Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine September 2011

SEPTEMBER

Contents FEATURES 14 VIP CORNER Meet AIGA Acting Executive Director Valerie Spicer.

16 THE REEL DEAL ABOUT CLASS II SLOTS How are they different from CLASS III slots?

GREAT GAMES 08 COLOSSAL GAMING’S BULL’S EYE™ A little company makes a big splash in Arizona.

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10 IGT’S THE HANGOVER™ They’re no longer exclusive to Total Rewards Casinos.

12 WMS’ STAR TREK™ BATTLESTATIONS Available only at Cocopah Casino in Yuma, Arizona!

WINNING WAYS 18 PAYBACK PERCENTAGES Little known secrets about payback percentages.

20 PLAYING SMART Which is the better bet: Video or Live Keno?

How much money should you bring to the casino?

FAST FACTS 22 FREE GAMES BONUSES What does “Bonus Reels In Play” really mean?

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23 CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL GAMING ADG seizes 70 illegal “coin pusher” gambling devices.

24 CASINO BUZZ The excitement never stops at Fort McDowell Casino!

REGULAR RESPINS 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 Slot machine images courtesy of Colossal Gaming. © Copyright Colossal Gaming. All Rights Reserved. www.colossalgaming.com, WMS. © Copyright WMS. All Rights Reserved. www.wms.com, and IGT. © Copyright IGT. All Rights Reserved. www.igt.com.

10 azgamingguide.com | September 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide

03

EDITOR’S NOTE

Your Authority On Everything Gaming VOLUME 03 • ISSUE 02 PUBLISHER Chris Hoft chris@azgamingguide.com

Indian Gaming Benefits Arizona!

We are always very excited to introduce our readers to leaders of the Arizona Indian Gaming Association (AIGA). In this month’s issue we present Valerie Spicer, the Acting Director of the AIGA, who brings a tremendous amount of experience and dedication to the organization.

She is committed to upholding the mission of the association to protect and promote the general welfare of tribes so they can achieve their goal of self-reliance. Supporting tribal gaming enterprises is an important part of the AIGA’s mission. Tribal gaming revenue has not only advanced the lives of the Indian people economically, socially, and politically, but it has also been a trusted, proven and significant source of revenue for the State of Arizona! Since 2004, tribal gaming has contributed more than $480,000,000 to the Arizona Benefits Fund and $47,000,000 to various Arizona cities, towns, and counties. These funds have a direct and lasting impact that is helping meet the needs of all us Arizonans.

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. Don’t forget that you can also find the current and back issues of the Arizona Gaming Guide on our website at www.azgamingguide.com. For your convenience, we have included the QR codes for both web addresses in our directory. Let me know what you think of our September issue and have fun!

MANAGING DIRECTOR Elizabeth Torma liz@azgamingguide.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alexandra Lang editor@azgamingguide.com ART DIRECTOR Melanie Mueller CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mark Novak Alex Stewart Samantha Becker Lana Hartmann Elizabeth Torma ADVERTISING SALES Nina Consiglio nina@azgamingguide.com Alex Stewart alex@azgamingguide.com MAILING INFORMATION Arizona Gaming Guide P.O. Box 20636 Mesa, Arizona 85277 INTERNET INFORMATION www.azgamingguide.com www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide

Cheers!

Alexandra Lang

Alexandra Editor-in-Chief editor@azgamingguide.com

04 Arizona Gaming Guide | September 2011 | azgamingguide.com

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 emails 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.

PLAYERS TALK

Q&A On Everything Gaming

Q: SLOT PAYBACK PERCENTAGES I recently picked up one of your issues at Cliff Castle Casino. I’ve got a slot machine in my home and after reading the instructions it says that the payouts are adjustable by resetting a certain switch. My question is: If I can adjust my machine for more or less payouts can the casinos also set their machines the same way and do they? Is there a way to get your magazine mailed to me each month? I do plan on reading your magazine each month from now on either by getting an issue or online.

Thank you.

D. Malnati – Wickenburg, AZ A: D. Malnati, the answer to your first question regarding slot machine payouts is YES! Just like you, the casinos can set their machines to various different payback settings. However, before casinos change the settings on their games they must notify the Arizona Department of Gaming and document the changes. A request for a change must be submitted to the Department 30 days in advance and inspectors need to come out and verify the new settings. Employees from the casino, the Tribal Gaming Agency, and the Arizona Department of Gaming all need to be present when changes to the games are made. It’s just not as easy as many people believe for a casino to ‚tighten‛ or ‚loosen‛ their games. A strict process needs to be adhered to and several people from various different departments need to be involved. This is why many casinos don’t change their settings after the initial percentages have been chosen when the games are first installed!

To answer your second question, you can read and enjoy our publication in several different ways!

1. As you know, you can pick up free physical copies of our magazines in casinos all across Arizona as well as many nongaming establishments. E-mail editor@azgamingguide.com for the location nearest you!

2. You can subscribe to our publication online for free at: www.issuu.com/ArizonaGamingGuide and you will have our magazine delivered to your in-box on the first of every month!

