arizona gaming guide magazine - february 2013 - 05:02
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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!TRANSCRIPT
04 EDITOR’S NOTE
06 PLAYERS TALK
09 GREAT GAMES
16 GAMING NEWS
18 ARIZONA LOTTERY
20 FEATURE STORY
24 WINNING WAYS
27 CASINO DINING
28 TRIBAL NEWS
30 TRAVEL—LAUGHLIN
34 CASINO ENTERTAINMENT
36 CASINO NIGHTLIFE
37 FUN FACTS
38 HOT DEALS
40 CASINO BINGO DIRECTORY
42 FUN & GAMES
45 SAMI’S SMACKDOWN
46 CASINO DIRECTORY
DEPARTMENTS
azgamingguide.com | February 2013 | Arizona Gaming Guide 03
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perience them at your local casino
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2020
3030 2424 1212
Contents FEBRUARY
THE ARIZONA LOTTERY’S THE ARIZONA LOTTERY’S
NEW SCRATCHERS & HOW NEW SCRATCHERS & HOW
ARIZONA WINS TOO!ARIZONA WINS TOO!
Alexandra
VOLUME 05 • ISSUE 02
PUBLISHER
Chris Hoft
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Elizabeth Torma
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Alexandra Lang
ART DIRECTOR
Melanie Mueller
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Ramses Ja
Cindy Esquer
Riley Meredith
Mark Novak
Alex Stewart
Samantha Becker
Lana Hartmann
ADVERTISING SALES
Nina Consiglio
Elizabeth Torma
MAILING INFORMATION
Arizona Gaming Guide
P.O. Box 20636
Mesa, Arizona 85277
INTERNET INFORMATION
www.azgamingguide.com
www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide
Copyright © 2013 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
posts, 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
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 | February 2013 | azgamingguide.com
“Like” us on Facebook because
we “Like” you too!
www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide
We’re bursting at the seams!
I’m proud to say we are bursting at the seams and somehow that couldn’t be more
appropriate as Mardi Gras is coming up! This issue packs a real punch, as usual.
There are lots of new slots to talk about by WMS and Bally in our Game Review
section. Our feature story introduces the Arizona Lottery’s brand new scratchers
game and some interesting facts about the Lottery and its Director Jeff Hatch-
Miller. In addition, make sure to check out our expanded Laughlin section as well!
On top of all of that, Arizona’s casinos are installing an unprecedented amount of
new slots during the first months of the new year. We wanted to squeeze all of
that in this issue for you, but we just didn’t have the room! Watch for our review
on all the new slots in the March issue!
Please visit us at: www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide, become part of our com-
munity and share your thoughts and experiences with others who also love the
same casino games you do. You can sign up for our e-newsletter and find current
and back issues of AZ Gaming Guide on our website at www.azgamingguide.com. Let
me know what you think of our February issue and have fun!
Cheers!
Alexandra Lang
Editor-in-Chief
PLAYERS TALK Q&A On Everything Gaming
06 Arizona Gaming Guide | February 2013 | azgamingguide.com
Q: What’s better, playing a game that has a progressive
or playing the same game without the progressive? I
like Kronos, Vampire’s Embrace and Dragon’s Fire.
Sometimes in one casino there will be a progressive on
the top and at another casino the game will be by itself.
I also like playing Cleopatra and Wolf Run and some-
times they have Fort Knox and other times they are by
themselves. Even though I’ve won several progressives,
I seem to always do better on the games that don’t have
them. Can you tell me which is better to play?
J. Davenport – Sun City, AZ
A: Your feeling about progressive games being different than
the non-progressive versions of the same games is right on the
money! Slot machines with progressives typically don’t have
the best payback percentages. Usually, up to 5% of the game’s
payback percentage can go to funding the progressives.
If you do choose to play the progressive versions, please keep in
mind that most manufacturers are designing progressive sys-
tems that either require you to play max bet to qualify for the
progressives or your chances of winning a progressive increase
as your bet increases. The latter describes the Fort Knox sys-
tem. Therefore, the other downfall of playing games connected
to progressives is not winning any of the progressives! If other
players are betting more than you are, there’s a good chance
you may never even get a progressive! Then, all you end up
doing is feeding the meters with a percentage of your coin-in
and never reaping any of the rewards.
Q: First off, my friends and I really enjoy reading your
magazine. There are five of us who love to go gamble
and the one who sees the new issue first is in charge of
picking up five copies for all of us. We read the Gaming
Guide every month and now understand about a lot of
things we didn’t before. Thank you!
I’ve read in your magazine that casinos can set their
games to whatever paybacks they want. A few issues
back, I also read that the casino in Payson has some of
the loosest machines. My question is: could I tell the
difference between two machines, one that is set at a
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].
higher payback at one casino than the same game at a
different casino? Do I just win more on a “loose” game?
I’m curious to know what is the difference between a
game that is set at 85% for example and the same game
that is set higher like 88%? Thanks. Keep those hints
coming.
Mary Cramer – Scottsdale, AZ
A: Mary, thank you very much for your kind remarks about
our magazine and thank you to you and your friends for being
such loyal fans. My team and I love what we do and we’re so
happy to share what we’ve learned through our experiences in
the gaming industry with all of you!
Yes, slot manufacturers design every game with several pay-
back percentage options available for the casinos to choose from.
A game may be available in 85%, 86%, 87%, 88% and all the
way up to 96%! It’s up to each casino to decide which payback
percentage they want to install. Mathematicians assigned to
design the math models for the slot games are the ones in charge
of creating all the different percentage variations. So, let’s say
Casino A has your favorite slot set at 85% and casino B has it
set at 88%, then casino A's math model in the game had 3%
taken away from somewhere. The mathematician could have
made modifications to the base game, the bonus game, or both.
When adjusting the base game to lower the payback percentage,
there is usually a decrease in the pulls-to-hit for the bonuses
and certain winning combinations, in particular higher paying
symbols. When making changes to the bonus game to lower a
slot’s payback, the mathematician will usually lower the overall
average win in the bonus. This also requires making certain
higher paying combinations or bonus retriggers more unlikely.
When there is a 3% payback percentage difference between the
same slot games, there will be a noticeable difference. Many slot
players are perceptive and know that something is different
even if they can’t put their finger on it. Sometimes, it’s just
about a game letting you play longer or you feeling luckier or
winning more frequently on one game over another which will
clue you in that there’s a difference. We’ll, of course, also con-
tinue to let you know where you can play the hottest games
with the best paybacks!
Q&A On Everything Gaming PLAYERS TALK
azgamingguide.com | February 2013 | Arizona Gaming Guide 07
Q: I just came back from the casino and noticed a bunch
of games were turned off. What’s going on?
Lisa Rhodes – Chandler, AZ
A: Lisa, if the games are not being replaced with new titles,
what’s most likely happening is a software upgrade from the
manufacturer. Other possible reasons could be there’s a spot
check from the Arizona Department of Gaming or a routine
maintenance check on the parts and electronics.
Q: I wrote you an e-mail last year regarding gambling
tax issues and your response was very appreciated. You
answered all my questions thoroughly and I’m hoping
you can also answer another question for me now. I
have been keeping track of all our wins and losses, but
I just realized that I haven’t been including the free
play money we receive from the casinos. Can I list that
money as a loss as well?
Robert Matowski – Goodyear, AZ
A: Robert, if you insert free play into a slot machine and lose
that money, you should not be listing that promotional credit as
a loss. However, if you win with that free play money you
would definitely need to report those winnings as additional
income. $
TAX TIME TIPS For Reporting Your Winnings
If you itemize your deductions, you can deduct your gambling
losses for the year up to and including your winnings (but no
more than that). In order to be able to deduct gambling losses,
accurate records of all gambling winnings and losses must be
maintained. A log of the following information is usually suffi-
cient enough:
1. The name and address of the gambling establishment
2. The date, time, and type of wager or wagering activity that
was made
3. The machine number or table number that you were playing
4. The amount of money that was won and the amount lost
Also, it is never a bad idea to have physical documentation
such as canceled checks, bank withdrawal slips, credit records,
check-cashing slips, and the win-loss statements from the gam-
bling establishments. Most casinos can provide you with end-
of-the-year player tracking documentation that contains all
that info. We encourage everyone to contact a tax professional.
