Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - March 2021 - 13:03

MARCH

Contents IN EVERY ISSUE 04 EDITOR’S NOTE 06 PLAYERS TALK 10 GREAT GAMES

14 TABLE GAMES 18 FEATURE STORY 22 GAMING NEWS 34 SAMI’S SMACKDOWN 36 FUN & GAMES 38 CASINO DIRECTORY

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10 VIDEO POKER NO-NO’S… THE MISTAKES AND THE SOLUTIONS

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22

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Plus, Dragon Spell by IGT, Raging Stampede, Triple Double Gems and Triple Double Patriot by Everi!

Spring into March with $40 Million Mega Bucks Scratchers & Mega Multiplier Progressive Fast Play!

Play on Friday and Saturday nights from 4 p.m. to midnight. There’s no limit to the action!

IGT DEBUTS NEW WHEEL OF FORTUNE SLOT

ARIZONA LOTTERY’S NEW SCRATCHERS & FAST PLAY

APACHE GOLD BRINGS BACK TABLE GAMES

azgamingguide.com | March 2021 | Arizona Gaming Guide

03

EDITOR’S NOTE

ST. PATRICK’S DAY Good Luck Omens

Your Authority On Everything Gaming VOLUME 13 • ISSUE 03 MANAGING DIRECTOR & VIDEO POKER GURU Elizabeth Torma liz@azgamingguide.com

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arch 17 is St. Patrick’s Day and we all know that if we want good luck to come our way on that day we better wear green! However, here are some more good luck omens to keep an eye out for on St. Patrick’s Day …

1. You’re eating your Lucky Charms cereal at breakfast and all of a sudden you realize that they truly are “magically delicious!”

2. You open the garage door and you notice a scared, shivering leprechaun run away furiously!

3. Unexpectedly, your dog gets up on his hind two feet and starts performing a jig for you!

4. Green water is coming out of every single faucet in your house. And, it’s inexplicably only happening to you and no one else!

5. You notice that the end of the rainbow is in your backyard with a golden pot there the size of your bathtub filled with various flavored Jell-O! 6. Your cat spits up a hair ball in the shape of a four leaf clover!

7. You get a truckload of Guinness beer delivered to your doorstep and your wife tells you it’s an early birthday present!

8. Your children have stopped calling you “Daddy” and have started calling you “Paddy!”

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Alexandra

Alexandra Lang Editor-in-Chief Editor@AZGamingGuide.com

PUBLISHER & SLOT GURU Chris Höft chris@azgamingguide.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alexandra Lang editor@azgamingguide.com ART DIRECTOR Melanie Mueller CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Al Moe Matt Probst Mark Novak TJ Jorgensen Lana Hartmann Samantha Becker ADVERTISING SALES Elizabeth Torma liz@azgamingguide.com Nina Consiglio nina@azgamingguide.com MAILING INFORMATION Arizona Gaming Guide P.O. Box 20636 Mesa, Arizona 85277 INTERNET INFORMATION AZGamingGuide.com Facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide Copyright © 2009-2021 The Arizona Gaming Guide. All rights reserved.

The Arizona Gaming Guide (AGG) presents casino industry and gaming related facts and editorial opinions. AGG accepts no responsibility and no liability for any actions of readers based on articles and/or advertisements presented within. AGG is not liable for claims made in articles and/or advertisements. All pictures, images, logos, trademarks and trade names, etc. are the sole property of their respective owners.

Intended for single use only. Reproduction in part or in whole in any form without consent is not permitted. Sale and/or distribution in any form without consent is not permitted. Check all details with the respective casino’s Players Club. Our full legal disclaimer can be found at AZGamingGuide.com/index_files/legal_disclaimer.html.

You must be 21 or older to gamble. Please play responsibly.

Help is available at 1.800.NEXT.STEP or problemgambling.az.gov.

Arizona’s State Gaming Regulatory Agency: Arizona Department of Gaming 1110 W. Washington Street, Suite 450, Phoenix, 85007 1.602.771.4263 or azgaming.gov Tribal Gaming Funded Problem Gambling Resource: Division of Problem Gambling 1.800.NEXT.STEP or 1.800.639.8783 1110 W. Washington Street, Suite 450, Phoenix, 85007 1.602.542.8998 or problemgambling.az.gov

04 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2021 | azgamingguide.com

PLAYERS TALK What follows below are several recently received correspondences, or excerpts of them. But before you skip down and begin reading them, we’d like to point out a few things first. Just so our readers are aware, this month’s format will be less “Question & Answer” and more “Statement.”

I am 81 years of age and need a walker to get around.

[Recently] I was knocked to the floor by a man running through [the casino]. He did not stop and I ended up in the hospital with a broken hip.

Dolores Z.—Via Letter, Scottsdale, AZ

As our readers well know, some of our team members have been in the casino gaming industry for close to three decades and, as a result, have experienced almost everything there is in a casino. So, we understand firsthand how difficult it can be to provide excellent customer service every day, all day, especially in a casino. Plus, we think all patrons will agree, casino surveillance and security have a very daunting task to begin with, not to mention now, post-COVID.

Hi Dolores! Thank you for being willing to share your story.

We’re very sorry for what you had to experience and hope you are well now and still enjoying your trips to the casino. It’s very unfortunate that people can be so rude and inconsiderate!

However, if what we are seeing in these correspondences to us are part of a trend, we’re not entirely confident that the happy, fun, enjoyable casino floor that existed pre-COVID will return without some intervention by casino management on behalf of all guests.

Dear AZ Gaming Guide, I take time to write a few words as humble advice to my fellow gamblers and slot machine players. The purpose of going to a casino is to have fun and perhaps win some money. Is there a guarantee that you will? Not at all.

Why do you let yourself be frustrated by expecting the machine to pay you? Why do I have to experience your frustration?

Dear AZ Gaming Guide, Recently, I was able to return to my favorite casino to play my favorite slot machine only to discover the Spin/Repeat Bet button was cracked and broken. There were four working machines before the lockdown and now only one works.

Money “comes and goes” as the saying tells us. If you don’t win today, maybe next time, or the time after that. Have fun playing. Don’t allow yourself to get so frustrated. After all, it’s only money.

Jed Ghanem—Via Letter, Tucson, AZ

Also, I observed a player jamming their players card in the slot so hard, they bent the card.

Thanks for writing Jed and for the great advice! The casino is there for fun and entertainment, not frustration!

Shouldn’t casino employees alert players they can be charged with property damage?

I was at [a casino] in January [of 2021] … and was really put off by a guy running around trying to sell me his gold jewelry and watches which were, obviously, fake, or stolen. He talked to a lot of people by racing around, coming right up to them, and getting in their face. He didn’t care about social distancing or about wearing a mask as he was taking it off to talk. …

He was really pushy and almost came up to me again but I turned around and walked away. … I don’t think I’ll be going back to [that casino] anytime soon.

