Arizona Gaming Guide Magazine - July 2021 - 13:07

JULY

Contents IN THIS ISSUE 04 EDITOR’S NOTE 06 ENTERTAINMENT 08 SPORTS BETTING

12 ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES 18 EVERI 24 IGT 30 GAMING ARTS 36 FUN & GAMES 38 CASINO DIRECTORY

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ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES DEBUTS BRAND NEW SLOTS AT 2021 NIGA TRADESHOW!

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Everi’s mission: be the industry leader by reimagining the casino experience for casino customers!

IGT’s theme is “A New Journey Together” through compelling content and unrivaled gaming experiences!

New cabinet, VertXTM Grand, with “best of breed” components & content to stand out on the casino floor!

EVERI’S BRAND NEW SLOTS AND PRODUCTS

IGT’S BRAND NEW SLOTS AND PRODUCTS

GAMING ARTS’ BRAND NEW SLOTS AND MORE

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EDITOR’S NOTE

2021 NIGA TRADESHOW Plus Entertainment & Sports Betting

Your Authority On Everything Gaming VOLUME 13 • ISSUE 07 MANAGING DIRECTOR & VIDEO POKER GURU Elizabeth Torma liz@azgamingguide.com

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here are many reasons why all of us, casino patrons, casino employees, and the employees working for gaming industry suppliers and vendors should be excited!

First, we can celebrate the return of an in-person convention in Las Vegas, but specifically the return of the National Indian Gaming Association’s Tradeshow & Convention (July 19-22, 2021). As a result, our readers and fans have the opportunity to hear about all the brand new slots coming our way. If you recall, last year’s NIGA was cancelled at the last minute due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the industry is coming back and coming back strong.

And rebounding in the face of adversity is what the casino gaming industry is all about. The casino gaming industry is always focused on a brighter future with new games, new technology, more innovation, and a culture of creativity!

Second, many casinos in Arizona are bringing back entertainment with major headliners. No, these are not tribute acts that never quite sound like the original group no matter how good (or bad) the sound engineer for the live mix is.

Nor are these cover bands who perhaps should stick to entertaining their friends rather than performing in front of a diverse casino audience. This is the real deal!

And finally, sports betting is set to begin on September 9, 2021 here in Arizona!

Have A Lucky Month!

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

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ENTERTAINMENT

HEADLINER ENTERTAINMENT IS BACK! We Are Ready For Music, Comedy & More

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ntertainment is back in a big way! Everyone is ready for live music by today’s top headliners and the casinos are ready to oblige with an incredible lineup of artists as early as this month!

Please remember all events are subject to change, management reserves all rights, and patrons should contact casinos directly for more details regarding events.

MAZATZAL HOTEL & CASINO Comedy Show Featuring Viki Barbolak!

Get ready, America’s Got Talent finalist Vicki Barbolak, the QUEEN OF COMEDY, is coming to Mazatzal on Thursday, August 5, 2021! Laugh out loud comedy at Mazatzal Hotel & Casino! Tickets $20 advance - $30 if purchased after August 1.

21+. Doors open at 6 p.m., show starts at approximately 7 p.m.

Tickets are available at MazatzalCasino.com or at the main cage.

Official Rodeo Kickoff Steak Fry & Concert!

The tradition continues! Tuesday, August 17, Mazatzal Hotel & Casino hosts the 2021 Official World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo Kickoff “Steak Fry & Concert” featuring Chad Freeman & Redline. The event will feature an Official Payson Pro Rodeo Committee Ceremony and a “Ranch Style” steak dinner with steaks and all the fixin’s. Mazatzal Hotel & Casino, the Official Entertainment Headquarters of the World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo, August 19-21, 2021! Tickets $40 advance - $50 if purchased after August 10. All ages event. Doors open and dinner begins at 6 p.m. Payson Pro Rodeo Committee Ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m., concert starts at approximately 7 p.m. Tickets are available at MazatzalCasino.com or at the main cage.

HARRAH’S AK-CHIN CASINO Multi-Platinum Selling Country Artist Cole Swindell!

Cole Swindell, one of the biggest superstars in country music today, will be performing at The Events Center at Harrah’s AkChin Casino on Saturday, July 31. Tickets start at $54.50. All ages show. Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts approximately at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com.

Comedian Tom Segura’s I’m Coming Everywhere—World Tour!

Best known for his four Netflix specials, Ball Hog (2020), Disgraceful (2018), Mostly Stories (2016) and Completely Normal (2014), Segura will have you laughing in your seat all night

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long! Hollywood's most in demand comedian is appearing at The Events Center for two shows on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tickets start at $44.50. All ages show.

Doors open at 5:30 & 9 p.m., show starts approximately at 6:30 & 10 p.m. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com.

