arizona gaming guide magazine - march 2018
TRANSCRIPT
18 CLIFF CASTLE CASINO HOTEL
EXPANSION PROJECT IS NOW
COMPLETE!
04 EDITOR’S NOTE
06 PLAYERS TALK
08 NEW SLOTS
14 TABLE GAMES
17 WINNING WAYS
18 FEATURE STORY
22 ARIZONA LOTTERY
24 TRAVEL
26 GAMING NEWS
30 LAUGHLIN, NEVADA
33 CASINO ENTERTAINMENT
34 SAMI’S SMACKDOWN
36 FUN & GAMES
38 CASINO DIRECTORY
azgamingguide.com | March 2018 | Arizona Gaming Guide 03
PLAY LIGHTNING ZAP AT
DESERT DIAMOND CASINO
Innovative new slot game with no
reels and fast game play! Super Zap
feature awards up to a 7x multiplier.
IT’S PROBLEM GAMBLING
AWARENESS MONTH
Do you or someone you know ex-
hibit any of these problem gambling
warning signs?
28 08
IN EVERY ISSUE
Contents MARCH
AZ LOTTERY WELCOMES
NEW FAST PLAY GAMES
Fast Play combines the simplicity of
playing jackpot games with the in-
stant gratification of Scratchers!
22
he much-anticipated new hotel expansion at Cliff Castle Casino Hotel is
now open and my team and I are so excited to share this news with all our
fans. Take a look at this month’s feature story to learn about all the addi-
tions to that fabulous property such as their six story hotel tower, indoor pool,
fitness room, expanded gift shop, five thousand square foot meeting space, and
300 car parking garage, just to name a few!
The Arizona Lottery recently introduced a new family of instant games called Fast
Play. In February’s issue, we published a piece providing more information about
these great new games. Unfortunately, in our Table of Contents, we inadvertently
referred to these new games as Scratchers. We apologize for the error. To be clear,
we have printed the story from last month again, which includes the game de-
scriptions, in the Arizona Lottery section of our magazine. To quote the writer of
the article, Megan Conner, “Fast Play combines the simplicity of playing jackpot
games with the instant gratification of Scratchers tickets.”
Please visit our Facebook at: 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 cur-
rent and back issues of the Arizona Gaming Guide on our website at
AZGamingGuide.com. Let me know what you think of this issue and have fun!
Thank You!
Alexandra Lang
Editor-in-Chief
Alexandra
VOLUME 10 • ISSUE 03
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Elizabeth Torma
PUBLISHER & SLOT GURU
Chris Höft
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Alexandra Lang
ART DIRECTOR
Melanie Mueller
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Al Moe
Matt Probst
Mark Novak
TJ Jorgensen
Megan Conner
Lana Hartmann
Samantha Becker
ADVERTISING SALES
Elizabeth Torma
Nina Consiglio
MAILING INFORMATION
Arizona Gaming Guide
P.O. Box 20636
Mesa, Arizona 85277
INTERNET INFORMATION
AZGamingGuide.com
Facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide
Copyright © 2018 The Arizona Gaming Guide.
All rights reserved.
The Arizona Gaming Guide (AGG) presents casino industry and
gaming related facts and editorial opinions. AGG accepts no
responsibility and no liability for any actions of readers based on
articles and/or advertisements presented within. AGG is not liable
for claims made in advertisements. All pictures, images, logos,
trademarks and trade names, etc. are the sole property of their
respective owners. Intended for single use only. Reproduction in
part or in whole in any form without consent is not permitted. Sale
and/or distribution in any form without consent is not permitted.
Visit AZGamingGuide.com/index_files/legal_disclaimer.html for
more information.
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:
Division of Problem Gambling
1.800.NEXT.STEP or 1.800.639.8783
1110 W. Washington Street, Suite 450, Phoenix, 85007
1.602.542.8998 or problemgambling.az.gov
04 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2018 | azgamingguide.com
CELEBRATING
10 YEARS! A big “THANK YOU!” to our fans,
advertisers, and business partners!
CLIFF CASTLE CASINO New Hotel Expansion Project Completed
T
PLAYERS TALK
06 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2018 | azgamingguide.com
Q: I feel like I’m being judged by the employees who stand at
the front door to the casino. What’s their purpose anyway?
They’re usually not friendly, so I don’t think they’re supposed
to be there to greet customers. Honestly, they make me feel
uncomfortable.
L. Martina – Chandler, AZ
A: If you’re feeling a little uncomfortable and perhaps intimidat-
ed, that’s not necessarily a bad thing! The security officers at the
entrances to the casinos are there to keep undesirable people
out. For the safety of all the casino personnel and patrons, they
are a criminal deterrence. Their role is to monitor and report
any suspicious behavior or indications of unlawful intent by
alerting surveillance to possible incoming problems. Further-
more, they’re not just the first line of defense but also the last
because they’re in a position to apprehend a thief making a run
for the door.
We have an added sense of security here in Arizona that we
don’t have in other gaming jurisdictions. Nevada casinos (and
most other commercial casinos across the country) do not man-
date a physical security presence at the front entrances of the
casinos. This leaves the casinos and those inside vulnerable.
Remember the Bellagio robbery that happened a few years ago?
How is it that a person covered head-to-toe wearing a motorcy-
cle helmet, a backpack and a gun was able to walk into the Bel-
lagio casino and steal $1.5 million in chips from the craps table?
Q: All the slots are set tight in the Arizona casinos. I look
around in the casinos and nobody is winning anymore.
Eduardo Gonzales – Tucson, AZ
A: Eduardo, I’m sorry that’s how you feel because it’s simply
not true! My team members and I participate in as many new
game installs as we can and have all personally observed the
settings. Slot Managers and Slot Techs all across the State of
Arizona are actually installing new games at higher than aver-
age payback percentages; not to mention that our State’s mini-
mum requirements (80% for non-skill games and 83% for skill
games like video poker) are already much higher than the re-
turns offered in most other jurisdictions!
It’s clear from our discussions with casino executives that they
understand times are tough and people have less money to
spend on entertainment. They know that making machines
tighter will only drive players away and hurt their bottom line
in the long run.
Also, it’s purely a misconception that “nobody is winning any-
more” because nowadays very few casinos set their machines to
lock up for small jackpots and non-taxable wins. A decade ago,
while hoppers and coins were still prevalent, jackpots could be
seen and heard! With the invention of TITO (ticket in-ticket out)
and coinless slots, now we have to listen closely for the “Big
Win” sounds incorporated into the games by the manufacturers.
While I’m on that subject, my personal opinion is that the slot
manufacturers are the ones we should be frustrated at and not
the casinos. The new games that are coming out are more vola-
tile than ever before and players will have a miserable experi-
ence if they don’t come prepared with the proper bankroll to
wager through the inevitable dry spells.
Q: My mom and I (and my brothers and my dad) always pick
up your magazine and read it every month. It’s great! One of
our favorite sections in the magazine is Players Talk and it
always gets a heated discussion going at our house. Mom
doesn’t believe anything I say or dad says until she reads it in
your magazine. Please tell her that there is no way to change
what is going to happen with a slot machine just by stopping
the reels. I stop the reels when I’m in a bonus with free games
playing because I don’t like to wait. She says I’m messing
everything up by doing that. On the other hand, she thinks
she can somehow stop the reels when she sees the bonus sym-
bol coming by and get it to land on the reels!! Please help!
