arizona gaming guide - december 2011 - 03:05
DESCRIPTION
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
FAST FACTS Indian Gaming
20 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
Contents
04 EDITOR’S NOTE What’s on our mind
06 PLAYERS TALK What’s on your mind
27 ENTERTAINMENT Editor’s Picks
28 FUN & GAMES Sudoku & Riddles to keep your mind sharp
29 SAMI’S SMACKDOWN Rants, raves & reflections
30 CASINO SPONSOR DIRECTORY
REGULAR RESPINS
25 CASINO BUZZ New slots at Mazatzal in Payson.
26 NATIVE AMERICANS IN ARIZONA The IGRA & The ICA.
FAST FACTS
08 GHOSTBUSTERS BY IGT Invade Casino Arizona & Talking Stick Resort.
10 CASCADING REELS & 5X4 ANCIENT MAGICKE Brand new WMS slots at Hon-Dah Resort-Casino.
13 MICHAEL JACKSON KING OF POP BY BALLY One of a kind slot machine coming Summer 2012.
15 POKER Check out the poker room at Talking Stick Resort.
GREAT GAMES
DECEMBER
azgamingguide.com | December 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide 03 Slot machine images courtesy of WMS Gaming. © Copyright WMS Gaming. All Rights Reserved. www.wms.com
FEATURES
16 LUNAR BINGO—FT. MCDOWELL CASINO DJ Ramses Ja takes us inside the phenomenon.
Slot machine images courtesy of Bally Technologies. © Copyright Bally Technologies. All Rights Reserved. www.ballytech.com
0808
20 VIDEO POKER Strategies to keep you playing.
22 QUICK GAMBLING TIPS If you want to win big—play these slots!
WINNING WAYS
1010
1313
1616 Ramses JaRamses Ja
Lunar BingoLunar Bingo
@ Fort McDowell Casino@ Fort McDowell Casino
VOLUME 03 • ISSUE 05
PUBLISHER
Chris Hoft
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Elizabeth Torma
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Alexandra Lang
ART DIRECTOR
Melanie Mueller
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Mark Novak
Alex Stewart
Samantha Becker
Lana Hartmann
Elizabeth Torma
ADVERTISING SALES
Nina Consiglio
Alex Stewart
MAILING INFORMATION
Arizona Gaming Guide
P.O. Box 20636
Mesa, Arizona 85277
INTERNET INFORMATION
www.azgamingguide.com
www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide
Copyright © 2011 The Arizona Gaming Guide.
All rights reserved.
The Arizona Gaming Guide (AGG) presents casino industry and
gaming related facts as well as personal opinions and expects the
reader to make his or her own decisions. All responses to reader e-
mails and letters are to be considered as advice only. AGG accepts
no responsibility and no liability for any actions of our readers
based on the articles and advertisements presented within this
publication. All pictures, images, logos, trademarks and trade
names, etc. are the sole property of their respective owners. You
must be 21 or older to gamble. Please play responsibly. Help is
available at 1.800.NEXT.STEP or www.problemgambling.az.gov.
EDITOR’S NOTE
04 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
Your Authority On Everything Gaming
Lunar Bingo At Fort McDowell Casino
Hot music, cocktail specials, laser lights and a great time is what you
can expect at Lunar Bingo at Fort McDowell casino presented by 101.1
FM The Beat. The spacious 1,700 seat state-of-the-art bingo hall is the
place to be every third Saturday of the month! Ramses Ja, the man be-
hind the music, gives us a glimpse at what happens when the lights go
off at this exciting event in this month’s feature story!
With the new 2012 year just around the corner, my team and I are re-
flecting on all of our achievements this year and setting even higher
goals for ourselves for the coming year. As always, we will continue to
deliver intriguing information on everything gaming to all of you
through our magazine. And, in addition to our print publication and
our social media outlets and applications, we are introducing our all-
new electronic newsletter this month. Hot casino deals, new game in-
stalls, dining, entertainment, and gambling tips delivered straight to
your inbox! We have a lot more exciting things planned for the new
year—additions to the magazine, a fun bus, and more! Stay tuned!
Please visit us at: www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide, become
part of our community and share your thoughts and experiences with
others who also love the same casino games you do. You can sign up
for our e-newsletter and find the current and back issues of the Ari-
zona Gaming Guide on our website at www.azgamingguide.com. For
your convenience, we have included the QR codes for both web ad-
dresses in our directory. Let me know what you think of our Novem-
ber issue and have fun!
Cheers!
Alexandra Lang
Editor-in-Chief
Alexandra
PLAYERS TALK Q&A On Everything Gaming
06 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
ASK THE EXPERTS and get a $25 gas card if we decide to print your question! Do you have a question for our staff of casino gaming industry professionals and slot experts? Write us with your questions
and comments in any area of gaming and we will make every attempt to publish a response in upcoming issues. Space is
limited so we are unable to print every letter or e-mail we receive. Please include your name and mailing address with all
correspondence. Mail to: Arizona Gaming Guide PO BOX 20636 Mesa, AZ 85277 or E-mail to: [email protected].