Continued on page 10.
esigned for fans of WMS’ Alice® slot machines and play-
ers who enjoy frequent interactive bonus rounds with
exciting character action, Rapunzel™ slots will create a new hot
spot on the casino floor! Two distinct themes, Gothel™ and Ra-
punzel, share three random features that can trigger on any base
game spin, awarding multipliers, Wild symbols or the chance to
fill your screen with Wild reels! Each theme also contains
unique free spin and re-spin bonus rounds. In Rapunzel slots,
players make selections in the re-spin features to spin again and
again for the chance at greater wins, and receive up to 40 spins
in the free spin bonus. In Gothel slots, players will receive a
locked oversized symbol filling 8 reel positions in the re-spins,
for the chance to line up multiple winning combinations – and a
super large reel 3-reels wide in the free spin bonus!
Visit www.youtube.com/wmsslots today for more on Rapunzel
and other new games from WMS.
Why did you decide to make Rapunzel? I thought it would be a
cool theme to adapt to slots - it’s a classic tale that players can easily
recognize and identify with. And my daughter wanted me to make a
game with a castle tower in it, so this was two birds with one stone.
(This question is asked by Dan P. from our Facebook page)
How are Alice & Rapunzel similar games? I had a lot of fun de-
signing Alice, and my favorite of the two games was The Mad Tea
Party with the Super Mad Re-spin Feature. I found that bonus feature
was the one that always got me going and gave me a lot of excitement,
and naturally the designer in me kept thinking “How can I make this
better?” So I designed Rapunzel and Gothel (the 2nd base theme in
the Rapunzel series) with the intent of taking that [Alice] re-spin fea-
ture to a whole new level never seen before on a casino floor.
How are Alice & Rapunzel different games? Fundamentally, all
the bonuses and features are different. Also, Alice were 5x3 games,
while Rapunzel games play on a 5x4 reel array. Rapunzel is designed
to be less volatile than Alice, so players could see a better time on de-
vice (longer chance to play) on Rapunzel then on Alice.
Which game will let me play longer? The games are very close,
but Gothel is designed for more time on device by a hair (pun in-
tended).
Which game will let me win more? Also close, but the nod goes to
Rapunzel for a higher win potential.
What is the most memorable event from the design process of
Rapunzel? It’s a tossup between seeing the game finally come to-
gether and presented at G2E [2012], and getting one of my fellow
Coming Soon by WMS—Rapunzel GREAT GAMES
RapunzelRapunzelRapunzel
WMS slot delivers exciting interactive
characters and frequent bonus rounds!
azgamingguide.com | February 2013 | Arizona Gaming Guide 09
Meet the Game DesignerMeet the Game DesignerMeet the Game Designer
Arizona Gaming Guide staff granted
exclusive access behind-the-scenes!
D
Continued from page 9.
GREAT GAMES Coming Soon by WMS—Rapunzel
10 Arizona Gaming Guide | February 2013 | azgamingguide.com
Game Designers in a sound booth for 50 different takes making “cat meow”
sound effects.
What is your favorite design element in Rapunzel? In the Rapunzel
theme, I love how the stacked mystery symbols are incorporated into the Re-spin
Feature and how you can pick for the symbol that replaces them at the end of the
bonus. In the Gothel theme, it’s the super-sized symbol feature in the re-spin and
free spins, which can make for awesome clumped wins.
Let us in on a “secret” in Rapunzel that few people know? When you
get the Big Kitty Wheel feature, Big Kitty may do one of his surly meows and
nudge the wheel to a bigger bonus multiplier.
(This question is asked by Sava S. & Jamie W. from our Facebook page)
Do you get the bonus more often when you play a larger bet? No, there
is no ramp up for the frequency of the features.
(This question is asked by Marija T. from our Facebook page)
How many spins, on average, until you get a bonus or feature? On aver-
age, a bonus or feature should trigger about every 31 spins in both Rapunzel
themes. $
Next month, we’re working together with WMS to
bring you a similar article on their new slot Monopoly
Legends. One of their game designers will give us a
behind-the-scenes tour as part of the interview. So, if
you have any questions for the game designers, please
let us know!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide
E-mail: [email protected]
Or: AZ Gaming Guide, PO Box 20636, Mesa, AZ 85277
Shared Randomly Activated Features:
Wilds Bonus
Rapunzel will change up
to 15 symbols WILD.
Free Spin Bonus
awards up to 40
spins. Hair sym-
bols expand down
filling the reel with
Wild.
Re-Spin Bonus
Awards 1 re-spin,
2 re-spins, 1 re-
spin & 1 addi-
tional held Hair or
end the Bonus.
Free Spin Bonus
Awards five free
spins, where the
middle three reels
combine to form
one large reel.
Re-Spin Bonus
8 Hair symbols on
adjacent reels 1 &
2 or 2 & 3 combine
into 1 symbol, and
reels are re-spun.
Big Kitty’s Wheel Bonus
Awards up to a 25x multi-
plier, or 5 free spins.
Gothel’s Revenge Bonus
Pick for 1 Wild or full reel
Wild on each reel.
12 Arizona Gaming Guide | February 2013 | azgamingguide.com
GREAT GAMES Coming Soon by Bally Technologies—Pawn Stars
You’ve seen it on TV
now experience it on the casino floor!
ne of the world’s top TV shows is coming to casino floors. Rick, Corey, the Old
Man, and Chumlee of Pawn Stars are featured in Bally’s latest branded game based
on the hit reality series on A&E’s History Channel.
The Pawn Stars video slot takes you inside the colorful world of the pawn business as you
interact with your favorite stars from the show. The Gold & Silver Pawn Shop itself, found on
the world-famous Las Vegas Strip where the show takes place, has become a must-stop loca-
tion for tourists and is the no. 1 most requested place to go in a taxi cab in the city.
Three generations of the Harrison family – grandfather Richard, son Rick, and grandson
Corey – run the family business that has become a small-screen favorite. Millions of people
tune in to Pawn Stars, and soon you can play the Bally game on casino floors everywhere.
Available on the Pro Wheel cabinet, the same you’ve experienced Bally’s Cash Wizard on, the
game begins when you choose your favorite character from the four stars – Richard, Rick,
Corey, or Chumlee. You will enter the world of buying, selling, and negotiating in this bonus-
rich game highlighted by the Negotiation Bonus, where you choose an item to sell and then
negotiate with the Pawn Stars for credit awards.
You will feel like you’re in the show as you negotiate the value of items with the Pawn Stars.
The fun continues with free-games, 11 wheel bonus prizes, wilds, pick ’em features, and
iDeck™ interaction. Combine these with audio and video clips from the guys while comforta-
bly seated in Bally’s Pro Sound Chair™, and you have a rewarding new way to experience
the popular TV series. The biggest names in pawn are here to play.
Watch for Pawn Stars to hit casino floors in the coming months. $
O
GREAT GAMES Coming Soon by WMS—Reel ‘Em In ”Greatest Catch“
14 Arizona Gaming Guide | February 2013 | azgamingguide.com
he latest installment in the popular line of Reel ‘em In!
branded slots is designed for Local Area Progressive
players looking for an exciting new experience and
rewards for higher bets.
Distinct staggered reel sets are a unique feature and the exciting
Free Spin Bonus round gives the chance to win up to seven pro-
gressive prizes, or even multiple progressives, all on the same
spin! Five or more Progressive symbols on adjacent reels in the
bonus award one or more picks at progressive prizes, with
higher bets awarding better odds during the progressive picks
and Max Bet players guaranteed a prize once a pick is triggered.
Each of the three base game themes – Jade Amulet, Gorilla Chief
and Leprechaun’s World – has a discounted bet structure offer-
ing 60 lines for 30 credits, with a 10 credit feature bet granting
progressive eligibility when the Free Spins are triggered.
Free Spin Bonus
It’s triggered with five or more Bonus symbols on adjacent reels
and worth up to 80 spins. Lining up five or more Progressive
symbols (only active when Feature bet is made on the triggering
spin) on any spin in the bonus will award picks at one or more
progressive jackpots. Odds of correctly picking the progressive
increase with bet multiplier, with Max Bet players guaranteed a
progressive award with five or more Progressive symbols on a
spin. All seven progressives may award in one bonus round,
and more than one progressive may award on any spin.
Reel ‘em In! Greatest Catch is sure to be the next catch of the
day for everyone! Visit www.youtube.com/wmsslots today for
more on this and other new games from WMS Gaming. $
T
Fast Facts:
—Players making the feature bet have the chance to win up to 7
progressive jackpots in one free spin bonus!
—5 or more Progressive symbols on adjacent reels offer the
chance at one or more available jackpots, with players finding
better odds at a correct pick the more they bet!
—Max Bet players are guaranteed a progressive in the picks!
—There’s a win roughly every third spin!
—Strong base game with significant wins waiting in the bonus!