Other events include: Gary Allan: Friday, August 6 Caifanes: Friday, August 27 3 Doors Down: Saturday, August 28 Little Joe Y La Familia: Saturday, September 25 Chelsea Handler: Saturday, October 23 Lewis Black: Friday, October 29

CASINO DEL SOL Live entertainment returns to AVA Amphitheater after 22month hiatus! The following concerts are already on sale and additional shows will be announced in the coming weeks.

Chaka Khan: Friday, September 3 Ice Cube: Saturday, September 11 Tribal Recognition Concert: Saturday, September 18 John Legend: Friday, September 24 George Lopez: Saturday, October 2 Midland: Friday, October 8 and Saturday, October 9 98° and Bell Biv DeVoe: Friday, October 22 The Beach Boys: Friday, November 12 “We know how much everyone has missed live entertainment, so we are extremely happy to bring live concerts and comedy shows back to AVA,” said CEO of Casino Del Sol, Kimberly Van Amburg. “We have an exceptional lineup planned this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the venue, and we cannot wait to welcome everyone back!” $

SPORTS BETTING

By Al Moe

SPORTS BETTING ARRIVES IN AZ September 9, 2021 Is The Targeted “Go Live” Date

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ive sports wagering is coming to Arizona on September 9, 2021! New regulations allow Fantasy Sports statewide by existing platforms like FanDuel and DraftKings and individual fantasy sports leagues you can host with friends.

As for what most people think of as sports wagering – picking a football team to bet or choosing who will win the Masters golf tournament – those will be legal too. You need to be at least 21 years of age to bet on sports, and if you are, you can make wagers online!

Where You Can Bet in Person Unlike most states, where you need to head to a casino or sportsbook to make your wagers, Arizona allows ten professional sports groups to offer wagering. That means that within a five-block radius of their event (TPC Scottsdale, Phoenix Raceway Avondale) or stadium (Diamondbacks, Suns, etc.), the owners can have a live-wager outlet or kiosks that offer bets and redemption of winning tickets.

As for our tribal casinos, there will be ten licenses available and operating soon. Sports wagering is a different breed of animal than slots and table games since there is more science than guessing involved in setting the wagering lines. Expect established sports outlets like Penn National-Barstool, BetMGM, and William Hill to run several outlets for casinos in Arizona.

How Sports Wagering Works A sportsbook needs to set the line to split the wagering evenly between the two teams to make a profit. When a well-known team plays a less popular one, the price of betting on the popular team goes up, even if they aren’t really expected to win.

Ideally, in a baseball game, half the dollars bet are on one team at -110, and half is bet on the other side, also at -110. Then a $110 wager wins $100. The sportsbook takes in $220 and pays back $210. They only keep $10, or 5%, so they must start with a good line. If one team is much better than the other, you might see a line of -1.65 on the favorite to win $100 and +1.50 on the underdog. If lots of bets go on the favorite, the line moves up to perhaps -1.80 and +1.65 to entice more bets on the underdog to

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even out the wagering.

In a football game, the wagers might all be -1.10 to win 1.00, but there’s also a point spread (“the line”) attached to the game. If the line is -6.5 points and you bet the favorite, you lay the points, and your team must win by 7 or more points. If you bet the dog, you get the points added to your team’s final score.

They can win the game outright or lose by as many as 6 points, and you still get paid!

As for totals, or the over-under, you are wagering on the number of points scored by both teams. In baseball, a game must go 5.5 innings to be a complete game should it get stopped by rain.

You can wager on the total points scored in the first half, the second half, or the whole game in football. Usually, you’ll lay 1.10 to win 1.00. If an over-under is 46.5 in a football game, you choose “under” for 46 or fewer points or “over” for 47 or more.

That should get you going with the basics at a sportsbook. $ 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.

Aristocrat Technologies: NIGA Tradeshow 2021 Submitted By Aristocrat Technologies

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o you love Buffalo™? Lightning Link™? How about Dragon Link™ and Game of Thrones™? Those and hundreds more of your favorite games are made by Aristocrat Gaming™, and now Aristocrat is releasing seven new games that will add extra fun and excitement to your casino visits this July!

First is Buffalo Link™. This all-new game combines the thrill and functionality of Lighting Link and Dragon Link with the theme and features of America’s favorite slot game, Buffalo. Buffalo Link brings everybody’s favorite Hold & Spin and five denomination sets to a Buffalo game. Staying true to the legacy of Buffalo, Buffalo Link retains its classic Free Games feature, along with new enhancements. With 2x and 3x wild multipliers now available on reel 5, look for those signature base game Buffalo wins. Buffalo Link also has a new mystery must-hit-by bonus, awarding either

Free Games or the Hold & Spin bonus feature.

