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- Factoid: Most large Las Vegas hotel-casinos have more than 2,000 slot machines.
- Factoid: The slot machine was invented in 1895 by Chares Fey in San Francisco.
It is not accidental that two-thirds of every casino is littered with row-upon-row of slot machines of every type imaginable. The reason is that they provide the most profit to a casino ..and billions of dollars in tax revenue to the state. (The state of Nevada collects a $250 annual tax plus a $20 quarterly license fee per slot machine plus a percentage - about 5% - of gaming revenue.)
Slots account for more revenue to a casino than all other gambling games combined. Their formula for success is simple. They make money by paying out less than they take in. They are popular because players don't need any gambling knowledge and slots require only a very small bet. There are more than 200,000 slot machines in Las Vegas.
Most slot machines work the same way. The player pulls a handle or presses a button to spin a series of reels (typically three) that have pictures printed on them. You win when certain combinations of pictures line up with a pay line in the middle of a viewing window. The payout depends on which pictures land along the pay line. Some machines have multiple pay lines. A pay table (chart) tells you the amount of the payout. It is usually found on the front of the machine, above or below the area containing the wheels. While you can lose your money faster, the payout percentages are always better if you bet the maximum amount of coins on each “pull.”
All slot machines in use today in casinos are electronic (computerized) rather than mechanical. As a general rule, reels, handles, sound effects and other attributes are there to make them appear to be like older, more familiar, mechanical machines.Themed slot machines that require the manufacturer to pay a license fee (such as one named after a movie star, cartoon character, TV show, etc.) generally have lower payouts since the additional cost must be recouped. So stick with the traditional machines (such as the Double Diamond, Blazing 7s, and Red, White and Blue) that pay back more.
As a general rule, slot managers place their most popular - and best paying - machines in areas that generate excitement - such as near the front entrance and other high traffic areas. Some popular slots - such as nickel machines - are placed in the rear of the casino to get people to walk to the back. High payback machines are also sprinkled throught the casino floor.
Be aware that the higher the cost per 'handle pull,' the higher the payout. According to one industry insider, the so-called 'hold percentage' on the Las Vegas Strip averages 11% for nickels (that is, 89% is paid back), 6.5% for quarters, 4.5% for dollars, and 3.5% for five dollars and above. (The Nevada Gaming Control Board has a slighty different figure. See below.)
The payback percentage for Las Vegas (and all Nevada) slot machines are a known factor. Because they are taxed, all machines are strictly controlled and keep track of 'coin in' and 'coin out' which, overall, is a matter of public record. Manufacturers program each machine to payback a specific percentage which is based on a span of ten million handle pulls! Any slot can (and does) pay out more or less over a shorter period. It might pay out 400% today ..or 20% for a week.
A good website on slot machine gambling is located here .. and they have no advertising whatsoever.
The newest wrinkle in slot machines is coinless slots. They use bar-coded paper tickets instead of coins and are known as “ticket in/ticket out” ('TITO') machines. The traveling coin gal (and coin cups) are fast becoming a thing of the past. You feed bills and get paid in vouchers which are redeemed at the cashier’s cage. Don't forget to redeem the tickets! Some have expiration dates on them.
Video pokerAlthough poker machines have been around since 1964, video poker did not become popular until 1979 when International Game Technology (IGT) introduced its electronic “Draw Poker” machine. Video poker adds the element of skill and players are given decision-making options that regular slots don’t offer.
Video poker slots work the same way as regular rotating wheel machines. Instead of a reel, they have changing playing card images. They are generally based on five-card draw poker.
A series of five cards are generated from a freshly shuffled 52 card deck for each play and shown on the screen. The player discards some (or all of the cards) and replacements for the remaining cards are drawn. While you are deciding which cards you want to hold, the remaining 47 cards are constantly shuffling. After you decide and hit the button again, the cards stop shuffling and the x-number of cards you need to fill your draw hand come off the top and occupy the vacated positions.The objective is to get the best poker hand. Again a chart indicates the amount of the payout.
The most basic version pays on two jacks or better, but there are variations, such as “wild” cards.
All video poker is not alike. Be certain you are playing a “full pay” game which pays out 99.5% of incoming coin. They are known as a “9/6 JoB” machines – which stand for a payout of 9 coins for a full house and 6 coins for a flush with one coin inserted. (JoB stands for “Jacks or Better.”) The paytable for a full-pay or 9/6 JoB machine looks like this:
Royal Flush 250 | Straight Flush 50 | Four of a Kind 25 |
Full House 9 | Flush 6 | Straight 4 |
Three of a Kind 3 | Two Pair 2 | Jacks or Better 1 |
A casino can tighten a Jacks-or-better video poker machine by simply paying out less for a full house and flush. The most common way that a casino increases it's win is to pay only 8 for the Full House and 5 for the Flush. This is a short-pay 8/5 machine. The casino keeps an extra 2.2% on these machines.