3. You can have our publication delivered to your house at a subscription rate of $35 for one year of 12 issues. If you elect

this option, please send a check or money order to: Arizona Gaming Guide P.O. Box 20636 Mesa, Arizona 85277.

To get sneak peeks of upcoming articles and be the first to know about new game installations and much more, join our Facebook community at: www.facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide!

Q: CASINO SAFETY How safe are we at the casinos? I see the security guards at the door, but I don’t see many of them walking around. Women are always leaving their purses in between the slots and I don’t think that’s safe. Do you know if there’s a lot of crime at the casinos?

Camille Ramos – Phoenix, AZ A: Camille, one of my favorite movies is ‚Casino‛ where Robert de Niro plays the casino manager. His narration about casino security is fantastic when he says, ‚The dealers are watching the players. The pit bosses are watching the dealers. The shift bosses are watching the pit bosses. The floor manager is watching the shift bosses. I’m watching the floor manager. And, the ‘eye in the sky’ is watching us all.‛ Honestly, the casino is one of the safest places to be. However, even though casino security has our back, it doesn’t mean we should put ourselves in vulnerable situations! Casino patrons need to guard their possessions. I would advise everyone not to use the slot trays or the area between the slot machines for their personal belongings because they weren’t meant to house such items as cell phones, keys, wallets, purses, and money!

Q: LIVE ROULETTE Why don’t we have live Roulette here in Arizona?

Ben Harris – Sierra Vista, AZ Ben, Roulette (as well as Craps) are two popular casino games that haven’t been approved here in Arizona—yet! I believe these games will be allowed eventually. However, first the Tribes and the State would need to expand their current agreement.

The voter-approved Tribal-State Gaming Compact of 2002 currently only allows electronic versions of these games. If, and when, a live version of Roulette (and Craps) will be available is anybody’s bet.

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: editor@azgamingguide.com.

06 Arizona Gaming Guide | September 2011 | azgamingguide.com

Q&A On Everything Gaming Q: PROGRESSIVE ODDS The Fort Knox Progressive Slot and many others that I have played always have messages on the screen that say we need to increase our bet to have a better chance of getting the Progressives. I think that’s a trick to get us to bet more. I always see people winning the big Progressives and they’re always betting the minimum. I was sitting next to a lady that won over $6,000 and she was only betting $1.25 which was the lowest bet. I’ve bet $2.50 and even more than that and I’ve seen other people bet big amounts and only get the Copper level.

So, how does that work?

Barbara Schultz – Chandler, AZ Barbara, certain slot machines connected to randomly awarded Progressives (like Fort Knox) are set up in such a way that encourage slot players to play max bet to increase their odds of hitting a Progressive. The more a player bets, the better his or her chances are of getting into the Progressive Bonus. However, once a Progressive has been triggered there are no guarantees which Progressive level will be hit. The player betting the most at the bank has the best chances of getting in, but his or her luck is what will determine which Progressive level will be awarded.

The Fort Knox Progressive Bonus is a ‚fair‛ game. In other

PLAYERS TALK

words, the values you see after you’ve picked the safes are the actual values. For those who consistently find the highest values during all the picks will make it to the top levels and be awarded the Gold and Platinum levels. Those who aren’t so lucky with their picks will be awarded the lowest Copper and Silver levels.

Just so you know, it really is possible to increase your chances of being the player at the bank who is selected for the Fort Knox Progressive Bonus. The best way I can think to describe this situation is by using a simplified example of a bag filled with colored balls. Assume each Fort Knox slot machine is assigned a different colored ball and the number of balls associated with each machine depends on the player’s bet level. In other words, bet per line 1 ($1.25) gets one ball, bet per line 2 ($2.50) gets two balls, all the way up to bet per line 10 ($12.50) which gets ten balls. Let’s say there are 4 players: Player 1 is betting $1.25 and has one white ball in the bag, player 2 is also betting $1.25 and has one green ball in the bag, player 3 is betting $2.50 and has two yellow balls as a result, and player 4 is betting the max and gets ten red balls! Now, there’s a bag of fourteen balls (ten of which belong to player 4). When the Progressive Controller randomly picks one colored ball from the bag, which player do you think is going to have the best chance of being selected? $

azgamingguide.com | September 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide

07

GREAT GAMES

New Slots

COLOSSAL GAMING Their Giant Slots Are Marching From California Into Arizona’s Casinos!

By Mark Novak

I

know you won’t overlook these slots on a casino floor! You simply can’t! Each slot is over eight feet tall and uses a huge 42” touch screen monitor for the game display. Colossal Gaming makes excellent use of their giant screen from top to bottom and side to side. The symbols are big, easy to see, and the main game information is clearly located and read in the bottom area of the monitor. Players have instant access to a volume control, the help screen, and a button to switch denominations. With the lower half of the monitor devoted to the reels and information, each of Colossal Gaming’s slots make excellent use of the rest of the screen where the bonus games are presented. In most cases, players are tracking their progress towards a bonus on the top section of the monitor while playing the base game. This is truly a unique interface that must be experienced by all slot enthusiasts. You’ll get a different feeling while playing this slot in contrast to games made by other companies that you are more familiar with.