Then, just when you thought they couldn’t get any wilder, the legendary stampeding Buffalo bring the fun to new heights in the all-new Wild Wild Buffalo™ game. Wild Wild Buffalo gives you a wild experience by combining the iconic Buffalo brand with the symbol-driven simplicity of Wild Wild Cash-on-Reel pays, plus a Buffalo Grand™-style wheel that awards progressives, progressive multipliers, and free games. Bonus features include the Wild Wild Bonus and Jackpot Bonus Wheel. Buffalo’s legendary Free Games feature awards Forever Free Games with multiplier Wilds and Wild Wild potential. There are also six exciting jackpot levels, with a multi-site progressive that starts at $500,000!

For Buffalo fans who also love a traditional mechanical reel, comes Buffalo Instant Hit!™, which combines the unmistakable fun of Buffalo with a new and exclusive instant hit feature. Buffa(Continued on page 14)

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Aristocrat Technologies: Tradeshow 2021 NIGA Tradeshow 2021—NIGA Aristocrat Technologies

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lo Instant Hit has four exciting features. First is the new Instant Hit Feature that awards either cash-on-reel credits or wheel bonus. In the Wheel Feature, wheel spin awards credits or progressive jackpot. Wild Multipliers give random multipliers, and the Free Games feature is true to Classic Buffalo with free spins and unlimited retriggers. Buffalo Instant Hit has two jackpots, and the grand jackpot resets at $5,000!

Stepper fans will also love the new Grand Bars™ game, where the classic stepper fun of 7s and fruit meet a wealth of Pick'em Free Games. Grand Bars offers multi-level jackpot action with the chance to start the bonus with extra Jackpot Hit symbols.

When you play this game, you are aiming for Jackpot Hits scatter symbols. Play max bet and collect seven or more Jackpot Hit symbols to win a corresponding progressive, ranging from

seven collected symbols and growing all the way up to 15 collected symbols for big progressive jackpot wins. The top jackpot resets at $5,500. Other features include Jackpot Hits Scatters, Multiplier, and Free Games.

The spirt of Timber Wolf™ brings a new reason to howl to the casino floor in the all-new Howling 7s™, another new stepper game. Howling 7s is loaded with progressives and wild free games and brings the fun and thrill of true Hold & Spin action to a 5-reel stepper experience. Howling 7s has two exciting features. In the Make That Cash feature, true Hold & Spin play awards credits and/or progressive prizes. The Free Games feature awards free spins with retriggers as well as the chance to win Hold & Spin play. A Grand Jackpot resets at $10,000 and rewards you when all 15 Make That Cash bonus reels have locked. Howling 7s also has three other jackpots to chase.

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NIGA Tradeshow Aristocrat Technologies: 2021—NIGA Aristocrat Tradeshow Technologies 2021

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Next, is a larger-than-life game, the heroic Game of Thrones King’s Landing™. This is a world where dragons rule the reels and is an epic new story in the Game of Thrones™ franchise. This latest installment stands taller, ready to crown you with new thrills in an all-new game with an easy-to-understand jackpot structure and intuitive game play. Bonus features include Dragon High Fire Reels, a randomly triggered base game feature with wilds, credit prizes, and growing reels. The Free Games feature includes credit prize collection with growing reels, plus Wild Spin may randomly trigger growing reels between 7 and 14 positions high. The new Red Keep Bonus gives you Hold & Spin with random dragon enhancements and jackpot opportunities, and Red Keep Jackpots offer four jackpot levels, with a grand jackpot that starts at $10,000.

Last, go for a glamourous night out on the town in the fun Miss Kitty Wild Ride™ game. Miss Kitty’s newest adventure has an innovative Wild Ride feature, Sticky Wild™ feature, Jackpot Bonus, and frequent hitting base game wins. The Wild Ride bonus has persistent wild, reel growth, and wild multipliers.

During the Wild Ride feature, all Kitty and Diamond Symbols that land on the reels will persist for one additional paid spin, giving you the potential to line up huge wild wins! Other features include Sticky Wild Free Games, and a Jackpot Bonus where a wheel spin awards a guaranteed grand or major jackpot. The grand jackpot resets at $10,000!

For more information about Aristocrat Gaming and their slots, visit AristocratGaming.com. $

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Everi: NIGA Tradeshow 2021 Submitted By Everi

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veri is thrilled to reunite with the global gaming industry at NIGA 2021! We’ve been working hard since we last met – from home and in the field – helping our casino customers navigate the uncharted territory of the past year.

We harnessed the power of collaboration and, together, still provided a premium experience on the casino floor to patrons and operators alike. As the gaming industry’s single source provider of financial technology and loyalty solutions, games, and intelligence solutions, our mission remains to be the industry leader by reimagining the casino experience with our casino customers.

