A record-breaking jackpot. Jackpot amount: $34,959,458.56 When: Jan. 26, 2000 Where: Desert Inn (imploded in phases in 2001 and 2004 to make room for Wynn Las Vegas) Gobs bigger than any tip she’d received, cocktail waitress Cynthia Jay-Brennan, then 37 years old, hit the second largest Megabucks slot jackpot in Vegas (at that time it was the city’s highest Megabucks payout). A high roller. playing two $100 (2-coins) slot machines side by side at Bellagio. Note the credit meter already shows him with $50,500.00 (366 + 139 = 505 X. Las Vegas slot machines have come a long way since the 'one-armed bandits' of yesteryear. Though the 'bandit' part is still pretty much in tact, the new line of slots, including poker and keno machines, are more fun and interesting to play than the old slots. In total there are 200,000 slot machines in Las Vegas. The reason is of course that the casinos make easy money on them. About half of the casinos income comes from slots. Payout percentages. Slot machines in Las Vegas are required by law to payout at least 75% of the money put into them. The payouts are normally higher and 90-95% is common. Casinos are not able to change slot payouts, slot machines come with an already set payout percentage, when a casino places an order for a slot it specifies the long-term payout percentage it wants. Although, depending on the jurisdiction the casino may or may not be able to change the payback percentages at a later stage.
Are you heading out to sunny Las Vegas sometime soon? Lucky you. Of course, you’ll need all the luck you can get. Especially if you plan on spending some time at the slots. Las Vegas casinos are chock-full of these captivating little machines, each offering flashing lights, fun music and the thrill of a potential payout. But there are so many casinos, and all of them claim to have the best slots. Where should you go for the experience of a lifetime? We’ve found there are three casinos which offer the best of the best.
Head to The Venetian – for best variety
The Venetian is a veritable maze of slot machines, each one enticing a different kind of player. That’s because there are so many slots on offer here. The Venetian is widely known throughout the city as the place to be for slot machine variety. With over 1,247 slots games from which to choose, there’s sure to be something here that fits your needs.
Players heading here will be enchanted instantly with the wide-open floor of the Venetian and the rows and rows of slot machines that call it home. You can expect to find old classics dotting the floor as well as the latest games and new releases. These include the new Orange is the New Black, Sherlock Holmes and House of Cards slot machines.
The Venetian offers every type of slot game, from progressive jackpot games to games with massive payouts at a single spin. Slot masters love the Venetian for its famous high-limit slots lounge. This room houses the high rollers, who may bet up to $5,000 on a single spin. The sanctuary room is located right in the lap of luxury and offers customers the chance to choose their favorite branded machine to play on — whatever you like, you can play it here. The wide variety of options here makes the casino an excellent experience different games.
All Bets are on at Mandalay Bay Casino
Mandalay Bay is a luxury pit stop on your way to slot machine heaven. From its gold-leafed windows to its award-winning pools, the Bay is the place to be for revelers and families alike. Whether you’re a newbie or an experienced player, Mandalay Bay has something to entice you. You’ll find that this 24-hour casino has some of the best games around like Wheel of Fortune progressive slots, Austin Powers video slots and the ever-popular Megabucks and Blazin’ Sevens slots.
If you’re new to the game, this is an excellent place for you to begin. That’s because bets here start off at just one cent. It’s great for players who are getting their bearings in the world of casino slot machines because it means they can play freely and without stress. If that’s you, you’ll place one-cent bets throughout the floor, which houses the slot machines.
If you want to try your luck at increased bets, that’s also possible. Move up to a nickel, a quarter, or twenty-five dollars and give yourself some time to adjust. Mandalay Bay is known for its friendly atmosphere and attentive staff who are there to help you in any capacity you need. This casino is the best experience for newbies on the Strip.
Choose the Bellagio for High-Stakes Spins
Are you looking to play some intense, high-stakes slots? If you’ve got a few thousand bucks burning a hole in your pocket, you should head on over to the Bellagio. Everything about this casino compound screams luxury, from its $5,000 per night suites to its world-famous chef Wolfgang Puck. The Bellagio has it all.
And that includes ultra-high-stakes slot machines. You have the chance to score big money here on the slots, but you’ll have to be willing to make a substantial investment. You can put thousands of dollars at once into the slots here if you’ve got the capital to do so. The Bellagio is also home to high-stakes slot tournaments where players have the opportunity to win millions on the floor. So, this casino is your best bet for high-stakes spinning. It’s also great for those who have a competitive spirit and want to pit their luck against the house or even other players.
Leaving Las Vegas? Play Slots at Home
Just because your Vegas vacation has come to an end doesn’t mean you need to give up all hope of an excellent slot experience. How can you continue the tradition of fun and satisfying spins outside the casino? By using the internet. Playing slots online is a great idea, but you may not know where to start.
Never fear because we’re here to divulge the best venue around: Wink Bingo. With a wide selection of fun online slots, you get the same thrills, chills and super-sweet deals you’d normally get in a casino right from your computer. You’ve got options with this site, and they include Vegas-style slots games that are sure to keep you on your toes. You’ll be taken right back to the Strip with the Cleopatra and Cleopatra II, both of which are modeled after one of the first video slots to appear in Vegas casinos.
Playing slots online is one of the best ways to keep the thrill alive long after you’ve left the bright lights and 24-hour action of Las Vegas. It’s easy to play online, and you’d be surprised at how attractive the bonuses and promotions are once you get the ball rolling. You can be treated like a VIP at online casinos as at regular casinos — and you’ll never have to leave your living room to play.
No matter where you decide to host your slot tournament, rest assured that any of the casinos on this list will help you have the time of your life. You’ll be wined, dined and get the chance to explore one of the most vibrant cities in the entire world. When the time comes to leave, you don’t have to be too heartbroken. After all, you can always come back. Until then, keep the reels spinning at home.
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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.
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% |
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.
The next table shows the average return by location.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The main-stream media has covered this study in depth. Here are links to some articles.