Melinda Henderson – Phoenix, AZ
A: Mom, although parents are right (nearly) all the time, I’m
sorry but in this situation you have to listen to your daughter!
As soon as the spin button on a slot is pressed, the result is de-
termined by the random number generator (RNG). So nothing
you or your daughter do at that point can influence the game’s
outcome. The lights and animations that happen are only for
entertainment purposes and the result of the spin doesn’t
change no matter what a player does. The last bonus symbol
can’t be “caught” in time by touching the screen before it passes
by or a winning combination can’t occur by stopping the reels at
precisely the right moment with the stop/spin feature. Thank
you very much for being loyal Arizona Gaming Guide fans. We
truly appreciate your support of our publication! Good luck! $
and get a $25 gift or gas card if we decide to print your question! Do you have a question for our staff of casino gaming industry professionals and slot experts? Write us with your questions and
comments in any area of gaming and we will make every attempt to publish a response in upcoming issues. Space is limited so
we are unable to print every letter or e-mail we receive. Please include your name and mailing address with all correspondence.
Mail to: Arizona Gaming Guide PO BOX 20636 Mesa, AZ 85277 or E-mail to: [email protected].
08 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2018 | azgamingguide.com
Lightning Zap Now At Desert Diamond Casinos
in cash in a flash with Everi’s Lightning Zap video slots
at Desert Diamond Casinos’ Tucson and Sahuarita loca-
tions! This slot has no reels! That’s correct—you read
that right! This is an innovate new slot game that contains no reels!
In fact, there are no pay tables (all the prizes are shown on the
screen) and the game play is lightning fast which makes for a shock-
ingly good time.
Great rewards await those who can master the power of Lightning
Zap’s electric orb. Charging the orb awards prizes, so players must
keep zapping to charge the orb until it unleashes its lightning. The
Chain Zap feature randomly zaps 1—9 additional prizes from an
already-awarded prize. The Super Zap feature randomly increases
all prizes on the screen by 2x—7x, then zaps and awards up to 10 of
them! The Zap Everything bonus causes every win to award multi-
ple prizes on screen with an enormous chain zap.
The future of gaming is here! This slot is truly out of this world!
Players, be prepared to be sitting on the edge of your seat because
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amazement as your credit meter keeps increasing with every zap!
Lightning Zap is electrifying the gaming floors at Desert Diamond
Casino’s Tucson location on S. Nogales Highway and their Sahuarita
location on Pima Mine Road. For more information on the latest new
slots at the Desert Diamond Casinos just visit DDCAZ.com, call
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For more information about Everi’s great new slots, visit their web-
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W
NEW SLOTS
MATH & FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
1. Lightning Zap was designed with a minimum payback percentage of 92% and a maximum of 98% at max bet.
2. The slot manufacturer recommends the casinos set the payback percentage to 95% (a high return to players)!
3. Lightning Zap’s minimum bet is 10 credits and the maximum bet is 200 credits.
4. The top probable award in Lightning Zap is 702,800 credits (the highest win at 7x in the Super Zap).
5. The Super Zap feature hits 1 in 215 spins, on average.
6. The average win in the Super Zap feature is just over 25x bet!
7. The average hit frequency of Lightning Zap is just over 14%!
8. Lightning Zap is an extremely low volatility game which means more time-on-device for players.
he new Ocean Magic video slot machine by IGT offers players a sea of big
winning opportunities. Set on the CrystalDual cabinet, the engaging title
features a 5 reel, 50 pay line configuration with colorful ocean-themed
game symbols. Players can dive into the Ocean Magic free games bonus when
three or more treasure chest symbols randomly appear on the screen. Slot enthu-
siasts then select floating bubbles to reveal extra picks and free games. The wild
symbols can float up in between spins and when players catch a wild symbol in
the bottom row the unique feature will move up to the next row on the following
spin until the wild symbol exits the top of the reel set. Bursting with more ways
to win, the theme’s Wild Bubble Feature initiates when bubbles appear on any
random symbol, triggering the selected symbol to become wild for that spin. If
the bubble lands on an Ocean Magic symbol, the bubble explodes and all sur-
rounding symbols become wild for that game. Players can trigger the Bubble
Boost Feature when they double their bet which enables up to seven extra bub-
bles to appear on each spin! For more information about Paradise casino visit
Paradise-Casinos.com. For more information about IGT’s new products, visit
their website at IGT.com. $
T
10 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2018 | azgamingguide.com
NEW SLOTS
Ocean Magic Now At Paradise Casino
Xtreme By Aruze Gaming
azgamingguide.com | March 2018 | Arizona Gaming Guide 11
Coming Soon NEW SLOTS
wo Xtreme new titles by slot manufacturer Aruze Gaming
have joined the Cube-X Vertical lineup! Expand the bounda-
ries of cuteness and destiny with Xtreme Dragon’s Fortune
and Xtreme Panda! These 5 reel, 30 line titles offer multiple progres-
sive jackpot awards, expanding reels and several wild features.
Both games have highly animated and engaging characters perched
atop the reels. After any game, the reels may expand up to 9 symbols
high, raising the number of pay lines up to 120! When the reels are
expanded, the Dragon or Panda may add wilds through one of mul-
tiple wild features. Free games, progressive jackpots and credits can
all be awarded through the symbol-triggered vertical wheel. With
frequent features and lovable characters, these games are sure to
provide Xtreme enjoyment!
For more information about Aruze Gaming and their new products,
visit their website at AruzeGaming.com. $
T
14 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2018 | azgamingguide.com
As for Ultimate Hold’Em, the house edge is 2.19%. You must
make an Ante and Blind wager before the hand starts and may
also make a Trips side bet if you wish. At Ultimate, the preflop
wager can be 4x or 3x your Ante and should be exercised when
holding any hand with an ace.
Make the larger wager when holding a king with a second card
of 5 through queen; a queen with an 8 through jack; and jack-
ten. Raise when holding suited K-2, 3, 4; suited queen-6, 7; and
suited jack-8, 9. Any starting pair deserves a raise of 3x your
Ante.
After the flop, you’ll want to make the 2x raise when making
two pairs or better; a pair with one of the cards in your hand,
and any four-flush draw. Wait on a four-straight until after the
river.
After the river, make the 1x raise with a straight, flush, two-pair
and a pair with one card in your hand. On some occasions, even
a no-pair hand may be worth playing if your hole cards will
both play. Remember, practice makes perfect. $
Writer Al Moe has worked in the casino industry for many years.
He has lived and worked in Las Vegas, Reno, and Lake Tahoe. He
also attended the University of Nevada, Reno. He is an avid writer
and blogger. His book, “Vegas and the Mob," is available online at
Amazon.com. He is also the proud father of four beautiful girls.
