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Hints, Tips, And Advice On Your Favorite Casino Games! A Monthly Publication Created By Slot Machine Game Designers. The Arizona Gaming Guide is a free monthly magazine for people who enjoy visiting casinos and playing casino games. The magazine discusses Slot Machines, Video Slots, Reel Slots, Electronic Table Games like: Blackjack, Roulette, and Craps. Packed with in-depth features, advice, hints, tips, secrets, and so much more! MARCH IS PROBLEM GAMBLING AWARENESS MONTH HARRAH’S AK-CHIN HIGH ROLLER SLOTS Try your luck on Harrah’s Ak-Chin exclusive and brand new mystery progressive High Roller slots. BUCKY’S AND YAVAPAI CASINOS ARE ON FIRE A recent slew of jackpots puts these two casinos in Prescott at the top of your list of places to visit next. HASHTAG LUNCH BAG GIVING BACK Local DJs help the community give back to people in need one meal at a time.

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Page 3: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

MARCH IS PROBLEM GAMBLING

AWARENESS MONTH 24

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

34 SAMI’S SMACKDOWN

35 FUN FACTS

36 CASINO NIGHTLIFE

38 CASINO ENTERTAINMENT

40 CASINO BINGO

42 LAUGHLIN, NEVADA

44 FUN & GAMES

46 CASINO DIRECTORY

IN EVERY ISSUE

azgamingguide.com | March 2015 | Arizona Gaming Guide 03

HARRAH’S AK-CHIN

HIGH ROLLER SLOTS

Try your luck on Harrah’s Ak-Chin

exclusive and brand new mystery

progressive High Roller slots.

HASHTAG LUNCH BAG

GIVING BACK

Local DJs help the community give

back to people in need one meal at a

time.

36 14

Contents MARCH

BUCKY’S AND YAVAPAI

CASINOS ARE ON FIRE

A recent slew of jackpots puts these

two casinos in Prescott at the top of

your list of places to visit next.

22

Page 4: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

have to say that I have always been a proponent of change. When you sit still

for too long, figuratively or literally, you and your goals slowly begin to die.

The daily routine becomes boring and rote. You stop looking forward to any-

thing because you aren't creating anything new for yourself. Well, the first cure

for being stuck in a rut is to focus your attention and energy on something, any-

thing, new. No matter how small or overwhelming the new idea or goal may be, it

will force you to push yourself into a new chapter of your life.

This new thing may be as simple as playing a brand new game at the casino dur-

ing your next visit. That’s how I learned to love video keno. One day, many years

ago, I decided to play all the different video keno games I could find at the casino.

To my surprise I learned to love Caveman, Top Bottom, and Four Card! Now,

those games are part of my choices when I go to a casino. Recently, I make sure to

try any new slot machine on a casino floor regardless of who made it, what the

theme is, just to incorporate something new into my casino routine. Perhaps you

can employ this strategy too if you feel like you are stuck.

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]

Alexandra

VOLUME 07 • ISSUE 03

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 | March 2015 | azgamingguide.com

“Like” us on Facebook because

we “Like” you too!

www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide

CHANGE IS GOOD Try Something New

I

Page 6: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

PLAYERS TALK

06 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2015 | azgamingguide.com

Q: Dear Editor, I’m really disappointed that [the casino I visit]

changed the pay schedules on their video poker games. I

mostly play Jacks or Better but I play all the other games too

and they’ve lowered all the pays for the full houses and flush-

es. The deuces don’t pay the same any more either. What’s

going on? If you choose to print my question, please use

“Frustrated Video Poker Player” and not my real name. I real-

ly enjoy your magazine and hope to see my question in print.

Thank you.

Frustrated Video Poker Player – Chandler, AZ

A: Unfortunately, this is a trend that we’ve been seeing lately

in many casinos all across Arizona. Some casinos have such

horrific video poker pay schedules that popular games such as

Jacks or Better and Double Double Bonus Poker are actually set

as low as 6/5 (full house to flush ratio at minimum bet) which is

approximately a 95% payback! This is a huge difference consid-

ering that machines set at 9/6 have over a 99% return and well

over 100% when factoring in casino comps. The reason many

casinos are changing their video poker pay schedules is that

there is the potential for high returns for players using optimal

strategy. This is also the reason video poker players earn points

on their player’s cards much slower than other slot players. At

most casinos, video and mechanical reel slot players earn two to

three times points faster than video poker players and it’s simp-

ly because the house edge is smaller and video poker players

have such a greater advantage!

We applaud you for being a smart player, because more times

than not your average gambler is unaware. If we randomly ap-

proached a video poker player at a casino and asked what the

pay schedule is for his or her favorite game, there is a high like-

lihood that they wouldn’t be able to tell us and that’s unfortu-

nate. What we have noticed during our casino visits, and during

our own play sessions, is that not all video poker machines are

set to the same pay schedules in the same casino. Yes, you read

that right! Three banks of machines all containing the same vid-

eo poker games, set in the same denomination, in the same casi-

no can have three different payback percentages! If you like

playing Jacks or Better, for example, then make sure to examine

ALL the video poker machines that contain the game Jacks or

Better throughout the entire casino. Chances are the best video

poker pay table is in a place where you’d least expect it to be.

Remember, there are several variables that slot directors take

into account when positioning their machines and choosing the

payback percentages which include visibility of games and

high/low traffic areas. Also, you will find that the higher the

denomination, the better the payback percentages will be. This

not only applies to video poker, but other slots as well!

Q: Dear Sir or Madam, I don’t ever win anything at the casino

drawings or tournaments and neither does my wife. I have a

hard time believing that they are not set up. I’m starting to

recognize the same names being called over and over again. I

don’t see a bin with tickets in there with someone reaching in

and pulling out names? They tell us to swipe our cards and we

do. They tell us to listen for our names over the intercom and

we do. Then we’re supposed to believe that they randomly

draw names but I’m sorry we do not. I am having a hard time

believing these drawings are fair. How can you prove to me

that the drawings are not set up? I’d like to hear what you

have to say.

Richard Holman – Phoenix, Arizona

A: Richard, the drawings and promotions at the casinos are

not set up! All Arizona casinos must seek prior approval by the

Tribal Gaming Office and the Arizona Department of Gaming

before they are allowed to conduct any tournaments, drawings,

promotions, cash or prize giveaways. This is fact. If a casino was

to “fix” one of their marketing promotions they would be in

direct violation of the Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compact.

The current Compact was passed by the Arizona voters as Prop-

osition 202 in the November 2002 election which took effect in

2003. The Compact is part of state law in Arizona Revised Stat-

utes Section 5-601.02. All aspects of gaming, including contests

held at the casinos, is governed by these agreements between

the State and all the Arizona Tribes. No casino would be foolish

enough to jeopardize their gaming license over something as

miniscule as a raffle or a drawing! In fact, this is one of the main

reasons why the rules for these contests explicitly state that casi-

no employees, as well as their immediate families, are not al-

lowed to participate in these events. Appendix G, entitled

“Operational Standards, Specifications, and Regulations for

Lottery and Requirements for Promotions” describes very spe-

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].

Page 8: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

cific rules and procedures that must be followed before such

contests are approved. The mission of the Arizona Department

of Gaming is to protect the public, ensure compliance with the

Gaming Compact, and regulate the gaming industry to make

sure there is no “cheating” going on.

Unless they are just simply common names that are being

called, one reason you may be hearing the same names repeat-

edly is because those players may have a higher status level at

the casino. For example, sometimes (not always) drawings pro-

vide incentives to players who have higher tiers, earn more

points, or visit more often. It’s not uncommon for casinos to

provide more drawing entries to those who are in a higher play-

er’s club category (example: 10 drawing tickets for a person who

has tier level one, 20 tickets to a tier level two player, and 50

tickets to the player in the highest tier five level). I’m sure

you’re also familiar with the popular “earn one extra drawing

ticket for every 10 points you earn.” This is a common incentive

casinos use to encourage players to visit more often and/or play

more. There’s nothing unfair about that, right?

Q: I don’t understand why casinos waste so much space with a

bunch of table games and a poker room that just sits empty all

the time. Most casinos’ poker rooms usually have one or two

tables open and that’s all. Even the blackjack tables sit empty

unless it’s a busy Friday or Saturday night. Half the time I

can’t get my favorite slot on those nights or on other ones.

Why not put more slots in? Doesn’t make any sense. PLEASE

PUT MORE SLOTS IN!

Tamara Johannsson – Kingman, AZ

A: Tamara, there are only a couple of truly successful poker

rooms in Arizona where day or night, weekday or weekend, the

rooms are completely packed. Otherwise, you’re right, poker

rooms in most casinos nowadays operate one or two tables

while the others sit empty most of the time. From 2003 to 2006,

casinos all across the country saw an unprecedented boom in

poker revenues. In general poker has, since 2006, become steadi-

ly less profitable for casinos. The win per table has fallen dra-

matically to early 1990s levels. As a result, more and more casi-

nos are closing their poker rooms. This is a trend that has start-

ed in Nevada casinos and will most likely work its way to Ari-

zona’s casinos very soon.

