, with expected
shipments to occur in the final weeks of December. With Twin-
star and Dualos now approved, we have two innovative dual-screen
video cabinets for our customers around the world."
The TwinStar cabinet features dual, vivid, 24-inch full HD dis-
plays and debuts the ArgOS state-of-the-art operating system
that combines the best technology and content from two of the
industry's strongest slot brands—Bally and WMS—giving casi-
no operators the ability to adapt it for their players. Scientific
Games' innovators have also developed exclusive new game
titles for TwinStar to take advantage of the processing power of
this trailblazing platform. Game themes will include player-
favorite Bally and WMS brands such as Gold Fish Deluxe , Quick
Hit, Quick Shot Dwanwu and Zeus, along with exciting new games
Steam Dream and Hot Blooded.
"The approval of this cabinet heralds the next great evolution in
casino gaming. No detail has been overlooked in creating this
state-of-the-art platform," said Scientific Games' Senior Vice
President & Chief Design Officer Allon Englman. Mr. Isaacs
added. "TwinStar will give casinos a great deal of flexibility in
choosing the very best content from two innovative and proven
gaming brands to excite players and optimize the potential of
O
Gold Fish Deluxe & TwinStar By Scientific Games
their casino floor."
Featuring the Scientific
Games' new CPU 4X
which offers 90% better
processing power and
unlocks a new level of
gameplay and exciting
mathematical experienc-
es, TwinStar also builds
on the award-winning
iDeck button deck by
offering a 40% larger area
for all player interaction.
TwinStar' s 22-inch full
HD digital topper is
offered in two distinctive
styles. Both versions in-
clude beautiful chrome
details, improved sound, and edge lighting; adding beauty and
excitement to casino floors.
Englman notes that WMS and Bally brand content will preserve
many of the features that players love, including Quick Hits
symbol-driven multiple progressives and Gold Fish 's low vola-
tility, high-frequency hits.
The proven WMS brand Gold Fish Deluxe is making a splash as
one of the first games on the revolutionary new TwinStar cabi-
net by Scientific Games. In this nostalgic favorite, players will
go wild in the virtual aquarium for the six bonuses that offer
multipliers up to 10x, Free Spins, Wilds and huge credit prizes
presented in high-definition graphics.
Game highlights include, Gold Fish Betting -- the more active
Gold Fish, the more frequently the Gold Fish Bonus will trigger
and every Fish Bonus ends with a chance to find the Golden
Fish! In Bonus Bubbles, the number of bubbles equal to the bet
multiplier appears and as each bubble pops it may reveal a
credit award or the Golden Fish. Also swimmingly popular,
feeding the fish! The scattered fish food symbols trigger the Fish
Food bonus and award 10x to 100x the total bet.
For more info on Gold Fish Deluxe and the TwinStar dual-
screen cabinet, visit now.wms.com. $
18 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2016 | azgamingguide.com
NEW SLOTS
N’awlins By Rocket Gaming Systems
elcome to a game where the music is just as festive as its features. We’re
talking about N’awlins. The newest title from Rocket Gaming Systems, N’awlins
is a 5 reel, 40 line + 10 option video game.
N’awlins is available on Rocket’s Elite Class cabinet, Winners Edge video cabinet and Gal-
axy cabinet. It has a max bet of 250 credits by default, but is configurable to up to 2,000 credits
and is available in denominations of $0.01, $0.02 and $0.05.
The fun and exciting bonus features of N’awlins will have players coming back for more. The
top four highest paying symbols are stacked four symbols high on all reels during base
game and free games bonus play.
Obtain three Mask symbols scattered on reels 2, 3, and 4 to trigger the Free Games with
Giant Stacked Wilds bonus. In this feature, the player will be awarded 10 free game
spins and each Wild symbol on reels 2 through 5 will transform into a stack of six Wild
symbols. Free Games can be re-triggered during the bonus.
For more information about this game and other games by Rocket Gaming Systems,
visit their website at rocketgaming.com. $
W
I Heart Jackpots Double Classic 7s By IGT
layers’ hearts will skip a beat with IGT’s I Heart Jackpots Double Classic 7s and I Heart
Jackpots Sizzling 7s slots. These thrilling slot titles join the Company’s best-in-class gaming
library for the S3000 cabinet.
The genre-redefining spinning reel cabinet enhances the game theme’s dynamic graphic features
with its modern design and lively lighting package. Leveraging the Company’s iconic “I heart”
game symbol , both slot titles are equipped with a 5 reel, 20 pay line configuration.
Designed for players who seek entertainment and low volatility gameplay, I Heart Jackpots
sounds off the popular 60s song, “Do You Love Me” by the Contours. For big-win potential, I
Heart Jackpots can reel in explosive multi-level progressive wins when three or more scattered heart
symbols land on a played pay line and trigger the free games bonus.
Players’ pulse rates will continue to elevate with the Buy-a-Pay bet feature, which enables the
player to wager more to increase their win potential. For more information about IGT’s S3000
games, visit igt.com. $
P
20 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2016 | azgamingguide.com
WINNING WAYS By Lana Hartmann
henever I want to know if I’ll get the best deal on an
upcoming purchase, like for a new TV, I always
make sure to check all of the prices online, in the
stores, and even with my friends and family. Then I’ll try
searching for coupons and watch for any sales that might pop
up. Does this sound familiar? I’m pretty sure all of you do the
same thing, right?
Well, how many of you apply those same principles and prac-
tices to your gaming dollars? I know I didn’t until just a few
years ago. This month, I thought I’d let you in on a little secret.
I’ll tell you a little bit about my system for tracking my gam-
bling budget so I know which casinos and which play sessions
(yes, even which games) give me the best deal!
I’ve set up quite a sophisticated spreadsheet to accurately track
my gambling budget every year. During every gambling trip, I
make sure to record the following information for later entry.
The date and time of my play
My allocated budget
Which slots and games I played
How long each game was played for
How much bankroll I used on each game
How many Players Club points I earned playing each game
What the approximate value of any gifts/promotions were
The value of the comped hotel room/free food/show tickets
How much money (gas, plane, rental car) did it cost to get there
In entering all of this information into my spreadsheet, I can use
my allocated budget as a baseline to see how much value I re-
ceived back in Players Club points, total wagers, promotions,
and other comps. The easiest way to figure out the value of the
Players Club points earned is to multiply the number of points
earned by the amount of money required to earn one point.
Each casino is different, so check with each casino’s Players
Club. Just as an example, let’s say my recent trip to “Casino Of
Many Fun Slots” netted me 529 points. $2 of wagering earns
patrons at Casino Of Many Fun Slots one point. This means I
wagered a total of $1,058.00 while I played ($2 per point X 529
points = $1,058.00).
Now, let’s assume I brought a $100 bankroll to Casino Of Many
Fun Slots. I’d say I had a pretty good day considering I was able
W
TRACKING YOUR GAMING BUDGET How To Analyze Your Play To Maximize Your Return
to wager over ten times the bankroll I brought! On the other
hand, had I brought $200 or $500 dollars, I’d say I’d be a lot less
pleased. Wouldn’t you agree?
Going back to having brought $100, earned 529 points (wagered
over $1,000), and now also having a free buffet (let’s say a lunch
buffet costs $12.99 at Casino Of Many Fun Slots), and I also
picked up a set of mixing bowls (whose cheapest online retail
price I can find is $14.99 including tax and shipping). My $100
earned me $1,000 worth of wagers, 529 points, and $27.98 in
food and gifts!
