Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - April 2015 - 07:04

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24 A LOOK AT ALL THE SLOTS

FROM THE NATIONAL INDIAN

GAMING EXPO IN SAN DIEGO

04 EDITOR’S NOTE

06 PLAYERS TALK

10 TABLE GAMES

14 NEW SLOTS

18 ARIZONA LOTTERY

20 DINING

22 WINNING WAYS

24 FEATURE STORY

26 TRIBAL NEWS

28 GAMING NEWS

33 LAUGHLIN, NEVADA

36 CASINO NIGHTLIFE

38 CASINO ENTERTAINMENT

40 CASINO BINGO

42 SAMI’S SMACKDOWN

43 FUN FACTS

44 FUN & GAMES

46 CASINO DIRECTORY

IN EVERY ISSUE

azgamingguide.com | April 2015 | Arizona Gaming Guide 03

ARISTOCRAT’S BATMAN

NOW AT MAZATZAL

This popular slot is making its way

all across the state. Check out why

everyone wants to play it.

SAMI GIVES VIDEO POKER

TOURNAMENT ADVICE

A reader is bothered by others and

isn’t sure what to do next. Sami

weighs in with her strategies.

42 14

Contents APRIL

2015 MAJOR LEAGUE BASE-

BALL SEASON PREVIEW

See what predictions Rodric has for

our readers as we all get ready to

“Play Ball!”

22

http://www.azgamingguide.com/

am still charging ahead with my plans to implement change in my life during

2015. This month is no different. I have come off a week long vacation and am

recharged and energized to keep going. While I was out of the office I real-

ized I have so many new prospects in front of me.

Furthermore, the staff and I recognize we have plenty of opportunities in front of

us with this magazine. Our amazing fans and readers (We love you and send a big

“thank you” right back to all of you!) are constantly providing us with new ideas

and excellent suggestions. Our advertisers (Thank you for your continued sup-

port!) are also always willing to share their ideas and brainstorm new ones togeth-

er with us for our magazine. So, to capitalize on all of this positive energy, you’ll

see a new regular column on page 33 written by the Tropicana Laughlin Market-

ing Director, Mr. Joe Hagan.

In this issue, you’ll find plenty of reasons to make your next trip to any casino a

success. We’ve got the low down on a ton of slots, plenty of tips for you to incor-

porate into casino visits, and much more! Please visit us at: facebook .com/

ArizonaGamingGuide, become part of our community and share your thoughts and expe-

riences 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

[email protected]

March 2015 Issue Correction—Tribal News Article by Lee Allen: Chef Ron Dimas from

Talking Stick Resort took first place and Best In Show Honors at the 2014 Chef’s Chal-

lenge. The 2015 competition will take place at Talking Stick Resort at the end of October.

Alexandra

VOLUME 07 • ISSUE 04

PUBLISHER

Chris Höft

[email protected]

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Elizabeth Torma

[email protected]

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Alexandra Lang

[email protected]

ART DIRECTOR

Melanie Mueller

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Al Moe

Lee Allen

Ramses Ja

Mark Novak

Cindy Esquer

Amanda Riddle

Lana Hartmann

Samantha Becker

ADVERTISING SALES

Nina Consiglio

[email protected]

Elizabeth Torma

[email protected]

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 | April 2015 | azgamingguide.com

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PLAYERS TALK


Q: On the Game [King] slots at [my favorite casino] I noticed

this huge payoff difference in Keno. On the Cleopatra Keno

(where you can get 12 free bonus spins) if you play an 8-spot

and hit all 8 the pay off is 1,000 credits. However, if you play

an 8-spot on the Multi-Keno game on the same slot the pay off

is 10,000 credits. Why is that? Isn't 8 out of 8 the same odds of

hitting regardless what keno you play? I paid attention to that

the other day. One day, I played Multi-Keno there and I hit an

8 of 8 and got paid $500 from the attendant by only playing 5

cents per game. Then I noticed playing Cleopatra Keno that

playing the same 5 cents and hitting 8 of 8 you will get only

$50. Please explain if the machines are set different making

the Multi-Keno harder to hit on to warrant such a different

payoff. Thank You.

Marco Santos – Email

A: Thank you Marco for such an excellent question about

IGT’s video keno games at your favorite casino! You point out a

very interesting fact about the mathematics of casino games. As

an observant player you have picked up on this major differ-

ence between the pay tables on two different versions of video

keno.

In order to explain, perhaps we should address your second

question first. That is, let’s look at the odds of hitting 8 out of 8

spots. Regardless of whether you play straight up Keno, Multi-

Card Keno, or any of the other standard video keno games on

IGT’s slot which allow you to select 8 spots as part of the game,

you will inevitably have the same odds of hitting all 8 spots. The

reason why is you are always selecting 8 spots from a total of 80

numbers and the slot machine selects 20 numbers at random

and displays them to you on the screen. There is no deviation

from this game rule. As a result, the probability of hitting 8

spots out of 8 on the Multi-Card game you are playing on any

individual card are 1 in 230,115. That is on average, over the

long run, you’ll hit 8 out of 8 about once every 230,000 games.

With Cleopatra Keno, there is one key difference in the game

play from Multi-Card Keno. You actually mentioned it in your

question. Cleopatra Keno introduces the ability to win 12 free

games, at double the pay! As you know, if the last ball drawn by

the slot gives you a win, the free games are triggered. This

means you not only have a chance of hitting 8 out of 8 spots

during the 20 drawn balls, you also have the ability to hit 8 out

of 8 during the free games, if you trigger them! This changes the

probability of winning 8 out of 8 spots. The chance of hitting the

bonus while playing 8 spots is about 1 in 42, meaning on aver-

age, over the long run, you’ll trigger the bonus about once every

42 games. However, during any one of the 12 free games, you

can hit 8 out of 8 at twice the pay. This increases the chance of

you winning 8 out of 8 to around 1 in 182,670 overall. So, due to

the change in the chances and due to the change in pay

(doubling) as a result of introducing the free games, the pay

must be lowered in Cleopatra Keno from Multi-Card Keno. Oth-

erwise, if the pays remained the same between the games Cleo-

patra Keno would lose money for the casino in the long run.

The odds of hitting 8 out of 8 do not change on any single draw

in Multi-Card Keno, nor have they changed during any single

draw of Cleopatra Keno (meaning as the slot draws a set of 20

numbers during the regular game or a free game).

Q: I have seen many celebrity photos on slot machines endors-

ing the game. Do these celebrities receive a royalty each time

these games are sold to a casino or do they receive one lump

sum for the use of their photo on a machine? On average, how

much money do they receive for the use of their photo?

Thanks for all the great information in your Players Talk sec-

tion.

David Hough—Phoenix, Arizona

A: David, thank you for your excellent question! We will an-

swer this based on our knowledge of licensing deals we are

aware of as slot machine game designers. The celebrity does not

actually endorse a slot machine. The slot machine manufacturer

pays a celebrity a fee to use their likeness, or other asset like a

song, as part of the game. Each deal is different, but in general,

in order to be able to begin using the licensed image or asset a

deal is struck involving a one time lump sum payment. Other

deals involve recurring yearly payments in order to retain the

license. This can, and has, lead to bidding wars between slot

manufacturers for licenses!

Not all celebrities are willing to have licensing deals set up for

their images on a slot machine. The most notable is the Top Gun

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].


mailto:[email protected]?subject=Reader%20Comment%20(Web%20Publication)

http://www.wingilariver.com/

slot machine based on the popular movie. With the exception of

Tom Cruise, all the actors participated in having their image

used in the game as part of the licensing deal. As Tom Cruise

did not, his likeness did not appear anywhere on the game.

At this point, licensing deals for movies and slot machines are

so detailed that brands involving soft drinks, or clothes, or cars,

even if they appeared in the film intentionally, may refuse to

participate in the licensing deal. That means the graphic artists

at the slot manufacturer may have to erase, blur or otherwise

alter the appearance of a pair of sunglasses on a main character

because the sunglass maker didn’t approve their inclusion in

the license.

If a piece of music is to be licensed, some deals approximate

how often the song will be played over the estimated lifetime of

the slot machine in casinos around the world, and a figure is

arranged based on those numbers. Other song deals just work

off a lump sum.

While most deals are on the order of $10,000 to $100,000 per

license as a lump sum, there will be exceptions that make mon-

ey in different ways. Wheel of Fortune is the first major license

that comes to mind. That game was the first licensed slot game

that really took off on casino floors and the arrangement behind

it involves a daily use fee back to the owners of the Wheel of

Fortune copyright.

All licensing deals in the casino gaming industry are pretty

much kept under wraps, but there is information about other

licensing arrangements. The footage to one of Michael Jackson's

final concerts was said to be in the $20 million range. In April of

2005 US Weekly paid $500,000 for pictures of Brad Pitt & Angelina

Jolie. And, the average commercial music licensing deal is esti-

mated to range between $75,000 and $200,000.

Q: On a multi-play slot machine, is there a separate random

generator for each game or just one random generator control-

ling all the games?

Robert Meisenburg—E-mail

A: Robert, this question is really great because we know every

gambler who plays a multi-game video poker, multi-game vid-

eo keno, or multi-game video slot asks themselves this all the

time! Basically, we all ask ourselves, “Would I have gotten this

situation had I played the other game on this slot?”

Slot machines are all designed the same basic way, there is one

random number generator built in to the game. The software in

the game waits for the bet button to be pressed and starts the

process of playing the next spin, or hand, etc. Part of that pro-

cess is to call up one, or more, random numbers to determine

the outcome. The software accesses the only one random num-

ber generator available to it. So, regardless of which game you

play on a multi-game machine there is only one random num-

ber generator.

At the moment you pressed the spin or bet button, the slot se-

lected certain random numbers to determine the outcome of the

spin, or hand, and that’s what makes a win or a loss in the con-

text of the game you are playing (let’s say getting four Queens

in Double Double Bonus Poker). If you were playing a different

game (say Deuces Wild), those same numbers generated at the

exact same time will produce the win or loss in the context of

that other game. Would you have been able to accomplish that

feat? Probably not, because you took the time to switch games.