For example, the most recent poker room closure in Vegas was

The LINQ, the third poker room to close on that corner of Fla-

mingo and Las Vegas Blvd in the past two years. All three were

owned by Caesars. Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall closed its poker room in

January 2013 and, when reopened as The Cromwell in February

2014, did not include a poker room. O’Sheas closed its poker

room in April 2013, located within The LINQ complex, and then

reopened without a poker room. All in all, there have been more

than a dozen poker room closures in Vegas and Laughlin, Neva-

da since September 2012 including Tropicana, M Resort, Sunset

Station and others.

Although poker rooms seem to be a dying breed, blackjack and

other table games are not going anywhere. As most players are

not familiar with basic strategy, the house edge (which should

only be 1% to 2% when players use optimum strategy) actually

ends up being quite more. In fact, the average blackjack hold

(the portion of money gambled that the casino retains) is 11.7%

and can be as high as 15%! Therefore, even if people were will-

ing to take the time to learn basic strategy and stop making idi-

otic side bets that tend to favor the casino to lower the house

hold, it still wouldn’t mean that casinos would take out table

games to put more slots in their place. Each casino in Arizona is

only allowed a certain number of slots based on the population

of their tribe. Most casinos are currently operating at their ca-

pacity and can’t, even if they wanted to, add more slots.

Q: Hi, I love your magazine and I read each issue! Please help

me understand something. I feel like the comps I get from [my

favorite casino] are all over the place. One month I get a ton of

free play, free rooms and other offers and then suddenly the

next month there’s hardly anything. I pretty much bring the

same amount of money each time. I play the same games, ei-

ther video poker or the slots. I visit once a week (sometimes

twice) and stay for about four to six hours (sometimes a little

more or a little less depending on how lucky I am). Sometimes

I give my friends my free play if I can’t go that week. Could

this affect my card? Any ideas why the offers could vary so

much? Thanks for your help.

Rhonda T. – Scottsdale, Arizona

A: Rhonda, there are so many factors involved that can influ-

ence your offers. Your monthly mailers with your cash back,

free play, gifts and additional comps are usually based on your

most recent play. How many points you earned and how quick-

ly you earned those points are factors that affect your casino

offers. Therefore, it is not unusual for your offers to change from

one month to the next. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

First of all, the rate at which you earn points varies based on the

casino game you are playing. For example, since video poker

machines have a much higher pay back percentage than video

slots, you are earning points at a slower rate (usually 2x – 3x

slower). Second of all, if your friend is only downloading your

money, but not playing with your card, then she could be seri-

ously affecting your status. Even if your friend is playing with

your card, the betting style could be different than yours and

this would definitely affect your monthly offers as a result.

Third of all, most casinos use a system to calculate a “daily theo-

retical average” for every player. Gaming days start and end at

various times, so it’s best to check with each casino to make sure

you are not playing across two gaming days when you should

just play across one gaming day to boost your points. $

PLAYERS TALK

08 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2015 | azgamingguide.com

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TABLE GAMES

10 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2015 | azgamingguide.com

Writer Al Moe has worked in the casino industry for many years.

He has lived and worked in Las Vegas, Reno, and Lake Tahoe. He

also attended the University of Nevada, Reno. He is an avid writer

and blogger, author of “Vegas and the Mob"—available at Amazon.

He is also the proud father of four beautiful girls.

gered shows that slot players get a lot more back than blackjack

players do. Of course the house edge is a lot higher at slots than

at blackjack, that’s why there’s a difference.

A blackjack player may get 60 hands per hour and at $5 per

hand, that’s $300 in action. A slot player can play a penny ma-

chine with 50-lines and 2¢ per line and wager $1 every spin with

as many as 10 spins per minute. That’s 600 spins, or $600 in ac-

tion per hour, twice that of the blackjack player. In the long run,

players are comped about the same when based on their value

to the casino, that’s the truth. Play the game you like best and

you’ll enjoy yourself the most. The comps, of course, are a bo-

nus! $

By Al Moe

id you know slot departments bring in about 75% of

the gaming revenue at US casinos? So, do you get

better comps playing slots? It’s an age old question

that has mystified players and scholars for years. You too have

probably lost sleep over the implications, so let me confuse you

even more with a few facts.

Your earned comp isn’t based on what you win or lose. It’s

based directly on two things: time on device and amount wa-

gered. Alright, whining sometimes helps.

Each department (slots, blackjack, poker, and keno) sets their

own comp rate based on what they feel they can afford to pay-

back to keep you loyal. It takes fewer employees to handle 100

slots than it takes to handle 10 table games. That has an impact.

You can also play a lot more hands (or spins) on the video poker

games than you can play at table games. That has an impact too.

And which game do you think has the higher house-edge? If

you didn’t know, popular slots have a house edge between 5

and 8% on average. Blackjack is less than 1%!

Some gamblers refuse to use their player’s club card because

they think they won’t get much, but you have to use it to get

tracked and earn points. If you don’t, it’s a self-fulfilling proph-

esy and you’ll get nothing. Play an hour of blackjack at $5 a

hand and you’re right, you won’t earn much. Play regularly and

you will.

The Truth

Here is a comparison of three actual casinos and their comp

rates for slot play:

$3.33 in play equals 1¢ in comps, or $4,000 in action gets $12

$4.00 in play equals 1¢ in comps, or $4,000 in action gets $10

$5.00 in play equals 1¢ in comps, or $4,000 in action gets $8

In addition, many slot clubs offer both points for meals and

rooms as well as cash back!

Here is a comparison of three actual casinos and their comp

rates for table game play:

$5 bet average equals 25¢ per hour, or $4,000 in action gets $3.33

$5 bet average equals 30¢ per hour, or $4,000 in action gets $4.00

$5 bet average equals 33¢ per hour, or $4,000 in action gets $4.44

This strict comparison of comp dollars received per dollars wa-

D

FACT OR FICTION? Table Games Players Earn More Comps Than Slot Players

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14 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2015 | azgamingguide.com

By Lana Hartmann

NEW SLOTS

GOLD FISH 3 Now Available At Casino Arizona

ans of WMS slots will be excited to hear that Casino Arizona just

released a ton of brand new titles! The games include: Willy Wonka

Pure Imagination, Monopoly Wheel Luxury Diamonds, and more!

In Gold Fish 3 by WMS, watch as the Wild Seahorse fully covers a reel and

not only duplicates itself but multiplies wins up to 5x, feed the fish in the

feeding time bonus, feed the fish for credits, or spin the mystery wheel for

one of five unique fish bonuses! Pick bubbles in the Gold Fish bonus for

exciting reel enhancements, pick clams for credits in the Blue Fish bonus,

watch as a respin is awarded with up to 18 Wild fish in the Red Fish bo-

nus, pick a diver’s helmet for credits in the Green Fish bonus, or trigger

the Purple Fish bonus to play any of these bonuses again! Featuring a

unique 4x3x4x3x4 interface, and all of your favorite Gold Fish characters,

you’ll be lining up for Big Fins, err, Big Wins! $

F

HIGHROLLER Exclusive Slots At Harrah’s Ak-Chin

arrah’s Ak-Chin has developed their very own cus-

tom mystery progressive Highroller slot machine

bank and it is live and ready for play! The custom

bank features ten IGT penny games all connected to a three

level mystery “Must Hit By” progressive featuring some of

IGT’s best themes including The Swordsman, White Orchid,

Stinkin’ Rich, Cats, and Prowling Panther.

Towering over the bank rests a custom, exclusively devel-

oped, replica sign package of the High Roller wheel in Las

Vegas. The center of the attraction at the bank are the two 47

inch LCDs on either side of the wheel displaying video of the

actual High Roller wheel and the three level mystery progres-

sives.

What’s our favorite game in the bank? Stink in’ Rich for sure!

Our staff absolutely loves this game! When you get a whiff of

this five-reel, 100-line action, you’ll quickly discover that the

Stinkin’ Rich theme is loaded with fun and huge potential payouts.

With theme-specific reel symbols and bonus action offering

bags of bling, living the good life has never smelled so sweet.

Make sure to play all 100 lines, as the bonus is triggered when

three Keys to Riches symbols land on a played pay line. $

H

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azgamingguide.com | March 2015 | Arizona Gaming Guide 15

The Hangover: Pretty Awesome Now Available At Desert Diamond Casinos

he Wolf Pack is back in IGT’s The Hangover: Pretty Awesome Video Slots,

another first-in-Tucson game at Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment’s

Nogales Highway location. The base game is packed with iconic imagery, hit

music and main characters from the hilarious hit film. This 5-reel, 40-payline progres-

sive features stacked symbols and random multipliers in the base game, and multiple

interactive bonuses. In the Find Doug Bonus, elevator buttons are selected as players

search for Doug and his bonus award. In the Tiger Bonus, players pick from random

objects, revealing credit awards and multipliers. There are also three exciting group

bonus features: In the Win It All Back group bonus, players place chips on their favor-

ite characters and hope for the highest hand. In Mr. Chow's Super Sexy Free Games

group bonus, 5 free games are awarded. Players collect jackpot picks and select icons

in search of big wins. In the What The Hell Happened? group bonus, players search

cameras, unveiling extra picks and multipliers towards the Virtual Wheel Spin.

Relive your favorite moments from the hit comedy with The Hangover: Pretty Awe-

some Video Slots, at Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment Tucson on Nogales Highway.