Q: CASINO EMPLOYMENT
I want to apply for a job at the casino. Can you tell me if
I will need to get a gaming license? If so, what is the
process involved? Thanks for your help with this.
Anonymous – Tucson, AZ
A: State Certification and/or a Tribal Gaming License is re-
quired by the Tribal-State Gaming Compacts before an individ-
ual may be employed by a gaming facility in Arizona. All
Tribes with gaming facilities have a Tribal Gaming Office
(TGO), as required by the Compacts, to assist in the regulation
of Indian gaming. The TGO issues the Tribal Gaming License
for the gaming facility; all gaming employees must have a
Tribal Gaming License to work in a casino. Additionally, the
Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) issues the State Certi-
fication for non-tribal members or a Tribal Gaming License
Recommendation for tribal members. The process for individu-
als to obtain employee certification is summarized below:
- All prospective gaming employees must initiate the employee
certification process through the casino's TGO. The TGO col-
lects a fee from a potential employee and has him or her fill out
an application form and then forwards the application and the
fee to the ADG.
- ADG then conducts an investigation into the background of
the applicant upon receipt of the application and fee. At the
same time, fingerprint cards are submitted to the Arizona De-
partment of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investiga-
tion.
- Within 20 days of receiving the completed application, ADG
issues temporary certification to the applicant. If temporarily
certified, the applicant can work in the gaming facility during
the official background investigation.
- If the completed background investigation reveals nothing
that would preclude the applicant, ADG issues a State Certifi-
cation and forwards it to the TGO. If the background investiga-
tion reveals that the applicant is not suitable for State Certifica-
tion, ADG issues an intent to deny the application. Of course,
the applicant has a right to protest the decision at a hearing.
- ADG makes a recommendation to the Tribe for Tribal mem-
bers seeking employment at his or her Tribe's gaming facility as
to whether the applicant should be licensed. ADG's recommen-
dation may or may not be accepted by the Tribe. However, if the
Tribe chooses not to accept a negative recommendation from the
ADG, the ADG may request a Tribal Forum to make its case
against the tribal member's employment.
This should give you an idea of what you can expect when you
apply for a job at a casino in Arizona. Many thanks to Talia
Otto at the ADG for her assistance with this answer. For more
information please visit their website at azgaming.gov.
Q: PLAYERS CLUB CARDS
I just turned 21 last April. I go to the casinos from time
to time and I was wondering if it’s worth signing up for
a card. Some people I know get free stuff, but I don’t
think I spend enough to get anything.
Natalie L. – Paradise Valley, AZ
Natalie, a popular misconception is that the players club cards
are only worthwhile to big bettors that spend a lot of money at
the casinos. This is absolutely not the case. You can’t forget to
take into account the aggregate total amount of ALL wins you
get during a play session. For example, it’s not uncommon to
put $20 in a machine and play through $200. The card reader
records all the money played through the machine and not just
the initial stake. Therefore, points do add up very quickly dur-
ing a play session, even when placing low bets.
The casinos are competing against each other for your business.
The incentives they provide you in the form of free merchan-
dise, rooms, food, entertainment, and cash back are just oppor-
tunities to entice you to come back and play at their casino. If
you’re not using a players card then you’re giving the casino
an even greater advantage. I would strongly suggest that you
sign up for a players card. It may take a few casino trips until
you begin to see the offers, but you will find that you don’t have
to be a whale to enjoy a free buffet or some free play money.
However, make sure you are using your players club card
wisely, be an informed player, shop around and see which ca-
azgamingguide.com | December 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide 07
sino is willing to give you the best deal and then choose where
you spend your entertainment dollars. All this means knowing
how much money you need to spend in order to earn 1 point,
how many points it takes to earn back $1, and which casino
games earn you points the fastest. All casinos have pamphlets
that describe their players clubs and the hosts are always more
than happy to answer any questions you may have.
Q: VIDEO POKER
My wife and I both play video poker and we have a lot
of fun with the game, but we can’t agree on when it’s
time to quit. I don’t continue playing after I get a really
nice win, because I don’t think the machine will pay out
anything else. My wife gets mad at me and tells me the
machine could be hot and I should keep playing. Some-
times I listen to her and keep playing, but then I’ll get
mad when I lose my money. What do you think? When
is a good time to quit?
H & M Alba – Phoenix, AZ
H & M, there’s absolutely no reason to believe if a machine has
“paid out” that it will not give another win for a while. All slot
machines, including video poker, undergo hot streaks and cold
streaks. Let’s consider the simple example of a coin toss. If we
define “heads up” to signal a win and “tails up” to signal a
loss, we know that the probability of either one occurring on
each coin toss is 50%. We also know that there will be “streaks”
of heads (wins) and “streaks” of tails (losses) during our coin
tosses. This is the same behavior exhibited by slot machines.
Even the random number generators in the slot machines be-
have in patterns and exhibit repetitious behavior. That is why I,
personally, don’t leave a game right after a big win. I continue
to see how it does for a little while if my bankroll permits.
