Page 14 - Southern California Gaming Guide • January 2017

Southern California casinos have it all: world-class resorts, award-winning golf courses and typically lasts less than a minute, and players win
spas, renowned dining, headlining entertainment, exciting cash and car giveaways, the
latest slots, poker, blackjack, a variety of table games, craps and roulette hybrids, bingo, and even shopping. And yet, casino players are always looking for more — something new and entertainingly di erent.
Southern California casinos are some of the best in the country, often on the leading edge of gaming, and they are always looking for something new to attract players. But they also know what works well with their guests, including favorite promotions, amazing slot tournaments, and lots more. Here’s what’s new in 2017 — and also what’s tried & true, some of your updated favorite things at Southern California casinos.
New: SoCal Casino Expansions
Southern California casinos are adding new gaming space, hotel suites, and even a resort during 2017 to be completed in 2018. In the last part of 2016, expansion projects were announced for three casinos. Viejas Casino & Resort, Harrah’s Resort SoCal, and Pechanga Resort & Casino are all in the process of adding more hotel space. Sycuan Casino has plans, uno cially announced, to add a hotel and resort facilities to be completed in 2018. And Barona Resort & Casino is expanding its gaming space, although you probably won’t even be aware of any construction there. Most of these casinos opened their current facilities almost 15 years ago, so expansion is not unusual. All the better for casino players to enjoy the new facilities.
Tried & True: TournEvent of Champions®
Presented by Everi Inc. and now in its sixth year, TournEvent of Champions® is the gaming industry’s premier slot tournament competition featuring a championship round with $1.3 million in total cash
prizes including $1,000,000 for the champion. e 2016 TournEvent of Champions included 89 casinos from acrosstheU.S.,Canada,andPeru,andsaw morethan200,000playersparticipatingin qualifyingslottournamentstoearnaspot
at the championship in Las Vegas. e TournEvent of Champions phenomenon continues to grow in popularity and is a huge success.
e Southern California Gaming
Guide is a proud sponsor of this prestigious event. Look for Southern California casinos’ qualifying events beginning in May. We need a Southern California champion this year! For more information about TournEvent of Champions, visit Tournevent.com.
New: Skill-Based Slots
In an e ort to broaden slot player demographics, slot manufacturers have developed new games that employ skill. Some are like arcade-style video games, and others are traditional slots with an element of skill in the bonus rounds. And in the past year, manufacturers have created games that include skill as a major factor in winning or losing. Younger players prefer these games to traditional slots. Recently, the arcade-style, rst-person shooter game
called Danger Arena debuted in Atlantic City. Produced by startup slot-
maker GameCo. Danger Arena doesn’t look like
a typical slot machine. It is housed in what looks more like an arcade console than a slot cabinet. It has an Xbox-style controller, and the game play is totally di erent. Each play
by using the controller to shoot robots on the screen. e more robots you shoot, the more you win. ere are no spinning reels, no waiting for lucky bonus rounds. Winning depends on the skill of the player. While this type of game has to be
approved for play in tribal casinos, and may not be in SoCal casinos this
year, it’s the wave of the future.
Tried & True: Barona Lottery
One of Club Barona members’ favorite promotions at Barona Resort & Casino, guests can play the Barona Lottery this month every ursday from
now through January 26th, at 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. With jackpots sometimes over $100,000,
this is one hot promotion! Club Barona players may earn one ticket per day by accumulating 250 points andonTuesdays,playersearn3xtickets. ejackpot begins at $20,000 and if it’s not won, it carries over to the next drawing where it will increase by $10,000 to a maximum of $170,000. e Second Chance Drawing at midnight on ursday, January 26th, will represent the most current jackpot. See Club Barona for all details.
New: The King of Birthday Celebrations at Agua Caliente Casino & Spa
Resort Casino
Birthday celebrations at casinos happen every day, but this month you can celebrate e King— Elvis’—birthday, with a chance to win a trip to Graceland including $1,000 cash at Spa Resort Casino on January 6th, and at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa on January 7th. Just play slots or table games to earn entries to win. And enjoy food and drink specials all weekend long, and birthday
PAGE 14
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
JANUARY 2017