Introduction to Indiana Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2018 Indiana slot machine casino gambling consists of 10 riverboat or land-based casinos, two pari-mutuel racetracks with slot machines, and one tribal casino. The American Indian tribal casino opened in early 2018. Each location offers electronic gaming machines. Rising Star Casino, Rising Sun: Address, Phone Number, Rising Star Casino Reviews: 3.5/5. United States; Indiana (IN) Rising Sun; Things to Do in Rising Sun; Rising Star Casino; Search. Rising Star Casino. 182 Reviews #3 of 9 things to do in Rising Sun. If you are non-smoker machines are only on top floor and again with Covid there are.
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John Cirrincione, general manager of Santa Ana Star Casino, explains why his resort is the best bet in New Mexico
By Rob Wiser
The results of our research showed that Santa Ana Star’s slots are even looser, and pay out more money to players, than its executives realized. But don’t worry, this didn’t cause them to tighten their games. Instead, they want to get the word out
Santa Ana Star Casino is a Native American casino on the Peublo of Santa Ana in Bernalillo, New Mexico. The resort, which is situated on 73,000 acres of reservation land in the Rio Grande Valley, was founded by the Tamaya at the Pueblo of Santa Ana Pueblo and opened in 1993.
Since then, “The Star” has built up a devoted following among local players, partly due to the fact that its slots seemed to pay out more than any other casino in the area. The property was always proud of its loose slots, and recently they decided to make it official—they reached out to Casino Player (and our sister publication, Strictly Slots) to conduct some independent, third party search on their machines to see just how loose they actually are.
The results of our research showed that Santa Ana Star’s slots are even looser, and pay out more money to players, than its executives realized. But don’t worry, this didn’t cause them to tighten their games. Instead, they want to get the word out and let players know that their slots are indeed the loosest in New Mexico—and between their upcoming promotions and giveaways, and enhancements to their Star Rewards players club, the benefits for players are only getting greater.
To learn more about this, Casino Player spoke with John Cirrincione, general manager of Santa Ana Star Casino. Cirrincione, who recently celebrated his first year in his current position, has 27 years of casino resort experience. Prior to joining Santa Ana Star, he held executive positions with other tribal gaming resorts in California, Oklahoma, Arizona and Reno, Nevada.
John, tell us about the process of getting certified for your loose slots. How did this come about, and how was the “looseness” of your slots verified?
In evaluating what the strengths of Santa Ana Star Casino were versus our competitors, we reflexively said that it was our slots. We had confidence that our machines were the loosest in the state. But with no published statistics on hold percentages here in New Mexico, we had to rely on the customers continually telling us they win more and play longer at the Star. Having Strictly Slots and Casino Player validate this, as an independent third party, serves to confirm what we have always known.
We wanted to get independent, third party research to corroborate our belief that there were no looser slots in the state, so we contacted your magazines to validate the hold percentages. Who better than them? As it turned out, our machines are even looser, and pay out much better, than we thought. Truth is, Santa Ana Star has the loosest slots in New Mexico. Now it’s confirmed.
How loose are your slots, exactly? And can you give us some other details about your slot floor?
New Mexico gaming regulations prohibit us from publishing our hold percentages, but I can tell you we pride ourselves on being the loosest in the state. This is based on independent research and testing, and backed by the extensive experience of our executive team. We also found that Santa Ana Star slot machines were at the very top of the list for the loosest slots when compared to all other casinos across the country.
When we say that we’re “New Mexico’s Best Bet,” it’s more than just an advertising slogan; it’s based on the idea that the more time a gamer spends on a device here, the more value they see for their dollar. The looser the slots, the longer you play and the more fun you have. A true gamer is looking for the opportunity to spend the most time playing his or her favorite machine. We want to make sure that when they visit the Star, our guests feel they got the most for their dollar. We offer a wide variety of games, ranging from video poker to progressive slot machines, in denominations that appeal to every level of gamer.
Where do your customers generally come from, and how is your property positioned in its marketplace?
Santa Ana Star Casino opened in 1993 and was the first casino to open its doors in New Mexico, shortly after the state legalized Indian gaming. We’re located just off I-25, ten miles north of Albuquerque and not too far south of Santa Fe. Santa Ana Star has been known as “the locals casino” for quite some time and owns up to its reputation for having the best gaming odds, and the friendliest staff.
