november - arizona gaming guide...debunking myths myth #16: busy times & jackpots 22 dollars...

Bet You Didn’t Know Licensed Titles—What They Are

28

NOVEMBER

CONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTS

ARIZONA GAMING GUIDE P.O. BOX 20636 MESA, AZ 85277

www.azgamingguide.com Copyright ©2010 Arizona Gaming Guide

10 Game Review WMS’ The Lord Of The Rings®

Video Keno Cleopatra Keno® By IGT

18

Video Poker Corner Is The Progressive Good Enough ?

20

Sami’s Smackdown Out-Schmoozing A Schmoozer

24

Editor’s Note Our Continued Successes

4

Letters To The Editor Q&A On Everything Gaming!

6

Table Games Table Players Vs. Slot Players

13

Debunking Myths Myth #16: Busy Times & Jackpots

22

Dollars & Sense Tapping Into Your Sixth Sense

14

A Little Thing Called Luck Rainbows And The Pot Of Gold

27

Feature Story Looking Ahead: Problem Gambling

16

Directory List Of Casino Sponsors

30

MVP Spotlight Global Gaming Expo November 2010

8

Slot Machine Image On Cover Page, Table Of Contents Page, And Pages 10, 11 & 28 Are Courtesy Of WMS. © Copyright WMS. All Rights Reserved. www.wms.com.

AZ Office Of Problem Gambling Logo Courtesy Of The Arizona Department Of Gaming. © Copyright The Arizona Department of Gaming. All Rights Reserved. www.azgaming.gov

Looking Ahead: The Arizona Office Of Problem Gambling

10

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MS

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Rin

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®

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Desert Diamond Casinos Football Promotion 26

4 Arizona Gaming Guide | November 2010

EDITOR’s

Note

As I was looking over the final proofs of this issue, I realized exactly the enormous impact we have had on Arizona’s casino gaming indus-try in such a short amount of time. Our readers look to our advice and expertise every day. We are the only gaming publication whose staff has the unique ability to provide the accurate insight into slots and ca-sino gaming in general. As trained professionals in the casino gaming industry, my team and I have a lot to share with you on a regular basis, and this issue is no exception! We covered a lot of topics in this issue including: Looking Ahead With The AZ Office Of Problem Gambling Game Reviews On: The Lord Of The Rings

® By WMS, And Cleopatra Keno

® By IGT

MVP Spotlight On The 2010 Global Gaming Expo In Las Vegas, NV Video Poker Progressives ...just to name a few! Don’t forget that you can also find the current and back issues of the Arizona Gaming Guide online as well! We added additional informa-tion to the website as part of our monthly update. Get the inside scoop at www.azgamingguide.com. Let me know what you think of our No-vember issue and have fun!

Chris Hoft, Editor-in-Chief

Slot Guru at Large P.S. Many, many, many thanks to our readers and sponsors. You are what make our publication possible. Please continue to provide us with your feedback and I promise we will persist in constantly striving to improve our publication based on your input while successfully in-corporating new and innovative ideas in the months to come. In addition, I personally want to say “thank you” to the editors of other gaming publications and websites both locally and around the world for continuing to imitate our ideas, content, and layouts since our debut in August of 2009. I take your continued lack of originality as an acknowl-edgement of our leadership, success, and creativity.

CONTACT US

ARIZONA GAMING GUIDE P.O. BOX 20636 MESA, AZ 85277

www.azgamingguide.com

THE ARIZONA

GAMING GUIDE

may not be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, and/or sold in any shape or form without the express written

consent of the owners of The Arizona Gaming Guide (AGG).

AGG is not responsible, or liable, for the content and/or advertising con-

tained within this publication. AGG does not endorse and/or sup-port any opinions, products, and/or

services contained within this publication. All pictures, images, logos, trademarks, trade names, etc. are the sole property of their

respective owners. All responses in the Letters to the Editor section are

to be considered as advice only. AGG presents facts and/or opinions and expects the reader to make his/her own decisions. AGG accepts no responsibility and no liability for any actions of our readers based on the

opinions and/or advertisements presented within this publication.

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

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What is going on when you see a bunch of

slots turned off? Are they changing the way

the machine pays?

James—Fountain Hills

Whenever any of the staff here at the Arizona

Gaming Guide sees a bank of machines that are

being serviced, turned off, or otherwise on the

floor but not working, our first task is to always

ask a slot attendant or other employee whose

area of responsibility is handling the slots. In

most cases they will inform you as to what is

happening. The reasons can be varied:

Cleaning

Moving the games

Replacing the games

Maintenance of moving parts or electronics

Software upgrade from the manufacturer

AZ Department of Gaming investigation

and so on...

We are pretty certain that it is a rare occurrence

when the slots are off to change the long term

payback percentage. Remember, a slot that is

on is earning money for the casino. The longer

a slot is off, the less it earns on that day, that

week, that month, and so on. The casino is not

going to enjoy having a slot, much less a whole

bank, off for an extended period of time. More

likely, one of the items mentioned above is the

cause for a bank being off.

Is it OK to play two machines at the same

time?

Elsa—Miami

Most casinos in Arizona have a courtesy policy

that prohibits this activity during ―peak‖ or

―busy‖ times. We observe many people at all

times of the day playing more than one ma-

chine. This is a practice we suggest you do not

adopt.

Playing two machines at the same time reduces

your bankroll by a factor of two immediately.

Furthermore, there is no immediate advantage

to your short or long term odds when you play

more than one machine at the same time.

If you do choose to play more than one ma-

chine at the same time you must factor this in

when defining your bankroll, your play session

frequency, and the entertainment you expect to

receive as a result of playing more than one

game simultaneously.

