ON THE MOVE
Best Casino Bets For Spring
By Karrie Zukowski
With winter winding down and the new life of spring only a couple of months away, it’s time to start planning your 2019 casino trips. From our perspective, the following properties are all can’t miss destinations. Each is bursting with special features, events, promotions, expansions, great gaming excitement and more.
Consider these casino hot spots as you make your plans. We guarantee you won’t be disappointed!
GRAND SIERRA RESORT AND CASINO
Reno, NV
Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, located in the heart of the Reno-Tahoe area in Nevada, features over 1,900 hotel rooms with standard, suite and luxury rooms, many with beautiful views including downtown Reno and the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. The Grand Sierra Resort offers exceptional customer service, a luxury spa, shopping and fun activities for everyone. Whether you are at Grand Sierra for an overnight trip or an extended vacation, you will feel pampered and important.
The Grand Sierra Resort and Casino has it all: award-winning restaurants, great entertainment, a large casino floor with table games, slots, poker games and so much more.
No matter what you are looking for in a casino: tournaments, rewards, the latest games, wide-area progressives or jackpots, GSR has everything you want to play.
Reno nightlife is among the best and the entertainment at Grand Sierra is no exception. Featuring sounds from leading DJ acts in LEX Nightclub to concerts with must-see acts and top-name artists at the Grand Theatre. Boasting a capacity of more than 2,700 luxury seats with more leg room, wider seats and wider aisles, and tiered rows of seating ensure everyone will have a great view of the grand stage.
The dining is top notch, with a plethora of restaurants to choose from including fine dining, casual dining and to-go options. Grand Sierra Resort is proud to present Charlie Palmer Steak, a progressive American steak- house offering unmatched and unexpected classical French techniques. GSR also offers palate-pleasing de- lights with international flair. Take a culinary tour of the globe with the pan-Asian selections of Rim, the casual Fresh-Mex of Cantina, or the themed nights of the international Grand Buffet.
Enjoy the convenience of Grand Café 24 hours a day, perfect for those late night cravings, after a show, or all-night dancing. Or treat the family to Johnny Rockets, Port of Subs, Round Table Pizza, and Yogurt Beach for sweet treats. GSR has it all!
And if libations are what you seek, there are eight bars and lounges to choose from. If you’re craving a glass of wine, head over to The Reserve, or if a hand- crafted cocktail is more your style, step into the newly renovated Crystal Lounge. Whatever your mood, the bars and lounges serve it over ice! For more information, visit www.grandsierraresort.com.
ILANI
Ridgefield, WA
Ilani, the area’s premier gaming, dining, entertainment and meetings destination will celebrate its two-year anniversary this April. Since opening in 2017, Ilani received many accolades, most notably being named Best Casino for the second consecutive year. Additional achievements include 12 Best of Gaming first place wins, and 24 wins overall. Ilani’s two-year anniversary will also be marked with the one-year anniversary of the 30,000 square foot meeting & entertainment center. With so many reasons to celebrate, 2019 is sure to be an exciting year at Ilani! Only 20 miles north of Portland, Oregon, Ilani’s expansive 400,000-square-foot facility is perched on 156 acres and pays tribute to the heritage of the Cowlitz Tribe and beauty of the Northwest, incorporating natural elements and stunning views throughout.
Inside, Ilani boasts 100,000 square feet of space dedicated to providing visitors with the latest state-of-the-art slot and table games offerings to suit nearly every preference and every level of experience. With 2,500 of the latest slots and 75 gaming tables, including a spectacular high-limit room, guests can test their luck at blackjack, craps, roulette, and so much more.
While Ilani provides visitors with the ultimate gaming experience, it is the complete Ilani experience that keeps crowds coming back for more. Inspired restaurants, boutique shops and free live entertainment combined with gaming create a dynamic getaway. Guests can recharge with some delectable bites from the likes of Smashburger, Chef Jet, i.talia or Taco Cantina, or relax with friends over a sumptuous meal from Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse, Line & Lure, Rose & Thorn, Longhouse or Tom’s Urban.
Having indulged your appetite at one of Ilani’s award-winning restaurants, guests can celebrate over specialty drinks and free live entertainment at Muze Lounge. If you’d rather relax over craft cocktails, stop by the 360 Bar. If you feel like indulging in some shopping, look for the latest fashions at Marshall Rousso for apparel and accessories and Ruby Blue for jewelry and gift items. Ilani has something to offer everyone, true to Ilani’s desire to fill life with memorable and lasting experiences
FEBRUARY FUN!
