I used to live in the area so we popped over to the Talking Stick to see what the hoopla was all about.
It's an attractive place and the staff was really nice and friendly. Walking in the main entrance the casino is directly in front of you...begging you to come in and drop your kids college tuition!...kidding..
The main room is huge with many one armed bandits ready to take your pennies, quarters and dollars of all denominations. I could see this place as a destination if you are a card player - one large room dedicated to just that. The cigarette smoke is almost painful; they should invest in a better filtration system. After 30 minutes - my eyes red and sore- I had one drink ($15 for a drink? here? are you kidding me?), dropped a few hundred bucks and left. So many beautiful resorts so close I could never see myself staying here. My impression it's geared to a younger crowd. If you want to gamble you can literally be in Vegas in an hour.
Sorry Talking Stick!