Q: Love your articles because they are very informative. I have

been going to Laughlin, Nevada for many years and receiving

free rooms, vouchers from between $10 and $30 for food and

$10 for free play. I am not a high roller but I do gamble at

[several casinos there] for about 5 hours a day. Lately I still get

the free rooms but the other comps have been decreasing in

value. I have increased my time gambling over the years but I

find I am receiving less comps. Is there any reason why this is

happening and should I speak to them about this? I love stay-

ing at their hotel because the staff is very friendly, the rooms

are great. I have no complaints and do recommend this hotel

to other people.

Ken Bugay—Cottonwood, Arizona

A: Ken, thanks for your question. There are many factors

which will make your free play, food vouchers, complimentary

rooms and other offers change as you play at one or more casi-

nos. The way to find the answer is to track your play during

every visit you make to any of the multiple casinos you visit.

Your play is what you are able to identify and adjust.

What you are unable to control is any changes made in the Play-

er’s Club. That is, if they are no longer going to offer free rooms.

Maybe they decided to change the rate at which free play is

given back. Perhaps they’ll no longer invite guests from particu-

lar areas for certain types of offers. Essentially, we players can’t

control what changes a Player’s Club may implement.

However, if you keep a log of the number of points you earned

using your Player’s Club card every time you visit, you’ll have

something to refer back to if your free play changes. Ultimately,

casinos all look at what is referred to as a player’s average daily

theoretical win. This is the amount of money they can expect to

earn from your play based on your past history of play. You

essentially have a version of this at your fingertips when you

begin to track your earned Player’s Club points. I’d suggest you

talk to the Player’s Club about your concerns and I suggest you

start tracking your points so if you have to talk to them again

you’ll be armed with some information. $

PLAYERS TALK



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TABLE GAMES


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.

Often, they will explain specific rules about why something

can’t be done, such as changing a hit-card or something similar.

Believe it or not, the games have rules set forth by the state, and

some can’t be ignored, even if an error has occurred. On the

other hand, the Pit Boss is really hoping to be able to help you,

honest!

Still unhappy? The state agency overseeing all gaming is the

Arizona Department of Gaming. They have a website, they have

phones. Call ‘em up if you want. $

(Editor’s Note: The Arizona Department of Gaming’s phone number

is 602.771.4263 and their website is AZGaming.gov.)

By Al Moe

o you are having a great time playing blackjack and then

boom, there’s a dispute on your game. Maybe you

thought you won the hand but didn’t get paid. What to

do? First, don’t worry, it happens. Although there’s been some

dispute about this, dealers are human. I know, we checked. In

fact, they are just like you and me, and on rare occasions they

make mistakes. Maybe two cards got stuck together, maybe

they mispaid a bet, or maybe they skipped your hand. What

should be done? Firing squad? Fast Food?

If something doesn’t seem right, just ask for help. Don’t jump

out of your chair and scream “The dealer just cheated me,” be-

cause that’s not what happened. The chances of getting cheated

by a dealer in Arizona are really slim. So, instead, don’t make

another bet, put your hand out and say “Just a second, what did

I have last hand?” or something like that. The dealer won’t get

mad, and although they may be flying along and dealing 400

hands an hour, they’ll probably remember exactly what you

had on the last hand.

You can expect to hear something like “You hit your 14 with a

five for 19, but I made a 20, sorry.” If that doesn’t clear it up,

take the next step. Ask for the cards to be backed-up. The dealer

will call the Floor Supervisor over and they will take care of the

problem.

Dealers pick the cards up in a particular fashion so they can be

backed up (replaced on the layout) just as they were played.

The first cards will be the dealer’s hand, then the player’s. Your

own hand will be recreated right in front of you.

If that still doesn’t make sense to you it’s alright to tell the Floor

Supervisor that it still doesn’t seem right. If it’s questionable to

the boss, they can ask surveillance to check on the hand, but

really, backing up the cards works almost every time. The boss

may decline to do anything more based on the backup of the

cards or on their own observation of the original hand, that’s

their right, and they probably are right.

However, if you are still uncomfortable, ask to see the Floor

Supervisor’s boss for clarification. Note the time and the table

number if you aren’t going to play anymore. A Pit Boss is likely

to be called so they can talk to you. Don’t be angry or demand-

ing, just explain what you think happened and they will take in

all the information and make a decision.

S

TABLE GAME DISPUTES And How They Are Easily Resolved


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By Lana Hartmann

NEW SLOTS

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! At Mazatzal

merican Gaming Systems (AGS) and Mazatzal Hotel & Casino

proudly present Ripley’s Believe It or Not! a trivia based game with a

wheel top box. This exciting game has a 5-level progressive and

is the first game in AGS’ It Pays To Know series, a series of games featuring

AGS’ knowledge based game mechanic. The truly special feature of Rip-

ley’s Believe It or Not! are the trivia bonus games, Hidden Features in Trivia and

Trivia ‘Round the World. A player wins the progressive by answering the

questions correctly on the first guess. Players can accumulate features in

the base game such as “Re-Do”, “Eliminator” and “Stats” which will im-

prove their chances of winning a progressive in the trivia bonus round.

The Wheel is triggered by landing the Mystery symbol anywhere on the

3rd reel where the player will be awarded a single spin. The Free Spins

round will amaze players as they collect and accumulate Jewel Bugs which

will run around the reels and morph into wilds for an improved payout! $

A

Batman Wonder Wheels Slots At Mazatzal

he Batman classic TV series slot game, powered by

Wonder Wheels, is the newest Aristocrat slot game to be

installed at Mazatzal hotel & Casino in beautiful Pay-

son, Arizona. Wonder Wheels is a new game category from

Aristocrat and features three mechanical wheels that increase

player engagement and retention.

The Wonder Wheels slot is larger than other games on the

floor, measuring in at 10.5 feet tall, capable of drawing player

attention from anywhere on the casino floor. Modular in de-

sign for easy and flexible installation, the game also has 55”

LCD screens that catch players’ eyes. The experience is com-

pleted by Aristocrat’s surround sound iChair.

The first game released in the category is Batman Classic TV

Series Slot Game Powered by Wonder Wheels. The game fea-

tures still and video imagery from the classic TV series with

Adam West, who introduced the game at G2E. Game play is

enhanced by stacked wilds, seven themed bonus features,

video clips from the TV series, and a highly anticipatory

wheel feature trigger. The 30-line game has a 50 credit mini-

mum and a 250 credit maximum bet. $

T



Extreme Progressive By Aruze Gaming

new video linked G-Series family from Aruze Gaming will be upon us soon! Extreme

Progressive is what it is known as; featuring two titles Extreme Dragon and Extreme Phoenix,

and it’s going to rock the casino floors. This is a 5-reel, 3-row, 243 ways to win (ALL

WAYS) linked series which offers Free Games and a 4-level progressive which has over 15 different

jackpot settings. The series will most likely be installed in a penny denomination and has a mini-

mum base game bet of 88¢.

Throughout each of these two titles, 3 or more FEATURE/WILD symbols appearing from left to

right trigger the Free Games. During the Free Games, the opportunity for increased WILD symbols

is greater. If at any point during the base game or Free Games a COIN symbol is to appear, the

Jackpot Challenge is triggered. During the Jackpot Challenge, 14 COINS will be displayed and

selected until a 4-of-a-kind is shown. At that point, whichever corresponding 4-of-a-kind is shown,

that is the progressive that will be won. This new G-Series family of games will be your next stop

for an “extreme” gaming experience!

To learn more about these exciting new titles or any other slot games by Aruze Gaming, please

visit their website at go.aruzegaming.com. $

Coming Soon NEW SLOTS

A


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By Lana Hartmann

Romance of Fire and Rain By Aristocrat

ristocrat’s E*Series line of games are proven favorites players love with engaging

characters and storylines combined with rich graphics and sound. Now the fun is

going to the next level with a new progressive jackpot component, adding a new

layer of anticipation and excitement to these entertainment-style games. The newest addi-

tion to the E*Series line is slot game The Romance of Fire and Rain, housed in the techno-

logically advanced Helix cabinet. This fun new title has an original reel layout (2x5x8), new

game mechanics, and a five-level progressive. The game combines low-to-medium volatili-

ty with high anticipation in the form of frequent transferring wilds that give players a

chance for big wins. The Romance of Fire and Rain further enhances player enjoyment

with Max Stacks, mega symbols and matching wilds, along with entrancing music and

sound effects. The game’s topper art showcases Rain’s enchanting eyes that practically

make eye contact with players! Features also include 15 Free Games and Progressive Jack-

pots, including Grand with a $1,000 start value; Major, $250 start value; Maxi, $100 start

value; Minor, $30 start value; and Mini, $10 start value. The Romance of Fire and Rain is

configurable for a payback percentage range from 85.37% to 94.75%! For more information

about this game or any of the other exciting E*Series Jackpot titles, visit Aristocrat’s web-

site at aristocrat-us.com. $

A

NEW SLOTS Coming Soon


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5 Treasures On Hit Link By Bally Technologies

lay the game that is entertaining players in Asia and across the globe! The 5 Treasures

video slot joins 88 Fortunes on Bally’s hit Duo Fu Duo Cai progressive link to offer you

another chance to test your luck.

This five-reel, 243-way game will entertain you with its gorgeous Asian artwork, free games that

can be re-triggered, and enticing progressive jackpots.

Three or more Red Door symbols start the Free Games feature, which awards six free games that

can be re-triggered over and over. Before the free games begin, select a Golden Animal symbol to

add to the reel set to choose your own volatility. Then let the reels spin as your pursue exciting

five-of-a-kind wins!