For more information, visit ddcaz.com. $

NEW SLOTS

T

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16 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2015 | azgamingguide.com

By Lana Hartmann

Sons of Anarchy By Aristocrat

narchy is upon us as FX Network’s Golden Globe winning “Sons of Anarchy”

comes to casinos in Aristocrat’s new Sons of Anarchy slot game, a new action-

packed multi-site progressive game with a chance to win a $500,000+ jackpot and

the excitement of Cluster Power, No Limits and Big Symbols – a totally new way to play

and win. Sons of Anarchy slot game comes to life in all of the show’s gritty glory, with Jax,

Gemma, Clay and all of viewers’ favorite characters, creatively weaving the show’s story-

line into the game. The show’s hard-hitting action is captured perfectly on the award-

winning VERVEhd cabinet, with ultra hi-def graphics, 3D panoramic adjustable sound and

an ergonomic design that enhances game play. Sons of Anarchy has a 6x5 configuration

and is the first to feature the groundbreaking new Cluster Power, where winning combina-

tions are formed by connecting the same symbol in clusters across multiple reels. Addition-

ally, the game takes reel growth to the next level by expanding the reel area in any direc-

tion during the “No Limits Jackpot” feature. The exciting No Limits Jackpot feature is

awarded when a Big Jackpot Symbol lands and causes the reel area to grow to the size of

the Big Jackpot Symbol. Three Big Jackpot Symbols award the mini progressive; four

award the minor progressive; five award the major progressive; and six award the grand

progressive. Adding to the fun, a free games bonus awards from 10 to 100 free games! $

A

NEW SLOTS Coming Soon

Page 17: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

azgamingguide.com | March 2015 | Arizona Gaming Guide 17

QUICKHIT & U-SPIN MERGE By Bally Technologies

wo player favorites merge into one fantastic game! If there are two things we know players

can never get enough of, it’s Quick Hit and the exciting U-Spin wheel. Bally combines these

two player favorites in Cash Spin featuring Quick Hit, a new video slot offering the excite-

ment of a wheel bonus along with the chance to win five Quick Hit-style jackpots! This 5-reel, 25-

line game is full of fun features that will have you spinning your way to big payouts. Three

scattered U-Spin symbols on reels one, three, and five award one spin of the Cash Spin Wheel. Touch and

spin the virtual wheel to win free games, credits, or the huge U-Spin jackpot, which is available at any

bet. During the Free Games feature, pick from among 20 tiles until you match three tiles. You’ll be

awarded from 7 to 30 Free Games with a 2x multiplier. If that didn’t deliver enough thrills, the Free

Games can re-trigger the Cash Spin Bonus, awarding another spin of the wheel and another chance

to win credits, more free games, or the U-Spin jackpot! Cash Spin featuring Quick Hit stays true to the

classic Cash Spin game by offering the popular Money Bag Bonus. This pick feature is triggered by

three scattered Money Bag symbols on reels two, three, and four at any bet level. Pick one of the

three Money Bag symbols and instantly win a credit value from 3x to 50x total credits bet! You’ll

love Cash Spin featuring Quick Hit just as much as you loved the original Cash Spin! In fact, with

the addition of Quick Hit and the superb graphics on the Pro Series V22/32 cabinet, you may love it

even more! Look for the game on casino floors soon and get ready to spin the wheel! For more in-

formation, visit BallyTech.com. $

Coming Soon NEW SLOTS

T

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18 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2015 | azgamingguide.com

By Cindy Esquer

ARIZONA LOTTERY

Joe DeSilva, Phoenix, purchased his usu-

al multi-draw Quick Pick tickets. That’s

the only game he plays. As he usually

does, he threw the ticket onto his com-

puter desk where it was quickly buried

under paperwork.

A few days later, while talking to his

mom on the phone, Joe began to straight-

en out his desk and discovered the ticket.

While still on the phone, he went online

to check it and was stunned to discover

he had six matching numbers for the

January 24 drawing of The Pick. Joe

checked the ticket several times. Those

six matching numbers made him the

winner of the $2.8 million jackpot. Not

only was Joe in disbelief, so was his

mom.

Joe took a few days to make some im-

portant decisions before coming to the

Lottery to redeem his ticket. He decided

to take the lump sum payment of

$1,902,903.80 before taxes. He has al-

ready been in contact with a financial

advisor and an attorney.

Joe is going to invest the money so he

can take care of his family and his future.

The ticket was purchased at QuikTrip,

2750 W. Thunderbird Road, Phoenix.

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.

$2,800,000 The Pick $50,000 Scratchers

Jennifer Smith, Chino Valley, was recent-

ly at a store with her boyfriend. He pur-

chased two Cash & Carry Crossword

instant scratch tickets from a Lottery

vending machine. He gave one to her

and kept the other one.

Jennifer scratched her ticket at home.

When she first saw the amount of $50,000

that she’d uncovered she said, “I forgot

to breathe.” Jennifer and her boyfriend

ran to their car and drove to the store to

have the ticket checked. The clerk gave

her the paperwork and told her to sign

the back of the ticket immediately.

Jennifer is a frequent player of scratch

tickets. She likes the crossword and bin-

go games because she has to work a little

harder to find out if she’s a winner.

Jennifer usually buys the $2 Crossword

and Bingo tickets; she does not play any

of the draw games. She usually buys

from the Lottery vending machine at her

favorite store. The store her boyfriend

purchased the tickets from was not one

she usually frequents.

Jennifer is going to use some of the mon-

ey for fun for her kids. The bulk of the

money is going to be saved, and she

plans to pretend she doesn’t have it.

The ticket was purchased at Circle K,

1910 N. Hwy. 89, Chino Valley.

Stanley Wesley from Magnolia, Arkan-

sas, always buys Arizona Lottery instant

scratch tickets while visiting family in

Phoenix. During his recent visit, Stan-

ley’s brother bought him two Holiday

Treasures tickets. After Stanley scratched

the tickets, he saw that one of them was a

$100,000 winner. Stanley is going to use

the money to pay off some bills and have

a wonderful “holiday” with his family.

Charles Carpenter, Jr., Surprise, received

a big surprise from his boss. All the em-

ployees received a holiday card with

instant scratch tickets. He has a routine

that he follows when he scratches tickets.

First, he scratches off all of the numbers

without scratching off the amount. When

he scratched off the amount for one of

the numbers, it showed that it was a top

prize winner worth $50,000! He said,

“The ticket didn’t become real until the

Lottery validated it and presented me

with a check.” Everyone, including his

boss, found it hard to believe. $

$100,000 Scratchers

$50,000 Scratchers

Page 20: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

20 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2015 | azgamingguide.com

CASINO DINING

MAZATZAL HOTEL & CASINO Where The Tables Are Always Hot

re you looking for a variety of dining options during

your next casino visit? Look no further than Mazatzal

Hotel & Casino in Payson, Arizona where the tables

are always hot!

Cedar Ridge Restaurant

Open seven days a week, this fine dining restaurant serves up

everyone’s favorites for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with only

the freshest ingredients. The daily buffet is available Monday

through Thursday and on Saturdays from 11am to 3pm for only

$10 which includes the soup and salad bar and a soft drink. On

Fridays, the All-You-Can-Eat Fish Fry Buffet is open from 11am

to 4pm for only $10 and from 4pm to 10pm for just $12. The

Sunday Brunch Buffet runs from 10am to 3pm and costs only

$18 for adults and $7 for children. Plus, they just introduced a

new menu and you absolutely have to try the Specialty of the

House, the slow roasted prime rib!

Apache Spirits

This lounge, just off the casino floor, continues the hot action at

Mazatzal with great drink prices, a tasty food menu, and plenty

of TVs to catch your favorite sporting events. Happy Hour is

from 3 to 6pm Monday through Friday. Make sure to try the

Baby Shrimp Cocktail for only $1.25 from 10am to 6pm Monday

through Friday.

The Grille

This is the place for a quick bite to eat no matter if it is day or

night. Open 24 hours, The Grille serves breakfast, lunch and

dinner including sandwiches, appetizers, salads, burgers, pizza

and desserts. Yum!

Coffee Korner

Serving the best gourmet coffee in Payson including the fin-

est homemade pastries, muffins, pies, cinnamon rolls and an

assortment of delicious treats to accompany Peet's fresh brewed

coffee, every hour on the hour. Refills on coffee are just $.80!

Also, when you visit, make sure to pick up your punch card

which lets you buy 10 coffee or 10 dessert items in one price

range and get one free!

Specials

Frybread For Families: Enjoy frybread for only $6 in the Fire-

side Room. For $1 more, add ground beef. All proceeds go to

support local families in need throughout the Rim Country.

Your choice of plain, honey & powdered sugar, bean & cheese

or Apache Taco (includes drink). Available Apr. 16, Jun. 18,

Aug. 20, Sep. 17, Oct. 15, Nov. 19, and Dec. 17.

Crabby Wednesdays: All the crab legs you can eat for just $16!

For more information on Mazatzal Hotel & Casino, please visit

Mazatzal-Casino.com. $

A

By Mark Novak

Page 22: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

By Lana Hartmann

arch is ushering in the green at Bucky’s & Yavapai

Casinos in Prescott, Arizona! Green grass, green

leaves, and green cash! And, you need to head up

there right away to try your luck as everyone seems to be hitting

some big jackpots on their slots recently.

