- Appendices
- Slots Analysis
- Miscellaneous
Featuring slot play of 10 of the hottest slot machines in Vegas. Just like vegas. Looking for new slot machines to play in Las Vegas? Check these out! Also, here are all the. Knowing how slot machines work is the first step to learn the best slots secrets and tips to improve your chances to win. Despite the popularity of these games, slots are not easy to beat both when you play them on the best online casinos and at land-based slots rooms.
Introduction
![Best vegas slot machines Best vegas slot machines](https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/w_1280,f_auto,q_auto,fl_lossy/wp-cms/uploads/2015/05/3046149-poster-p-1-applying-the-addictive-psychology-of-slot-machines-to-tech.jpg)
The following table ranks the Las Vegas casinos according to the looseness of their video display reeled nickel slot machines. The returns are based on a sampling of five different types of machines. The data collected goes back as far as October 2001 so the information is a bit dated.
Las Vegas 5 Cent Slot Survey
Rank | Casino | Average Return |
---|---|---|
1 | Palms | 93.42% |
2 | Gold Coast | 92.84% |
3 | Sahara | 92.81% |
4 (tie) | Bourbon Street | 92.63% |
4 (tie) | Imperial Palace | 92.63% |
4 (tie) | Slots a Fun | 92.63% |
7 | Key Largo | 92.60% |
8 | Western | 92.57% |
9 | Ellis Island | 92.56% |
10 | El Cortez | 92.56% |
11 | Orleans | 92.56% |
12 | Circus Circus | 92.56% |
13 | Gold Spike | 92.55% |
14 | Fitzgeralds | 92.54% |
15 | Fiesta - Rancho | 92.53% |
16 | Arizona Charlie's East | 92.51% |
17 | Barbary Coast | 92.50% |
18 | Terrible's | 92.49% |
19 | Arizona Charlie's | 92.49% |
20 | Hard Rock | 92.47% |
21 | Town Hall | 92.47% |
22 | Longhorn | 92.47% |
23 | Riviera | 92.23% |
24 | California | 92.14% |
25 | Lady Luck | 92.10% |
26 | Nevada Palace | 92.06% |
27 | Plaza | 91.94% |
28 | Luxor | 91.92% |
29 | Paris | 91.92% |
30 | San Remo | 91.88% |
31 | Excalibur | 91.84% |
32 | Palace Station | 91.84% |
33 | Ballys | 91.82% |
34 | Las Vegas Club | 91.76% |
35 | Four Queens | 91.75% |
36 | Texas Station | 91.71% |
37 | Casino Royale | 91.67% |
38 | Boulder Station | 91.55% |
39 | Aladdin | 91.5% |
40 | O'sheas | 91.48% |
41 | Hilton | 91.40% |
42 | Boardwalk | 91.28% |
43 | New York New York | 90.99% |
44 | Horseshoe | 90.96% |
45 | Sam's Town | 90.89% |
46 | Santa Fe Station | 90.87% |
47 | Flamingo | 90.86% |
48 | Golden Nugget | 90.85% |
49 | Stratosphere | 90.8% |
50 | Tropicana | 90.71% |
51 | Golden Gate | 90.64% |
52 | Silverton | 90.57% |
53 | Main Street Station | 90.56% |
54 | Westward Ho | 90.40% |
55 | Fremont | 90.37% |
56 | Castaways | 90.36% |
57 | Monte Carlo | 90.24% |
58 | Stardust | 89.97% |
59 | Frontier | 89.91% |
60 | MGM Grand | 89.81% |
61 | Harrahs | 89.32% |
62 | Treasure Island | 89.32% |
63 | Mirage | 89.3% |
64 | Caesars Palace | 89.05% |
65 | Mandalay Bay | 88.87% |
66 | Rio | 88.72% |
67 | La Bayou | 88.26% |
68 | Mermaids | 88.26% |
69 | Bellagio | 87.42% |
70 | Venetian | 86.66% |
71 | Airport | 85.02% |
Excluded Casinos
The Suncoast and Rampart Casino in Summerlin do not allow playing slots and taking notes at the same time. I can not include any casino that prohibits the method in which I gather data.
Location Averages
The next table shows the average return by location.