Jeff Burton—Via Email, Arizona

Playing slots is a form of recreation for many of us, and we look forward to it. But, must we endure hitting, broken machines, and cussing? I think not. It will be a while before I return to play.

Ethyl Johnson—Via Letter, Phoenix, AZ Thanks Ethyl for sharing your thoughts with us. You answered your second question on your own and we, along with a lot of our readers, couldn’t agree more. Anger, violence, broken games, foul language are never fun to experience, especially not while you are trying to have a good time.

And in response to your first question, each casino will make their own policies about who is responsible, and for what amount of money, for damage to casino property. New buttons may “only” cost around $100, but sometimes the slot’s manufacturer has the only replacement for their custom-made button.

So, at times, there may be more to fixing a button than meets the eye. But, our suggestion is to bring it up to the casino personnel and give them an opportunity to address the issue. You can always decide, after some time has passed, if you’ll continue to frequent the casino with broken buttons on their slots or not.

06 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2021 | azgamingguide.com

Thanks for sharing Jeff. We’re sorry to hear about your experience. If this happens to you again, or to any of our readers, please inform casino staff. Interacting with desperate people can be dangerous.

So I was at my soon-to-be not-favorite casino last week and after winning a little on video poker and treating myself to a meal, I was headed out to the parking lot and saw a ton of police cars pulling over a vehicle. … There is only one way out of the parking lot and I had to get to work soon. I couldn’t sit around and wait for them to clear off. But that meant I had to drive by this situation where officers had their weapons drawn. I don’t feel safe going [there] anymore. … Is it like this (Continued on page 8)

PLAYERS TALK

(Continued from page 6)

at all the casinos or is this just because everyone has gone off the deep end?

Janice Scott—Via Email, Phoenix, Arizona Thanks for being willing to write in about this experience Janice.

The situation you describe sounds frightening. Based on your description, whatever was going on, law enforcement was on scene to deal with it. But we also can understand your reluctance to return to that casino.

Unfortunately, casinos can attract criminals, mainly money launderers who want to “fly under the radar” and not come to the attention of law enforcement and the IRS. But that’s why there are strict regulations and plenty of oversight. Casinos have close working relationships with law enforcement, including tribal police which is generally onsite, and a fully staffed surveillance and security department.

However, this situation can, and does, happen elsewhere. The gas station, the mall, the store, etc.. And, just look at all the viral videos of shoppers getting into fights over toilet paper during the COVID lockdown where police had to intervene! Those fights weren’t exactly based on criminal behavior, but they certainly were out of control.

I get that people are really stressed out right now. All the uncertainty with people’s jobs, the economy, kids and school, the list goes on.

We’re retired, have a fixed income from Social Security, our retirement funds, and a few other sources. … So we’re good right now and we’ve got no worries, even from COVID. … We do our best to stay safe and not interact closely with other people, even our own family.

We want our fun too and have always enjoyed visiting casinos in Arizona, Nevada and across the country. The wife and I travel in our RV a lot so we get by OK. … But more and more all this anxiety is overflowing on the casino floor. We’ve wit-

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nessed too many yelling matches between customers, or between customers and employees than I care to count. … Everyone is short-tempered. … This isn’t fun anymore always being surrounded by a casino full of people who are in a bad mood.

There’s too much negativity.

Erwin Williams—Via Email, Arizona Thanks for your insight Erwin. You don’t really pose a question to us, but we appreciate you sharing your point of view. We’ve witnessed a lot more people who are short-tempered, both in and out of the casino. All we can say is that what is going on in the casino is a reflection of what is going on in society right now. But being surrounded by a lot of anxiety makes having fun a little tough! And, many of us are turning to the casino to step away from all the anxiety and have a little fun.

In closing, we’d like to empathize and commiserate with both our readers and casino employees. The casinos are a 24-7-365 business with a lot going on, all the time. On top of COVID, surveillance and security is protecting data, a lot of cash, financial transactions, expensive equipment, a large facility, patrons and employees (sometimes from each other!), making sure all laws and regulations are being abided by, monitoring security cameras, dealing with lost and found items (sometimes people too!), and the list goes on.

Obviously, a casino floor is not a perfect environment for everyone, but based on this sampling of correspondence, we have to wonder, where is the line? When does patron behavior become unacceptable? Punching and kicking the slots is something we are witnessing more and more post-COVID. So, if aggressive behavior to the point of damaging slots is OK, then what isn’t?

Tipping a slot over?

On the other hand, as human beings, we tend to observe and put more weight on the outliers more than we do the norm, perhaps more so because we love casino games!

Keep the questions coming! Write us at PO BOX 20636 Mesa, AZ 85277 or email us at Editor@AZGamingGuide.com. $

NEW SLOTS

Coming Soon

Gold Spin Deluxe Double Gold

By IGT

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pin for gold with IGT’s Wheel of Fortune Gold Spin Deluxe Double Gold video slots. In this threereel stepper game, playing at maximum bet increases the player’s chances of being awarded the Wheel of Fortune jackpot and gives players multiple pointers and multipliers if the Gold Spin Deluxe wheel is triggered.

When three spin symbols land on any played pay line or on the Gold Spin Deluxe wheel, the Wheel of Fortune bonus is triggered, giving players one spin on the physical wheel. When the bonus is initiated from the Gold Spin Deluxe wheel, players are awarded up to three pointers and can receive up to a five times multiplier.

Available in certain jurisdictions, the wide-area progressive jackpot rewards players who have placed a bet of five to ten credits. The jackpot can be won during the Wheel of Fortune bonus or the Gold Spin Deluxe bonus.

The exciting 10-credit cost to cover game is available on IGT’s CrystalWheel stepper cabinet.

For more information, visit IGT.com. $

Dragon Spell

By IGT

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his new game by IGT, Dragon Spell video slots, is sure to enchant players with its mystical far east setting! This 5x5 reel game combines the successful framecollection mechanics with the well-known money-on-reels feature to build excite-

ment.

In the base game, any time a dragon symbol lands on a reel, it will lock a gold frame over that position. When the dragon holding the blue yin-yang symbol appears, an eight-game counter will start, and players will continue to receive gold frames on the screen for the next eight spins. All available wins inside any of the gold frames will be awarded once the eights spins are completed.

Three or more bonus symbols trigger the free games bonus where the player is able to choose their desired number of free games and associated gold frames.

Dragon Spell is a 60-credit cost-to-cover game containing 40 pay lines and is available on IGT’s CrystalDual27, CrystalCurve and PeakSlant32 cabinets. For more info, visit IGT.com. $

10 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2021 | azgamingguide.com

Coming Soon

NEW SLOTS

Triple Double Series

By Everi

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ew slots Triple Double Gems and Triple Double Patriot are linkable progressive games with proven math models featuring frequent and lucrative multiplier action.