By Al Moe
othing will ever displace blackjack as the favorite Ari-
zona casino table game, but poker continues to be
very popular. In fact, Ultimate Texas Hold’Em and
World Poker Tour 3x Hold’Em have taken on a dominance of
their own, cannibalizing play from other poker games. Accord-
ing to a completely unscientific study (specifically, polling sev-
eral local players), Ultimate and WPT offer two things players
love: larger payoffs and a lower house edge.
Three Card Poker offers a 40 to 1 payoff for a three-card straight
flush (and a 50-1 Mini Royal at some casinos), WPT and Ulti-
mate offer 500 to 1 for a Royal Flush. Yes, a royal is a lot tougher
to hit, but other payouts match what Three Card Poker offers
too, like 50-1 for red aces.
What are the Odds?
The house edge at WPT 3x bet is 1.35% playing blind. Using a
standard strategy, that edge can be cut nearly in half! Ultimate
is slightly higher at 2.19%. Those numbers mean your money is
going to go a lot farther in the long run than at most other poker
games.
If you haven’t played World Poker Tour, it’s like Texas
Hold’Em poker without bluffing. You play against the dealer
and make a single, mandatory wager. If you like your two-card
starting hand, you can stay in by placing a wager of 3x the start-
ing bet, which you should do more than nine out of every ten
hands.
There are only nine starting hands you should toss. You’ll raise
with every pair and any two suited cards. Only fold with un-
suited cards, specifically a deuce with a 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or a trey
with a 4, 6, or 7. That’s it!
Following that strategy, the house edge falls below 1%, about
what you can achieve at blackjack with Basic Strategy. Side wa-
gers are a different story.
The Player Hole Card side bet has a house edge of 7.24%, about
what you’ll find with the Pair Plus bet at Three Card Poker.
Likewise, the Final Hand side bet carries a 6.55% house edge.
Want the excitement of drawing to a Royal Flush, straight flush,
or four-of-a-kind? If so, you’ll have to play the bonus.
N
POPULAR HOLD’EM TABLE GAMES Optimal Strategy And Odds
TABLE GAMES
double and you obviously may not split. A good example on the
minus side is A,2 versus 5; basic strategy says to double, but if
the count is below 0, you should just hit.
The Power of Basic Strategy Variations
The value of any variation is determined by how often it will,
on average, be used. If you play 100,000 hands of blackjack a
year (about 20 hours a week, year round), you can expect to see
a hand of 16 vs. 10 about 3500 times (3.5%). Any variation here
has considerable value, simply because you'll be using it rela-
tively often. The frequency of hands allows us to prioritize the
learning of basic strategy variations. There are forty-three
changes over basic strategy when you are counting cards, so it
does require some studying to master. The percentage of ad-
vantage that you will have over the casino is very small so it
does require you to play a perfect game to win.
One of the most important variations from basic strategy is the
insurance bet. Since the dealer will show an Ace as an up card
about 7.5% of the time, knowing when it's profitable to take
insurance is very important. If you are playing at a six deck
game, insurance is worthwhile when the true count is plus three
or higher. You should always make the insurance bet at that
point, regardless of what cards you're holding, since it has no
relationship with your hand. The counting system has an
'Insurance Efficiency' of 80% which means that 8 out of 10 times
you'll be doing the right thing when you make an insurance bet
based on the true count.
As I mentioned earlier, considerable value is gained by learning
those variations which involve starting hands of 12-16 versus
any up card, since they are the hands you'll see most often. In
fact, fully 54% of all your hands will be 'stiff'. Doubling (or not
doubling) is next in importance and splitting/not splitting pairs
is least important.
I hope this gives you a basic understanding of how card count-
ing works. If you would like to learn to count cards, I give step
by step details in my book. For a copy you can e-mail me at
Writer TJ Jorgensen has been a professional Blackjack player for over
20 years. He is well known for his tournament play and has beaten
some of the top tournament players in the world. He has also won
the World Series Of Blackjack. His book, “Beating The Casino At
Their Own Game” is available by email at: [email protected].
hen the first hand out of a six deck shoe is dealt, the
Player is at about a -.57% disadvantage. If the Play-
er always makes the same size bet, the long term
house edge will eventually have its effect and he or she will
lose. However, there are times when the Player has the ad-
vantage because of the composition of the remaining cards to be
played. Knowing when the cards are in the Player’s favor is an
advantageous situation conducive to increasing the bet.
As tens are removed from the deck, it gives the House an ad-
vantage because the Players will get more stiff hands and the
Dealer will make more hands. When small cards are removed
from the deck it gives the Player an advantage because they will
get more solid hands. If I am playing a single deck game and I
remove two small cards (2-6) it will put the Player at even odds
with the house, so in theory the Player will win just as much as
they lose. If I remove four small cards from the deck, the Player
would have about a 1% advantage over the house on the up-
coming hand.
This is basically how card counting works. The Player assigns a
plus one value to cards 2-6 and a minus one value to 10 through
Ace. By keeping track of the cards that are dealt, the Counter
knows if they or the House have the advantage on the upcom-
ing hand.
The most powerful (legal) means of overcoming the casino's
edge in blackjack is to vary the bets according to the true count.
Additional gains of .2 to .3% are available to those who also
vary the play of their hands according to the true count. You
undoubtedly have had situations where so many small cards
had been dealt that you just knew that hitting your 12 against
the dealer's 3 was going to get you a face card. There is a point,
as measured by true count, where standing with a 12 against a 3
is more profitable than hitting. This is called a 'basic strategy
variation.’
Modifying the play of your hand according to the true count
will occur about 10% of the time. Should the count drop, you
will double less, hit 'stiff' hands more and split pairs less often.
As the count goes up, you will double more often, hit 'stiffs' less
and split pairs more.
For each basic strategy play, there is only one variation. For
example, the variation for the hand 10, 6 versus 10 is to stand
instead of hit with a true count of 0 or more; you would never
W
COUNTING CARDS AT BLACKJACK Basic Strategy
16 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2018 | azgamingguide.com
TABLE GAMES By TJ Jorgensen
WINNING WAYS By Mark Novak
HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU PUT IN A SLOT? A $40 Initial Investment Is Your Best Bet And Here’s Why …
ow much money should you put into a penny slot to
“test” a game before you get up and move to another
machine if it’s not going well? While most people will
say $20, this is not nearly enough money to truly experience the
new slot games hitting the casino floors. Given that modern
slots tend to be more volatile, a $40 initial investment is your
best bet—and this is assuming you will be playing the mini-
mum bet. Insert any less than this and you may be setting your-
self up for disappointment.