When I’m playing slots with free games, I’ve

noticed that the symbols look different in the

free games. What does that mean?

Ginny—Litchfield Park

Congratulations on noticing the difference!

Most players don‘t even recognize there has

been a change in the way the symbols look

from the regular game and the free games!

We can divide slot machine games with free

game bonuses into two categories as follows:

free games that use the existing reel strips and

free games that use bonus reel strips.

In order to distinguish the bonus reel strips

from the existing reel strips used during base

game play, regulations in several major gaming

jurisdictions including Arizona require a visible

difference in the symbols used on the bonus

reel strips. In addition, a clear statement should

be displayed somewhere on screen, on the

game, and in the help screen indicating that a

change in reel strips has taken place during free

games.

In most cases, if you look closely, the symbols

have been flipped horizontally and some color

change has happened as well. The reel strip

background generally changes as well, to the

point that some manufacturers write the word

―BONUS‖ across the reel strip!

This is all done as a result of the regulation

surrounding the casino gaming industry in or-

der to ensure security and fairness for players

and to avoid any criminal or illegal activity.

Thanks for all your letters! Please let us know how we are doing on a regular

basis. Until the next issue … have fun!


Global Gaming Expo Las Vegas, Nevada—November 2010

he Global Gaming Expo (G2E) is held once per year in

the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Ne-

vada. Thousands of gaming industry professionals at-

tend in order to network, participate in the conference, and visit

all the vendors to be able to get a glimpse of what products and

services are available right now and what may be available in the

near future.

G2E is the biggest and most important show for most of the ma-

jor slot machine manufacturers around the world. There are sev-

eral other important casino gaming expositions throughout the

year across the planet, most of which can‘t compete with the

scale, or the focus on casino gaming as we experience here in the

United States.

This particular show is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year!

While there were several incarnations of expos similar to G2E

prior to the year 2000, this is an official celebration which marks

the ongoing success, popularity, and importance of the event

within the casino gaming industry.

The American Gaming Association (AGA) and Reed Exhibitions

announced on August 31, 2010 that G2E 2011 will take place

Oct. 4-6, reflecting a newly adjusted schedule that moves the

annual trade show and conference ahead by more than one

month. Also beginning in 2011, G2E will move from the Las

Vegas Convention Center to the Sands Expo and Convention

Center. The dates of G2E Asia, held annually in Macau, also will

shift in order to create a more evenly spaced global calendar of

events.

―G2E is the only international event developed ‗by the industry,

for the industry,‘‖ said Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr., president and

CEO of the AGA. ―These changes, which were made with the

needs of both exhibitors and attendees in mind, are concrete proof

of our commitment to that creed. We expect the revised schedule

to result in increased attendance and sales at all of our events.‖

According to show organizers, the revised schedule brings with it

numerous advantages, including allowing exhibitors more breath-

ing room between major international gaming events. It also will

help purchasing decision-makers at gaming companies plan for

the year ahead with greater ease and, ultimately, enhance exhibi-

tors‘ bottom lines.

―As a Las Vegas-based casino operator, I know well how crucial

G2E‘s flagship show is to both the gaming industry and to this

city,‖ said Michael Leven, president and COO of the Las Vegas

Sands Corp. ―The Sands Expo and Convention Center is honored

to host such an important annual event, and we are eager to do

our part to help it grow in the coming years.‖

In 2012, G2E Asia will begin taking place in late May, several

weeks earlier than previous shows. The show will continue to be

held at convention facilities at The Venetian Macau.

―Developing shows that address the needs of our participants

always has been our top priority, and their feedback was the key

driver of these changes,‖ said Courtney Muller, senior vice presi-

dent at Reed Exhibitions. ―We have had a tremendous run at the

Las Vegas Convention Center and thank the team there for their

tireless efforts on behalf of the industry. We look forward to this

next chapter with great anticipation for continued success in

G2E‘s next decade.‖

In November, G2E – this year themed ―The New Casino: Operat-

ing at Maximum Efficiency for Today‘s World‖ – will celebrate

its 10th anniversary. The 2010 conference and trade show will

offer several exciting new programs, including the inaugural

iGaming Congress at G2E, which will provide important insights

and information about current and future prospects for online

gaming companies. G2E 2010 will take place Nov. 16-18 at the

Las Vegas Convention Center.

Immediately following Tuesday‘s ribbon-cutting ceremony, G2E

(Continued on page 19)

MVP SPOTLIGHT

T

G AME REVIEW

Images Courtesy Of WMS. © Copyright WMS. All Rights Reserved. www.wms.com.

© 2010 New Line Productions, Inc. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

and the names of the characters, items, events and places therein are trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Middle-earth Enterprises under license to New Line Productions, Inc.

POWER SPIN is a trademark used under license from its owner, Multi-State Lottery Association.


The Lord Of The Slots We Recommend You Play The Game At Ft. McDowell Casino!

WMS revealed they were working on a slot machine game based

on The Lord of the Rings stories and recent films a little over one

year ago. We had the opportunity to experience the game first

hand in their booth at last years Global Gaming Expo. What they

presented to the public at that time caused quite a stir and a lot of

professionals in the casino gaming industry were very excited to

see what the final product would look like.

This slot has not been on the casino floors for long, and Ft. Mc

Dowell Casino, just minutes east of the Phoenix Metro area, is

fortunate to have several games available for their patrons to

play. As with any new game on a casino floor, everyone wants to

play and it may take a while before you have an opportunity to

find an open machine, but we feel it is worth the wait.

