Arizona Gaming Guide - January 2012 - 04:01

Contents

04 EDITOR’S NOTE What’s on our mind.

06 PLAYERS TALK What’s on your mind.

28 FUN & GAMES Sudoku & Puzzles to keep your mind sharp.

30 SAMI’S SMACKDOWN Rants, raves & reflections.

30 CASINO DIRECTORY

REGULAR RESPINS

22 ARIZONA’S GAMING REVENUES FY 2011 Tribal contributions Arizona Benefits Fund.

22 TRIBAL SPOTLIGHT The Tohono O’odham Nation.

24 READER POLLS “Should casinos ban smoking?” and more questions.

FAST FACTS

08 CASHMAN FEVER™ BY ARISTOCRAT An upgrade on the original at Mazatzal and Quechan.

08 DOGGIE CASH™ BY ATRONIC Progressives, entertaining action, all at Ft. McDowell.

12 BATTLESHIP™ BY WMS New group play slots arriving now at Cliff Castle.

GREAT GAMES

JANUARY

azgamingguide.com | January 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 03

Slot machine images courtesy of WMS Gaming. © Copyright WMS Gaming. All Rights Reserved. www.wms.com

FEATURES

14 25 THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT AZ’S CASINOS Your casino to-do list for 2012!

1212

1414

18 BLACKJACK QUIZ Test your knowledge with our quick strategy guide.

WINNING WAYS

20 ORANGE SKY AT TALKING STICK RESORT The editor’s picks of Arizona’s casino steakhouses.

CASINO DINING

26 RITA RUDNER AT DESERT DIAMOND CASINO The editor’s picks of Arizona’s casino entertainment.

CASINO ENTERTAINMENT

Slot machine images courtesy of Aristocrat Technologies. © Copyright Aristocrat Technologies. All Rights Reserved. www.arstocrat.com.au

Slot machine images courtesy of Spielo International. © Copyright Spielo International. All Rights Reserved. www.spielo.com

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VOLUME 04 • ISSUE 01

PUBLISHER Chris Hoft

[email protected]

MANAGING DIRECTOR Elizabeth Torma

[email protected]

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alexandra Lang

[email protected]

ART DIRECTOR Melanie Mueller

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Mark Novak Alex Stewart

Samantha Becker Lana Hartmann Elizabeth Torma

ADVERTISING SALES

Nina Consiglio [email protected]

Alex Stewart [email protected]

MAILING INFORMATION

Arizona Gaming Guide P.O. Box 20636

Mesa, Arizona 85277

INTERNET INFORMATION www.azgamingguide.com

www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide

Copyright © 2012 The Arizona Gaming Guide. All rights reserved.

The Arizona Gaming Guide (AGG) presents casino industry and gaming related facts as well as personal opinions and expects the reader to make his or her own decisions. All responses to reader e-mails and letters are to be considered as advice only. AGG accepts no responsibility and no liability for any actions of our readers based on the articles and advertisements presented within this publication. All pictures, images, logos, trademarks and trade names, etc. are the sole property of their respective owners.

You must be 21 or older to gamble. Please play responsibly. Help is available at 1.800.NEXT.STEP or problemgambling.az.gov.

EDITOR’S NOTE

04 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2012 | azgamingguide.com

Your Authority On Everything Gaming

Happy New Year! May it be your best one yet! In 2008 I made a New Year’s resolution not to eat any fast food. That same year, I also decided to get up at 4 am every day to exercise before work. Begrudgingly, I lasted 63 days. On day 64, I vowed never to make such painstakingly difficult, unrealistic New Year’s resolutions! The following year I created a list that was three pages long filled with tasks I was ex-cited to accomplish. I took a dance class, traveled to New York, hiked sev-eral of Arizona’s mountains, and tasted cuisine from all over the world, just to name a few! Ever since then, my New Year’s resolutions have been focused on trying new things, having more fun, being adventurous and making it my best year yet. This year, I hope your list of New Year’s resolutions include a ton of excit-ing pleasures because you deserve it! We are extremely fortunate to have so many wonderful casino options available to us in Arizona, so if you are one of those people that only visit casinos close to where you live, try something different. Take a look at this month’s feature story “25 Things We Love About Arizona’s Casinos” and make that your Casino To-Do list for 2012. Vow to have fun and make this your best year yet! Please visit us at: www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide, become part of our community and share your thoughts and experiences with others who also love the same casino games you do. You can sign up for our e-newsletter and find the current and back issues of the Arizona Gaming Guide on our website at www.azgamingguide.com. For your conven-ience, we have included the QR codes for both web addresses in our di-rectory. Let me know what you think of our January issue and have fun!

Cheers!

Alexandra Lang Editor-in-Chief

[email protected]

Alexandra Arizona’s State Gaming Regulatory Agency: Arizona Department of Gaming

1110 W. Washington Street # 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 # 450, Phoenix, 85007 1-602-542-8998 or problemgambling.az.gov

PLAYERS TALK Q&A On Everything Gaming

06 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2012 | azgamingguide.com

ASK THE EXPERTS and get a $25 gas card if we decide to print your question! Do you have a question for our staff of casino gaming industry professionals and slot experts? Write us with your questions and comments in any area of gaming and we will make every attempt to publish a response in upcoming issues. Space is limited so we are unable to print every letter or e-mail we receive. Please include your name and mailing address with all correspondence. Mail to: Arizona Gaming Guide PO BOX 20636 Mesa, AZ 85277 or E-mail to: [email protected].

Q: MONEY IN PROGRESSIVE METERS I don’t think it’s fair when a casino decides to pull out a game that has a progressive just because it has climbed too high. They don’t want to pay out the jackpots so they just remove the game. They use the high numbers to draw people to the casino to play the game and then they yank it out before it hits. How is that fair?

Jack Amos – Phoenix, AZ

A: Jack, if a casino decides to remove a slot game connected to a progressive, the money must be redistributed on the casino floor because this money belongs to the players and not the casino! Let me explain how this works … Every single-level or multi-level progressive has starting values established by the slot manufacturers that are referred to as base values. These are the reset values that occur after a progressive has been hit. For ex-ample, you may notice a progressive climb to $1,320 and then reset to $1,000 after it has been hit. The additional $320 on the progressive resulted from a percentage of all the wagers placed by players on that game. Therefore, all the money above and beyond the base value on the progressive must be given back to the players. Gaming regulations are very strict regarding this situation. When casinos remove progressive games they tend to redistrib-ute the money by adding it to other existing progressive games on the floor. If a casino is replacing one progressive title with a new title, then the easiest thing for the casino to do is just add the money into the meters of the new game. Redistributing the money in the progressive meters guarantees the money will be going back to the players and, therefore, is absolutely fair! Q: FREE PLAY I’m really starting to believe that I don’t have any chance of winning when I play with the free play money I get as a present from the casino. How come I never win anything with that money? Maybe that’s a trick just to get me to gamble there?