According to the January 2021 Eilers and Krejcik Gaming, LLC and Fantini Research Game Performance Report, Everi is responsible for 17 of the top 25 games in the high denomination mechanical reel segment. Everi also won four EKG awards in 2020 for Best Core Cabinet (Flex), Top performing Mechanical Reel product (Cash Machine), top performing 3rd party IP product (Smokin’ Hot Stuff Wicked Wheels), and most improved supplier (Core products).

Our compelling and distinct digital catalogue powered by the Spark Remote Gaming Server now consists of 36 high-performing games, including the industry-recognized Atomic Meltdown™, Cash Machine™, Double Ruby™, Triple Threat™, and Smokin’ 777™, as well as many more.

At NIGA 2021 we’re proud to feature the following games: Cashnado™ Cashnado Flash Fire® and Cashnado Super Strike™ are available on Everi’s newest, fully featured banked product Flex Fusion™.

These 243 Ways™ games feature an exclusive, frequently occurring Cash Grab™ bonus which triggers during Cashnado Alert, a bank-wide community event that immediately delivers heartpounding excitement. Players touch dollar bills flying across the screen for credits or a shot at progressives. All jackpot prizes are available with the unique Key Pays™ feature. Prize symbols with credit values, bonus pays, or progressives are won by landing a key on reel 1 or reel 5 and all credit prizes are doubled if a key lands on both.

Fortune Garden® Fortune Garden serves as the launch series on Everi’s newest,

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fully-featured banked product, Flex Fusion. Fortune Garden Gold and Fortune Garden Pearl are classic, Asian-style games that offer an incredible 576 ways to win and player-selectable denominations. The persistent state feature mesmerizes the player with beautiful flowers that grow in value as players bet and are awarded with a scatter symbol. Fortune Cookie Mode is a unique bank-wide event awarding a player with a multiplier that can increase throughout the mode up to 5x!

MonsterVerse™ MonsterVerse is the newest series on the Empire DCX™ premium cabinet featuring Kong and Godzilla™ in earth shattering 4K game play. Based on the shared fictional blockbuster, cinematic universe from Legendary Entertainment, MonsterVerse showcases the Monster Bet feature that dares players to bet big and play four arrays at once. The unique Godzilla lock-and-respin mechanic will keep players engaged as reels expand up to eight reels wide when landing a red Godzilla and all locked symbols (Continued on page 20)

Everi: NIGA Tradeshow 2021

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are upgraded based on the player’s bet when landing a blue Godzilla.

Lanterns of Destiny: Floating Fortunes & Mystical Evening™ These visually striking, innovative Asian style themes will keep players engaged as wild lanterns feed all aspects of gameplay.

Mystery wilds are awarded to enhance pays – up to eight wilds can be awarded on a single spin – some with multipliers up to 5x. Collect wild lanterns with the accumulator above the reels which also triggers the Mystery Pick Lantern Bonus filled with credit prizes, credit boosts, more picks, and the opportunity to win multiple jackpots. Double the reel array that favors bonus retriggers and collect wilds for multiplier action which all persist throughout the Free Spins Bonus to feed big wins.

Double Black Diamond™ & Double Fortune™ Double Black Diamond and Double Fortune are Everi’s first threereel mechanical games to feature a configurable max bet enabling players to customize their bet; available as 9, 18, 27, 45, or 90 credit max bet. Both themes consist of player popular mechanics and proven math models from one of Everi’s best performing stepper titles Black Diamond®, but with a unique and thrilling double version. 2x wilds, bonus multipliers, and more progressives combine for big win potential.

Blazin’ Gems® & Star Jewels™ Both five tier linked progressive themes, Blazin’ Gems and Star Jewels are classic three-reel mechanical games that feature countless ways for players to win with thrilling multipliers on 7s and bars and wilds that offer chances at big progressive wins. 5x multipliers on 777 and single bars, 4x multipliers on double bars, and 3x multipliers on 77 and single bars creates incredible player anticipation with lots of possible winning combinations and opportunities for large pays.

We pride ourselves on a unique online library of awardwinning Stepper, Video Slot, and Progressive Jackpots content, in addition to the FinTech and loyalty solutions that help Everi transform the casino industry.

The advancement in financial technology only adds to the highperforming standards Everi is known for across the gaming

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space. At NIGA 2021 we’re proud to feature the following financial technology products: CashClub Wallet® Everi helped our operator partners meet the emerging mobile ecosystem with the CashClub Wallet. This flexible, cost-effective, and secure commerce and payment solution leverages the gamer’s mobile device, providing patrons a true cashless experience all while still providing customers with multiple options to access funds while on the casino floor.

Everi’s CashClub Wallet launched across multiple casinos in 2020. With more operator-partners on the way, the CashClub (Continued on page 22)

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Wallet represents an important piece of our collective goal of enabling casino guests a convenient, seamless mobile experience. In addition to offering patrons the convenience and accessibility of an end-to-end cashless and contactless gaming experience, the wallet can also be used to fund retail, online, hotel and food/beverage to pay at checkout.