Now, imagine comparing that experience with another casino
trip to “Casino Of Few Fun Slots” where my bankroll is also
$100, I earned 141 points (where every $5 earns one point), I had
a free buffet (valued at $9.99) and also picked up a new Ameri-
can flag (valued at $7.99 total). At Casino Of Few Fun Slots my
$100 bought me only $705.00 in wagers (141 points X $5 per
point = $705.00) and only netted me $17.98 in food and gifts.
Based on this info, where would you go next time? Casino Of
Many Fun Slots or Casino Of Few Fun Slots? I’ll stick with the
Casino Of Many Fun Slots for now, thank you!
Keep this analysis up for all of your casino trips and you’ll
probably see a pattern emerging. One casino (or possibly sever-
al) will begin to stand out as better in value than others. Dig
even deeper by keeping track of the individual games you play,
like I do, and even specific slots at certain casinos will begin to
stand out!
How do you keep track of your gaming budget in order to de-
termine how much value you get from every trip? Please send
us an e-mail to [email protected] and let us know! $
22 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2016 | azgamingguide.com
CASINO DINING
BUCKY’S CAFE JANUARY SPECIALS Every Day Of The Week There’s Something Delectable For Just $4.99
y last trip to Bucky’s and Yavapai Casinos in Pres-
cott, Arizona during December was as spectacular
as the last. I was able to play a ton of new slots,
played some of my favorite Game King video poker and video
keno games, won a little money, and ate some really excellent
food at a great price.
Along the way, I also finagled the January 2016 menu from the
Food and Beverage Department. I couldn’t resist sharing the
new specials for Bucky’s Café with all of you. Not only are the
Lunch Specials just $4.99 (with the exception of Taco Tuesday
when the price is only $2!), but the drink specials are only $3
and sound delicious!
Lunch is served from 11am to 4pm and Dinner is served from 4
to 8pm, seven days a week.
Monday
Chicken Oriental Salad—Crispy greens, water chestnuts, grilled
chicken, mandarin oranges, and grape tomatoes tossed in ginger
vinaigrette, topped with crispy noodles.
Tuesday
Taco Tuesday $2—Served with rice and beans.
Wednesday
Gypsy Burger—A juicy hamburger patty cooked to order,
topped with bacon, cucumber, red onion, tomato, ranch dress-
ing, mozzarella and parmesan cheese, served with a side.
Note: I’m going back up to Bucky’s and Yavapai Casinos in January
on a Wednesday just to try the Gypsy Burger special and I believe you
all should join me!
Thursday
Hot Pastrami on Rye—Hot Pastrami topped with Swiss cheese,
M
By Mark Novak
azgamingguide.com | January 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide 23
coarse grind mustard, and pickles, on grilled Rye bread, served
with a side.
Friday
Grilled Salmon Sandwich—Grilled Salmon patty on a burger
bun, topped with shredded lettuce, tomato, and tartar sauce,
served with a side.
Saturday
Tamale Plate—Two beef tamales served enchilada style, served
with rice and beans.
Sunday
Chicken Fried Steak—With mashed potatoes and buttered corn,
topped with country style gravy.
Beverages For Only $3
Fire And Brimstone—Fireball
Whiskey topped with Cock N’
Bull Ginger Beer.
Johnny Fire Seed—Fireball
Whiskey, Sour Apple Pucker
and Apple Juice.
Fiery Scotch Doubles—Fireball
Whiskey, Butterscotch Schnapps
& Coffee, topped with Whipped
Cream.
Ol’ Mug Ball—Fireball Whis-
key, Root Beer Schnapps and
Cola.
These drinks sound awesome! $
24 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2016 | azgamingguide.com
Bucky’s Casino
Prescott, AZ
Sphinx 3D & Bejeweled 3D in
pennies by GTECH.
Wheel of Fortune Pink Dia-
mond in dollars and Wheel of
Fortune Ultra 5 Reels in pen-
nies, both by IGT.
Crystal and The Gold in pen-
nies by Aruze.
And finally, Valkyries in
pennies and Double Jack -
pot Gems in quarters by Mul-
timedia Games/Everi.
Choose from over 525 slots
featured at both Bucky's
and Yavapai Casinos. With
a wide variety of play from
new games to your old
favorites, you will have an
experience at Bucky's and
Yavapai Casinos that you
won't soon forget. Also,
breathe easy in their new
non-smoking room at Ya-
vapai Casino. They have
carefully selected over 80 of
your favorite games and
placed them in their non-
smoking room!
Talking Stick Resort
Scottsdale, AZ
Jurassic Park Wild Excursion
where you can play 1200
ways in pennies with a 75
credit min and a 300 credit
max and Jurassic Park Wild
Storm where you can play 720
ways with the same min
and max bets. Both games
feature several free spin
bonuses where you start
with 10 free spins and can
win more, plus a T-Rex
Chase bonus where you
pick for credits.
From Scientific Games, the
Triple Cash Wheel Featuring
Quick Hit in pennies. Here
the min bet is 100 credits
and the max is 500 with 5
levels of Quick Hit progres-
sive jackpots, a chance to
win up to three spins on the
wheel, and a free spins bo-
nus with 10 free games and
all wins tripled.
At Talking Stick Resort and
Casino Arizona, you have
over 1,650 slots to choose
from across both proper-
ties!
BlueWater Resort & Casino
Parker, AZ
From Scientific Games an
entire bank of new games
in pennies including Spirit
Guide Panda, Shadow Dia-
mond, Empress of Time, Gin-
ger Wild, Rebel Wild, and
Wild Amigos.
From Aristocrat another
new bank of penny games
including Wild Leprecoins,
Birds of Pay, Golden Peach,
Electric Boogaloo, and Panda
Paradise.
If you are looking for a
change of pace, then head
over to their high-limit
lounge, open around the
clock.
Play high-limit slots of all
different varieties, includ-
ing mechanical and video
reels, video poker featuring
machines with denomina-
tions available in $1, $5,
$10, and $25. Offering the
newest slot machines in
Arizona, BlueWater is the
hottest 24/7 Resort and Ca-
sino on the water.
Mazatzal Hotel & Casino
Payson, AZ
From Aruze, two games
including Gorilla Magnifi-
cent 7s and Double Nutty 7s.
Plus, IGT’s Jurassic Park .
With over 400 slots, you’ll
be amazed at the variety of
machines, from progressive
to single reels. All of your
favorites are here – plus
video poker and video ke-
no machines.
The slots are in denomina-
tions that range from one
cent to five dollars. Enjoy
the latest in electronic and
video slot machines in the
world!
They also have a wide area
of progressive machines
available that also vary in
denomination. Some games
may have jackpots in excess
of a million dollars at any
one time. Plus, 100% of
their slot machines are
Ticket-In, Ticket-Out. Make
sure you check out the lat-
est at Mazatzal!
azgamingguide.com | January 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide 25
Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino
Maricopa, AZ
OK, now this is a lot of new
games! From IGT/GTECH
they have Jurassic Park ,
Party Time Progressives, and
a bank of Golden Eagle and
Oceans of Gold.
From Scientific Games they
have Wonder Woman and
Fu Dao Le.
From Konami they have
Radiant Queen, Chili Chili
Fire, Dragon’s Law Twin
Fever, Fortune Stacks, Bull
Mystery, and Dragon Cele-
bration.