While these innovations come as no surprise to our staff, you may be interested to learn that Colossal Gaming was formed in 2003 by gaming veterans from a company called Casino Data Systems. Back in the early 2000’s the founding members of Colossal were designing slots and also working on what was to become an extremely popular accounting and player tracking system called Oasis.

Aristocrat bought out Casino Data Systems and is continuing to market the Oasis product to the gaming industry as Oasis 360TM. Many of you have probably inserted your player’s card into a device connected to this system right here in Arizona!

Slot machine images courtesy of Colossal Gaming. © Copyright Colossal Gaming. All Rights Reserved. www.colossalgaming.com.

08 Arizona Gaming Guide | September 2011 | azgamingguide.com

New Slots

GREAT GAMES

Having started over as Colossal Gaming in California, the company has experienced tremendous growth in the past few years! Initially, their slots were only available for play throughout California casinos, but now the company has expanded their gaming operations into Oklahoma, New Mexico, Alabama, Michigan, and Arizona! Hopefully, we’ll be seeing more and more slots from these experienced game designers as they introduce their products all across the country.

If you haven’t had a chance to check out these slots, we highly recommend you do so at Mazatzal Hotel & Casino in Payson or at either Desert Diamond Casino in Tucson and in Sahuarita. Originally there were only a total of twelve slots in the entire state. Now, just a few months later, there are almost twice as many. This is not an easy feat to accomplish for a small, young company! The major slot manufacturers have such a huge selection of games and products to choose from that the “little guys” have a difficult time making their way onto the casino floors.

Bull’s EyeTM is a 30 line penny game featuring stacked top symbols, a wild, and a credit based bonus game played on a dartboard located above the reels. All it takes is three bonus symbols, scattered anywhere across the reels, to have the game award prizes from 3 to 1000 times your total bet. One dart per bonus symbol is launched at the board each time you enter the bonus.

This means the smallest bonus win with three bonus symbols (three darts) is nine times your total bet. Based on our game play sessions, this slot feels more like the games that were designed five to ten years ago. The experience is definitely less volatile than most newer slots.

In order to fully experience the game, $30.00 is the most appropriate bankroll for one play session at minimum bet (30 lines = 30 credits = 30 cents). This should guarantee at least one bonus win, possibly two, while you are playing and allow you to make up your mind about the game. You’ll find two Bull’s EyeTM slots available for play at each of the following casinos: Mazatzal Hotel & Casino, both Desert Diamond Casinos, both Casino del Sols, and at Gila River Lone Butte Casino.

Two KachingoTM slots are ready for action at each Desert Diamond Casino in 5-cents and also at Gila River Lone Butte in 5-cents with a multi-denomination option.

This single payline slot takes 10 credits as a minimum wager. At this bet, a bankroll of $50.00 is sufficient to experience the bonus and the features of the game. The KachingoTM symbol on the center reel appears frequently adding marbles to the slots on the bonus board above the reels. Once a tube fills up, the free spins bonus starts with the number of games and the multiplier indicated by the tube just filled! Our insider sources inform us that this particular slot is set to a loose payback percentage of over 90%!

On a final note, both Desert Diamond Casinos just installed brand new Colossal Gaming slots called Suite SuccessTM so go check them out! Send us an e-mail at editor@azgamingguide.com with the word “Colossal” in the subject and tell us what you think of these games! $ azgamingguide.com | September 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide

09

GREAT GAMES

New Slots

Image courtesy of IGT. © Copyright IGT. All Rights Reserved. igt.com.

The exclusivity arrangement with Total Rewards properties is over!

The Hangover ™ Slots, based on the popular hit movie and created by the slot manufacturer IGT, will be coming to a casino near you soon! An exclusivity arrangement between Total Rewards (the player loyalty program of Caesars Entertainment) and IGT meant that players could only play the fun, new slot at select Total Rewards casinos for the first 60 days after the launch of the new game.

Now, that exclusivity agreement is over and several casinos throughout Arizona will be installing The Hangover ™ Slots for their loyal patrons to enjoy as well. Watch for these new game installs at Casino Arizona – Salt River and Mazatzal Hotel & Casino in Payson, Arizona in the very near future.

In The Hangover™ Slots game, the characters Alan, Phil, Stu and Doug star in four themed progressive pick bonuses. The first of the four bonuses include the “Stun Gun” bonus in which players press the button to zap Alan and build credit values. In the “Wedding Chapel” bonus, players pick from several boxes to reveal wedded bliss, mugs, and hats for credit values. During “Mr. Chow's Freaky Free Games” bonus, players are awarded free spins with locking wild poker chips and can advance to the “Deal in the Desert” bonus with a chance to reveal the correct Doug for extra winnings. Additionally, in the “Villa” bonus, players pick from several icons found in the hotel room to reveal credits. Base game wilds are awarded when a police cruiser, an SUV, a tiger paw swipe, a mattress, or Mr. Chow enters the screen and randomly converts game symbols to wilds. One of the most entertaining aspects of this game is the voice-over by the comic actor, Ken Jeong, as Mr. Chow. Fans of “The Hangover” movies are sure to find a lot more reasons to love this new slot machine! $ 10 Arizona Gaming Guide | September 2011 | azgamingguide.com

GREAT GAMES

New Slots

T

the more ships you have, the more you can win in the bonus! While we didn’t experience it ourselves when our team played the game at the casino, if any of your ships survive the Klingon fleet’s attack during the bonus round they are carried over to the next bonus. The game quickly becomes a battle to get as many ships as possible before the timer for the next bonus expires. One easy way to accomplish this is to simply increase your bet. A higher bet creates more ships or adds a bigger and better arsenal to your fleet for the next bonus round battle. We want to hear your feedback about this slot. Send us an e-mail to: editor@azgamingguide.com with “Star Trek” in the subject field and let us know what you think!