In the February issue, we told you one lucky local won $134,800

on a dollar 2X Wild & Crazy three reel WMS slot at Yavapai

Casinos. Well, we are pleased to announce there are three more

big winners recently on a variety of games across both casinos!

The three winners are pictured to the right and include a

$476,000 Wheel of Fortune winner, a $12,000 Virtual Blackjack win-

ner, and a $14,000 Wicked Winnings winner. Talk about jack-

pots, and that doesn't include all of the “smaller” $500 and up

jackpots that are happening all the time across both casinos on

the over 525 slot machines they share between the two. During a

recent visit, our team was pleasantly surprised by the regular

announcements of jackpots over the casino intercom and

through the player tracking devices every few minutes!

Promotions Galore

From gifts to tried-and-true favorites, the Marketing Depart-

ment at Bucky’s & Yavapai Casinos is always creating some-

thing new and enticing for Gold Rush Club members. In March

and April, Gold Rush Club members that have a hand pay jack-

pot at the slots or a table games side bet payout of $300 or more

will receive a coupon for a free “As Seen On TV My Pillow.”

Plus, ongoing promotions such as “Just For Gents” on Sundays,

M

BUCKY’S & YAVAPAI CASINOS On Fire With Jackpots And Sizzling Hot Promotions

22 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2015 | azgamingguide.com

WINNING WAYS

“Veterans Appreciation Day” on Mondays, “Seniors Day” on

Tuesdays, or “Ladies Day” on Thursdays offers everyone the

chance to win free play, gifts, food discounts, and more depend-

ing on the specific promotion. The Gold Rush Club sure knows

how to treat their members right. And, you can use your play-

er’s card at both casinos to earn points towards your status as a

lucky and loyal player at Bucky’s & Yavapai Casinos.

Reasonably Priced Comfort Food 24-7

Both the Yavapai Cantina and Bucky’s Café offer excellent food

at budget sparing prices. You’ll find everything from Cinnamon

Rolls to Biscuits & Gravy to Steak & Eggs for Breakfast (served 7

to 11am daily at Bucky’s Café and 11pm to 11am at Yavapai

Cantina). The Lunch and Dinner menus at both locations truly

offer something for everyone. Our team absolutely loves their

selection of sandwiches. Plus, the daily specials are always a

treat. During our last visit we indulged on the mouthwatering

ribs, the special of the day at the time. Yum!

Actual Non-Smoking Sections

If you prefer to play in the comfort of an enclosed smoke-free

environment, you can have the best of both worlds at the casi-

nos in Prescott! Both Bucky’s & Yavapai Casinos have their own

non-smoking sections. Bucky’s Casino hosts the brand new non-

smoking section on the third floor next to the bar and poker

room. Yavapai Casino’s non-smoking room is situated next to

the main gaming floor. These are the only casinos in Arizona to

feature dedicated non-smoking areas!

The casinos are located across from each other on Arizona

Highway 69 in Prescott. For more info visit BuckysCasino.com

or call 800.756.8744. $

Page 23: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

azgamingguide.com | March 2015 | Arizona Gaming Guide 23

Efren Ontiveros is all smiles at the

winning 25 cent Wheel Of Fortune

Triple Diamond slot on 1/24/15 for

$476,232.67 at Bucky’s Casino.

Bill Durbin has a huge grin with

the winning 1 cent Aristocrat

Wicked Winnings slot on 1/30/15 for

$14,400.00 at Bucky’s Casino.

Reese Edwards is lit up like the lights behind him on

the winning Virtual Blackjack machine on 2/2/15

having won the progressive for a total of $12,462.25

at Yavapai Casino.

WINNING WAYS

Page 24: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

By Ron Meritt

roblem gambling is defined as a chronic behavior that

affects the major aspects of an individual’s psychologi-

cal, physical and social health. The collateral damage of

problem gambling affects far more than the monetary value of

betting. March is Problem Gambling Awareness month. In the

United States, approximately 2 million adults meet the criteria

for pathological gambling each year and another 6 million

adults struggle with problem gambling which often leads to

gambling associated crimes, loss of income and personal assets

and the development of major depressive disorders.

Healthcare professionals have identified behaviors which indi-

cate a person could have a gambling problem:

Using income or savings to gamble while bills go unpaid

Repeated, unsuccessful attempts to stop gambling

Breaking or considering breaking laws to finance gambling

Having depressed or suicidal thoughts because of losses

Arguing with friends or family about gambling behavior

Compulsive gambling addiction, like drug and alcohol addic-

tion, creates increasingly difficult life issues and situations for

the gambler and gambler’s family. The following quiz asks

questions relating to feelings, thoughts and behaviors associated

with gambling addiction and may help determine whether or

not someone has a gambling problem.

1) Have you ever felt the need to bet more and more money?

2) Have you ever lied to people who are important to you

about the amount you have gambled?

3) Have you repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back

or stop gambling?

4) Do you gamble as a way of escaping emotional or physical

pain?

5) Have you ever relied on others to provide money to relieve

a desperate financial situation caused by gambling?

6) Have you ever jeopardized or lost a significant relationship,

job or career because of your gambling?

7) Have you gambled to get money with which to pay debts or

to solve other financial problems?

8) Have you borrowed money to finance your gambling?

9) Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?

10) Do you gamble to try to get your money back?

Answering “yes” to one or more of the quiz questions could

P

PROBLEM GAMBLING Warning Signs & Getting Help

24 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2015 | azgamingguide.com

FEATURE STORY

indicate a gambling problem. Fortunately there is help for those

suffering from gambling addiction. The first step is to call the

Arizona Office of Problem Gambling at 602-542-8998 or 1-800-

NEXT STEP to get free, confidential information. Each caller

will be connected with a knowledgeable, caring professional

who will listen in an empathetic, nonjudgmental way and con-

nect sufferers with resources needed to deal with problem gam-

bling.

Problemgambling.az.gov, the Arizona Office of Problem Gam-

bling website, is an additional avenue for learning more ways to

get support. The website offers a broad range of resources de-

signed to help problem gamblers.

One of the most effective tools offered to problem gamblers is

the self-exclusion program. This is an opt-in process which al-

lows a self-acknowledged problem gambler to voluntarily ex-

clude him- or herself from entering all Tribal casinos within the

State of Arizona for a specified period of time.

Other resources offered include: Tribal/State-funded out-patient

treatment, information on support programs for problem gam-

blers and their families, including Gamblers Anonymous and

GamAnon, and statistics from various sources concerning prob-

lem gambling.

To get help with problem gambling for yourself or a loved one,

just log onto problemgambling.az.gov or call 1-800-NEXT STEP

to get free, confidential information. $

Page 25: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

azgamingguide.com | January 2015 | Arizona Gaming Guide 25

Page 26: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

26 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2015 | azgamingguide.com

TRIBAL NEWS

ative chefs love to cook. And despite the indigenous

ideology concerning sharing, native chefs love to com-

pete against each other in a battle of the skillets, utiliz-

ing their individual culinary skills and favorite recipes to see

who wears the biggest apron.

While they all have their secrets, collectively they like to high-

light heritage in their cook-offs. “Food is very powerful and

everything goes back to our roots for me,” says Nephi Craig,

Executive Chef at the White Mountain Apache Sunrise Park

Resort (a previous winner of the Arizona Indian Gaming Asso-

ciation’s annual Chef’s Challenge). As founder of the Native

American Culinary Association, Craig has a mission described

in a Newsweek magazine article as, “restoring and reinventing

the largely-forgotten cuisine of forbearers.”

Using local ingredients like acorns, seeds, nuts, corn, squash,

rabbit, and venison, Craig doesn’t call his creations Native

American cuisine, but indigenous foods that represent the cul-

ture --- diversity, history, and resiliency.

Another Chef’s Challenge winner, Pascua Yaqui chef Enrique

Alcantar (Casino del Sol, Tucson) subscribes to that same theory

in dishes like his award-winning braised buffalo with white

tepary bean cassoulet. “I like to go lean and healthy with short

ribs and tepary beans, a diet staple for thousands of years, tradi-

tional foods cooked in contemporary style.”

Chef Lois Ellen Frank (Kiowa), founder of New Mexico’s Coy-

ote Café in Santa Fe, is a gatherer of natural ingredients from

the land --- prickly pear, yucca blossoms, purslane, and other

wild greens. Frank also bridges historical with modern in crea-

tions such as an ordinary blue corn tortilla complimented by

blue corn gnocchi arrowheads and guajillo chili sauce. “Food is

sacred,” she says. “What you eat is a gift of a person’s culture.”

Navajo top cook Freddie Bitsoie comments: “When I cook, I

strive to prepare dishes that have substance to the point where

elders can taste them and recognize a version of a dish they’ve

had all their lives. Just as tribes all over the nation have modifi-

cations of similar ceremonies, they each have culturally-specific

foods and instead of lumping them all together, we should cele-

brate their differences.”

Bitsoie is a long-time crusader to redefine Native American cui-

sine, to the point where the New Mexico-based owner of FJBits

Concepts is in current production of a TV show called

REZERVATIONS NOT REQUIRED. He calls it a first-time cook-

ing concept show that breaks new ground by blending culture

with food and tradition and involves only Natives in all aspects

of its production. “We look at the fun side of Indian Country ---

the heritage, dancing, singing, celebrating, and the many contri-

butions Native peoples make to the world of food.”