GAMING NEWS
ICE Show London 2013 It’s February and the global gaming industry
is gearing up for the big show this month in
London—ICE Totally Gaming.
ndustry professionals, including
members from our very own Arizona
Gaming Guide team, are excited for their
trip to London, England for the big ICE
Totally Gaming show that will be taking
place February 5 through February 7 at
ExCel, London. Over 440 exhibitors from
52 countries will be showcasing their
latest innovations and product launches,
which is a mouth-watering prospect for
the thousands of international buyers
coming to the exhibition!
“Our marketing theme for 2013 is Think
Big,” said Kate Chambers, Director of
Gaming. “There’s absolutely no way that
any buyer of gaming equipment would
be able to see so many leading companies
without spending at least nine months of
the year on a plane. At ICE you can do
the equivalent in three days, although it’s
a hugely busy three days admittedly!”
Organizers of ICE maintain that this
year’s tradeshow will be even bigger than
G2E 2012—the massive gaming trade
show held in Las Vegas every year. Both
shows provide a shop window on abso-
lutely everything that’s taking place in
the gaming world.
Watch for news, updates, photos, and
videos from ICE on our Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/arizonagamingguide
during the show. A review article of all
the hot games, new gaming technology,
and much more from the show will be
featured in our March issue. To read
about ICE Totally Gaming, the various
exhibitors that will be at the show, and
the conferences, awards ceremonies and
events scheduled, please visit their web-
site at www.icetotallygaming.com. $
16 Arizona Gaming Guide | February 2013 | azgamingguide.com
CEO Frank Fahrenkopf The American Gaming Association’s 1st
& Only CEO Steps Down
rank Fahrenkopf, the only President
and Chief Executive Officer that the
American Gaming Association (AGA)
has known, will be stepping down this
summer. The 73-year-old has held the
position since the organization was
launched in 1995.
“I have enjoyed my time at the helm of
this incredible organization and am
proud to have represented an industry
that provides tens of millions of men and
women with the best entertainment value
in the world,” Fahrenkopf said. “It has
been a true honor to work with so many
passionate and innovative leaders as we
have moved the industry forward during
the past 17 years.”
Fahrenkopf, a Reno native, graduated
from the University of California Berke-
ley School of Law in 1965 and began his
career as a gaming lawyer. He was the
chairman of the Republican National
Committee for six of President Ronald
Reagan’s eight years in the White House
and led the party through successful
presidential elections in 1984 and 1988.
For more information about Mr. Frank
Fahrenkopf and his tenure or to read
more about the AGA, please visit their
website at www.americangaming.org. $
F
I
ARIZONA LOTTERY Winners & Jackpots
18 Arizona Gaming Guide | February 2013 | azgamingguide.com
$100,000 Ultimate Crossword
Scratchers Winner
About the Arizona Lottery
The Arizona Lottery operates entirely from the revenue that it
generates through the sale of its products; it receives no General
Fund dollars from the State. Proceeds from sales of the Lottery
tickets - over $3 million per week - fund a variety of state pro-
grams. Since July 1981, the Arizona Lottery has paid out more
than $5 billion in prizes to players, over $2.8 billion in net profit
to the state and almost $591 million in commissions to all the
Arizona Lottery retailers.
eonard Edwards and
his wife Sandy ended
up celebrating the start of
2013 with the birth of their
granddaughter and winning
the $100,000 top prize on the
Ultimate Crossword Scratch-
ers. The couple were in the
maternity ward at their local
hospital where Leonard was
helping his son-in-law coach his daughter. They took a short
break, went to the store, and purchased two of the Ultimate
Crosswords.
Leonard had already scratched one of the tickets, but hadn’t
won anything. When they got back to the maternity ward, he
gave the second one to Sandy. She scratched the ticket and was
quiet for a few minutes, then she showed the ticket to Leonard
and said, “Look at this!” After their granddaughter weighed in
at eight pounds, five ounces, they went into the waiting room
and at least four additional family members checked the ticket.
After everyone agreed it looked like a winner, they took the
signed ticket across the street to a convenience store to be
scanned. The clerk gave them the paperwork and told them
they would have to go to the Lottery office in Phoenix to re-
deem their ticket. They immediately put the ticket in a secure
place and returned to the hospital.
The couple said they shed a few happy tears and felt a little
shaky, but were thrilled and felt that 2013 was going to be a
great year. The happy couple plan to pay off some bills, share
some with their family, and put the rest away for their nest egg.
They had one comment for Arizona Lottery players, “Average,
everyday people really do win….Look at us!”
The winning ticket was purchased from the Station 66 located at
4115 E. Thompson Ave., Kingman. For more information about
the Ultimate Crossword Scratchers or any other Arizona Lottery
games, please visit their website at www.arizonalottery.com.
For the winning Arizona Lottery numbers call (480) 829-7425 in
Phoenix or (520) 325-9141 in Tucson. All other areas in Arizona,
call 1-800-499-3798. $
L
20 Arizona Gaming Guide | February 2013 | azgamingguide.com
he Arizona Lottery announces the launch of its newest
Scratchers series, Arizona Black. These Scratchers are in
stores now and offer the most and largest prize amounts
of any Arizona Lottery second chance drawing.
The Arizona Black series includes five Scratchers tickets, rang-
ing in price from $1 to $20. The available tickets include $1 Ari-
zona Black Special with a top prize of $1,500, $2 Arizona Black
Select with a top prize of $10,000, $5 Arizona Black Limited with
a top prize of $50,000, $10 Arizona Black Elite with a top prize
of $100,000 and $20 Arizona Black Exclusive with a top prize of
$500,000.
With all the different price points available, the Arizona Black
Scratchers series offers tickets that appeal to a range of Lottery
players. Even non-winning tickets give players a chance to win
a prize, since they can be entered online into the Arizona Lot-
tery’s largest second chance drawing for additional cash prizes.
“The new Arizona Black Scratchers series was created in direct
response to our players’ requests for more second chance draw-
ing games and additional opportunities to win,” said Karen
Bach, director of budget, products and communications for the
Arizona Lottery.
The Arizona Black Scratchers series includes four second chance
drawings, with 111 prizes totaling $798,000, including a
$500,000 top prize. Players can enter their non-winning tickets
from any of the five Arizona Black Scratchers games into the
T
Arizona Lottery Kicks Off New Year With New
Arizona Black Scratchers Series
Largest Second Chance Drawing
Offers Prizes up to $500,000!
second chance drawings by registering on the Arizona Lottery
website at ArizonaLottery.com.
Scheduled second chance draw dates are March 28, April 25,
May 30 and a final date yet to be determined. The deadline for
entry is 11:59 p.m. on the day prior to each scheduled drawing.
All entries received prior to the designated drawing will be eli-
gible for subsequent drawings, unless that entry has already
received a prize. Winners will be contacted after the drawing by
a Lottery official. The winners’ names will be listed on the Ari-
zona Lottery website approximately 14 days after the drawing.
“This new Scratchers series has already been extremely popular
with our players,” Bach said. “The tickets have a sleek, modern
design that is eye-catching and appealing to a broad audience,
but especially to Millennials.”
The Arizona Lottery plans to promote the Arizona Black
Scratchers series throughout the year with social media contests
on Facebook and Twitter and planned sponsorships with many
of the professional sports teams in town.
For more information about Arizona Black Scratchers or the
second chance drawings, please visit ArizonaLottery.com. Play-
ers must be 21 years or older to purchase or redeem tickets.
Overall odds vary by game. In accordance with the Americans
with Disabilities Act, these materials may be made available in
an alternate format. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-NEXT STEP.
Please play responsibly.
azgamingguide.com | February 2013 | Arizona Gaming Guide 21
or the past four years, Jeff Hatch-Miller has
guided the Arizona Lottery as its Executive Di-
rector. Under his leadership, the Lottery has ex-
perienced exponential growth. Sales have grown from
$468 million dollars to $678 million dollars, an incredible
forty-five percent increase achieved during the deepest
recession since the 1930s.
Prior to the Governor’s appointment of Hatch-Miller to
this position, Hatch-Miller was an elected public official.
From 2003 to 2009, Mr. Hatch-Miller served first as a
member, and then Chairman, of the Arizona Corporation
Commission. He led efforts to secure Arizona’s energy
and water supply futures. Arizona’s renewable energy
standard was put in place, additional natural gas sup-
plies were brought into the state and historically high
peak energy demands were handled without incident.
From 1999 to 2003, Mr. Hatch-Miller served two terms in
the Arizona House of Representatives, where he chaired
the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee. He led
the Legislature’s efforts to control electric rates even
when neighboring California’s rates were skyrocketing.
He was a leader in efforts to offer the public a “Do Not
Call” list to prevent unwanted telemarketing calls.