Kata Tomcekov – Phoenix, AZ Kata, your chances of winning or losing using free play money for credits are no different than when using real currency or

tickets for credits! The slot machine can’t distinguish where the credits on the game came from. I can guarantee you there are many rules in place to ensure free play is fair for all players. Here’s a way to keep track of how much you’re winning with your free play money … Assume you have $10 in free play from the casino. Depending on your wager, figure out how many spins you can buy with your free play money. For exam-ple, if you place 50¢ wagers $10 will buy you exactly 20 spins. Press the spin button 20 times, stop playing, and look at your credit meter to see how much you’ve won using your free play money! That money is yours! Whether you choose to continue playing or you cash out your winnings at that point is your decision. Q: SEX AND THE CITY SLOT MACHINE I love playing the Sex and the City slot machine by the game maker IGT. I usually play all four of the blocks, but that can get expensive. Do you think that my chances of winning will be worse if I just play one or two rather than all four? I feel like I’m getting into the bonuses more when I play all four, but that makes sense because I’m playing four times as much! Just curi-ous about this. Thanks for the great job you do with the magazine and in explaining everything.

Tammy Harrison—Anthem, AZ Tammy, there’s a reason why this slot game has been on casino floors for a while. The game is very appealing for many reasons, the main one being the frequently hitting bonuses! If you are playing all four sets of reels, you will be triggering a bonus once every 25 spins on average. However, playing less than all four reels decreases your chances significantly. You will only be seeing the bonus happen once every 100 spins on average when playing one reel and 50 spins on average when playing two reels. Therefore, your best option is to play all four reels for the bonuses and the hit frequency in general. You’ll be seeing win-ning spins happen 50% of the time! Here’s a little known secret about this game—none of the re-maining Sex and the City slots in Arizona are set lower than 90% in terms of their payback percentages! So, get on a game while they’re still hot.

azgamingguide.com | January 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 07

Q: BLACKJACK DEALER’S HOLE CARD I like to play the slots, but my boyfriend only plays blackjack. Sometimes he’ll give me some money to sit and play next to him. I would actually rather play the slots. I only play with him if I’ve lost my money and he’s willing to give me some of his. Can you give me some hints? I know I’m supposed to assume that the dealer has a 10 underneath and make my decision from there, but can you give me a few other tips?

Aimee Kirby – Tucson, AZ Aimee, one of the most popular (and costly) blackjack myths out there is that you should always assume a dealer’s hole card is 10. This is FALSE! There are 52 cards in a standard deck and 16 of those cards have a value of 10. In other words, the picture cards and tens make up 31% of the deck. Mathematically speak-ing, the odds are 3 to 7 that the dealer has a 10 in the hole. What this means is there’s actually a 70% chance that the dealer’s hole card is not a 10! The other mistake many people make is to play with the idea in mind that the object of the game is to get as close to 21 as possi-ble. This is also FALSE! The object of blackjack is to beat the dealer—period! And, whether you accomplish this holding a 13

Q&A On Everything Gaming PLAYERS TALK

or a 20 is irrelevant. Learning simple blackjack strategy is quick and easy and can shave the house’s advantage to almost zero! Visit our website at www.azgamingguide.com for some simple rules to increase your chances of winning at the tables. You’ll find really simple and easy-to-remember tips like—Never split 10s, face cards, or 5s. Always split Aces. Double down if you have a 9 or a soft hand (an Ace that’s counted as an 11) of 13 through 17 against the dealer’s 5 or 6. Always split 7s or 8s against a dealer’s card of the same value or less. Notice these strategies only dictate your moves based on what you’re hold-ing and what the dealer’s up card is. Take a look at the remain-ing hints in our article on our website and you’ll be playing blackjack like a pro in no time! Good luck to you (and your boy-friend) and have fun! Q: CASINO WITH THE MOST SLOTS I love playing slots. I was wondering, which casino in Arizona has the most slot machines?

L. Davis – Mesa, AZ

L. Davis, as of Dec. 1, 2011, the Desert Diamond Casino (owned/operated by the Tohono O’odham Nation) on the No-gales Hwy in Tucson has the most slots in Arizona—1,089! $

08 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2012 | azgamingguide.com

GREAT GAMES New Slots

he player favorite, Mr. Cashman by Aristocrat Technologies, is back with scorching hot play!

Aristocrat’s new Cashman Fever™ video slot is filled with thrilling new features, including four red-hot, high-frequency bonuses, and an exclusive Cashman Fever™ Progressive Link feature that offers 20 jackpot pools! If you’re tired of playing slot games that require you to play max bet to qualify for the progressives, you’ll love this game. You can win the pro-gressives regardless of your wager. There are 4 jackpots for each bet amount (50, 75, 100, 150, and 200) presenting 20 different potential jackpots (4 jackpots/wager x 5 wagers). And, you’ll be sitting on the edge of your seat when the all-too-familiar Cashman random bonuses happen (Added Wild Feature, Multiplier Fea-ture, Hold and Respin Feature, and Nudge Feature). With so many ways to win, you’re sure to catch Cashman Fever™. A word of ad-vice: you’ll have the best experience playing this hot new slot game at Mazatzal Hotel & Casino in Payson, AZ and Quechan Casino Resort in Winterhaven, CA. Send an e-mail to [email protected] with “Cashman” in the subject field and let us know what you think of this slot game. We’d love to hear from you! $

T

ans of Atronic & Spielo International games will love the new slot game Doggie Cash™, because it’s featured on the “e-motion” platform with the adjustable height monitor!