A “10/7 DB” video poker machine (Full House=10 coins, Flush=7 coins) is better yet Payout (when played perfectly and max-credits) is 100.1%. Double Bonus Poker (DB) is a variation on video poker in which the payout for two pair is reduced from two to one in exchange for greatly increased payouts for other hands ..like a payout of 4000 for a Royal Flush.
The best place to play video poker is downtown or at such off-strip properties as Sam’s Town. A great video poker website is VideoPokerReview.com.
A couple of playing hints: Never keep a high card kicker with a pair; draw three cards. Hint No. 2: Always go for the Royal Flush if you have four of the five needed ..even if it means giving up a high pair. The odds are one in 52 that you will hit the needed card ..and Royal Flushes pay up to 4,000 to one if you put in the maximum number of coins.
Slot machines and the lawAll slot and video poker machine models are tested by the state of Nevada to be certain that all results are based on a random number generator (RNG.) A new machine can’t be introduced until it meets all state regulations and technical standards. Because gross revenue is taxed, every machine keeps track of the money paid in and the winnings paid out.
Winning at slot machines is pure luck. And there is no such thing as a machine being “ready to hit.” The chances of winning never change whether it is the first or one hundredth pull. And a machine that hasn't paid recently is not due to win.
While winning combinations are determined on a totally random basis, the overall payback percentage is set on a standard machine. A casino tells the slot machine manufacturer what percentages it wants specific machines to pay back and that amount is programmed in. So, some machines are “looser” than others over the long haul.
The payback percentage is determined by state-approved computer chips which are installed by the manufacturer. The RNG in these microchips continuously generate hundreds of randomly chosen numbers every second the machine is on ..even when not being played. Each number corresponds to a set of symbols on the wheel. There are many approved chips for every machine type and the chip can be changed by casino technicians to “tighten” or “loosen” the machine payout. But this is hardly ever the case. It is easier just to change out the machine programmed by the manufacturer.
The state of Nevada requires that every machine pay out a minimum of 75 percent of the money it takes in. Due to competitive pressures, however, the overall payout percentage is much higher. Slot machines are typically programmed to pay out around 82 to 98 percent of the money that goes into them as winnings. Most pay around 92 to 96 percent ..certainly not the worst bet in the house. (Don’t be taken in by casinos that advertise winnings of “up to 99 percent.” They might only have one machine out of 2,000 set to pay that rate.) Hint: Playing the maximum coins always pays more per “coin-in” and reduces the house advantage.
Where are the “loose” slots?According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, $1 slots pay out an average of 95 percent of receipts. (25 cent slots pay back an average of 93 percent, 5 cent machines: 90 percent.) And where you play the slots makes a difference. The payout on machines located on the Strip is about one or two percent lower than downtown or other off-strip properties ..a fact well known by the locals. Hotel-casinos frequented by Nevada residents on a regular basis (such as Sam’s Town) pay better than tourist hotels whose guests are there for only three days.
The newer and more luxurious hotels, have the poorest overall slot payout ..especially on under $1 machines. The poorest then would be the Bellagio, Venetian, Mandalay Bay and new Wynn Las Vegas. The best paying slots on the Strip are the older properties on the North Strip. Generally, avoid slots at the airport, convenience stores, restaurants and “restricted” operations ..that is, those with less than 15 machines.
Many veteran slot players believe that the loosest (best paying) machines are located in high traffic areas, such as near elevators, buffets, aisles, showrooms, registration areas, etc. Theoretically, frequent payouts are good advertising and entice others nearby to play. Typically, slot machines with a similar payout percentage are grouped together in the same area. In any event, the payback percentages on Nevada slot machines are the highest of any state ..and probably the highest of any country in the world.
Progressive slot machinesProgressive slots are exactly what their name implies; with each bet made, the jackpot grows. Progressive jackpots (such as Nevada's “Megabucks”) can pay astronomical amounts ..always in the millions of dollars. Their payout system is different from a standard machine and steadily increases as players put more money into it. To get the high jackpot, multiple machines and casinos are linked together to form one giant payout. Just about every Las Vegas casino participates in Megabucks.
The cardinal rule is to always play maximum coins at a progressive machine since they only pay the top jackpot if you bet max. Megabucks is a $1 slot so you must play 3 coins ($3.00) to hit the jackpot. When someone wins, the jackpot is reset to a starting value ..$7 million for Megabucks.