Hatch-Miller received a Doctorate in Education degree
from the University of Northern Colorado. He received a
Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Stanis-
laus.
Hatch-Miller is married and the father of two adult sons.
Meet Jeff Hatch-Miller—Executive Director of the Arizona Lottery
F
Changing Lives Statewide
azgamingguide.com | February 2013 | Arizona Gaming Guide 23
Arizona Lottery dollars also positively
impact Arizona retailers throughout our
state that rely on ticket commissions to
support their businesses and benefit their
local communities. Arizona retailers re-
ceive a commission of 6.5% on all Lottery
sales, which is one of the highest Lottery
commissions in the country. When Lottery
players win big, retailers win big, too. Re-
tailers receive $500 to $25,000 bonuses for
selling top prize winning tickets.
Since July 1981, the Arizona Lottery has
paid out more than $5 billion in prizes to
players, over $2.8 billion in net profit to
the State, and almost $591 million in com-
missions to retailers. Thanks to the ongo-
ing support of players and the Arizona
Legislature, the impact of Arizona Lottery
dollars will be felt in even greater measure
in the years to come.
For more information and videos detailing
how Arizona Lottery dollars are changing
lives statewide, please visit ArizonaLot-
tery.com and “like” the Arizona Lottery
Facebook page. $
Thanks to the staff at E. B. Lane & the Arizona
Lottery for their assistance with these articles.
ost people aren’t aware that
Arizona Lottery dollars fund a
wide variety of public projects
and programs that enrich the lives of Ari-
zona residents. In fact, the Arizona Lottery
generates nearly $3 million per week for
important state programs. Every time you
play the Lottery, you are participating in
the growth and future of our state.
The Arizona Lottery focuses its support on
four main pillars: education, health and
public welfare, the environment, and eco-
nomic and business development in cities
and towns throughout all 15 counties in
the state of Arizona.
Under the education pillar, Arizona Lot-
tery dollars fund a variety of statewide
programs that are rich in arts and culture,
science and technology, and touch many
diverse cultures throughout the state. Ex-
amples of beneficiaries under this pillar
include ASU Gammage and the Greater
Valley Area Health Education Center
(GVAHEC).
The Arizona Lottery also lends support to
critical health and public welfare initia-
tives that advance the health profession’s
workforce and enhance the wellness of
Arizona residents. One of the Arizona
Lottery’s beneficiaries under the public
welfare pillar is CASA, which stands for
Court Appointed Special Advocates.
CASA volunteers serve as advocates to
speak up for abused and neglected chil-
dren in court.
CASA is solely funded by Arizona Lottery
dollars, and more than $41 million has
been transferred to CASA from the Ari-
zona Lottery to date. This funding has
enabled CASA to serve more than 13,500
children statewide. Perhaps one of the
most touching CASA stories has been
about a special foster child named Michael
and how his CASA advocate, Jay, is help-
ing to find him an adoptive family.
In regards to the environment, the Arizona
Lottery contributes to the conservation
and protection of Arizona’s wildlife and
supports wildlife educational and aware-
ness campaigns for residents of all ages
throughout the state. Currently, $10 mil-
lion per year goes to the Arizona Game
and Fish Department. This funding is used
for public access, environmental educa-
tion, schoolyard habitats, and the protec-
tion and management of urban wildlife.
The Arizona Lottery invests in Arizona’s
future through programs and partnerships
with Arizona’s state universities, the pri-
vate sector and multicultural organiza-
tions. Under the economic and business
development pillar, the Arizona Lottery
transfers funds to the Arizona Commerce
Authority each year to support organiza-
tions like the Northern Arizona Council of
Governments (NACOG), which provides
training and assistance to aspiring busi-
ness owners.
M
The Arizona Lottery solely funds CASA—Advocates
for abused & neglected children.
The Arizona Lottery contributes $10 million annually
to the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Zeus II you ask! Really? Well, this game may be “old” by
modern slot floor standards, yet I still see the game all over
Arizona and not enough players playing the game. Too bad! I
think this game is a real diamond in the rough. We’ve de-
coded the game and are going to deliver the insider informa-
tion every slot enthusiast wants to know.
When WMS’ Zeus first hit casino floors, I remember winning
some massive amounts of money in the bonus rounds and
watching player after player do the same. The stacked Wilds (in
the bonus), stacked Zeus in the base game (the top symbol)
made for extreme volatility only seen on a handful of Aristo-
crat’s slots. Yet somehow, the mechanic worked for slot players
in the U.S. and soon, everyone was looking to play Zeus in casi-
nos all over the country.
Zeus II is a very different animal from the original. The symbols
look familiar enough, but the reel matrix changed to 5X4 from
5X3, the pays changed, and while the free games bonus re-
mained from the original, a re-spin bonus was added to the
game mechanic. A series of games was launched under the new
mechanic called “Hot Hot Re-Spins” and WMS had another hit
on their hands.
On top of all the other positive additions and enhanced game
design, the stacked Zeus remained as part of the new slot. If a
“follow up” title, like Zeus II, doesn’t retain some, or most, of
the original me-
chanic, we here at
the Arizona Gaming
Guide tend to al-
ways view the new
slot with trepida-
tion. In most cases,
a lot has changed
and analysis of the
new slot has to be-
gin anew.
WINNING WAYS Don’t Overlook This Slot—Decoding Zeus II
#1. Condensed wins on the pay table. If you look at the help
screen, you’ll notice the range of pays is relatively small and
that there are only ten total pays (2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 40, 50, 100
and 150 times the bet per line). As the smallest bet to cover all
the lines is 40 credits, we’ll have a bet return on almost half of
the pay table wins. This is a good sign as the hit frequency is
really high on this game (somewhere around 65 to 75%). If you
have a winning spin, there’s a good chance it will pay you more
than your bet back. With so many pay lines, coinciding wins
increase those odds even more. This helps extend play sessions.
#2. Easy to trigger a bonus. The re-spin pulls to hit are right
around 40 spins. This number is calculated by keeping track of
the number of spins you play and the number of bonuses you
hit over many play sessions.
#3. Re-spins. Many slot machine game designers can implement
re-spins as a play to make players believe they have an “extra”
chance to hit a certain win. Many times this only applies to a
bonus or, worse yet, is used to make the chances of hitting a
bonus small while “teasing” a player that the bonus will award
soon. With Zeus II, the res-pins apply to the top symbol appear-
ing as a column on the first reel. This game mechanic allows for
massive base game wins! Always a good thing.
#4. Free Games Bonus. Around 280 to 290 spins is what it will
take for you to trigger this bonus. That’s not so good, but, you’ll
have had around seven re-spin bonuses, paying you an average
of ten times your wager while you wait for the massive bonus
win. The bonus pays an average of 25 to 30 times your bet.
#5. Top pay is not astronomically unlikely. Because of the
stacked Zeus symbols, the frequent re-spins, which hold the
Zeus and the Wild, you’ll hit five Zeus symbols easily and mul-
tiple times because of the numerous pay lines.
You can still find this slot around Arizona’s casinos. Make sure
you bring an appropriate bankroll and have fun! $
24 Arizona Gaming Guide | February 2013 | azgamingguide.com
By Mark Novak
Don’t Overlook This Slot! Decoding Zeus II
azgamingguide.com | February 2013 | Arizona Gaming Guide 27
Bucky's & Yavapai Casinos—Prescott—800.756.8744
$2 Mimosas available at both casinos on Valentine’s Day!
At Bucky’s only from 4-10pm: 10oz. prime rib, baked potato,
veggie, soup or salad plus dessert or broiled shrimp skewers
over apple scented rice, veggie, soup or salad plus dessert
$12.99 for either meal.
Mazatzal Casino—Payson—800.777.7529
The Sweetheart Special at the Cedar Ridge Restaurant features
filet mignon topped with crab, asparagus spears, and hollan-
daise, plus your choice of sides and red velvet cake to finish it
all off! All for just $18.95 a person.
Talking Stick Resort—Scottsdale—480.850.7777
The Wandering Horse Buffet is offering a Valentine’s Day menu
from 4:30 to 9pm. Adults $35.95 (includes a champagne toast),
children 5-12 $14.00. The menu features slow roasted prime rib,
applewood smoked pork steamship roast, orange chile mari-
nated turkey breast, Moroccan grilled salmon, Australian lamb
loin chops, red curry halibut, orange glazed duck drumsticks,
iced jumbo shrimp & Atlantic oysters, chilled Jonah crab claws,
and king crab & lobster claws.
All restaurants listed are open daily. Please verify all details and any age restrictions with each casino. We
are not responsible for incorrect or outdated information.