Ultimately hoping to own his own restaurant where everyone

understands Native American food and why entrees need to be

prepared in a specific way, the celebrity spokesman for the

cause will be trying to fill a niche market. “Traditional organic

Native foods are difficult to find. Historically, our ancestors ate

what they grew and hunted, but I’ll bet if there was a company

back then that offered cured venison in the form of pemmican,

they’d have taken advantage of it. When we look at our culture

today, wanting to ‘eat like our ancestors,’ it’s difficult because

most cooks don’t have the time or ability to gather their ingredi-

ents and pick their own berries. I’d like to offer a product line

containing things like Tohono O’odham cholla bud pasta or

perhaps an Ojibwe wild rice pasta.”

N

Images & Words By Lee Allen

BATTLE OF THE SKILLETS Aromatic Artistry—Smell The Sizzle

Pascual Rodriguez is Executive Chef for the Tohono O'odham

tribe's Desert Diamond Hotel Casino

Page 27: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

TRIBAL NEWS

azgamingguide.com | March 2015 | Arizona Gaming Guide 27

Some of those traditional foods have found their way onto the

menus at Chef’s Challenge cook-offs at the Tohono O’odham

Desert Diamond Casino in Tucson and at the most recent com-

petition at the Yavapai tribe’s Fort McDowell Adventures site in

Scottsdale.

“Everyone is going Native,” said NACA founder Craig who

continues to research, refine, and develop Native American cui-

sine. “Native people are emerging from an interruption in tradi-

tional foodways, a turn back to the most important ingredient in

Native cuisine --- healing --- and a way to recover our commu-

nities.”

On the menu at the 2014 Chef’s Challenge were dishes such as

mesquite boar rib accompanied by acorn squash; smoked elk

chilaquiles with a red chile reduction (topped with a fried quail

egg); carne asada tacos with roasted red pepper salsa, and

grilled Navajo beef rib eye with lotus root and patty pan squash.

Said chef Christian Movassaghi (Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indi-

an Community): “I continue my grandmother’s influence of

cooking pre-Columbian food grown and harvested locally.”

Talking Stick Resort’s Ron Dimas, Chef de Cuisine of Orange

Sky Restaurant and 2013 Overall Best in Show winner, took 3rd

place honors this time with a boar belly and rack of ribs creation

where the meat was baked, then placed on a square of acorn

squash custard, topped with an agave chili chutney, and gar-

nished with chicharrones. “I like meals that are creative with a

menu focusing on locally-grown produce, naturally-raised

meats, and environmentally-responsible seafood.”

The naturally-raised meat theme caught diners’ attention with

the People’s Choice Award going to the Twin Arrows Casino

Resort team headed by Executive Chef Hector Vasquez and his

use of beef grown on the Navajo Nation.

“Our beef grazes naturally on over 350,000 acres, feeding on a

particular type of sage shrub that brings lots of protein and oth-

er nutrients as well as a special flavor to our meat,” said tribal

member and Cow Boss Al Pahi.

The Indian Gaming Association’s Chefs Challenge for 2015,

which is billed as “the only one of its kind in the tribal gaming

culinary scene,” will be held at Talking Stick Resort & Casino.

According to AIGA’s Executive Director: “This event celebrates

not only each individual chef’s talents, but the opportunity that

tribal gaming brings in the way of offering incredible cuisine in

the many tribally-owned venues throughout the state.” $

Executive Chef Anthony Chavez (right, Blue Water Resort &

Casino) prepares grilled chipotle steak and chicken satays

Ron Dimas, Talking Stick Resort kitchen wizard, does what he

loves and loves what he does

Page 28: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

GAMING NEWS

28 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2015 | azgamingguide.com

JOINGO, the leading provider of mobile engage-

ment solutions for the casino gaming industry, and

Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment, an enter-

prise of the Tohono O’odham Nation, announce the

launch of Desert Diamond Casinos’ mobile app, MY

DDC. The JOINGO-powered app integrates with

the casino’s existing IGT systems, features real-time

account info for Diamond Rewards members, plus

in-app access to amenities and information for all

three of their Arizona properties.

With locations in Tucson, Sahuarita and Why which

offer entertainment options ranging from gaming to

fine dining to major concerts at the 2,600-seat Dia-

mond Center, Desert Diamond Casinos is perfectly

positioned to get the most out of JOINGO’s capabili-

ties to engage their guests.

Using JOINGO’s intuitive mobile platform, Desert

Diamond Casinos delivers Free Play, dining offers

and promotions to their guests’ iOS and Android

devices. Geofencing capabilities allow Desert Dia-

mond Casinos to target and automate the delivery

of marketing messages, sending offers to guests

when and where they are most likely to act on

them. Integrations provide the utmost in functional-

ity, providing Diamond Rewards members with

immediate access to points, tier levels, and Reward

Dollar balances, inapp ticket purchasing through

Star Tickets, restaurant reservations through Open-

Table, plus social sharing capabilities via Facebook

and Twitter.

“We are excited to partner with Desert Diamond

Casinos to bring mobile into their operations,” said

Seamus McGill, JOINGO’s President. “With the powerful capabilities in our mobile

loyalty and engagement solutions, Desert Diamond is positioned to really capitalize

on real-time marketing.”

“The JOINGO design team created a striking mobile app for us in very little time,”

said Treena Parvello, Director of Communications and Public Relations for the

Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise. “We are especially excited to use geofencing

to engage with our guests at the time and place it will be most convenient for

them.”

The Desert Diamond Casinos app is available now on iPhone and Android. For

more information about Desert Diamond Casinos, visit their website at ddcaz.com.

You can also become a part of their community online on Facebook (/DDCAZ) or

Twitter (@DiamondCasinos). $

Desert Diamond Casinos Launch Mobile App

Page 30: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

DoubleDown Casino Doubles Bonus Excitement With Wheel Of Fortune Extra Spin

Two bonuses are always better than one, and International

Game Technology’s (NYSE: IGT) social gaming website Double-

Down Casino continues to up the ante on excitement and enter-

tainment with their recent launch of Wheel of Fortune Extra

Spin for desktop and mobile devices.

Wheel of Fortune has proven to be the most popular game

theme on DoubleDown Casino since its debut of Wheel of For-

tune Double Diamond and Wheel of Fortune Triple Extreme

Spin in 2014. Inspired by the classic slot machine loved by play-

ers around the world, Wheel of Fortune Extra Spin features the

Wheel Bonus, which changes all of the spin symbols into the

letters W-H-E-E-L, with each letter revealing a number of extra

spins or awards of 10 to 250x the initiating bet. Lady Luck

strikes twice with the Vault Bonus, which changes all of the

Vault symbols on the center reels into pickers, revealing pay-

outs from 5 to 25x the initiating bet.

“We put a huge amount of focus and talent into Wheel of For-

tune Extra Spin. We thrive on the pressure of taking this legend-

ary brand and increasing the ‘wow’ factor of the world’s most

popular slot machine,” said Jim Veevaert, DoubleDown Interac-

tive VP of Games. “It’s a fun challenge to turn a great slot ma-

chine into a mobile game. With Wheel of Fortune Extra Spin, we

struck the ideal balance of art, math and audio to recreate the

authentic casino experience.”

Wheel of Fortune Extra Spin is based upon a 3 x 5 reel spinner

and 20-line configuration, with a Scatter award that pays virtual

currency. The iconic Wild symbol also acts as a 2x multiplier,

offering players greater and more frequent wins.

More Wheel of Fortune titles are currently in development for

DoubleDown Casino, as part of IGT’s multi-year agreement

with Sony Pictures Consumer Products to develop mobile and

online games for DoubleDown Casino and for-wager online

play worldwide through 2024.

In 1996, IGT launched the Wheel of Fortune slot machine for

land-based casinos and solidified the Company’s leadership in

Wide Area Progressive technology. Known as the most success-

ful slot title of all time, the fan-favorite theme has minted nearly

1,000 millionaires and delivered $3 billion in jackpots through-

out its illustrious history. IGT has created more than 200 varia-

tions of the game that can be found on casino floors in more

than 20 countries worldwide. For more information, play Dou-

bleDown Casino online or on any mobile device via the free

iOS and Android application.

About IGT

International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) is a global leader

in casino gaming entertainment and continues to transform the

industry by translating casino player experiences to social, mo-

bile and interactive environments for regulated markets around

the world. IGT's acquisition of DoubleDown Interactive pro-

vides engaging social casino style entertainment to approxi-

mately 6 million players monthly.

More information about IGT is available at IGT.com or you can

connect with IGT at @IGTNews or facebook.com/IGT. Visit

http://apps.facebook.com/doubledowncasino or just visit at

doubledowncasino.com—anyone can play at the DoubleDown

Casino. $

30 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2015 | azgamingguide.com

GAMING NEWS

Page 31: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

azgamingguide.com | March 2015 | Arizona Gaming Guide 31

GAMING NEWS

The Arizona Department of Gaming kicked off Super Bowl

weekend with encouraging news for tribal contributions. The

tribal contributions to the state from gaming revenue were

approximately $14.2 million for the quarter that ended on De-

cember 31, 2014. This is a 5.8 percent increase when compared

to the same quarter of last year.