Each symbol has a multiplier version including progressive triggering wild symbols that combine to award a large range of thrilling wins. Players will appreciate both themes’ enhanced multiplier features and bet options with available player selectable denominations.

The Triple Double Series is available on the Player Classic cabinet with the Skyline top box that combines the traditional look and feel of the Player Classic with a vintage-inspired bezel for a thrilling reinvention of the classic mechanical cabinet.

For more information, visit Everi.com. $

Raging Stampede

By Everi

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his 10 reel, 60 pay line video slot brings players up close and personal with fiery buffaloes, showcasing unique features and bonuses with lots of opportunities to win big!

Players landing a fiery buffalo on reel 5 trigger the Raging Blast feature, turning all buffaloes to fiery wilds for that spin for a chance for bigger wins while the Raging Stacks feature adds stacks of buffalo symbols to all 10 reels, possibly awarding a jackpot.

Raging Stampede is available on Everi’s new Empire Flex cabinet that features a 49-inch flexed display with eye-popping 4K content, flexible integrated light bars, and a larger enhanced glass button deck.

For more information, visit Everi.com. $

azgamingguide.com | March 2021 | Arizona Gaming Guide 11

TABLE GAMES

By Al Moe

TAKE A KENO BREATHER Low Cost. Plenty Of Big Payouts. Easy To Play.

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ost people hit the casino for action. We want heavyduty, non-stop fun and gaming and won't quit until we've had our fill. But I'm a slow starter. And I'm from the old days in Las Vegas when you could sit in a restaurant eating a $2.95 steak and eggs breakfast and bet every single game of Keno. That's because they had runners buzzing around the tables like bees, taking new Keno tickets and paying off the winners.

Usually, that cheap breakfast cost me $5 or $10 in Keno misses.

Still, occasionally, I'd hit a three-spot for $43, and everything was groovy.

Large Arizona casinos have Keno, and while you can't get service in the restaurants, you can ask a blackjack or poker Floor Person to call the Keno lounge. They'll send a runner right to you. That way, you can watch the 20 numbers pop up on the Keno board and dream of glory.

If you've never played Keno, you mark down your favorite numbers and hope they hit. You can choose a single number ($1 wins $3) or up to 19 numbers. And, you don't have to hit all your picks to win. A solid four-spot (all four numbers hit) pays $115 but hitting three numbers still pays $3, and even two pays $1.

My Keno horror story happened in a Reno, Nevada poker room where a friendly old guy played a $1 8-spot religiously every night at the tables. He changed games, coming to my table, and the Keno runner didn't see him, so she left without getting a buck for the next round. As luck (all bad) would have it, the very next game produced all eight of his regular picks. He always played the same numbers. He left, and I didn't see him for a week. I would have had to take a break for a month!

All Day Keno Tickets In old Vegas, winning tickets had to be cashed before the start of the next game. That put some serious stress on players and runners, but today we're modern and lucky. In Arizona, you can bet a game and come back anytime in 30 days to see if you won. You are responsible for making sure the official computergenerated ticket is error-free before the next round starts.

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The 30 day window means you can bet multiple tickets and multiple consecutive games at any time. You can also bet as little as 25 cents on multiple-way tickets. An example is marking six numbers, circling two sets (ways) of three, and playing the ticket as a six-spot and two three-spots. That gives you three separate bets at 25 cents each and a cost of just 75 cents per game.

I’m not trying to sell everyone on cheap gambling, but Keno is like a live slot machine. You can win big – as much as $250,000 – without spending too much. And it gets even cheaper.

You can play 10 cent Keno games when you pick 6, 7, or 8 numbers and play a minimum of ten consecutive games. A solid 8spot pays $2,000. If you miss by one number, you still get $200.

Sometimes casino workers bet a series of 100 games right before their shift so they can watch the Keno board all day. Others play on their way home. Sounds fun! $ Writer Al Moe has worked in the casino industry for many years.

He has lived and worked in Las Vegas, Reno, and Lake Tahoe. He also attended the University of Nevada, Reno. He is an avid writer and blogger. His book, “Vegas and the Mob," is available online at Amazon.com. He is also the proud father of four beautiful girls.

TABLE GAMES

By TJ Jorgensen

YOU CALL IT LUCK...

I Call It Standard Deviation!

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f a person goes to the casino and plays a negative expectation game for a few hours and walks out a winner, they usually will tell you they had a lucky day. However, I would describe what they experienced as standard deviation, in that they did not achieve the expected mathematical outcome, a loss. Let me explain.

If I randomly flip a coin there are only two possible outcomes, a heads or a tails. On any given flip, there is a 50% chance that a head will be the result and a 50% chance that a tails will be the result. So if I flip a coin 100 times, the expectation is to get 50 heads and 50 tails. But, reality may be different, the measure of that reality is called standard deviation.

Standard deviation is a term used in mathematics and statistics to describe how spread out the outcomes of an event will be. In our coin flipping trial of 100 flips, you would expect to get 50 heads and 50 tails. But, two-thirds of the time you will get between 45 heads and 55 tails, or just the reverse, or something in between, and that would not be unusual. This would occur 68.3% of the time. That measurement is one standard deviation from the expected outcome of 50 tails and 50 heads. Simply put, if you did a thousand trials of flipping a coin 100 times and recorded the results, most of your results would fall between 45 and 55 heads (or conversely 55 and 45 tails). What would be unusual is if all the trials resulted in 50 heads and 50 tails.

Any game in the casino can be mathematically broken down and a house edge can be calculated. For example, if a blackjack player plays perfect basic strategy at a six deck game the house has around a 0.55% advantage, depending on the rules. So, the casino's expectation is to make 55 cents for every $100 wagered.

If the casino's expectation was always equal to the actual outcome, the player would never win! But, thanks to our good friend standard deviation, the player does win … sometimes. In fact, if you do play perfect basic strategy, you have a 25% chance of being ahead after playing 25,000 hands.

To overcome the house edge on a six deck game you would have to count cards and use a 1 to 12 betting spread, so at a $5 table your bets would be between $5 and $60. If you played this way, and played several hundred three-hour sessions, your

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average win would be $22.50. However, like getting 50 tails and 50 heads in our coin example, it would be rare to always have an exact win of $22.50 after three hours of play. Two-thirds of the time you would wind up somewhere between a win of $191 and a loss of $147.

I keep a record of when I play, where I play, the time I play and the amount I win or lose. By doing this, you too can accurately determine your playing skills and know if you are losing or winning over the long run. I have kept results for the last 20 years. If I wasn't winning every year, I wouldn't play. But, I elevated my game to the point where when I sit down to play it's me that has the advantage, not the casino!

If you want to elevate your game from being a recreational player to a pro player, get my new book, How to Become a Blackjack Jedi (available in digital and hard copy at Amazon.com). $

Writer TJ Jorgensen has been a professional Blackjack player for over 20 years. He is well known for his tournament play and has beaten some of the top tournament players in the world. He has also won the World Series Of Blackjack. His newest book “How To Become A Blackjack Jedi” is available online at Amazon.com.