It’s the latest addition to Spielo‘s multi-level progressive links and includes fun little dog images like paw prints and pictures of dogs. On top of the four supporting game titles, this exciting multi-level progressive features two bonus rounds: the Mystery Dog Bonus and the Doggie Cash Bonus. The Mystery Dog Bonus is triggered randomly at the end of a spin. The player is awarded a mystery credit amount or goes into the Doggie Cash Bonus where the player selects a dog which is then moved to one of the progressives on the upper screen. A jackpot is awarded once a progressive level has accumulated three dog symbols. The higher the bet in the base game, the better the chances to win one of the higher jackpots. You’ll definitely want to head over to Fort McDowell Casino and give this great new game a try. Then, don’t forget to send us an e-mail to [email protected] with “Doggie Cash” in the subject and tell us all about it! $

F

GREAT GAMES New Slots

10 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2012 | azgamingguide.com

Coming to Cliff Castle Casino Hotel This Month!Coming to Cliff Castle Casino Hotel This Month!

lot manufacturer WMS Gaming always fires on all cylinders to produce games with something for everyone! The one-of-a-kind community gaming

experience, BATTLESHIP™ Team Compete To Win™, has made its way to Arizona and we can play this game at Cliff Castle Casino Hotel in Camp Verde now! GAME DESCRIPTION WMS has stayed true to the popular board game, licensed by Hasbro, by taking the battle to a competition on the big screen. The BATTLESHIP™ slot bank is separated into two teams—the “Blue Team” on the left and the “Red Team” on the right. Graphics on the machines and the monitors reflect the team colors. With one LCD moni-tor framed by two portrait-style monitors for each team, the high-definition displays are spectacular! Get ready to experience some heart-pounding excitement during one of three competitive bonuses where each team is trying to sink each other's battleships. In the “Bomber’s Run Bonus” each screen displays the team’s “bombing run” while the central video displays the results. Just as played in the classic board game, the bombs look like the

S pegs from the game and land in pegboard spots on the ships to go toward sinking each team. The team with the most hits in the first round receives a second bombing run! During the “Find and Conquer Bonus,” each team places its fleet of ships in various positions on a replica of the Battleship game board and then shares three picking rounds to fire at the opposing team’s ships. The team sinking the most ships gets an extra pick at a 5X multi-plier! In the “Free Spins Victory Bonus,” a reel set appears on the big screen and cannon symbols award shots at the opposing team’s fleet in an effort to sink ships. The team that sinks the most ships receives a 2X multiplier at the end of the bonus round! Here’s a secret hint: the “Free Spins Victory Bonus” is the one you’ll be hoping to trigger for some really nice big bonus wins! There are four base games in the series—“Periscope Pays,” “Commanding Officer,” “The Brigade” and the “Grand Armada.” In addition to the three common com-petitive bonuses that occur randomly on the top screen, each base game has its own bonuses! Once again, WMS has produced a phenomenal community gaming experi-ence that is sure to be a huge success!

Continued on page 13

azgamingguide.com | January 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 13

New Slots GREAT GAMES

How long did it take to create the BATTLESHIP™ slot game? This game was huge – the Community Gaming®, Team Compete to Win™, Sensory Immersion, Experience De-sign and other technologies combined for the first time, plus two Video Reel and two Mechanical Transmissive Reels® technology base themes that could also run as standalone games for our international customers. From start to finish, it took about 18 months. How many people worked on this game, beginning to end? This is difficult to quantify, since so many people had their hands in some aspect of the BATTLESHIP™ themed slot. We would guess anywhere from 50 – 75 people across departments at WMS. Is there any concept or prototype art that didn’t make it into the game you could share? We went through many iterations until the game was just right. One was each player’s top screens. We wanted an electronic scorecard - a way to keep track of how many ships your team hit and sank - but we didn’t want to draw attention away from the main action on the big screens. Here’s a version of the art we had running in the game for a long time (Fig. 2) before we ultimately pulled

Continued from page 10

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE GAME DESIGNERS OF BATTLESHIP™BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE GAME DESIGNERS OF BATTLESHIP™

it and went with something far simpler (Fig. 3). All the info is duplicated on the big screens and we figured what the player really needed to know was where they stood – how many ships their team sunk and how many ships of theirs were sunk. At various times, the top screen switches to an animated movie we created to further advertise the game (complete with Ride of the Valkyries booming from the speakers). Initially, we wanted to have that movie span the side screens as well, which is illustrated in these concepts (Fig. 1). Also, we had an entire bonus we ended up cutting. We’re sure you’ll see unused game play features in future BATTLESHIP™ games. What part of the game was the most fun or rewarding to pull together? We had the most fun whenever sticking closely to the feel of the classic board game. In the “Find and Conquer Bo-nus,” players on each team take turns placing ships. We love selecting a ship and dragging it to wherever we want on the board – it’s just like the board game! What was the biggest challenge for the design team in the making of this game? Deadlines are always a challenge. If we had another month, we’d go back and polish even further. $ Many thanks to WMS Gaming for their responses. All slot machine images are courtesy of WMS Gaming. ©WMS Gam-ing. All Rights Reserved. www.wmsgaming.com. BATTLE-SHIP is a trademark of Hasbro. Used with permission. ©2011 Hasbro. All rights reserved.

Figure 1

Figure 2 Figure 3

14 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2012 | azgamingguide.com

252525 Things We LoveThings We LoveThings We Love about Arizona’s casinos

It’s a New Year and I’m willing to bet you’ve already created your list of New Year’s resolutions. And, if you’re like

most people, at the top of that list is eating healthier, exercising more, quitting a bad habit like smoking, getting

more organized and sticking to a budget. Well, this year, why not make a second list? Resolve yourself to having

more fun, being adventurous, and trying new things. See if you can finish this To-Do list before the end of 2012. I

guarantee it will be the most fun you ever had completing a To-Do list!

What’s light and fluffy and tastes oh so good? It’s Jeri

J’s Indian Fry Bread at Mazatzal Hotel & Casino in Pay-

son. Who would have thought you could buy the best

tasting Indian Fry Bread from a bus in a casino parking

lot? You’ll want to have the ‘taco’ version with all the fix-

ings and another one for dessert covered in honey and

powdered sugar. Absolutely delicious! Make sure to call

1-800-777-PLAY for more details.

1

Hot music, cocktail specials, laser lights, and a crazy

good time can only mean one thing: Lunar Bingo at Fort

McDowell Casino near Fountain Hills presented by

101.1 FM The Beat. Although often imitated, it’s never

duplicated. The 1,700 seat state-of-the-art bingo hall is the

place to be every third Saturday of the month!

2

Slot Tournaments at Apache Gold Casino Resort in

San Carlos (5 miles East of Globe). Small buy-in, huge

prizes! All you have to do is earn points using your play-

ers club card or just pay an entry fee at the cashier’s cage!

1st place is $1,000 cash, and what’s best of all is the top

nine (that’s right nine) finalists are all guaranteed to win

cash and promotional credits! Make sure to call 1-800-

APACHE8 for more details.

3

What’s everybody’s favorite thing to do at the casino

(besides gamble, of course)? Eat! And, who doesn’t love a

great buffet? The Wandering Horse Buffet at Talking

Stick Resort in Scottsdale, is the best All-You-Can-Eat

buffet in Arizona. The large and scrumptious assortment

of world cuisines makes it challenging to save room for

dessert. However, a must-try is their delectable Banana

Foster dessert—heavenly!

