LOOK AT LAUGHLIN BY VICKI TORRES

Cruizin’ On The River Coming to the Riverside Resort
With the start of a New Year, the Riverside Resort will be busy hosting the 3rd Annual RIVER CRUIZERS Cruizin’ on the River Charitable Car Show Thursday, January 5 through Sunday, January 8. This event was formally called Chillin’ on the River. More events will be featured this year including an Auto Parts Swap Meet and Sell Your Vehicle Car Corral. There will also be favorites such as a “Show ‘N’ Shine Car Show, Open Header Contest, Creeper Races, Stool Races, Live Auctions, Door Prizes, a Ladies Tea Party, Poker walk and other activities. The car entry fee of $40 is open to all makes, models, street rods, muscle cars, trucks, 4X4’s, specialty vehicles and motorcycles. In other words, anything with wheels is accepted. The spectator fee is $2 at the front gate. The car club of Bullhead City, Arizona, a non-profit organization has so far donated over $450,000 to the Colorado River communities around Laughlin. For additional information, call Ellen Bridges at (928) 505-8475. If you need a place to bed down for the weekend, special room rates and RV Park rates are still available at the Riverside by calling (800) 227-3849 extension 5546. Mention Cruizin on the River.

Avi’s Month Long Monday’s Whirlwind of Cold Hard Cash Promotion Paying Out $20,000
Monday could prove to be a very lucky day this month for members of the Av’s Advantage club. Each week, beginning January 16, the resort kicks off their Monday’s Whirlwind of Cold Cash promotion where two winners are drawn at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Promotional Center. The player selecting the high card goes for the cash vault and walks away with a minimum of $100 and the person choosing the low card receives $20 in Xtra Bonus Bucks. Entries into the drawing are given through gaming. Remaining drawings are January 16, 23 and 30. Check with the club booth for complete details.

“$2012 Cash Giveaway” at the Riverside Resort
Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort is inviting their King of Clubs Player’s Club members to participate in their “$2012 Cash Giveaway” through January 26, 2012. Drawings for the promotion are held every Monday through Thursday at 5 p.m. in the South Tower Promotions Area. Four winners at each drawing will take home $2012 in cash. One entry ticket will be given for every 100 points earned on a single rate on reel, video poker and keno machines and one ticket will be given for every two hours of tracked table game play. New club members will also get a drawing ticket.

Laughlin Resorts Donate Food, Toys and School Supplies During the Holiday Season
Laughlin resorts were extremely generous over the holidays with donations of items going to those in need. Employees from Aquarius Casino Resort dug deep into their pockets and collected nearly two tons of food for two area food banks and handed over more than $700 in cash collected at their October talent show. Before school started in September, Aquarius team members collected school supplies for Coyote Canyon School in Bullhead City, Arizona. Holiday toy drive tournaments at the River Palms and Tropicana also assisted those less fortunate. Proceeds from the River Palms efforts allowed them to donate $970 in cash and $2,500 in toys to Westcare Arizona, a charity that provides substance abuse prevention, education and treatment, domestic violence and other services to the local community. The Trop’s toy drive tournament raised $1,500 in cash and $4,500 worth of toys. The proceeds from this drive were donated to the Laughlin Fire Department to help support their yearly holiday toy program.

Riverside’s Entertainment Gets in High Gear for the New Year
One of the best Elvis impersonators around today, Don Rose returns to the Riverside Resort January 3-8 with his “Happy Birthday to the King” production. Tickets are going for $28 with $5 off for locals. Coming up January 11-15, another top entertainment choice, the king of fiddle players, Doug Kershaw-“The Ragin’ Cajun,” returns to Don’s Celebrity Theatre. Tickets for Kershaw’s show are $30 with the $5 discount being offered to local residents. Both performers take to the stage at 7 p.m. For reservations, call ((800) 227-3849 ext. 616.

Golden Nugget Headquarters for Chili Cook-Off Qualifiers
This weekend, January 7-8, it will be non-stop cooking action at the Golden Nugget where they will be hosting two World Chili Cook-Off Qualifiers events. The first is the Laughlin Regional, on Saturday; and on Sunday it will be the Nevada State competition. Both cook-offs will be judged in three categories: Red Chili, Chili Verde and Best Salsa. If you have your own killer recipe you can enter one or all. It’s $35 for Red Chili, $20 for Chili Verde and $10 for Salsa. There will also be a Peoples Choice Award in all categories on both days. Taster kits will be on sale to sample the dishes, as well as music and other family events. For more information, call Dessert Dawn at (775) 727-9790 or fire off an email to chilidessertdawn@hotmail.com. The Nugget is offering two and three night room packages starting at $89 and $109 plus tax for the cook-off. For reservations, call (800) 950-7700 and ask for the Chili Special.       