The bonus is guaranteed to hit every eight minutes, so that makes every player a definite winner, frequently.

Furthermore, you build your ships during base game play between bonuses. The game concept is pretty simple;

By the way, all you non-smokers will be excited to know that Cocopah Casino now offers “Smoke-free Sunday!”

You got it! Right now, here in Arizona, you can enjoy a 100% non-smoking casino once a week! So what are you waiting for? Get away for the weekend and visit Cocopah Casino and let them know we sent you. For more information about Cocopah Casino, please visit their website at: www.cocopahresort.com $

By Mark Novak he Final Frontier < available right now at Cocopah Casino in Yuma, Arizona! Cocopah is currently the only casino in all of Arizona to offer this brand new slot machine from WMS, for now. You may have already played the earlier version of WMS’ Star TrekTM slots and regardless of your past experience, this game is worth a try.

Slot machine image courtesy of WMS. © Copyright WMS. All Rights Reserved. wms.com.

12 Arizona Gaming Guide | August 2011 | azgamingguide.com

Arizona Indian Gaming Association Acting Executive Director

Valerie Spicer

By Chris Hoft

Valerie Spicer was recently named Acting Executive Director of the Arizona Indian Gaming Association (AIGA). Last fall, she was selected for the Deputy Director position from a group of 80 highly qualified candidates from all over the country because of her accomplishments and her vision for the future of the AIGA. Learning about all of the endeavors she has worked hard for in her 27 years of experience in the gaming industry, it is obvious to me why she was elected to lead the AIGA. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very excited to introduce her to all of you.

Arizona Gaming Guide (AGG): You haven't been in your new position for very long. Have you had a chance to get settled in yet? What is the first item on your agenda with the AIGA? Valerie Spicer (VS): Whenever I approach a new position, I think it is very important to get a good understanding of where the organization is and how best to take it to the next level. My predecessor, Sheila Morago, served in this position for eight years and amassed an incredible amount of accomplishments through her ability to communicate and juggle multiple balls in the air at any given moment. It has been a challenge to not let those balls drop and, at the same time, to identify what else AIGA could be doing to build a stronger presence and awareness within Arizona and all of our communities. Building this awareness has been my focus for AIGA. We recently had a really good outreach with the University Medical Center Trauma Services in Tucson.

They approached us to thank the tribes for their contributions which have made an incredible difference for their Trauma and Emergency Services. In 2002, when

14 Arizona Gaming Guide | September 2011 | azgamingguide.com

Prop 202 was crafted, trauma centers were selected as one of the recipients of the Arizona Benefits Fund because at the time trauma centers in the state were in danger of being closed. In addition to trauma and emergency services, the Arizona Benefits Fund has also provided critical funding for education, wildlife conservation and tourism. I plan to reach out to all the recipients of the Arizona Benefits Fund and learn from them how their programs have been affected by these monies. The Benefits Fund has made a tremendous impact and we want people to know what has been achieved with these monies. These funds are automatically distributed every year and we want to celebrate the accomplishments and the positive changes that have been made. I know the tribes will feel very good about this.

Tribes in Arizona contribute a portion of their Class III Net Wins to the Arizona Benefits Fund! This Fund provides revenues for education, trauma and emergency care, wildlife conservation and economic development. To date, contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund have totaled more than $480,000,000!

AGG: How does the AIGA and the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) work together?

VS: We have a very good relationship with the ADG and communicate with each other on a regular basis. It is in all of our best interests that we work closely together. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 established the foundation for tribal gaming. By any measure, Indian gaming is one of the most regulated businesses in the nation. The credibility of tribal gaming is based on the ability to operate under strong regulation with checks and balances. At the tribal level, we have the tribal gaming agencies, the first line of oversight, then the state, and then the federal government. As the technology changes we may have to adjust how we track and regulate gaming, what games we can offer, how we can offer them, and how to perform certain procedures to ensure the integrity of gaming. We also have in John McCain, a U.S. Senator who is very keen on regulation and oversight. He knows that Arizona has always been recognized, on a national level, as being highly regulated and for having a great working relationship with the state regulatory agency. This is a good thing!

AGG: How closely does the AIGA work with national organizations such as the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA)?

VS: We have two tribal leaders who serve as our representatives to NIGA. On a regular basis we travel to Washington D.C. and participate in their meetings, conferences, or attend hearings. Most recently, NIGA held a summit on internet gaming, land into trust, and a number of different topics which are critical to our Indian Country. We also attended the Indian Affairs Committee hearing and round table on internet gaming. I know that other regional associations, as well as the national associations, look to us for input on crafting terminology, legislation, and our responses to legislation. I think this is a very good position to be in. The NIGC (National Indian Gaming Commission) has been on a national consultation schedule and I, on behalf of AIGA, as well as the tribes on their own, have attended several of these meetings. We are always mindful of what is happening nationally.