Jackpot Xpress® Everi’s jackpot management system recently launched with a major casino operator in Las Vegas. Jackpot Xpress is an awardwinning, intuitive jackpot and tax forms management solution that enables casino staff to securely and efficiently process slot jackpots using a mobile device right at the winning gaming machine. It is the only jackpot management system that combines mobile productivity, secure payment, tax forms management, and anti-money laundering tracking into a single solution.

With these proprietary solutions, Everi continues to build upon the concept of a “Digital Neighborhood,” encompassing our full suite of financial and loyalty products and services. Designed to

seamlessly connect through Everi’s expansive and secure network, Everi’s financial technology solutions on display at NIGA 2021 bring commonality and continuity to operator workflows by bringing customer-centric features to loyalty, payments, and cage and cash operations, which ultimately serve to enhance the player experience.

Everi strives to optimize visibility, functionality, and usability for casino operators worldwide. As the preeminent provider of trusted financial technology solutions that power the casino floor, these efforts have positioned Everi as the industry's financial technology leader and a strategic partner for forwardthinking customers. Let’s Go! For more information about Everi and their slots, visit their website at Everi.com. $

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IGT: NIGA Tradeshow 2021 Submitted By IGT

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GT is excited to exhibit in-person at trade shows once again, and will present “A New Journey, Together” at the 2021 Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention (NIGA). At NIGA booth 1341, IGT will demonstrate its commitment to tribal customers through showcasing the company’s most compelling content, innovative hardware and advanced technologies designed to provide players with unrivaled gaming experiences.

Making its trade show floor debut for sale at NIGA is IGT’s highperforming, previously lease-only PeakSlant49™ cabinet. The cabinet is now available for purchase throughout the U.S. and offers some of IGT’s Proven Performer core games on its 49-inch curved Ultra-HD screen. Top-performing games on this cabinet at NIGA will be Regal Riches™ and Scarab Link™, along with the all-new Stinkin’ Rich® Skunks Gone Wild. Other proven core titles in IGT’s booth will include Lucky Ox™, Wolf Peak and Wu Dragon™.

IGT will present its expanded portfolio of Class II content on all form factors, with a mix of proven performers and games never seen before in Class III. The lineup includes content such as Lucky Buddha®, Dragons vs Pandas™ and Rosa’s Fiesta™ (new for Class II) on the CrystalDual® 27 cabinet, and Fortune Coin Boost!™, Scarab Grand™ and Dangerous Beauty Revealed (never seen in Class III) on the CrystalCurve™. The stepper content will include Sizzling 7s, which is highly requested by customers, on the S3000™ cabinet, along with the fan-favorite Gong Xi Fa Cai® on the CrystalCurve™ ULTRA cabinet to complete IGT’s Class II offer showcase.

NIGA marks the trade show debut celebration of the 25th anniversary of Wheel of Fortune slots (see page 28). On IGT’s CrystalWheel™ Stepper cabinet, IGT will feature Wheel of Fortune Gold Spin™ Deluxe Double Gold and Wheel of Fortune Double Diamond. Other premium IGT titles on display at NIGA will be multi-level progressive games Ying Cai Shen™, Bubble Blast Link™ Trials of Atlantis and Bubble Blast Link Spells ‘n Whistles on the PeakSlant49. Additionally, Money Mania Cleopatra and Money Mania Pharaoh’s Fortune will be featured on the recently launched PeakSlant32™ cabinet.

NIGA attendees can also get a first-hand look at IGT’s latest central determination system (CDS) game offerings including titles such as Solar Disc™ and Samurai 888™ on IGT’s CrystalCurve cabinet and King of Olympus™, Tiger Empire™ and Secrets of the Forest® on the PeakSlant32.

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IGT: NIGA Tradeshow 2021

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IGT’s PeakBarTop™ cabinet will make its NIGA debut with Game King® X and Super Star Poker® II. This innovative cabinet elevates the player experience with its 23-inch curved display, USB charging ports, enhanced audio and more. The PeakBarTop is backed by extensive focus group testing with operators, players, and bartenders. Other video poker games will be featured on the Cobalt™ 23 and CrystalSlant Poker cabinets.

IGT will present its latest Dynasty Electronic Table Games (ETG) including baccarat, blackjack and roulette. The Company will also highlight its Concurrent RNG offerings with triple zero roulette with an automatic wheel, baccarat, and single hand and triple hand blackjack. IGT Dynasty auto roulette offers players a unique, approachable gaming experience with its user-friendly technology and design.

Over the last year, interest in cashless technologies has significantly increased due to COVID-19 precautions. IGT’s systems team will highlight advancements in the highly anticipated cashless space with its Resort Wallet™ with IGTPay™ cashless solutions. IGT’s Resort Wallet with IGTPay is the industry’s only fully integrated, turnkey cashless solution for land-based gaming. Unique to IGT ADVANTAGE® users, Resort Wallet with IGTPay enhances player convenience and increases casino liquidity. Players can fund their Resort Wallet Cashless Wagering Account with cash at a casino cage, kiosk or slot.