There’s always something special happening at Ilani! Running now through April, guests can join in on the fun with their Truckloads Of Fun cash giveaway, featuring over $170,000 in cash and prizes! Simply use your Momentum card every time you play your favorite slots or table games for your chance to win a new Ford Truck every month through April! One lucky Grand Finale winner will take home a new 2019 Ford F-150 Lariat or $50,000 cash!
To learn more about Ilani and its offerings, visit www.ilaniresort.com.
GILA RIVER CASINOS
Gila River Gaming Enterprises, Inc. operates three Arizona casinos owned by the Gila River Indian Community including Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, Lone Butte Casino, and Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino. All three casinos offer a combination of more than 2,900 slots, over 80 table games, bingo (Vee Quiva & Lone Butte) and poker (Wild Horse Pass and Vee Quiva), and are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. So when you are visiting the Southwest, check out these hot spots for great gaming. For additional information call 1 800 946 4452, or visit www.wingilariver.com.
VEE QUIVA HOTEL & CASINO
Laveen, Arizona
Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino, conveniently located in Phoenix’s West Valley is a AAA Four Diamond Awarded hotel, featuring 90 boutique lush rooms, a fitness center, pristine pool with pool side suites, all adjoining five dining options, two energetic lounges and a variety of gaming.
Enjoy mountain views and desert sunsets in an oasis environment.
Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino has thrilling gaming action for every style of player with over 900 slot machines. Games such as Wheel of Fortune Slots, Ghostbusters Slots, Royal Derby and so much more! There are over 30 oversized table games including blackjack, pai gow, three card poker, Spanish 21 and a 14-table poker room for the card players. Enjoy picturesque National Park views in the state-of-the-art 550-seat bingo hall aptly named Bingo Park.
You’ll never go hungry at Vee Quiva. The facility features a wide variety of dining options including 24/7 dining, multi- unit food court and coffee counter. Fullhouse Café, the newest concept at Vee Quiva is open around the clock, featuring comfort food, breakfast 24/7 and indulgent pastries and pies made daily. There are a variety of casual dining options to fit your taste, time, and budget.
Enjoy such favorites as Panda Express, Fatburger and for that quick pick me up, stop by The Coffee Shop for some Starbucks.
Feel that beat! VQ Live is a luxurious lounge featuring free live music. The patio has glass walled fire pits, colorful mood lighting and plush seating. Reservations can be taken for groups of up to 50 people in the patio area or on a VIP table of 14 people inside the lounge.
For larger events, Vee Quiva Event Center is over 6,000 sq. ft. of flexible space to host dinner banquets, meetings or to watch a great lineup of live entertainment. Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino not only offers many exciting things under one roof, but offers many more exciting things to do within the Gila River Indian Community!
WILD HORSE PASS HOTEL & CASINO
Chandler, Arizona
Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino in Phoenix, Arizona is a premier hotel featuring tastefully appointed rooms with a wealth of amenities…but at a reasonable price. While staying with Wild Horse Pass, you can catch sight of the native wild horses which have roamed free in area desert plains for centuries and marvel over a sky full of stars at nightfall!
Experience exciting gaming action with 100,000 square feet of casino and over 1,000 slots! Latest gaming themes include the new True 4D Ghostbusters machine, Wheel of Fortune and Blazing 7s. Wild Horse Pass offers more new games with the latest themes from the various machine manufacturers such as IGT,WMS Gaming, Aristocrat, etc. Many feature multi- level progressives, interactive bonus features and mini games, which allow players to experience more involvement, and decision making in the game verses just pressing a button and waiting for the outcome.
You’ll always find a winning combination at Wild Horse with over 65 table games, a Poker room and a premium high limit area. If you are a table game player, there are over 40 gaming tables to choose from!
Games include blackjack, fortune pai gow poker progressive, and many of your favorite carnival table games. Poker players have not been for- gotten! The Poker Room at Wild Horse Pass has 25 state-of-the-art poker tables set in a rich, but comfortable environment. And the sports enthusiasts will enjoy over 30 TVs including eight large screens for easy viewing. Structured and spread limit Hold ‘em and Omaha games are offered. Most games feature a full kill and bad beat Jackpot.
The Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino offers a variety of restaurant options ranging from high-end dining to casual eats. Try Ling & Louie’s for authentic Asian food or head over to Fullhouse Cafe for some good old comfort food, but a must try is Shula’s Steak House. One of the featured entrees is the 48-Ounce Porterhouse. Those who finish it join Shula’s 48-Ounce Club, which currently has more than 26,000 members. Enjoy an undefeated dining experience, where only the best beef money can buy is offered, The SHULA CUT.