The average number of spins it takes to trigger a bonus varies
from slot to slot, and it’s up to the mathematician to determine
how often a player will get into a bonus. Extremely volatile slots
can take over 180 spins, on average, to hit a bonus whereas a
bonus can be triggered in between 60 and 80 spins in less vola-
tile slots. As a slot enthusiast, you should have a rough idea of
H
azgamingguide.com | March 2018 | Arizona Gaming Guide 17
approximately how many spins it takes to get into the bonuses
on your favorite slot games so you can plan your budget ac-
cordingly. Let’s assume, for example, that your favorite slot
game has a medium volatility with an average of 120 spins for
the bonus. If you intend on wagering 30¢ per spin and it takes
120 spins to get into the bonus, then you can expect to spend
about $36 before you trigger the bonus. Therefore, a reasonable
bankroll for this scenario is $40. This amount of money would,
most likely, allow you to experience the game’s bonus at least
once. If you reach your $40 mark but haven’t triggered a bonus,
then it may be time to end the play session and try a different
game. Since the “$40 test” is based on a medium volatility game
at minimum bet, make sure to adjust the initial stake based on
your playing style. If you tend to wager 60¢ per spin, then the
appropriate bankroll would be $80, and so on. Always be realis-
tic when setting your budget. $
18 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2018 | azgamingguide.com
Introducing the all-new Cliff Castle Casino Hotel Experience. The much-anticipated new ho-
tel expansion project is now open and includes a six story hotel tower with 122 finely appoint-
ed rooms, indoor pool, fitness room, expanded gift shop, coffee shop proudly serving Star-
bucks beverages, five thousand square feet of meeting space, and a 300 car parking garage.
Located an hour north of Phoenix and twenty minutes south of Sedona, the new luxury boutique hotel
offers a Four Diamond level of service and is sure to change the hospitality landscape in northern Arizona.
Each room features a Dream Maker Beauty Rest mattress with luxurious Tencel +Plus bedding, Keurig
coffee maker, a media hub with the latest technology with a 43 inch TV, and a spa-like rain dance shower
with an invigorating 120 jets of water.
The new Cliff Castle Casino Hotel is connected to the casino so guests can experience the remodeled gam-
ing floor not far from the elevator. With the addition of the hotel tower and meeting space, Cliff Castle
Cover Story: Cliff Castle Casino Hotel
Discover:
Images & Words Courtesy Of Cliff Castle Casino Hotel
The Cliff Castle Casino Hotel
Experience
azgamingguide.com | March 2018 | Arizona Gaming Guide 19
Casino will now be more competitive with other Arizona
casinos that offer attached lodging. And, because it’s located
a minute off Interstate 17 in the heart of Verde Valley Wine
Country, it is sure to be a destination for visitors to the area.
The new hotel is the perfect place to play and stay.
Some of Arizona’s most popular tourist attractions including
the town of Jerome, Out of Africa Wild Life Park, Verde Can-
yon Railroad, award-winning vineyards, and the red rocks
of Sedona are just a short drive from the property.
Cliff Castle Casino is proudly owned by the Yavapai-Apache
Nation and in addition to the area attractions that are so
close, there are cultural attractions that are even closer. Monte-
zuma’s Castle is located just across the street. Be sure to visit the
Nation’s cultural center before heading out to the castle to learn the
history of the Yavapai-Apache Nation.
When you are finished exploring the Verde Valley for the day, it’s
time to play and Cliff Castle Casino has something to do for every-
(Continued on page 20)
Playing Blackjack At Cliff Castle Casino Hotel
Winning At Slots At Cliff Castle Casino Hotel
Bowling At Cliff Castle Casino Hotel
20 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2018 | azgamingguide.com
For a late night bite, Three Sisters Market is open twenty-four
hours a day and has made-to-order burgers, sandwiches, and
delicious appetizers. They also have salads and other healthy
options. If you need a little pick me up, a Three Sisters barista
will prepare the perfect specialty coffee to order.
After dinner, relax with a swim or enjoy a soak in the hot tub in
the indoor pool area. The new pool is the perfect oasis and a
great place to unwind after the day’s activities. Large expansive
windows allow natural light to fill the area and brings the out-
side in. The outdoor patio on the other side of the glass is a nice
place to enjoy the fresh air by a fire pit and share your stories
about the adventures of the day.
The action never stops at Cliff Castle Casino. The gaming floor
has over 650 of the newest slot machines with over 100 ma-
chines located in the new non-smoking area, the largest in the
state. If cards is your game, you’ll find Vegas-style live Black-
jack, Spanish 21 and Three Card Poker. There is also a poker
room featuring regular tournaments and open games. Also,
there’s always an exciting promotion going on at Cliff Castle
Casino that will give you a chance to win large cash prizes, cars,
trips, and more. Make sure you join the Castle Club so you can
reap all of the rewards from one of the most generous players
clubs around.
The nightlife is hot at Cliff Castle Casino. Hip, contemporary
décor. Great musical and comedy acts. 12-foot HDTV screen.
You’ll find them all in the Dragonfly, their indoor venue that
stands out as arguably the nicest nightclub in Northern Arizona.
With its Vegas-style vibe and spacious dance floor, the Dragon-
fly is full of pleasant surprises. Every weekend they offer world-
class entertainment and fantastic drink specials. They regularly
have bands playing every Friday and Saturday night with no
cover charge. This club is the go-to place for live entertainment.
Between spring and fall, Cliff Castle Casino features national
touring acts and events in the Stargazer Pavilion. The stars shine
on stage and above you at the Stargazer, Northern Arizona’s
premier open-air theater. It has been the home to acts such as
Willie Nelson, Foreigner, The Band Perry, Darius Rucker, Larry
the Cable Guy and Ron White, not to mention a fabulous Labor
Day Reggae concert or two.
Experience for yourself why Cliff Castle Casino has been voted
the number one casino in the state of Arizona for 19 years in a
row! All casinos have slot machines and table games. What they
do not have is the level of commitment to guest satisfaction,
friendly team members and a warm and welcoming environ-
ment that you will find at Cliff Castle Casino.
Plan your trip today! For more information about Cliff Castle
Casino Hotel, visit their website at CliffCastleCasinoHotel.com
or call 1.800.381.SLOT (7568). $
one. Cliff Castle Casino features a 20 lane bowling center off the
casino floor. Challenge your friends or family to a game or two.
Connected to the bowling alley is Orbits Arcade featuring a
large selection of state-of-the-art video games. If you are travel-
ing with children, they’ll love to spend some time at Kids Quest,
a supervised childcare recreation area featuring fun video
games, arts and crafts projects, and karaoke. Their trip would
not be complete until they have conquered The Quest, a mas-
sive indoor playground area. All of this fun is sure to build up
your appetite and Cliff Castle has you covered.
With four dining options, there are plenty of choices for the
most discriminating taste buds. Cliff Castle Casino features a
Johnny Rockets. A modern tribute to the wonderful diners of
the 50’s, Johnny Rockets is loaded with nostalgic charm. Here
you will enjoy many all-American favorites: cooked-to-order
burgers, fries, fresh-baked apple pie, and hand-dipped malts
and shakes. There is even a jukebox on every table belting out
your favorite tunes for only a nickel. And, if you pick the right
song, you might just get a little floor show.
If you’re looking for a more traditional meal, visit Mountain
Springs Buffet. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the buffet
has a wide selection of delicious food. From a full salad bar to
fresh hot entrées; Mountain Springs has it all and then some.
Don’t miss their famous Prime Rib night every Saturday. Finish
your meal with a selection from the desert table that will bring it
all home. Mountain Springs Buffet is all-you-can-eat and in-
cludes non-alcoholic beverages.
For a fine dining experience, Storytellers is the place in northern
Arizona to treat yourself to an amazing culinary experience.