The adorable Fu Babies will bring you much fortune during the Fu Bat Jackpot feature, which

may be triggered when a Fu Bat symbol appears. Pick from among 12 lucky coins until three Fu

Baby symbols match. Each Baby symbol corresponds to one of four fantastic jackpot levels.

Discover your treasure in 5 Treasures! Look for this game on casino floors now as part of the Duo

Fu Duo Cai link. For more information, visit BallyTech.com. $

Coming Soon NEW SLOTS

P


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By Cindy Esquer

ARIZONA LOTTERY

The whole winning ticket scenario began

for Cathleen Gore, Mesa, when, after she

had a difficult day at work, a co-worker

gave her two $5 crossword Scratchers to

brighten up her day. Cathleen won $10

with the tickets and went to a store to

redeem them.

While standing in front of the counter,

Cathleen couldn’t help but notice a $10

crossword Scratchers staring her in the

face. When she realized that her left hand

was extremely itchy, a sign that money

was involved, she purchased two Plati-

num Crossword Scratchers.

Cathleen scratched the tickets at home

and, at first, thought she’d won $30.

However, it didn’t look right. She decid-

ed to have the ticket checked at the store.

As it turned out, Cathleen had missed

two words; instead of $30, she’d won the

top prize of $100,000.

Cathleen works in quality control, and

lately has been working so many hours

that she hasn’t had much time for herself.

The timing of this win is perfect because

Cathleen said she is ready for a vacation.

The ticket was purchased at 4 Sons, 1205

W. Baseline Road, Mesa.

For more information on the Arizona Lottery,

visit their website at ArizonaLottery.com. For

the winning numbers, call 480.829.7425 in

Phoenix or 520.325.9141 in Tucson. Please

call 1.800.499.3798 for all other areas in

Arizona.

$100,000 Scratchers $250,000 Scratchers

Nora Saucedo, Phoenix, received an ear-

ly holiday present from her son. He’d

purchased a few $250,000 Crossword

instant scratch tickets and gave one to

her. He buys crossword and bingo in-

stant scratch games all the time. Nora

scratched the ticket, looked at it in disbe-

lief, checked it a few more times, and

then called her son to come look at it.

Nora and her son kept going over the

ticket, but kept coming up with the same

conclusion; the ticket was a $250,000 top

prize winner. Nora immediately signed

the back of the ticket and they took it

back to the store to have it validated. The

store’s personnel know the family and

are very happy for Nora. She said, “I

wasn’t going to believe it until I saw the

check.”

Once Nora had the paperwork she need-

ed to redeem the ticket, she told the rest

of the family. Everyone was excited for

her.

Nora is a retired teaching assistant. She

spent three years caring for her father,

who died at the age of 103. She’s just

now getting her life back together. Nora

spends a lot of time with her family, es-

pecially her grandchildren. Her son com-

mented that she also spends a lot of time

shopping; Nora agreed with him.

Nora is going to put the money in the

bank for investment purposes; she hopes

to see it grow.

Tomasita Najera, Glendale, calls herself a

sporadic Lottery player. Recently while

grocery shopping, she had an urge to

buy some Scratchers after seeing some

tickets in the Lottery vending machine.

Tomasita purchased a few Jumbo Bucks

Scratchers and scratched them at home.

She saw that one of them appeared to be

a $100,000 winner, but couldn’t believe it.

She is going to save some of it, earmark

some for charity, give some to her par-

ents because they have done a lot for her,

and take a vacation with her son.

Gordon Reierson, Fosston, Minnesota,

enjoys our Arizona weather and is a

yearly winter visitor to our state. Gordon

rarely buys Scratchers back home, but is

a frequent player when he comes to Ari-

zona. He recently purchased two Plati-

num Crossword tickets, not only because

he’s had some small wins with the game,

but because, “…your payouts are better.”

Well, he certainly can back up that state-

ment because one of his two tickets

turned out to be a $100,000 winner! He is

thrilled with his win. $

$100,000 Scratchers

$100,000 Scratchers


http://www.arizonalottery.com/


CASINO DINING

BUCKY’S & YAVAPAI CASINOS Food & Beverage Director Brian Tolbert Serves Up His Specials

fter several recent visits to Bucky’s & Yavapai Casinos,

we had the opportunity to sample a variety of dishes

at Bucky’s Café and at Yavapai Cantina. The sand-

wiches, salads, and specialty ribs (Wednesdays only!) were out

of this world. In tracking down the source of these culinary de-

lights, we met the new Food & Beverage Director, Mr. Brian

Tolbert. Fortunately, he was kind enough to grant us an inter-

view which gives insight into the recent changes at the casinos.

Please give us some background information about yourself.

I have worked from a truck stop in the middle of nowhere to

Ritz-Carlton and Hilton Hotels. I have worked in New Orleans,

owned my own restaurant in La Conner, Washington, Phoenix,

Philadelphia, Oklahoma City, Chicago and in New York City. I

graduated from Scottsdale Culinary Institute. I have trained in

Europe under a plethora of world chefs in Germany, France and

Spain. My favorite country was Spain: the fresh fish from the

Atlantic and Mediterranean, the innovations of culinary tech-

niques, the freshness of food and the love of food. The delicious

Paella; each region had its own take on this saffron rice dish. My

restaurant was called The Dulce Plate where I served Spanish

and Mediterranean dishes using fish from the local fisherman

and produce from farms nearby. I wrote a cookbook called The

Dulce Plate with recipes and my flair for food.

What is new on the menu at Bucky’s Café & Yavapai Cantina?

Every month we have $4.99 Daily Specials to entice our guests.

We also offer a $3.99 Veterans Appreciation Day menu on Mon-

days and a $1.99 Seniors Day Special Breakfast Menu on Tues-

days. At Bucky’s Café, we have brought back both our specialty

rubbed ribs with our own sauce made in house on Wednesday

nights and our special seasoned Prime Rib Dinner on Thursday

nights.

Did you make any behind the scenes changes that you’d like

to share?

We have stepped up our training for both the cooks and the

servers. Plate presentations, guest satisfaction, and knife tech-

niques are just a few things we have done. I have also written

new training manuals for both front of the houses.

What do you find fun about the casino gaming industry?

I like the change and growth of the casino: new ideas, tech-

niques, growth potential and daily learning. There is always a

new growth opportunity every day. Also, I like to learn our

guests’ names, greet them and be greeted by them.

What is your favorite dish to prepare for family & friends?

My favorite dish to prepare is Paella. When in Spain, I was

taught the traditional technique of this dish; how the compo-

nents are cooked at different times and why these ingredients

are placed in the order that they are. Also, how and why this

dish is similar, yet different, in the different regions of Spain.

Plus this dish truly expresses the chef, cook or mother who

makes Paella.

We heard you used to wrestle professionally?

I was a professional wrestler back in the late 70’s and 80’s! I

wrestled out in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I loved it! The camara-

derie of the squared circle, how we used to travel together, set

up the ring, the fans and my fellow brothers of the Cauliflower

Alley Club. Yes, I was one of the wrestlers everyone loved to

hate, but that was the fun part. Also, I traveled a lot and learned

to develop my culinary taste buds from one part of the world to

the other. In case you want to know my wrestling name, let’s

just say I was the man in black that our fans enjoyed to boo!

Also, the staff mentioned you like to ride motorcycles. Is there

a favorite Arizona trip you can share with us?

I ride every day. My new friends at Bucky’s Casino think I am

made of iron because no matter the weather, I ride. I enjoy many

different riding spots. Arizona has so many and you can ride

year round. I ride every year to Sturgis, South Dakota. In Arizo-

na, I like to do charity rides like Toys for Tots, Yuma Prison

Run, and just for fun, Poker Runs. I always enjoy riding to Je-

rome through Mingus Mountain over to Payson mainly because

of the beauty of riding through the forest.

For more information on Bucky’s & Yavapai Casinos in Prescott,

Arizona, please visit BuckysCasino.com. $

A

By Mark Novak


http://www.fortmcdowellcasino.com/

By Rodric J. Hurdle-Bradford

uch like a casino, the 2015 Major League Baseball off

season was full of chance, spending money and a

couple of lucky teams that hit the jackpot with free-

agent signings and trades.

Who will win the World Series in October? Nobody knows, but

here’s the 2015 season preview. Don’t be surprised with a final

showdown between Show-Me State royalty and the talented

team located in our nation’s capital. So, let’s play ball!

American League

Eastern Division – Expect another 90-plus win season from the

Baltimore Orioles, with the Boston Red Sox finishing second

within five games. The Toronto Blue Jays are destined for anoth-

er average season, while the New York Yankees will spend the

season in fourth place hosting the Alex Rodriguez show. With-

out longtime coach Joe Maddon, the Tampa Bay Rays return to

last place. Division Champion: Baltimore Orioles

Central Division – The Kansas City Royals will use the best

defense in baseball to finish in first place, slightly ahead of the

Detroit Tigers. The Chicago White Sox added pitcher Jeff Samar-

dzija and former All-Star game MVP Melky Cabrera and are the

dark horse pick of this division. The Cleveland Indians will be

just good enough not to factor into the playoffs, and the Minne-

sota Twins may be the worst team in baseball. Division Champi-

on: Kansas City Royals

Western Division – the Los Angeles Angels should secure their

second division title in a row, even with the troubles of Josh

Hamilton. Expect the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners to

battle it out for a second-place finish and a wild card spot in the

playoffs. The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros will have a

season-long Lone Star State battle for last place. Division Cham-

pion: Los Angeles Angels

National League

Eastern Division – it’s World Series or bust for the highly-

touted Washington Nationals. The New York Mets are very

young but very talented and could still division with good

pitching and team speed. With the boatload of money the Mi-

ami Marlins gave Giancarlo Stanton, their ceiling is limited. The

Atlanta Braves look average and there’s no love in the city of

brotherly love, where the Philadelphia Phillies will finish in last

place again. Division Champion: Washington Nationals

M

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME A Preview Of The 2015 Major League Baseball Season


WINNING WAYS

Central Division – The St. Louis Cardinals will maintain their

annual perch on top of the division, but they will be challenged

hard by Andrew McCutchen and his Pittsburgh Pirates, as well

as the new-look Chicago Cubs. The Milwaukee Brewers and

Cincinnati Reds aren’t bad, just not good enough to compete for

the division championship. Division Champion: St. Louis Cardi-

nals

Western Division – Arizonans will be lucky to get a close look

at the best division in baseball this season. World Series Cham-

pion San Francisco Giants could finish in first place or fourth

place, and neither would be a surprise. The Southern California

spending spree highlighted the off-season as the San Diego Pa-

dres and Los Angeles Dodgers added multiple All-Stars to their

rosters. Our Arizona Diamondbacks seemed destined for fourth

place, while the mile-high Colorado Rockies are low in the cel-

lar for last place. Division Champion: San Diego Padres

Playoffs

American League Championship:

Kansas City Royals over the Baltimore Orioles

National League Championship:

Washington Nationals over San Diego Padres

World Series:

Washington Nationals over Kansas City Royals $

(Editor’s Note: Sports betting is illegal in Arizona. Place your bets

legally at the many sportsbooks in Laughlin or Las Vegas, Nevada.)