One of the interesting aspects of this game is the total number of

different bonuses available to a player. Regardless of how you

feel about the books and subsequent movies, this slot puts the

player in control over two groups of bonuses and still makes

room for huge wins in bonuses where the player has little to no

control.

Our play sessions were very entertaining and we observed many

other players walking away satisfied. For some reason, this set of

slots produces camaraderie among the players at the bank. While

we were playing, there was lively discussion about what bonuses

November 2010 | Arizona Gaming Guide 11

to select and when to use one or more of

the Power Spin options.

We strongly recommend you try this game

and let us know what you think of it. The

theme may not exactly be to your liking,

but we believe the game itself has poten-

tial. Be prepared to make a small invest-

ment on this machine when you try it out.

The minimum bet is 40 credits, so you

should start a play session with around

4000 credits. This guarantees you at least

100 spins on the game.

I suppose it won‘t hurt to let you in on a

little secret, as the game has been out on

the casino floor for a while now. If you

can trigger the bonus off the reels with

three scattered ―Ring‖ symbols you are

initially presented with the ―Choose a Bo-

nus‖ screen (see picture to the right). The

Gandalf‘s Fireworks bonus awards free

games, and the Garden Heist bonus lets

you pick items for credits. By and large,

the staff here prefers a bonus with free

games rather than credits. At least you

know which bonus is for you before you

start playing! More bonuses are available

for selection the more ―Miles‖ are col-

lected. Make sure you create a login to

save ―Miles‖ for future play sessions. -AGG

Here is what the manufacturer WMS

has to say about their new game:

The Lord of the Rings is the first gaming

product that allows players to:

Save their progress and unlock new bonus

rounds as they accumulate miles.

Collect and use Power Spin awards to en-

hance the outcome of a spin.

Continue their experience with The Lord

of the Rings as they accumulate miles.

Gollum‘s Wild & Legolas‘ Arrows are

random features which award ―Wild‖ sym-

bols across the reels (see bottom picture).

Power Spins:

There are 5 types of Power Spin awards:

Frodo Wilds, Random Reels Wild, Win

Multiplier, Scatter Spin & Bonus Booster.

Power Spin awards can be collected and

used at any time during play session.

Bonuses:

The Lord of the Rings launches with 8

unlockable bonuses: Gandalf‘s Fireworks,

Garden Heist, The Prancing Pony, Arwen‘s

Rescue, Isildur‘s Sword, The Balrog™,

Galadriel's Stairway and Uruk-hai Battle

Bonus. Bonus availability is determined

by the amount of miles earned (see top and

middle pictures).

Garden Heist Bonus Screen

Gollum’s Wild Bonus Screen

Choose A Bonus Screen

TABLE GAMES

TABLE

GAME

PLAYERS

What the table games player needs that the slot player doesn‘t!

hat many table games players talk about at great length

is that they are playing the best game in the casino.

Poker players like to comment on how they are com-

peting against other people rather than the casino. Blackjack play-

ers talk about their game having the lowest house edge.

But bravado has a funny way of turning into serious downfall for

some people. In order to substantiate the claim about playing the

best game in the casino, the table games player has to know abso-

lutely every aspect of the game they play. There can be no

―winging it,‖ ―hunches,‖ ―educated guesses,‖ and so on. If you

don‘t have a playing strategy memorized for poker, blackjack, or

any other table game, you are placing sucker bets and will not get

much enjoyment out of the game you choose to play.

Don‘t walk up to a table game and be blindsided. Make sure you

have researched your chosen game first before you start wagering

money.

In most cases, a slot player is placing wagers without the ability to

use their own skill in order to affect the outcome of a spin of the

reels. Furthermore, the slot player, in general, has a different

point of view of casino games than the table games player. Most

slot players gamble for the entertainment value they receive in

return at the slots. As a result, there is little need for them to

memorize strategies and so on.

W


This is not to say the slots don‘t have their own secrets and infor-

mation players need to be aware of. The major difference is that

the outcome of a wager in a table game can be partially influenced

by the skill level of the player.

Of course, video poker is an exception, and I see many table game

players playing video poker while they wait for a seat to open up.

This, I suppose, is an acceptable option as long as you really know

what you are doing. If you play both table poker and video poker,

please make sure you understand all the intricacies of all the dif-

ferent games you play.

While all of us realize that casino gambling is designed so that the

casino has an edge, many players can minimize that edge by fo-

cusing their efforts on learning a particular table game. Poker is

an excellent game to play in a casino as it has a mix of wagering,

randomness, skill, and social interaction, like no other gambling

game.

I highly recommend all you table game players keep practicing

and studying your chosen games to the point where you have all

the rules, strategies, and options memorized. In any event, what-

ever game you choose to play at a casino, know what you are get-

ting yourself into, and most of all have fun!

Write me at [email protected] with your poker questions.

vs. SLOT PLAYERS


DOLLAR$DOLLAR$ && SENSESENSE

ne evening I was at a casino having dinner and

afterwards, without any thought or hesitation, I

marched over to a bank of Multi-Strike Video Poker

machines by IGT.

All 6 slot machines, like sol-

diers standing at attention,

were unoccupied.

As I sauntered from one end to the other and back again,

like their sergeant, I finally resolved to sit at the third

slot in from the aisle. Three spins later I got 4 Threes

with a Kicker on the second row for $1,000 and a few

more spins after that 4 Aces with a Kicker on the top

row for $8,000!

So, I just got lucky right? Wrong. Although these

things happen at casinos all the time, I wouldn‘t say this

particular situation had anything to do with luck.