I would suggest that you and your wife decide on an amount
that is acceptable to risk if you win before you start your play
session and stick to it. The other option is to play off your bank-
roll and still leave with your wins. And, by “leave” I don’t
mean leave the video poker machine you were playing and find
another machine. I mean, leave—literally. Take those wins
home and enjoy your good fortune!
Q: TOP AWARD FREQUENCY
How often does the highest jackpot usually occur on a
slot machine?
Tom McDonald—Douglas, AZ
Tom, by Arizona regulations, the highest advertised award on a
gaming device has to occur, statistically, once in every
50,000,000 spins. However, for most games (unless a wide-area
progressive) it’s usually between 100,000 and 1,000,000. $
Q&A On Everything Gaming PLAYERS TALK
08 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
GREAT GAMES New Slots
he P.K.E. meters are going crazy at Talking Stick
Resort and Casino Arizona with the new Ghost-
busters™ Who Ya Gonna Call Spinning Reel Slots
hitting casino floors. The slots, manufactured by Interna-
tional Game Technology (IGT), premiered last month
during two special events that helped welcome the games
to the Valley. At the events, a 30-foot Stay Puft marshmal-
low man towered over Casino Arizona to welcome gam-
ers and die-hard Ghostbusters fans. Slurping down slime
green drinks to mark the occasion, fans posed in front of
the original Ecto-1 on display at Talking Stick Resort and
even enjoyed a visit from The Arizona Ghostbusters cos-
tuming fan club and their own Ecto-AZ car.
"We were thrilled to be the first in the Valley to debut
these fun and exciting slot machines. It’s events like these
that help us reach our goal of always providing exclusive
offerings to our guests at Casino Arizona and Talking
Stick Resort,” said David Chavez, director of slot opera-
tions at Talking Stick Resort and Casino Arizona.
T
Ghostbusters™ Invade Scottsdale at Talking Stick Resort and Casino Arizona
By Tessa Bajema at Allison & Partners with photography by Michael Jordan at mjpropics.com
New Slots GREAT GAMES
azgamingguide.com | December 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide 09
The Ghostbusters™ Who Ya Gonna Call Spinning Reel
Slots feature IGT’s new Center Stage Duo™ model, fea-
turing the mischievous and lovable character Slimer teas-
ing, mocking and awarding players with antics, multipli-
ers and credits as he leads them through the game. A
vivid 55-inch overhead LCD screen and chest-pumping
MEGAfx Surround Chairs send players’ adrenaline rac-
ing during spectacular bonus rounds.
Bonus games include Ballroom Busters Pick Bonus where
players are awarded five proton shots to blow up the
ballroom to find ghosts; Stay Puft Free Games Feature
with marshmallows that fall from the sky, stick to symbol
and turn them wild; Are You Psychic? Bonus where play-
ers guess the correct card to win credits and advance to
the next round; and the Paranormal Pick Bonus that of-
fers five levels of Paranormal Pick Bonuses allowing play-
ers to select from phantasm clouds for a chance to win the
progressive jackpot.
“Memorable characters, a catchy song and many unfor-
gettable scenes have made Ghostbusters a pop culture
mainstay and I think we’ve captured the fun of the brand
in the Ghostbusters Slots,” said IGT Chief Operating Offi-
cer Eric Tom. “Players will be thrilled by the constant ac-
tion and our graphic and sound technology will make for
a ghoulishly good time.”
IGT (NYSE: IGT) is a global leader in the design, develop-
ment and manufacture of gaming machines and systems
products, as well as online and mobile gaming solutions
for regulated markets. More information about IGT is
available at www.IGT.com or follow IGT on Twitter at
@IGTNews or Facebook at www.facebook.com/IGT. $
Slot enthusiasts were having a blast playing the new video
slot game Ghostbusters™ by IGT at Casino Arizona.
Promotional items and slime green drinks were available at
both Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resort.
GREAT GAMES New Slots
10 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
CASCADING REELS™ 5x4 ANCIENT MAGICKE™ Play now at Hon-Dah Resort & Casino!
Hon-Dah Resort & Casino recently installed these other great WMS penny products: Gems Gems Gems™, Silver Sword™, Great Eagle Returns™, Mystical Fortunes™, Kronos™, Queen of the Wild™,
Vampire’s Embrace™, Invaders™ Planet Moolah™, Invaders™ Planet Wombat™, Zeus III™, and Wild Shootout™!
Cascading Reels™ Feature
In place of traditional reel spins, the reel symbols cascade into
place as if dropped from above. All winning combinations pay as
normal, but then something extra happens. The symbols in the
winning combinations disappear, the remaining symbols fall and
new symbols cascade down from above to take their place. Four
or more consecutive cascades trigger the Free Play Bonus award-
ing up to 40 or more free spins and a chance at the MINOR or
MAJOR jackpots.