WINNING WAYS

EARNING PLAYER’S CLUB POINTS What To Watch For In Every Casino You Visit

hen Alexandra, our Editor, forwarded a press re-

lease over to me about a recent change to the play-

er’s club point earning rates at a major Las Vegas

Strip casino, I was very curious to verify what some of the casi-

nos in Arizona are doing. Between all the different casinos

across the state and beyond, it is not easy to keep track of how

much coin-in (the amount of money wagered) it takes to earn

one point on a particular game at any given casino. Sure, I can

remember a few off the top of my head from the last time I visit-

ed, and I certainly remember the rates for the casino I frequent

regularly, but all of them? And, don’t get me wrong! Just be-

cause it costs more or less to earn a point at one casino over an-

other doesn't mean one player’s club is better. There are many

factors involved. For example, the number of points needed to

move to the next tier will vary and the benefits at different tier

levels vary as well (along with free play, comps, offers, etc.).

What you absolutely must be aware of is the rate at which you

are earning points at a particular casino while playing your fa-

vorite games. In almost all cases, casinos have different rates for

earning points while playing slots, video poker/video keno

games, table games, and electronic table games! Most player

tracking devices, where you insert your card in a game, have a

countdown meter telling you how much coin-in earns a point.

But if it doesn’t, march over to the player’s club and ask for a

direct answer. Be sure to watch out for any changes they may

make to the rates or the rest of the player’s club program as

time passes. Then you can calculate how much you have to bet

on your favorite game to move up a level at that casino’s play-

er’s club. Just take the rate and multiply it by the points needed.

If $5 of coin-in earns one point and the next level up is at 1,000

points, then that’s $5,000 of wagering to get you to the next lev-

el (1,000 x $5 = $5,000). Do the same exercise with your casino! $

W

By Lana Hartmann


http://www.azgamingguide.com/counter/agg_counter_script.php?target=http://www.azgamingguide.com/

By Lana Hartmann

elebrating its 30th year, the National Indian Gaming

Association (NIGA) Annual Tradeshow and Conven-

tion from March 30 through April 2, 2015 at the San

Diego Convention Center, is anticipated to be the largest gather-

ing of tribal leaders and casino industry executives in the coun-

try. In celebration of this important milestone, NIGA is imple-

menting a number of new initiatives and enhancements, includ-

ing free tradeshow floor admission opportunities, an improved

Conference Program, expanded product resources, new net-

working events and more.

“The only constant is change so we are celebrating our 30th An-

niversary edition with some changes and enhancements that

signal the beginning of a brand new era for our show,” explains

Ernest L. Stevens, Jr., Chairman, NIGA. “From show floor ad-

mission procedures to education and networking opportunities,

we’re fine-tuning and enhancing every element of the show to

make sure it exceeds the needs of Tribal Gaming community

members, as well as the many other businesses that serve and

support Indian Gaming. We believe these enhancements will

further the one thing that will never change -- NIGA’s mission

to promote Tribal sovereignty and Indian self-reliance to ad-

vance the lives of Indian people economically, socially and po-

litically.”

But, what we’re all really interested in is the slots baby! Every

year all of the slot manufacturers show off a selection of current

slots at their booths during the NIGA expo. While it’s no G2E,

there are still a ton of games and, of course, we scored a pre-

view for you!

IGT Booth Preview

It’s always game time for slot creator IGT! New game themes

and product innovations are on the horizon so make sure you

visit your favorite casino for the latest variety of slot entertain-

ment and ways to win big jackpots, including a new addition to

the most popular theme of all time, Wheel of Fortune .

Most people play for the thrill of winning big, and IGT exceeds

that demand with Wheel of Fortune Winning Wedges. You’ll

soon be immersed in a gaming experience featuring wheels and

symbols that come to life through the game’s high-resolution

touch-screen display. Trigger the Pointer Frenzy feature and

you’ll have the opportunity to win various jackpots, and if

you’re really lucky, initiate a bet multiplier to increase your big

win payout.

C


FEATURE STORY

Are you in the mood for an

island getaway? Cruise

into the tropics with Wheel

of Fortune Jackpot Paradise.

A fruit-filled symbol dis-

play with kiwis, coconuts

and bananas will whet

your appetite for the life-

changing jackpots, includ-

ing the chance to win the

top award when you enter

the Jackpot Pick Bonus.

Hollywood’s charismatic,

and clue-finding charac-

ters, Sherlock and Watson

unlock fun and mystery in

IGT’s new game, Sherlock

Holmes Video Slots. In addi-

tion to action-filled scenes

direct from the movie,

you’ll be blown away by its

fun Blow-By-Blow Bonus,

which allows you to identi-

fy boxing moves that

award various levels of

credit value. Don’t forget

to look up at the game’s

three wheels, each filled

with more awards, credit

value and jackpots that include potential to increase based on

your initiated bet multiplier.

Soar into sky-high game entertainment with IGT’s Golden Eagle

Video Slots. Your excitement will reach new heights when you acti-

vate the game’s Nudging Wilds Feature; the more Wild symbols

that cover your reels, the larger the win. Golden Eagle is housed

on IGT’s newest game Cabinet, the CrystalDual, which offers a

brilliant screen display and riveting sound technology, giving

you the ultimate gaming experience.

If you’re a classic spinning reel slot machine enthusiast, you’ve

probably seen the bright lights of IGT’s new S3000 cabinet at

your favorite local casino. S3000 preserves the content that you

have loved for years, with themes such as Double Diamond ,

Pink Diamond and Double Gold, while revolutionizing your reel expe-

CELEBRATING INDIAN GAMING 30 Year Anniversary Of NIGA



rience with new themes, modern design and more ways to score

that big payout. Spice up your gaming experience with Red Hot

Tamales or live on the blazing wild side with Hell on Reels.

WMS Booth Preview

Game themes being showcased include Dancing in Rio , Gorilla

Chief II and 9 Suns. Also on display is the Cool Jewels theme, which

represents the first theme simultaneously launched by WMS

and SG Interactive for land-based, social and real money wager-

ing.

The Game Chest HD Multi-Game series, featuring eight top-

performing themes that players can choose from on a new, more

interactive main menu that displays reel layouts for each theme

along with theme-specific features.

With The Flintstones theme, the town of Bedrock is brought to

life thanks to a 42-inch horizontal screen over a vertical 32-inch

screen with a mechanical wheel on the Gamefield xD cabinet.

Reels stretch up to 10 symbols high as Wild reels and multipli-

ers are potentially added to the reels in The Flintstones mystery

feature.

The Austin Powers theme brings “the international man of mys-

tery” to life on the Gamefield xD cabinet. Featuring characters

from the Austin Powers movies, players can match symbols for up to

a 100x multiplier in the Picture Pay Feature, and wheels may

award free spins, wheel spins, credits or even a progressive.

The Life of Luxury Progressive theme brings back a clas-

sic WMS game in multi-game format with five games that fea-

ture a combination of classic, current and new WMS content. In

the Life of Luxury Bonus, each reel is assigned to a GEM symbol

which allows players to pick for a chance at the progressive

when the symbol appears on the reels.

Bally Booth Preview

The Friends video slot reunites players with the beloved charac-

ters from Warner Bros. television’s worldwide hit comedy

that TV Guide Magazine named one of the 50 greatest shows of

all time. Players can experience the laughs and loves in a whole

new way with many clips of the show’s hilarious moments and

a wheel bonus awarding credits and Free Games.

The Friends game is presented on the Pro Theatre, a new cabinet

configuration built on the award-winningPro Wave that is

topped by a massive 1080p 55-inch display.

MultiDeluxe on the Pro Se-

ries V27/27 is a four-level

standalone progressive with an

interactive second-screen fea-

ture, showcasing five incredi-

ble games in one cabi-

net: Mixteca, Golden Relics, Lux-

ury Dreams, Karnak and Yellow

Emperor. MultiDeluxe has been

specifically designed for opera-

tors who are looking to help

maximize their gaming floor

returns.

88 Fortunes and 5 Treas-

ures themes on the Duo Fu Duo

Cai link, offering players the

chance for much luck and

wealth, draw players to prov-

en performers. These titles

feature All Up, Reel Ways,

Free Games that can be re-

triggered and the exciting Fu

Bat Jackpot Feature, which

awards players one of four

fantastic progressive levels.

The Blob theme, on the strik-

ing Pro Series V22/22 with Hammerhead cabinet, will capture

players’ attention just like the cult classic movie. This new game

has All Up, Reel Ways, a five-level progressive, a U-Choose Free

Games Feature, and much more engulfing fun.

