Photos: Gambling in Tucson
Where and how to take your chances in the Old Pueblo.
Vegas isn't the only place to gamble
This billboard along Interstate 19 south of Valencia Road for Casino del Sol says it all when it comes to gambling in Tucson. While the Old Pueblo doesn't have all the glitter and bright lights of Las Vegas, there are plenty of ways to parley what you're wiling to wager into something — or maybe not.
Gambling at home
As long as all players play against each other and no one benefits from the game, gambling at someone's home is legal in Arizona. Feel free to engage in those games of chance with friends.
Bingo
Anyone for Bingo? You can play this game in many different venues from churches to casinos. Here Bingo players mark off numbers as they are called at the 35th Annual Our Mothers of Sorrows Fiesta in 2013 with winners and non-winners getting prizes for playing.
Charity gambling
Plenty of charities hold casino nights to raise money. One of the more notable is Angel Charity for Children, which sought to raise at least $100,000 last year with this event at the Tucson Country Club. The evening featured Texas Hold’em Poker Tournaments, casino games, a nightclub and dinner. Proceeds benefitted the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona, Aviva Children’s Services and El Grupo Youth Cycling.
Desert Diamond Casinos
Slot machines are plentiful and popular with many such as these at Desert Diamond Casino. The Tohono O'odham Tribe operates two casinos in the Tucson area - Sahuarita and Tucson. The casinos have table games, keno and other games. The Tucson branch has a hotel and concerts. In addition, the casinos have online games you can play for "virtual credits."
Raffles
There are many kinds of raffles, but one of the most prominent is the one overseen by Jim Click. He donated the prize, a 50th Anniversary Edition of the 2015 Ford Mustang, to benefit local Tucson charities this year. In addition, he gave the 100,000 raffle tickets to local charities to sell and keep 100 percent of the profits.
Lottery
Arizona Lottery tickets are available at many retail outlets and online.
NCAA basketball pools
In 2001, UA math professor Fred Stevenson showed the probability of winning an office pool bet on the NCAA basketball tournament and the odds aren't in your favor. The odds of submitting a perfect bracket is one in 9 quintillion. Let's put it this way, billionaire Warren Buffett and Quicken Loans offered a $1 billion prize for a perfect bracket in 2014, but no one lasted past the second day. Still, there are plenty of office sports pools to play.
Poker runs
In a poker run, participants visit five to seven checkpoints, drawing a card at each site. The participant with the best poker hand at the end wins. Although this type of event is usually associated with motorcycle clubs, other charities have used other modes of transportation for this fundraiser, including the Last Alarm Foundation in 2013. Here retired Tucson Fire Department firefighter Chuy Pesqueira explains this 1954 Mack fire truck's pump system to his grandchildren
Rillito Park Racetrack
The sport of kings is still drawing fans in Tucson. Here track bugler Denny Schreffler warms up on his herald trumpet to sound the "Call to the Post" before a race during the Rillito Park Racetrack spring meet this year.
Dog racing at Tucson Greyhound Park
Although greyhound racing has fallen in popularity, Tucson Greyhound Park features races year round on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturday evenings, according to its website.
Casino of the Sun
Operated by the Pasqua Yaqui Tribe, Casino of the Sun and its companion Casino del Sol offer lots of slots along with bingo, blackjack, roulette and other games. Casino del Sol offers a resort, golf course and concerts.
Online poker
Online gaming, with real money, isn't legal in Arizona, but there are plenty of games to play for fun. These people waiting at an Apple store wiled away their time by playing games.
Off-track betting
The Arizona Department of Racing has a list of eight sites in the Tucson Metro area where gamblers who like to play the ponies or the greyhound dogs can go to place a wager. Sites include two Famous Sam's, Golden Pin Lanes, Jeff's Pub & Sports Bar, Midtown Bar & Grill, Old Father Inn, Putney's Sports Bar and Tucson Greyhound Park.
Crane game
Crane games are specifically mentioned under Arizona's gambling laws, although most people consider this more fun than gambling. Here Ian Liska, 7, plays a crane game at R&R Pizza Express in 2009.
County fair games
The games found at the Pima County Fair as well as other carnivals at schools can be considered gambling. You're risking something of value for the chance of gaining something of value, presumably of greater value than you risked. Here Elliot Brown 9, celebrates after winning a stuffed animal during the last day of the Pima County Fair in 2011.
Gambling problems
Gambling can be fun, but a problem for some people. The state of Arizona has set up an organization to help those who find gambling is addictive. Call toll free for help:
1-800-NEXT STEP
(1-800-639-8783)
According to the organization's website: "The Arizona Office of Problem Gambling Treatment Assistance Program is available for family members and others affected by someone else's gambling problem, as well as for gamblers."
Indian gaming contributed nearly $1.3 million in 2015 to fund the office.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey's multi-pronged proposal would greatly expand the kinds of legal wagering that could occur, both on and off reservations.