Valentine’s Day—Editor’s Picks CASINO DINING
Where to go on St. Valentine’sWhere to go on St. Valentine’sWhere to go on St. Valentine’s Hon-Dah Casino—Pinetop—800.929.8744
Valentines Dinner—$50.00 a couple
Dinner & Room—$120.00 a couple
Dinner & Beach Party—$70.00 a couple
Dinner & Room & Beach Party—$140.00 a couple
Dinner & Room (Th) & Beach Party & Room (Fr)—$190.00
Valentines Dinner (Thursday, February 14th) includes:
1st Course—Choice of Calf Fries with a Zesty Cocktail Sauce
Capellini with a Pesto Basil Cream Sauce
2nd Course—Apple Walnut Vinaigrette Salad
3rd Course—Choice of Bacon Wrapped California Cut New
York Strip With Roasted Red and Gold Potatoes, Vegetables and
Rolls with Butter. Sautéed Chicken Breast Marsala With Roasted
Red and Gold Potatoes, Vegetables and Rolls with Butter.
Mixed Grill of Seafood Grilled Skewered Shrimp, “King Crab”
Crab Cake with a Roasted Red Bell Pepper Cream Sauce and
Grilled Saku Tuna Rice Pilaf, Vegetables and Rolls with Butter.
4th Course—Chocolate Decadence for 2 with Raspberry Puree
and Crème Anglaise
Beach Party (Friday, February 15th) includes the Beach Boys
tribute concert & Winter Meltdown Beach Party.
28 Arizona Gaming Guide | February 2013 | azgamingguide.com
TRIBAL NEWS
rative 10 year anniversary booklet that featured photographs by
well-known Arizona photographer, John Running. The evening
closed with an Honor Song and Dance performed by Hashan
Kehk Dancers, Tony Duncan, Ken Duncan & Yellow Bird Danc-
ers and Moontee Sinquah & The Wild Band Singers.
“In the past ten years, Tribal gaming revenues have funded
hundreds of millions of dollars to our State, cities, towns and
counties and countless charities,” said Valerie Spicer, Executive
Director Arizona Indian Gaming Association. “A decade of
sharing is a major landmark that we wanted to celebrate. Our
theme, A Decade of Contributions; An Investment for Genera-
tions says it all.” The Arizona Indian Gaming Association, a
nonprofit organization, has a membership of 17 tribes represent-
ing 90% of the Indian people living on Arizona reservations. $
ribal Leaders and dignitaries gathered at the Sheraton
Wild Horse Pass on the Gila River Indian Reservation
on November 16, 2012 to celebrate the 10 year anni-
versary of the passage of Proposition 202. That initia-
tive continued gaming on tribal lands and shared revenues with
the people of Arizona. The dinner event honored the Tribal
leadership of 2002 and Governor Jane Dee Hull who signed the
gaming compacts. Ivan Makil, founding partner of Generation
Seven Strategic Partners and former President of the Salt River
Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, presented Governor Hull
with an honor blanket to thank her for her long-standing com-
mitment to Tribes in Arizona.
Timothy Hinton, Vice-Chairman of the White Mountain Apache
Tribe and Chairman of AIGA, gave the opening prayer. The
approximately 250 guests were welcomed by Governor Greg
Mendoza, Gila River Indian Community, President Diane Enos,
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and Raymond
Etcitty, Chief Operating Officer of the Navajo Nation Gaming
Enterprise. Fox 10 News Anchor John Hook was the emcee for
the evening. Hook expressed his appreciation to be invited to
the event. “This is rating week and it is very unusual for the
station to let me off the air, but this is a very special evening for
all Arizona,” he said, pointing out that he had covered Prop 202
as a reporter for ten years and avidly followed the success of
Indian gaming. Among the many dignitaries attending were
former Superintendents of Education for Arizona Carolyn War-
ner and Jaime Molera, Director of the Arizona Office of Tour-
ism, Sherry Henry, Dr. Terry Hull who accompanied his wife
Governor Jane Dee Hull, and Dr. Peter Rhee, Medical Director,
UMC Trauma Program, Chief, Division of Trauma, Critical Care
and Emergency Surgery University of Arizona Department of
Surgery. Other special guests included Miss Indian Arizona,
Devanie Duwyenie; Miss Ak-Chin Indian Community, Alyssa
Garcia; Miss Gila River Indian Commuinity, Raging Storm
Miles; and Miss Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community,
Elisa Briones.
The evening debuted two short videos. The first focused on
tribal life, pre-gaming; the second described the many benefits
of Indian gaming for Tribal people and all Arizonans. Indian
gaming revenues support education, trauma and emergency
care, wildlife conservation and tourism statewide. The videos
were produced by Annette Alvarez of Generation Seven Strate-
gic Partners. AIGA also presented each guest with a commemo-
T
Arizona Tribes Celebrate 10 Years
of Contributions to All Arizonans Event at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort Honors
Tribal Leadership of 2002 and Governor Jane Hull
On Friday, December 21, 2012 the Boys & Girls Club of Casa
Grande hosted a ceremony to demonstrate their appreciation of
the Gila River Indian Community for giving $40,000 in grant
money via the city of Casa Grande towards the organization
back in May of 2012.
These funds allowed the Club to purchase a brand new 15 pas-
senger van and replace an aging high-mileage van in need of a
new AC and other repairs. The van is used to transport children
who are members of the Boys & Girls Club.
Henry Brown Automotive Group supplied the van and N&D
Designs designed a vehicle wrap which included images of
some of the children currently participating in the Club.
Matthew Lemberg, executive director at the Boys & Girls Clubs;
Gregory Mendoza, governor of the Gila River Indian Commu-
nity; Dennis and Nikki Voytoski of N&D Designs; Rueben Gar-
cia, Boys & Girls Clubs chairman of the board; and Casa Grande
Mayor Bob Jackson were all on hand for the ceremony.
This generous gift comes from the tribe’s gaming revenues and
is just one of many made by the Gila River Indian Community
and other tribes around Arizona. As of October 29, 2012, the
total amount of tribal gaming revenue given to the Arizona
Benefits Fund was over $749 million. These monies are used to
sustain the Arizona Office of Problem Gambling, the Arizona
Department of Gaming, and are also disbursed into the Instruc-
tional Improvement Fund, the Trauma & Emergency Services
Fund, the Arizona Wildlife Conservation Fund, and the State
Tourism Fund. As of October 29, 2012, Arizona’s Cities, Towns,
and Counties received over $93 million from tribal gaming reve-
nues as well. Tribal contributions of gaming revenues towards
cities, towns and counties are of the tribes’ choosing. $
TRIBAL NEWS
azgamingguide.com | February 2013 | Arizona Gaming Guide 29
One Example of how
Shared Gaming Revenues
Benefit Arizona:
Boys & Girls Club of Casa
Grande Receive a New Van
30 Arizona Gaming Guide | February 2013 | azgamingguide.com
TRAVEL—LAUGHLIN Casino Directory & Best Bets
Aquarius Casino Resort
1.800.662.LUCK or aquariuscasinoresort.com. 1,250+ Slots, No
Smoking Slot Area, High Limit Slots Area, Blackjack, Roulette,
Craps, Live Keno, and a Race & Sports Book.
Best Bet: Reba McEntire Package—$249.99 for two nights, two
tickets, and food deals on Friday & Saturday, March 15 & 16.
Avi Resort & Casino (owned by the Fort Mojave Tribe)
1.800.430.0721 or avicasino.com. 1,000+ Slots, Bingo, Blackjack,
Let It Ride, Pai Gow Poker, Hold'em Fold'em Poker, Three
Card Poker, Craps, Roulette, Poker Room, Live Keno, Race &
Sports Book, and a KidsQuest.
Best Bet: Avi River Stampede PRCA Rodeo held March 1-3.
Colorado Belle Hotel Casino Resort
1.877.460.0777 or coloradobelle.com. 750+ Slots, Blackjack,
Craps, Roulette, Let It Ride, Pai Gow Poker, Poker Room, Live
Keno, and a Race & Sports Book.
Best Bet: Neil Sedaka live in the E Center on February 9.
Engelbert Humperdinck live in the E Center on February 16.
Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort Hotel & Casino
1.800.227.3849 or riversideresort.com. 1,000+ Slots, 270+ Non-
Smoking Slot Area, High Limit Slots Area, Seven Bingo Ses-
sions Daily, Blackjack, Bonus Blackjack, Three Card Poker, Let
It Ride, Deuces Wild Hold'em Fold'em Poker, Emperor's Chal-
lenge Pai Gow Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold'em, Craps, Rou-
lette, Poker Room, Live Keno, and a Race & Sports Book.