With Betty Boop’s Firehouse, America’s cartoon sweetheart is back

in a playful new game showcased on the Pro Series V22/32 cabi-

net featuring a 1080p resolution 32-inch vertical monitor. Betty

Boop’s Firehouse will fire up players with a classic ladder bonus,

Free Games, Mystery Stacked Reels and Betty’s 5 Alarm Scatter.

Betty and her playful pup Pudgy are ready to heat up the casino

floor!

Wonder Woman Wild and Wonder Woman Gold themes, deliver

powered-up entertainment and volatility. Both titles feature

action scenes and music from the classic 1970’s TV show star-

ring Lynda Carter, along with three progressive jackpots availa-

ble at any bet level, Free Games and popular play mechanics. $



TRIBAL NEWS

avajo tribal member Derrick Watchman is the right

man for the job, which is to stand watch over his na-

tion’s current casinos --- three in New Mexico, one in

Arizona --- and possibly more on the drawing board. As direc-

tor of the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise (NNGE), he over-

sees the $80 million dollar a year in new winnings that the exist-

ing casinos (Gallup [Fire Rock], Farmington [Northern Edge],

and Shiprock [Flowing Water], New Mexico, and Flagstaff

[Twin Arrows], Arizona) bring in.

It wasn’t until 2004 --- after three attempts --- that the Navajo

people finally voted in favor of gaming. “A decade later, we

employ a staff of 1,400 and return millions in revenue to the

Nation and the states we operate in,” says Watchman. “Not

only does the Navajo Nation benefit, we are also a major eco-

nomic engine for Northern Arizona and New Mexico. We will

continue to drive commerce, hospitality, and economic opportu-

nities as we look toward the next ten years and continued

growth during that decade.”

The most recent step forward came in a newly-negotiated uni-

fied gaming compact with New Mexico that would ensure Class

3 gaming operations through 2037. Navajo Nation Council

Speaker Pro Tem LoRenzo Bates called the compact “fair for our

people,” even though the revenue sharing formula that brings

in dollars to the state increased from 9 percent to 10.75 percent

over the life of the compact.

“The agreement had some pros and cons, but there’s some pro-

visions in it that we think will be very beneficial,” said Watch-

man. Anticipating future expansion, the NNGE leader points to

a strong possibility of a fourth casino on tribal land west of Al-

buquerque, possibly within the next 5 years. “It’s no secret that

location could be a possible site over time,” he admits.

Arizona’s lone tribally-owned facility, Twin Arrows Navajo

Casino Resort, a $200+ million casino with more than a thou-

sand slots, table games, and an eventual 200 room hotel, opened

in 2013 after five years in the making, and is proving financially

healthy. There is also discussion that Twin Arrows could be

joined by another such venture in the future.

“We’re basically a retail business that provides gaming, now

coming up on our second anniversary at Twin, and we have

plans in place to continue to stabilize and grow that market

while encouraging our sister enterprises to develop and locate

some of their operations there, things like a gas station and the

possibility of the Glittering Mountain shopping center project in

the same area. We know there is a bright future for Twin Ar-

rows and an increased commerce connection on the reservation

property.”

“We’ve had our challenges at Twin, but I was able to report to

our new Navajo Council that we broke even in 2014 and are

looking optimistically at 2015,” Watchman said. Although the

gaming endeavor opened in a depressed economy, things have

continued to improve and 1Q15 statistics compared to 1Q14 are

positive…”a big improvement,” according to Watchman.

The property itself hit a bulls-eye in its attempt to both embody

and showcase Navajo land, infusing the property with the art

and culture of the Dine people at a site located beneath the sa-

cred San Francisco Peaks Mountain, or Doko’oosliid, meaning

“where light shines from within.”

Guests are welcomed with a Ya at eeh greeting as they enter the

front door where they stand in awe, transfixed in the hotel lob-

by rotunda where a shimmering chandelier, made up of thou-

N

By Lee Allen

NAVAJO GAMING GURU LOOKS AHEAD A Conversation With Director Derrick Watchman

Derrick Watchman, Director of the NNGE

(photo by Lee Allen)


TRIBAL NEWS


sands of pieces of hand-blown glass rings, symbolically depicts

the vertical rise of inhabitants of different worlds who came

before. The upward movement of ancestors through the Four

Worlds is all part of the Navajo Creation and Emergence story.

Inside the front door is a stone vestibule abstraction of the First

World, a place filled with mist and sound, attested to by drop-

lets of crystal cascading through multi-colored rings like water

streaming from above while the floor below entrances visitors

with an infinity circle reflection feature. Truly an awe-inspiring

introduction to the 267,000 square foot facility augmented by

some 40 original art creations purchased from local Native art-

ists.

The Twin Arrows compact runs until 2022 and the gaming en-

terprise is already keeping an eye out toward additional sites.

Asked about the possibility of a second property in Arizona,

Watchman admitted, “I’m updating our demographic and fi-

nancial feasibility studies and exploring that concept. We’ve

already admitted that an ideal location would be next to a reser-

vation border town like our existing casinos and one of the last

border towns available would be Page. It’s obviously a seasonal

market, but Page is an area we’re looking at. We’ve been ad-

vised by tribal government not to focus on anything internally,

like Chinle or Tuba City, but I’m also looking at a couple of oth-

er smaller locations as possibilities. “It’s a function of market,

market potential, feasibility, and access to capital. We have new

Navajo leadership in place and because NNGE is owned by the

Navajo Nation, I take my cues from them, they have to be in

agreement before everything falls into place.”

Like the rest of the country’s economy, Indian gaming in the

Southwest took a hit during the recession with growth slowly

returning. “Based on the spin I get from our customers, gaming

continues to be viable. Things are gradually getting better and I

believe we’ll improve marginally over the next decade.” In or-

der to do that, however, he says Indian Country gaming needs

to continually re-invent itself in order to remain sustainable.

“We need to refine our product offerings and add new ameni-

ties – the kind of retooling you’ve seen in Las Vegas. We’re go-

ing to have to change as they have over time. Demographics

have changed and Indian gaming needs to keep up. “You have

to jazz things up and keep your product attractive beyond the

simple basic casino with a restaurant idea that got things start-

ed.” Watchman admits he doesn’t have the future figured out

yet, but acknowledges his mission going forward is to “add

pizzazz and increase the draw. Indian casinos need to repro-

gram themselves to keep up with the changing times and take

tribal gaming to the next level.” $

100 hotel room expansion at Twin Arrows

(photo by Navajo Gaming)

Elvis Sweet pours drinks at the Zenith Bar

(photo by Ryan Williams)


GAMING NEWS


On February 25, 2015, a slot player at Pechanga Resort

& Casino in Temecula, California scared up a million

dollar jackpot Tuesday on The Walking Dead Slot

Game. Rocio H. from Chino Hills, California won

$1,053,775.64 just before 2pm, but without any blood-

curdling screams!

She was visiting the casino with her parents. A fan of the TV show, Rocio chose to

play the penny slot, but at first did not play with max bet. A few spins before the

jackpot hit, she decided to risk a bit more. She watched the zombie symbols line up

across the screen and realized she hit the progressive, million-dollar jackpot. She

had only been playing the machine for 10 minutes before she scored the frighten-

ingly awesome windfall.

“We are thrilled to have the wide area progressive hit here at Pechanga Resort &

Casino and it couldn’t have happened to a nicer lady,” said Buddy Frank, Vice

President of Slot Operations. “The Walking Dead slots have been some of the most popu-

lar we’ve seen here and this million-dollar jackpot will create even more zombie

buzz for the game!”

“The response to our Walk ing Dead Slot Game has been tremendous,” said Dallas

Orchard, Vice President of Gaming Operations for Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.

“The game gives people some edge-of-your-seat thrills just like the show itself. The

winner at Pechanga certainly had that feeling and we are very excited for her!”

The game’s tagline, “it pays to play dead,” came true for Rocio. Released in 2014,

the Pechanga Resort & Casino jackpot is the first $1 million payout for the popular

slot machine which won "Casino Product of the Year" at last year’s Global Gaming

Awards. The last million-dollar jackpot won at Pechanga Resort & Casino was on

Thanksgiving Day in November 2014. For more information, visit Pechanga.com.

The Walking Dead Slot Game is based on AMC’s hit TV series. AMC’s leading brand

combined with Aristocrat’s superior math and the experience of Aristocrat’s sur-

round sound iChair is attracting a horde of new players in a game that challenges

players to win the fight for survival. This engrossing,

dynamic game is housed in the VERVEhd cabinet and is

packed with clips from the show, features, and an abun-

dance of bonus opportunities.

Bonus features include “Reel Growth,” where reels 2, 3,

4 and 5 will randomly grow to a height of 5, 6 or 7 high;

“Wild Attack,” where random positions in Reel Growth

are replaced with Wild; “The Horde,” where the horde

reveals a winning combination on the reels in Reel

Growth. In “Atlanta Wheel Bonus,” players win credits,

jackpots, CDC Wheel or Escape from Atlanta Free

Games. In “CDC Wheel,” players win credits, multiple

prizes with the Grenade or trigger Walker Bonus spins

with a multiplier. Players win free games in “Escape

From Atlanta Free Games,” and there is a Grand Jackpot

that starts at $500,000! The Walk ing Dead Slot Game has

a 75 credit minimum bet, and a 300 credit max bet. $

Zombie Fan Plays Dead And Wins Big!



http://www.hon-dah.com/

Scientific Games Pay Big

Recently, Scientific Games Corporation announced that a very

lucky player at The M Resort Spa Casino in Las Vegas won a

$890,863.27 jackpot on a WMS Monopoly Luxury Diamonds

slot machine on February 15, 2014. This jackpot marks the

significant milestone of more than $200 million dollars won

on WMS machines since its first wide-area progressive (WAP)

installation in 2004.