12 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
azgamingguide.com | December 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide 13
The game is highlighted by the U-Spin™ Plati-
num Record Bonus in which the player touches
and spins a virtual wheel to win credits and
one of four Free Games experiences. The top
progressive jackpot award is won with five
scatter jackpots in the base game. In Beat It Free
Games, Jackson appears on screen before every
spin, sometimes awarding Locking Wilds
which remain in place for the duration of the
bonus. Billie Jean features the Big Bang play
mechanic, in which Jackson appears on the top
screen and awards wilds. And Jackson’s trade-
mark dance technique, “Moonwalk”, takes cen-
ter stage in Moonwalking Wilds.
Along with the unforgettable music that spans
all ages and his distinctive dance moves, King
of Pop uses favorite icons from Jackson’s career
including the famous white glove, signature
fedora, dance loafers, and sunglasses. Stunning
imagery and an unprecedented number of
movie clips from some of Jackson’s legendary
music videos make the game as irresistible as
the King of Pop himself. This game will be on
casino floors by the summer of 2012! $
Bally Technologies has unveiled a game that will have
players dancing in their seats! For the first time ever, one of mu-
sic’s most influential and biggest-selling stars appears on casino floors
with Michael Jackson King of Pop™. The legendary performer moon-
walks across the game screen to some of the most recognizable tunes in
history.
Michael Jackson King of Pop is a thriller of a game on Bally’s new Pro Se-
ries™ V22/32 cabinet. It combines Bally’s new life-changing Cash Connec-
tion wide-area progressive with six bonus events and a custom King of
Pop surround-sound chair. Sitting in front of this game, players will ex-
perience mind-blowing professional true cinema digital surround sound
and one of the world’s only Michael Jackson song mixes on a game.
Michael Jackson King of Pop offers an astounding suite of features. It
has mystery wilds bonuses and four Free Games bonus events based on
some of his most popular singles, including Don’t Stop Till You Get
Enough, Billie Jean, Beat It, and Smooth Criminal.
December Tournament Schedule
azgamingguide.com | December 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide 15
Poker GREAT GAMES
Jack it upJack it up——Tuesdays and Wednesdays!Tuesdays and Wednesdays!
Hold‘em—$20,000 added to the Progressive Bad Beat
Jackpot posted amount at 2 AM on both days. This addi-
tional money stays until the Bad Beat Jackpot is hit.
Omaha/Stud—$5,000 added to the Progressive Bad Beat
Jackpot posted amount at 2 AM on both days.
Yes, you read that right! The $20,000 and the $5,000 are
added on each day! Jack it up!
he poker room at Talking Stick Resort offers a
variety of poker games to satisfy your appetite,
no matter what kind of poker player you are.
This amazing card room houses 47 non-smoking tables
and is home to the largest recorded bad beat jackpot of
$500,000 in the state of Arizona! Games include a variety
of Texas Hold‘em, Seven Card Stud, Omaha Hi-Lo, and
many others, plus a full tournament schedule.
T
JACK IT UP!JACK IT UP!
POKER You’re gonna wanna
Big StackBig Stack——Dec. 3, 2011 at 10 AMDec. 3, 2011 at 10 AM
$300 Buy-In plus $30 Service Fee. Sign-ups begin Monday
before the tournament at 12 PM at the Poker Cage.
Jack & Jill ChampionshipJack & Jill Championship——Dec. 4, 2011 at 9 AMDec. 4, 2011 at 9 AM
$100 Buy-In plus $15 Service Fee per couple. Sign-ups
begin Monday before the tournament at 12 PM at the
Poker Cage.
Omaha HiOmaha Hi--LoLo——Dec. 11, 2011 at 10 AMDec. 11, 2011 at 10 AM
$120 Buy-In plus $30 Service Fee. Sign-ups begin Monday
before the tournament at 12 PM at the Poker Cage.
Poker room at Talking Stick Resort
Super BountySuper Bounty--Super Big StackSuper Big Stack——Dec. 17, 2011 at 9 AMDec. 17, 2011 at 9 AM
$200 Buy-In plus $25 Service Fee. Sign-ups begin Monday
before the tournament at 12 PM at the Poker Cage.
Last Saturday of the MonthLast Saturday of the Month——Dec. 24, 2011 at 10 AMDec. 24, 2011 at 10 AM
No Limit Hold‘em $125 Buy-In plus $25 Service Fee. Sign-
ups begin Monday before the tournament at 12 PM at the
Poker Cage. $
16 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
Lunar Bingo is known for its huge payouts, free prize
giveaways, and its party-like atmosphere! It takes
place on the third Saturday of every month and is
presented by 101.1 FM The Beat! We caught up with
The Beat’s own Ramses Ja—the man behind the mu-
sic—to gain some firsthand perspective into Lunar
Bingo!
Often imitated, but never duplicated—The Fort
McDowell Casino’s Lunar Bingo still reigns supreme
for the nightlife/gaming experience! A nightclub-
worthy light show, the hottest music, and over a
thousand “Lunartics” ensures that The Fort McDowell
Casino’s bingo hall looks nothing like the one your
grandma is used to!
