Casino welcomes hunters to shoot ducks for cash (video ducks, that is)

As a tie-in to dove hunting season, Cocopah Casino is running a game that should be equally appealing to both hunters and video-game enthusiasts.

The casino is having a Duck Hunt contest, running until Sept. 9. Anyone with a Players Plus card gets one free entry into a drawing, and playing games at the casino can earn more entries. Each Wednesday, Thursday and Friday during the contest — which started Aug. 12 — four winners are drawn and compete in the classic Duck Hunt video game. All winners receive cash based on how well they do in the game. The final day, the winner will receive $5,000.

“We're looking for people to come and enjoy the game,” said Cocopah's assistant marketing manager, John Giles. “Basically the game is Duck Hunt. The more ducks you kill, the more cash you get. As the season begins, people's minds gear more toward hunting. We kind of expect a bigger response because it tailors into the season.”

Giles said the game is the original 1984 version that came standard on most Nintendo Entertainment System consoles.

“This is the original — original — Duck Hunt, the bad graphics, the old gun. Everybody is familiar with that game, so we're hoping everybody enjoys it.”

It's the same game that features the dog that laughs at a player's failure — a character that is routinely recognized as one of the top video-game villains of all times.

“If you want to waste one of your bullets and shoot the dog, go ahead,” said Giles while laughing. “But there's no bonus points there. The goal is to get as far as you can, so conserve that ammo.”

Whether seriously going for cash or taking revenge on the dog, Giles said he expects the game to be a smash.

“Obviously with Yuma being a big hub for dove hunters, we're tailoring this next promotion to kind of play off the fact we get infested with all the hunters that come down here. We kind of have a little tongue-in-cheek play with our new promotion, ‘Cash Hunter.'”