Renowned Chef, Andrea Di Luca, is a local culinary legend,
having opened and operated many successful restaurants in
Arizona including the award-winning Dahl & Di Luca in Sedo-
na. Di Luca began his career at 16 years old, in a family restau-
rant in Italy. He continued cooking in Italy, Germany, and Co-
penhagen until moving to the United States in 1983. Chef Di
Luca has created a menu that tantalizes the taste buds and will
create an impression that will last a lifetime. Make sure to try
some of the award-winning local wines produced just minutes
away in one of the many local wineries.
(Continued from page 19)
Discover: The Cliff Castle Casino Hotel Experience
Fine Dining At Storytellers At Cliff Castle Casino Hotel
By Megan Conner
22 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2018 | azgamingguide.com
ARIZONA LOTTERY
rizona Lottery players will have a new way to win big
this spring as the Arizona Lottery introduces a new
family of instant games called Fast Play.
With the addition of Fast Play, players won’t have to choose
between their two favorite game categories anymore. Fast Play
combines the simplicity of playing jackpot games with the in-
stant gratification of Scratchers tickets. This new style of play has
something to offer for every type of player. Fast Play provides a
variety of individually-themed games at varying price points,
play styles and prize structures.
Players can purchase their Fast Play tickets through lottery ter-
minals and the four games give players a chance to win a cash
prize instantly, independent of any drawing. Price points range
from $1 to $5, making it the perfect game for any budget.
With Fast Play, players have a new and fast way to play and win
with the Arizona Lottery. The new category features four games
for players to choose from; Fast Play Piggy Bank Bucks, Fast Play
Crazy 8s, Fast Play Jackpot Party Progressive and Fast Play Cherry
Twist Progressive.
Alongside high odds of winning, the Fast Play Piggy Bank Bucks
NEW FAMILY OF INSTANT GAMES AZ Lottery Welcomes New Category Of Lottery Games With “Fast Play”
A and Fast Play Crazy 8s games generate a range of numbers to
identify whether a ticket is a winner of one or more instant priz-
es. These two tickets offer a combined $5.6 million prize pool.
Players can purchase Fast Play Piggy Bank Bucks for $1 and Fast
Play Crazy 8s for $5.
Fast Play Jackpot Party Progressive and Fast Play Cherry Twist Pro-
gressive offers players an added way to win with progressive
jackpots. Similar to Piggy Bank Bucks and Crazy 8s, these games
generate play symbols to determine if a ticket is an instant win-
ner of one or more prizes, but players also have the opportunity
to win a jackpot prize.
If the jackpot is not won, the games’ progressive jackpots in-
crease each time a ticket is sold. When a lucky player hits the
progressive jackpot, the jackpot for the next ticket is reset to
either $2,000 or $5,000 depending on the game. Players can pur-
chase Fast Play Jackpot Party Progressive for $2 and Fast Play Cher-
ry Twist Progressive for $5.
Fast Play is available this month and players can purchase their
tickets at all 2,900+ Arizona Lottery retailers. For more infor-
mation on Fast Play or other exciting Arizona Lottery games,
visit their website at ArizonaLottery.com. $
TRAVEL Route 66 Casino Hotel & RV Resort By Janis DeLaney
ROUTE 66 CASINO HOTEL & RV RESORT 1,300+ Slots, Poker, Bingo, Fine Dining, Hotel, RV Park & Much More!
xperience the open road to excitement at Route 66 Casino
Hotel & RV Resort, located just 15 minutes west of Albu-
querque, New Mexico, on historic Route 66. You’ll un-
cover Las Vegas-style casino action, award-winning dining, and
top-notch live entertainment all under one roof, making this the
perfect choice for a weekend getaway.
Feel the thrill of non-stop excitement on the Route 66 Casino
floor. With over 1,300 of the latest reel, slots, video poker and
progressive machines, plus 15 action-packed table games, you’ll
find the perfect game to “Get Your Kicks.” Enjoy your favorite
poker games in their reserved Poker Room, featuring multiple
tables with nightly tournaments. You’ll always find something
new and exciting at the Route 66 Casino Bingo Hall, with over
500 seats, 45 digital bingo screens and an on-site snack bar,
you’ll never have to leave your seat.
Have an out-of-this-world experience: An unidentified flying
object has landed in the center of the Route 66 Casino gaming
floor and its alien presence has attracted the newest slot games
in the country to a realm known as Area 66! Guests will find
Area 66 filled with first-to-market slot machines, exclusive to
Route 66 Casino! Seek out the newest games on every visit! Ar-
ea 66 is replenished with new games every 90 days and the casi-
no floor receives nationwide game releases regularly.
Experience world-class quality, service and value at one of their
award-winning restaurants and three lounges. Tempt your taste
buds at Thunder Road Steakhouse and Cantina. Located in the
heart of the casino, this multi-level restaurant serves up sizzling
steaks, spicy tacos, and specialty drinks from a full tequila bar.
Enjoy live entertainment courtesy of the best local bands every
weekend on the bar-top stage. When it comes to All-American
comfort foods and cocktails, they’ve got it all! Flashback to the
good ol’ days Johnny Rockets restaurant for an All-American
burger, onion rings and milkshake. Main Street Restaurant &
Bar is the perfect place for breakfast or a home-style meal any
time of the day. If you’re looking to simply wet your whistle,
swing by the 360 Lounge, Poker Pub, or Main Street Bar, and
ask about the drink specials.
Let Route 66 Casino entertain you. With 2,800 plush theater-
style seats and a multi-million dollar audio system, every seat in
Legends Theater is a good seat. Experience year-round perfor-
mances from some of the best comedians, rock legends, country
superstars and premier tribute bands in the business. Legends
E
Theater features more than 20 headliner performances every
year.
The entire family can “Get Their Kicks” at Route 66 Casino at
Kids Quest and Cyber Quest, the on-site hourly childcare and
arcade. Route 66 Casino Hotel is the only casino property in
New Mexico to offer this nation-wide children’s program. Open
daily, Kids Quest accepts children ages 6 weeks to 12 years.
Coast into indulgence and stay the night in their classy and
comfortable hotel. Relax in one of the 154 newly renovated
rooms at Route 66 Hotel. Refreshed from floor to ceiling, a re-
cent $2 million remodel features an inviting ambiance of lively
designs, modern furnishings, and many upgrades to make your
stay comfortable. Reenergize with in-room amenities from top
brands like Simmons Beautyrest, Starbucks and Bath & Body
Works. Hotel reservations are available now. For current rates,
member discounts, and reservations call 1.866.711.STAY (7829).
Located just steps away from the casino is the Southwest’s new-
est vacation destination, the Route 66 RV Resort. The RV Resort
has been awarded the coveted 10/10*/10 rating from the indus-
try’s leading publication Good Sam. You’ll relish stunning views
of the surrounding Southwest landscape at any one of their 100
full-service RV sites. Experience the many state-of-the-art resort
amenities, such as the deluxe RV Clubhouse, high-end workout
facility, spa-like bathrooms and multiple dog parks. Relax
poolside at their luxurious resort style pool, which features a
beach entry, hot tub and 60-foot water slide. The RV reserva-
tions can be made at RT66RVResort.com or by calling
1.505.352.8000. The best gaming, dining, and entertainment is
just a hop, skip and short 15 minute drive west of Albuquerque
on I-40, exit 140. Visit RT66Casino.com for the latest Route 66
Casino Hotel news or call 1.866.352.RT66 (7866). $
24 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2018 | azgamingguide.com
26 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2018 | azgamingguide.com
GAMING NEWS
Gila River Hotels & Casinos Now Offers Gift Cards
At All Three Of Its Valley Properties
To kick off 2018, Gila River Hotels & Casinos now offers gift
cards available for purchase at all three Valley property loca-
tions – Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, Vee Quiva Hotel &
Casino, and Lone Butte Casino.