In the long run, the chances of winning a progressive jackpot are very, very remote and the overall payback is much lower than the standard $1 machine. Statistically, they are a very poor bet. In the short run, however, anything can happen and the “Megabucks” jackpot does get hit by someone about twice a year. (The odds of winning are one in 50 million.) The payout averages more than $10 million each time it does. It might be worth one $3 play.
Slot clubs and “comps”Most casinos offer free memberships in “slot clubs.” They exist to attract, reward, and ultimately retain slot players. You join at the casinos slot booth and get a membership card - otherwise known as a “comp card” (as in “complimentary.”) It looks like a plastic credit card. The purpose of these clubs is to keep players from wandering from one casino to another. The card tracks your play and are the Vegas equivalent of frequent flier miles.
Whenever you sit down at a slot machine, insert the card in the slot at the top of the machine. At a table game, you give it to the dealer or the floorman. The machine (slots) or casino personnel (table games) then keeps track of how much you bet and how long you have played. A word to the wise! Never place your handbag on the floor when you are playing the slots. Keep it in sight at all times.
There are two schools of thought about applying for slot card membership. One is to apply for as many as you can because you will get a sign-up bonus prize on the spot for enrolling ..sometimes even a little free 'match play' gambling money to get you started. Joining a player’s club also identifies you as a gambler and gets you on their mailing list of upcoming offers. There are dozens of different slot clubs in Las Vegas.
The second theory is to concentrate your gambling - even if it is conservative - on one casino. You won’t get any “comps” (free meals, rooms, upgrades, shows or other offers) with just a few points at a dozen casinos. But they will add up when you gamble using a single slot card.
My recommendation is, at the minimum, to apply for Players Club membership at the two largest Las Vegas casino operations: MGM Mirage and Harrahs Entertainment. This way you can gamble at many of their owned casinos and still receive credit toward on your card. MGM Mirage recently merged with the Mandalay Bay Group. And Harrahs recently acquired Caesars Entertainment, Inc. These two companies will soon control nearly two dozen of the largest hotel-casinos ..about half the hotel rooms on the Strip.
Slot tournamentsSlot tournaments can be fun, take no skill to play and are offered at many casinos to their slot club members ..some by invitation only. The idea is to get the most “credits” by continually pushing the slot’s spin button. Sometimes the contest is free to enter ..but usually there is a small ($10 to $25) entry fee. The people who get the top scores wins a prize ..sometimes hundreds or thousands of dollars. Participants frequently get freebies and offers (sometimes worth more than the entry fee) just for entering the tournament.
The rules are simple. Generally you are assigned a certain machine, a time to play and a beginning amount of “credits” which must be played during a specified time period. For example: you might get to play a beginning 1000 credits in 15 or 20 minutes. The tournament is managed by casino personnel and there can be several tournament sessions to accommodate all who want to play. Many tournaments have hundreds of participants.
You just keep tapping the maximum bet button as fast as you can. Three credits are deducted each time. The machine has a special meter that keeps track of winning credits which can not be replayed. At the end of the time period, the machine locks up and play is over. An important objective is to use all your credits since they are lost if you do not. After you finish playing, you wait at your machine until a tournament official comes by and records your score. The scores on the winning meters determines the winners. It is that simple.
Slot tournaments are held in certain designated casino areas on specially programmed and outfitted machines that generate many more jackpot combinations than normally the case.
One advantage of a slot tournament is that you know ahead of time that your maximum loss will be the amount of the entry fee. (You should probably avoid the slot tournaments that have large entry fees ..those more than $100!) Winning them is totally pure luck ..the only skill needed is to be able to push the spin button quickly.
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Las Vegas — the “Sin City” that can blind you with its sparkling architecture and make you fall in love with the 24/7 service of almost anything you can imagine.
One of the most popular places to visit either before your wedding or for the wedding, Las Vegas certainly is on everyone’s bucket list.
Yet the main reason that brings people from different parts of the world to this fabulous city is definitely the vast number of hotels and casinos offering entertainment games on the highest possible level.
Although they are mainly created for the wealthy part of the population, no one will forbid you to enter a casino with a little less money. However, in that case, you should probably do quick research to learn all about the best establishments for your financial status.
The information you should look for doesn’t include only the cheapest accommodation or places to eat, but also which casino is most likely to return the money you have decided to play with.
Mandalay Bay Shooting
This text will mainly be based on the game of slots — one of the most popular games in casinos for both novices and regulars, so if you are interested in finding out where you can find the best slots in Vegas, you can start taking notes.