Whether you call it a sixth sense, intuition, or E.S.P., for

O

SIXTHSIXTH YOURYOUR Tapping Into

SE

NS

E

some reason I had a feeling I should play that specific

game and machine at that time. First of all, even my

husband was shocked to see me heading over to the

Multi-Strikes since the $200 I came to the casino with

that night was nowhere near the proper bankroll to play

a 25 cent denomination game with a 20 credit bet that

equates to $5 a spin.

Second of all, anyone who knows me can tell you that I

gravitate towards the aisle machines, just like I do the

aisle seats on an airplane.

I don’t like to be sandwiched

in the middle, I like my

space.

Okay, maybe it has a little more to do with the fact that

I‘m superstitious and I believe the payback percentages

are higher on those slots or maybe it‘s leftover from the

days when I used to smoke and preferred the smoke drift

into the aisle rather than into the faces of the people sitting next

to me. For whatever reason, I favor the aisles and that‘s where

you will usually find me.

That night, I did something out of

the ordinary and I couldn’t ex-

plain why.

I have had these hunches in casinos plenty of times before and

sometimes I‘ve acted on them and sometimes I haven‘t. Why I

act on them and other times I don‘t leaves me without any expla-

nation. I do know that I regret not acting on certain hunches.

Several years ago, I watched a young man approach a row of

three reel mechanical slots. They were the kind where you wager

three coins, at a dollar per coin. He wavered back and forth for a

while and then started hammering away at $3 per spin on the cor-

ner machine. Hundred dollar bill after hundred dollar bill disap-

peared as 30 minutes stretched into 60 minutes, and then an hour

and a half. He gave up and left the machine.

Not 15 minutes later, an older woman sat down and began play-

ing as the young man had. She eventually cashed out several

hundred dollars after having won a few larger wins and promptly

left. At this point, I got one of those back of the neck chills that

you only read about in novels.

But, I talked myself out of it. I don‘t like those kinds of games,

there isn‘t enough entertainment in the game, and I wasn‘t going

to risk the remainder of my bankroll placing $3 bets!

The young man came back 5 minutes later! Bang, two spins into

his second session he hit the three wild symbols on the pay line at

the $3 max bet for $10,000!

Hmm...that really got me thinking...I had a hunch to play there. I

thought the machine might still pay out a big win, but I just was-

n‘t sure.

A feeling I couldn’t shake, but I

ignored it because of the circum-

stances.

I was having fun at my machine, I didn‘t want to leave, and I

don‘t enjoy playing the mechanical three reel games. As you

know, there is no guarantee the huge win would have happened

to me, but we can all wonder right?

We all have our own sixth sense but it‘s a matter of whether or

not we want to acknowledge this fact. I hope you tap in and learn

to train your sixth sense for your own benefit, both inside and

outside of the casino. The ability to feel your surroundings can

be a tremendous advantage in life. -AGG


Looking Ahead With The Arizona

Office Of Problem Gambling

n partnership with Arizona State University, the Office of

Problem Gambling is developing online training courses.

―This is a low, cost effective way for us to reach out to the

public and treatment providers alike,‖ said Rick Pyper, Director of

the Office of Problem Gambling. Courses will cover general

knowledge about the disorder of compulsive gambling as well as

more detailed offerings of special interest to counselors such as

treatment approaches and how this disorder differs from other

addictions. ―We especially want to allow counselors in rural Ari-

zona the opportunity to access training more conveniently than

having to drive to Phoenix or Tucson,‖ added Pyper. The launch

date is scheduled for early 2011.

In conjunction with 2011‘s National Problem Gambling Aware-

ness Week, the Office will host an all-day symposium in Phoenix

on March 7th. The event is open to anyone with an interest in

problem gambling and includes multiple tracks to accommodate

those just beginning to learn about the issue as well as those seek-

ing to add to their advanced knowledge. As the agenda and regis-

tration becomes available it will be posted at

www.problemgambling.az.gov.

There are 28 behavioral health treatment facilities under contract

with the Office of Problem Gambling

I

For the 5th year in a row, casinos are the #1 way callers learn

about the State‘s helpline 1.800.NEXT STEP

As of Sep. 30, 2010, there are 2,528 people signed up for the ca-

sino self exclusion program. Those who wish to participate can

obtain an application at www.problemgambling.az.gov. As the

chart illustrates, most participants choose the longest term avail-

able--10 years.


Arizona Department of Gaming’s Self Exclusion Program

If gambling is causing a problem in your life, the Statewide

Self Exclusion program can be an effective tool for recovery.

You can choose to self exclude for one, five, or ten years. The

Self Exclusion is IRREVOCABLE during the time period se-

lected. The Department and Tribes honor your right to privacy

and confidentiality while adhering to the signed contract. This

exclusion applies to every casino in the State of Arizona as

well as all Harrah‘s owned casinos worldwide, and covers all

Indian Gaming facilities and associated services.

The Self Exclusion form can be found on the Department of

Gaming‘s website at www.azgaming.gov. The following is a list

of guidelines to remember when submitting your form:

•The form must be filled out completely

•Your signature must be notarized

•You must provide a recent (within the last 12 months) color

photo (portrait style). A color copy of your driver‘s license or

passport will not be accepted.

•The picture can be sent as a jpg file attached to an e-mail or

printed on photo paper from a digital camera, 35mm, or Polaroid.

Along with voluntary self exclusion and to ensure a successful

recovery, The Department strongly urges those with a gambling

problem to take advantage of one-on-one counseling with a State-

funded Treatment Provider as well as Gamblers Anonymous

meetings.

If you require additional assistance with this process, you can

directly contact the Department‘s Self Exclusion Program Coor-

dinator, Larissa Pixler at:

Arizona Department of Gaming

202 E Earll Drive, Suite 200

Phoenix, Arizona 85012

602.604.1801, ext. 213

602.402.4887 Blackberry

Special thanks to The Arizona Department Of Gaming, The Ari-

zona Office Of Problem Gambling, Mr. Rick Pyper, Mr. Rick

Medina, and Ms. Talia Otto for their assistance with this piece.