COVER STORY

10

VIDEO POKER NO-NO’s

The Mistakes And The Solutions This article is for all of you who love playing video poker as much as we do! The topics covered are based on what our fellow players are doing at the casino and on questions we’ve been asked over the years that keep coming up whenever we check our email and mailbox right now. Hopefully, this piece addresses some common issues and how to change your play to enjoy more winning sessions!

(Continued on page 20)

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(Continued from page 18)

1 NOT PLAYING MAX BET

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You must always, always, always play video poker at max bet (usually 5 credits for the standard one hand game) so in the event you get a Royal Flush, you will get the full benefit. The Royal Flush is the only win that is traditionally not proportional to your bet like the other wins are, so take advantage of this added bonus. Play max bet at the denomination you feel most comfortable. Consider the following example: If you play the minimum bet of $0.25 on a quarter video poker machine and you hit the Royal Flush, you will win 250 quarters. Okay, $62.50—not so shabby for a one quarter bet. However, if you play the exact same amount of $0.25 on a nickel video poker machine, which is the max bet, and you hit the Royal Flush, the payout is 4000 nickels—$200. What a much sweeter win for the exact same bet!

Every video poker game involves a different strategy and many people make the mistake of assuming they can learn the optimal play for one game and apply it to any video poker game. This is wrong! Bonus Poker has a very different strategy than Double Bonus Poker which has a different strategy than Triple Double Bonus Poker, and so on. You must, must, must learn optimal strategy for each video poker game you intend on playing. When I made the decision that I wanted to master video poker, the first thing I did was buy the book Video Poker-Optimum Play by Dan Paymar. And, since practice makes perfect, the very next thing I did was buy a used Game King slot machine by IGT to sharpen my skills. This slot has all the popular video poker games available. The investment paid off in no time. Keep in mind there are also a myriad of inexpensive apps available that alert you to mistakes and even display optimum plays.

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NOT EXAMINING THE PAY TABLES

Ignoring the pay table on a video poker machine is not something that a true video poker player will ever do! If you’re one of those people who believe the difference between a video poker machine that pays 35 or 40 credits for a full house at max bet, as opposed to 45 credits, is not much of a difference that will affect you in the long run, you are wrong! This is a huge, expensive mistake! Consider the following example for the video poker game Jacks or Better: If you play what’s considered a “short pay” (less than a full pay back percentage) machine that pays 40 credits for a full house at max bet rather than the “full pay” (full pay back percentage) version that pays 45 credits for the same win at max bet, you will lose, on average, anywhere from 50 to 100 credits per hour (depending on the speed at which you play). This is not something to take lightly.

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NOT USING A PLAYERS CLUB CARD

Points accumulated on a players club card can be used towards cash back and/or free play, food, hotel rooms, show tickets, and more! If you don’t take advantage of the extra benefits that come with using a players club card, then you’re giving the casino an even greater advantage.

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NOT CONSIDERING PROGRESSIVES

Don’t dismiss video poker machines that are connected to a progressive, because they can be a nice added bonus. All video poker progressives award for Royal Flushes and some even award for four-of-a-kinds and straight flushes. The progressives always start with the base value from the pay table and only grow as more coin in is contributed from all the players. However, don’t forget to examine the pay tables! You don’t want to sit at a progressive video poker bank that has a miserable pay table.

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6

NOT USING OPTIMAL STRATEGY

NOT DEFINING A BANKROLL

Depending on the denomination of the video poker game you intend on playing, you must always have a predetermined amount of money planned for your play session. This is referred to as your bankroll. I have a general rule of thumb: If I intend on playing a nickel machine (max bet $0.25), then I plan on bringing $20 for every hour of desired play time. Then, I just multiply this amount depending on the denomination. So, if I intend on playing a quarter machine (max bet $1.25), then I plan on bringing $100 for every hour of play time, $200/hour for a fifty cent machine (max bet $2.50), $400/hour for a dollar machine (max bet $5.00), and so on.

Remember, your bankroll is the predetermined amount of money that you can afford to lose. You should never, under any circumstances, exceed this amount.

7

NOT REMAINING FOCUSED

Video poker is a skill game that requires concentration and focus.

You are not just pressing a button as you would on other video slot games. If you do not remain alert and attentive while playing video poker, you will make mistakes and those mistakes will cost you.

Just recently I witnessed a lady believing she could play video poker while socializing with the bartender and that decision cost her a very large win. She was dealt two Aces, only held one (but thought she had held the other one), and was dealt two more Aces on the draw. Needless to say, it took her quite a while to recover from the pain of winning 15 credits (a three-of-a-kind) rather than 800 credits (a four-of-a-kind). Take the investment you are making in video poker seriously and never, ever play when tired, while socializing, or impaired (there’s a reason why some casinos offer free alcohol).

8

QUITTING TOO SOON

Way too often I see people get a nice win and immediately cash out and leave the machine—just to go deposit their money in another machine. There’s absolutely no reason to mistakenly believe that since a machine has “paid out” that it’s “done” and there’s no chance that anything else will happen on that machine. 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. Decide on an amount that is acceptable to risk if you win a nice hand before you start your play session and stick to it. The other option is to play off your bankroll 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. Go home and enjoy your wins.

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NOT QUITTING SOON ENOUGH

All to often, unfortunately, I see video poker players beating a dead horse. I’ve witnessed people feed and feed money into a machine and, sadly, go get more money just to continue to do the same thing. In more cases than not, the more determined you become, the more stubborn the machine becomes. And the winner is (drum roll)…one hint—not the video poker player. Every professional video poker player knows when to cut their losses, doesn’t get discouraged, and remains focused and positive about their next play session. Video poker is a game where you can gain advantage over the long run. However, you have to accept that there will be ups and downs, but you must not allow the downs to make you lose your head. Investing more time and money above and beyond your predetermined bankroll during a play session shows a sign of weakness. Playing video poker has nothing to do with whether or not you are a competitive person by nature. It’s about being in control and knowing that you, and only you, are calling the shots.

10

NOT HAVING A PLAN

Video Poker is a game of skill where you can actually gain an advantage over the casino in the long run, but only if you have a plan. Each time you play video poker, you are making an investment with the potential of high returns on that investment with careful foresight and planning. You wouldn’t wake up one morning, go to a financial website, close your eyes, and randomly point to a stock to invest your money in, would you? In the same respect, you need to carefully plan out your winning strategy with video poker. This is where everything you’ve learned thus far comes

together in one, well-thought out plan—Know which video poker game you are going to play before you get to the casino and find the one with the best pay table, come with a fixed bankroll based on the denomination you wish to play, don’t forget your players club card, play using optimal strategy for your chosen game, and remain focused and distraction-free. Above all else, sit back, relax, and have fun! That’s what it’s all about! $

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21

GAMING NEWS

Arizona Lottery Springs Into March With The $40 Million Mega Bucks Scratchers And Mega Multiplier Progressive Fast Play Tickets

The Arizona Lottery welcomes Spring with exciting games, plenty of prizes, and even more chances for players to win big.