By Ramses Ja, with layout by Princess T. Taylor & photos by Mattlocks
azgamingguide.com | December 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide 17
9:15pm Setup—I
get all set up to
go, and map out
my set for the
evening! I also
take time to
cruise the casino
floor to find out
what else is go-
ing on at The
Fort! They usu-
ally have some-
thing exciting in
every room!
10:00pm Lights Off—This is usually my cue! The staff
will cut the fluorescent lights and start the laser/black
light show! This is when I play music that is closest to
my radio station’s format! I have the promotions staff
on hand from my station greeting people as they
come in for the Lunar session! They hand out glow
sticks and t-shirts for the next two hours! Once every-
one has found their seats, the Lunartics use this time
to take advan-
tage of the drink
s p e c i a l s a n d
dance to the mu-
sic!
1 2 a m S h o w -
time—Now it’s
official! The Lu-
nar Bingo games
start at midnight
and go until all
the prizes have
been awarded!
For the next few
hours, I am spin-
ning Hip-Hop,
House, Rock,
Dub Step, and
Old School music! I also do my best to hit every re-
quest that I can! We have a rule that if you win, you
not only yell out ‘BINGO!’ but you also get up and
dance! It’s cool to see the other Lunartics get in on the
celebration!
Tell us a little
about yourself!
Well, I am a radio
personality and
programmer for
101.1 The Beat! I
am on air Mon-
day through Fri-
day 10am until
2pm. I can be seen
on Channel 3 on
Fridays at 10am
on a show called
Your Life A to Z!
I am also a mem-
ber of the Bum
Squad DJs, The
DJ Vatican, and the R.E.D.Y. Set! I have worked in this
city for years now, but my favorite event by far has been
Lunar Bingo!
What makes Lunar Bingo so much fun?
Lunar Bingo really gives me a chance to flex my crea-
tive muscles when it comes to programming my play-
list! There are so many people from all over, and my
job is to make
sure they all
have a good
time! It’s so fes-
tive and colorful,
and the people
all have such
great energy!
Even after doing
it for so long, I
still look forward
to i t every
month!
For those who
have never
been, take us
through your
night at Lunar
Bingo!
9:00pm Arrival—When I get to the bingo hall to set
up, they are still playing the traditional bingo. The
lights are all on, and the room is very quiet! People
are being shushed—even me when I sound check!
azgamingguide.com | December 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide 19
Dates for Lunar Bingo for the year of 2012:
January 28th July 21st
February 11th August 18th
Valentine Lunar September 15th
March 17th October 27th
April 21st Halloween Lunar
May 5th November 17th
Cinco de Mayo Lunar December 22nd
June 16th Christmas Lunar
July 4th Lunar December 31st
Some Facts about
Lunar Bingo:
1276 Seating Capacity!
Minimum Buy-In-$5!
Maximum Payout-$150,000!
Only at Fort McDowell Casino!
1:15am Cupid Shuffle—At some point in your life, I
recommend doing the Cupid Shuffle with 1000 people!
This has become a staple for us at Lunar Bingo! We hit it
every time—and everyone joins in!
2:00am Potty Break—The Fort has free soft drinks.
Sue me!
2:30am Last Game—After the last game, we thank eve-
ryone for coming out and invite them to the next ses-
sion! I can tell that everyone has had a good time by
the smiles and praises that I get afterwards! The lights
come back on and I break everything down. They give
me a hotel room, so that’s where I end up…once I’m
done having a little bit more fun in the casino!
How can people keep up with you?
The best way is at www.ramsesja.com. I’m also on
Twitter @RamsesJa and at facebook.com/ramsesja.
THE BEST VIDEO POKER PROGRESSIVES
If you enjoy playing video poker then you will definitely
want to head right over to Desert Diamond Casinos in
Tucson, Arizona because they have some great games
connected to amazing progressives that reset much
higher than at other casinos - even for the Royal Flush!
20 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
WINNING WAYS Video Poker
Any video poker game that is connected to a progres-
sive will boost your long-term payback percentage!
Therefore, you should be aware of the fact that one
casino in Arizona may offer an 8/5 Jacks or Better pay
table (8 for the full house and 5 for the flush at bet one)
with no progressive and just a short drive away, an-
other casino may offer the same pay table with a pro-
gressive.
Using 8/5 Jacks or Better as an example, a common
pay table in most casinos across Arizona, the long-run
payback of this game is just over 97% using optimal
strategy. Since a common increment rate for a video
poker progressive is 1%, the long-run payback for the
8/5 Jacks or Better connected to the progressive can get
over 98%!