Best Bet: Reba On The River Package—Room & show pack-
ages start at $190 for the concert on Saturday, March 16 at the
Laughlin Amphitheater. Call 800.227.3849 extension 5546 for
more info.
Edgewater Hotel Casino
1.800.677.4837 or edgewater-casino.com. 750+ Slots, Non-
Smoking Slot Area, Blackjack, 3 Card Poker, Let it Ride Poker,
Pai Gow Poker, Roulette, Craps, and a Race & Sports Book.
Best Bet: Mardi Gras Festival February 8-10. Celebrate Mardi
Gras on the Riverwalk with great free live entertainment by
the Bayou Brothers and delicious southern food in the vending
area!
Photo courtesy of Las Vegas Convention & Visitor’s Authority. © Copyright Las Vegas Convention & Visitor’s Authority. All Rights Reserved.
Golden Nugget Laughlin
1.800.237.1739 or goldennugget.com/laughlin. 1,000+ Slots,
Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Poker Room, and a Sports Book.
Best Bet: Reba McEntire Getaway Package—$229 for two
nights, two tickets, and an embroidered bag per room on Fri-
day & Saturday, March 15 & 16.
Harrah’s Laughlin
1.800.447.8700 or harrahslaughlin.com. 900+ Slots, Non-
Smoking Slot Area, High Limit Slots Area, Blackjack, Bonus
Blackjack, Three Card Poker, Let It Ride Bonus, Pai Gow
Poker, Craps, Roulette, Poker Room, Live Keno, and a Race &
Sports Book.
Best Bet: Defending the Caveman—Comedy Show. February
12—March 3, 2013 (dark Fridays). Tickets start at $25.
Pioneer Hotel & Gambling Hall
1.800.634.3469 or pioneerlaughlin.com. 500+ Slots, Blackjack,
Three Card Poker, Let It Ride, Craps, Roulette, and a Sports
Book.
Best Bet: Reba McEntire Pioneer VIP, A, or B Packages. In-
cluding: Two premium tickets, two nights, $20 free slot play,
$20 in table games match play, and two drinks on Friday &
Saturday, March 15 & 16.
River Palms Resort Casino
1.877.787.7256 or river-palms.com. Slots, Bingo, Blackjack, For-
tune Pai Gow Poker, Craps, Roulette, and a Sports Book.
Best Bet: Reba On The River Package—$199 for two concert
tickets and a two night stay on Friday & Saturday, March 15
& 16. You can also add Sunday, March 17, free.
Tropicana Laughlin Hotel & Casino
1.800.243.6846 or tropicanax.com. 1,000+ Slots, Bingo, Black-
jack, Three Card Poker Progressive, Royal Match 21 Progres-
sive, Fortune Pai Gow Poker, Mississippi Stud Progressive
Poker, Let it Ride Progressive Poker, Craps, Roulette, and a
Sports Book.
Best Bet: Reba On The River Package—$229, two tickets, two
nights on Fri & Sat, March 15-16. Add Sunday, March 17 free.
Sources: Direct inquiries by press time. We are not responsible for incorrect, missing, or outdated
information. Contact [email protected] to make updates.
New Slots At The Edgewater
Aristocrat:
Buffalo and Wonder 4
Bally:
Michael Jackson King of Pop
IGT:
Wheel of Fortune Triple Spin, Elvis the
King
WMS:
Aladdin, Wicked Witch of the West,
Super Monopoly Money, Cheers, and
the same new Colossal Reels themes as
the Colorado Belle.
Plus, both casinos introduced some new
slots by Konami including Kabuki King,
Passport to Riches, China Dreams, and
China Shores to name a few!
Featured News LAUGHLIN—TRAVEL
Edgewater’s Sedona Tower remodel includes all new bedding, designer
amenities, carpet, paint, 32” flatscreen TVs and expanded television
programming. Guests particularly like the new pillows, which they
have been buying to take home!
New Slots At The Colorado Belle
Aristocrat:
Buffalo and Wonder 4 (featuring Buffalo, Pompeii, Wild Splash,
and Fire Light)
Bally:
Michael Jackson King of Pop
IGT:
Godzilla, Texas Tea Texas Tango, and Wheel
of Fortune Triple Extreme Spin
WMS:
Life, Wicked Witch of the West, and Super
Monopoly Money. Also, there are several
themes for the Colossal Reels line of slots. The
3 newest on the casino floor are Giant’s Gold,
Towers of the Temple, and Colossal Wizards.
azgamingguide.com | February 2013 | Arizona Gaming Guide 33
Colorado Belle & Edgewater Introduce new slots to casinos & Finish room renovations
CASINO ENTERTAINMENT Schedule of Events
34 Arizona Gaming Guide | February 2013 | azgamingguide.com
Apache Gold Casino—Globe, AZ—800.272.2438
Special Event:
Inter-Tribal Pow-Wow—Mar. 15, 16 & 17
Cabaret Lounge:
Live bands every weekend
Firstborn—Feb. 8 & 9
Kenny G Project—Feb. 15 & 16
Jadi Norris—Feb. 22 & 23
Convention Center:
Heartbreakers Ball—Feb. 15
BlueWater Casino—Parker, AZ—888.243.3360
Dig Lounge:
Variety including live bands, karaoke & DJs—Daily at 5pm
BlueWater Showroom:
Valentine’s Day Baile—Feb. 9. Tickets start at $15.
Willie Nelson—Mar. 2. Tickets start at $55.
Cage Rage 4—Mar. 9. Tickets start at $25.
Los Tigres del Norte—Apr. 6. Tickets start at $65
Casino Arizona—Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777
The Showroom:
Jan. schedule not available at press time.
The Arizona Room Piano Lounge:
Closed for renovations.
Casino del Sol—Tucson, AZ—520.838.6506
Event Center:
B.B King—Feb. 13 at 8pm
Cliff Castle Casino—Camp Verde, AZ—800.381.7568
Dragonfly Lounge:
Variety including live bands, karaoke & DJs—Ladies Night every Th,
Open late on Fr & Sa.
Cocopah Resort Casino—Somerton, AZ—800.237.5687
River Room:
Zumba Fitness—Mo & Tu at 6pm
"Comedy Night" with the Comedy Machine—Feb. 16
Sunset Lounge:
Live Jazz & Free Cocktails—Tu 6pm
Karaoke—We-Fr at 8pm
La Vida Loca—Fr at 8pm
Casino Floor:
Whitehorse Band—Feb. 9
Downtime Band—Feb. 16
Paloma—Feb. 23
Event Lawn:
Mark Chesnutt—Feb. 9
Desert Diamond Casino I—Tucson, AZ—866.332.9467
Monsoon Nightclub:
Groovin’ Fridays
Noches Caliente—Saturdays the hottest Tex Mex and Tejano music!
Desert Diamond Casino II—Sahuarita, AZ—866.332.9467
Sports Bar:
Friday & Saturday Night Party—Music & dancing at 8pm or after
the game featuring Fiesta DJs “Party Nights.”
Diamond Center:
Kix Brooks (Brooks & Dunn) Tucson Rodeo Concert—Feb. 23 at 7pm
Fort McDowell Casino—Fort McDowell, AZ—800.843.3678
Events:
Love In The Hills—Feb. 14. Free with pre-registration.
Bad Boy Fight Night—Mar. 9. Tickets start at $35.
Lucky 7 Saloon:
Featuring a variety of live music every weekend.
Kenny G.—Feb. 14
Night Groove Band
Mazatzal Hotel & Casino
Saturday February 9
Mark Chesnutt
Cocopah Casino
Saturday February 9
Schedule of Events CASINO ENTERTAINMENT
Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino—Maricopa, AZ—800.427.7247
Oasis Lounge:
Great local favorites every Friday and Saturday 8pm–1am, free.
Traditional Lion Dance—Feb. 10 at 4pm
Kix Brooks (of Brooks and Dunn)—Feb. 24 at 5pm
Terry Johnson’s Flamingos—Feb. 27 at 1&3pm
Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone—Mar. 16 at 8&10pm
The Diamonds—Mar. 27 at 1&3pm
Lonestar—Apr. 26 at 9:30pm
Hon-Dah Casino—Pinetop, AZ—800.929.8744
Timbers Lounge and Showroom:
Munday Funday—Comedy Show
Buck Ford (Country)—Feb. 5-9
Lone Butte Casino—Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452
Cascades Lounge:
Phoenix area bands & DJs offer free live entertainment.
We—Country, Th—Industry, Fr—Latin, Sa—Top 40/Dance
Verona Chophouse:
Sunday Jazz Brunch Live—10am to 3pm
Mazatzal Casino—Payson, AZ—800.777.7529
Event Center:
Night Groove Band—Feb. 9
The Highwaymen (tribute)—Aug.10
Paradise Casino—Yuma, AZ—888.777.4946
Sharky’s Bar & Bites:
Jan. schedule not available at press time.