This month, the Arizona Lottery is featuring the $40 Million Mega Bucks Scratchers® and Mega Multiplier Progressive Fast Play™ ticket. Both games are priced at $20 and boast huge top prizes and secondary prizes.

And even better, for a limited time, the Arizona Lottery is giving players additional points for scanning their winning and non-winning tickets into the Players Club!

With more than $65 million in cash up for grabs, Arizona Lottery players are dreaming of all the great things they can do if they win on these mega tickets! Packed with 50 top prizes of $50,000, players have a great chance to win a mega prize with the $40 Million Mega Bucks Scratchers. The Mega Multiplier Progressive Fast Play ticket gives players the opportunity to win instantly with a starting jackpot of $100,000 that keeps growing until someone wins!

For even more ways to win, players can double their points (through March 31) when they enter these mega tickets into the Arizona Lottery Players Club. These points can be redeemed for coupons, prizes, gift cards, and entries into second-chance drawings. Players can access the Players Club by downloading the app on the App Store or Google Play Store or by visiting AZPLayersClub.com.

“These two tickets are packed with so many exciting prizes that players won’t want to miss out on the mega opportunities to win big,” said Gregg Edgar, Executive Director of the Arizona Lottery. “We love giving our players more ways to win, which is why we are doubling the number of points players can earn for entering either of these mega tickets into the Players Club.”

Players can purchase Scratchers and Fast Play tickets at all 3,000 Arizona Lottery retail locations. For more information, please visit their website at ArizonaLottery.com.

Scratchers® is a registered service mark of the California Lottery. $

22 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2021 | azgamingguide.com

GAMING NEWS

Caesars Entertainment, Inc. Announces Strategic Investment In SuperDraft Daily Fantasy Sports DFS Players To Benefit From Caesars Rewards Prizes & Experiences

Caesars Entertainment, Inc. just announced a strategic investment in the daily fantasy sports platform SuperDraft, Inc. The investment complements Caesars’ strong mobile sports and gaming network by adding an innovative Fantasy Sports platform, further strengthening its pipeline to customer acquisition and retention for both online and brick-and-mortar.

With the investment, Caesars takes an initial minority equity position with an option to increase its stake over time up to 100% at pre-determined levels. The partnership will position SuperDraft as an exciting new option and dominant force in the daily fantasy sports industry.

“The addition of daily fantasy sports fits seamlessly with our strategic vision for mobile and online sports,” said Tom Reeg, CEO of Caesars Entertainment, Inc. “SuperDraft’s innovative multiplier game mode is unique in the marketplace, and we believe it offers a tremendous opportunity to strengthen our position in the sports gaming landscape.”

Operating across seven professional sports in more than 35 states, SuperDraft features a unique game mode that attracts casual fans and experienced players alike. Multiplier Mode replaces the traditional fantasy team salary cap with a multiplier applied to each player allowing maximum flexibility in team building while creating more opportunities for everyone to win.

As part of the investment, SuperDraft will join Caesars’ online brands, World Series of Poker, Caesars Online Casino, and, upon the acquisition’s close, William Hill, as part of a full slate of mobile and online gaming channels.

“We’re super excited to be part of Caesars’ powerful gaming ecosystem,” said Steve Wang, CEO & Founder of SuperDraft Inc. “Daily fantasy players deserve a breath of fresh air, and we’re here to transform the industry. SuperDraft is now wellpositioned to accelerate its growth with financial staying power while broadening its consumer appeal with bigger contests and better rewards to players of all interest levels.”

SuperDraft will become a piece of Caesars’ single wallet solution, allowing members more options to play both online and

24 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2021 | azgamingguide.com

in-person, and is expected to be tied to the industry-leading Caesars Rewards program that will permit players to credits redeemable for rewards and experiences online or at one of Caesars casino resorts nationwide.

“Caesars is a strong strategic partner that will allow us to further enhance our industry-leading tech stack and provide an enhanced player-first experience,” said Nate Hunter, SuperDraft CTO and Co-Founder. “Now SuperDraft can adapt to the market faster than the institutional daily fantasy providers, while providing our players with unmatched prizes, loyalty rewards, and exclusive VIP opportunities.”

For more information, visit Caesars.com/SuperDraft.

About Caesars Entertainment, Inc. Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR) is the largest casinoentertainment company in the U.S. and one of the world’s most diversified casino-entertainment providers. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, in 1937, Caesars Entertainment has grown through development of new resorts, expansions, and acquisitions. Caesars Entertainment’s resorts operate primarily under the Caesars, Harrah’s, Horseshoe and Eldorado brand names. Caesars Entertainment offers diversified amenities and one-of-a-kind destinations, with a focus on building loyalty and value with its guests through a unique combination of impeccable service, operational excellence and technology leadership. Caesars Entertainment is committed to its employees, suppliers, communities and the environment through its PEOPLE PLANET PLAY framework. For more information, visit Caesars.com/Corporate.

About SuperDraft, Inc. SuperDraft, Inc. is based in New Hampshire and is focused on paid entry and free to play daily fantasy in the U.S. via its SuperDraft DFS app available on iOS, Android, web and desktop. The Company has developed several unique game modes and features that appeal to both casual and hardcore sports fans and fantasy players. With unique game modes like Multiplier Mode, SuperDraft levels the playing field and provides new ways to play and win with more possible lineup combinations than the competition. The result is a game that is easier to play and quicker to understand. These daily fantasy sports contests are legal in over 35 states with free contests available in all 50 states. For more information, visit SuperDraft.io. $

GAMING NEWS

Table Games Are Back At Apache Gold Casino Resort

Apache Gold Casino Resort is ready to deal you in! Now table games players can go all-in every Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to midnight. There’s no limit to the action!

New to table games? Don’t let that stop you from winning big!

Put on your best poker face and take on the pros for your chance to get lucky at these casino table games. If you are already an expert, it’s time to show your magic at your lucky game.

Blackjack This classic table game is still going strong. Blackjack, or 21 as it’s sometimes called, is all about you and the dealer. Take cards as you try to get a hand that beats the dealer’s hand without going higher than 21. The most important thing to remember in Blackjack is to avoid a bust. Call out “hit” or “stand” as you play your hand, but never go above 21. Stay at or under 21, while remaining higher than the dealer, and you’ll be on your way to a big win.

Three Card Poker A great combination of skill and social support, Three Card Poker is all about beating the dealer. Bring all your poker skills to try to get a higher hand than the dealer, and you’ll enjoy a nice payout. It’s a surprisingly simple game that allows you to work out the perfect strategy and win big.