IGTPay enables the player to fund their Resort Wallet with external funding methods such as credit card, debit card, bank accounts and eWallets via a mobile app or web browser. They can then use those funds for transactions on slot machines, table games, sports betting and retail points of sale using their mobile app and/or physical loyalty card.

IGTPay includes a range of financial services supported by an experienced IGT Payments team that acts as the Merchant of Record, manages all external funding functions including vendor and funds management, fraud and security, and player support. Resort Wallet is approved and deployed in multiple gaming jurisdictions, while IGTPay is deployed across iGaming, sports betting and lottery with casino go-lives planned in 2021.

operators of all sizes, including tribal casinos. Its flexible technology and IGT’s in-house trading team can help tribal casino operators capture opportunities within the rapidly evolving U.S. sports betting market.

Stop by booth 1341 to see all that IGT has to offer at NIGA 2021. For more information, visit IGT.com. $ (Continued on page 28)

Another highlight of IGT’s booth will be its PlaySports technology and hardware, including its self-service kiosks and award-winning CrystalBetting™ Terminal. The proven PlaySports turnkey solution caters to

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IGT: WHEEL-OF-FORTUNE! Celebrating 25 Years Of Making Millionaires

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IGT recently kicked off a 25-week campaign to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Wheel of Fortune slots. A pop-culture icon and an institution on casino gaming floors across the U.S., IGT’s Wheel of Fortune slots is the most successful slot theme of all time.

Although there are many factors that drive the games’ success, its jackpot-paying legacy is one beloved attribute that simply cannot be denied.

The “millionaire making machine” has minted more than 1,100 millionaires over the last quarter century and the game pays out jackpots of more than $100,000 every several days. Another reason why Wheel of Fortune slots has maintained its relevance for so many years is the compelling way IGT brings the Wheel of Fortune brand to life in casinos.

IGT licenses the Wheel of Fortune brand from Sony Pictures Television, the makers of the wildly popular and time-tested Wheel of Fortune TV game show. Sony, along with Wheel of Fortune hostess and entertainment icon Vanna White, has been involved with creating content for many of IGT’s 250-plus Wheel of Fortune slots games. According to a recent news release from IGT, Vanna agrees that Wheel of Fortune slots offer players something uniquely special:

"It has always been an honor to work side-by-side with the talented team at IGT in developing content for its many Wheel of Fortune Slots games. When walking through casinos, I still marvel in the brilliance of the many Wheel of Fortune games and the excitement that the familiar siren of 'WHEEL-OF-FORTUNE!' creates,” said Vanna.

IGT will use gaming industry trade shows and events as platforms to showcase the latest Wheel of Fortune slots solutions. In 2021, IGT looks to maximize the reach of its highly entertaining Wheel of Fortune slots portfolio, particularly the Wheel of Fortune Cash Link and Wheel of Fortune Mystery Link games. IGT will leverage G2E as a showcase for “what’s to come” in Wheel of Fortune slots innovation.

In partnership with casinos across the U.S. and Canada, IGT will offer unique Wheel of Fortune events and promotions now though November as part of the Company’s “25 Weeks of Wheel of Fortune Slots” celebration. To learn more, or to find a Wheel of Fortune slots game near you, visit igt.com/WOFSlots25. To follow IGT’s #WOFSlots25 celebration all year long, like the IGT Jackpots Facebook page and follow Instagram at @igtgamingna. $

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Gaming Arts: NIGA Tradeshow 2021 Submitted By Gaming Arts

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n 2019, Gaming Arts began working on the VertX™ Grand, a new 49” portrait cabinet that, by any measure, is state-ofthe-art in the gaming industry and serves as the flagship platform of Gaming Arts’ new VertX line of cabinets. As described by Gaming Arts, the new VertX Grand creates “a new dimension in cabinet design.”

Not only is this sleek and feature-rich cabinet designed to stand out on any casino floor, its components were selected by choosing the “best of breed.” This includes the VertX Grand’s ultrabright 4K 49” portrait display, theater quality sound, a large ultra-bright LCD button deck which is the same display as used in new Mercedes Benz® vehicles, programable LED play buttons and LED side lights that run the entire length of the cabinet offering visually interesting bonus and attract sequences, as well as other exciting merchandising features that make a stunning presentation on the casino floor.

This “best of breed” philosophy does not end with the new cabinet as it carries over to an all-new game library. As the development of the VertX Grand cabinet began, the Gaming Arts’ game studio simultaneously began work on a new game library with unparalleled creativity and player excitement.