“While one quarter does not establish a trend, we are cautious-

ly optimistic that these numbers reflect an improving econo-

my,” said Daniel Bergin, Director of the Arizona Department

of Gaming. “This is a positive economic sign for our state and

critical programs will continue to benefit from this financial

support.”

The quarterly tribal contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund

will be distributed as follows:

Instructional Improvement Fund/Education: $6,916,939

Trauma and Emergency Services Fund: $3,458,469

Arizona Department of Gaming Operating Costs: $1,600,484

Arizona Wildlife Conservation Fund: $988,134

State Tourism Fund: $988,134

Problem Gambling Education & Prevention: $284,738

TOTAL TRIBAL CONTRIBUTIONS: $14,236,898

(For the quarter that ended December 31, 2014)

Increased Gaming Revenue Supports Arizona Programs

The Arizona Department of Gaming, in partnership with Ari-

zona’s tribes, regulates Indian gaming. Under the Arizona

Tribal-State Gaming Compact, tribes with casinos contribute

one to eight percent of their Class III gross gaming revenue to

the state, cities, towns and counties. In Arizona, Class III gam-

ing includes slot machines, jackpot poker, blackjack, keno and

off-track pari-mutuel betting. There are currently 23 Class III

casinos in the state. Tribes send contributions to the Arizona

Benefits Fund every three months. For more information,

please visit gaming.az.gov. $

Page 32: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

32 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2015 | azgamingguide.com

Four-star northern Arizona destination, Twin Arrows Navajo

Casino Resort, has expanded their amenities to include a high-

ly technological, state-of-the-art arcade featuring a variety of

video games and systems for guests to enjoy.

“The opening of this high-tech video game arcade is part of

our ongoing expansion plan as we remain focused on provid-

ing the best experience for our valued guests,” said Derrick

Watchman, CEO of the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise.

“We appreciate the feedback loyal visitors share and are

pleased to deliver entertainment for a wider range of ages as

well as families that frequent our resort and restaurants.”

Conveniently located on the first floor of the resort, near the

pool entrance, the new arcade at Twin Arrows features 15

stations with Internet capability, high definition 42-inch moni-

tors and Rocker Gaming Chairs. Officially open December 31;

guests can now rent an Xbox 1, Xbox 360, Wii U, Play Station 3

or 4, plus a wide selection of video games for $5 per person,

per hour. And, individuals, families, conference and business

guests can reserve the room or individual stations as part of

their resort, restaurant or casino visit.

To learn more about Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort, the

new arcade or to book a room in their recently expanded 200

room resort, visit twinarrows.com.

About Navajo Gaming

The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise (NNGE) is a Navajo

Nation wholly-owned business entity created by the Navajo

Nation in September 2006 which owns and operates casinos in

New Mexico and Arizona. Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Re-

sort, the fourth Navajo Casino, is located in Leupp Chapter,

near Flagstaff, Arizona. Currently, Navajo Gaming has 1,200

employees. Their vision includes job growth opportunities for

Navajos, to continue returning revenue to the Navajo Nation

and to continue building the Navajo gaming and hospitality

brand. $

Twin Arrows Opens Arcade

Page 33: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

GAMING NEWS

azgamingguide.com | March 2015 | Arizona Gaming Guide 33

Caesars Foundation/Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Gives Back In A Big Way

On January 21, The Caesars Foundation, coordinated through

the staff at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, presented an $8,000 check

to the American Cancer Society for Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino’s

month-long initiative to raise awareness of preventative health

and treatment of breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness

Month. In addition, Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino also donated

$3,100 to the American Cancer Society from donations from

Harrah’s employees’ activities and donations.

“Caesars Entertainment, and locally at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casi-

no, has a long-standing passion for community outreach and

volunteerism,” said Jane Stimmel, Employee Engagement Man-

ager and HERO Chair. “We were excited to participate in this

program through Caesars Foundation and coordinate the Foun-

dation’s donation to the American Cancer Society.”

About The Caesars Foundation

The Caesars Foundation is a private foundation funded by a

percentage of operating income from Caesars Entertainment’s

resorts. The Foundation’s objective is to strengthen organiza-

tions and programs in the communities where their employees

and their families live and work. Nationally, the Caesars Foun-

dation focuses on supporting the continued independence of

health and wellness, and honoring older Americans. The Cae-

sars Foundation also provides gifts that support sustainability

programs that work to meet current needs without compromis-

ing the future. This includes projects and programs focused on

reducing the carbon footprint, energy and water consumption

and recycling. On the local level, the Caesars Foundation sup-

ports civic programs vital to the success of communities, includ-

ing organizations involved with education, children and fami-

lies, adults, the environment, health care and the arts. For more

information about the Caesars Foundation, please visit cae-

sarsfoundation.com.

About Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino

Celebrating more than 20 years in Maricopa, Arizona, Harrah’s

Ak-Chin Casino is Arizona’s first and only tribal casino to have

an international management partner. Offering the largest selec-

tion of the latest reel and video slots in a range of denomina-

tions, Harrah’s Ak-Chin features slot machines, video poker,

video Keno, as well as popular statewide progressives and live-

action poker and Blackjack.

Harrah’s Ak-Chin is the only casino in Arizona that allows

guests, through its Total Rewards program, to unlock benefits

and other prizes that can be used worldwide at the entire Cae-

sars’ family of casinos. Casino guests can also enjoy live enter-

tainment in The Lounge and a variety of dining options includ-

ing the Copper Cactus Grill, Agave’s Restaurant, The Range

Steakhouse, The Buffet and Dunkin Donuts®. Harrah’s Ak-Chin

Casino features 300 luxurious resort and tower guestrooms and

an outdoor swimming pool with swim-up bar. For more infor-

mation about Harrah’s Ak-Chin, visit harrahsakchin.com. $

Left to right: Mike Kintner, Director of Marketing and Operations, Christine Todd, Development Systems Program Manager, Whitney Rivest (ACS), Lynn Johnson

(ACS), Jane Stimmel, Employee Engagement Manager and HERO Chair and Denis Cournoyer (ACS).

Page 34: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

Do YOU have something to rant or rave about?

Write me at: [email protected]

Kathy, I have seen your situation happen so many times and I

have wondered the same questions myself. I don’t understand

littering and why the casino seems to attract litterers is beyond

me. Obviously, there are so many employees dedicated to keep-

ing each casino very clean and presentable. Why a handful of

bad eggs have to ruin it not only for the casino but also for the

rest of us patrons is a question only the litterers can answer I

guess. I just feel bad for the employees who earn minimal wages

who have to clean up after people that have no respect for them-

selves, for the casino, or for others. On occasion I have even

given a tip to particularly friendly and welcoming cleaning

staff. If only everyone had the same attitude. $

SAMI’S SMACKDOWN

gain, I just had to select a very recent reader letter de-

scribing a scenario at a casino that makes you just

wonder about people and their actions. In most cases I

really enjoy studying human behavior, but not so much with

this situation. I think one can only come to some pretty ugly

conclusions based on what our reader observed.

Dear Sami,

I was just at [a casino] last night. I’ll admit it, I had lost almost all of

my bankroll so I wasn't in the best of moods but that’s when I almost

lost it over what I saw. I’ve been around for over 60 years now and I

still can’t believe how some people act. I guess their mothers didn’t

raise them right. Wow!

This well-dressed woman (although that word implies a certain

amount of class and decency) was walking towards a bank of slots in

the [casino]. I noticed her reach into her purse and pull out a candy or

a sucker. She proceeded to unwrap it, ball up the wrapper and toss the

paper on the floor.

What a complete pig, I thought to myself! I know of farmers who kept

their barns so clean the animals weren’t even allowed to make a mess!

I was about to open my mouth and tell this piece of trash to pick up her

litter when I thought better of it. Instead of engaging her I settled for

glaring at her until she saw me, then glaring at the paper she threw on

the ground, then glaring back at her. I then made a face in disgust.

I thought that might provoke action on her part, but it didn’t!

When I got home I realized I was still mad at this woman. I decided to

sleep on it and write you in the morning. Perhaps I should have just

let it go and not allowed [the woman] to get under my skin like that

but I couldn’t!

I just don’t understand why people think it is OK to throw trash on

the floor at the casino, or ash their cigarettes all over the place except in

an ashtray, leave empty dinks overturned all over the place, extinguish

their butts in the carpet, the chairs, or the slots, and much worse.

Do these people really live this way at home? Is this how they behave

when they are at another person’s house? Do these people litter all over

the place or just at the casino? Disgusting!

-Kathy Whiting from Fort Mohave, Arizona

34 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2015 | azgamingguide.com

A

LITTERING IS JUST LAZY A Reader Barely Keeps Her Cool And Chooses To Vent Later

By Sami Becker

Page 35: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

FUN FACTS

hen I was younger, the “scary” Friday the Thirteenth day was rife

with speculation as to what terrible fate might be visited upon us. The

fear of this particular day most likely stems from several historical

sources. A Norse myth tells of 12 gods having a dinner party in Valhalla. Loki, the

uninvited 13th guest, walks in and sets up Hoder (the blind god of darkness) to

shoot Balder the Beautiful (the god of joy and gladness) with a mistletoe-tipped

arrow. When Balder dies, the Earth plunges into darkness. Of course, there is also

the biblical story of Judas the apostle who is also the 13th guest at the Last Supper

who betrays Jesus. And, the bloody Friday the 13th in 1307 when King Philip of

France arrested the Knights Templar and began to torture and kill them.