Quechan Casino—Winterhaven, CA—877.783.2426
Pipa Event Center:
The Temptations—Feb. 15 at 8pm
Vicky Lawrence—A Two Woman Show—Mar. 1 at 8pm
Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine—Mar. 16 at 8pm
Sidewinders Bar & Grill:
Featuring a variety of live music on the weekends.
Talking Stick Resort—Scottsdale, AZ—480.850.7777
Orange Sky:
Michael Grimm—Two acoustic sets at 7 & 9pm
Sunday & Monday Nights Jan. 6-Apr.8
The Showroom & Grand Ballroom:
Wynona & The Big Noise—Feb. 16
Jay Leno—Feb. 17
Kenny Rogers—Mar. 23
Coffee Garden:
Dueling Pianos—Th, Fr & Sa from 8-11pm
Wild Horse Pass Casino—Chandler, AZ—800.946.4452
Encore Lounge:
Featuring a variety of live music nightly.
Showroom:
Legends of Country Music Show “Classic Country Sundays”
Now-Sunday Mar. 10, 2013
Oak Ridge Boys—Feb. 8
Neil Sedaka—Feb. 17
Wilson Phillips—Feb.23
Engelbert Humperdinck—Mar. 9
Yavapai Casino—Prescott, AZ—800.756.8744
Yavapai Cantina:
Karaoke with Cruisin’ Susan—Fr—8pm-12am
Sky Daddy & The Pop Rocks—Feb. 9
In-Folk-Us—Feb. 16
Little Larry & The Drive—Feb. 23 $
Verify all details & age restrictions 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.
azgamingguide.com | February 2013 | Arizona Gaming Guide 35
Neil Sedaka
Wild Horse Pass Casino
Sunday February 17
Kenny Rogers
Talking Stick Resort
Saturday March 23
lywood in Las Vegas, and several nightclubs in Old Town Scottsdale
means that Ramses has the perfect cross-section of experiences to head-
line Saturdays at Degree 270! $
36 Arizona Gaming Guide | February 2013 | azgamingguide.com
CASINO NIGHTLIFE Exclusively Featuring Ramses Ja
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: www.ramsesja.com.
hose of you who have yet to visit Scottsdale’s Talking
Stick Resort should know that you are missing out on
some of the best gaming, dining, pampering, and enter-
tainment in the valley. This grandiose monument boasts,
perhaps, the best experience of any kind found in Arizona! The thing
with most casinos is, traditionally, once the gaming is done, the meals
are digested, and the shows are over, it’s usually time to head back to
the hotel room and call it a night.
Not so, says Talking Stick Resort! The jewel in the crown of this pleas-
ure palace is Degree 270, a nightclub 14 stories in the sky! Open every
Thursday through Saturday, Degree 270 boasts an awesome sound
system, a killer light show, and a complete view of the city’s skyline!
Perhaps most importantly, however, is the man behind the noise it’s
making.
Enter Ramses Ja. Known primarily as 101.1 FM The Beat’s afternoon
drive host (weekdays 3-7pm) and resident DJ for Channel 3 (Fridays
10am), Ramses has established himself as an entertainment power-
house in the southwest. Having held DJing residencies at Planet Hol-
T
Scottsdale’s Trendiest Nightclub
By Natasha Castellanos
The first casino was built in The first casino was built in
1638 in Venice, Italy. 1638 in Venice, Italy.
Bally Technologies was
the first slot machine
manufacturer that was
publicly traded on the
NYSE in 1975.
Contrary to what’s shown on television and the
movies, casinos must be contacted ahead of time
for high stakes gambling, such as wagers of
$100,000 or more. Casino managers then decide
if they will take the risk. In most cases, contracts
are drawn.
The word “casino” is of Italian origin and
means “small villa” or “summerhouse.”
55%55% of people in the world buy lottery of people in the world buy lottery
tickets each year making this the most tickets each year making this the most
popular form of gambling!popular form of gambling!
Dice are the oldest gambling tool Dice are the oldest gambling tool
known to man. The oldest set known to man. The oldest set
dates from 5,000 years ago in the dates from 5,000 years ago in the
area of modernarea of modern--day Iran.day Iran.
Playing cards are a symbolic depiction of Playing cards are a symbolic depiction of
our calendar. 52 cards = 52 weeks, the 4 our calendar. 52 cards = 52 weeks, the 4
suits = 4 seasons, and the 13 cards in each suits = 4 seasons, and the 13 cards in each
suit = 13 lunar cycles (full and new moons). suit = 13 lunar cycles (full and new moons).
365 365 (all the numeric values of each card added (all the numeric values of each card added
together) together) = the number = the number
of days in our calen-of days in our calen-
dar year!dar year!
Bet You Didn’t Know … FUN FACTS
azgamingguide.com | February2013 | Arizona Gaming Guide 37
HOT DEALS
38 Arizona Gaming Guide | February 2013 | azgamingguide.com
You Get The Very BEST Of Casino Offers Statewide!
Receive $25 In Free Slot PlayReceive $25 In Free Slot PlayReceive $25 In Free Slot Play When you join the Gila River Players CluWhen you join the Gila River Players CluWhen you join the Gila River Players Clubbb
Book a hotel room at Talking Stick Resort and receive one of their unique spa treatments (60-min. Desert
Lavender Massage, a 60-min. Simply Swedish Massage, or a 60-min. Opulence Facial) and a round of golf!
This inclusive “fairway to Heaven” package is a spectacular getaway for both him and her.
The Spa at Talking Stick Resort is a 13,000 sq. ft. facility located on the 14th floor of the hotel and features
open-air spa treatment rooms with majestic views of the McDowell Mountains and Scottsdale. Additional
spa services can be reserved a la carte and all add-ons to the package will be extended at a 15% discount.
The Talking Stick Golf Club sits adjacent to the resort property and is one of the top rated golf clubs in all of
Arizona with two distinct golf courses offering a variety of scenery and memorable experiences.
Fairway To HeavenFairway To HeavenFairway To Heaven At Talking Stick Resort At Talking Stick Resort At Talking Stick Resort A fabulous hotel, spa and golf package for him & herA fabulous hotel, spa and golf package for him & herA fabulous hotel, spa and golf package for him & her
To take advantage of this hot deal, simply book your room online at www.talkingstickresort.com. or call 480.850.7734 and mention the Arizona
Gaming Guide “Fairway to Heaven.”
5X Points
Earn Earn Earn 5X POINTS 5X POINTS 5X POINTS At Apache Gold CasinoAt Apache Gold CasinoAt Apache Gold Casino Every Monday now through February 25Every Monday now through February 25Every Monday now through February 25
Visit Apache Gold Casino Resort on Mondays and earn 5X points when using your Apache Gold Players
Club Card! Play any game, any denomination all day long and receive five times more points and five
times the fun! Experience the casino with one of the best selection of penny games in Arizona.
Simply sign up for a players club card at any
one of the three Gila River Casinos—Wild
Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, Lone Butte Ca-
sino, or Vee Quiva Casino—and get $10 in
Free Bonus Play and then earn just 10 points
during your first visit and get $10 more in
Free Bonus Play. If you give them your e-mail address, you’ll get an
additional $5 in Free Bonus Play. That’s a total of $25! Now that’s a
great deal! Must be 21 or older to participate, have a valid photo I.D.,
and new to Players Club to qualify. Points and benefits may be re-
deemed at any Gila River Casino. Visit Players Club for more info.
*Please verify all promotions listed in advance as each casino reserves the right to modify
or cancel any program or promotion at any time with the approval of the respective
Tribal Gaming Office.
Double Payout BingoDouble Payout BingoDouble Payout Bingo At Mazatzal Hotel & CasinoAt Mazatzal Hotel & CasinoAt Mazatzal Hotel & Casino
Play Bingo at Mazatzal Hotel
& Casino every first Thursday
and third Tuesday of the
month at 6:30 PM (sales start
at 5:00 PM) and receive twice the regular payout if
you’re a winner! Visit www.mazatzal-casino.com or
call 1-800-777-PLAY for more information. $
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 1000 No No No
BlueWater Daily at 6pm. 350 Yes Yes No
Casino Arizona Mo-Su at 6:30pm
Sa-Su 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 694 Yes Yes Cosmic Bingo Sa at 11pm.
Cocopah Daily at 1:30 & 6:30pm 350 Yes* Yes No
Desert Diamond I Th-Mo 1:30, 2, 6, 6:30 & 7pm 270 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 12:10am.