4

Penny slots at Hon-Dah Casino Resort & Conference

Center in Pinetop. You’ll find an abundance of multi-

denomination slot machines ranging from $0.01 to $5.00,

but this casino is the home to the most penny games in

Arizona! Given such a large selection, the hardest part is

deciding which game to sit down and play.

5

Every casino has blackjack tables, but ever wondered

who has the best games? Bucky’s Casino in Prescott of-

fers the greatest blackjack pit games and side bets such

as “Lucky Ladies,” “Push Your Luck,” and “Perfect

Pairs.” And, who says great tasting food has to cost a lot?

Both Bucky’s Café and the Yavapai Cantina offer $3.99

daily specials like mouth-watering hot sandwiches and

soup bowls.

6

4

6 7 13

azgamingguide.com | January 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 15

Your Casino ToYour Casino ToYour Casino To---Do List For 2012Do List For 2012Do List For 2012 Pamper yourself in a resort room at Desert Diamond

Casino in Tucson. If you’re like most people, you proba-

bly can’t afford to pay exorbitant resort room rates and

fees. At Desert Diamond Casino you’ll be paying hotel

rates for resort accommodations which include a ton of

amenities at no additional cost: Free continental break-

fast, free newspaper, free high-speed internet, free print-

ing services, and free exercise room just to name a few.

Rooms are very comfortable, clean, quiet and the cus-

tomer service is fantastic. While you’re there, make sure

to take a dip in their gorgeous hot tub and sit and have a

drink around their outdoor gas fireplace that’s beautifully

lit up after dark.

7

Order a drink on your slot machine at Harrah’s Ak-

Chin Casino in Maricopa. Don’t expect to have a cocktail

server ask if you’d like something to drink. This place is

high tech and you use the touch screen options through

the player’s club card interface right on the slot machine.

8

Visit Payson’s Rodeo right across the street from the

Mazatzal Hotel & Casino at the Payson Event Center.

Held the third weekend in August every year, it’s one of

the world’s oldest continuous rodeos. There’s a discount

for seniors and children. If you don’t want to fight the

traffic leaving the rodeo, you can stop and have a meal at

the casino restaurant. The arcade can even keep the kids

occupied while the grown ups have a little fun of their

own on the gaming floor!

9

Are you a non-smoker who’s tired of being confined

to a tiny non-smoking section with a limited assortment

of games? You can breathe fresh air while you play at

Cocopah Casino in Somerton (12 miles South of Yuma)

during their “Smoke-Free Sundays!”

10

Enjoy All-You-Can-Eat Prime Rib and Shrimp every

Thursday and All-You-Can-Eat Crab Legs every Friday

and Saturday night starting at 4pm at the Red Rock Buf-

fet inside Fort McDowell Casino near Fountain Hills for

only $14.50! Make sure to eat a light breakfast and an

even lighter lunch and wear loose clothing. Enough said.

11

For many people, the idea of visiting any spa (let

alone one located inside a resort casino) is too large of an

expense to even fathom, but why should the rich have all

the fun? The Spa at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale

has several reasonably priced services and treatments.

For example, for right around $100 you can enjoy a Swed-

ish massage or a Reflexology treatment for your aches

and pains for a full hour! It’s a small price to pay for your

health and well-being.

12

Kids play while you play! Cliff Castle Casino Hotel

in Camp Verde is the only casino in Arizona that has

Kids Quest, a supervised childcare center full of games

and activities for children 6 weeks to 12 years old. The

entire staff at Kids Quest is certified in CPR and first aid.

With over 30 of the most popular video games, the kids

will also love the Alley Arcade! Both are located inside

the casino, so you can keep an eye on what’s going on.

And, if you want to enjoy an activity together, Cliff Cas-

tle’s 20-lane bowling center is perfect fun for the whole

family! While there, don’t forget to stop by their famous

50’s style diner, Johnny Rockets, for an All-American

menu complete with burgers, fries, hand-dipped malts,

shakes, and apple pie!

13

Quechan Casino Resort in Winterhaven, Ca. (5 miles

West of Yuma) has the most diverse selection of slot

games on their floor. All the greatest WMS, IGT, Konami

and Aristocrat games are there, but you’ll find Multi-

Media, AC Coin&Slot, Cadillac Jack and many others that

Arizona casinos don’t have!

14

The Winter Games & Dog Sled Races at the Hon-

Dah Resort & Conference Center Festival Grounds in

Pinetop. Held every January, and celebrating its 10th an-

niversary this year, this event is fun for the whole family!

Dog sled races, ice sculpting contests, and chili and salsa

cook-offs.

15

Photo at Talking Stick Resort by Amy Martell (amymartellphotography.com) with models Kirstyn Dorr (modelmayhem.com/kirstyn20) and Nicole Hilkins.

12

11

azgamingguide.com | January 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 17

Tap into your adventurous side and head over to the

Colorado River when the summer heat strikes for some

fun on the water! Bring your boat or jet skis or just rent

them when you get there. BlueWater Resort & Casino in

Parker, Arizona is the perfect summer getaway. Each

hotel room features a private balcony with stunning

views of the Colorado River and California’s Whipple

Mountains as a backdrop. Hotel amenities include an in-

door water park with two pools, waterslide, spa, minia-

ture golf, a video arcade and a movie theater adjacent to

the casino! It’s fun for the entire family.

16

Looking for a great place to unwind after work? The

Arizona Room Piano Lounge at Casino Arizona in

Scottsdale features a variety of music styles including

swing and jazz. Order your favorite cocktail, have a seat

on the patio next to the mesquite fireplace, and enjoy the

music. There’s entertainment every day of the week from

4pm to midnight on weekdays and from 5pm to 1am on

weekends.

17

Degree 270 on the 14th floor at the Talking Stick

Resort is home to the valley’s hottest nightlife. Open

every Thursday through Saturday from 5pm to 2am,

you’ll enjoy both live bands and DJs, great dancing, and

sophisticated decor! On any given night you’ll see a mix-

ture of both young and mature groups of people!

18

Play the video slot game Life of Luxury™ by WMS

at Bucky’s Casino in Prescott. The only casino to offer

the game in pennies with the highest payback percentage,

it’s definitely worth the trip! To increase your chances of

winning, make sure you go with a minimum $300 bankroll

and be prepared to play the max bet of $2.40. You win the

progressives automatically when playing the max. Since

most people don’t do this, they feed the meters without

having much of a chance of winning the progressives.