So which casino has the loosest slots in Vegas?
Before we provide you with a list of the best casinos for slots in Las Vegas, we would like to clarify a few things. A loose slot in one casino can be programmed at a payback of 99%, while the same slot in another casino will be programmed at 90% payback. The programming is not universal and almost always differs from one casino to another.
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Also, do not expect that you will win every round with a loose slot. Though it might happen, it usually takes some time to get your winnings, even with the loosest slot that exists.
Now let’s get back to business. We have the NGCB reports, but they don’t examine casinos one by one. They do, however, break it with regards to geographical location. But don’t worry, we analysed it for you and organised the list of the casinos that you can follow to find your best slot game ever.
When it comes to the casino that has the loosest slots in Vegas the only evidence we could find was the table ranks of Las Vegas casinos according to the looseness of their video slot machines. The returns are based on sampling only five different types of machines, although the information is dated and goes back more than two years.
The table includes seventy-one casinos in Las Vegas listed according to the loosest slots and we list some of the most renowned casinos and the RTP % of sampled slots indicated.
While you are here have a look at real money slots section if you are looking to play the same Vegas slots for real money on your phone or on your computer.
Without further ado, find the list of casinos that has the loosest slots in Vegas below:
#1 Mandalay Bay
Not only that it offers over 1,200 machines, but it also gives you the opportunity to collect points when playing your favourite slots and use them for shopping later on.
RTP%: 88.87%
Location: 3950 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119
Find it online:https://mandalaybay.mgmresorts.com
#2 Bellagio
This hotel and casino offers a variety of slot machines to choose from and often organizes a number of high-paying slot tournaments.
The casino provides more than 2,300 reels, video reels and video poker games, as well as progressives and jackpots.
RTP%: ??
Location: 3600 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109, USA
Find it online:https://bellagio.mgmresorts.com
#3 Golden Nugget Las Vegas
Features the latest slot games that are highly requested by customers, and has a vast amount of slot machines starting from just one cent.
RTP%: 90.85%
Location: 129 Fremont Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Find it online:https://www.goldennugget.com/las-vegas
#4 Luxor Las Vegas
You can choose among hundreds of slots with denominations starting from $0.01 up to $100. Some of the loosest slots are definitely here since they still own the traditional “reel” machines, apart from the latest video slots.
RTP%: 91.92%
Location: 3900 S. Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119
Find it online:https://luxor.mgmresorts.com
#5 El Cortez
Even though it’s not a part of the Strip squad, this fellow promises 40% looser slots and still features both ticket and coin-operated machines.
RTP%: ??
Location: 600 E Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Find it online:https://elcortezhotelcasino.com
#6 The Venetian Las Vegas
Its location on Las Vegas Boulevard South allows players to be a part of the gambling elite. It is one of the largest hotels in the world and also one of the best on the Strip.
Here you will find more than 1,000 slot machines placed on two premier floors, and at least one of them has to be quite loose.
RTP%: 86.66%
Location: 3355 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Find it online:https://www.venetian.com
#7 MGM Grand Las Vegas
The casino possesses a great selection of progressive slots that have turned out to be lucky. Namely, some of the largest jackpots have been paid by this operator.
RTP%: 89.81%
Location: 3799 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Find it online:https://mgmgrand.mgmresorts.com
#8 Treasure Island Hotel and Casino
The casino floor is not as big as others, but this is what players sometimes need in order to be able to move from one slot to another without waiting in line for too long. They also offer a lot of different prizes including playing free slots.
RTP%: 89.32%
Location: 3300 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Find it online:https://www.treasureisland.com
#9 Harrah’s Las Vegas
The casino that still has some old-fashioned 3-reel slots promises payouts up to 98% and great progressives on popular games.
RTP%: 89.32%
Location: 3475 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Find it online:https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-las-vegas
#10 Aria Resort and Casino
Last but not least, this casino has been awarded the Best Casino for Slots by CNN Travel. If you take that into consideration, there’s no further explanation necessary.
RTP%: ??
Location: 3730 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89158
Find it online:https://aria.mgmresorts.com
A Few Other Casinos
- Airport in 71st place 85.02%,
- Mermaids 88.26%
- La Bayou 88.26%
- Rio 88.72%
- Mirage 89.03%
- Stardust 89.97%
- Silverton 90.57%
- Tropicana 90.71%
- Hilton 91.40%
- Boulder Station 91.55%
- Hard Rock 92.47%
- Slots a Fun 92.65%
How Do the Slots Work?