18th Annual SCORE Desert Challenge-Off-Road Race Riding into Town  
One of the biggest car lovers events, SCORE (Southern California Off Road Enthusiasts) International is heading back to the Laughlin Events Park for the 18th consecutive year, January 12-15 featuring several classes of desert race cars and exotic race trucks. Once again, the “Laughlin Leap” where vehicles go for the farthest distance in the air will be highlighted. Aquarius Casino Resort will be offering SCORE weekend room packages starting at $159.99 plus tax for a two night stay January 13-15. Guests must check in on January 13 with a two-night minimum stay required. Sunday is available for an extra $39.99. Another weekend package at Aquarius is their Beer Pong Special January 13-14 with a two night minimum stay for $169.99 plus tax. Again, staying through Sunday night is an additional $39.99. Included with this offer is a buy-one-get-one free entry for the second Beer Pong competition. Up to $1,200 in prize money will be awarded each day and a 10% savings at Starbucks. For information on either package, call (888) 662-5825.  

The E Center Features Temptations Review and Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
There’s a big month of entertainment planned for The E Center with the Temptations Review starring Dennis Edwards scheduled to appear January 14. Individual tickets start at an affordable $15 and room and concert tickets begin at $179.99. The all-inclusive packages include a two-night stay, two concert tickets, $20 in dining dollars, two entertainment T-shirts and a couple of complimentary cocktails. Coming up the following week, January 21 is Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. Tickets are $35, $55, $65 and $85 with a package deal with the above extras starting at $168.99. Both concerts are set for 8 p.m. and guests must be 16 or over to attend. For reservations, call (877) 344-1187 or check out the link at www.edgewater-casino.com.    

Annual Winter Break Promises Four Days of Fun in the Sun
Once again, the 50+ age crowd will be living life to its fullest with the annual Winter Break event January 16-19. Activities will include all types of dancing, gaming, tournaments, fitness awareness, educational seminars and more. One of the highlights is the Polar Bear Dip in the Colorado River on January 17. Call your favorite Laughlin hotel for information on package deals. They all appear to be offering some type of promotion. Harrah’s Laughlin is offering a package priced at $199 per person for double occupancy and $265 for singles. For additional information, call (800) 427-7247.   

River Palms Raises the Bar with January Promotions
Trop Advantage Club members playing at the River Palms this month can win some big money on selected days. Every Tuesday in January from noon to 9:30 p.m., the resort’s $1,000 Balloon Pop Hot Seat Giveaway will select one lucky person to win up to $500 in free play every 30 minutes by simply having your card inserted while playing your favorite slot machine. From noon to 6 p.m. on Thursdays-Sundays, the property will be holding a $1,000 Free Play slot tournament giving members a shot at winning $1,000 in Free Play. Earn 25 base points to enter and after you rack up an additional 50 points you will receive a second entry. Earn big payouts by taking part in the properties Score Big Holiday Weekend Events which include 10 Points Multiplier on Friday, January 13 from 7 a.m. to 6:59 p.m. and Monday, January 16 from 6 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Also on January 13 the $5,000 Point Challenge gets underway at 7 p.m. and continues through Monday, January 16 at 6 p.m. Using your club card during this period gives you a chance to win Free Play. The top ten earners will win between $2,500 and $100 in free play. Another Free Play promotion is in effect Saturday, January 14 from 2 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. where $250 will be awarded every 15 minutes for 10 hours. One free entry is given out to Trop Advantage members and racking up an additional 25 points gives you another shot. On Sunday, January 15, it’s National Hat Day and all club members wearing a bizarre hat will receive a free entry into the $5,000 Free Play Funky Hat Slot Tournament. Not into hats? Then pay the $50 entry with re-buys available for an extra $25. Registration gets underway on January 14 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Special Events Registration Area. The following day, tournament play will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. To register by phone, call (800) 343-4533 and mention Promo T-9001. Every Thursday during the month a $1 buffet will be offered. Earn a comp dollar and redeem it the same day for a meal in the Island Buffet. Stop by the Trop Advantage Club for details on all these January promotions.   

“Scavenger Hunt” in Play at Tropicana
Through January 31 there is a promotion going on at the Tropicana for table players belonging to the Trop Advantage Club called “Scavenger Hunt.” Players will receive prizes when they hit qualifying hands at 3-Card Pair Plus; Let it Ride; craps and blackjack. Prizes being awarded include an iPad2, $1,000 in free bets and assorted electronics. Prizes must be redeemed at the club booth by February 29.

Check with resorts for all current offers published. Hotels have all rights and can cancel or modify at anytime. On your drive up to Laughlin tune your radio to The Highway FM 98 & 99 for Bart Torres’ up-to-date Laughlin reports. GOOD LUCK!