AGG: Indian gaming operations have felt the brunt of the recession. Luckily, casino revenues have seemed to be picking up over the last couple of years. Do you believe that the worst is over?

VS: The last two quarterly gaming reports show an increase, which is great. I think this reflects a few things.

Arizonans have a higher comfort level on spending in the hopes that our state economy is turning around. However, it could also be due to less traveling by Arizonans and stay at home vacationing. Rising gas prices made it diffi-

cult to go out of state and resulted in people staying closer to home. The casino gaming industry is not recession-proof. We have felt the domino effect of the economy. Tribes are governments not just a gaming corporation and they have been impacted across the board as well. I believe tribes will experience slow, continual growth towards a positive future. I watched, along with everyone else, the recent Debt Ceiling challenges, the Dowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plunge, and Europe spiraling. These are all examples of a ripple effect. Tribes are always keeping their eye on these kinds of events, just like any other government. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all keeping our fingers crossed that the worst is over and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking forward to moving upward.

AGG: Is there anything you would like to communicate to our readers?

VS: I would like to remind everyone of the identity of tribes. A lot of people tend to look at tribes and only see the gaming. There are so many aspects to each tribe beyond gaming. The tribal governments have a long and rich history within the State of Arizona. This history is actually accounted for in the textbooks that children learn from in school. I want people to remember more about the tribes and to take the time to become involved with their culture and history. I think a lot of this gets lost. The tribes are part of the fabric of this great State of Arizona. $ For more information on the AIGA, please visit: www.azindiangaming.org.

Thank you to Valerie Spicer for her time and Linda Oosahwe at the AIGA for facilitating this interview. Special thanks to Martha & Pam at Strategies.

azgamingguide.com | September 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide

15

WINNING WAYS

Class II vs. Class III Slots

THE REEL DEAL ABOUT

CLASS II SLOTS

By Alex Stewart

lass II slots are popping up in casinos all over Arizona and many of you may not even realize these slot machine games are vastly different from the Class III games we are all accustomed to playing. Class II games even have their own set of rules and regulations that are separate from Class III games. You won’t be able to tell the difference between these two types of games with a cursory glance, but there are some very important distinctions between them!

C

Class II Slots vs. Class III Slots Visually, it’s very difficult to distinguish between Class II and Class III slots. All the same lights, bells, and whistles that are customarily found on Class III slot machines are also incorporated into the Class II slots. You even have the option of playing video or mechanical versions of these games! However, the tiny bingo card located somewhere above the reel window is the dead giveaway that you are playing a Class II slot!

The main difference between Class II and Class III slots is that Class II slots are connected to one central computer and all the outcomes are based on one random number generator running from the main computer. Essentially, players are competing against each other for prizes—which are just disguised as the winning combinations on the game. For each new game, there are a finite number of possible winning combinations (and losing combinations) that are awarded to the players participating in the bingo game at any particular moment. Imagine playing lottery scratch tickets. Once a certain combination has occurred, it can16 Arizona Gaming Guide | September 2011 | azgamingguide.com

not occur again until all the scratch tickets have been used and a new game is started. Therefore, each game on a Class II slot is dependent on the previous game. Class III slot games, on the other hand, each have their own random number generator located inside the individual slot machines and each game is completely independent.

This is why it’s actually possible to get back-to-back jackpots on a Class III slot because all winning and losing combinations are available to players on every spin.

Are Class II Slots Fair?

The math models behind Class II games are set up in a slightly different way than the math models for the Class III games—that’s all! There is nothing unfair about it! The overall payback percentage of the slot is based on how many winning and losing combinations there are in a finite pool of outcomes. When a bingo game is over, the central computer picks a player with a winning bingo and awards a prize from the “electronic” stack that includes a finite number of outcomes. A player doesn’t see what’s going on behind-the-scenes.

If their bingo card is a winner, then they will see a winning combination on the screen in the form of three red 7s, for example.

Why Even Have Class II Slots?

Class II slots that mimic electronic bingo were originally invented so that certain jurisdictions that weren’t allowed to operate Class III games could offer and benefit from this form of gaming. With so many great Class II game titles, slot directors in Class III jurisdictions have been intrigued enough to place them on their slot floors too! $

WINNING WAYS

Payback Percentages

WIN

     

By Liz Torma tay away from the penny slots and start playing the dollar slots if you want to increase your chances of winning. Generally, the higher the denomination is the higher the payback percentage.

Casinos do this to reward players that are willing to place higher bets.

Based on my industry experience, this is a common breakdown of payback percentages by denomination: 1¢ 85-91%, 2¢ 87-91%, 5¢ 88-92%, 10¢ 89-93%, 25¢ 92-95%, $1 93-96%, $2 94-96%, and $5 95-97%.