Therefore, the progressive meters climb very quickly and

pay out lucrative wins to those willing to play the game

correctly—betting the maximum per spin!

While at Bucky’s, make sure to play IGT’s 5¢ Multi-

Strike video slot! A great game for video poker fans.

19

Remember the days when you didn’t have to wait so

long for a bonus to happen? You can go back to those

days! Just visit Mazatzal Hotel & Casino in Payson and

play Sun and Moon™ by Aristocrat! This oldie but

goodie will have you sitting back watching free spins

happen often. When any combination of two or more

wild Sun and Moon symbols appear left-to-right on the

reels, this slot’s free spins bonus feature is triggered. You

can win up to 50 free spins on this great slot game (which,

by the way, is not uncommon at all)! Plus, all payouts are

doubled during the bonus spins! Mazatzal Hotel & Ca-

sino in Payson is one of the few casinos in Arizona to still

offer Sun and Moon with one of the highest payback per-

centages we’ve seen! While there, make sure to try one of

their many other Aristocrat slot games.

21

Finding decent video poker pay tables is not easy any-

more and full pay machines are practically obsolete.

However, Desert Diamond Casino in Tucson has great

video poker slots connected to amazing progressives

that reset much higher than at other casinos!

22

5¢ four-card video keno—hours of fun entertainment

for a low cost. Fort McDowell Casino near Fountain

Hills has some of the best video keno pay tables!

23

The 5,000 seat AVA Amphitheater at Casino del Sol

in Tucson is the hot spot for entertainment venues. You

can see top entertainers like Tim McGraw, Van Halen,

and Toby Keith for a fraction of the cost of most concert

venues in large cities!

24

Looking to get creative on the golf course? The

Apache Gold Golf Course in San Carlos (5 miles East of

Globe) is the one! It features a 3,200 ft. elevation, with

two par-5 holes of over 600 yards each, and five par-4's

which push the envelope. Many of the fairways on the

front nine are isolated in their own valleys, surrounded

by 20 to 50 ft. hills covered in sage and mesquite trees.

Distant mountain ranges provide a backdrop for several

greens, including the par-3 14th, a modified Redan hole

set atop a 90-ft. ridge at the southern end of the course. $

25

Your Casino ToYour Casino ToYour Casino To---Do List For 2012Do List For 2012Do List For 2012 25 18 22

20

18 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2012 | azgamingguide.com

WINNING WAYS Blackjack

BLACKJACK QUIZBLACKJACK QUIZ ery few people know how to play blackjack properly. However, those players who have the patience and the willingness to learn and adhere

to basic strategy can shave the house advantage down to almost zero! Take our quiz to find out how well you know the game of blackjack. What would you do in each situation below … stand, hit, split, or double down? 1. You’re holding two 7s and the blackjack dealer has a 7 showing. 2. You’re holding an Ace, 2 and the blackjack dealer has a 6 showing. 3. You’re holding two Aces and the blackjack dealer has a 10 showing. 4. You’re holding a King, 6 and the blackjack dealer has a Queen showing.

5. You’re holding two 5s and the blackjack dealer has a 4 showing. 6. You’re holding two 10s and the blackjack dealer has a 5 showing. 7. You’re holding an Ace, 6 and the blackjack dealer has a 5 showing. 8. You’re holding a 6, 7 and the blackjack dealer has a 6 showing. 9. You’re holding two 8s and the blackjack dealer has an 8 showing. 10. You’re holding a 5, 6 and the blackjack dealer has a 10 showing. $

V

ANSWER KEY: 1. Split. 2. Double Down. 3. Split. Always split Aces. 4. Hit. 5. Double Down. 6. Stand. Never split tens. 7. Double Down. 8. Stand. 9. Split. 10. Double Down.

20 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2012 | azgamingguide.com

CASINO DINING Casino Steakhouses

s you rise from the hotel’s lobby in the exterior elevators, it is soon obvi-

ous Orange Sky is like no other restaurant in Scottsdale, or all of Arizona for that mat-ter. Located atop the 15th floor of the ho-tel, the restaurant sets the senses ablaze with its signature dishes and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer the best 360-degree views of the Valley’s signature orange sun-sets—the inspiration behind its name. The 200-seat Scottsdale restaurant features a delicious menu of fresh seafood, aged steaks and just-harvested vegetables from local communities surrounding the Scotts-dale and Phoenix areas. Meals are prepared simply, and Orange Sky’s versatile restau-rant menu allows guests to eat light, mix and match and share plates, all depending on guest’s appetites. Completing the culinary adventure is a helpful sommelier that can pique any appe-tite with an extensive array of top domestic and imported wines. Orange Sky’s wine list is extensive, offering a great selection with 245 bottles and 30 wines by the glass. In fact, the list has been recognized by re-nowned national magazine, Wine Specta-

tor with an Award of Excellence, quite a feat after being open less than two years! A dramatic, glass wine room displays more than 100 of the incredible white wine selec-tions in a temperature controlled environ-ment of 47 degrees. The red wines are stored at 62 degrees in hand-crafted, cedar wood wine racks that surround the Somme-lier table. A private dining room displays more than 200 bins of wine and can accom-modate 14 diners. Guests in the restaurant's main dining area can find privacy in the high-back seating enclaves that can accommodate everyone from romantic intimate twosomes to small groups. A communal dining table comforta-bly accommodates single patrons, as well. Hours and Phone: Sunday through Thursday: 5:00 to 10:00pm. Friday and Saturday: 5:00 to11:00pm. For more information or to make reserva-tions, call (480) 850-8606. $ Special thanks to Ramon Martinez at Talking Stick Resort and Shanna Wolfe at Riester. Top photo courtesy of Talking Stick Resort. © Copyright Talking Stick Resort. All Rights Reserved. Additional photos taken at Orange Sky by Amy Martell (amymartellphotography.com) featuring models Kirstyn Dorr (modelmayhem.com/kirstyn20) and Nicole Hilkins.