Let’s examine how the payback percentage increases
as the progressive values increase by taking a look at
the Royal Flush (when using optimal strategy):
5 Coin 25¢ 8/5 Jacks or Better Payback Percentage
Royal Flush is at least $1,000 97.30%
Royal Flush is at least $1,200 97.70%
Royal Flush is at least $1,350 98.00%
Royal Flush is at least $1,500 98.30%
Playing video poker at the casino is the smartest bet on
the video slots, but make sure to shop around for the
best pay tables, find the games connected to a progres-
sive and then wait for those values to climb! $
Here’s A Hint On How To
Increase The Payback % On
VIDEO POKER
When playing Deuces Wild, it’s all about what you hold
with the Deuces. Here are some quick tips to remember:
If you are dealt three Deuces, keep only a Wild Royal
Flush and a Five-of-a-Kind. If you don’t have either of
these hands, then keep only the three Deuces and discard
the rest.
If you are dealt two Deuces, keep all 4-of-a-Kinds or bet-
ter and four to the Wild Royal Flush. Otherwise, keep the
Deuces only.
If dealt only one Deuce, then keep all the hands that pay,
four to a Wild Royal Flush and four to a Straight Flush.
Otherwise, keep only the one Deuce.
BANKROLL
Determine your video
poker bankroll before
your next trip based on
the denomination you
will play and then stick
to it! For pennies, try
$20 for a 5 coin max bet
per hand (for three or
five-play games you’ll
need $60 or $100).
For nickels—try $80.
For quarters—try $400.
For dollars—try $1,600.
22 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
WINNING WAYS Quick Gambling Tips
If You Want To Win BigIf You Want To Win Big
Play These SlotsPlay These Slots he penny video slots can be extremely enjoyable
however, they can also be very draining on your
bankroll. As volatile as these slots have become
over the years, their primary purpose is to entertain. If
you want to increase your chances of winning, and you
want to win BIG, then you have to play the mechanical 3-
reel stepper games in either quarter or dollar denomina-
tions. These “classic” slots are still on the casino floors for
a reason! Smart gamblers continue to flock to them and
jackpots of tens of thousands of dollars occur at each ca-
sino every day!
Think you don’t have the proper bankroll to play these
games? Think again! If you’re willing to play 75¢ on a
penny video slot, then you should be willing to play the
max bet of three quarters on a stepper game. A penny
video slot game at a 75¢ bet will not give you a $5,000 or
$10,000 hand pay the way that a stepper game will at the
same bet!
Here are some hints & tips to give you a slight advantage:
● Stick to the ‘tried and true’ favorites like Triply Lucky
7’s®, Double Diamond®, Ten Times Pay®, Blazing 7’s®,
Triple Double Wild Cherry®, Triple Butterfly Sevens®,
Sizzling 7’s®, and Red White & Blue®.
● Most mechanical reel slot games produce a win about
once in every 12 to 20 games. However, if you stick with
Double Diamond®, Blazing 7’s®, and Red White & Blue®
you will have a win every 7 spins on average!
● Come prepared to risk at least 300x your wager. And,
make sure you have documentation on you for those
large taxable hand pays!
● The jackpot on the Double Diamond® slot hits often (1
in every 50,000 spins). This translates to approximately
one jackpot every three days!
● You can find the best selection of stepper slots at
Apache Gold, Desert Diamond, and Cliff Castle casinos.
Give these games a try. Good luck! $
T
Casino Buzz FAST FACTS
azgamingguide.com | December 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide 25
Slot machine images courtesy of WMS. © Copyright WMS. All Rights Reserved. wms.com.
The leader of the pack is back!
his exciting new slot game by WMS Gaming
brings the classic board game CLUE™ to life!
With six total bonuses (four unlockable) set
throughout the famous CLUE™ mansion, players will be
kept on the edge of their seats as they have a chance to
solve the mystery at the end of each bonus round to win a
Progressive award. Through a unique game play me-
chanic, if a player fails to solve the mystery the next
player attempting to solve it has better odds at the Pro-
gressive! E-mail us at [email protected] and
vote to have this game installed at your favorite casino. $
he new slot game Wolf Run 2 Into the Wild™ by
IGT is the sequel to the enormously popular,
Wolf Run®. An industry first, this video slot game
interface and the entire symbol set are composed of
award winning wildlife photography. The LCD screen on
top alternates among several wildlife scenes, and the en-
tire backdrop scene for the primary game changes every
five minutes with breathtakingly beautiful visuals.
In the Map Pick bonus events, players choose between
Arctic Free Games or the Animal Tracking Bonus, which
also includes a chance to multiply their wins. The Arctic
Free Games bonus changes the interface and symbols to a
snow covered theme. The Animal Tracking Bonus allows
players to pick from sketches of big and small game ani-
mals in search for credits. The most exciting feature of
this game that differentiates it from the original is the
Random Extra Wilds feature which appears frequently to
award even bigger awards!
Play Wolf Run 2 Into the Wild™ this month at Mazatzal
Hotel & Casino in Payson, Arizona. Other titles by IGT
being installed now are: Gameking 8.0, Super Times Pay,
Spin Poker Deluxe, Black Widow, Lobstermania 2, Sibe-
rian Storm, Golden Goddess, and Double Da Vinci Dia-
monds. While there, you’ll also want to try the recently
installed Cashman Fever™ by Aristocrat Technologies!