However, I think Friday the 13th is a very lucky day. Throughout history and

even today, many cultures consider the number 13 and the day Friday itself to be

significant and positive for a variety of reasons. As a result, I’ve changed my

childhood views and I’m already looking forward to Friday, March 13th, 2015 and

Friday, November 13, 2015! If only a casino would create a promotion around it! $

azgamingguide.com | March 2015 | Arizona Gaming Guide 35

ONE DOWN, TWO TO GO Why Friday The 13th Matters To Players

W

By Mark Novak

Page 36: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

36 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2015 | azgamingguide.com

CASINO NIGHTLIFE

radio and television personalities, families, couples, individuals,

and everything in between.

While grandparents are often in attendance, this is not your

grandma’s charity event! We always have a DJ spinning, some-

times me, sometimes DJ Q Ward, and sometimes guest DJs from

the Valley’s most popular radio stations: 101.1 The Beat, Power

98.3, and Live 101.5. People get to groove as they prepare lunch-

es. Usually it’s about noon when we start loading up vehicles

with lunches and volunteers on their way to various parts of

town where transient (homeless or otherwise struggling) people

are known to congregate. The volunteer teams pick a spot, get

out of the vehicle, and simply invite anyone who could use

some extra food to come up and grab a meal. It is absolutely the

most rewarding experience you could imagine.

At first, this labor of love was organized and funded by DJ Q

Ward, fashion models Nick Beam and Tajii Sharp, Frisko, 101.1

The Beat Marketing Director Mattlocks, and me. After a few

successful months of operation, we started feeling the love as

food banks donated supplies and participants made monetary

contributions. The non-profit organization affiliated with this

event continues to be a source of opportunities, especially as

we’re seeking to expand from just food to also shoes and blan-

kets—the two most requested items.

The name Hashtag Lunch Bag reflects our initial desire to pro-

mote the event on the Internet, especially through social media.

However, we’ve grown to include promotional consideration

from several radio stations, both English and Spanish television

stations, and some noteworthy publications, including the Ari-

zona Gaming Guide.

Now that you know, there’s no excuse! Get out there and make

your money go further than your wallet. $

Ramses Ja Rudi King-Taylor II

•Music Director/On-Air Host (3-7pm) for

KNRJ-FM 101.1 The Beat

•Resident DJ/VJ for KTVK-3TV Friday 10am

•Host of R.E.D.Y. Set Radio

•Official Bum Squad DJ

•DJ Vatican Member

•For more information on Ramses Ja, visit his

website at: ramsesja.com.

magine this, getting yours and giving back at the same

time. It’s a win-win and it’s what you’re in store for when

you play at the casinos across the Valley. From a Hashtag

Lunch Bag event, to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Com-

munity Children’s Foundation, there are many ways the Arizo-

na Casino Gaming industry gives back to the community!

Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resort are owned and operat-

ed by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The

community’s Tribal Council has several programs and affilia-

tions that demonstrate its commitment to improving the area.

For example, the Children’s Foundation is a non-profit, charita-

ble division of the Community that makes contributions to vari-

ous organizations and programs dedicated to serving the Com-

munity’s youth. In addition to giving back to the community,

the organization prioritizes educating and promoting the histo-

ry and culture of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Commu-

nity. There are guided tours available at the Community’s

Huhugam Ki Museum, the Discover Papago Park development

project, and WellPath, a program promoting healthy living in

the Community.

As part of the Gila River Casinos, Vee Quiva, Wild Horse Pass,

and Lone Butte Casinos have the philosophy of improving the

communities they are in. Through volunteering, donations, and

formal partnerships, the Gila River Gaming Enterprises are able

to make good on that philosophy. They work with the Heard

Museum, promoting Native American causes. They have also

partnered with the Banner Health Foundation, the Leukemia &

Lymphoma Society, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and

the National Kidney Foundation to promote awareness of na-

tionally recognized health concerns such as heart disease, kid-

ney disease, diabetes, and cancer. What’s more, Gila River

works with Chicanos Por La Causa and St. Vincent de Paul,

addressing issues like domestic violence, mental illness, and

literacy. They also make it very easy for any non-profit to seek

donations: all you have to do is write a letter with your request

and the Board will consider it.

I can also suggest participating in Hashtag Lunch Bag, the Val-

ley’s monthly giveback kickback! We congregate on the last

Sunday of each month at Sky Lounge in Downtown Phoenix.

We’re proud to say that every month since we started in Sep-

tember of last year, when the doors open at 10am, there is al-

ways a line of people waiting for us! It’s not only the gaming

community but also church groups, youth clubs, businesses,

I

By Ramses Ja

#HASHTAG LUNCH BAG Making Your Money Go Further Than Your Wallet

Page 37: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03
Page 38: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

CASINO ENTERTAINMENT Listings

38 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2015 | azgamingguide.com

Apache Gold Casino—Globe, AZ—800.272.2438

San Carlos Event Center

Inter-Tribal Powwow—Mar. 13-15

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:

Rockin’ The Paradise (Styx Tribute)—Mar. 6-7

The Long Run (Eagles Tribute)—Mar. 20-21

The Ultimate Stones (The Rolling Stones Tribute)—Mar. 27-28

The Arizona Room:

Latin Fire Dance Nights (Learn to dance)—Tuesdays 6pm

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

La Propuesta De Mexico—Tuesdays 8pm

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

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

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:

Anjelah Johnson—Mar. 7

Tracy Lawrence—Mar. 28

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: Heartbreak Alley—6th, Edgar Winter—7th, The

Walkens—13th, Daisy Train—14th, Rock Lobster—20th, Nashville

Gold (Country Tribute)—21st, Smooth Groove—27th, The Trouba-

dour Experience (George Straight Tribute)—28th Wild Wednesdays

Swingtips—4th, Western Fusion Trio—11th, Bandstand Shows—

18th, Yesterday Once More—25th The Lounge Happy Hour Starting

March 2nd Mondays through Thursdays from 5-8pm. He Said She

Said, Mondays 5-8pm, Stan & Miguel, Tuesdays 5-8pm, Jake Skeen,

Wednesdays 5-8pm, and Harry Luge, Thursdays 5-8 pm.

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

Lone Butte Casino—Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452

Cascades Lounge:

Phoenix area bands & DJs offer free live entertainment throughout the

Tracy Lawrence Desert Diamond Casino—Sahuarita

March 28, 2015

Award-winning, multi-platinum, Country music star Tracy

Lawrence is returning to the Diamond Center for the first time

in five years on Saturday, March 28, 2015. Reserved tickets

start at $20 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. Tracy Lawrence is

one of the most recognizable voices in Country music with

songs such as Paint Me a Birmingham , Time Marches On, Alibis

and Find Out Who Your Friends Are . The entertainer has en-

joyed 22 songs on the Billboard Top 10 charts with 18 number

one singles, selling over 13 million albums. The Multi-

platinum CMA and ACM award winner has helped shape the

sound of Country music for two decades, recently celebrating

20 years in music. Treena Parvello, Director of Public Relations

and Communications for the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enter-

prise, said “It’s a joy to bring Tracy Lawrence back for another

stellar performance! His last Diamond Center show sold out,

so tickets are sure to go fast! Don’t miss your chance to see one

of Country’s biggest names live in concert!”

Page 39: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

Editor’s Pick CASINO ENTERTAINMENT

azgamingguide.com | March 2015 | Arizona Gaming Guide 39

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:

Featuring a variety of live music on the weekends

Talking Stick Resort—Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777

The Showroom & Grand Ballroom:

BoDeans—Mar. 7

Frank Caliendo—Mar. 14

Elvis Lives: The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist—Mar. 20-21

Winger—Mar. 29

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

Twin Arrows Navajo Casino—Flagstaff, AZ—855.946.8946

Featuring a variety of live music on the weekends

Vee Quiva Casino—Laveen, AZ—800.946.4452

VQ Live:

Featuring a variety of live music on the weekends

Event Center:

Charo—Mar. 28

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:

Billy Ocean—Mar. 6

Lunar New Year Hoa Xuan—Mar. 7

Nashville Gold—The Story of Country Music—Mar. 8

Jenny McCarthy & Friends: Dirty, Sexy, Funny—Mar.14

Paperback Writer—Tribute to The Beatles—Mar. 15

Kathy Griffin—Mar. 20-21

Chance Tinder—Tribute to Elvis Presley—Mar. 22

38 Special—Mar. 27

Marie Osmond—Mar. 28

The Magic of Motown—Tribute to Motown—Mar. 29

Morris Day & The Time—Apr. 11

DSB: An American Journey—Apr. 17

Kenny Rogers—Apr. 25

Michael McDonald—May 2

Talking Stick Resort Presents:

Comedian Frank Caliendo March 14, 2015

Talking Stick Resort will be a place of laughter when it

hosts comedian Frank Caliendo on March 14. Known for his

spot-on celebrity impersonations, the standup comic will

have audiences chuckling until it hurts the moment he steps

on the Salt River Grand Ballroom stage.