And finally, from a small
but up-and-coming slot
manufacturer called Light-
ning Games, they have
Popeye—7 Seas and Cinderel-
la.
When you visit, you’ll find
the very best selection of
video poker and slots, with
1,089 games in denomina-
tions that range from pen-
nies to high-limit $25 ma-
chines!
Fort McDowell Casino
Fountain Hills, AZ
They have recently put in
several of IGT’s new
S3000’s and WMS Blade
reels.
On the IGT slots, they have
5 line, 5 coin, 3 reel slots in
quarters with themes like
Triple Cash and Triple Strike.
In pennies they have both 3
and 5 reel S3000’s with
themes like Stacked Red
White and Blue, 2X3X4X5X
Super Times Pay and Hot
Pink 7’s. They also offer these
new S3000’s in high de-
nominations of $1, $2, and
$5. The dollar games have
themes like Triple Gold and
Triple Hot Ice and on the $2
and $5 slots they have Dou-
ble Diamond and Double
Double Gold.
They also just added a bank
of the new WMS Blade
Reels, which are quarter, 3
reel, 5 coin progressives
with new themes like Heat
Wave, Aftershock, and The
Best Things In Life. Why not
try them all!
Gila River Casinos
Chandler & Laveen, AZ
Between Lone Butte, Wild
Horse Pass, and Vee Quiva
Casinos, there are over
2,600 slots to choose from.
Some of the newest games
at Lone Butte include: The
Big Bang Theory, Willy Won-
ka Pure Imagination, Britney
Spears, Thunder Cash, Flying
Horse, Mustang Money 2,
Rumble Rumble, Zuma, The
Wizard of Oz, Gold Class
Cash Express, Batman, and
Moby Dick.
At Wild Horse Pass you’ll
find Sphinx 3D, Bejeweled
3D, Fu Dao Le, Gold Fish 3,
The Three Kings, 5 Treasures,
and The Lord of The Rings
The Reels of Rivendell.
And, finally, at Vee Quiva
you’ll play Star Trek , Dun-
geons & Dragons, The Flint-
stones, Mad Men, Willy Won-
ka & the Chocolate Factory,
Ultimate X Poker, The Ro-
mance of Fire & Rain, Miss
Liberty, Super Wheel Blast,
and more!
Desert Diamond WVR
Glendale, AZ
This brand new casino
opened their doors on De-
cember 20 at 1pm to a mas-
sive crowd eager to play.
Here you’ll find 40,000
square feet of winning right
in the middle of all the ac-
tion and 1,089 of the hottest
games around with longer
playtimes and better odds.
Make sure to visit them this
month and you’ll be able to
enjoy games like 100 Saber
Toothed Tiger, Cherry Red,
Pompeii, Aztec Dream, Buffa-
lo, Golden Tower, Temple of
Riches, Raging Rhino, and
Power 7s among plenty of
other slot titles.
While you are there, make
sure to sign up for Desert
Diamond’s Rewards Card.
They represent a new loyal-
ty program in the Valley so
be sure to get the most
bang for your buck by be-
coming a member. Plus,
their food court is ready for
your appetite! They are at
the 101 & Northern Ave. $
26 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2016 | azgamingguide.com
TRIBAL NEWS
humbing through my American Indian—Arizona
Events directory [USAIndianInfo.com] in search of a
cultural way to begin the New Year and wham, there it
is—Tucson’s American Indian Arts Exposition, January 31-
February 14.
The indigenous festival of Native art, music, and dance has, for
25 years, been an integral part of the nationally-known Tucson
Gem & Mineral Show, the largest of its kind in the world that
attracts hundreds of thousands of rock, gem, and fossil hunters
to the Old Pueblo each year. “Native American artists come to
the Gem and Mineral Show themselves to collect difficult to
obtain semi-precious stones, gems, and beads like the Czecho-
slovakian Charlotte-cut seed beads that are used to decorate
everything from bead dresses to moccasins,” says event coordi-
nator Fred Synder.
Artists representing tribal nations in the United States, Canada,
Alaska, Mexico, and Central and South America have been a
part of the expo over the years with 40 or more taking turns
annually demonstrating their centuries-old trades.
“It’s a cultural experience,” says Synder. “Along with the items
for sale, there will be demonstrations by the artists and crafts
people, social dancing, live music, and food. The artists wel-
come the opportunity to answer questions about how their
items are made from natural materials and how they represent
their individual cultures. The gem show is all about a ton of this
and a kilo of that, things made around the world in multiples.
At our show, everything is quality in the form of unique one-of-
a-kind pieces from Huichol beadwork to jewelry making.”
Some artist attendees will be weaving baskets while others will
be smithing gold and silver, painting pottery, or stringing bead-
ed earrings. “Handcrafting can be a slow process compared
with assembly-line production, but the finished product is
unique, durable, and a reflection of the spirit of the individual
who created it. Prayers of the artists go into everything they
make.”
Culture is heavily emphasized in this traditional atmosphere. In
the interest of maintaining harmony, a ritual blessing ceremony
is performed daily before the doors are opened to the public
where artists offer up thanks for their materials. For instance, a
carver of flutes will bless the tree that shared its limb or a drum
maker will bless the spirit of the animal that provided its hide.
In recent years, the expo has included a wide variety of artisans.
Like the glazed black pottery with turquoise inlay crafted over
the last four decades by Maria Adelicia, a Pueblo tribal member
from New Mexico. “There are only a few of us throughout the
country that glaze our pottery this way,” she says. “I do all the
designs and my son, daughter, and I do all the hand crafting.
Our creations amaze people who see our work for the first
time,” says the San Juan resident who lives out of a suitcase for
several weeks per year attending shows and pow wows to vend
her unique products.
Also in a class of his own in product production is Navajo/Hopi
craftsman Harry Bert of Flagstaff. The former union pipefitter
took up craftwork when bad knees dictated a change in careers.
T
Images & Words By Lee Allen
TUCSON’S AMERICAN INDIAN ARTS EXPO Visitors Will Enjoy The Variety Of Native Art, Music, And Dance
A variety of Native American artists will be on hand to demon-
strate how they create their artistry. Questions are welcomed.
TRIBAL NEWS
azgamingguide.com | January 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide 27
In addition to silver jewelry, he’s found a distinctive product.
“I’m one of the first to specialize in corn dolls,” he says of his
carvings made from cottonwood tree roots.
“Grandmother told me about the Creation story and I put two
and two together and came up with this concept --- children are
like corn, some are small, some grow very large, their faces
aren’t set as kids and they look pretty universal when they’re
young. That’s why my corn dolls have no distinctive faces and
are always twisted and bent, like a bunch of kids that are con-
stantly moving around, waving back at you.”
His corn doll creations are colorful with acrylics that soak into
the cottonwood, making its thick corky bark lighter and vibrant.
“The colors are like morning dust, lots of yellow --- like corn
ready to grow,” he says. Bert, himself a lover of the outdoors,
also has original sterling silver jewelry with wildlife themes.
“You’ll see a lot of elk, buffalo, and eagles in my work because I
love animals and whenever I’m in the outdoors looking for
cottonwood supplies, images get stuck in my head and end up
in my jewelry --- bears for strength, cornstalks as the tree of life,
whirlwinds representing new beginnings.”