Good luck and have fun! $
T
Coming to Mazatzal Hotel & Casino this month!
Unlock bonuses by solving the mystery The classic board game CLUE™ comes to life!
T
FAST FACTS Native Americans
26 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
● Only federally recognized tribes may operate gaming
establishments in the United States under the Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). Indian groups that are
not officially recognized by the United States government
cannot operate gaming enterprises.
● There are 565 federally recognized tribes that have the
right to operate gaming establishments in the United
States, but only 237 of these tribes conduct gaming opera-
tions.
● Some tribes have chosen not to operate gaming estab-
lishments because it goes against their culture and tradi-
tions.
● Tribes may only use the revenue generated from the
gaming establishments as outlined in IGRA to advance
the tribe’s economic development and general welfare of
the tribe. For example, tribes can use gaming revenue to
fund government programs such as hospitals, schools,
police and fire departments or they can donate money to
charitable organizations. $
Indian Citizenship Act
● Before World War I, Indians living on Arizona reserva-
tions were not legal U.S. citizens. Although Indians were
exempt from the draft when the country entered the war
in 1917, more than 8,000 Indian men and women volun-
tarily served in the Armed Forces.
● Congress passed the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924.
Despite their being made U.S. citizens, Indians were not
eligible to vote in Arizona.
● Facing World War II and the need for a universal draft,
Congress again affirmed the citizenship of all Indian peo-
ple on or off reservation in the Nationality Act of 1940.
● More than 25,000 Indian men and women served in the
armed forces in World War II. However, in Arizona, Indi-
ans were still not allowed to vote.
● After a lawsuit filed by two Yavapai men, Frank Harri-
son and Harry Austin, the Supreme Court of Arizona fi-
nally ruled on July 15, 1948, that Indians had the right to
vote. $
Editor’s Picks ENTERTAINMENT
azgamingguide.com | December 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide 27
Venues, times, dates, and ticket information may be subject to change. Please verify all details and any age restrictions with each venue as the event approaches. Photo copyrights belong to the artist. All rights reserved.
THE REFLECTION OF MICHAEL Showroom
Talking Stick Resort—Casino Arizona
December 29th & 30th—Doors at 8PM
Tickets start at $27—480.850.7734
Inspired by the biggest star to ever live, this incredi-
ble show promises to invigorate the crowd with the
live vocals, a live band, singers, dancers, and the
amazing Michael Firestone!
NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION Event Center
Mazatzal Hotel & Casino—Payson
December 31st—Doors at 5:30PM
Tickets start at $65—800.777.PLAY
Enjoy dinner, piano by Paul Penner, classic Las Ve-
gas Rat Pack music by The Dean-O-Holics, a cham-
pagne toast, and a party to ring in 2012! The menu
includes Prime Rib & Lobster Tail.
THE TEMPTATIONS Diamond Center
Desert Diamond Casino—Sahuarita
January 12th—Doors at 6PM
Tickets start at $35—520.294.7777
For over four decades, The Temptations have re-
mained a major force in pop music. Adapting to the
current music trends while maintaining their unique
vocal style they stayed true to their original formula.
DON RICKLES Showroom
Wild Horse Pass Casino—Chandler
January 28th—Doors at 7PM
Tickets start at $59—800.946.4452
He has no plans to retire as he recently said in an
interview: “I’m in good health. I’m working better
than I ever have! The audiences are great. Why
should I retire?”
SUDOKU Each of the columns, rows, and nine 3x3 grids must con-
tain all of the digits 1 - 9. None of the digits may appear
more than once in each column, row, and 3x3 grid. (Solution on page 30)
5
6 4
8
2
5
3 2
7
7 3
1 9
4
3
6
1
9
1
3 4
5
5
6
ODDS QUIZ
Gambling is mathematics, pure and simple. All games of
chance involve probability, so if you like to gamble you
should know some basics of probability. (Solution on page 30)
A mouse has two doors to choose from. The first door
has two tunnels behind it, one of which leads to cheese,
the other does not. The second door has three tunnels
behind it, one of which leads to cheese, the others do
not. What is the probability that the mouse will get the
cheese?
FUN & GAMES
28 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
azgamingguide.com | December 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide 29
SAMI’S SMACKDOWN
‘Tis The Season For Giving By Sami Becker
eep within the pockets of societal standards
lurk the frugal outliers that spoil it for all the
rest of us—the cheapskates. There’s nothing
that infuriates me more than watching the penny-
pinching tightwads of the world stiff hard-working ser-
vice employees.
To all the Ebenezer Scrooges out there I say, “Bah, hum-
bag” to you. If you pinch your penny too hard you
might just break it in half (gasp) and then what? Just
remember, Karma is a harsh mistress. Make just one less
bet at the blackjack table or on the slot machine and give
it to a well-deserving casino employee this holiday sea-
son. Put a smile on someone else’s face and see how a
small gesture can mean so much to a person. $
Tipping Guidelines:
● Give at least $1 to the
drink servers & bartenders
(Add a couple more bucks
for a round of drinks)
● Give 15-20% as a tip for
good service to wait staff
and buffet servers should receive $1—$2 per head.