ORANGE SKY ORANGE SKY ORANGE SKY at Talking Stick Resortat Talking Stick Resortat Talking Stick Resort

A

azgamingguide.com | January 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 21

Editor’s Picks of Casino Steakhouses CASINO DINING Our Editor’s Picks of Casino Steakhouses include: Apache Gold Casino—Globe—928.475.7800 Apache Legends BBQ: Call for more information BlueWater Casino—Parker—928.669.7003 River Willows Steakhouse: Su-Th 5-10pm, Fr & Sa 5-11pm Casino Arizona (Salt River)—Scottsdale—480.850.7736 Cholla Prime Steakhouse: Su-Th 5-10pm, Fr & Sa 5-11pm Casino del Sol—Tucson—520.838.6506 PY Steakhouse: Tu-Th 4-10pm, Fr & Sa 4-11pm Cliff Castle Casino—Camp Verde—928.567.7905 Storytellers: Su, We-Th 5-9pm, Fr & Sa 5-10pm Desert Diamond Casino I—Tucson—520.342.1328 Cu:Kug Ga’i Ki: Steakhouse: Open every night 4-10pm Desert Diamond Casino II—Sahuarita—866.332.9467 Agave Restaurant: Open daily 11am-9pm Quechan Casino—Winterhaven, CA—877.783.2426 Ironwood Steakhouse: Open every night 5-10pm

FAST FACTS Tribal Gaming

22 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2012 | azgamingguide.com

Arizonans Benefit From Indian Gaming Revenue

rop 202, which was passed by Arizona voters in 2002, has not only ensured well-regulated gaming on Arizona tribal lands but also revenue sharing with the State of Arizona and

local governments to support specified programs. Arizona tribes that operate casinos contribute one to eight percent of their Class III Net Win to education, healthcare, and other programs that benefit Arizona residents. Class III Net Win is the difference between all gaming wins and losses before deducting the casino operating costs. Contributions are determined on a sliding scale based on the amount of the tribe's year-to-date Class III Net Win. Each tribe con-tributes 1% for its first $25 million; 3% of the next $50 million; 6% of the next $25 million; and 8% of the Class III Net Win in excess of $100 million. 12% of the tribal contributions go directly to cities, towns and counties of the tribe’s choosing. The remaining 88% of a tribe’s total annual contribution goes to the Arizona Benefits Fund.

TRIBAL CONTRIBUTIONS FY 2011 Instructional Improvement Fund $38,787,522 Trauma & Emergency Services $19,393,761 Arizona Wildlife Conservation Fund $ 5,541,974 Tourism Fund Account $ 5,541,974 Arizona Department of Gaming $ 8,000,000 Arizona Office of Problem Gambling $ 1,576,805 TOTAL $78,842,036

P

Tohono O’odham Nation Peoples: The Tohono O’odham Population: 27,500 Location: Comparable in size to Connecticut, in south central Ari-zona and into Mexico in the form of 12 communities. Reservation: 2,854,881 acres that covers approximately 5,000 square miles; created in 1874 through a series of Executive Orders. The Tohono O'odham Nation incor-porates the 71,095-acre San Xavier reservation, the 10,409-acre Gila Bend Reservation near the city of Gila

Bend, and the 20-acre Florence Vil-lage. Enterprises:Papago Farms, San Xa-vier Industrial Park, Nursing Home, KOHN-FM Radio Station, and the Tohono O'odham Community College , Attractions: San Xavier Mission Del Bac (the White Dove of the Desert), Kitt Peak National Observatory, Arts and Crafts market, Baboquivari Mountain Park. Gaming: Desert Diamond Casino I and II in Tucson, AZ and the Golden Ha’ San Casino in Why, AZ. TR

IBE

SPO

TLIG

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24 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2012 | azgamingguide.com

Which signature slot game has stood the test of time?

When you visit a casino, do you use a player’s card? 62% answered ALWAYS, 23% answered SOME-TIMES, and 15% said NEVER! What is your favorite game to play at the casino? Besides “free play” what’s the next best casino offer? How superstitious are you? Would Friday the 13th stop you from going to the casino? 91% answered absolutely not! $

We asked our readers and Facebook fans …

FAST FACTS Reader Polls

Wheel of Fortune™ by IGT won, hands down, with 62% of the votes. A close second was WMS’ Monopoly with 26% of the votes!

It came as no surprise that 90% answered slots includ-ing video poker and video keno! In second place was blackjack with 5% of the votes.

What casino visitors don’t want is a free gift. 71% said they’d rather enjoy a free room. 17% want free food and only 3% want a free gift!

Should Casinos Ban Smoking? When our readers and Facebook fans were asked what casinos should do regarding the smoking problem, the results didn’t surprise us! 33% 100% Smoke-Free 39% 50% Smoking, 50% Non-Smoking 21% Predominantly Smoking with small Non-Smoking area 04% Predominantly Non-Smoking with small Smoking area 03% 100% Smoking

Please tell us your feelings re-garding this subject. E-mail us at:[email protected] with “Smoking” in the subject field or send physical mail to: P.O. Box 20636 Mesa, AZ 85277. Watch for our article on this topic in an upcoming issue. $

ENTERTAINMENT Casino Listings

26 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2012 | azgamingguide.com

Apache Gold Casino Globe, AZ—800.272.2438 Pavillion: Little Joe y La Familia Opening Act Angel Norteño January 28th Tickets are only $20! Cabaret Lounge: XS Band—Jan. 13 & 14 Weezul Brothers Band—Jan. 20 & 21 Blue Tattoo—Jan. 27 & 28

BlueWater Casino Parker, AZ—888.243.3360 Dig Lounge: Totally 80’s Night—Thursdays Live DJ—Fridays & Saturdays Karaoke with Billy Joe Preston—Sundays

Bucky's Casino Prescott, AZ—800.756.8744 Yavapai Cantina: Karaoke—Fridays Call for more entertainment & event details*

Casino Arizona (Salt River) Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777 The Showroom: Pow Wow Comedy Jam—Jan. 13 The Whip-Its—Jan. 19, 20 & 21 Rock Lobster—Jan. 26, 27 & 28 LoveShack—Feb. 2, 3 &4 The Pima Lounge: Local bands playing rock, pop, funk, old-school and more from the 60's, 70's, 80's 90's & today. The Arizona Room Piano Lounge: Features a variety of music styles includ-ing the sounds of swing and jazz.

Casino Arizona (Talking Stick Resort) Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777 The Showroom: An Evening at La Cage—Thursdays thru Saturdays in Jan. Direct from Las Vegas...there have been great female impersonators over the years, and amazing female impersonation shows, but An Evening at La Cage is undoubtedly the most famous female impersonator show ever!