Guests can now invite family and friends to experience the fun
and excitement at each property or taste the many restaurant
options including award-winning Shula’s Steak House at Wild
Horse Pass Hotel & Casino and Ditka’s at Vee Quiva Hotel &
Casino or any other restaurant locations.
“At Gila River Hotels & Casinos our guests have the oppor-
tunity to kick-back and be themselves in a fun and thrilling
atmosphere – whether they are catching a show, dining at our
restaurants or winning big at our tables. Now our guests can
invite their friends and family to join in the excitement with
our Gila River Hotels & Casinos gift cards,” said Dominic
Orozco, Corporate Vice President of Marketing for Gila River
Hotels & Casinos.
Each gift card can be used towards dining, entertainment,
event tickets, and gift shop items. Gift cards can carry any val-
ue and be purchased at all Café 24/7 or Coffee Shop 24/7 loca-
tions.
Gift cards are now available for purchase at all three Gila River
Hotels & Casinos properties located at:
●Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino: 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd.
Chandler, AZ 85226
●Lone Butte Casino: 1077 S. Kyrene Rd. Chandler, AZ 85226
●Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino: 15091 S. Komatke Lane, Laveen,
AZ 85339 $
GAMING NEWS
It’s Arizona Problem Gambling Awareness Month
Let’s “Have The Conversation”
From lottery tickets and bingo, to Indian gaming and fundrais-
ing for charitable causes, Arizona offers many entertaining
options for people who enjoy gambling. For some people, how-
ever, gambling can have negative effects on health, finances
and relationships.
March is Arizona Problem Gambling Awareness Month and
the Division of Problem Gambling (DPG) of the Arizona De-
partment of Gaming wants you to know how to recognize a
potential problem and, when needed, get the personal, confi-
dential treatment and recovery services right for you.
Problem gambling warning signs are easy to overlook. Please
consider these questions to find out if you or someone im-
portant to you could benefit from calling Arizona’s 24-hour
helpline, 1-800-NEXT-STEP:
●Have you ever felt the need to bet more and more money?
●Have you ever lied to people important to you about how
much you are gambling?
●Have you repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or
stop gambling?
●Do you gamble as a way of escaping emotional or physical
pain?
●Have you ever relied on others to provide money to relieve a
desperate financial situation caused by gambling?
●Have you ever jeopardized or lost a significant relationship,
job or career opportunity because of gambling?
●Have you gambled to get money with which to pay debts or
to solve other financial problems?
●Have you borrowed money to finance your gambling?
●Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
●Do you gamble to try to get your money back?
Arizona Problem Gambling Awareness Month supports the
power we all have to make a difference by fostering under-
standing about consequences and emphasizing the resources
the State of Arizona and Tribes make possible.
DPG invites you to connect with them and “Have the Conver-
sation” – visit problemgambling.az.gov:
●For educational information about the disorder of Problem
Gambling
●The list of DPG’s specialized counselors and tribal/state-
funded outpatient treatments
●To explore Self-Exclusion; a voluntary process to exclude
yourself from tribal casinos
●For details about outreach to your community or a profes-
sional group
●To stay informed about upcoming events
Register TODAY for DPG’s 12th Annual Symposium: The
POWER to Address Problem Gambling and its Implications
by visiting their website at azgamblingsymposium.com, or by
calling 1.480.990.1887. Registration includes lunch and a certifi-
cate of completion for continuing education credits.
WHEN: Monday, March 5, 2018
WHERE: Black Canyon Conference Center
9440 North 25th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85021
WHO: Everyone, especially professionals and students
working in/studying the helping professions. $
28 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2018 | azgamingguide.com
By Elise Mikkelsen
GAMING NEWS
Arizona’s Tribal Gaming Contributions Establish Year-Long Upward Trend
Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2018 Tribal Gaming Contributions Generate
Nearly $15.5 Million For State of Arizona
Arizona Department of Gaming officials just announced that
statewide tribal contributions for the quarter ending December
31, 2017, totaled approximately $15.5 million. This amount
represents a 6.4 percent increase as compared to the same peri-
od last year. Tribal contributions now have increased four con-
secutive quarters!
“Tribal gaming contributions directly benefit Arizonans’ quali-
ty of life and enhance and attract visitors to our state,” said
Daniel Bergin, Director of the Arizona Department of Gaming.
“This fourth consecutive quarterly increase establishes a solid,
year-long upward trend.”
The Arizona Department of Gaming will distribute quarterly
tribal contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund as follows:
azgamingguide.com | March 2018 | Arizona Gaming Guide 29
Instructional Improvement Fund/Education $7,723,035
Trauma & Emergency Services Fund $3,861,518
Arizona Department of Gaming Operating Costs $1,394,609
Arizona Wildlife Conservation Fund $1,103,291
Arizona State Tourism Fund $1,103,291
Problem Gambling Education, Treatment, Prevention $309,913
Total Tribal Contributions $15,495,657
About The Arizona Department Of Gaming (ADG)
Established by the Arizona State Legislature in 1995, the ADG
is the state regulatory agency for tribal gaming, pari-mutuel
racing and wagering, and boxing and mixed martial arts. ADG
also provides and supports education, prevention and treat-
ment programs for people and families affected by problem
gambling through its Division of Problem Gambling. $
By Elizabeth Schueren
LAUGHLIN, NEVADA
ake sure to join Golden Nugget’s 24K Select Club so
you can enjoy a one-of-a-kind loyalty program that
will entertain you coast to coast. Golden Nugget
24K Select Club members can now earn Tier Credits and Comp
Dollars across all five Golden Nugget Casinos on one 24K Select
Club account. Making it easier than ever for 24K Select Club
members to earn rewards and to qualify for higher tier levels.
Golden Nugget 24K Select Club members can also use their
Comp Dollars to dine, shop and relax at all five Golden Nugget
Casinos and over 600 Landry’s Restaurants nationwide. Giving
24K Select Club members the freedom to use the Comp Dollars
they earned at Golden Nugget Laughlin at a Claim Jumper in
Tucson, AZ or Henderson, NV, at the Morton’s Steakhouse
down the street, or at a Rainforest Café on their next vacation.
24K Select Club members earn Comp Dollars and Tier Credits
by playing their favorite slots or table games at any Golden
Nugget Casino with their 24K Select Club Card. Each Tier Level
offers members a variety of exclusive Tier Status benefits, like
invitations to exclusive events, priority access, exclusive gifts
and discounts.