LONE BUTTE CASINO
Chandler, Arizona
Lone Butte Casino in Chandler, Arizona is another Gila River property with all the thrilling gaming action for every style of player.
No matter what you’re looking for, Lone Butte Casino provides the most-diverse and latest-themed games in the Valley with over 800 of the newest and most popular slots, including a premium high limit slots room. Many of these new games feature multi-level progressive and interactive bonus features. Start your winning streak on one of the hot new machines like Fortune Cup and Timberwolf Grand!
Join the Bingo fun any day of the week! The state-of-the-art and spacious bingo hall features 750 seats and has Morning, Matinee, Evening and Late Night B.A.D Sessions. Enjoy Lone Butte’s monthly bingo promotions that create excitement and fun for all bingo lovers!
Lone Butte also has 24 Las Vegas style table games with limits ranging from $5 to $1,200. You can try your hand at fortune pai gow poker progressive, three card poker with bonus 6, crazy 4 card poker, and ultimate Texas hold-em. Check out the wall to wall action in the Big City Sports Lounge with hot table gaming action and video poker progressives. Big City is a full-service sports bar featuring wings, nachos and burgers, up to the minute sports coverage on huge LED HD screens, and sports memorabilia showcases.
Speaking of food, Lone Butte Casino offers a wide variety of dining options from casual dining to quick, tasty options in the Food Court.
At Kickers, you can grab one of the signature cocktails and play a few hands at the new bar top poker stations, or just relax and watch the game on a selection of TVs. At Lone Butte Bar & Grille, you experience the essence of coast-to-coast American cuisine. The brunch and dinner menus feature a fresh take on signature dishes from across the country like St. Louis Ribs, Baltimore Crab Cakes, New York Strip & more! In addition to the restaurants, there’s a variety of quick service options to fit your taste, time, and budget including Chuck’s Burgers, Between Slices and Panda Express.
With live music, great drink specials, happy hour, and more, Lone Butte’s bars and lounges are the place to be! Stop by the Mixx Lounge or The River Bar for good times, live music, happy hour, karaoke, dancing, drink specials, and more.
COUSHATTA CASINO RESORT
Kinder, LA
Step into a world of glitz, gaming, and Southern hospitality at the Coushatta Casino Resort. From slots to table games to championship golf, this property has something for everyone—including some of the loosest slots in the region, as certified by Strictly Slots magazine.
Coushatta is a premier casino destination offering 100,000 square feet of casino space with 2,800 slots and more than 70 table games. Settle in for a snug game of Blackjack, take a spin on Roulette, get in on a Craps game where cheers break out over a roll of the dice. Play pai gow, mini-baccarat, let it ride, three card poker, or put on your “poker face” for Texas hold ‘em or Omaha in the huge live Poker Room.
If you’re looking for the hottest new slots or traditional favorites, the selection at Coushatta Casino Resort can’t be beat, with more than 950 traditional spinning reel games, more than 1,600 video slots with the best payback in the region.
Play a wide range of denominations including over 1,700 penny games, over 100 nickel games, over 325 quarter games, over 375 dollar games, and over 600 multi-de- nomination games from penny up to $50.
Coushatta also offers the best in dining and lodging options. For a flavorful steak, visit the Big Sky Steakhouse or for some great Louisiana seafood like gumbos, oysters on the half shell, or fried seafood dishes, Gumbeaux’s Oyster & Sports Bar fits the bill perfectly. And don’t miss the Seven Clans Buffet. Enjoy a large variety of cuisines, a salad bar and live cooking stations – plus a decadent dessert bar!
With seven more restaurants and bars, there is something for every appetite.
For a great getaway, Coushatta has four options. Top of the list is Coushatta’s flagship luxury hotel, The Grand Hotel which has been completely renovated into an adult-exclusive property. From the elegantly appointed rooms and suites of Seven Clans Hotel, to the luxurious lakefront RV and chalet resort at Red Shoes Park, you will enjoy the ultimate in amenities and service for any price range.
For more information, visit www.CoushattaCasinoResort.com.
PARX CASINO
Bensalem, PA
If you live anywhere near eastern Pennsylvania, chances are pretty good that you’re familiar with the state’s #1 casino, Parx Casino. Located a scant 20 minutes north of Philadelphia in Bensalem, Parx features over 200,000 square feet of gaming; 3,270 slot machines and 148 live table games; 40 poker tables; live racing & simulcast action. But there’s so much more to this exceptional property, with even more on the way.