It was a winning week with three more lucky players winning

big on WMS machines at three casinos: Cher-Ae Heights Casi-

no in Trinidad, California, Casino Del Sol Resort in Tucson,

Arizona, and FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek, Michi-

gan. That makes four six-figure jackpots won in 48 hours! To-

gether the four jackpots total over $1.6 million won on WMS

games in a week, and the grand total of jackpots awarded by

WMS since 2004 grew to over $200 million with 330 jackpots.

Dean Ehrlich, Senior Vice President of Global Gaming Opera-

tions, said: “It is thrilling to be a part of so many jackpot wins

in such a short period of time. Congratulations to all of the

winners! We are also very proud to have reached the momen-

tous landmark of $200 million in jackpot awards and greatly

look forward to continuing to add to that number.”

The first jackpot on a WMS wide-area progressive was on

October 16, 2004, at the Oneida Casino in Green Bay, Wiscon-

sin. The casino patron won $221,503.71 on a WMS Monopoly

Sevens game. $

One pull of the handle was all it took for one lucky Mazatzal

player to take home $433,476.63 on Sunday March 15, 2015.

The winner, who wishes to remain anonymous, "just a feel-

ing" he said, "but we have been coming to Mazatzal every

week and just love it here. Everyone is fantastic, the casino is

great and you guys have the best slots around." Playing his

favorite one dollar IGT Wheel of Fortune machine alongside

his wife, the Arizona resident watched as all three reels lined

up for the perfect combo of three Wheel of Fortune logos

which paid off the Statewide progressive jackpot.

This is the third large progressive jackpot won at the Mazatzal

Hotel & Casino. In 2012, Mazatzal had two winners with each

win over $1,000,000. Mazatzal Hotel & Casino is located in

Payson, Arizona and is proudly owned and operated by the

Tonto Apache Tribe.

The winning machine, Wheel of Fortune Triple Cash , is a 3-

reel, single pay line, wide-area-progressive game. Whenever a

Triple Cash symbol lands on the pay line, that symbol acts as a 3X

multiplier. This applies to the appearance of more than one

Triple Cash symbol on a pay line as well. A high feature-frequency

wheel bonus awards players with credit wins and an exciting

wheel spin. When 3 Wheel 7s appear on the reels, the reels

light up and cycle to award a specific Winning Colors award

based off of the ending color arrangement. Players are then

awarded a traditional wheel spin. $


GAMING NEWS

$433,476.63 Won At Mazatzal In Payson



GAMING NEWS

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino has

announced the promotion of

Stacy Walker to casino opera-

tions manager. Walker, previous-

ly the assistant casino operations

manager, will now manage the

day-to-day table games opera-

tions, including compliance and

regulatory requirements, as well

as coordinate with various de-

partments in ensuring a positive

guest experience.

“Stacy’s vast experience in the

gaming industry continues to

prove to be of great significance in our ability to provide ex-

ceptional customer service,” said Mike Kintner, director of

marketing and operations at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino. “He

has exceptional leadership abilities which then allows for each

guest to receive a one-of-a-kind experience.” Walker received

his Bachelor of Science degree in radio, television and film

from University of Southern Mississippi. He also earned his

Master of Business Administration degree from Ottawa Uni-

versity. He lives in Maricopa with his wife, Penny.

Harrah’s Ak-Chin & Ak-Chin Indian Community Announcements

The Ak-Chin Indian Community is

pleased to announce Phoenix resi-

dent Keith Franklin as its information

systems director. In his role, Franklin

is responsible for the overall strategic

plan and budget for the information

systems (IS) department. In addition

he will be responsible for implemen-

tation and prioritizing technological

improvements to meet the Ak-Chin

Indian Community’s mission and

goals. Franklin brings nearly two

decades of experience including de-

signing, developing and administer-

ing IS networks. “Keith has extensive

experience leading an IS department and we see his skills as a

tremendous asset to our Community,” said Ak-Chin Tribal

Chairman Louis J. Manuel, Jr. “We are looking forward to the

outstanding work that he will do for our Community.” Frank-

lin received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Pepperdine Uni-

versity in Malibu, California. He has experience as an IT pro-

ject manager, in developing tribal networks from the ground

up, and is knowledgeable in Cisco networks, storage, Mi-

crosoft and VMware environments. $

Stacy Walker

Casino Operations Manager

Keith Franklin

I. S. Director

http://www.azgamingguide.com/index_files/giveaway.htm



After years of patiently waiting, West Valley residents passing

by 95th and Northern Avenues can get a glimpse of the major

project taking form at the site of the Tohono O’odham Na-

tion’s West Valley Resort. With the arrival of its multi-million

dollar steel order, work on the site has gone vertical as hun-

dreds of workers are raising the framework for the casino-

resort’s first permanent structure. The interim gaming facility

is scheduled to open during the fourth quarter of 2015.

The Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise (TOGE) has re-

tained 40 separate companies thus far for construction and

continues its commitment to hiring locally. 85% of these com-

panies have offices in the Phoenix metro area, including the

joint venture of Hunt Construction and Penta Building Group

who are leading the team. More than 1,300 workers have been

contracted to work on the project so far.

TOGE is committed to developing a first-class casino and re-

sort and has already invested millions into the design and

development of the project. In addition to the steel work that

has been done, a multimillion dollar grading effort has been

completed and concrete efforts are underway. Construction of

the first phase facility and related infrastructure upgrades for

the site will exceed $200 million in 2015, a major boost to the

West Valley economy.

Once completed, more than 500 new, permanent jobs will be

created in the community to operate the facility. It will feature

1,089 slots, food court, bar, and rewards center, and will in-

clude a 1,100 space surface parking lot. While this facility is

operating, construction of the $400 million project will contin-

ue, including the permanent gaming facility and all of the

resort amenities that go with it.

Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise CEO Andy Asselin said,

“It is great to see dozens of companies and more than 1,300

construction workers coming together to get this fantastic new

attraction up and running. I appreciate their hard work in

keeping us on schedule to open in 2015 so we can bring new

economic and entertainment opportunities to the West Val-

ley.” For more information visit WestValleyResort.com $

West Valley Resort Update

GAMING NEWS


C:/Users/Elizabeth/Documents/Adobe


often get asked what makes Tropicana

Laughlin different from the other casi-

nos in Laughlin. I would say it is not

one thing, but several. It all starts when you

are first coming into town, especially at

night. You can’t miss the Tropicana at night

because it is the towering green gem right

in the middle of Laughlin.

When you get to the property it has ample

self-parking with easy access for RVs and

boats, of course you could always just valet

your car. Inside the Tropicana the ceilings

are high with more than adequate ventila-

tion so smoke is never a problem.

Tropicana Laughlin is one of the largest

casinos in Laughlin with almost 1,000 gam-

ing machines. We maintain a mix of older

favorite styles like IGT’s classic reel Red,

White & Blue, as well as brand new ones like

IGT’s Ellen DeGeneres Show , Bally’s Won-

der Woman, and GTECH’s Sphinx, along

with a large selection of video poker and

keno machines. Also, bingo players can pull

up a comfortable seat in our new state-of-

the-art bingo hall.

Once you get checked in you will head up

to one of over 1,400 refreshed rooms. Over the past several

years, Tropicana Laughlin has invested in resort upgrades from

hotel rooms to restaurants. During 2015 a number of floors, ele-

vators, and public spaces are being refreshed and refurbished.

Tropicana Laughlin has six main restaurants… you cannot beat

the variety and quality. Carnegie’s focuses on American classics

featuring a new steak burger menu. Passaggio Italian Garden

serves up fresh pizza and pasta dishes made to order. Taqueria

Del Rio is quick-order Mexican food, where you can grab great

tacos, burritos, tortas, or even a Margarita, for dine in or take

out.

Still can’t decide what you want? Taste a little bit of everything

at the Roundhouse Buffet offering American comfort food,

Asian, Italian, and Mexican cuisine, and a great salad bar. Be

sure to visit on the weekends for the best

seafood dinner buffet in town.

Don’t have time for a sit down meal or just

need a cup of coffee before you head out?

You are in luck as the Poolside Café has

you covered offering freshly baked bagels

and breads, hot and iced coffee, frozen yo-

gurt, overstuffed sandwiches, smoothie,

and desserts. For that special event you

have to try the Steakhouse, where you will

find aged-to-perfection steaks, a great selec-

tion of wine, decadent desserts, and a salad

cart that is the rave of the tri-state area.

Once you are refreshed and have had a bite

to eat, it’s time to burn off some energy. Let

me recommend our nightly entertainment

in the Lounge featuring a wide range of

musical genres as we cycle from bands with

a classic flair, to country, to quirky and off

beat; but no matter who is playing, it will be

a high-energy show that will make you

want to get up on the dance floor.

In the end, the truth is I can’t possibly list

all the many reasons that make us different.

In 2015 we will continue to refresh and re-

brand the resort, making the Tropicana

Laughlin a place you will just need to experience yourself. For

more information about the casino, visit TropLaughlin.com. $

I

By Joe Hagan

Director of Marketing, Tropicana Laughlin

Do you have a question for a Marketing Director? Have you

ever wondered how the play on your player’s club card trans-

lates into offers? 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)

LAUGHLIN, NEVADA

TROPICANA LAUGHLIN What Makes This Casino Different & Why You Should Visit



LAUGHLIN, NEVADA Directory & Gaming Statistics

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,


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,


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 Megabucks 4.14 Craps 13.88

$5 4.52 Blackjack / 21 14.35

$1 4.53 Roulette 21.46

25¢ 5.23 Pai Gow Poker 24.96

Multi-Denom 5.41 Other Table Games 27.24

5¢ 6.09 Let It Ride 27.60

$25 8.44 Three Card Poker 33.19

Tight 1¢ 10.52

Other Hold %

Loose Sports Pools 11.64 Win Amount Dollars

Bingo 21.34 Slots 35.2 mil.

Race Books 17.79 Tables 3.2 mil.

Tight Live Keno 24.85 Other 0.9 mil.