M Plus, all 24K Select
Club members can
now access their
24K Select Club
account on the go
with the new Gold-
en Nugget Mobile
App. Members now
have 24/7 access to
view their Comp
Dollars, Tier Cred-
its, Slot Points, Tier
Level Status, special offers across all Golden Nugget Casinos,
and receive additional mobile-only offers. The Golden Nugget
Mobile App is available through the Google Play Store and Ap-
ple App Store.
Visit the 24K Select Club Booth to become a member and dis-
cover all the ways it pays to be a 24K Select Club member. For
more information or to book a stay call 1.800.237.1739 or visit
GoldenNuggetLaughlin.com. $
COMP$ THAT TRAVEL COAST TO COAST Golden Nugget Offers Their 24K Select Club Members Unique Rewards
30 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2018 | azgamingguide.com
SPHNIX 4D Now Available For Play At The Golden Nugget—Laughlin!
The award-winning Sphinx 4D video slots with industry-first technology are
now live on the Golden Nugget—Laughlin Casino floor! Housed on IGT’s
CrystalCurve True 4D cabinet, Sphinx 4D combines glasses-free True 3D
graphics with mid-air haptic and gesture recognition technologies to create a
multi-sensory gaming experience unlike anything previously offered in the
casino industry! Gesture recognition technology enables players to use hand
movements in front of the screen (without actually touching the screen) to
move and manipulate the game’s graphics, while mid-air haptic technology
gives players tactical feedback as they interact with the game’s 3D graphics.
Just shortly after its launch in December of last year, one lucky player at the
Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut won the Sphinx 4D top Jack-
pot for $490,506. This slot machine is on fire, so make sure to play it while it’s
hot!
ark your calendars, because you’re going to want to
plan a trip to the Tropicana Casino in Laughlin, NV.
Starting on Friday, April 20 at 2pm through Sunday,
April 22 at 11:59pm, Trop Advantage members will be compet-
ing in the Slot Point Challenge! The Tropicana Laughlin top
point earner (one winner) from the weekend will be awarded an
all-expense paid trip to Tropicana Atlantic City to compete in
the Tropicana Entertainment Trop Advantage $250,000 Slot
Challenge Tournaments in June 2018. For more information, just
visit the Tropicana Laughlin Trop Advantage Center.
April is an exciting month filled with great promotions at the
Tropicana Laughlin. How would you like to be the owner of a
brand new 2018 Toyota RAV4? Just visit Tropicana Laughlin in
between now and April 7, 2018 and play your favorite slots and
table games to earn entries for your chance to win. The main
M
By Mark Novak
$250,000 SLOT CHALLENGE Tropicana Laughlin Qualifier Event, April 20-22
LAUGHLIN, NEVADA
drawing will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 11:15pm.
Make sure to sign up for their player’s club program, because
you must be a Trop Advantage member to earn entries.
Tropicana Laughlin has extended a special offer just to Arizona
Gaming Guide fans! For just $39.99 per night, you will receive a
resort room upgrade, $20 bonus slot dollars and $10 in dining
credit. For more information or to make a room reservation, call
1.800.343.4533 and mention promo code 7042. $
32 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2018 | azgamingguide.com
Editor’s Pick CASINO ENTERTAINMENT
The Clairvoyants Desert Diamond Casino—Sahuarita
April 21
World champions of mentalism, The Clairvoyants, are bring-
ing their spellbinding act to Desert Diamond Casinos’ Dia-
mond Center on Saturday, April 21, 2018. Tickets are on sale
now through Star Tickets and at Desert Diamond Casino’s
Rewards Center. Tickets start at $15. Doors open at 7pm and
the show starts at 8pm.
Thommy Ten and Amelie Van Tass (The Clairvoyants) were
born and raised in Austria and now reside both there and in
America. When they met in 2011, they began to develop their
“second sight” act, and two months later brought it to the
stage for the first time. In 2014, they received their first long-
term contract in America when they performed in the show
The Illusionarium by Jeff Hobson. They were subsequently
offered a featured spot in The Illusionists, the largest touring
magic show in the world, produced by Simon Painter.
With The Illusionists they toured Australia, Mexico and the
Middle East and since that time have also appeared in The
Illusionists 2.0, The Illusionists — Live From Broadway and The
Illusionists — Turn of the Century on Broadway. In 2016, they
were Finalists on “America’s Got Talent”, chosen from more
than 100,000 contestants. Van Tass and Ten were awarded the
“German Champions of Mentalism”, “Magicians of the Year”,
2015 and, were enthusiastically chosen as the “World Cham-
pions of Mentalism, 2015”, a prize that hadn’t been awarded
in 30 years. They are currently touring America and Europe
with continued sold out shows and standing ovations.
Treena Parvello, Director of Public Relations and Communica-
tions for the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, said,
“We’re very excited to welcome The Clairvoyants to the Dia-
mond Center for a magical evening. Don’t miss your chance
to see these world champion mentalists live on stage!” $
Kansas Talking Stick Resort
June 3
Talking Stick Resort will welcome iconic classic rock band
Kansas on Sunday, June 3, 2018. With 15 studio albums and
five live albums, the band will have no shortage of hits to play
when the group hits the stage at the resort’s Salt River Grand
Ballroom.
Since forming in 1974, Kansas had developed an extensive
musical catalogue. Songs like “Carry On Wayward Son” and
“Dust in the Wind” had led the band to sell more than 30 mil-
lion albums worldwide and has secured them a permanent
place on classic rock radio. However, Kansas hasn’t rested on
its laurels, the band instead has continued to create new mu-
sic. Their most recent release, “The Prelude Implicit” from
2016 was the group’s highest charting release since 1986 as it
landed at #14 on the Top 200 album chart and #41 on the Bill-
board 200.
Don’t miss your chance to see these legends live. Tickets for
Kansas are available now. Please call the Talking Stick Resort
Box Office at 1.480.850.7734 or visit TalkingStickResort.com
for more information. Must be 21 or older to attend.
Other exciting upcoming shows at Talking Stick Resort in-
clude The Psychedelic Furs on March 2, KMLE Country Dou-
ble Header—Dustin Lynch & Old Dominion on March 2 & 3,
Kenny Wayne Shepherd on March 9, The Mavericks on March
10 & 11, Gino Vannelli on March 23, Blue Oyster Cult on April
13, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers on April 21, I Mom So
Hard on April 27 & 28, Thunder From Down Under on May
10-12, and Kathleen Madigan on June 15. $
Verify all details & age restrictions (generally 21 & over) for each event. Venues, times, dates, & ticket
information are subject to change. Photos/images copyright of the individual artist(s), photographer(s),
or venue(s). All Rights Reserved. We are not responsible for incorrect, missing, or outdated information.
azgamingguide.com | March 2018 | Arizona Gaming Guide 33
34 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2018 | azgamingguide.com
henever I go to a casino, I go prepared to lose. It’s
not to say that I have a bad attitude or that I’m an
eternal pessimist, I just accept that gambling is a
form of entertainment. The amount of money I take with me to
a casino is what I feel I can afford to part with. That way, if I
happen to be lucky, then it’s kind of like an unexpected bonus I
can be excited about. And, if I lose—no harm no foul.
I believe that it’s just silly to expect to win at the casino ALL the
time. I have my ups and downs and if one casino visit isn’t the
greatest then I look forward to my next visit in the hopes that
maybe my luck will change for the better. Unfortunately, I re-
ceive way too many emails from players complaining about
losing money at the casinos.