S

And, here’s another hint: If you generally play a 30 line penny game at bet-per-line five for a total bet of $1.50, this is the same as playing a 30 line nickel game at bet-per-line one for the same wager! Playing the exact same slot game in a higher denomination can earn you a few extra percentage points! Try it and see if you can feel a difference. The other added advantage you’ll be getting by playing the higher denomination games is a boost in your players card status. $

  The payback percentages for Video Poker are generally much higher than the payback percentages for Video Keno, but that doesn’t mean Video Poker is necessarily the better game. Numbers can be deceiving, especially in the case of payback percentages. Sometimes the hit frequency is just as important as the payback percentage of a game! Hit frequency describes how often various wins occur and how much they return relative to the odds of hitting them. For instance, when playing straight up Video Keno whose 7-spot pays 7,000 to 1, the odds of hitting this award are about 1 in 40,000 games. Well, guess what? These are the exact same odds for hitting a Royal Flush playing Video Poker! In my opinion, the 7,000 to 1 payout for catching a 7-spot sure beats the 800 to 1 payout for a Royal Flush! And, the 6 out of 7-spot for a 400 to 1 payout isn’t so shabby either, especially since it happens 1 in every 1,300 games on average! $

 



ave you ever played your favorite slot machines outside of Arizona and felt as though something was off? Well, it probably wasn’t your imagination. According to the gaming regulations established in Nevada, slot machine paybacks can be set as low as 75% and this includes Laughlin as well! California doesn’t even have a minimum! Here in Arizona, our gaming regulations don’t allow anything below 80%. It kind of makes you want to play close to home doesn’t it? $

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Photo courtesy of IGT. © Copyright IGT. All Rights Reserved. igt.com.

18 Arizona Gaming Guide | September 2011 | azgamingguide.com

WINNING WAYS

Playing Smart

VIDEO or LIVE

How Much $$$$ Should You Bring To The Casinos?

KENO?

By Lana Hartmann

ive Keno typically has a house edge of around 30% or more whereas the Video Keno version has a much lower house edge of around 8%! However, the speed of play doesn’t necessarily make it the most preferable choice between the two versions. Assuming you can squeeze in 15 games in one hour playing Live Keno at $1 per game, the cost/hour is $5 in the long run (cost/hour = 15 games/hour x $1 bet/game x 30% house edge = $4.50/hour). Playing Video Keno at an average speed, you can play 300 games in one hour. At a cost of $1 per game, the cost/hour to play Video Keno is $24/ hour (cost/hour = 300 games/hour x $1 bet/game x 8% house edge = $24/hour).

L

If you choose to play Video Keno over Live Keno, you will be choosing the game with the lowest house advantage. However, the 22% you save will cost you, in the long run, an extra $19.50/hour because of the speed of play. Nevertheless, I prefer Video Keno over Live Keno and to lessen the disadvantages I set the game to the slowest speed (whenever possible) so I can play less games per hour and I always keep my eye out for the best pay schedules. I also never play more than a one coin wager since all wins are proportional and, of course, I always use my players card! Good luck and have fun. $ 20 Arizona Gaming Guide | September 2011 | azgamingguide.com

here are so many factors that you need to consider when determining your bankroll for a night out at the casino. What denomination you plan on playing, what bet level, the volatility of the games, and how long you’d like your entertainment experience to last for are just some important factors you need to take into account when determining your casino budget.

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Let’s assume you can afford to spend $100 for one trip to the casino. That amount of money should buy you (on average) one hour of play time on a penny slot machine game with medium—high volatility, betting the absolute minimum (assume it’s 30 cents playing all the lines). Now, as soon as you start to deviate from any one of those categories, you need to increase your casino spending money. For example, playing 60¢ you should bring $200 for each hour of desired play time, 90¢ you should bring $300/hour and so on. Of course, some of the newer slot machines that are much more volatile may require slightly more money while the older and less volatile games may require slightly less. The key is to be realistic, so you never find yourself in a situation where you’re out of money and tempted to withdraw more. Know what kind of player you are, follow these rules and you will never come out short! $

FAST FACTS

Free Game Bonuses

BONUS REELS IN PLAY

What does that even mean and how does it affect how the game plays?

By Lana Hartmann

ave you ever felt as though it’s easier (or harder) to get certain winning combinations during a free games bonus round? Well, the reel strips that are used in the base game are not the same reel strips that are used during the free games, most of the time.

Yes, that’s right! In order to distinguish the bonus reel strips from the existing reel strips used during base game play, regulations in several major gaming jurisdictions, including Arizona, require a visible difference in the symbols if an alternate set of reels is used. In addition, a clear statement needs to be displayed somewhere on screen, on the game, and in the help screen, indicating that a change in reel strips has taken place during the free games. In fact, in most cases, if you look closely the symbols have been flipped horizontally and some color change has happened as well. The reel strip background generally chang-

H

es as well. And, just to be even more obvious, some manufacturers write the word “BONUS” across the reel strips!

This is all done to make sure players understand that a change has occurred and they don’t feel cheated. Additionally, with all these modifications to the game there can be no doubt to a player that they are currently in a bonus.

Changing the reel strips during the bonus can allow the mathematician to control the volatility of the game. In other words, they can increase or decrease the hit frequencies of the individual wins, change your chances of re-triggering the bonus, affect (on average) how much each free games will pay, and so on. Next time you play your favorite slot game, see if you can tell a difference between the reel strips and what changes were made! $

Slot machine image courtesy of WMS. © Copyright WMS. All Rights Reserved. wms.com.