Whether you’re looking for an inviting crowd to cheer you on, an excuse to learn a new game, or feeling lucky on your favorite table, stop by Apache Gold Casino Resort to try out their selection of casino table games! Their modest minimum bets allow anyone to join and get in on a piece of the action! $

26 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2021 | azgamingguide.com

BlueWater Resort & Casino Offers Non-Stop Thrills, Warm Smiles & Cool Views

Welcome to your escape for non-stop thrills, warm smiles and cool views: BlueWater Resort & Casino! Perched on the banks of the Colorado River, this delightful resort offers rows of the newest slots and video poker games as well as live blackjack with the friendliest dealers around.

As a member of THEclub players club at BlueWater Resort & Casino, you will also have more ways to win with weekly promotions for gifts, cash and Free Slot Play. As the newest member of THEclub, your first reward is two free spins on the $100 or Nothing promotional machine for a chance to win up to an additional $200 of Free Slot Play!

When it all works up an appetite, treat yourself to an unmatched upscale dining experience at the River Willow on Fridays and Saturdays. Or head to the BlueWater Grille to choose from a wide range of delectable dishes and mouthwatering daily specials Monday to Saturday - with irresistible prices. For a quick bite, drop by the RiverWalk Deli for tasty pizza, hearty burgers and Starbucks Coffee.

When it’s time to call it a night, relax in one of their 200 rooms or suites, all providing stunning views of the flowing Colorado River. Just 2 ½ hours from Phoenix, BlueWater Resort & Casino is your ideal place to play, stay and dine.

Your safety is always a safe bet at BlueWater Resort & Casino.

For information about their comprehensive safety precautions and more details about the casino resort and their amenities, visit BlueWaterFun.com. $

GAMING NEWS

Lucky Phoenix Resident Wins Over $539K Playing Three Card Poker At TSR

TSR Hosts Ribbon Cutting Ceremony At Its New Restaurant—Tash

From left to right: Robin Enos, Councilman Tom Largo, President Martin Harvier, Blessing McAnlis-Vasquez, Walter Holloway and Crystal Banuelos.

Phoenix resident, Carla Salas, 46, won $539,908.28 playing Three Card Poker hitting the jackpot with a Royal Flush in spades at Talking Stick Resort. The lucrative jackpot marks one of the resort’s largest payouts this year.

“We truly share the excitement on the gaming floor when a player hits the jackpot. Players come to Talking Stick Resort for their chance to not only win big, but to enjoy our highenergy atmosphere. We couldn’t be more thrilled for Carla to start out this new year with thousands.” said Ramon Martinez, Director of Public Relations for Talking Stick Resort.

The gaming floor at Talking Stick Resort has been the pulse of the property for the past decade and has recently unveiled its new high limit slots and gaming room. The high limit room features 6,250 square feet of luxury finishes with high stakes games including 89 state-of-the-art slot machines and 14 table games. The casino floor is home to more than 50 table games, 800 slot machines and poker tournaments nearly every day.

Players can also enjoy The Arena Poker Room, the largest poker room in Arizona featuring the highest limits in the state with 47 tables and games.

Talking Stick Resort is a AAA Four Diamond rated resort located just east of the Loop 101 Freeway and Indian Bend Rd. in Scottsdale, Arizona. In addition to relaxing in one of the 497 deluxe rooms and luxury suites, guests will enjoy several upscale amenities, including: a rejuvenating spa; six world-class restaurants; live entertainment lounges; a 240,000 square foot gaming floor; two pools and more than 100,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting space. For more information on Talking Stick Resort, please visit TalkingStickResort.com or call at 1.480.850.7777. $

28 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2021 | azgamingguide.com

Talking Stick Resort, an enterprise of the Salt River PimaMaricopa Indian Community, hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony at its new restaurant, Tash on Thursday, February 4 at 6 p.m. The event was held exclusively for members of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community tribal council and the Salt River Community Gaming Enterprises Board of Directors before the restaurant’s grand opening on Saturday, February 6.

The community members came together to bless the resort’s new restaurant and recognize the hard work and labor that went into the restaurant’s opening. The night kicked off with special remarks from Talking Stick Resort’s CEO, Dennis Leong, followed by a traditional blessing, ribbon cutting and comments by Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community President, Martin Harvier. Shortly after the ceremony, the members celebrated with appetizers, and small bites from the restaurant’s Mediterranean-inspired menu.

Tash comes from the O’odham language spoken by members of the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community. It is pronounced [TH-O-SH], which translates to sun, day or time. The restaurant opened to the public on Saturday, February 6 at 3 p.m.

Tash guests will enjoy a beautiful atmosphere with floor-toceiling windows that open and expand, booth, bar and table seating adorned with colors inspired by an Arizona sunset, and the spirit of food and hand-crafted cocktails. The restaurant also has an expansive patio overlooking stunning views of Camelback mountain. For more information about Tash and other dining options at Talking Stick Resort, visit their website at TalkingStickResort.com/Dining. $

azgamingguide.com | March 2021 | Arizona Gaming Guide

29

GAMING NEWS

Don’t Airball With The Law Bet Legally During March Madness

Boyd Gaming Corporation And Aristocrat Technologies Announce BoydPay Digital Wallet

With March Madness on the horizon, the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) would like to remind Arizonans of some tips to help you follow Arizona law.

Boyd Gaming Corporation and Aristocrat Technologies just announced the launch of “BoydPay,” Boyd Gaming’s new digital wallet product.

Although sports betting in Arizona remains illegal, social gambling, like sports pools, are not if you follow a few simple rules.

Through BoydPay, Boyd Gaming customers will have the ability to create a cashless digital wallet that can be conveniently linked to third-party funding sources driven by Sightline Payments. BoydPay is now live at Blue Chip Casino Resort Spa in Michigan City, Indiana, Belterra Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in field trial at Aliante Casino + Hotel + Spa in North Las Vegas, Nevada.

ADG urges grid pool administrators to keep these guidelines in mind to ensure legal wagers: • Arizona Law [A.R.S. 13-3301(7)] specifies social gambling is not to be conducted as business, which means that hosts cannot receive financial benefit, unless they are participating in the game.

• Social gambling requires all pool money be paid to the winner(s), and that only participants can win.

A few things to be on the lookout for that indicate illegal gambling are where a grid pool host: • Charges a fee to participate (“suggested” or “voluntary” donations, rental fees, etc.), • Keeps a percentage of the pool for administering the game, • Requires a minimum purchase to participate (food or beverage, etc.), and • Creates unequal odds (assigns numbers to the first column and row before filling the grid with names).

Learn more about gambling in Arizona by viewing ADG’s Gambling Tips to Remember: http://bit.ly/TipsToRemember.