VIDEO CORNER KEN

Cleopatra Keno® by IGT

Whenever we have the opportunity to walk a casino floor in Ari-

zona or elsewhere, we are always interested to see what all you

video keno players are up to! What we routinely notice is that

some of you are definite fans of Cleopatra Keno® by IGT.

We completely understand why you video keno players enjoy the

game. The mechanic of free plays in a slot machine‘s game de-

sign was powerful when it was first introduced over a decade ago

and will continue to remain powerful in the future.

The game concept is very simple. Pick your spots, make your

wager, and press start. If the last ball drawn creates or improves a

win, you are awarded 15 free spins where all wins are doubled for

the duration of the free spins. What could possibly be better?

Well, knowing which spots to play in order to have the best

chances of hitting the free plays might be nice, right?

Or, knowing which spots to play in order to have the best long

term odds might be nice too!

We‘ll answer those two questions for you now based on a pay

table we have seen recently. Please turn to page 30 to see the re-

sults of our analysis.

For more information on Cleopatra Keno® by IGT, you will have

to log onto our website at azgamingguide.com and click on the

―Keno‖ tab for more secrets and hints. Have fun picking your

spots and good luck! -AGG

Image Courtesy Of IGT. © Copyright IGT. All Rights Reserved. www.igt.com.

2010 will kick off with a keynote address by Geoff Colvin, who

will discuss the leading economic issues impacting the commer-

cial casino industry, as well as how the results of the recent mid-

term elections will affect gaming. One of America‘s sharpest and

most respected business commentators, he will share his insights

on emerging economic trends and offer his perspective on the

commercial casino industry‘s future prospects. Colvin is an ac-

claimed writer, having received multiple honors for his ground-

breaking work, and is a notable broadcaster heard daily on the

CBS Radio Network.

In recognition of G2E‘s 10th anniversary, Wednesday‘s keynote

panel session, ―State of the Industry: Gaming Legends,‖ includes

gaming industry executives who have been on the front lines of

the industry throughout its evolution. They will address the

events that have shaped the industry and make predictions about

what is in store for gaming. Jon Ralston, host of the popular Las

Vegas public affairs program, ―Face to Face with Jon Ralston,‖

will moderate the discussion. Panelists include: Burton M.

Cohen, director, MGM Resorts International; Frank J.

Fahrenkopf Jr., president and CEO, American Gaming Associa-

tion; Chuck Mathewson, former chairman, International Game

Technology; and Steven P. Perskie, J.S.C. (ret.), counselor to

Perskie Mairone Brog & Baylinson and former chair of the New

Jersey Casino Control Commission.

The G2E 2010 keynotes will conclude with the ―Meet the Press‖-

style panel, ―Tribal Crossfire – Native American Leaders Round-

table,‖ where Native American tribal leaders will discuss a host

of tribal gaming issues, such as financing, sovereignty and a

changed political landscape. The panel will be moderated by Vic-

tor Rocha, the owner and editor of Pechanga.net – a leading

source of tribal and gaming information on the Internet. Panelists

include: Honorable Leslie Lohse, chairwoman, California Tribal

Business Alliance; Kurt Luger executive director, Great Plains

Indian Gaming Association; Sheila Morago, executive director,

Arizona Indian Gaming Association; Brian Patterson, president,

United South & Eastern Tribes, Inc.; Daniel J. Tucker, chairman,

California Nations Indian Gaming Association; and Mark Van

Norman, executive director, National Indian Gaming Association

(NIGA).

G2E announced on September 28, 2010 that the event‘s 2010

conference program will feature an exclusive keynote address by

Gary Loveman, Ph.D., president, CEO and chairman of Harrah‘s

Entertainment, Inc. One of the industry‘s most innovative leaders,

he will share his insights on why addressing misinformation

about gaming needs to be one of the industry‘s highest priorities.

G2E also revealed that this year‘s Advanced Gaming Institute

will include a Capstone Session on generational marketing that

will serve as the culmination of a day of in-depth gaming educa-

tion.

New for G2E 2010, and exclusive for conference attendees, is a

keynote address by Loveman, a former Harvard Business School

professor and current head of Harrah‘s, titled ―The Stockholm

Syndrome: Why Addressing the Misinformation that Plagues

Gaming is our Top Priority.‖ Loveman‘s keynote address will be

held on Wednesday, Nov. 17 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

(Continued from page 8)

―It‘s quite an honor to have Gary Loveman offer the G2E 2010

conference keynote address on an issue that is so vital to preserv-

ing the future of gaming,‖ said Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., president

and CEO of the American Gaming Association. ―He is known as

one of the smartest men in the gaming community, and his in-

sights into where the industry should be going will be valuable

for anyone working in our industry.‖

Additionally, G2E 2010 will offer an Advanced Gaming Institute

Capstone Session titled ―The Next Generation: Marketing to All

Ages‖ on Monday, Nov. 15 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Room N110.

During this high profile session, Chuck Underwood, founder and

principal of The Generational Imperative, Inc. will examine the

unique core values that influence each generation's consumer

decisions, careers and lifestyle preferences. The session also will

address the powerful influence of generational dynamics and give

attendees a clear understanding of how to market to customers

better and manage and motivate staff more effectively.

―As an event created by the industry and for the industry, we are

committed to providing an exciting lineup of innovative educa-

tion experiences for gaming professionals to expand their knowl-

edge and maximize their return on investment,‖ said Fahrenkopf.