22 Arizona Gaming Guide | September 2011 | azgamingguide.com

Gaming News

CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL GAMING

FAST FACTS

not guaranteed a return for their money and any return depends on chance.

Most of the seized Coin-Pushers have been in operation since January 2010, and public complaints alerted officials. Affidavits filed in support of search and seizure warrants have estimated $200,000 in illegal gambling revenue generated by the machines in the past five months.

The affidavits explained that in addition to being illegal gambling devices, the machines are a fraud because they Seized Coin-Pushers being destroyed at Arizona Recycling Corp.

he Arizona Attorney General’s Office and the Arizona Department of Gaming recently announced a joint operation combating the proliferation of illegal gambling machines. A task force of agents and investigators from both offices seized more than 70 gambling machines known as Coin-Pushers at 57 metro Phoenix locations. The Arizona Department of Liquor and the Arizona Department of Public Safety actively assisted in the operation as well.

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Coin-Pushers are machines into which a player inserts a coin, usually quarters, in an attempt to have a "pusher" (a moving part within the machine) push other coins, tokens, jewelry, and currency of various denominations off a shelf and into a collection bin for retrieval. Players are

Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne (L.) and Arizona Department Of Gaming Director Mark Brnovich (R.) oversee destruction of the Coin-Pushers.

contain hidden compartments into which many coins fall without becoming available to the player, giving a false impression of the chances of getting more value than the cost of playing.

"These devices are a fraud on the public," Attorney General Terry Goddard said. "They are built cleverly to deceive the player into thinking that coins or other valuables are about to fall into the collection bin as winnings, but players can't see how they really work." Distribution, installation and collection of revenue generated from the Coin-Pushers are violations of numerous criminal offenses that include promotion of gambling, fraud, money laundering, benefiting from gambling, and possession of a gambling device. “Protecting our communities from illegal gambling operations is a priority,” said Mark Brnovich, director of the Arizona Department of Gaming.

“We take complaints of such activity very seriously.” $ Many thanks to Talia Otto, Rick Medina, the Arizona Department of Gaming, and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office for this article. For more information on the Arizona Department of Gaming, visit azgaming.gov. For more information on the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, visit azag.gov. Photos are courtesy of the Arizona Department of Gaming, © Copyright Arizona Department of Gaming. All rights reserved.

azgamingguide.com | September 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide

23

FAST FACTS

Casino Buzz

Fortopoly Picture this classic game of strategy and chance, transformed, Fort McDowell style. Introducing Fortopoly, a spinning whirlwind of chances to win big. Exciting prizes including the grand prize drawing where two lucky winners will take home a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta, daily drawings like the Bag of Chance and bonus spins on the giant Fortopoly game board, are sure to leave people wanting more! And you’re in luck, because Fortopoly runs through September 26, 2011. Don’t lose your turn to witness the Grand Prize car drawing September 26th at 8pm. Daily drawings are Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, 1pm, 5pm and 8pm, so you’ll have plenty of chances to make your move.

Lunar Bingo The Fort McDowell Casino, known for the Valley’s largest cash payouts, offers the newest latenight trend for all Bingo enthusiasts – Lunar Bingo. An exciting and original twist on the traditional game, it combines black lights, cocktails, loud music and giveaways, making for a Bingo experience unlike any other. Many people are finding themselves becoming “Lunartics,” and you could be next. So grab your friends, a few glow necklaces, and get ready to have some serious late-night fun. This year, Lunar Bingo will take place on the 3rd Saturday of every month starting at midnight.

Fort McDowell Casino Where there is something for everyone!

Karaoke Showcase your singing talent and get a taste of the spotlight this year as Fort McDowell presents Karaoke with Attitude.

Don’t miss your chance to compete and win cash and/or Crown Credits in this exciting elimination, multiple round, karaoke event. Choose your favorite song and take the stage in the Lucky 7 Saloon because you could be the next Fort Many thanks to Stephanie Riley at ReThinc for her assis- McDowell Casino karaoke star! Didn’t make it through your tance with this article. For more info about Fort McDowell round? Relax, you could be the lucky Wild Card winner, Casino, visit their website at www.fortmcdowellcasino.com drawings at the end of each qualifying round. Karaoke with or call 1-800-THE-FORT (1-800-843-3678).

Attitude’s Final Round is October 6th, 7pm-10pm. $ 24 Arizona Gaming Guide | September 2011 | azgamingguide.com

Editor’s Picks

ENTERTAINMENT

JERSEY ROCKS

RON WHITE

Showroom Talking Stick Resort—Scottsdale Thursday thru Saturday—Now thru Oct. 1st Tickets start at $19.99—480.850.7734

Diamond Center Desert Diamond Casino—Sahuarita September 30th—Doors at 7PM Tickets start at $45—520.294.7777

A rousing tribute to the many generations of music that have come from the Garden State including Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, the Ronettes, Billy Joel, and Bon Jovi.