ADG takes complaints about illegal gambling seriously. If you have a tip concerning suspected illegal gambling, please contact them at 1.602.771.4263. $

30 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2021 | azgamingguide.com

During its initial phase, the BoydPay digital wallet is linked to a player’s B Connected card (Boyd Gaming’s player loyalty program) and used to play or cash out on slot titles, also in partnership with Aristocrat. Pending regulatory approvals, Boyd Gaming anticipates deploying this product at all of its casino properties nationwide by this summer.

During future phases, and pending regulatory approval, Boyd Gaming will utilize Aristocrat technology to link the BoydPay wallet to its B Connected Mobile app, creating a contactless experience that will allow customers to use their smartphones to play and cash out on casino games and pay for amenities throughout the property.

For more information about Boyd Gaming, visit their website at BoydGaming.com.

For more information about Aristocrat Technologies, Inc., visit their website at AristocratGaming.com. $

GAMING NEWS

Museum Of Gaming History Debuts Moulin Rouge Exhibit At The Neon Museum

The Museum of Gaming History (MoGH) recently installed, at The Neon Museum, a new exhibit of artifacts from the Moulin Rouge Casino and Hotel, the first major racially integrated gaming property that also played a crucial role in ending segregation in Las Vegas.

Located in the museum’s La Concha visitor center, the exhibit includes artifacts such as promotional materials, gaming chips, souvenirs, dinnerware, and postcards, all providing a glimpse into the groundbreaking property that made history when it opened and as the location of a pivotal civil rights meeting in March 1960 that led to the beginning of the end of segregation in hotels and casinos.

Among the many artifacts in the exhibit, guests will see a Moulin Rouge promotional flyer that epitomizes the property’s historical significance: “For years men have dreamed of a resort where everyone would be welcomed regardless of color, race or creed. Today that bold dream has come true in Las Vegas, and in breath-taking fashion.”

Last year, The Neon Museum reassembled and re-illuminated the monumental Moulin Rouge sign to accurately portray how it was originally displayed. Adding the MoGH exhibit complements the museum’s commitment to showcasing the unique history and culture of Las Vegas.

Early on, boxer Joe Louis and the iconic Rat Pack frequented and endorsed the property.

Though the original run of the casino was brief, its impact on the Las Vegas community and history is long lasting. The property was revived multiple times throughout its long history, including in the 1980s and 1990s when community members and preservationists did work together to get the property listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

32 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2021 | azgamingguide.com

The Museum of Gaming History offers visitors and casino history enthusiasts the opportunity to explore more of Las Vegas, while viewing it through the lens of the city’s past. The MoGH now sponsors eight unique gaming memorabilia exhibits located all over town, including the most recent Moulin Rouge exhibit at The Neon Museum.

Founded in 1996, The Neon Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, studying, and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signs for educational, historic, arts and cultural enrichment.

For more information about The Neon Museum, including tour schedules and tickets, visit NeonMuseum.org, follow them on Facebook and on Twitter at @NeonMuseum and @TheNeonMuseumLasVegas on Instagram.

The Museum of Gaming History is an educational project of the Casino Collectables Association, a non-profit club devoted to the fast-growing hobby of collecting casino memorabilia.

With the mission of preserving gaming history, the Museum of Gaming History is currently an expanding series of kiosk exhibits in Las Vegas.

For more information about the Museum of Gaming History and their exhibits, visit MuseumOfGamingHistory.org. $

azgamingguide.com | March 2021 Arizona Gaming Guide

33

SAMI’S SMACKDOWN

By Sami Becker

WHAT? I CAN’T HEAR YOU! Why Is It So Loud In Some Casinos All The Time?

T

he casino is a great place to visit for a night out. Hell, the casino is a great place to visit any time of the day or night, during the week or on the weekend! However, what I’ve noticed (and several of my readers have noticed based on the emails and letters they’ve written me) is how loud some casinos have gotten recently. Here are just a couple of the many rants I’ve received about the noise levels.

Dear Sami, Question … Do any people high up in the casinos ever actually spend time on the floor at their casinos? What do you think? I think NOT! Otherwise, I’d bet you anything that some changes would be made. I can’t say that I never see managers in suits walking around, but it’s rare. I don’t think the managers gamble, because they’re probably not allowed to anyway. But, if they just sat in a chair, at a slot machine, for about one hour, I think they would learn a lot! First, I wonder if their ears would ring from the loud music and the volume on max from all the slot machines. Not to mention the constant announcements. If I wanted to go to a loud, noisy nightclub with music blaring I would. Not sure how other people feel? Maybe some of the older people don’t hear well so it doesn’t bother them and the younger people want the club atmosphere, but this middle-aged woman may start wearing ear plugs to a casino if things don’t change. Otherwise, I’m afraid I’m going to lose my hearing way before my time!

Katie Morrison—Via Email, Arizona Dear Sami, Why is it so LOUD in [the casinos] all the time? … I can’t hear myself think anymore. Occasionally I like to play a little video poker and you do have to concentrate so the LOUD music and the LOUD noises from other games get in the way. …

Since everyone is wearing a mask you practically have to SHOUT to understand each other and then there is the clear barriers between us and the employees on top of it all. When I order a sandwich and ask for no lettuce and chips instead of fries, I always end up with extra lettuce and fries. … I’ve never run through so many batteries in my hearing aid until now and I’m always fiddling with the thing and it doesn’t help. …

We used to go to our favorite casino several times a week before the lockdown. We’re not going to [that casino] anymore.

Now, we’re in search of a new, quieter casino to visit.

Bill Thomas—Via Email, Arizona & Washington

34 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2021 | azgamingguide.com

Hi Katie and Bill! Thanks for reaching out. Some casinos have really increased the volume of the music and the slot machines recently. Our personal pet peeves about LOUD music and games include: bad music (even listening to The Beatles sing “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!” full blast for the tenth time gets a little old), video keno (especially Caveman Keno and Cleopatra Keno), Wheel of Fortune (we jokingly call it “Wheel … of … torture!”), Buffalo, Heidi’s Bier Haus, and some Electronic Table Games (“Place your bets please, time is running out. Place your bets please, time is running out, Place your bets…”). And then, everyone turns the volume WAY UP on their own games just to compensate. We’re shuddering just thinking about it. What? I can’t hear you! Can you hear me now? Tinnitus anyone?

This is a message to all our readers: Even though some are bad, most casinos are actually not that loud! You have the power to choose where you want to spend your entertainment dollars!