Born in Chicago in 1974, Caliendo began performing in local

comedy clubs while enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-

Milwaukee. He quickly gained a massive following and

would go on to join the hit comedy series, MADtv in 2001,

and become a semi-regular guest on FOX NFL Sunday the

same year.

In addition to his witty punch lines, Caliendo has received

recognition for his authentic impersonations of various stars

such as Morgan Freeman, John Madden, former President

George W. Bush and Charles Barkley. He’s mastered the late

night circuit, performing on The Late Late Show with Craig

Ferguson, Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night

with Conan O’Brien just to name a few, and has starred in

his own sketch show titled, Frank TV.

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.

Page 40: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

40 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2015 | azgamingguide.com

Sources: Arizona Department of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 02/01/15 & 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 No Yes No

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

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

Yes (2 sections: enclosed or in

general seating)

Yes Fr & Sa at 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.

CASINO BINGO

he $500,000 Bingo Super Gala returns to South Point

Hotel, Casino & Spa on Monday, March 16 and Tues-

day, March 17 beginning at 12pm each day. The two-

day bingo spectacular will offer a $250,000 daily prize pool each

day. Each day begins with 10 warm-up games with a total purse

of $10,000, followed by 19 Super Gala games for $10,000 each,

and concluding with one $50,000 coverall game and one $10,000

“2nd Chance” game.

Participants can purchase Super Gala entries for $295 which

includes two-day gala access, one 9-ON pack of bingo cards,

one food voucher per day and dauber. Throughout the Super

Gala, guests may purchase additional 6-ON packs of bingo

cards for $25 per pack. Participants are allowed to purchase up

$500,000 Super Gala March 16 & 17 South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas, Nevada

to 15 additional packs of bingo cards per day, in electronic units.

During the warm-up games, participants may purchase their

first 6-ON pack for $10 and each additional electronic or paper

pack for $5. Super Gala participants that are playing electroni-

cally must purchase two additional 6-ON bingo packs for a total

of $50 per day. In addition, extra 3-ON coverall strips are availa-

ble for purchase for $5 with a daily maximum of 20 coveralls

per player, per day.

Doors will open each day at 8am with warm-up games begin-

ning at 12pm. South Point offers gala players a special $50 room

rate for Sunday, March 15, which includes a complimentary two

night hotel accommodation on the 16th and 17th. For more in-

formation, please visit SouthPointCasino.com. $

T

By Mark Novak

Page 41: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03
Page 42: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

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,

high limit slots area, blackjack, table

games, craps, roulette, poker room,

live keno, race/sports book.

Golden Nugget Laughlin

800.237.1739

goldennugget.com/laughlin

1,000+ slots, blackjack, table games,

craps, roulette, poker room, sports

book. Sign up for the player’s club

and spin for free play!

Edgewater Hotel Casino

800.677.4837

edgewater-casino.com.

750+ slots, no smoking slot area,

high limit slots area, blackjack, table

games, roulette, craps, race/sports

book. Great all-around casino!

We are not responsible for incorrect, missing, or outdated information. To inform us of

updates, please email [email protected]. The Nevada Gaming Control Board

publishes statistics on casino gaming activity in Nevada according to their state’s gaming

regulations. The most current data for Laughlin at press time is from three months prior.

*A negative hold percentage indicates that game overpaid during the stated month.

Tropicana Laughlin

800.243.6846

tropicanax.com

1,000+ slots, blackjack, table games,

craps, roulette, and a sports book.

Stop in for lunch at Carnegie’s or

the Poolside Café and enjoy the food!

Laughlin River Lodge

800.835.7904

laughlinriverlodge.com

1,000+ guest rooms and suites, over

30,000 square feet of the hottest

Vegas-style gaming, four restau-

rants, fast food options, & more!

Slots Hold % Tables Hold %

Loose $1 4.86 Craps 8.09

25¢ 5.36 Blackjack / 21 14.91

Multi-Denom 6.05 Roulette 17.56

$5 6.35 Pai Gow Poker 24.77

5¢ 7.28 Let It Ride 27.60

1¢ 11.81 Three Card Poker 28.09

Megabucks 14.07 Other Table Games 31.34

Tight $25 15.06

Other Hold %

Loose Sports Pools 11.27 Win Amount Dollars

Bingo 12.33 Slots 32.4 mil.

Race Books 17.01 Tables 2.3 mil.

Tight Live Keno 27.56 Other 0.7 mil.

Laughlin’s Gaming Statistics December 2014

42 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2015 | azgamingguide.com

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azgamingguide.com | March 2015 | Arizona Gaming Guide 43

LAUGHLIN, NEVADA

Tropicana Laughlin News

TROP ADVANTAGE CLUB NEW 2015 BENEFITS

Beginning February 1, 2015, players achieving Gold, Platinum,

or Black Card status in the Trop Advantage Program receive a

complimentary three night stay with free slot play at the Cos-

mopolitan in Las Vegas and a cruise with Carnival Cruise Lines

for up to eight days in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Bahamas.

CLUB 50

The Tropicana Laughlin is calling all those at least 50 years

young! Every Monday, Trop Advantage Card members can

swipe their card and start the day off with a cup of coffee. Earn

base points and get discounts on food and a chance at free play!

GIFT DAYS—EARN POINTS, GET A GREAT GIFT

Everyone loves getting gifts, right? Well the season of gift giv-

ing isn’t over at the Tropicana Laughlin because they love giv-

ing them! Players earning just 1,000 base points on their Trop

Advantage Card on the Gift Day easily receive a voucher from

any promotional kiosk. Then, redeem the voucher for your gift

at the Players Club on the casino floor. Each new month brings

new gifts so make sure to check back at the Players Club.

March 7th: Tosca Handbag (choice of color)

March 14th: Bed in Bag (reversible, with comforter & 2 shams)

March 28th: Emeril Knife Set

WIN A HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE

What better way to celebrate Laughlin’s biggest biker gathering

than by giving away a Harley-Davidson motorcycle! On Satur-

day, April 25th at 11pm, the Tropicana Laughlin will give away

a brand new Harley-Davidson. Trop Advantage Club members

can earn drawing tickets from Wednesday, April 22 through

Saturday, April 25. Earn one drawing ticket for every 50 base

points on the Trop Advantage Card. On Thursday the 23rd,

players can earn a 2X bonus on drawing tickets!

$4,000 GETTIN’ LUCKY BINGO BASH

On Saturday, March 7, 2015 you can participate in the Tropicana

Laughlin’s Gettin’ Lucky Bingo Bash for just $10 per pack buy-

in for all regular games. Players can buy-in for Specials at $5 per

9-on for both games. Electronic units have a $2 use fee and a 3-

pack minimum. There’s a free gift for players club members!

Visit troplaughlin.com for more information. $

Page 44: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

44 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2015 | azgamingguide.com

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

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

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

(Solution on page 46)

9

7 6

3

2

6 4

8

5

7

1

5 9

6

5

2

7 1

6

8

4

1

9

2

WORD SEARCH

In honor of Potato Chip Day on March 14, find:

POTATO, CHIP, SNACK, FOOD, TASTE, DELICIOUS, FRIED,

CRUNCHY, CRISPY, SALTY, BOWL, BAG, FLAVOR, DIP, PARTY,

GEORGE, CRUM, SARATOGA, SPRINGS, NEW YORK.

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

F S M U R C A O P S V S T O T

B C R I S P M H J P F Z D Y K

H O K R O Y W N F C O O U S E

W F W P R N T G O Z N E R U Q

B M X L X Q A D O A O Q I W W

R O V A L F Q E S C F P D G F

C P H V A Z S A E D K S E N V

C Q P E U N B B M H R L F C C

R E A W F N R T O G A F A S A

U B R X T D I I O U S P C E L

N W T T A S K D P S G I J T E

C P Y J L B L S H A M H A Y T

H H R E G R G Z R D G C X O E

Y Z I W S G R S I A Z W P N I

E W S F P I K P N Q J M T A I

FUN & GAMES

Page 46: Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2015 - 07:03

CASINO DIRECTORY

46 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2015 | azgamingguide.com

City Phone Slots Hig

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Sources: Arizona Department of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 02/01/15 & 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

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Go

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Location Sp

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01. Apache Gold Casino Resort Hwy. 70, 5 mi. E. of Globe Globe 800-272-2438 608 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 314 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 1,077 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 633 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 675 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 825 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 242 Y

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Sudoku Solution

9 1 5

4 7 6

3 2 8

7 3 2

1 8 5

9 6 4

4 8 6

2 9 3

1 7 5

2 5 9

6 3 4

1 8 7

8 4 1

5 9 7

3 2 6

6 3 7

8 2 1

5 4 9

5 9 2

7 4 1

8 6 3

6 7 8

2 5 3

4 1 9

3 1 4

9 6 8

7 5 2

Word Search Solution

M U R C A T O P O T

B C R I S P F Y

O K R O Y W N F O S E

W R O N

L I D A

R O V A L F E C G

A D K

C P B

R A R A T O G A S A

U R D I C I O U S P E L

N T T A S I T E

C Y L A S H Y T

H E G R G D C O E

Y S G R P S I N I

P