Then there’s Ernie Northrup from the village of Kykotsmovi on
3rd Mesa who unabashedly describes himself as a Hopi Renais-
sance Man. “I live Hopi, breathe Hopi, 24-7,” he says.
Northrup is long on talent and short on shyness: ”It’s hard to
say what I excel at because I make silver and gold jewelry,
drums, flutes, weavings, wood carvings --- anything and every-
thing. I was taught to never say ‘I can’t and now I’m like The
Little Engine That Could…I think I can, I think I can.”
Acting as both craftsman for his own creations and middleman
for the work of others, Northrup says, “Everything I create with
my hands has a story behind it. When I pick up a stone on the
ground or a limb that fell from a tree, I change the spirit of it by
bringing life to it. I put my soul into the outcome of it as a lega-
cy to leave behind.”
Northrup will be on hand again at this year’s event as will an-
other crowd favorite, Abraham Begay, who makes custom Nav-
ajo jewelry from a 30-year collection of turquoise stones. Other
vendors will include Zuni fetishes, Shoshone cut beadwork,
Alaskan artifacts, hand-painted feathers, and buffalo skulls and
hides.
The legacies displayed by Native American craftsmen and
women will be available for viewing and sale through Valen-
tine’s Day at the American Indian Arts Exposition, open daily
10am-5pm, at the Flamingo Quality Hotel Ballroom, 1300 North
Stone Avenue, Tucson. Admission is free with donations accept-
ed for scholarships. $
Artistry comes in all forms like this hand-made drum.
Maria Adelicia’s (Pueblo) glazed pottery with turquoise inlay.
28 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2016 | azgamingguide.com
GAMING NEWS
Recently, Fantasy Sports sites have begun to publicly promote
Self-Exclusion options on their website. These links allow play-
ers to sign up for a program that will deactivate their accounts
for a designated amount of time. The program is aimed at help-
ing those with gambling addictions limit the amount of finan-
cial harm they can impose on themselves and their families.
The Arizona Office of Problem Gambling (OPG) has been offer-
ing a Self-Exclusion Program for more than a decade to Arizo-
na residents who also suffer from gambling addictions. The
program offers individuals the ability to exclude themselves
from all Arizona Casinos, as well as some out-of-state casinos,
for a period of one, five or ten years.
The program currently has more than 2,500 participants. Many
people who have opted for the one and five-year Self-Exclusion
Fantasy Sport Sites Bring Renewed Attention To Self-Exclusion Program
options have renewed again after their expiration. The pro-
gram has been used by many as a successful tool while in re-
covery from gambling addictions. The OPG works closely with
the casinos to ensure self-excluded patrons are recognized and
immediately removed from the casino floors. If a participant
were to successfully enter a casino and win, they are barred
from claiming their winnings and instead all money is turned
over to charity.
The Global Cash Access (GCA) STEP program also allows indi-
viduals to exclude themselves from using ATMs at over 1,000
gambling locations. For more information about the Self-
Exclusion program, the GCA STEP program, and other pro-
grams provided by the Arizona Office of Problem Gambling,
please visit their website at problemgambling.az.gov. $
By Amanda Jacinto
30 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2016 | azgamingguide.com
GAMING NEWS
Scientific Games Corporation announced that its Hot Shot
Casino Slots game has been selected as one of Facebook's 2015
Games of the Year. Recently released by Facebook, the annual
list honors the games, developers and publishers that most
impress Facebook developers and its players. According to
Facebook, more than 450 million people play games or con-
nect to games via Facebook on mobile devices and consoles
each month.
Developed by SG Interactive, a division of Scientific Games,
Hot Shot Casino Slots was one of eight games, and one of two
social casino games, chosen as part of Facebook's 2015 Best
Web Games. "We are thrilled that Hot Shot Casino Slots was
selected by Facebook as one of this year's best web games.
This recognition exemplifies our deep understanding of our
players and the market, and it is a validation of Scientific
Games' commitment to creating the best entertainment for
players wherever they are – online, mobile or in the casino,"
said Barry Cottle, Chief Executive Interactive at Scientific
Games.
Launched on Facebook in September 2015, Hot Shot Casino
houses some of the newest slots in both land-based and online
casinos and features popular games such as Zeus III, 88 For-
tunes and Hot Shot Progressive in addition to a large collection of
branded slots. Facebook users can play games by WMS, Bally,
and ShuffleMaster with Hot Shot Casino Slots! Just point your
browser to Facebook and search for Hot Shot Casino Slots. $
Scientific Games & Facebook
Everi Holdings Inc. announced recently that it has expanded
its relationship with Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertain-
ment to now include an agreement for the placement of a
range of their electronic gaming machines and payments solu-
tions at the West Valley Resort in Glendale, Arizona which is
now open. The West Valley Resort features multiple Everi
gaming device banks, including the revolutionary TournEvent
slot tournament system as well as a variety of video and me-
chanical reel gaming device titles, including Black Diamond ,
Double Jackpot Gems and Wild Wild Gems. The new casino also
deploys a suite of Everi’s payments solutions, including ATM/
Cash access and check guarantee services, full-service kiosks,
jackpot payment kiosks, and more.
“Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise is a valued customer
with a solid representation of our games products at their
existing casinos and we are very pleased to expand our strate-
gic partnership with them to address many of their gaming
and technology needs at their newest property,” said Ram V.
Chary, Everi President & CEO.
“We are delighted to extend our partnership with Everi and
bring a broad range of their gaming and payments solutions
to our new West Valley Resort,” said Henry Childs, West Val-
ley Resort General Manager. “Everi’s unique combination of
products and solutions will allow us to demonstrate to our
local players our commitment to providing the best in casino
gaming entertainment and the most secure transactions.” $
Everi & Desert Diamond West Valley
azgamingguide.com | January 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide 33
GAMING NEWS
On Saturday, January 30, 2016 from 5 to 9pm, the Sun Lakes Lions Club will
host their 12th Annual Casino Night to benefit Lions Camp Tatiyee. Dealers
and wait staff will be provided courtesy of Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino. There
will be plenty of classic casino games available for all attendees to play. Tick-
ets are $20 if purchased online as presale and $25 at the door. Since 1958,
Lions Camp Tatiyee is the only organization in Arizona that provides indi-
viduals with special needs the opportunity to spend a week away from home
in the White Mountains, enjoying activities and meeting new friends, all free
of charge. The camp provides this unique experience to special needs camp-
ers in Arizona to empower them to grow socially, physically and emotional-
ly by trying new activities and challenging personal limits. Campers at Lions
Camp Tatiyee in the Pinetop/Lakeside area enjoy 88 acres of beautiful Pon-
derosa Pine forest on the Mogollon Rim. Campers have the opportunity to
participate in a wide array of programs including hiking, fishing, swimming,
go-karting, art, archery, recreation, nature exploration, cooking, mud pit,
talent show, dances, and campfires. $
Sun Lakes Lions Club Hosts Annual Casino Night Benefitting Camp Tatiyee
Aquarius Casino Resort
800.662.LUCK
aquariuscasinoresort.com.
1,250+ slots, no smoking slot area,
high limit slots area, blackjack, table
games, roulette, craps, keno, race/
sports book.
Avi Resort & Casino
(Fort Mojave Tribe)
800.430.0721
avicasino.com.
1,000+ slots, bingo, blackjack, table
games, craps, roulette, poker room,
keno, race/sports book, KidsQuest.