G2E is the leading trade event for the international gaming enter-

tainment community, attended by nearly 26,000 industry profes-

sionals from around the world. For more information on G2E

2010, or to register for group or early bird discounts, visit the

website at www.globalgamingexpo.com. Also connect with G2E

on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Global Gaming Expo is the international gaming trade show and

conference ―by the industry and for the industry.‖ Organized by

the American Gaming Association and Reed Exhibitions, G2E

made its debut in fall 2001, defining itself as the pre-eminent

show for the gaming-entertainment industry.

The AGA represents the commercial casino industry by address-

ing federal legislative and regulatory issues. The association also

serves as a clearinghouse for information, develops educational

and advocacy programs, and provides leadership on industry-

related issues of public concern.

Reed Exhibitions is the world's leader in organizing a wide range

of events, including exhibitions, conferences, congresses and

meetings. In 2006 Reed brought together more than 6 million

industry professions from around the world, generating billions of

dollars in business. Today Reed events are held in 34 countries

throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pa-

cific, and organized by 37 fully staffed offices. Reed‘s portfolio

of more than 460 events services 52 key industry sectors.

We will be reviewing the G2E show, as we did last year, in order

to bring you a glimpse of the slots ready to hit the casino floor in

2011 and beyond. We always have a lot of fun at the show, as

tiring as it can be from all the standing and walking, but we are

excited to share our experience with you as soon as we can in the

December issue. For more MVP Spotlights, visit our website at

www.azgamingguide.com.

-Chris, Editor-in-Chief



VIDEO

CORNER

Is the progressive good enough? Most beginning video poker players have little to no idea what the

true value of a progressive is. In fact, most players probably don‘t

realize the difference between a game which includes a progres-

sive and one that does not.

What every video poker player, regardless of their ability and ex-

perience, must take into account is that a progressive will boost

your long run payback percentage. Among all the different gam-

ing options across the state you should be well aware of the fact

that one casino may offer a Jacks or Better pay table at 8/5 with no

progressive and a short drive away, another casino may offer the

same pay table with a progressive!

As 8/5 Jacks or Better has a long run payback of just over 97%

with the best strategy, players must be aware of opportunities to

play a game which offers the opportunity for a higher payback. If

the casino decides to place a 1% increment rate for the progres-

sive, in the long run, this 8/5 Jacks or Better video poker game is

now just over 98%! This means, you should only consider playing

the progressive version as, over time, your payback percentage

using the best possible strategy will be higher.

Now we can dive into the nitty-gritty details of just how much of

an impact a progressive can make on the long run payback per-

centage.

Since it is easier for you, the reader, to note how high the progres-

sive value has climbed for the Royal Flush, the information below

is presented based on that number, rather than having to estimate

any numbers based on observations and calculations.

5 Coin 25¢ 8/5 Jacks or Better Long Run Best Strategy Payback

Royal Flush is at least $1,000 97.30%




If you are diligent and wait for a progressive to climb to a particu-

lar value before you begin playing, you can always play at a

higher payback percentage. Remember, the approximate payback

percentage values are based on long run max bet play with the best

possible strategy. Good luck playing video poker! -AGG

Casino Image Courtesy Of Edgewater Casino. © Copyright Edgewater Casino. All Rights Reserved.

S N E A K P E E K — D E C E M B E R ’ S M Y T H # 1 7

T h e m a c h i n e i s g o i n g t o ― t u r n a r o u n d ‖ a n d s t a r t p a y i n g m e n o w ! N o t T r u e …

V i s i t w w w . a z g a m i n g g u i d e . c o m f o r a l l p r e v i o u s m y t h s !

Deb

un

kin

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yth

s M Y T H # 1 6

Many people share their casino gaming experiences

with us through written letters, e-mail, and in per-

son. We really value our readers‘ opinions about

casino gaming and the editorial content of our

magazine.

As a result, we read and listen to many stories

whose subjects include:

1. When jackpots can be won

2. The best time of day to win a jackpot

3. The best day of the week to win a jackpot

4. The best day during the month to win a jackpot

5. The best day of the year to win a jackpot

6. etc.

As you might imagine, there is a lot of information

to process and respond to within each individual‘s

question or statement. Our goal with this section of

the magazine is to try to shed some light on many

common misconceptions surrounding slot machines

and casino gaming in general. So, here is the truth

about jackpots and ―busy times‖ in a casino.

Jackpots can happen at any time of the day, week

month, and year. Casinos do not know when they

will happen, manufacturers of slots do not know

when they will happen, and us as players do not

know when they will happen. However, all of us

are certain they will happen at some point in time.

The self-perpetuating aspect of this myth is unfortu-

nate. If more people are at a casino, then more peo-

ple are playing the slot machines. In turn, the more

people who play at a particular moment in time, the

more ―winners‖ there will be for others to observe.

However, let‘s place our ―busy time‖ and jackpots

situation into perspective. Let‘s pretend 100 people

are at a casino, and we have 50 ―winners‖ of which

10 are ―jackpot‖ winners. Furthermore, since slot

machines are regulated, changing the number of

players at the slot machines will not affect the

odds of ―winning‖ or observing ―jackpot win-

ners.

Therefore, if 1000 people are at a casino, we will

have 500 ―winners‖ and 100 ―jackpot‖ winners.

All of the ―jackpot‖ winners are seen by the

1000 people in attendance and a conclusion is

drawn that the chances of winning a ―jackpot‖

must be higher because the casino is full.