Casino del Sol Tucson, AZ—520.838.6506 AVA Amphitheater: Call for entertainment & event details* Paradiso Bar & Lounge: Call for entertainment & event details*

Casino of the Sun Tucson, AZ—520.879.5450 Call for entertainment & event details* Cliff Castle Casino Camp Verde, AZ—800.381.7568 Stargazer Pavillion: Call for entertainment & event details* Dragonfly Lounge: Enjoy live music including Rock, Country, R&B, and Latin. Cocopah Resort Casino Somerton, AZ—800.237.5687 The Park: Call for entertainment & event details* River Room: Zumba—Mondays & Tuesdays Karaoke—Wednesdays & Thursdays La Vida Loca—Fridays (featuring Norteña dance bands) Desert Diamond Casino I Tucson, AZ—866.332.9467 Monsoon Nightclub: Lucky Break TV Show—See the hottest singers in town compete for cash and prizes every Saturday night Desert Diamond Casino II Sahuarita, AZ—866.332.9467 Sports Bar: Friday Night Party—Music, dancing, & more on Fridays Diamond Center: The Temptations—Jan. 12 Rita Rudner—Jan. 29 Desert Diamond Casino (Why) Why, AZ—866.332.9467 Call for entertainment & event details* Fort McDowell Casino Fort McDowell, AZ—800.843.3678 Event Center: Call for entertainment & event details* Lucky 7 Saloon: Call for entertainment & event details* Lunar Bingo: The one, the only, the original—Jan. 28 Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino Maricopa, AZ—800.427.7247 Oasis Lounge: Terry Johnson’s Flamingos—Jan. 26 The Lovin’ Spoonful—Jan. 29 Starship, feat. Mickey Thomas—Jan. 30 Young at Heart—Feb. 2 Hon-Dah Casino Pinetop, AZ—800.929.8744 Timbers Lounge and Showroom: Munday Funday—Comedy Show every Monday Barrio Latino—Latin Dance Variety—Jan. 9-14 TBA—Jan. 17-21 Billy’s Gone—Country—Jan. 24-28 TBA—Jan. 31-Feb.4 Doo-Wah Riders—Country/Western Show Band—Feb. 7-11

Little Joe y La Familia Apache Gold Casino

January 28th

An Evening at La Cage—Female Impersonators Talking Stick Resort

Thursdays thru Saturdays in January

The Temptations Desert Diamond Casino

January 12th

Editor’s Pick ENTERTAINMENT

azgamingguide.com | January 2012 | Arizona Gaming Guide 27

Please verify all details and any age restrictions with each venue as the event approaches. Venues, times, dates, and ticket information may be subject to change. Photos and images are copyright of the individual artist(s). All Rights Reserved. We are not responsible for incorrect or outdated information. *Every attempt was made to obtain additional information from the casino. Unfortunately, none was made available to us by the time we went to press.

RITA RUDNER Diamond Center

Desert Diamond Casino—Sahuarita January 29th—Doors at 6PM

Tickets start at $20—520.294.7777

Since 2001, Rudner has performed almost exclu-sively in Las Vegas and created “Ask Rita,” the syn-dicated improvisational comedy TV show. Rita start-ing performing at the MGM Grand, then New York New York, followed by Harrah’s, and currently headlines at The Venetian Hotel and Casino since January of 2011. Each change has seen her move into bigger venues selling well over one million tickets to date. Having started her comedy career as a regular performer for HBO Comedy Specials, and routine appearances on both The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Late Night With Letterman, you don’t want to miss this acclaimed comedienne when she performs in Tucson! $

Groove City—R&B Variety—Feb. 14-18 Creagles—CCR/Eagles Tribute—Feb. 21-25 Skid Rodeo—Variety—Feb. 28-Mar. 3

Lone Butte Casino Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452 Cascades Lounge: Bands & DJs—Weekly Lucky Break TV Show—See the hottest singers in town compete for cash and prizes every Thursday night

Mazatzal Casino Payson, AZ—800.777.7529 Event Center: The Highwaymen Tribute—Feb. 11 Bobby Collins—Mar. 30 Surfin’ Safari—Jul. 28 Hotel California—Sep. 21

Paradise Casino Yuma, AZ—888.777.4946 Sharky’s Bar & Bites: Live entertainment—Fridays & Saturdays Call for entertainment & event details*

Quechan Casino Winterhaven, CA—877.783.2426 Pipa Event Center: Boots & Roots feat. Joe Diffle, Sammy Kershaw, & Aaron Tippen—Jan. 13 Sidewinders Bar & Grill: Live entertainment—Fridays & Saturdays Call for entertainment & event details*

Spirit Mountain Casino Mohave Valley, AZ—888.837.4030 Call for entertainment & event details*

Vee Quiva Casino Laveen, AZ—800.946.4452 Club VQ: DJ Bronz—Fridays

Wild Horse Pass Casino Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452 Showroom: Tonic/Sister Hazel—Jan. 14 Don Rickles—Jan. 28 Rumble at the River III—Feb. 3 Neil Sedaka—Feb. 11 Boyz II Men—Feb. 17 Rob Schneider—Feb. 25 Roger Henderson (Supertramp)—Feb. 26 Jose Carreras—Mar. 10 Rodney Carrington—Mar. 16 Kansas—Ap. 14 Engelbert Humperdinck—Apr. 22

Yavapai Casino Prescott, AZ—800.756.8744 Yavapai Cantina: Karaoke—Fridays (Call for more entertainment & event details*)

The Highwaymen Mazatzal Casino

February 28th

SUDOKU Each of the columns, rows, and nine 3x3 grids must con-tain all of the digits 1 - 9. None of the digits may appear

more than once in each column, row, and 3x3 grid. (Solution on page 30)

9 2

6 3 8

1

7 4

3

4 6 3

5

9

3

7

8 9

4 5

1 8

7

2 1

9

6 2

1 4

9

ODDS QUIZ

Gambling is mathematics, pure and simple. All games of chance involve probability, so if you like to gamble you

should know some basics of probability. (Solution on page 30)

A mouse has three doors to choose from. The first door has four tunnels behind it, one of which leads to cheese, the others do not. The second door has three tunnels behind it, one of which leads to cheese, the others do not. The third door has five tunnels behind it, two of which lead to cheese, the others do not. What is the probability that the mouse will get the cheese?

FUN & GAMES

28 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2012 | azgamingguide.com

SAMI’S SMACKDOWN

30 Arizona Gaming Guide | January 2012 | azgamingguide.com

azgamingguide.com facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide

Scan our QR Codes with your smartphone!