Colorado Belle Hotel Casino
877.460.0777
coloradobelle.com.
750+ slots, blackjack, table games,
craps, roulette, poker room, keno,
race/sports book. Build your own
amazing burger at Pint’s Brewery!
Riverside Resort Hotel & Casino
800.227.3849
riversideresort.com.
1,300+ slots, no smoking slot area,
high limit slots area, bingo, black-
jack, table games, craps, roulette,
poker room, keno, race/sports book.
Pioneer Hotel & Gambling Hall
800.634.3469
pioneerlaughlin.com
490 slots, blackjack, table games,
craps, roulette, sports book. Make
sure to check out the video poker &
reel slots!
Harrah’s Laughlin
800.447.8700
harrahslaughlin.com
900+ slots, no smoking slot area,
high limit slots area, blackjack, table
games, craps, roulette, poker room,
live keno, race/sports book.
Golden Nugget Laughlin
800.237.1739
goldennugget.com/laughlin
1,000+ slots, blackjack, table games,
craps, roulette, poker room, sports
book. Sign up for the player’s club
and spin for free play!
Edgewater Hotel Casino
800.677.4837
edgewater-casino.com.
750+ slots, no smoking slot area,
high limit slots area, blackjack, table
games, roulette, craps, race/sports
book. Great all-around casino!
We are not responsible for incorrect, missing, or outdated information. To inform us of
updates, please email [email protected]. The Nevada Gaming Control Board
publishes statistics on casino gaming activity in Nevada according to their state’s gaming
regulations. The most current data for Laughlin at press time is from three months prior.
*A negative hold percentage indicates that game overpaid during the stated month.
Tropicana Laughlin
800.243.6846
troplaughlin.com
1,000+ slots, blackjack, table games,
craps, roulette, and a sports book.
Stop in for lunch at Carnegie’s or
the Poolside Café and enjoy the food!
Laughlin River Lodge
800.835.7904
laughlinriverlodge.com
1,000+ guest rooms and suites, over
30,000 square feet of the hottest
Vegas-style gaming, four restau-
rants, fast food options, & more!
Slots Hold % Tables Hold %
Loose $1 4.23 Blackjack / 21 14.19
$5 4.53 Craps 19.33
25¢ 5.36 Roulette 20.04
Multi-Denom 5.91 Pai Gow Poker 21.96
5¢ 6.08 Let It Ride 27.59
$25 7.10 Other Table Games 28.89
1¢ 10.45 Three Card Poker 31.10
Tight Megabucks 12.97
Other Hold %
Loose Sports Pools 12.28 Win Amount Dollars
Bingo 16.41 Slots 35.2 mil.
Race Books 17.72 Tables 3.1 mil.
Tight Live Keno 28.12 Other 1.0 mil.
Laughlin’s Gaming Statistics October 2015
LAUGHLIN, NEVADA Directory & Gaming Statistics
34 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2016 | azgamingguide.com
hen I first walked up the hallway in the Tropicana
Laughlin to The Steakhouse on media day I knew I
was in for a treat. Upon walking through the main
doors, the excitement was palpable and the aroma from a varie-
ty of dishes was drifting slowly from the back of the restaurant
and the open kitchen. Having arrived a little early, I managed to
get a glimpse of the menu and an understanding of which direc-
tion The Steakhouse at Tropicana Laughlin was all about.
The interior is warm, inviting, and spacious. The dining room
clearly accommodates any size party in an intimate setting. The
décor is modern, fresh, and unassuming. Clearly, the food and
the service will do all the talking here, which is as it should be.
The Steakhouse Chef Cole Sheridan said, “Welcome to The Steak -
house where an amazing modern restaurant design meets classic
American steakhouse cuisine. Our menu features time-honored
primal cuts of beef in addition to ocean fresh seafood, and our
unique specialty entrees and appetizers. I wish to extend my
appreciation to our guests for choosing our restaurant to enjoy a
fabulous dining experience. Thank you for allowing me the
privilege to express my passion of food and culinary creativity
through our menu.”
Chef Sheridan’s menu includes such treats as Pan Asian
Crunchy Shrimp in a red pepper peri peri sauce and Crispy
Onion Petals with a whole grain mustard aioli among the Start-
ers. Of course, an all-time favorite is his Lump Crab Cake Duo
with a chipotle aioli, an absolute must when you dine here. Per-
sonally, I’m particular to salads at the moment and Chef Cole’s
Traditional Baby Spinach Salad with a warm bacon vinaigrette,
W
By Mark Novak
shaved red onions, chopped egg, smoked bacon, and bleu
cheese crumbles was a definite temptation and a real favorite.
For the entrees, The Steakhouse features all of the obvious
choices from steak to pork to chicken to seafood, all prepared to
a guest’s specifications and with typical steakhouse accompani-
ments. What struck me most were the Chef Cole’s Specialties
which included Trio Of Surf And Turf (tender medallions with
a trio of broiled cold water lobster, crab Oscar, and barbeque
shrimp, served with red skinned mashed potatoes), Twin Cold
Water Lobster Tails (with rice pilaf and veggies), Vegetarian
Pasta (Whole grain pasta with butter wilted spinach, sautéed
julienne vegetables, garlic, and parmesan cheese in a vegetable
broth), and Alaskan King Crab (half or full pound with a lemon
butter sauce).
After you enjoy dinner at The Steakhouse , make sure to check
out the new lounge as well. With comfortable seating, bar top
multi-game video poker, as many TVs as you can realistically
watch at the same time, along with a great lineup of entertain-
ment, this is the place to hang out at the Tropicana Laughlin.
During your next visit to the Tropicana Laughlin, check out all
of their brand new slots. Every month, they have something
new on their floor. I used their buy-one get-one free promotion
to get a great rate. Just call 800.343.4533 and use the offer code
4150 to get your deal! For information about the Tropicana
Laughlin, their specials, and a lot more, visit their website at
TropLaughlin.com. $
TROPICANA LAUGHLIN RENOVATES A Brand New Steakhouse And Lounge Area Awaits Patrons
36 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2016 | azgamingguide.com
LAUGHLIN, NEVADA
The Steakhouse At Tropicana Laughlin
The Lounge At Tropicana Laughlin
LAUGHLIN, NEVADA
azgamingguide.com | January 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide 37
Do you have a question for a Marketing Director? Have you
ever wondered about the people working behind the scenes?
Do you want to find out how it really works? We know you do
and here is your chance to find out!
