Cold winter weather may be inevitable in Canada. But it is escapable. Every year, hundreds of thousands of Canadians escape winter’s chill for the southern U.S. While there are a boundless number of destinations, Florida, Arizona, and California remain the top spots. Let’s take a closer look at three of the top casinos in Arizona.
Arizona Casinos
Every year, close to one million Canadians visit Arizona, spending close to $925 million. It’s not just the warm weather that attracts so many Canadians to Arizona; it’s also home to some of the top tourist destinations in the country.
One of the biggest attractions in America, and definitely in the state of Arizona, is the Grand Canyon. The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Hoover Dam, Sedona, Havasu Falls, and Antelope Canyon are also popular draws for those visiting the state.
Arizona’s many casinos are also popular with tourists and Canadian snowbirds. There are no commercial casinos operating in Arizona, but you will find 37 Vegas-style casinos on numerous Native American reservations.
Arizona has 37 casinos, where you’ll find more than 16,750 slots and gaming machines, more than 430 table games, and 200 poker tables. The minimum bet at casinos in Arizona is $0.01 while the maximum bet is $1,000.1
Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort
Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort opened in 2013 and is the Navajo Nations first casino in the state. It didn’t take long to become Northern Arizona’s premier casino resort destination. It was named “Best Casino Report Destination of 2013” by the readers of Experience AZ Magazine.
Located just east of Flagstaff, Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort is the centerpiece of the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise’s properties.
The casino floor covers 170,000 square feet and has over 1,000 slots and video poker machines, gaming tables (Texas hold’em, pai gow poker, blackjack, Spanish 21, and three card poker), live action poker tables, and live keno. The casino is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Along with excellent gaming, the Twin Arrows resort has a five-story hotel, 16,000-square-foot banquet hall and conference center, and indoor pool and fitness center. It also has six dining venues.
Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Resort
Owned and operated by the Ak-Chin Indian Community and managed by Harrah’s (Caesar’s Entertainment Corp.), the resort sits on the southern edge of Phoenix.3
The casino covers 40,000 square feet and has nearly 1,100 slots. While the casino has around 23 table games, at least 13 are dedicated to blackjack; at the other tables you can play three card poker, let it ride, fortune pai gow poker, and Mississippi stud. The casino also has a poker room, keno lounge, and bingo room. What it does not have is craps, roulette, and baccarat.
After a busy day of winning, you can relax in one of the 300 hotel rooms, with a courtyard pool and spa tub. Dining options include the upscale Range Steakhouse and the casual Agave’s, along with a buffet and quick-service restaurants.
As a guest of Harrah’s Ak-Chin, you have access to Southern Dunes Golf Club, one of the best golf courses in the Phoenix area. This course is one of the top 10 Arizona places to play according to Golfweek Magazine.
Desert Diamond Casino – Tucson
An enterprise of the Tohono O’odham Nation, Desert Diamond Casino – Tucson is located just south of the city off Interstate 19.4
Walking around the 165,000-square-foot casino, you’ll find over 1,000 slot machines, table games (blackjack, Spanish 21, Texas hold’em, Omaha hi/lo split), a poker room, keno, and live 300-seat bingo room.
The Desert Diamond Casino also has a 148-room-hotel and a number of dining options; including the Diamond Café, Ko-Son Ki: Buffet, The Diamond Grill, and Classico Pizza and Coffee Bar. You’ll also find the Monsoon Nightclub, two lounges, and a retail shop.
U.S. Casino Winnings Subject to 30% Withholding Tax
If you are a non-U.S. resident and visit Arizona (or any other state that has gambling) and win a significant amount of money playing the slots or betting on the horses, your gaming and pari-mutuel winnings are subject to a 30% withholding tax. But if you live in a country like Canada that has signed a U.S. tax treaty, you may be eligible for a refund.
Some of the countries that do not have a U.S. tax treaty but still may qualify for a refund include: Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Kuwait, Mexico, Malaysia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates. Based on a recent court case, winners from these countries may qualify for a refund if they meet certain criteria.
If you win a substantial amount gambling (typically over $1,200), your winnings are subject to a 30% withholding tax by the IRS. If you win $2,000 playing the slots, the casino will pay you $1,400. The IRS keeps the rest.
RMS is the Easiest, Fastest Way to Get Your Money Back
If you’ve been to the U.S. and had 30% of your winnings held back by the IRS, Refund Management Services can help you reclaim a portion or all of your taxable winnings.
Founded by a Canadian Chartered Accountant in 1998, RMS is the most reliable and experienced gaming and casino tax refund provider for non-U.S. residents. Only RMS has the One Simple StepTM process. Our customer service agents take care of the rest.
Once you provide us with complete documentation, your claim will be processed and we will submit it to the IRS.
We’ve never been refused for an eligible refund. Contact us today!
Sources:
1. “Arizona,” World Casino directory website; http://www.worldcasinodirectory.com/arizona.
2.“Twin Arrows Casino,” Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort website’ http://twinarrows.com/.
3.“Harrah’s Ak-Chin,” Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Resort website; https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-ak-chin.
4.“Desert Diamond Casino Tucson,” Desert Diamond Casino Tucson website; http://ddcaz.com/tucson/.