The new VertX Grand began with an ergonomic analysis of optimal player comfort requirements starting with its Comfort Rest™ foot support to a retractable purse hanger for security, both USB and induction charging, as well as engineering the perfect height for a player’s eye level relative to the focal point of the display, along with the height of the button deck. The button deck height and the player’s eye level relative to the display are very important details that were taken into consideration to optimize the player experience. This ergonomic engineering aspect is quite similar to the development of the optimal computer work station.

The Gaming Arts’ VertX team included Company founder David Colvin, who led the way on the cabinet industrial design, and it also included Keith Kruczynski, VP of Game Development, Moises Navarrete, VP of Technology, Jason Babler, Director of Product Management and Jean Venneman, CCO. (Continued on page 32)

30 Arizona Gaming Guide | July 2021 | azgamingguide.com

Gaming Arts: NIGA Tradeshow 2021

(Continued from page 30)

Jean Venneman, CCO of Gaming Arts commented, “In my decades of experience in product development, this is the first time that I’ve been involved with a company that has had the insight to include so many talented and experienced team members in the overall design process. We believe this inclusive iterative process serves to better the project in a great many ways from overall design to the fine details of the project. In addition, virtually all Gaming Arts team members can take personal pride in the creation of the VertX Grand as all were part of the process.”

As the content library work began, Keith Kruczynski, VP of Game Development, had one prime directive for his game design studio team and that was to develop new games that are truly exceptional in all respects to match the high standards of the new form factor VertX Grand cabinet. This includes developing games with inspiring game mechanics, innovative art and math models that will serve to excite players not only for the short term but to generate great player loyalty over time. The resulting launch library features the following titles: The Let’s Spin™ series of games including Let’s Spin and Let’s Spin Vegas which are games designed with the gambler in mind, combining exciting higher volatility math with exceptional excitement and fascinating wheel animations featuring four levels of multipliers to raise the blood pressure as the anticipation grows.

The Pub Series™ of games which allows players to tour the world with the Irish themed Kaleigh’s Pub™, the Italian themed Sophia’s Cellar™, the Latin themed Isabella’s Tequileria™ and the Russian themed Anastasia’s Tavern™. This series of games relies on successful game mechanics coupled with spectacular art and proven math models to provide a thrill a minute for the player.

Kung Fu Empress™ features our adorable Japanese empress who is highly skilled in the art of Kung Fu to knock out her enemies and fascinate players while providing endless excitement along with high frequency wins during her beautiful animation sequences.

Jackpot Go™ is a truly unique first-of-its-kind game that combines the thrill of slots with a touch of keno resulting in never-

32 Arizona Gaming Guide | July 2021 | azgamingguide.com

before-seen game mechanics and multi-layer progressives to excite the true gambler in a brand-new way.

Fat Dragon™ is sure to capture the hearts of players while he has a blast playing along with the player. Fun and excitement are the name of the game here with all the bells and whistles to make this a sure hit with players.

Pop’N Pays More™ series of games, including Piñatas Ole™ and Big Top™, are reimagined versions of these proven Gaming Arts themes in an all-new format relying on similar game mechanics that led to the success of the original dual screen versions.

And, there are many more themes under development!

Mike Dreitzer, CEO of Gaming Arts, commented, “This is a very exciting time for the company as we continue to expand into new markets with a host of new games and products and we fully expect the VertX Grand to continue this success and greatly increase placements. I could not be prouder of the entire Gaming Arts family who have exceeded expectations in the creation of this wonderful new cabinet line.”

Mike Dreitzer continued, “In a very short time, Gaming Arts has made a major impact on the slot industry. Hard work, dedication and vision are the name of the game and it’s paid off. At Gaming Arts, we consider ourselves “compulsively creative” in (Continued on page 34)

Gaming Arts: NIGA Tradeshow 2021

(Continued from page 32)

all we do, always leading with new innovation and never following.”

Recently, Gaming Arts’ Heroes & Villains™ game, part of its patented Dice Seeker™ series of games, was named as “Top Performing Game from an Emerging Supplier” in the Annual EKG Slot Awards.

On the ETG front, Gaming Arts’ Casino Wizard™ electronic table game multi-game is taking North America by storm. The incredible performance of this platform in the ETG space which has been truly remarkable since its launch late last year with unparalleled performance, greatly outpacing most if not all electronic tables games in the market. Casino Wizard is a first-of-itskind multi-game including Blackjack, Craps, Roulette and Baccarat along with fascinating proprietary high-hold side bets.

For more information about Gaming Arts, visit their website at GamingArts.com. An introductory video of the VertX Grand can be viewed at GamingArts.com/VertX-Grand or by scanning the QR code below. $

34 Arizona Gaming Guide | July 2021 | azgamingguide.com

FUN & GAMES

WORD SEARCH

SUDOKU

To Celebrate Tapioca Pudding Day On July 15th, Find: TAPIOCA, VANILLA, CHOCOLATE, STARCH, CASSAVA, ROOT, JULY, FIFTEENTH, NATIONAL, PUDDING, DAY, UNIQUE, TEXTURE.