Send your question in an email with “Ask Joe” in the subject to our
address at [email protected] and if Joe selects your question
to be answered in an upcoming issue, you’ll get a $25 gift card! (If
you prefer to send a letter, you may mail it to the following address:
“Ask Joe” Arizona Gaming Guide PO BOX 20636 Mesa, AZ 85277) Grilled Steak And Asparagus Spears With A Sweet And Spicy Glaze
CASINO ENTERTAINMENT Listings
38 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2016 | azgamingguide.com
Apache Gold Casino—Globe, AZ—800.272.2438
Events:
Clinton Anderson Horsemanship Clinic—Jan. 8-10
Apache Laffs Comedy Show—Jan. 15-16
Through The Roots—Jan. 30
BlueWater Casino—Parker, AZ—888.243.3360
Dig Lounge:
Featuring a variety of live bands, karaoke & DJs—Daily at 5pm
Events:
Justin Shandor As The Ultimate Elvis—Jan. 30
Philip Bauer As Johnny Cash—Jan. 30
Casino Arizona—Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777
The Showroom:
Generation Idol (Billy Idol Tribute)—Jan. 8-9, Blasphemous Rumors
(Depeche Mode Tribute)—Jan. 22-23, Aeromyth (Tribute to Aer-
osmith)—Jan. 29-30
The Arizona Room:
Chad Freeman And Redline (Country)— Mon. 8pm, Arizona Room
Trivia—Tue. 7pm, Country Dance Instruction (Learn to Dance)—
Wed. at 6pm, Daisy Train (Country)—Wed. 8pm, Latin Fire Dance
Nights (Learn to Dance)—Thu. at 6pm, Superhero Band—Fri. at
8:30pm
Casino Del Sol—Tucson, AZ—520.838.6506
Paradiso Bar & Lounge:
Thursday Tributes: Beatles Tribute—Jan. 7, Muse Tribute—Jan. 21,
Frankie Valli Tribute—Jan. 28. Friday Nights: Vox Urbina—Jan. 8,
George Howard Band—Jan. 15, Risque Band—Jan. 22, Sun City
Groove—Jan. 29. Saturday Nights: Latin Soul—Jan. 9, Edna & Ely B
Cool—Jan. 16, Los Sociales—Jan. 23, 80s & Gentlemen—Jan. 30
Cliff Castle Casino—Camp Verde, AZ—800.381.7568
Dragonfly Lounge:
Featuring a variety of live bands & DJs on weekends
Cocopah Resort Casino—Somerton, AZ—800.237.5687
Events: Karaoke with Bling Bling/DJ Sosa —Th, Fr & Sa at 9pm
Desert Diamond Casino I—Tucson, AZ—866.332.9467
Monsoon Nightclub:
Groove Live with DJ Blade—Fridays, Old School Mix!
Noches Caliente—Saturdays, The hottest Tex Mex and Tejano music!
Desert Diamond Casino II—Sahuarita, AZ—866.332.9467
Sports Bar:
Karaoke Night—We 7-11pm, Live music or DJs—Fr & Sa
Diamond Center:
Willie Nelson—Jan. 3, Brian McKnight—Jan. 23, Ron White—Feb. 6
Fort McDowell Casino—Fort McDowell, AZ—800.843.3678
Lucky 7 Saloon:
Featuring a variety of live music every weekend
Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino—Maricopa, AZ—480.802.5000
Featured Entertainment: Blue Oyster Cult—Jan. 30
The Lounge: Featuring live music a ll month long. Wednesdays
In The Lounge: Enjoy live music from Noon—4pm. The Lounge
Happy Hour: Enjoy Happy hour and live music Tuesdays &
Wednesdays from 5 – 8pm.
Hon-Dah Casino—Pinetop, AZ—800.929.8744
Timbers Lounge and Showroom: Munday Funday—Comedy
Show 7pm, Radio Rave (Variety)—Jan. 5-9, Country Road 5 (Country
& Rock)—Jan. 19-23, Apache Spirit (Variety)—Jan. 19-23, The Doo-
Wah Riders (Country)—Jan. 26-30
Lone Butte Casino—Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452
Cascades Lounge:
Phoenix area bands & DJs offer free live entertainment throughout the
Comedian Ron White Desert Diamond Casino—February 6
Comedian Ron White, best known for his tenure on the Blue
Collar Comedy Tour, is returning to the Diamond Center on
Saturday, February 6, 2016. Tickets start at $35 and are on sale
through Star Tickets and also available at the Desert Diamond
Rewards Center. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at
8pm.
Ron White, usually seen with a cigar in one hand and a Scotch
in the other, has had a successful career as a stand-up since he
began in 1986, garnering two Grammy nominations and see-
ing all four of his comedy albums hitting the top of the Bill-
board Comedy Charts, in addition to recording three of the
top rated one hour TV specials in Comedy Central history. His
most recent album, A Little Unprofessional, was released in
2013. Ron has starred in major motion pictures, including Blue
Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie, Horrible Bosses, and Sex and
the City 2. His book—I Had the Right to Remain Silent…But I
Didn’t Have the Ability—appeared on the New York Times
Best Seller List back in 2006.
Editor’s Pick CASINO ENTERTAINMENT
azgamingguide.com | January 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide 39
week featuring the Valley's best local bands & DJs
Cities Bar & Grille:
Sunday Brunch featuring live entertainment from 10am-4pm
Events: Mirage—Visions of Fleetwood Mac—Jan. 24, Justin Shandor
As The Worlds Ultimate Elvis Concert—Jan. 29
Mazatzal Casino—Payson, AZ—800.777.7529
Apache Spirits Lounge:
Featuring a variety of live music on the weekends.
Paradise Casino—Yuma, AZ—888.777.4946
Sharky’s Bar & Bites:
Featuring a variety of live music on the weekends
Quechan Casino—Winterhaven, CA—877.783.2426
Sidewinders: Fea turing a variety o f live music on the weekends
Talking Stick Resort—Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777
The Showroom & Grand Ballroom: An Evening With Todd
Rundgren—Jan. 8, STYX—Jan. 17, Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam—Jan.
22, Jim Norton—Jan. 23, Trace Adkins—Feb. 12, Frank Caliendo—
Feb. 13, The Tubes—Feb. 20, The Mavericks—Feb. 27, Joe Satriani—
Mar. 5, BoDeans—Mar. 12, Legends In Concert—Mar. 16-20, Steve
Hackett—Apr. 2, Kathleen Madigan—Apr. 9, Tracy Morgan—May
14
Twin Arrows Navajo Casino—Flagstaff, AZ—855.946.8946
Featuring a variety of live music on the weekends
Vee Quiva Casino—Laveen, AZ—800.946.4452
Event Center: Nashville Go ld—Jan. 9, CASPER—Jan. 23, Brenton
Wood—Jan. 30, Little Joe y La Familia—Feb. 13 & 14, Diamond In
The Rough (Neil Diamond Tribute)—Feb. 27
Wild Horse Pass Casino—Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452
Chrome Nightclub—Fri & Sat 9pm-2am, The Lounge—Featuring a
variety of live music nightly, Festival Park—Live music outdoors
Showroom: Donny Osmond—Jan. 8, Squeezebox & Mollie B—Jan.
9, Tenn Idols Tribute—Jan. 10, Psyko Circus—Jan. 15, The Tempta-
tions—Jan. 16, Magic Of Motown—Jan. 17, Burton Cummings—
Jan. 22, Norm MacDonald & Kevin Nealon—Jan. 23, Europe—Jan.
25, Lou Nelson (Tom Jones Tribute)—Jan. 31, Engelbert Humper-
dinck—Feb. 5, December 63 Tribute to Frankie Valli & The Four Sea-
sons—Feb. 12, Smokey Robinson—Feb. 13 & 14, Roseanne Barr—
Feb. 19, Oak Ridge Boys—Feb. 20, Tribute to Barbra Streisand—Feb.
21, Corrie Sachs Tribute to Reba McEntire—Feb. 28, Gordon Light-
foot—Mar. 4, Nashville Gold—Mar. 6, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin
Brothers—Mar. 11, Magic of Manilow—Mar. 20, Jim Jeffries—Mar.