Examining both situations, you will immediately

see that the number of ―jackpot‖ winners is 1 in

10. You can prove this on your own at home as

well as follows:

Get a good random number generator (like a

quarter or a half dollar) and start recording the

outcomes of 100 coin flips. Pretend a ―jackpot‖

happens when there are 4 Heads in a row during

the 100 coin flips. Now have all of your friends

come over and repeat the experiment with you.

You will observe a lot more ―jackpots‖, but pro-

portionally, based on the number of friends. The

relationship between the number of jackpots and

100 coin flips will be approximately the same, in

particular the more often you perform the ex-

periment.

If you don‘t want to go through the trouble of

having all this fun with your friends, then we

hope you will take this last point very seriously.

Slot machines don‘t know what will happen on

the next spin and certainly don‘t know whether a

casino is busy or empty.

These two facts are regulated by a large number

of independent agencies and is what helps to

make casino gaming fun, fair, and an exciting

form of entertainment within Arizona and across

the United States of America. -AGG

I have a better chance of hit-

ting a jackpot during a “busy

time” at the casino. WRONG!

STOP!

READ THIS ONLY IF

YOU WANT TO KNOW

THE TRUTH ABOUT

CASINO GAMING

SAMI’S SMACKDOWN

here are many people within

the casino gaming industry

that schmooze for a living.

There are the sales people for

a wide range of different

products and services. Then there are the

executives of various companies, including

the casinos, who have to schmooze as part

of their jobs. Last, but definitely not least,

are the representatives at the casino players

clubs and casino host offices.

These people are the individuals I particu-

larly enjoy interacting with on a regular

basis! There is nothing more entertaining

than schmoozing with a professional

schmoozer. I mean, seriously! What could

be better than having gone to college to get

a degree in schmoozing. The last time I

looked, that degree was available in most

Business Schools. But I digress…

You have to ask yourself, how does the

professional schmoozer come across these

kinds of jobs? I doubt the job posting actu-

ally states ―We are looking for the best

schmoozer we can find‖ as that might be a

little hard to remain objective when all the

candidates are trying to schmooze their

way into a job!

In any event, I love the opening lines used

by the professional schmoozer. They make

me feel like they are trying to pick me up

at a bar. For all of you who are at least one

step up from the lowest level, you can defi-

nitely get a taste of what it is like to be

treated like a celebrity. By now, you have

encountered ―the schmoozer.‖

For all of you who remember the television

program ―Friends,‖ you understand what I

mean when I refer to the character Joey

Tribiani‘s famous quote ―How you doin‘?‖

That‘s exactly the way some of these con-

versations start between me and the profes-

sional schmoozer, male or female!

The reply I give is generally very passive

and laid back in order to elicit more

schmoozing. ―Oh, so-so, not too bad.‖

While the schmoozer should have a variety

of immediate responses to my answer, they

generally pause as they do have a little bit

of background information on me based on

my player‘s card status and play that day.

―Ahh, well, um, my name is Jane Smith

(let‘s pretend) and I just wanted to wel-

come you to ABC Casino and ask if there

is anything you need today?‖

This question is critical, absolutely, no

doubt about it. This is what you need to

get out of the schmoozer during your inter-

action with them.

Once they ask for what you want, now you

can ask for almost anything, within reason,

based on your play and status. Go ahead,

ask for it! That‘s why you put up with the

schmoozer to begin with! What‘s the

worst that is going to happen? They say

―No, but I can offer you …‖ and you still

get something out of your request.

Now, the professional schmoozer is truly

good at what they do if they remember

details about past interactions with you!

What I like to do is test them whenever I

can with leading questions. The following

list should be a good start for any one of

you to work with:

When was I last here?

Where did I eat during my last visit?

What was I playing during my last visit?

Who was with me during my last visit?

Don‘t be extremely direct with your ques-

tioning! Make your probes subtle and in-

nocent. Start off with a comment about

how you really enjoyed playing blackjack

during your last visit (however, you don‘t

play blackjack at all). A professional

schmoozer should correct your oversight

politely and be willing to continue to inter-

act with you. If they don‘t, well, I am giv-

ing you free reign to out-schmooze the

schmoozer!

These casino employees should pride

themselves in not only being bright, happy,

efficient, customer service oriented, and

there to help you, but also to make you feel

like you are special in their eyes by recall-

ing specific information about you that

they value or want you to perceive value

in.

The most fun you can possibly have is get-

ting the schmoozer to a point where they

are speechless. If you can do that, you

have out-schmoozed them!

I hope you have as much fun as I do when

interacting with the professional

schmoozer! Until next time… - Sami

Do YOU have something to rant about? Write me at:

[email protected]

OUT-SCHMOOZING

A PROFESSIONAL

SCHMOOZER

T



Now through January 13, 2011, Desert Diamond Casinos & En-

tertainment is giving away over $350,000.00 in cash and prizes as

part of their Ultimate Football Fan Giveaway promotion! There

will be one grand prize winner at each of the two Tucson area

locations, so your odds just got better if you frequent either one

of the two properties. The grand prize winner will receive two

tickets to the big game in Arlington, Texas along with $2,500.00

in spending money! What could be better than that?

Well, how about this? Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment

took it upon themselves to reward its loyal patrons with appear-

ances by some of the great players of football!

Whether you have a passing interest in football, or are the ulti-

mate football fan, you won‘t want to miss the following appear-

ances by some football legends at the Desert Diamond Casinos:

Nov. 14, 2010—Tony Dorsett Nov. 29, 2010—Roger Craig

Dec. 6, 2010—Mel Renfro Dec. 12, 2010—Marcus Allen

Jan. 8, 2011—Kellen Winslow Jan. 9, 2011—Jim Plunkett

Sign up for a players club card while you visit either one of the

Desert Diamond Casino properties and good luck while playing

their games and participating in their promotions!