Returns by Region
Location | Average Return |
---|---|
Off strip | 92.07% |
Downtown | 91.66% |
Strip | 91.47% |
Total | 91.74% |
The above sign can be found across the street from the Palms. Although I did the study Anthony Curtis published it in the LasVegas Advisor, which is how it become well known. The'..' in the sign encompases quite a bit of information,which was conveniently left off the sign. Actually the study only says that the Palms had the lowest nickel video slotsof the casinos surveyed in Las Vegas. The small print at thebottom says, 'Independent study conducted between November2001-February 2002 on Austin Powers, Fortune Cookie, Reel'em In, and Wheel of Fortune games. They left off LeopardSpots, and the study began in October.
Observations
There seemed to be no truth behind slot placement myths. Machines on the end of a bank did no better on average than those in the middle. There was also no correlation between return and proximity to such things as the main door, table game pit, high traffic areas, and low traffic areas.
Most casinos were very consistent in their slot returns.If one nickel machine had a return of x% then all others like it also returned x%. However some casinos did mix up loose and tight machines, most notably Treasure Island and the California casinos.
Methodology
A kind and anonymous source provided me with par sheets for the games in question. The EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) chip is what tells the machine the order of the symbols on the reel, in some cases how the stops are weighted, how much each winning combination pays, and any other pertinent information about how much the machine pays.It is up to the slot manager to select which EPROM chip to order according to the return percentage desired. On atypical game there might be about 8 different possible return percentages, ranging from about 85% to 98%.
Each of the different par sheets has five sets of distinct reels. On video display slots the stops are not weighted; in other words all stops are equally likely. The distribution of each symbol on each reel is what determines the theoretical return of the machine. For example a higher paying machine may have more of the higher paying symbols.
On the machine itself three consecutive symbols arevisible on five different reels. By comparing actualobservations of results to the par sheets it is possible todetermine which reels the machine uses, and thus which par sheet and which return. There are various three-symbol combinations that appear in at least one but not all par sheets. So if one of these combinations occurs on an actualmachine it narrows down the possible par sheets. By playingenough the player can narrow down the possible par sheets tojust one.
To help identify the unique combinations I wrote a computer program for each game, which had the exact reel order of all 5 reels of all the par sheets. The program then counted the number of par sheets with each possible three-symbol combination. If the number was greater than 0 and less than the maximum then that combination was identified along with the associated par sheets it belonged to.
It is then a matter of simply playing the game and comparing the outcomes to the list of partially unique combinations. It only takes about 5-10 plays per machine to narrow down the possibilities to just one par sheet.
The averages in the table are actually an average of averages. For each kind of machine at each casino I took an average return. Then I took the average of these averages over the five kinds of machines I tested for.
Slot Machine Definition
There is some confusion about what constitutes a 'slot machine' or 'slot.' My definition, and that of most gamblers, is a gambling machine with either actual spinning reels or video representations of the them.
People in the gaming business and regulators generally refer to a slot machine as any gambling machine, including reeled slots, video poker, video keno, video blackjack,etc. For purposes of statistics both casino managers and regulators combine all the electronic gambling machines together. For example, the Slot Chart in Casino Player magazine and reports by the Nevada Gaming Control Board do not isolate just reeled slots but consider all electronic games a 'slot.' Therefore my return percentages should not be expected to agree with those reported by the casinos or regulators. As far as I know mine is the only source to isolate just the return of reeled slots.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Rob Feldheim for helping with the slot play and record keeping. Rob helped me with most of the casinos on the east side of town and part of downtown. I would also like to thank par Sheet Pete (not his real name)for providing the par sheets, without which this project would not have been possible. Caesars palace poker chips.
Internal Links
Best Las Vegas Slot Machines
Go to slot machine appendix3B (Jean/Primm slot returns).
Go to slot machine appendix 3D(Henderson slot returns).
Go to slot machine appendix 3E(Las Vegas quarter and dollar slot returns).
Go to slot machine appendix 3F(Montreal slot return).
Go back to slot machines.
Go to slot machine appendix 3D(Henderson slot returns).
Go to slot machine appendix 3E(Las Vegas quarter and dollar slot returns).
Go to slot machine appendix 3F(Montreal slot return).
Go back to slot machines.
External Links
The main-stream media has covered this study in depth. Here are links to some articles.
- Turning'em loose, an article that appeared in the Las VegasReview Journal on May 19, 2002, about the possible effectsof this study.
- One-Armed Bandit or Robin Hood?, an article by myself for Contingencies Magazine explaining the methodology, results, and weaknesses of the study.
- Play by the rules and the one-armed bandits will still win. Boston Globe article about slot machines, in which my Las Vegas survey is mentioned and my advice quoted. (cache)
Written by: Michael Shackleford
Categories:Casino News, Casino Offers|Published by: jurate
The first pit stop for visitors in Las Vegas is usually a casino as this is the city where you can find the world’s best slots and the best online casinos. This is sparta game. There are a lot of other cities in the world that try to compete with Vegas, but very few will come close to the ambiance of The Strip.