Whether you play slots, cards, bingo, keno, or any other game
STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT LOSING Gambling Is A Form Of Entertainment And It Costs Money!
By Sami Becker
SAMI’S SMACKDOWN
in a casino, you have to understand that they are all designed to
make the house money. The “house,” meaning the casino, will
always have the advantage over you regardless of the game you
choose to play because these games of chance are based on ran-
dom outcomes that favor the casino. They are, in a nutshell,
mathematically calculated to work against you! That is a fact.
Therefore, if you are one of those people that always complains
about the casinos cheating players, setting up the cards, or rig-
ging the slot machines, you’re just being foolish! $
Do YOU have a RANT OR RAVE?
If so, write me at: [email protected] or by mail
at: “Sami” Arizona Gaming Guide PO BOX 20636
Mesa, AZ 85277. If I pick your topic for publication
in a future issue, you’ll get a $25 gift card!
W
36 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2018 | azgamingguide.com
7 5
2
3
4 8
9 8
8
2 4
7
2 9
8 3
3 5
6
6
5 2
1
2 8
5 1
SUDOKU Each of the columns, rows, and 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.
Level: Medium.
(Solution on page 38)
WORD SEARCH
To Celebrate International Women’s Day On March 8, Find:
ACTIVIST, CONFIDENCE, CREATIVITY, EDUCATE,
EMPOWERMENT, EQUALITY, FREEDOM, LIBERATION,
MOVEMENT, OPRESSION, PROGRESS, REFORM, RIGHTS, SELF
ESTEEM, SISTERHOOD, SOCIAL, STRUGGLE, SUFFRAGE,
VINDICATION, WOMEN. Words appear in any direction. (Sol. p. 38)
F S E L F E E M Q H S M E S T
A S N O I T I N I V I Y D A C
C E M R N W U N E M O W S G E
T C O E O Y Z S X M T S N P C
I R V D I S R S N T E U Q V N
V E E U S S S E R O N R F I E
I A M C S E Y D O L R I E H F
S T E A E R C E T M O R G T I
T I N T R G I F A R O A G I F
J V T E P O A O R E D G U L N
N I F L O R L R E W A E R A O
Z T R T I P W M B O C U T U C
O Y Z K A T Y R I P Z X S Q D
S T H G I R H F L M S V X E J
P L F R E E M L S E Q G D D O
FUN & GAMES
CHINESE HOROSCOPE—Year Of The Dog Pray for good luck on these dates in March 2018: 4, 5, 8, 10, 16, 17, 22, and 28. If you were born in the Year Of The Dog your
lucky numbers are 3, 4, and 9 and your unlucky numbers are 1, 6, and 7. Dates for Year Of The Dog:
02/14/34-02/03/35, 02/02/46-01/21/47, 02/18/58-02/07/59, 02/06/70-01/26/71, 01/25/82-02/12/83, 02/10/94-01/30/95.
CASINO DIRECTORY
38 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2018 | azgamingguide.com
City Phone Slots Hig
h L
imit
Are
a
Bin
go
Casino Liv
e K
eno
Tab
le G
ames
Po
ker
Ro
om
Ho
tel
Sm
ok
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ree
Are
a
Sources: AZ Dept. of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 02/01/18 & direct inquiries at press time. Not responsible for incorrect information. Contact [email protected] to make updates.
RV
Par
k
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Location Sp
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Arc
ade
01. Apache Gold Casino Resort Hwy. 70, 5 mi. E. of Globe Globe 800-272-2438 482 Y Y Y Y Y Y
02. Apache Sky Casino Milepost 127 on Arizona 77 Dudleyville 800-272-2438 310 Y
03. BlueWater Resort & Casino 11300 Resort Drive Parker 888-243-3360 532 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
04. Bucky’s Casino 1500 E. Hwy. 69 Prescott 800-756-8744 321 Y Y Y Y
05. Casino Arizona 101 & McKellips Scottsdale 480-850-7777 898 Y Y Y Y
06. Casino Del Sol 5655 W. Valencia Rd. Tucson 855-765-7829 1,005 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
07. Casino Del Sol Marketplace 5405 W Valencia Rd Tucson 855-765-7829 11
08. Casino Of The Sun 7406 S. Camino De Oeste Tucson 855-765-7829 275
09. Cliff Castle Casino & Hotel I-17, Exit 289 Camp Verde 800-381-7568 650 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
10. Cocopah Resort Casino 15318 S. Ave. B Somerton 800-237-5687 502 Y Y Y Y Y Y
11. Desert Diamond Casino-Tuc. 7350 S. Nogales Hwy. Tucson 866-332-9467 1,016 Y Y Y Y Y Y
12. Desert Diamond Casino-Sah. I-19, Exit 80 Sahuarita 866-332-9467 563 Y Y
13. Desert Diamond Casino-W.V. 101 & Northern Ave. Glendale 866-332-9467 1,089
14. Desert Diamond Casino-Why Hwy. 86, Milepost 55 Why 866-332-9467 58
15. Fort McDowell Casino Hwy. 87 & Ft. McDowell Rd. Fort McDowell 800-843-3678 885 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
16. Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino 15406 N. Maricopa Rd. Maricopa 480-802-5000 1,089 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
17. Hon-Dah Casino 777 Hwy. 260 Pinetop 800-929-8744 829 Y Y Y Y Y
18. Lone Butte Casino 1077 S. Kyrene Rd. Chandler 800-946-4452 828 Y Y Y
19. Mazatzal Hotel & Casino Hwy. 87, 1/4 mi. S. of Payson Payson 800-777-7529 373 Y Y Y Y Y Y
20. Paradise Casino 450 Quechan Dr. Yuma 888-777-4946 480 Y
21. Quechan Casino I-8, Exit 166 Winterhaven, CA 877-783-2426 1,000+ Y Y Y Y Y Y
22. Spirit Mountain Casino 8555 Hwy. 95 Mohave Valley 928-346-2000 250
23. Talking Stick Resort 101 & Indian Bend Scottsdale 480-850-7777 765 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
24. Twin Arrows Navajo Casino I-40, Exit 219 Flagstaff 855-946-8946 1,097 Y Y Y Y Y Y
25. Vee Quiva Casino 6443 Komatke Ln. Laveen 800-946-4452 921 Y Y Y Y Y
26. Wild Horse Pass Casino 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd. Chandler 800-946-4452 937 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
27. Yavapai Casino 1505 E. Hwy. 69 Prescott 800-756-8744 245 Y
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Sudoku Solution
S E L F E E E M S S T
A N O I T I D N I V I A C
C M N N E M O W S E
T C O E O T S C
I R V D I S N T E U N
V E E U S S S E O N R F E
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3 7 5
9 8 4
1 6 2
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1 2 6
5 7 3
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7 1 8
2 4 9
7 4 1
6 2 9
8 5 3
2 9 8
4 3 5
6 1 7
8 3 6
5 2 1
4 9 7
9 1 5
3 7 4
2 8 6
7 4 2
8 6 9
3 5 1
Word Search Solution