Laughlin’s Gaming Statistics January 2015


mailto:[email protected]?subject=Laughlin%20Directory



LAUGHLIN, NEVADA

Laughlin River Run

From April 22 through April 26, 2015, Laughlin will celebrate

the 33rd year of Laughlin River Run. The exciting annual event

has more than 40,000 motorcycle enthusiasts roar into town for

the festivities. This is the largest motorcycle-oriented event on

the West Coast. Activities will include stunt shows; motorcycle

exhibits; custom bike shows; all types of clothing, leather and

motorcycle vendors; the annual Miss Laughlin River Run con-

test and the always-popular "River Run" to Oatman, Arizona,

on historic Route 66. Several Laughlin hotels will feature top-

name entertainment and specialty acts during this sensational

event. Official event passes are available for purchase and they

are just $25 per person. The event pass includes an official 2015

souvenir t-shirt, and official 2015 River Run ride pin, admission

to the official poker run, and either contestant entry to the cus-

tom bike show or the Ms. Laughlin River Run contest. Event

registration takes place at the Riverside Resort Star View Room

daily. Exhibit hours at the Riverside, the Edgewater, The Colo-

rado Belle, and the Golden Nugget are from 10am to 10pm on

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (Noon to 8pm on Wed.). Con-

certs include Slaughter at the Riverside on Thursday, Friday,

and Saturday at 9pm, ZZ Top at Harrah’s on Friday at 8pm,

Foghat at the Edgewater on Friday at 8pm, and Burton Cum-

mings (former lead singer for The Guess Who) at the Edgewater

on Saturday at 8pm.

Plus, the Tropicana Laughlin will give away a 2015 Harley-

Davidson® Switchback motorcycle on Saturday at 11pm. Make

sure to visit their player’s club for all the details as you can play

to win drawing entries on the days leading up to the drawing!

And, the Tropicana Laughlin is the place to check out all the

Harley-Davidson® demo rides and their 2015 motorcycle exhib-

it. In addition, the Tropicana Laughlin will host the American

Heroes Charity Poker Run benefitting tri-state veterans. Regis-

tration takes place on Friday morning from 8:30 to 10am with

the run starting at 10am. Riders pay $15 and passengers are $10.

Contact your favorite Laughlin hotel for event room packages.

For more information, visit LaughlinRiverRun.com. $


http://www.troplaughlin.com/


CASINO NIGHTLIFE

t’s going to be an exciting summer for fans of Electronic

Dance Music (EDM). Scottsdale’s Talking Stick Resort has

entered into a contract with Relentless Beats, a ground-

breaking enterprise that’s booked and promoted EDM acts

throughout the Valley for nearly two decades.

By teaming up with Relentless Beats, the resort will be able to

bring the hottest names in EDM to the resort’s venues. “We’re

really excited about expanding our entertainment offerings,”

said Ramon Martinez, director of public relations for Casino

Arizona and Talking Stick Resort.

The names of the EDM acts coming to the resort will be released

soon. “We are very excited to start bringing world class DJs to

Talking Stick Resort this May,” said Ryan Auhl of Relentless

Beats. “We look forward to making it one of Arizona's premier

EDM destinations.” In a statement from their website, Relent-

less Beats said: “At Relentless Beats we decided to forever re-

main true to the electronic dance musical roots that we heard

first hand. The Relentless ones… The ones burnt into your

memory that makes you physically travel to hear them time and

time again. It’s these ongoing hummable tunes and the artists

that produced them who at the same time made way to our

countryside made us flourish over the last decade.”

“From inception, we decided to steer away from the radio, keep

it all about the evolution of dance music and remain true to the

underground. Since then, the underground we were raised with

has unabashedly become above ground and we have no choice

but to grow with it, like everything else in our natural world

that begins below the surface. We are proud to have our audi-

ence as a branch in this growth moving forward.”

“We have slowly become the number one supplier of the best of

the best of our musical taste and EDM in the state of Arizona

with shows growing by the day and at the same time the con-

stant heartfelt appreciation of our fans that respect the afore-

mentioned history, and much more, the unlimited future of

dance music to come. We are Relentless Beats.”

In addition to Electronic Dance Music shows, the resort will

host a variety of musical performers this summer. Pool cabanas

and daybeds are available for purchase on a first come, first

served basis and can be reserved in advance. For the latest list of

acts scheduled to perform visit TalkingStickResort.com. $

I

TSR & RELENTLESS BEATS EDM Acts Will Play To Thousands At The Resort’s Pool Stage


CASINO ENTERTAINMENT Listings


Apache Gold Casino—Globe, AZ—800.272.2438

Contact the casino for the latest entertainment information

BlueWater Casino—Parker, AZ—888.243.3360

Dig Lounge:

Featuring a variety of live bands, karaoke & DJs—Daily at 5pm

Events:

Tutankhamun—Now through Apr. 12

Casino Arizona—Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777

The Showroom:

House Of Pink Floyd (Pink Floyd Tribute)—Apr. 10-11

Wanted (Bon Jovi Tribute)—Apr. 24-25

The Arizona Room:

Country Dance Nights (Learn to dance)—Wed. & Thu. at 6pm

Daisy Train (Country)—Wednesdays 8pm

The Tommy Ash Band (Country, Rock, Americana)—Thursdays 8pm

Casino Del Sol—Tucson, AZ—520.838.6506

Paradiso Bar & Lounge:

Featuring a variety of live bands & DJs on weekends

Cliff Castle Casino—Camp Verde, AZ—800.381.7568

Stargazer Pavillion:

The Band Perry—Apr. 25

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 at 8pm

Los Cadetes De Linares—May 9

Desert Diamond Casino I—Tucson, AZ—866.332.9467

Monsoon Nightclub:

Dance Fusion with DJ Blade—Fridays

Noches Caliente—Saturdays the hottest Tex Mex and Tejano music!

Desert Diamond Casino II—Sahuarita, AZ—866.332.9467

Sports Bar:

Karaoke Night—Wednesdays 7-11pm

Live music or DJs—Fridays & Saturdays

Diamond Center:

Lupita D’Alessio—Apr. 4

Peking Acrobats—Apr. 25

Michael McDonald—Apr. 30

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

The Lounge: The Walkens—3rd, AzTex—4th, Travis Ledoyt (Elvis

Tribute)—10th & 11th, Stan & Miguel Trio—17th, Quantum—17th,

The Lovin’ Spoonful—18th, Smooth Groove—24th, Bostyx (Boston &

STYX Tribute)—25th Wild Wednesdays The XO Band—8th, Thadde-

us Rose Band—15th, Bandstand Shows—25th, Silhouette—29th Sun-

days In The Lounge Every Sunday from 4-8pm enjoy live music in

the Lounge from the Stan & Miguel Trio The Lounge Happy Hour

Starting April 1st Mondays through Thursdays from 5-8pm. Laura

Walsh—Mondays, Jay Allan—Tuesdays, Stan & Miguel—

Wednesdays, and He Said She Said—Thursdays.

Poker Run—Harrah’s 5k—April 18 at 9am

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino is hosting the first-ever 5k Poker Run! The

race will be timed. Medals will be awarded for top 3 male and top 3

female finishers, and it all goes down at the Pool Party from 9:30am to

2pm! A portion of proceeds will go to The United Way of Pinal Coun-

ty.

Hon-Dah Casino—Pinetop, AZ—800.929.8744

Timbers Lounge and Showroom:

Munday Funday—Comedy Show begins at 7pm

Featuring a variety of live local talent Tuesday through Saturday

Sir Paul McCartney Tribute Desert Diamond Casino—Sahuarita

June 6, 2015

Live and Let Die – A Symphonic Tribute to the Music of Paul

McCartney takes the Diamond Center stage Saturday, June 6,

2015. Reserved tickets start at $15 and are on sale now through

Star Tickets and at the casino Rewards Center, (10% discount

to members). The doors open at 7pm and the show starts at

8pm. Actor, singer, and recording artist, Tony Kishman is the

creator and band leader of Live and Let Die. The Tucson, Ari-

zona native starred for six years in both the national and inter-

national tours of Broadway’s smash hit, Beatlemania. Tony,

with his long time band mate Jim Owen, performed in the

international symphonic Beatles tribute, Classical Mystery

Tour. He has been performing his award-winning tribute to

the most successful band of all time around the globe for over

a decade, bringing the Beatles to a new generation. Treena

Parvello, Director of Public Relations and Communications for

the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, said “It’s a real treat

to bring Tucson’s own Tony Kishman and his award-winning

tribute to Sir Paul McCartney to the Diamond Center! Don’t

miss your chance to celebrate the songs of this musical icon!”


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Editor’s Pick CASINO ENTERTAINMENT


Lone Butte Casino—Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452

Cascades Lounge:

Phoenix area bands & DJs offer free live entertainment throughout the

week featuring the Valley's best local bands & DJs

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 Bar & Grill:


Talking Stick Resort—Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777

The Showroom & Grand Ballroom:

Doyle Bramhall II—Apr. 3

Leon Russell—Apr. 4

Al DiMeola & Billy Cobham—Apr. 22

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers—Apr. 24

ZZ Top—Apr. 26

Gregg Allman—May 2

Thunder From Down Under—May 7—9

Moody Blues—May 8

REO Speedwagon—May 17

Chris Young and Thompson Square—May 29

Twin Arrows Navajo Casino—Flagstaff, AZ—855.946.8946


Vee Quiva Casino—Laveen, AZ—800.946.4452

VQ Live:


Event Center:

Richard Villa featuring Keith Ellis (Comedy)—Apr. 10

Sheila E.—Apr. 17

Diamond In The Rough (Neil Diamond Tribute)—Apr. 25

Wild Horse Pass Casino—Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452

AiRIA Unplugged—Live music Fri & Sat 4pm-2am

Encore Lounge—Featuring a variety of live music nightly

Classics With A Twist—Featuring jazz music & cocktails Thu-Sun

Showroom:

Morris Day & The Time—Apr. 11

DSB: An American Journey (Journey Tribute)—Apr. 17

Michael Salgado & Albert Zamora—Apr. 18

Turn The Page (Bob Seeger Tribute)—Apr. 19

Kenny Rogers—Apr. 25

Michael McDonald—May 2

Eddie Money—May 15

Starship: Featuring Mickey Thomas—May 22

Talking Stick Resort Presents:

ZZ Top April 26, 2015

Talking Stick Resort is proud to announce legendary Rock

and Roll Hall of Fame trio ZZ Top will perform live at the

pool on April 26. Since embarking on the music scene in

1969, the group has sold 50 million records, released 13 mul-

ti-platinum albums and performed for thousands of sold-

out crowds. Fans will be in awe the moment the band steps

on the pool stage and performs their repertoire of hits in-

cluding Sharp Dressed Man, Viva Las Vegas and Legs.