As all the bells and whistles might get a bit overwhelming most visitors tend to forget (or not even care) about the enormous house edge casinos hold against their visitors. Let’s not forget that a lot of slot machines in Vegas offer paybacks between 75% and 98% — meaning that for every dollar a player spends, he or she will only get between 75 and 98 cents in return. Just to mention: in online casinos this so-called Return To Player (RTP) is usually set somewhere between 93% and 98%, meaning gamblers in Las Vegas stand a lot less chance against the house.
It is even quite rare to find Las Vegas casinos advertising their slot odds to their visitors, which is a major drawback if you ask us. We would, therefore, encourage you to always first check out the RTP of a slot machine before you start playing for real money. As we’re here to help we got you a list of 5 Vegas casinos that actually do tend to pay out a lot more than their competitors. This way you’re fully prepared for your upcoming stay in the Entertainment Capital of the World. Have fun and make sure you earn some good bucks!
The top 5 most paying Vegas casinos
Megabucks
IGT’s Megabucks has continued to pay enormous life-changing jackpots for close to two decades. Their slogan has always remained ‘Dream big. Win big’. They have a network of slot machines that they have linked all around Nevada. Megabucks boasts of a top prize that they build from a $10 million base amount. Players only have to spend $1 for a spin. However, if you are looking to win the top amount, you have to use $3. Although this sounds like an expensive investment, imagine leaving the casino with millions worth of winnings.
Megabucks boast that it paid the biggest slot jackpots in the history of Vegas. One of its lucky winners was Trinidad Torres. She is a 78-year-old from Utah who played $100 and managed to win over $10 million in the jackpot. She plans to use the winnings to travel to the Philippines and get a yellow Mustang.
Mandalay Bay
Free Slot Machine Las Vegas
They have a gaming area with more than 1,700 video poker and slot games. It also features table games such as Baccarat, roulette and blackjack. They have a big 17-screen race and sports book with some of the biggest screens in the city. It also gives a plush VIP booth for extravagant spenders. The casino is known for offering some of the biggest jackpots to players.
Excalibur
More than a decade ago, a 25-year-old software engineer who was a Los Angeles Resident, managed to clinch the city’s biggest jackpot on a slot. He played a $100 on the Megabucks machine. The reward was nearly $40 million for this young man. Is there a better investment than this?
Caesars Palace
This is a classic casino in Las Vegas that is also known for its upscale atmosphere. It is the place where you can find high limit games, including table games such as baccarat and blackjack, and test your luck. Those who fancy poker games can enjoy their 16-table poker room that comes with Wi-Fi and USB ports for charging. You will also find a race and sportsbook that offers numerous games to watch and bet on. This might be the place where you finally get to fulfill your dreams by winning a massive jackpot. A 49-year-old man from Illinois who described himself as a self-employed consultant used a $10 bill into the Megabucks machine and managed to hit a multimillion-dollar jackpot. This was also on his first spin too.
Aria Resort and Casino
This sophisticated and sleek casino has over 150,000 sq feet of gaming space. In it, you will find 145 table games and 1,940 slot machines. If you love gambling, try your luck at craps, baccarat, roulette and Ultimate Texas Hold’em, among others. The casino Aria is popular with poker players. It has a luxurious 24-table room exclusive for poker playing. They offer tournaments twice per day.
One woman was visiting her niece who lives in Las Vegas and decided to visit this casino. She tried her luck on the Megabucks slot machine by dropping $6. When the winning symbols appeared, she thought that the machine had broken down. It was her daughter who clarified things for her. She had won more than $12 million on that jackpot. What is more, four months later, another lucky player managed to win $10 million in another jackpot. Maybe it would be worth booking a room in this hotel and trying your luck in their Megabucks slot machine.
If you are resident of or visiting Las Vegas, why not pay a visit to any of the above casinos and try your luck. Who knows, you might become the next biggest winner.
Not going to Vegas Casinos any time soon? Try your luck with one of our recommended online casinos!
Deposit $100 play with $350
Best Vegas Slot Machines To Play
Have fun playing at Slots of Vegas for a fun and vibrant gaming experience. Plus there are over 80 free online slot games ..
$20 No-deposit bonus
Experience luxurious Las Vegas gameplay at the comfort of your own home!
Would you like to receive the latest Vegas Casinos news and offers?
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.