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 at 10am, Noon, 3:45,
5:30 & 6pm. Daily at Noon &
6:30pm.
750 Yes Yes B.A.D. Bingo 2 Fr at 11:30pm &
B.A.D. Bingo Sa at 11:30pm.
Mazatzal Mo-Th at Noon. Tu & Th at
6:30pm. 280 Yes Yes No
Paradise Daily at 11:30am, 1:30 & 6pm. 300 Yes Yes
Tail Gate Feb. 3, Mardi Gras Feb.
12, Valentine’s Feb. 14, Kozmic
11pm Feb. 16, President’s Feb. 18.
Vee Quiva Daily at 12:30 & 6:30pm. 366 Yes Yes Bingo Eclipse Sa at 11pm.
Sources: Arizona Department of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 01/01/13 & 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.
40 Arizona Gaming Guide | February 2013 | azgamingguide.com
CASINO BINGO DIRECTORY
What’s Your Lucky Number & Color?
Everyone knows luck and random behavior go hand in hand
and bingo players experience both on a regular basis! Whether
you believe in Astrology and Horoscopes or not, we have some
interesting information for you regarding the rest of 2013. Many
of you will be interested to know your lucky numbers and col-
ors for 2013 as predicted by Western Astrology. Make sure you
mark your calendars with your lucky numbers, be certain to
wear your lucky color, and don’t forget that your favorite
dauber should also be in your lucky color! $
Tropical 2013 2013
Zodiac Lucky Lucky
Sign Numbers Colors
Aquarius (1/21-2/19) 7, 11, 30 Light Blue, Nile Green, Yellow
Aries (3/21-4/20) 16, 21, 35 Red, Pink
Cancer (6/22-7/22) 17, 25, 30 Green, Russet
Capricorn (12/22-1/20) 12, 20, 23 Violet, Purple, Black, Silver Gray
Gemini (5/22-6/21) 7, 18, 19, 23 Light Blue, Silvery White
Leo (7/24-8/ 23) 6, 14, 35 Red, Orange
Libra (9/24-10/23) 7, 21, 31 Blue, Yellow, Black, White
Pisces (2/20-3/20) 17, 21, 37 Black, Green, Lavender, White
Sagittarius (11/23-12/21) 15, 23, 35 Mauve, Indigo, Green
Scorpio (10/24-11/22) 14, 17, 38 Crimson, Deep Blue
Taurus (4/21-5/21) 10, 14, 20, 28 Yellow, Blue
Virgo (8/24-9/23) 8, 20, 30 Sapphire, Pink Jasper
42 Arizona Gaming Guide | February 2013 | 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
6
4
5 3
7
6
8 3
9 2
1 2
6
4 9
1 2
2 8
4 7
4
1
9
2 6
1
WORD SEARCH
In honor of the Chinese New Year (Feb. 10—Year of the Black Water
Snake), find these words: BLACK, WATER, SNAKE, CHINESE, NEW
YEAR, FULL MOON, PHASES, DRAGON, FORTUNE, FIREWORKS,
GOOD LUCK, TWELVE SIGNS, ZODIAC, MOON CAKES, CELE-
BRATE. Words appear in any direction. (Solution on page 46)
N C E L E B A E E L C X T R
Y Z C Z Z J L B I H H G A R
I B V V M F L O E Y I Q L M
P R M D E I B N S Z O O T M
N W K I R R D F N O G O E R
E D C T F E S L O G D O N Z
W J A S U W P R I I O C P E
Y J L W L O N T S A D A B Q
E N B A L R O U E C L K C U
A Y N T M K G N V E U E C J
R E J E O S A E L K C S N F
D Y H R O W R C E A K Z Z N
S Z P I N L D H W N Q B K P
H X P H A S S B T S W Q G E
FUN & GAMES
Do YOU have something to rant about?
Write me at: [email protected]
azgamingguide.com | February 2013 | Arizona Gaming Guide 45
SAMI’S SMACKDOWN
By Sami Becker Hoverers Be Gone!
Sami, just got back from the casino and there’s one thing I have
a problem with. One of my biggest pet peeves is having some-
one standing behind me watching me play. It make me feel un-
comfortable but I’m too embarrassed to say something. Besides
just getting up and leaving, which I don’t want to do if I’m
playing one of my favorite games or things are going well, what
else can I do? Should I say something and if so what should I
say without getting them mad? I’m afraid that someone would
start yelling at me! Thanks for your help with my “rant.”
Jennifer Branch—Mesa, AZ
Jennifer, I can commiserate! In fact, based on the number of e-
mails I receive on this subject, there are many gamblers who feel
the same way we do! I get very frustrated by those niggling,
pesky hoverers! The quiet lurkers are annoying because you just
feel their presence, but the blustering oglers that interject mad-
dening comments like “ooh, that was close” and “aah, what an
awful bonus” are down right infuriating. As if I need my very
own play-by-play commentator!
Casinos make it a rule not to allow hoverers in their high limit
rooms. In fact, there are either posted signs or employees who
are ready to inform you that if you’re not playing then you can’t
be in there. I’m not suggesting you go play in the high limit
room! Obviously, most of us can’t afford to be in there! It’s just
too bad the casinos don’t institute the same policy for the entire
floor, rather than restricting it to the high limit room.
My suggestion is to not say anything directly to a “hoverer.”
Like you said, it may instigate a poor reaction. Non-verbal clues
tend to do the trick—most of the time. If you look at them with
a stern expression, aren’t willing to engage in conversation, and
don’t acknowledge their remarks, they tend to move on. Most
people can read between the lines. If someone has been stand-
ing behind you for quite a long time and is truly making you
feel uncomfortable, please notify a casino employee. $
CASINO DIRECTORY
46 Arizona Gaming Guide | February 2013 | azgamingguide.com
City Phone Slots Hig
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Sources: Arizona Department of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 01/01/13 & 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
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azgamingguide.com facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide
For information on the casinos & much more,
scan our QR codes with your smartphone!
01. Apache Gold Casino Resort Hwy. 70, 5 mi. E. of Globe Globe 800-272-2438 607 Y Y Y Y Y Y
02. BlueWater Resort & Casino 11300 Resort Drive Parker 888-243-3360 523 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
03. Bucky’s Casino 1500 E. Hwy. 69 Prescott 800-756-8744 309 Y Y Y
04. Casino Arizona 101 & McKellips Scottsdale 480-850-7777 927 Y Y Y
05. Casino del Sol 5655 W. Valencia Rd. Tucson 855-765-7829 1,044 Y Y Y Y Y Y
06. Casino of the Sun 7406 S. Camino De Oeste Tucson 855-765-7829 292
07. Cliff Castle Casino & Hotel I-17, Exit 289 Camp Verde 800-381-7568 656 Y Y Y Y Y
08. Cocopah Resort Casino 15318 S. Ave. B Somerton 800-237-5687 509 Y 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
10. Desert Diamond Casino II I-19, Exit 80 Tucson 866-332-9467 696 Y Y
11. Desert Diamond Casino-Why Hwy. 86, Milepost 55 Why 866-332-9467 56
12. Fort McDowell Casino Hwy. 87 & Ft. McDowell Rd. Fort McDowell 800-843-3678 883 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 806 Y Y Y Y Y
15. Lone Butte Casino 1077 S. Kyrene Rd. Chandler 800-946-4452 850 Y Y Y Y
16. Mazatzal Hotel & Casino Hwy. 87, 1/4 mi. S. of Payson Payson 800-777-7529 422 Y Y Y Y Y Y
17. Paradise Casino 450 Quechan Dr. Yuma 888-777-4946 506 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 736 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
21. Vee Quiva Casino 6443 Komatke Ln. Laveen 800-946-4452 846 Y Y Y
22. Wild Horse Pass Casino 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd. Chandler 800-946-4452 990 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
23. Yavapai Casino 1505 E. Hwy. 69 Prescott 800-756-8744 244 Y
Sudoku Solution
7 1 9
8 3 6
4 5 2
5 8 3
4 2 7
6 9 1
6 2 4
9 5 1
7 8 3
3 6 8
5 7 4
9 2 1
7 1 2
9 6 8
3 5 4
4 9 5
1 3 2
8 7 6
1 9 3
2 8 5
6 4 7
8 4 5
1 7 6
2 3 9
2 6 7
3 4 9
5 1 8
Word Search Solution
C E L E B A T E C R
H
F I M
I N S Z O
N K R E F N O G O
E C F E S O G D O N
W A U W R I I O C E
Y L W L O N T S A D A
E B A L R O U E C L K
A T M K G N V E U E
R E O S A E L K C S
R O R E A K
N D W N
P H A S S T S E