Check out the latest developments at Parx Casino.
Beer Garden
Top of the expansion list is Parx Casino’s brand-new indoor-outdoor beer garden, which features 7,600+ square feet of space with 24 rotating craft drafts, 14 wine options, specialty cocktails, a full bar, and exceptional food from the chefs at the adjacent Liberty Bell Gastropub and Oliveto. Overhead, take in the view as the entire state-of-the-art glass roof retracts letting in the sunrays and warmer temperatures when spring arrives. Head outside through the retractable glass walls that open out to two patios featuring lush greenery, modern furniture and 10-foot long fire pits.
“Parx Beer Garden is designed to be our next evolution and the perfect complement to our Xcite Center, X Lounge and two new restaurants, Liberty Bell Gastropub and Oliveto,”said Yeghiche Manoukian, Executive Vice President of Parx Casino. “With this bold new addition, we wanted to create a year-round, all-weather beer garden that was at the next level and something you can’t find anywhere else in the Philadelphia region. Raising a glass with an exceptional list of draft selections in a unique and cool beer garden setting is an amenity we are proud to offer. We aim to be a one stop shop for entertainment – and offer the total package for our customers.”
Parx Beer Garden is new construction and part of continued expansion efforts on property. The entrance is located through the dining room in Liberty Bell Gastropub. In the future, Parx Beer Garden will also be accessible through the state-of-the-art permanent Parx Sportsbook, which is set to open this summer.
What’s On Tap
While at the Beer Garden, raise a glass with 24 draft lines pouring a vast variety of craft beers, domestic and imports, and ciders. Constantly rotating draft pours will average from $5 to $10 per selection. Beer lovers can also find over a dozen additional bottle selections.
Craft drafts will include a mix of local staples, seasonal selections and notable brewers. The vision was to offer a wide and robust selection to rival the best beer garden tap lists you can now find in Center City Philadelphia. Notable brewer selections include 2SP (with their Becky Beer that was created for Uptown Beer Garden and Craft Concepts Group), Troegs, Left Hand, and Vault. The draft list includes several beers that are only available at Parx.
Wine lovers will enjoy 14 rotating wines by the glass, prices between an average of $8 and $16. On top of beer and wine, the Parx Beer Garden features seasonal cocktails created by Sarah Fiocco and the Parx beverage team. Cocktails will feature notable local and national brands changing seasonally. Additionally, look for classic frozen cocktails all year round.
Food For Thought
From the kitchen, look for great upscale and approachable beer garden fare, plus highlights from adjacent restaurants Liberty Bell Gastropub and Oliveto. Look for selection of appetizers, soup, sandwiches, burgers, salads and pizzas. The menu will be changing throughout the year with classic Beer Garden favorites, including heartier and comforting fare in the winter and lighter selections in warmer months.
Oliveto’s NY style pizza is thin crusted and fired in a rustic brick oven. Liberty Bell Gastropub’s Rotisserie Free Range Chicken is cooked on custom-built Rotisserie bar roasting the freshest meats in the region. Menu selections include: Seafood Chowder, Jumbo Chicken Wings, Jerked, Buffalo, Lemon Rosemary; Short Rib Poutine; Clay Pot Crispy Fire Shrimp; Lobster Roll; Prime Rib Sandwich; Bratwurst; Smoke House Burger; Classic Cheese Burger, pizza and more.
Vibe
The vision was to design a fun, young, hip and vibrant indoor and outdoor mixed space that embodies casual elegance with a millennial appeal. Design features include the industrial corrugated metal back wall featuring custom cut colored neck bottles, the custom retractable motorized roof and side doors, aluminum and bronze planters, a green wall and lush greenery throughout, natural teak wood furniture, amber, gold and warm colors, reclaimed woods, organic finishes, Edison exposed bulb fixtures, and a 10-foot long copper fire pit.
“We are going for the wow factor when you walk in the door,” added Yeghiche Manoukian. “From the stunning design and earthy yet modern decor, to the sheer size of the space, state-of-the-art roof and extensive tap list, we wanted to focus on the details big and small. We want the vibe, food, beer and the service to be top quality, fresh, evolving and fun for the younger demographic flocking to our Xcite Center concerts and for nights out at Liberty Bell Gastropub.”
For more information about the Parx Beer Garden, call (888) 588-7279 or visit www.parxcasino.com/beergarden.