Our market is unique in that there are many more slot machines per capita than pretty much anywhere else in the country. In addition, our players are known for having very discriminating tastes when it comes to gaming value. Our competitors have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to try to attract the big dollar “out of towners,” while we at the Star have really focused our attention on those closest to home. And while the Star offers the best gamble for your dollar, we also offer entertainment, dining and snacking options; a bowling center that has been voted as the “Best of the City” for the past five years; two world class golf courses, Twin Warriors and Santa Ana; and the only five-star resort in New Mexico, the Hyatt Tamaya.
As we move forward, we’re excited to enhance our current offerings, redefine entertainment, and refocus our promotions. We’re committed to providing our guests with a fun and friendly experience every time they visit the Star.
Tell us about your Star Rewards Club. What kind of benefits does it give members?
At The Star, we believe in rewarding our loyal players. Being a member of our Star Rewards Club offers players perks and amenities throughout the property, and even extends to our Pueblo partners. Exciting enhancements are on the horizon—shortly after 2012 begins, we will be rolling out a refreshed and revived Star Rewards Players Club program. The new program will provide more benefits, more fun and more rewards focused on getting people to play with their cards. More card-in play will lead to more precisely focused promotions, loyalty rewards, and exciting opportunities not being offered by any other casino in the market.
Can you tell us about any upcoming events or promotions that players will want to know about?
Players will continue to see exciting new offerings, property improvements and increased rewards at The Star in 2012. One example is our New Year’s Weekend Celebration. Guests will be invited to join us for a full weekend of fun and entertainment. Friday and Saturday will include complimentary performances from Tobias Renee and El Gringo. From a gaming aspect, we will be running $100 Hot Seats and a Free Slot Tournament. On Sunday, January 1, we’ll give away a brand new 2012 Ford Explorer from Don Chalmers Ford in Rio Rancho, to wrap up our Explore 2012 promotion. This exciting and jam-packed weekend will help to kick off 2012 as we move into an exciting time at The Star.
For more information on Santa Ana Star Casino and details on their upcoming promotions and events, visit www.santaanastar.com.
Rising Star in Casino.
Introduction to Indiana Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2019
Indiana slot machine casino gambling consists of eleven commercial casinos, two pari-mutuel wagering racetracks, and one tribal casino.
Indiana does not offer payout limits but does provide annual and monthly return statistics for its non-tribal casinos.
This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.
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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Indiana*
The minimum legal gambling age in Indiana does not depend upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 21
- Poker Rooms: 21
- Bingo: 21
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18
Indiana’s 1851 constitution banned lotteries, historically interpreted by courts to mean all gambling. In 1988, Indiana approved a constitutional amendment removing this ban. Within months, cities with economic difficulties had casino proposals.
In 2007, Indiana allowed horse tracks to have as many as 2,000 electronic gaming machines. Further, the state legislature approved land-based casinos in 2015. Also, in 2015, the state legislature approved a measure allowing riverboat casinos to move into a land-based casino facility if located on their current property.
The state of Indiana has a federally-recognized American Indian tribe. In 2015, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians successfully negotiated a tribal-state compact subsequently approved by the U.S. Department of Interior.
By the compact’s terms, the tribal casino could only have Class II bingo-style gaming machines. In early 2018, the tribe opened its first tribal casino.
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Indiana
It is legal to own a slot machine privately in Indiana if it is 40 years old or older.
Gaming Control Board in Indiana
The Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) regulates gaming in Indiana. The IGC offers comprehensive annual reports on all aspects of legal gaming in Indiana. Indiana’s two other gaming commissions regulate the Hoosier Lottery and Indiana Horse Racing.
The Indiana Gaming Commission has a law enforcement arm called the Gaming Control Division. Its primary role is to investigate illegal gambling. Enforcement of illegal gambling at bars and taverns is by the Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission.
Casinos in Indiana
There are eleven commercial casinos, two pari-mutuel racetracks with slot machines, and one American Indian tribal casino in Indiana.
The largest casino in Indiana is Horseshoe Casino Hammond with 2,123 gaming machines, 116 table games, and a 34-table poker room.
The second-largest casino is Indiana Grand Racing Casino with 2,020 gaming machines.
Commercial Casinos in Indiana
Indiana’s thirteen commercial casinos include its original ten riverboat casinos, an additional land-based casino, and two pari-mutuel wagering racetracks with slot machines. These non-tribal casinos are:
- Ameristar East Chicago located 11 miles northwest of Gary.
- Belterra Casino Resort in Florence located 116 miles southeast of Indianapolis on the Kentucky border.
- Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa in Michigan City located 26 miles northeast of Gary.
- French Lick Resort located 100 miles south of Indianapolis.
- Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg located 98 miles southeast of Indianapolis on the Ohio border.
- Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson located 43 miles northeast of Indianapolis.
- Horseshoe Hammond located 20 miles northwest of Gary.
- Caesars Southern Indiana in Elizabeth located 123 miles south of Indianapolis across the river from Louisville, Kentucky.
- Indiana Grand Racing Casino in Shelbyville located 27 miles southeast of Indianapolis.
- Majestic Star Casinos I & II in Gary.
- Rising Star Casino Resort located 105 miles southeast of Indianapolis on the Kentucky border.
- Tropicana Evansville located 169 miles southwest of Indianapolis.
Tribal Casinos in Indiana
Indiana’s tribal casino is the Four Winds Casino South Bend located 150 miles north of Indianapolis directly east of Chicago on the border to Michigan. It offers 1,800 Class II competition-style gaming machines alongside live poker tables.
Poker has been interpreted in Indiana as a skill-based game and, therefore, just another Class II game. It is considered a competition-style game as players bet against each other and aren’t betting “against the house” or casino.
Other Gambling Establishments
Rising Star Casino Indiana What Class Slot Machines Jackpots
As an alternative to enjoying Indiana slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Indiana is:
- North: Michigan Slots
- East: Ohio Slots
- South: Kentucky Slots
- West: Illinois Slots
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Indiana.
Our Indiana Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Indiana? If so, join our new Indiana slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.
There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Indiana. Join us!
Payout Returns in Indiana
Indiana has not set minimum or maximum theoretical payout return limits. Monthly and annual return statistics are available, although none are available from the tribal casino. The annual reports detail return statistics by slot machine denomination.
The IGC’s 2019 annual report has Electronic Gaming Device (EGD) COIN-IN on page 41. The next page has EGD Win. Divide WIN by COIN-IN, then subtract the result from 100% to calculate a player’s win percentage.
For your convenience, I have calculated the mid-2018 through mid-2019 player win percentages for each casino below. In addition to an annual report, the Indiana Gaming Commission also offers monthly revenue reports by the 11th of the following month.
Again, use COIN IN and WIN to calculate the player’s win percentage. Unlike the annual reports, these monthly reports do not contain return statistics by slot machine denomination.
These Annual and Monthly Player Win% are:
- Ameristar East Chicago: 89.91% (annual) and 90.05% (Nov. 2019)
- Belterra Casino Resort: 90.78% (annual) and 90.82% (Nov. 2019)
- Blue Chip Casino: 91.40% (annual) and 91.23% (Nov. 2019)
- French Lick Resort: 91.56% (annual) and 91.05% (Nov. 2019)
- Hollywood Lawrenceburg: 89.96% (annual) and 90.23% (Nov. 2019)
- Harrah’s Hoosier Park: 91.08% (annual) and 90.63% (Nov. 2019)
- Horseshoe Hammond: 90.07% (annual) and 90.04% (Nov. 2019)
- Caesars Southern Indiana: 89.99% (annual) and 90.67% (Nov. 2019)
- Indiana Grand Racing: 90.90% (annual) and 90.34% (Nov. 2019)
- Majestic Star Casino I: 90.26% (annual) and 90.21% (Nov. 2019)
- Majestic Star Casino II: 89.84% (annual) and 89.90% (Nov. 2019)
- Rising Star Casino Resort: 91.38% (annual) and 92.07% (Nov. 2019)
- Tropicana Evansville: 89.60% (annual) and 89.93% (Nov. 2019)
Further, the mid-2018 through mid-2019 statewide annual player’s win percentage is 90.52%. The monthly statewide player’s win% was slightly less at 90.45%.
The casino with the highest annual return was French Lick. The highest monthly return went to Rising Star. It’s worth mentioning that French Lick had the second-highest annual return and Rising Star the third-highest in the previous year.
The casino with the lowest annual return was, once again, this year, Tropicana Evansville. Its monthly return was the second-lowest while Majestic Star II had the lowest.
Summary of Indiana Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2019
Indiana slot machine casino gambling consists of 10 riverboat casinos, one land-based casino, two pari-mutual racetracks with slot machines, and a tribal casino with Class II bingo-style gaming machines.
Indiana’s casinos don’t operate under theoretical payout limits. However, non-tribal casinos have annual return statistics by casino and slot machine denomination. Monthly return statistics are by the casino only.
Annual Progress in Indiana Slot Machine Casino Gambling
In the last year, Horseshoe Casino Hotel Southern Indiana became Caesars Southern Indiana. Hoosier Park has become Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.
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