Desert Diamond Casinos are located at 7350 S. Nogales High-

way, Tucson about 1 mile South of Valencia Rd on Nogales

Highway. Call 1-520-294-7777 or visit desertdiamond-

casino.com. Featuring 1089 Slots, Live Keno, a 270 Seat Bingo

Hall, 24 Poker Tables, and 18 Blackjack Tables. The second

property is at 1100 W. Pima Mine Rd, Sahuarita, South of Tuc-

son at I-19 and Exit 80 (Pima Mine Rd). Call 1-866-332-9467 or

visit desertdiamondcasino.com. Featuring 890 Slots, 2 Poker

Tables, and 10 Blackjack Tables.

Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment are an enterprise of

the Tohono O'odham Nation. To all you football fans young and

old… thanks for reading our magazine and don’t forget to tell the

Players Club the AZ Gaming Guide sent you! -AGG

FOOTBALL and CASINOS ?

You Have To Check Out The

Desert Diamond

Casinos

Ultimate Football Fan Giveaway Promotion !

A Little A Little

Thing CalledThing Called

LuckLuck

Write me your good luck stories at:

[email protected]

ainbows are probably one of the

most fascinating displays of pure

beauty one can find in nature.

For one reason or another I have been for-

tunate enough to see a lot of rainbows this

year! On some days I was able to see sev-

eral in the morning and then later in the

afternoon again.

Double rainbows have become a favorite

of mine. One afternoon, during the recent

monsoon season, I saw a pair of full half-

circle rainbows stretching over the Super-

stition Mountains.

In general, rainbows have represented a

sign of a bridge between the world of hu-

mans and the realm of gods. This belief

appears throughout history in many cul-

tures and religions around the world.

Many religions and cultures still carry this

belief to the present day.

For those of us who want luck on our side

as much as we can, we accept the Celtic

and Irish view of rainbows. In Celtic my-

thology, a crock of gold awaits a lucky

finder at the end of a rainbow. Perhaps as

an evolution to that myth, the Irish culture

believes the mischievous leprechaun has

hidden a pot of gold at the end of a rain-

bow.

While we can never reach the end of the

rainbow, we can still take our observation

of one as a sign that fortune is just around

the corner! Several of you who have writ-

ten me have commented on seeing a rain-

bow followed by good fortune on a subse-

quent casino visit. I hope you all see a

rainbow soon!

R

BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW ...

Licensed Titles:

Making a game

with an idea, a

theme, some art,

you didn‘t create.


There are millions of products readily available to us that use the

images and ideas of movies, television shows, games, sports

teams, and so on, that many of us don‘t even stop to think about

them anymore. Certainly, they don‘t surprise us when we encoun-

ter similar products at the casino! How many of you have played

a version of the Wheel of Fortune® series of slot machines by

IGT? Our guess is that all of our readers will admit to playing one

of the many games at least once. As such, you have played what

is generally referred to as a ―licensed title‖ by professionals in the

casino gaming industry.

These licensed titles are generally developed with the intent of

drawing a large amount of attention to a new game, in the hopes

that casinos will enter into an agreement with manufacturers to

purchase, lease, or revenue share in exchange for the game. By

selecting licensed titles which may appeal to players, the theory is

that these particular games will support high amounts of play and

remain on the casino floor for a long time if players truly enjoy the

game.

Pulling this complicated sequence of events off is more easily said

than done. First, a manufacturer must find an interest in a particu-

lar licensed theme. Many of these themes are based on movies,

game shows, games, celebrities, and musicians. Once a theme

has been selected, the manufacturer must begin to negotiate with

the copyright holder. These negotiations take time and generally

involve either a flat fee in exchange for the right to use the theme,

or involves a mixture of fees and recurring payments which may

be linked to the performance and revenue of the game on casino

floors.

Nothing is for certain during these negotiations and you can well

imagine that competitive bidding wars and exclusivity arrange-

ments can easily be part of the negotiating process. A manufac-

turer will obviously have to examine all the financial responsibili-

ties of obtaining the rights to reproduce a theme they are interested

in along with the research, development, regulatory approval, in-

stallation, and maintenance costs required to get such a game onto

a casino floor in front of players where it can actually generate

revenue for the casino, and possibly the manufacturer and the li-

cense holder.

If we just look at what the manufacturer WMS has recently intro-

duced to the market in terms of licensed titles, you should begin to

understand the challenges a manufacturer may have to endure

when offering a product line which includes multiple licensed

titles.

WMS‘ recent slot machine games which include licensed material:

The Wizard Of Oz®

Top Gun®

The Price Is Right®

Star Trek®

The Lord Of The Rings®

Just because you are not a fan of The Lord Of The Rings® or The

Price Is Right® doesn't mean you should overlook these games.

Try them out, they may strike your fancy, even if you have no clue

as to what strange creature is helping you win! -AGG

Image Courtesy Of WMS. © Copyright WMS. All Rights Reserved. www.wms.com.

DIRECTORY OF CASINO SPONSORS

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Video Keno Corner

Cleopatra Keno® by IGT

from page 18

Chances of triggering a set of free

plays based on number of spots in

order from best to worst:

10 Spots

7 Spots

9 Spots

4 Spots

6 Spots

8 Spots

3 Spots

5 Spots

Long term odds based on number of

spots in order from best to worst:

6 Spots

3 Spots

8 Spots

7 Spots

4 Spots

9 Spots

10 Spots

5 Spots

The AGG recommends you play:

6 Spots or 7 Spots

november - arizona gaming guide...debunking myths myth #16: busy times & jackpots 22 dollars...

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