25, Richard Marx—Mar. 26
LEGENDS IN CONCERT Talking Stick Resort
March 16-20
For five consecutive nights, music fans can experience the
music of Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, Rod Stewart, Ma-
donna and Steven Tyler at Talking Stick Resort. The venue
will host Legends in Concert on March 16-20 in its Show-
room. Back by popular demand, the authentic tribute en-
semble will wow audiences with their unforgettable perfor-
mances and faithful renditions of classic hits. Steven Tyler,
portrayed by Chris VanDahl, will evoke a “Sweet Emotion”
from the crowd when he performs legendary Aerosmith hits
including “Walk this Way” and “Dream On.” Additionally,
Michael Jackson, portrayed by Damian Brantley, will bring
the wow factor with his acclaimed tribute to the ‘King of
Pop’ which is arguably the best in the business. Tickets are
available now.
A staple in entertainment history, Legends in Concert made
its debut more than 30 years ago at the Imperial Palace Hotel
& Casino in Las Vegas. The show has received various acco-
lades since then, earning the coveted “Show of the Year"
and "Entertainers of the Year" awards. Backed by a live
band, the cast will leave audiences spellbound with their
onstage charisma and vocal abilities. To see a collection of
Legends in Concert performances, visit LegendsInCon-
cert.com/Videos.
Show times vary. For more information, call the Talking
Stick Resort Box Office at 480.850.7734 or visit their website
TalkingStickResort.com/Legends-In-Concert.aspx. Must be
21 or older to attend. $ Verify all details & age restrictions (generally 21 & over) 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, missing, or outdated information.
40 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2016 | azgamingguide.com
Sources: Arizona Department of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 12/01/15 & direct inquiries by press time. We are not responsible for incorrect, missing, or outdated information.
Contact [email protected] 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.
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 100 No Yes No
BlueWater Mo-We 6:30pm. Su at 1:30pm. 400 Yes Yes No
Casino Arizona Mo-Su at 6:30pm
Daily Matinees at 12:30pm 1000 Yes Yes
L8 Nite Bingo Fr & Sa
Doors at 10pm. Games at midnight
Casino Del Sol Daily at Noon, 1:30, 2:15, 6:30 &
7:15pm 600 Yes Yes Cosmic Bingo Sa at 11pm.
Cocopah Th-Su at 6:30pm 350 Yes* Yes No
Desert Diamond I We-Mo 1:30, 2, 6, 6:30 & 7pm 300 Yes 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 11:30pm.
Call for Lunar Bingo schedule.
Harrah’s Ak-Chin We-Su at 11:30am, 2:30, 3:30,
and 6:30pm 470 Yes Yes No
Lone Butte Sa & Su: 10, Noon, 3:45, 5:30pm.
Daily: Noon & 6:30pm. 750 Yes Yes B.A.D. Bingo Fr & Sa at 11:30pm.
Mazatzal Mo-Th at Noon.
Tu & Th at 6:30pm. 280 Yes Yes No
Paradise Daily at 1:30pm.
Mo-Fr at 6pm. 300 Yes Yes
Call for Kozmic Bingo
& Other Special Dates
Twin Arrows Th-Su at 7pm & Su at 3pm. 100 No Yes No
Vee Quiva Daily at Noon & 6:30pm. 366 Yes Yes Bingo Eclipse Sa at 11pm.
CASINO BINGO
id you know a Straight Line Bingo can be won in only twelve different
ways? If so, congrats on being in the know! There’s five ways to win hor-
izontally, five vertically, and two diagonally. If we consider a standard
bingo card with a free space in the center position, one has to wonder what the
chances are of being the winner once the game gets underway. While your chanc-
es are based on a number of different variables, some of which may be difficult to
determine, we’ll try to simplify the important results for you so you are ready to
go for your next session.
Consider a small bingo hall with only 500 non-duplicate cards in play and it will
take around 12 calls for a winner to be determined. About three quarters of the
time there will be a single winner for that game. In larger bingo halls with as
many as 6,000 non-duplicate cards, it will take just under 9 calls for an average of
3.4 winners to be determined with only a 34% chance of a single winner! $
THE SKINNY ON STRAIGHT LINE BINGO We Examine The Math Behind The Simplest Version Of Bingo
D
cups of hot coffee, boy runs into man and both get showered
with sweltering coffee. This is a situation I recently witnessed
with unfortunate consequences!
Pets That Misbehave
Most casino hotels have recently started to allow pets. As much
as I am fond of animals, I still have a difficult time accepting this
new hotel policy. Besides dogs barking loudly at other dogs and
people passing by, I’ve also witnessed dogs urinating in the
elevators and destroying hotel property. Please don’t consider
bringing your pet to a casino or any other public place if he or
she is not well-trained!
Rude And Inconsiderate People
Please be polite! Remember what it feels like to hold the door
for someone or have someone hold the door for you? Be partic-
ularly kind to the elderly and disabled people. Why not offer to
help move the chair in front of a slot machine for someone who
is confined to a wheelchair? Or, just let someone cut in line in
front of you that seems to be having a difficult time standing!
Simple gestures go a long way in making a person feel good!
Not Taking The Time To Show Gratitude
I’ve written many articles over the years concerning tipping. I’m
extremely frustrated when people don’t show their appreciation
to service and wait staff. Recently, I’ve observed atrocious be-
havior where not only is there no tip involved, but drinks are
snatched from the cocktail server without any eye contact,
acknowledgement, or a mere thank you! It’s simple … do unto
others as you’d want them to do unto you!
Anger And Excessive Use Of Foul Language
Yelling, screaming, pounding on machines, couples arguing,
I’ve seen it all at the casino. Losing money, especially money
you can’t afford to part with, brings the worst out in people.
Hearing expletives in a casino and other public places are com-
mon occurrences. There’s something called self-control. Use it! $
SAMI’S SMACKDOWN
ear Sami, please inform your readers to remember
their manners in and out of the casino. Too many
people have become so rude and very inconsiderate.
When people lose their money, they become even more angry
and their manners just go out the window. I’m 78 years old, I
can’t walk without the help of my walker, and just last night I
was almost pushed over by a young couple who were obvi-
ously angry and in a hurry to leave the casino. Neither one
said excuse me or sorry. Sometimes I really can’t believe the
behavior I see in the world today and it’s much worse at the
casino. Please do an article on manners. Urge people to be
decent and courteous! Thanks Sami.
Ethel Krakowski – Kingman, AZ
Ethel, I absolutely agree with you 100%. When I’m out and
about, I can’t help but notice how bad people’s manners have
become. Gone are the days when everyone strived to be polite
and show their best side to the public. Now it seems that most
people either don’t care or are just downright oblivious to their
own actions. I’m inclined to believe the egocentric tendencies of
most people in today’s society just keeps them unaware of how
their own attitudes and actions affect others. The question is:
how do you even begin to combat a self-centered attitude
amongst individuals who are just unaware? With the hopes that
I won’t be preaching to the choir and that this article will actual-
ly open some people’s eyes, here are some of the most common
bad manners I’ve encountered both in and out of the casino:
Cell Phone Conversations In Public
People just don’t seem to care what information they broadcast
to the entire world during their cell phone conversations! I’ve
overheard people discussing their health issues, their finance
problems, and even their marital troubles! Any conversation in
public is particularly annoying, especially when it is done at full
volume and while you are trying to concentrate on playing your
favorite casino game!