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

Words appear in any direction. (Solution on page 38)

(Solution on page 38)

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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): 4, 8, 14, 28, 50, 59 Taurus (April 20 – May 20): 7, 14, 23, 36, 55, 68 Gemini (May 21 – June 20): 1, 20, 22, 33, 51, 68 Cancer (June 21 – July 22): 4, 6, 13, 32, 43, 62 Leo (July 23 – August 22): 6, 18, 26, 31, 56, 58 Virgo (August 23 – September 22): 7, 9, 14, 41, 55, 57 Libra (September 23 – October 22): 12, 13, 24, 42, 56, 57 Scorpio (October 23 – November 21): 8, 25, 26, 28, 50, 66 Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21): 1, 16, 22, 30, 54, 57 Capricorn (December 22 – January 19): 10, 14, 25, 27, 44, 67 Aquarius (January 20 – February 18): 2, 13, 25, 34, 51, 63 Pisces (February 19 – March 20): 3, 7, 19, 36, 44, 59

Telling lies and showing off to get attention are mistakes I made that I don’t want my kids to make.

Jane Fonda (b. 12/21/37—American actress) People are so busy dreaming the American Dream, fantasizing about what they could be or have a right to be, that they’re all asleep at the switch. Consequently we are living in the Age of Human Error.

Florence King (b. 01/05/37 d. 01/06/16—American novelist) I always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more specific.

Lily Tomlin (b. 09/01/39—American actress) My grandmother is ninety. She’s dating. He is ninety-three.

It’s great. They never argue. They can’t hear each other!

Cathy Ladman (b. 10/15/55—American comedienne) Give a man a fish and he has food for a day; teach him how to fish and you can get rid of him for the entire weekend!

Zenna Schaffer

36 Arizona Gaming Guide | July 2021 | azgamingguide.com

Lunar Year For This Month—Year Of The Metal Ox Best days to ask for good luck: 3, 6, 10, 11, 14, 15, 20, 22, 26, 31.

Best days to travel: 3, 6, 8, 10, 15, 18, 20, 25, 26. Best days to meet with someone: 1, 6, 10, 13, 14, 15, 22, 25, 28, 30, 31.

There is overlap on the 6th, 10th, and 15th!

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. Next year of the Ox is 01/31/2033-02/18/34.

888-243-3360 450

1500 E. Hwy. 69

Prescott

800-756-8744 133

05. Casino Arizona

101 & McKellips

Scottsdale

480-850-7777 908

Y

Y

06. Casino Del Sol

5655 W. Valencia Rd.

Tucson

855-765-7829 1,017

Y

Y

08. Casino Of The Sun

5405 W Valencia Rd

Tucson

855-765-7829

7406 S. Camino De Oeste

Tucson

855-765-7829 272

I-17, Exit 289

Camp Verde

800-381-7568 478

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

15318 S. Ave. B

Somerton

800-237-5687 476

Tucson

866-332-9467 943

12. Desert Diamond Casino-Sah.

I-19, Exit 80

Sahuarita

866-332-9467 460

13. Desert Diamond Casino-W.V.

101 & Northern Ave.

Glendale

833-332-2946 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 829

777 Hwy. 260

Pinetop

800-929-8744 472

1077 S. Kyrene Rd.

Chandler

800-946-4452 839

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

Payson

800-777-7529 369

Yuma

888-777-4946 373

18. Lone Butte Casino 19. Mazatzal Hotel & Casino

Fort McDowell 800-843-3678 807

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 888-837-4030 125

23. Talking Stick Resort

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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 210

Y

Y Y

Y

Y

Y

azgamingguide.com

facebook.com/ArizonaGamingGuide

Word Search Solution F T E X T U R E F T E E G C N R O N T I O H P O A E J T U Q I E T N L U A

I H C R A T S A V A N I L Y I L U D Y T D U P A L O C O H A N O I T A V A S S A C

L A D A

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Sudoku Solution 4

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38 Arizona Gaming Guide | July 2021 | azgamingguide.com

Y

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0 Y Y

Y

Sources: AZ Dept. of Gaming—Current Tribal Gaming Status as of 03/08/2021 & direct inquiries at press time. Not responsible for incorrect information. Contact editor@azgamingguide.com to make updates.

Use the QR codes for our website & Facebook Page!

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

40

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

888-727-2243 296

Parker

Y

Y

Spa

Dudleyville

11300 Resort Drive

Y

Arcade

Slots

Golf

Milepost 127 on Arizona 77

03. BlueWater Resort & Casino

Phone

Poker Room

877-272-2433 428

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