While signed to London Records, ZZ Top released a debut

album titled, ZZ Top’s First Album, in 1971. The American

rock band would go on to cultivate a distinctive sound of

their own, infusing new wave, punk, rock, blues and the

inclusion of a synthesizer.

The band has reached tremendous heights during their 40-

plus year career including 11 gold records, 6 number one

hits on the Mainstream Rock chart and an induction into the

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. Join the party at the

pool and see the trio perform firsthand!

Tickets are on sale now. Please call 480.850.7777 or visit

TalkingStickResort.com for more information. $ 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.


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Sources: Arizona Department of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 03/01/15 & 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 Daily at 1:30 & 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 Tu-Su 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.

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B

By Mark Novak



Do YOU have something to rant or rave about?

Write me at: [email protected]

4. You have to practice, practice, practice. You have to get to a

level of play where, without any four-of-a-kinds or Royals, you

are scoring around 1,100 or 1,200 points per 10 minute session.

5. Wear ear plugs or headphones. That way other people don’t

bother you. Don’t let their behavior and comments suck you in.

Don’t look at their screen. It doesn't matter what hands they get

or how they play them. Your hands matter!

6. Use a mantra. While you are playing, remain focused. I sit

there and tell myself, after 5 minutes I need to be at 600 points

(halfway through, I need half of the points I want, i.e. 1,200).

Then I continue to say at 7 minutes and 30 seconds I need a

score of 900 points since we’ll be three quarters of the way there.

Above all, accept the fact that people sign up for a video poker

tournament thinking it’s a slot tournament or they'll get lucky

somehow and win something. Remember, you can win too! $

SAMI’S SMACKDOWN

hat would you do if your video poker tournament

went awry? Do you complain to management? Do

you pick strategies to improve your game, focus on

what you can control and forget about what you can’t control? I

think we should pick the latter. Up your game and focus on

what you can control is definitely the right answer

Dear Sami,

Last week I was at [a casino] playing in [a video poker tournament]

and I was really upset by the actions of most of the rest of the players.

They were talking, looking at my screen and making comments, basi-

cally making it obvious they didn’t know anything about video poker. I

had to ask, why are they even here? Also, I don’t seem to have any luck

in these tournaments. Any advice you could give me would be much

appreciated.

-Doris Flynn from Tucson, Arizona

Doris, I understand your frustration, especially since your com-

ments seem to indicate you were distracted by other players

and that probably affected your overall score and chance of

placing high enough to take home some prize money or win

more money than you did. But don’t worry! I’m going to pre-

sent you with a few tips so you’ll be more successful next time. I

mean, let’s face it, during a video poker tournament, I am al-

ways amazed by the number of people who show up inebriated

(at 10am already) and proceed to help themselves to more alco-

hol during the tournament session! The distractions will not go

away, but I’ll prepare you for a more successful tournament

with the following advice.

1. Speed is key. You must practice your speed. The more

hands you can get in, the better your chances at having more

winning hands. Practice using one hand to select cards and the

other to hit the deal/draw button. Focus on not having to move

your hand very far. You’ll save time that way while selecting

cards. My hubby can play video poker without moving his

hands left or right!

2. Be comfortable. Don’t bring a drink. Put your purse away.

Set yourself up in front of the machine. Get to that Zen place.

Meditate, whatever, just be comfortable.

3. Be positive. Tell yourself you’ll have a great score and a

great tournament. Nothing kills a session like negativity.


W

TOUGH VIDEO POKER TOURNAMENT A Reader Rants About One Of Their Recent Experiences

By Sami Becker



FUN FACTS

hen I first came across a recent report by the Ameri-

can Gaming Association, I couldn't believe some of

the numbers they were listing about the casino

gaming industry.

Reading that there are 734,000 people directly employed by casi-

nos in the United States is a pretty astounding fact. Plus, you

also have to consider the additional million people that work for

companies providing direct support to the casinos.

With around 470 commercial casinos and about the same num-

ber of tribal casinos, you can just imagine how the economics of

the casino gaming industry begin to add up! While not every-

one understands the importance of gaming, the American Gam-

ing Association is trying to get their “Get To Know Gaming”

message out there. For more info visit GetToKnowGaming.org $


THE CASINO GAMING INDUSTRY Bet You Didn’t Know This About Commercial & Tribal Casinos

W

By Mark Novak

$240 Billion That represents the total economic impact of casino gaming.

1.7 Million That represents the number of total jobs supported by gaming.

$74 Billion That is the employee income of the 1.7 million gaming jobs.

64,000 More Jobs That is the projection of additional jobs in gaming in 10 years.

Over 200 Unique Careers Casino gaming has more than 200 distinct career opportunities.


http://www.problemgambling.az.gov/


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

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

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

(Solution on page 46)

9

3 8

9 6 7

6 3

5 1

1 6

4

8

5 4

2

5

4

3

9

2 5

4

9

8

1

WORD SEARCH

In honor of Zucchini Bread Day on April 23 or 25th, find:

ZUCCHINI, BREAD, LOAVES, FLOUR, SALT, BAKING SODA,

BAKING POWDER, CINNAMON, EGGS, OIL, SUGAR, VANILLA,

WALNUTS, GREASE, PREHEAT, OVEN, SIFT, BEAT, STIR, BAKE.

Words appear in any direction. (Solution on page 46)

A C Y R I V K B G Q D T A D E

A I C D W E U L F W B N O A R

D N N S T U N A W D A E R B L

O I F D O B R O N A R P D Z Q

S H S N M A K O Z E G R A O V

G C Q A E U A M B D F Q E I T

N C W E L V L A A N W T Y F H

I U S B S T G I N J C E O O N

K Z I E P A P C L E F A Z N O

A F F A S I E T L L N T B E G

B V T T C U J O T W A N H N R

R I T S F I G E T I Q T A G F

S G G E K V V A F C B P W V A

D X E A U F R Z E P G V K Z E

Z O B N T Y X I Y J O D A S K

FUN & GAMES


http://www.cliffcastlecasinohotel.com/

http://www.bluewaterfun.com/

CASINO DIRECTORY


City Phone Slots Hig

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Casino Liv

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Tab

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Ro

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Ho

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Sources: Arizona Department of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 03/01/15 & 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

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Location Sp

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Arc

ade

01. Apache Gold Casino Resort Hwy. 70, 5 mi. E. of Globe Globe 800-272-2438 598 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 320 Y Y Y Y

04. Casino Arizona 101 & McKellips Scottsdale 480-850-7777 904 Y Y Y Y

05. Casino Del Sol 5655 W. Valencia Rd. Tucson 855-765-7829 1,073 Y Y Y Y Y Y

06. Casino of the Sun 7406 S. Camino De Oeste Tucson 855-765-7829 293

07. Cliff Castle Casino & Hotel I-17, Exit 289 Camp Verde 800-381-7568 628 Y Y Y Y Y

08. Cocopah Resort Casino 15318 S. Ave. B Somerton 800-237-5687 509 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 673 Y

11. Desert Diamond Casino-Why Hwy. 86, Milepost 55 Why 866-332-9467 58

12. Fort McDowell Casino Hwy. 87 & Ft. McDowell Rd. Fort McDowell 800-843-3678 894 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

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

14. Hon-Dah Casino 777 Hwy. 260 Pinetop 800-929-8744 829 Y Y Y Y

15. Lone Butte Casino 1077 S. Kyrene Rd. Chandler 800-946-4452 786 Y Y Y

16. Mazatzal Hotel & Casino Hwy. 87, 1/4 mi. S. of Payson Payson 800-777-7529 417 Y Y Y Y Y Y

17. Paradise Casino 450 Quechan Dr. Yuma 888-777-4946 476 Y

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

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

20. Talking Stick Resort 101 & Indian Bend Scottsdale 480-850-7777 759 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

21. Twin Arrows Navajo Casino I-40, Exit 219 Flagstaff 855-946-8946 1,085 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

22. Vee Quiva Casino 6443 Komatke Ln. Laveen 800-946-4452 950 Y Y Y Y Y

23. Wild Horse Pass Casino 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd. Chandler 800-946-4452 950 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

24. Yavapai Casino 1505 E. Hwy. 69 Prescott 800-756-8744 243 Y

azgamingguide.com facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide

For information on the casinos & much more,

scan our QR codes with your smartphone!

Sudoku Solution

6 4 5

1 7 9

8 3 2

1 3 8

4 2 5

9 6 7

9 7 2

6 8 3

4 5 1

7 1 6

4 9 3

5 2 8

5 4 3

8 1 2

7 9 6

8 2 9

7 6 5

1 3 4

3 8 1

9 6 7

2 5 4

2 7 4

3 5 1

6 8 9

5 9 6

2 4 8

3 1 7

Word Search Solution

K A B E

A I U O L F R

D N S T U N A W D A E R B L

O I N R P

S H S N O E R O V

G C A E A M D E I

N C E L V L A N W H

I U S B S T O I E O N

K Z I E A P L A N

A F A S I L L T E G

B T T C U O A N R

R I T S I G A G

S G G E K V A

A R E

B S


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