Children That Misbehave
Casinos have become vacation destinations and many offer ar-
cades, movie theaters, and various other family-friendly op-
tions. Before you bring your children to any public place, talk to
them about their manners! Although it may be okay for them to
run around and scream at the top of their lungs at home, it is
not appropriate to do so in public—especially in crowded plac-
es. Think about this scenario: boy is running around in a casino
buffet, an elderly gentleman has both hands occupied with two
Do YOU have something to RANT OR RAVE
about that you feel is worth a $25 gift card?
If so, write me at: [email protected] or by mail
at: “Sami” Arizona Gaming Guide PO BOX 20636
Mesa, AZ 85277. If I pick your topic for publication in
a future issue, you’ll get a $25 gift card!
42 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2016 | azgamingguide.com
D
BAD MANNERS Gone Are The Days When People Strived To Be Polite
By Sami Becker
FUN FACTS
ave you noticed the increasing number of slots which
are Asian themed? Did you also notice how many of
those slots use the number 8 as part of their symbol
set? You may also have seen other symbols or designs used in
these slots which are eight sided. Why, you ask? Well, the num-
ber 8 is considered to be lucky in the Chinese culture and in
other Asian cultures as well. As a result, many slot machines
prominently feature the number as part of the game.
Specifically, the word for the number 8 sounds a lot like the
word meaning “to generate wealth” in Chinese. This may ex-
plain why property marked with the number 8 is greatly valued
by the Chinese. For example, a Hong Kong number plate with
the number 8 was sold for $640,000. Also, the opening ceremony
of the Summer Olympics in Beijing started at 8 seconds and 8
minutes past 8 pm (local time) on 8 August 2008.
azgamingguide.com | January 2016 | Arizona Gaming Guide 43
WHY IS THE NUMBER 8 SO LUCKY? Asian Culture Provides Us With Important Insight
H
By Lana Hartmann
Eight is also considered a lucky
number in Japanese culture, but
the reason is different from that in
Chinese culture. Eight gives an
idea of growing prosperity, be-
cause the letter (八) broadens
gradually.
In numerology (the belief in the
divine, mystical relationship be-
tween a number and one or
more coinciding events), 8 is the
number of building, and in some theories, also the number of
destruction.
So, the next time you play an Asian themed slot, look for the 8! $
44 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2016 | azgamingguide.com
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. Level: Medium.
(Solution on page 46)
4
8
4 1
3
7
9
6
5
1
8
3
9
6
7
4
8
3 7
1
6
8
3
2
WORD SEARCH
To celebrate all of us with New Year’s Resolutions, find:
NEW YEAR, RESOLVE, WILL POWER, TENACITY,
MOTIVATION, PURPOSE, DECREE, DECISION, PLEDGE,
OATH, SOLUTION, ANSWER, PROMISE, AMBITION,
PLIGHT, COVENANT, WORD, EFFORT, DRIVE, VOW
Words appear in any direction. (Solution on page 46)
K F V F D E E G K G E A E C R
N Q S N O I L S Q Y G V O T U
J R A N S W E D M O W T D O R
C P O W E R T I A I E T D A R
O C W M K K V W M C L H O I K
V D E U N V J F B B A P G P T
E L N X E O R G Y Z R I N N I
N A B K L O B B T E O L E I I
A I X L F H S K I T I P E O T
N S I F I P A G O Y S O W T O
T W E R E V U O N P I Q V L A
B N K M A V O I R Y C S V T T
G Q A C E E B O T D E M F J H
M E J I P F L A Y O D Q A Y E
W J M P Q B R O S E M L P P U
FUN & GAMES
CASINO DIRECTORY
46 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2016 | azgamingguide.com
City Phone Slots Hig
h L
imit
Are
a
Bin
go
Casino Liv
e K
eno
Tab
le G
ames
Po
ker
Ro
om
Ho
tel
Sm
ok
e-F
ree
Are
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Sources: Arizona Department of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 12/01/15 & direct inquiries by press time. We are not responsible for incorrect, missing, or outdated information.
Contact [email protected] 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
Par
k
Go
lf
Location Sp
a
Arc
ade
01. Apache Gold Casino Resort Hwy. 70, 5 mi. E. of Globe Globe 800-272-2438 590 Y Y Y Y Y Y
02. BlueWater Resort & Casino 11300 Resort Drive Parker 888-243-3360 526 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
03. Bucky’s Casino 1500 E. Hwy. 69 Prescott 800-756-8744 323 Y Y Y Y
04. Casino Arizona 101 & McKellips Scottsdale 480-850-7777 898 Y Y Y Y
05. Casino Del Sol 5655 W. Valencia Rd. Tucson 855-765-7829 1,059 Y Y Y Y Y Y
06. Casino of the Sun 7406 S. Camino De Oeste Tucson 855-765-7829 283
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 511 Y Y Y Y* Y Y Y
09. Desert Diamond Casino I 7350 S. Nogales Hwy. Tucson 866-332-9467 1,089 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
10. Desert Diamond Casino II I-19, Exit 80 Tucson 866-332-9467 674 Y
11. Desert Diamond Casino-W.V. 101 & Northern Ave. Glendale 866-332-9467 1,089
12. Desert Diamond Casino-Why Hwy. 86, Milepost 55 Why 866-332-9467 58
13. Fort McDowell Casino Hwy. 87 & Ft. McDowell Rd. Fort McDowell 800-843-3678 897 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
14. Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino 15406 N. Maricopa Rd. Maricopa 480-802-5000 1,089 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
15. Hon-Dah Casino 777 Hwy. 260 Pinetop 800-929-8744 825 Y Y Y Y
16. Lone Butte Casino 1077 S. Kyrene Rd. Chandler 800-946-4452 786 Y Y Y
17. Mazatzal Hotel & Casino Hwy. 87, 1/4 mi. S. of Payson Payson 800-777-7529 420 Y Y Y Y Y Y
18. Paradise Casino 450 Quechan Dr. Yuma 888-777-4946 485 Y
19. Quechan Casino I-8, Exit 166 Winterhaven, CA 877-783-2426 1,000+ Y Y Y Y Y Y
20. Spirit Mountain Casino 8555 Hwy. 95 Mohave Valley 928-346-2000 235
21. Talking Stick Resort 101 & Indian Bend Scottsdale 480-850-7777 765 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
22. Twin Arrows Navajo Casino I-40, Exit 219 Flagstaff 855-946-8946 1,087 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
23. Vee Quiva Casino 6443 Komatke Ln. Laveen 800-946-4452 950 Y Y Y Y Y
24. Wild Horse Pass Casino 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd. Chandler 800-946-4452 950 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
25. Yavapai Casino 1505 E. Hwy. 69 Prescott 800-756-8744 243 Y
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Sudoku Solution
7 5 3
4 2 9
8 1 6
4 1 6
3 5 8
2 9 7
9 2 8
1 7 6
3 4 5
5 7 4
1 6 2
3 9 8
8 3 1
9 4 5
7 6 2
6 9 2
7 8 3
5 1 4
6 8 5
2 4 1
9 3 7
1 2 9
6 7 3
5 8 4
4 3 7
8 5 9
2 6 1
Word Search Solution
D E E E E C R
N O I L O S Y G T U
A N S W E D T D R
C P O W E R A I E T R
O W V O W M C L H I
V E N V B A P G T
E N E O R R I N N I
N L O E T E O L I
A L F H S I T I P T
N I F A W O S T O
T W E R V O N I L A
A V O I R C
E E T D E
O D Y
R P O S E M P U