There is no surprise that all the casinos in the world usually have a lot of slots filling up every corner of the room. Players like slots since they bring a lot of excitement and are very easy to use.
They do not demand a particular skill or knowledge and have no complicated rules. Also, they require minimal investment in order to let you play, so you can keep yourself amused for a longer period of time.
In case you have wondered how slots work, the explanation is very simple. You put in the amount you want to play with, and after the machine registers it, you are good to go.
The game is pretty easy — just pull the arm or activate it with a lever or a button, depending on the machine type.
This will trigger the reels which hold different symbols to start spinning. Eventually, they will come to a halt, and you will get a combination of symbols that give a certain payout depending on how the pictures got lined up.
Now, the important thing to remember is that the house, a.k.a. the casino, always has the edge regardless of the type of game you play. It doesn’t matter if it is the good old dollar slot or a multi-reel penny machine, it is designed in a way that will always keep at least 2% of your money.
However, there is something you can do to give your winnings a little push: choose the loosest slots in the casino.
What Is the Loose Slot?
To put it simply, it is the reason why so many players decide to put their money in this machine. Every slot machine gives a different percentage of payout, meaning that some give more than others. Therefore, all players have the same goal: finding the slot machine that pays more than the rest.
That is where the term loose slot comes into the picture. It is used to describe a slot machine that pays the highest percentage and does that frequently. Another term used for such slot machines is hot slots.
Another belief is that these loose slots also have the lowest edge. In other words, if some other slots always keep 5% of your financial input, these will keep less.
Of course, these findings can make you immediately pack your bags and fly to Vegas to earn some money, but then the reason poses a question: How to find the loosest slots in Vegas?
Can Slots Be Loose After All?
You might be surprised, but the answer to this question is a big yes. Moreover, there are some tips and tricks that can help you find them in Las Vegas, and they are listed below.
First things first, there are some basic rules that can be applied in case you have never heard of loose slots before. One of them is that the more active a bank of slots is, the higher the chances are to get your money back. Usually, regular customers know which slots are the loosest, so it could be useful to first order a drink and just look around for some time.
Another saying you can often hear from the regulars is that the higher slot denomination brings higher and more frequent payouts. This basically means that a 100$ machine will, in the end, pay more than a penny-slot.
Then we have some new findings regarding the specific brands or slot games that carry the name of a famous movie. Those are said to pay quite less since the casino is also paying a fee for using the already patented product. Furthermore, the older machines are highly likely to pay more because they have already returned the money a casino invested in them.
Apart from these standard stories, there is something more convincing that can help you in your quest. Namely, all the casinos in Las Vegas have to report their revenue to the Nevada Gaming Control Board. This also includes information about the slot hold percentage. The Board then reports the statistics regarding their casino industry in which we can find our answer.
Mandalay Bay Slot Tournament
Firsthand Information
Best Slot Machines Mandalay Bay
To make this guide completely real, we wanted to incorporate the response of the people who have visited Las Vegas and played slots at some of the best casinos in the world. We have checked the Trip Advisor and found some answers that support the casinos on our list.
Regarding the Mandalay Bay there are some good reviews:
My best luck on the strip over all has to be Mandalay Bay. In maybe a dozen stays, I’ve never walked away down more than a few hundred bucks, which is a win to me for 3 or 4 days of fun.
On the other hand, for somebody else, something different might work:
I think the term loosest is kinda relative. For me, I have had the best action on the strip for slots at Bellagio and Paris. I have also had some nice handpays at Aria.
Of course, some people put their trust in the casinos which are located outside the Strip, and had a good experience there:
I love this question! It is always fun to hear where people have had the most luck while in Vegas! I always stay on the strip when I’m in Vegas, but I never do any good playing there. I tend to play more downtown, or any local casino I can find. They are so much better! I love most casinos on Boulder Highway, and I love Southpoint and Silverton. But anyway…my biggest win on the strip was at Excalibur, but other than that one big win, I don’t think I’ve ever done any good there. I usually can play a while and don’t lose too bad at Harrah’s and Wynn. The worst in my opinion is Flamingo. I can’t win a dang thing there, and never have. All the others have been pretty much the same, win some, lose more….you know how it goes.
There are gamblers who believe that a person can have a dose of luck within themselves and that it has nothing to do with casinos or machines. However, from those that lose frequently, you can hear that there’s no such thing as luck and that the payouts are planned ahead.
Whichever belief you hold, only one is certain, and it is hidden in the name of casino games. They are not randomly called games of chance, and this is something you should always have in mind no matter if you find yourself in Las Vegas or any other gambling kingdom in the world. Gala casino sol central northampton co.