Comedian Ron ‚Tater Salad‛ White has performed with Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy on the highly acclaimed ‚Blue Collar Comedy Tour.‛

CREEDENCE RELIVED

WILLIE NELSON & FAMILY

Event Center Mazatzal Hotel & Casino—Payson October 8th—Show at 6:30PM Tickets start at $15—800.777.PLAY

Stargazer Pavilion Cliff Castle Casino Hotel—Camp Verde September 16th—Doors at 7PM Tickets start at $35—800.381.SLOT

This group has re-captured the look and feel of Creedence Clearwater Revival with their rugged Levi jackets, shaggy hair cuts, beards and one heck of a live show!

Don’t miss this American icon and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, who will soon celebrate his 80th birthday, and has a music career which spans seven decades!

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.

azgamingguide.com | September 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide

27

FUN & GAMES

SUDOKU

RIDDLES

Each of the columns, rows, and nine 3x3 grids must contain all of the digits 1 - 9. None of the digits may appear more than once in each column, row, and 3x3 grid.

1. An undercover police officer needs to infiltrate an

(Solution on page 30)

1

6

2

2

9

4

6

7 3

2

1 2

1

5

2

7

9

9 7

5

7

1

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8 6

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3

8

illegal gambling club, but first he needs to figure out a way to get in so he can disguise himself as a player.

One night, the police officer realizes that people are being let in by saying a secret password, so he decides to put a recording device close to the door. The first person walks up to the door and replies “six” after the man behind the door says “twelve.” Then, another person walks up to the door and is let in when he replies “three” after being told “six” by the man inside.

At this point, the police officer is sure he’s cracked the code and feels he doesn’t need to wait any longer. He goes up to the door and after the man inside says to him “ten” the police officer replies “five” wholeheartedly. Unfortunately the police officer is in grave trouble, because he didn’t say the right password! What should have been the right password?

2. Cher

doesn’t have one. Arnold Schwarzenegger

has one and it’s big! Michael J. Fox also has one but it’s small! The Pope has one but never uses it! Tiger Woods has one and uses it all the time! What is it?

(Solutions on page 30)

28 Arizona Gaming Guide | September 2011 | azgamingguide.com

SAMI’S SMACKDOWN

FROM A CASINO EMPLOYEE...

ADULT SEWING LESSONS!!!

This is the "YOU CAN MAKE IT" series of lessons! NEW THIS SUMMER, WE WILL BE OFFERING WEEKLY ADULT SEWING LESSONS!

*EXP. 10/1/2011

By Sami Becker

Sami, I work for a casino in Arizona, so I want my name to be ANONYMOUS! I don’t want to take the chance of being fired because I’m ranting about my customers. I’ve worked in a casino now for 8 years and I’ve heard a lot of things in that time. It’s to the point where I really need to tell someone! I want to tell people what I’ve heard and inform the families of gamblers what they really need to know. They need to know what’s going on, how a lot of gamblers think, and what some gamblers are really saying when they call home. Okay, so here it goes …

I’ll be walking around inside my casino or outside the casino and overhear customers on their cell phones telling the person on the other line that they are somewhere else and not at the casino. They will say something like, “Hi honey, I’m at Costco” or “I just left Wal-Mart.” I don’t know how they get away with it, because they have no money and no groceries! I feel these types of people shouldn’t be at the casino spending the rent or grocery money. They just might be addicts who need help. I want all the people that do this to know I appreciate their business and I love seeing them playing and having fun.

However, if they’re not supposed to be in the casino then they shouldn’t go. If they have a gambling problem, they need to call for help at 1-800NEXTSTEP (1-800-639-8783) or visit their website at www.problemgambling.az.gov. Thank You! Anonymous Writer –Arizona Thank you, so much, for taking the time to write us! I commend the casinos, and employees like yourself, for caring and prominently displaying the hotline number throughout the casino. At some point, everyone needs to take responsibility for their own actions. Family and friends should be aware if someone they love is exhibiting signs of a gambling problem (or are displaying addictive tendencies towards anything else such as food, drugs, alcohol, shopping) and encourage them to get the help they need! $ Do YOU have something to rant about? Write me at:

sami@azgamingguide.com azgamingguide.com | September 2011 | Arizona Gaming Guide

29

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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 Slots, Live Keno, 47 Poker Tables, 54 Table Games

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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 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 Slots, 2 Poker Tables, 10 Blackjack Tables Desert Diamond Casino Highway 86, Why 1½ miles E of Why, AZ on Highway 86 1-866-332-9467 desertdiamondcasino.com 76 Slots

facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide

Solutions to the Riddles 1. The number of letters in the word is the correct password.

The police officer should have replied ‚three‛ when the man behind the door said ‚ten.‛ 2. Their surname.

Tonto Apache Tribe Mazatzal Hotel & Casino Highway 87, Payson S of Payson on Beeline Highway(SR 87) 1-800-777-7529 777play.com 413 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 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 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 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 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-07/01/11

30 Arizona Gaming Guide | September 2011 | azgamingguide.com

Solution to the Sudoku

1

6

9

4

8

2

3

7

5

2

5

8

3

9

7

6

4

1

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3

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9

2

6

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9

1

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8

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4

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9

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3

1

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3

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9

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3

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