Don’t choose to play at a casino just because it’s close to where you live, or they are the only ones that happen to have your favorite game. You can always find a new favorite. Ultimately, if you’re agitated by the noise levels and you are having a difficult time focusing on the games you are playing, you have to find another gaming establishment that makes you feel more comfortable! If the loud environment is getting in the way of your positive attitude, which I believe is the key to a winning experience, then it’s time to find a quieter place to play. $

azgamingguide.com | March 2021 | Arizona Gaming Guide

35

FUN & GAMES

WORD SEARCH

SUDOKU

To Celebrate International Women’s Day, Find: ACTIVIST, CONFIDENCE, CREATIVITY, EDUCATE, EMPOWERMENT, EQUALITY, FREEDOM, LIBERATION, MOVEMENT, OPRESSION, PROGRESS, REFORM, RIGHTS, SELFESTEEM, SISTERHOOD, SOCIAL, STRUGGLE, SUFFRAGE, VINDICATION, WOMEN. Words appear in any direction. (Solution on page 38)

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

Level: MEDIUM

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Jokes & Quotes

Zodiac Lucky Numbers

Research shows that laughing stimulates the immune system and may help prevent or reverse some medical conditions.

Aries (March 21 – April 19): 5, 15, 21, 32, 48, 68 Taurus (April 20 – May 20): 3, 9, 26, 41, 45, 59 Gemini (May 21 – June 20): 1, 8, 25, 28, 47, 65 Cancer (June 21 – July 22): 1, 5, 22, 38, 56, 64 Leo (July 23 – August 22): 1, 9, 19, 36, 51, 66 Virgo (August 23 – September 22): 5, 13, 16, 33, 48, 66 Libra (September 23 – October 22): 10, 18, 19, 32, 47, 60 Scorpio (October 23 – November 21): 1, 16, 20, 32, 49, 58 Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21): 4, 16, 22, 37, 46, 67 Capricorn (December 22 – January 19): 4, 19, 24, 30, 43, 60 Aquarius (January 20 – February 18): 5, 7, 25, 31, 44, 58 Pisces (February 19 – March 20): 10, 25, 25, 38, 48, 60

To improve your memory, lend people money.

—Anonymous As a jet was flying over Arizona, the pilot was giving a running commentary about landmarks over the speakers.

“Coming up on the right, you can see Meteor Crater, which is a major tourist attraction in northern Arizona. It was formed when a lump of nickel and iron, roughly 150 feet in diameter and weighing 300,000 tons, struck the Earth at about 40,000 miles per hour, scattering white hot debris for miles in every direction. The hole measures about a mile across and is about 550 feet deep.” From the cabin, a passenger exclaimed, “Wow! It just missed the highway!”

If you can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but, you cannot fool all the people all the time, don’t forget that we are all part of the people that can be fooled part of the time!

Q: Why can’t you borrow money from a leprechaun?

A: Because they are always a little short!

36 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2021 | azgamingguide.com

Lunar Year For The Month Of March 2021—Year Of The Metal Ox Best days to ask for good luck: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 20, 21, 26.

Best days to travel: 1, 4, 8, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 24, 26. Best days to meet with someone: 3, 4, 16, 18, 19, 23, 28, 30.

There is overlap for all three on the 4th!

Ranking second in the Lunar zodiac, Ox or Cow is the symbol of diligence in Chinese culture. People under the sign of the Ox are usually hard working, honest, creative, ambitious, cautious, patient and handle things steadily.

Dates For Year Of The Ox: 01/24/1925-02/12/26, 02/11/37-01/30/38, 01/29/49-02/16/50, 02/15/61-02/04/62, 02/03/73-01/22/74, 02/20/85-02/08/86, 02/07/97-01/27/98, 01/26/2009-02/13/10, 02/12/21-01/31/22. The next year of the Ox is 01/31/2033-02/18/34

888-243-3360 450

1500 E. Hwy. 69

Prescott

800-756-8744 193

05. Casino Arizona

101 & McKellips

Scottsdale

480-850-7777 908

Y

Y

06. Casino Del Sol

5655 W. Valencia Rd.

Tucson

855-765-7829 984

Y

Y

08. Casino Of The Sun

5405 W Valencia Rd

Tucson

855-765-7829

7406 S. Camino De Oeste

Tucson

855-765-7829 278

I-17, Exit 289

Camp Verde

800-381-7568 470

09. Cliff Castle Casino & Hotel 10. Cocopah Resort Casino

15318 S. Ave. B

Somerton

800-237-5687 458

Tucson

866-332-9467 943

12. Desert Diamond Casino-Sah.

I-19, Exit 80

Sahuarita

866-332-9467 351

13. Desert Diamond Casino-W.V.

101 & Northern Ave.

Glendale

866-332-9467 1,080

14. Desert Diamond Casino-Why

Hwy. 86, Milepost 55

Why

866-332-9467

Hwy. 87 & Ft. McDowell Rd.

16. Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino

15406 N. Maricopa Rd.

Maricopa

480-802-5000 832

777 Hwy. 260

Pinetop

800-929-8744 461

1077 S. Kyrene Rd.

Chandler

800-946-4452 839

Hwy. 87, 1/4 mi. S. of Payson

Payson

800-777-7529 366

Yuma

888-777-4946 355

18. Lone Butte Casino 19. Mazatzal Hotel & Casino

Fort McDowell 800-843-3678 844

20. Paradise Casino

450 Quechan Dr.

21. Quechan Casino

I-8, Exit 166

Winterhaven, CA 877-783-2426 1,000+

22. Spirit Mountain Casino

8555 Hwy. 95

Mohave Valley 928-346-2000 125

23. Talking Stick Resort

Y

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480-850-7777 803

Flagstaff

855-946-8946

6443 Komatke Ln.

Laveen

800-946-4452 1,063

Y

Y

5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd.

Chandler

800-946-4452 924

Y

Y

1505 E. Hwy. 69

Prescott

800-756-8744 133

Y

Y Y

Y

Y

Y

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E L G G U R T S H E T I

M R O F E R

E G A R F F U S G I R C Y L

T S I V I T C A R

Sudoku Solution

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38 Arizona Gaming Guide | March 2021 | azgamingguide.com

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Sources: AZ Dept. of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 01/01/2021 & direct inquiries at press time. Not responsible for incorrect information. Contact editor@azgamingguide.com to make updates.

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Y

Y

Y

Scottsdale

27. Yavapai Casino

Y

Y

I-40, Exit 219

25. Vee Quiva Casino

Y

Y

101 & Indian Bend

24. Twin Arrows Navajo Casino 26. Wild Horse Pass Casino

Y

24

15. We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort 17. Hon-Dah Casino

Y

8

7350 S. Nogales Hwy.

11. Desert Diamond Casino-Tuc.

Y

Y Y

04. Bucky’s Casino

07. Casino Del Sol Marketplace

Y

Smoke-Free Area

877-272-2437 301

Parker

Y

Y

Spa

Dudleyville

11300 Resort Drive

Y

Arcade

Slots

Golf

Milepost 127 on Arizona 77

03. BlueWater Resort & Casino

Phone

Poker Room

877-272-2437 478

Table Games

Globe

Live Keno

City

RV Park

02. Apache Sky Casino

Location Hwy. 70, 5 mi. E. of Globe

Hotel

01. Apache Gold Casino Resort

Bingo

Casino

High Limit Area

CASINO DIRECTORY

Y Y