By Sami Becker

All you have to do is visit your local casino if you want to increase the likelihood of seeing some really zany behavior! Maybe all the lights, sounds, and frills cause an overload of sensory information or maybe some people just allow themselves the right to act more flippantly during their casino out-ings than they normally would in the real world. Whatever the reason, please don’t leave your com-mon sense at the door during your next casino visit. 1. Yes, those people are mad at you! Consolidate your tickets. Do you really want to spend oodles of time at the machine cashing in a stack of tickets so you can go home with $20 worth of pennies and nickels? 2. You’re not getting any points for your play! Take the time to make sure your player’s card has been recognized by the machine. If it says Please Reinsert Card, then try again. Don’t start playing until the card has been registered by the card reader. 3. Are you anxious to lose your money? Read the help screens before playing any slot and don’t just start pressing buttons aimlessly! Do you want to place a $25 wager by mistake? 4. Hello, your $100 is just hanging from the slot! Watch the money as it goes into the machine and don’t look away until the machine has registered the inserted bill or ticket. 5. You’re really going to trust a complete stranger? Do you really want to trust the $200 you have in the machine to someone you don’t know? They may be trustworthy, but imagine what can happen if they turn their backs to your machine. 6. You look like crap! If you’re intoxicated, hungry, tired, or upset, you don’t belong in a casino any-more. Go home!

Sudoku Solution “Odds Quiz” Solution Hopefully you recognized this puzzle as an extension of last month’s Odds Quiz! To find the correct answer, just multiply the chance of selecting one of the three doors (1/3) by the chance of getting the cheese in each situation behind the doors (1/4, 1/3, and 2/5 respectively) and then add the results! The mouse’s probability to find cheese: 1/3 x 1/4 + 1/3 x 1/3 + 1/3 x 2/5 = 1/12 + 1/9 + 2/15 = 15/180 + 20/180 + 24/180 = 59/180 = 32.78%

7 9 2

6 3 8

1 4 5

5 8 1

7 4 9

3 2 6

4 6 3

5 2 1

7 8 9

3 1 6

2 5 7

4 8 9

4 5 7

1 9 8

2 6 3

8 9 2

3 4 6

1 7 5

9 2 1

8 6 3

5 7 4

8 3 4

9 7 5

6 1 2

6 5 7

2 1 4

9 3 8

Apache Gold Casino Resort 5 miles East of Globe on Highway 70 1-800-272-2438 or apachegoldcasinoresort.com 699 Class III Slots, 1,000 Seat Bingo Hall, 6 Blackjack Tables BlueWater Resort & Casino 11300 Resort Drive, Parker 1-888-243-3360 or bluewaterfun.com 471 Class III Slots, 350 Seat Bingo Hall, 6 Poker Tables, 7 Blackjack Tables Bucky's Casino Highway 69 and Heather Heights, Prescott 1-800-756-8744 or buckyscasino.com 301 Class III Slots, 7 Poker Tables, 10 Blackjack Tables Casino Arizona—Salt River 524 N. 92nd St, Scottsdale 1-480-850-7777 or casinoaz.com 800+ Class III Slots, Live Keno, 54 Table Games Casino Arizona—Talking Stick Resort 9700 E. Indian Bend Rd, Scottsdale 1-480-850-7777 or casinoaz.com 800+ Class III Slots, Live Keno, 47 Poker Tables, 54 Table Games Casino del Sol 5655 W. Valencia Rd, Tucson 1-855-765-7829 or casinodelsol.com 956 Class III Slots, 694 Seat Bingo Hall, 16 Poker Tables, 22 Blackjack Tables Casino of the Sun 7406 S. Camino de Oeste, Tucson 1-855-765-7829 or casinodelsol.com 360 Class III Slots, 12 Class II Slots Cliff Castle Casino & Hotel 555 Middle Verde Rd, Camp Verde 1-800-381-7568 or cliffcastlecasinohotel.com 656 Class III Slots, 8 Poker & 10 Blackjack Tables Cocopah Resort Casino 15318 S. Avenue B, Somerton 1-800-237-5687 or cocopahresort.com 506 Class III Slots, 350 Seat Bingo Hall, 8 Blackjack Tables Desert Diamond Casino I —Nogales Hwy. 7350 S. Nogales Highway, Tucson 1-520-294-7777 or desertdiamondcasino.com 1,089 Class III Slots, Live Keno, 270 Seat Bingo Hall, 17 Poker Tables, 19 Blackjack Tables Desert Diamond Casino II —Sahuarita 1100 W. Pima Mine Rd, Sahuarita 1-866-332-9467 or desertdiamondcasino.com 821 Class III Slots, 2 Poker & 8 Blackjack Tables

Desert Diamond Casino—Why Highway 86, Why 1-866-332-9467 or desertdiamondcasino.com 76 Class III Slots Fort McDowell Gaming Center Beeline Highway 87 and Fort McDowell Rd 1-800-843-3678 or fortmcdowellcasino.com 843 Class III Slots, 37 Class II Slots, Keno, 1,700 Seat Bingo Hall, 15 Poker & 13 Blackjack Tables Harrah’s Casino 15406 N. Maricopa Road, Maricopa 1-480-802-5000 or harrahsakchin.com 1,071 Class III Slots, Live Keno, 470 Seat Bingo Hall, 13 Poker Tables, 12 Blackjack Tables Hon-Dah Casino, Resort & Conference Center 777 Highway 260, Pinetop 1-800-929-8744 or hon-dah.com 802 Class III Slots, 3 Poker & 4 Blackjack Tables Lone Butte Casino 1077 S Kyrene Rd, Chandler 1-800-946-4452 or wingilariver.com 850 Class III Slots, 1,500 Seat Bingo Hall, 22 Blackjack Tables Mazatzal Hotel & CasinoHighway 87, Payson 1-800-777-7529 or 777play.com 413 Class III Slots, 6 Class II Slots, Keno, 280 Seat Bingo Hall, 3 Poker & 5 Blackjack Tables Paradise Casino 450 Quechan Drive, Yuma 1-888-777-4946 or paradise-casino.com 492 Class III Slots, 300 Seat Bingo Hall Quechan Casino 450 Quechan Drive, Yuma 1-877-783-2426 or playqcr.com 1,000+ Class III Slots featuring a High Limit Slot Room, 10 Poker Tables, 15 Table Games Spirit Mountain Casino 8555 Highway 95, Mohave Valley 1-928-346-2000 with 243 Class III Slots Vee Quiva Casino 6443 N. Komatke Lane, Laveen 1-800-946-4452 or wingilariver.com 846 Class III Slots, 500 Seat Bingo Hall & Tables Wild Horse Pass Casino 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd, Chandler 1-800-946-4452 or wingilariver.com 990 Class III Slots, 25Poker&40Blackjack Tables Yavapai Casino 1500 E. Highway 69, Prescott 1-800-756-8744 or buckyscasino.com 235 Class III Slots

Casino Gaming Directory

Source: Arizona Department of Gaming—Tribal Gaming Status as of 12/01/2011

Do YOU have something to rant about? Write me at: [email protected]

Want to see some

zany behavior?