● Give bellmen and doormen $1—$2 for each bag. The
concierge staff usually receives at least $5 for arranging
show tickets, tours or other special services.
● Give at least $1-$2 per day to the maid service
● Give at least 1% to the slot attendants
● Give the valet parking attendants at least $2
● Give at least $1 to the bus driver
D
Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
Fort McDowell Gaming Center
Beeline Hwy (SR 87) and Fort McDowell Rd North of Fountain Hills
1-800-843-3678 fortmcdowellcasino.com
843 Class III Slots, 37 Class II Slots, Live Keno, 1,700 Seat Bingo Hall,
15 Poker Tables, 13 Blackjack Tables
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
Casino Arizona—Salt River
524 N. 92nd St, Scottsdale E of Loop 101 at McKellips Rd and 92nd St
1-480-850-7777 casinoaz.com
Over 900 Class III Slots, Live Keno,
54 Table Games
Casino Arizona—Talking Stick Resort
9700 E. Indian Bend Rd, Scottsdale 1 mile E of Loop 101 on Indian Bend Rd
1-480-850-7777 casinoaz.com
Over 800 Class III Slots, Live Keno,
47 Poker Tables, 54 Table Games
Tohono O'odham Nation
Desert Diamond Casino
7350 S. Nogales Highway, Tucson 1 mile S of Valencia Rd on Nogales Highway
1-520-294-7777 desertdiamondcasino.com
1089 Class III Slots, Live Keno, 270 Seat Bingo Hall
17 Poker Tables, 19 Blackjack Tables
Desert Diamond Casino
1100 W. Pima Mine Rd, Sahuarita S of Tucson at I-19 and Exit 80 (Pima Mine Rd)
1-866-332-9467 desertdiamondcasino.com
890 Class III Slots,
2 Poker Tables, 8 Blackjack Tables
Desert Diamond Casino
Highway 86, Why 1½ miles E of Why, AZ on Highway 86
1-866-332-9467 desertdiamondcasino.com
76 Class III Slots
Tonto Apache Tribe
Mazatzal Hotel & Casino
Highway 87, Payson S of Payson on Beeline Highway(SR 87) 1-800-777-7529 777play.com
413 Class III Slots, 6 Class II Slots, Live Keno, 280 Seat Bingo Hall,
3 Poker Tables, 5 Blackjack Tables
White Mountain Apache Tribe
Hon-Dah Casino, Resort & Conference Center
777 Highway 260, Pinetop 3 miles outside Pinetop at Highways 260 & 73
1-800-929-8744 hon-dah.com
802 Class III Slots,
3 Poker Tables, 4 Blackjack Tables
Yavapai-Apache Nation
Cliff Castle Casino & Hotel
555 Middle Verde Rd, Camp Verde 1 mile E of I-17 on Middle Verde Rd
1-800-381-7568 cliffcastlecasino.net
656 Class III Slots,
8 Poker Tables, 10 Blackjack Tables
Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe
Bucky's Casino
Highway 69 and Heather Heights, Prescott N at top of hill next to the Prescott Resort
1-800-756-8744 buckyscasino.com
301 Class III Slots,
7 Poker Tables, 10 Blackjack Tables
Yavapai Casino
1500 E. Highway 69, Prescott Hwy. 69 at Heather Heights on S side of SR 69
1-800-756-8744 buckyscasino.com
235 Class III Slots
Arizona Department of Gaming
1110 W. Washington Street, Suite 450
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
1-602-771-4263 azgaming.gov
Office of Problem Gambling (1-800-NEXT STEP or 1-800-639-8783 )
1110 W. Washington Street, Suite 450
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
1-602-542-8998 problemgambling.az.gov Source: Arizona Department of Gaming-Tribal Gaming Status-11/01/11
1 7 5
9 6 4
8 3 2
9 8 6
3 7 2
5 4 1
3 4 2
8 5 1
6 7 9
5 1 9
7 2 3
6 4 8
4 6 3
8 1 9
7 2 5
7 2 8
4 6 5
9 1 3
3 5 6
2 8 1
4 9 7
1 9 7
6 3 4
2 5 8
2 8 4
5 9 7
1 3 6
Solution to the Sudoku
Solutions to “Odds Quiz”
If we assume the mouse makes random decisions and
can’t retrace its steps, the mouse has a 1/2 X 1/2 + 1/2 X
1/3 = 1/4 + 1/6 = 3/12 + 2/12 = 5/12 = 41.67% chance of
finding the cheese!
The 1/2 is assigned to each decision point with two
doors (or tunnels), the 1/3 is assigned to the decision
point with three tunnels. We multiply the probabilities
for each decision point along both paths the mouse
could take, and then add the result.
DIRECTORY OF CASINO SPONSORS
30 Arizona Gaming Guide | December 2011 | azgamingguide.com
Our Website QR Code
azgamingguide.com
Our Facebook QR Code
facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide