Wouldn’t it be great to know the loosest slots in any Las Vegas casino? Well, you can, and it’s easier than you might think.
A “loose” slot, of course, refers to a machine that pays out frequently and in large quantities, every player’s dream. Those machines are also described as being “hot.”
If you’re looking for slot machines that are most likely to hit, then you want slots that have the highest percentage of RTP. Essentially, the higher the RTP percentage, the more likely the slot. Oct 28, 2019 When it comes to determining the Atlantic City casino with the best slots, there is really only one statistic that matters: return to player rate (RTP). For games in a casino, the odds of winning are expressed in RTP. Essentially, RTP is the percentage of money bet on a game that the game will ultimately pay back to players. Sick of playing slot machines with rubbish payouts? Join the club! To solve that exact problem we’ve put together a list of the best slots by payout percentage so you know that the machines your playing are the best they can possibly be. Top 12 Online Slots By RTP. Click ‘Play Now’ buttons to visit an online casino offering the game.
In the parlance of casinos, loose slots can be said to have the lowest casino “hold.” The hold percentage is the part of a machine’s “coin in” that the casino keeps. Hey, these casinos aren’t going to carpet themselves.
Most venues in the entertainment and hospitality industries experience more traffic during the weekend than at any other time of the week. Therefore, it makes sense to play in the early morning hours after the casino's busiest days because, according to Royer and Mitchell, slot machines played frequently without paying out pay off most. May 02, 2019 Understand payouts. The minimum percentage is usually 82%, but a solid payback percentage is somewhere between 92% and 98%. Keep in mind that slot machines with higher bet denominations typically also come with higher percentages for payouts.
The lower the hold percentage, the more a slot machine pays back to guests. The secret to finding the loosest slots in a casino, then, is knowing which machines have the lowest hold percentage.
Many believe this information is a closely-held secret, but here’s an easy way to find out which slots are the loosest: Ask someone who knows.
Crazy, right? Every casino with slot machines has a Slot Manager, often called the Slot Operations Manager. This person, who you will never see without a suit and tie (yes, they tend to be male), knows precisely what the hold percentages are for given machines, or more typically for banks of machines.
It’s the Slot Manager’s job to monitor how machines are performing, if they’re delivering sufficient profit to the casino given the space they take, if new machines are needed, where they should be placed on the casino floor and myriad other duties.
If you want to know which slots in a casino are the “loosest,” simply ask a Slot Manager.
These are some of the loosest slots at The D Las Vegas. How do we know? We asked.
Here’s how.
Ask anyone on the floor if the Slot Manager is available to chat. Slot attendants and cocktail waitresses can be very helpful tracking them down. Hint: Be professional and courteous.
Introduce yourself to the Slot Manager and let them know you’re interested in locating the slots with the lowest hold percentage on the floor. Slot Managers are busy people, so while there’s no harm in schmoozing, don’t be shy about getting to the point.
In most cases, a Slot Manager will either point you toward a bank of machines or escort you there. Express your appreciation accordingly, and it’s time to play!
That’s it. No, really. It’s that easy.
All this begs the question: Why would a casino employee tell a player the best-playing slots in the casino?
Simple: Casinos just want people to play, they don’t care which machines they play on.
Why? Because no matter which machine you play, the house has the advantage. It’s built right into the machine’s microprocessor. Even if a machine has a great payback percentage, say 98%, it will keep $2 for every $100 put into the machine. Many machines keep significantly more.
As a rule, slots are looser at locals casinos than downtown casinos, and both pay back more than slots on The Strip. The more you know.
Now, if you can’t locate a Slot Manager, you can fall back on tried-and-true ways to find the best-paying slots.
A solid rule-of-thumb is the more active a bank of slots is, the higher the payouts tend to be. Casino regulars see patterns, so follow their lead.
It’s also good to know that the higher the machine’s denomination, the more generous and frequent the payouts. For example, a $5 coin machine is going to have a higher payout percentage than a quarter machine, and so on.
And finally, don’t discount the advice of those slot attendants and cocktail waitresses we mentioned. They, too, can see patterns in machine payouts. They may not be privy to the same information a Slot Manager has, but they can often point you toward the machines showing signs of being “hot.”
The next time you’re in a casino, remember our simple tip for finding the loosest slots: Ask a Slot Manager.
And remember to have fun when you play. That way, whether Lady Luck is in the mood or not, you’re always a winner.
Find out what slot machines actually returned to the public. Just click below to see slot machine payback statistics for casinos in all U.S. states.
Alabama | Arizona | Arkansas | California |
Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida |
Georgia | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana |
Iowa | Kansas | Louisiana | Maine |
Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota |
Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska |
Nevada | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York |
North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma |
Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina |
South Dakota | Texas | Washington | West Virginia |
Wisconsin | Wyoming |
Alabama has three Indian casinos that offer Class II video gaming machines. They are not required to release payback statistics about their machines.
In mid-1993 Arizona’s Governor Symington signed a compact with the state’s tribes that allowed them to offer slot machines on their reservations.
The compact originally didn’t allow for any table games but in early 2003 blackjack was added as a permissible table game.
Arizona tribes aren’t required to release information on their slot machine percentage paybacks, however, according to the Arizona Department of Gaming, the terms of the compact require each tribes’ machines to return the following minimum and maximum paybacks: video poker and video blackjack - 83% to 100%, slot machines - 80% to 100%, keno - 75% to 100%. Each tribe is free to set its machines to pay back anywhere within those limits.
Arkansas has two pari-mutuel facilities featuring “electronic games of skill,” which are defined as “games played through any electronic device or machine that affords an opportunity for the exercise of skill or judgment where the outcome is not completely controlled by chance alone.”
The games offered are video poker, video blackjack, and “skill” slots where you have two opportunities to spin the reels. The “skill” factor comes into play because after seeing the results of your first spin you then have to decide whether to keep none, one, two, or all three of the symbols on each reel before you spin them again. Gaming regulations require that all of the electronic games of skill must return a minimum of 83%.
For the one year period from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018, the average gaming machine’s return at Oaklawn was 93.04% and at Southland it was 92.86%
California’s Indian casinos are legally allowed to offer electronic gaming machines, blackjack, and other house-banked card games. The games of craps and roulette are not permitted. However, some casinos do offer modified versions of craps and roulette that are played with cards rather than dice or roulette wheels.
Most California card rooms also offer some form of player-banked blackjack, but because they are prohibited by law from playing blackjack, the game is usually played to 22 rather than 21. Additionally, players must pay a commission to the house on every hand they play. The amount will vary depending on the rules of the house but, generally, it’s about two to five percent of the total amount bet. There are about 90 card rooms in California and you can see a listing of them on the Internet at: http://www.cgcc.ca.gov
California’s tribes aren’t required to release information on their slot machine percentage paybacks and the state of California does not require any minimum returns.
Here’s information, as supplied by Colorado’s Division of Gaming, showing the slot machine payback percentages for each city’s casinos for the one-year period from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018:
Black Hawk | Central City | Cripple Creek | |
1¢ Slots | 89.73% | 90.47% | 91.85% |
5¢ Slots | 93.16% | 94.07% | 93.51% |
25¢ Slots | 92.70% | 93.94% | 95.54% |
$1 Slots | 93.69% | 94.66% | 95.07% |
$5 Slots | 94.05% | 94.01% | 94.96% |
All | 92.41% | 92.38% | 93.61% |
These numbers reflect the percentage of money returned on each denomination of machine and encompass all electronic machines including video poker and video keno. The best returns for each category are highlighted in bold print.
The following information is from Connecticut’s Division of Special Revenue regarding Foxwoods’ slot payback percentages:
Denomination | Payback % |
1¢ | 89.92 |
2¢ | 91.76 |
5¢ | 90.80 |
25¢ | 91.31 |
50¢ | 90.99 |
$1.00 | 93.12 |
$5.00 | 93.63 |
$10.00 | 94.29 |
$25.00 | 94.82 |
$100.00 | 92.61 |
Average | 91.91 |
These figures reflect the total percentages returned by each denomination of slot machine from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018.
Here's information from Connecticut's Division of Special Revenue regarding Mohegan Sun's slot payback percentages:
Denomination | Payback % |
1/4¢ | 86.30 |
1/2¢ | 85.91 |
1¢ | 89.05 |
2¢ | 87.62 |
5¢ | 89.97 |
25¢ | 91.53 |
50¢ | 91.98 |
$1.00 | 92.91 |
$5.00 | 93.80 |
$10.00 | 97.26 |
$25.00 | 95.01 |
$100.00 | 94.69 |
Average | 91.86 |
These figures reflect the total percentages returned by each denomination of slot machine from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018.
Delaware’s three pari-mutuel facilities all feature slot machines. Technically, the machines are video lottery terminals (VLT’s) because they are operated in conjunction with the Delaware Lottery. Unlike VLT’s in other states, however, Delaware’s machines pay out in cash. The VLT’s also play other games including: video poker, video keno and video blackjack.
By law, all video lottery games must return between 87% and 95% of all wagers on an annual basis. Games can return above 95% but only with the Lottery Director’s approval.
According to figures from the Delaware Lottery for the twelve-month period from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018 the average VLT return at Dover Downs was 92.63%, at Delaware Park it was 92.08%, and at Harrington Raceway it was 92.00%.
In mid-2018 a U.S. Supreme Court decision legalized sports betting at all U.S. casinos. Delaware was one of the first states to act on the ruling and all three of the state’s casinos offer sports books.
In January 2010 the Delaware legislature approved the addition of table games for the state’s casinos.
Florida has three forms of casino gambling: casino boats, Indian casinos and gaming machines at pari-mutuels in two south Florida counties.
The casino boats offers gamblers the opportunity to board ships that cruise offshore where casino gambling is legal. From the east coast the boats sail three miles out into the Atlantic Ocean and from the west coast the boats travel nine miles out into the Gulf of Mexico. Since the casino boats travel in international waters they are free from regulations and the machines can be set to pay back whatever the operator wants without regard to a minimum payback percentage.
Florida has eight Indian gaming locations. The Seminole Tribe has seven and the eighth is on the Miccosukee Tribe’s reservation.
The Seminoles signed a compact with the state that allows them to offer both Class II and traditional Class III gaming machines. As part of their compact, five Seminole casinos are also allowed to offer blackjack , baccarat , mini-baccarat , three card poker , let it ride and pai gow poker.
The Miccosukee Tribe has not signed a compact and they only offer Class II gaming machines at their casino.
Class II video gaming devices look like slot machines, but are actually bingo games and the spinning reels are for “entertainment purposes only.” No public information is available concerning the payback percentages on any gaming machines in Florida’s Indian casinos.
The other games allowed in all Indian casinos are: high-stakes bingo, video pull tabs, and poker. All of the casinos are open 24 hours (except Big Cypress) and all offer bingo except for both Seminole Hard Rock Casinos and the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek. The minimum gambling age is 18 at all Indian casinos for bingo or poker and 21 for electronic gaming machines.
Broward County (home county of Fort Lauderdale) and Miami-Dade County both have four pari-mutuel facilities that each offer electronic gaming machines, but no table games.
Florida gaming regulations require a minimum payback of 85% on all gaming machines. From July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018 the gaming machines at Magic City returned 93.38%, Casino Miami returned 93.17%, Hialeah Park returned 93.41%, Gulfstream Park returned 92.24%, Dania Casino returned 92.41%, Mardi Gras returned 91.74%, Calder returned 91.16%, and The Isle returned 90.22%.
There are two casino boats in Georgia which both sail three miles out into international waters where casino gambling is permitted.
Since the casino boats travel in international waters they are free from regulations and the machines can be set to pay back whatever the operator wants without regard to a minimum payback percentage.
Idaho has six Indian casinos that offer electronic pull-tab machines and other video games. The machines don't pay out in cash. Instead they print out a receipt which must be cashed by a floor attendant or taken to the cashier’s cage. Some casinos also offer bingo (BG) and off-track betting (OTB).
The terms of the compact between the tribes and the state do not require any minimum payback percentage that the gaming machines must return to the public.
Here’s information from the Illinois Gaming Board showing each casino’s average slot payback percentage for the one-year period from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018:
CASINO | PAYBACK % |
Casino Queen | 92.34 |
Harrah's Joliet | 92.10 |
Hollywood Joliet | 91.16 |
Argosy Alton | 90.82 |
Par-A-Dice | 91.02 |
Grand Victoria | 91.03 |
Hollywood - Aurora | 90.44 |
Jumer's | 90.10 |
Rivers Casino | 90.20 |
Harrah's Metropolis | 89.47 |
These figures reflect the total percentages returned by each casino for all of their electronic machines. As you can see, the Casino Queen returned the most to its slot machine players, while Harrah's in Metropolis returned the least.
Following is information from the Indiana Gaming Commission regarding average slot payout percentages for the one-year period from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018:
CASINO | PAYBACK % |
Hoosier Park | 91.70 |
French Lick | 91.67 |
Rising Star | 91.63 |
Indiana Grand | 91.63 |
Blue Chip | 91.49 |
Belterra | 90.92 |
Majestic Star | 90.48 |
Hollywood | 90.15 |
Horseshoe Casino SI | 89.95 |
Majestic Star II | 89.95 |
Horseshoe Hammond | 89.92 |
Ameristar | 89.86 |
Tropicana | 89.53 |
These figures reflect the average percentage returned by each casino for all of their electronic machines including slot machines, video poker, video keno, etc.
Here’s information, as supplied by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, showing the electronic gaming machine payback percentages for all non-Indian locations for the one-year period from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018:
LOCATION | PAYBACK % |
Prairie Meadows | 91.77 |
Wild Rose- Emmetsburg | 90.97 |
Wild Rose- Clinton | 90.63 |
Wild Rose- Jefferson | 90.59 |
Q Casino | 90.59 |
Diamond Jo Worth | 90.49 |
Catfish Bend | 90.45 |
Riverside | 90.41 |
Diamond Jo Dubuque | 90.39 |
Grand Falls | 90.32 |
Casino Queen Marquette | 90.30 |
Ameristar | 90.30 |
Rhythm City | 90.25 |
Hard Rock | 90.11 |
Isle Bettendorf | 90.04 |
Harrah's | 89.60 |
Isle Waterloo | 89.53 |
Horseshoe Council Bluffs | 89.50 |
Lakeside Casino | 88.69 |
These figures reflect the total percentages returned by each riverboat casino or pari-mutuel facility for all of its electronic machines including: slots, video poker, video keno, etc.
In April 2007 the Kansas legislature authorized local referendums to allow state-run casinos in four counties.
The Kansas Racing & Gaming Commission does not release information about the payback percentages on electronic gaming machines in Kansas. However, gaming regulations require that all machines return no less than 87%.
There are also five Indian casinos in Kansas and they are not required to release information on their slot machine payback percentages. However, according to officials at the Kansas State Gaming Agency, which is responsible for overseeing the tribal-state compacts, 'the minimum payback percentage for electronic gaming devices is 80%.'
Gaming regulations require that gaming machines in casinos be programmed to pay back no less than 80% and no more than 99.9%. For video gaming machines at locations other than casinos the law requires a minimum return of 80% and a maximum return of 94%.
Louisiana gaming statistics are not broken down by individual properties. Rather, they are classified by region: Baton Rouge (BR) , Lake Charles (LC), New Orleans (NO) and Shreveport/Bossier City (SB).
The Baton Rouge casinos consist of the Belle of Baton Rouge, Hollywood Casino, L'Auberge and Evangeline Downs. The Lake Charles casinos include: Isle of Capri, L’Auberge du Lac and Delta Downs. New Orleans area casinos are: Amelia Belle, Boomtown, Harrah’s (landbased), Treasure Chest and Fairgrounds Raceway. The Shreveport/Bossier city casinos include: Boomtown, Diamond Jack’s, Sam’s Town, Eldorado, Horseshoe and Harrah’s Louisiana Downs.
Here’s information, as supplied by the Louisiana State Police-Riverboat Gaming Section, showing the average electronic machine payback percentages for each area’s casinos for the 12-month period from June, 2017 through May, 2018:
BR | LC | NO | SB | |
1¢ | 88.71% | 88.43% | 88.90% | 88.82% |
5¢ | 91.70% | 92.50% | 94.02% | 92.40% |
25¢ | 93.03% | 92.50% | 92.78% | 90.88% |
$1 | 93.81% | 93.10% | 92.60% | 92.36% |
$5 | 93.59% | 93.48% | 93.41% | 92.22% |
All | 91.28% | 90.63% | 90.34% | 90.30% |
These numbers reflect the percentage of money returned on each denomination of machine and encompass all electronic machines including video poker and video keno. The best returns for each category are highlighted in bold print and you can see that the Baton Rouge area casinos offered the best returns in most categories.
Maine has two racetrack casinos (racinos) that offer electronic gaming machines, as well as live table games.
State gaming regulations require a minimum return of 89% on all machines and during the one-year period from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018, the average return on gaming machines at Hollywood Casino was 89.70% and at Oxford Casino it was 89.88%.
Maryland has five casinos that are allowed to offer electronic gaming machines, as well as live table games. However, Ocean Downs has no table games.
No public information is available about the actual payback percentages on gaming machines in Maryland. However, gaming regulations require a minimum payback of 87% on any one machine and all machines within a casino must have an average payback of 90% to 95%.
Island breeze casino palm beach. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed a bill in late 2011 that legalized casinos. The law allows three casinos, in three different geographic regions, plus one slot parlor.
The slot parlor, Plainridge Park Casino, a harness racing track located about 40 miles southwest of Boston, opened June 24, 2015.
The first resort-casino license in Region B (Western Massachusetts) was awarded to MGM Resorts and their $1.3 billion casino, MGM Springfield, opened August 24, 2018.
The second license for Region A (Eastern Massachusetts) was awarded to Wynn Resorts and their $2 billion, Encore Everett, is expected to open in mid-2019. The final license for Region C (Southeastern Massachusetts) had not yet been awarded as of late 2018.
Additionally, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is planning to build a destination resort casino near Taunton. That facility, First Light Casino, was expected to open by late 2019. However, the project has been hampered by lawsuits which might stop it from being completed.
Massachusetts gaming regulations require a minimum payback of 80% on all gaming machines. From July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018, the gaming machines at Plainridge Park returned 92.03%
There are 17 Indian casinos in Michigan and the tribes are not required to release information on their slot machine payback percentages. However, according to officials at the Michigan Gaming Control Board, which is responsible for overseeing the tribal-state compacts, 'the machines must meet the minimum standards for machines in Nevada or New Jersey.' In Nevada the minimum return is 75% and in New Jersey it's 83%. Therefore, Michigan's Indian casinos must return at least 75% in order to comply with the law.
There are also three privately owned casinos in Detroit, but their slot payback information is not made available to the public.
All Minnesota casinos are located on Indian reservations and under a compact reached with the state the only table games permitted are card games such as blackjack and poker. Additionally, the only kind of slot machines allowed are the electronic video variety. Therefore, you will not find any mechanical slots that have traditional reels - only video screens
According to the terms of the compact between the state and the tribes, however, the minimum and maximum payouts are regulated as follows: video poker and video blackjack - 83% to 98%, slot machines - 80% to 95%, keno - 75% to 95%. Each tribe is free to set its machines to pay back anywhere within those limits and the tribes do not not release any information regarding their slot machine percentage paybacks.
The Mississippi Gaming Commission does not break down its slot statistics by individual properties. Rather, they are classified by region. The Coastal region includes Biloxi, Gulfport and Bay Saint Louis. The North region includes Tunica, Greenville and Lula. The Central region includes Vicksburg and Natchez.
With that in mind here’s information, as supplied by the Mississippi Gaming Commission, showing the machine payback percentages for each area’s casinos for the one-year period from July 1, 2017 through June 31, 2018:
Coastal | North | Central | |
1¢ Slots | 91.72% | 92.20% | 91.83% |
5¢ Slots | 95.06% | 94.90% | 95.48% |
25¢ Slots | 94.33% | 93.14% | 93.72% |
$1 Slots | 93.65% | 94.41% | 93.93% |
$5 Slots | 94.16% | 95.47% | 94.87% |
All | 92.33% | 92.06% | 92.25% |
These numbers reflect the percentage of money returned on each denomination of machine and encompass all electronic machines including video poker and video keno. The best returns for each category are highlighted in bold print and you can see that all of the gaming areas offer rather similar returns on their machines.
Here's information from the Missouri Gaming Commission regarding the payback percentages for each casino's electronic machines for the 12-month period from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018:
CASINO | PAYBACK % |
Ameristar- St. Charles | 91.1 |
River City | 90.7 |
Hollywood | 90.7 |
Ameristar- K.C. | 90.4 |
Harrah’s - N.K.C | 90.4 |
Lumiere Place | 90.4 |
Isle of Capri - Booneville | 90.2 |
Argosy | 90.0 |
Isle of Capri - Cape Girardeau | 89.7 |
Lady Luck | 89.2 |
Isle of Capri - K.C. | 88.9 |
St. Jo Frontier | 88.9 |
Mark Twain | 88.6 |
These figures reflect the total percentages returned by each casino for all of their electronic machines including slot machines, video poker, video keno, etc.
Montana law permits bars and taverns to have up to 20 video gaming devices that play video poker, video keno, or video bingo. These machines are operated in partnership with the state and are not permitted to pay out in cash; instead, they print out a receipt which must be taken to a cashier. The maximum bet on these machines is $2 and the maximum payout is limited to $800. Montana gaming regulations require these machines to return a minimum of 80%.
There are seven Indian casinos offering video gaming machines that also print out a receipt. The maximum bet on these machines is $5 and the maximum payout is capped at $1,500. According to Montana's Gambling Control Division, there are no minimum payback percentages required for gaming machines on Indian reservations.
No public information is available concerning the payback percentages on gaming machines in Nebraska.
Here’s information, as supplied by Nevada’s State Gaming Control Board, showing the slot machine payback percentages for all of the south shore casinos for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018:
Denomination | Payback % |
1¢ Slots | 89.17 |
25¢ Slots | 91.43 |
$1 Slots | 93.08 |
All Slots | 93.31 |
And here's that same information for the north shore casinos:
Denomination | Payback % |
1¢ Slots | 92.72 |
25¢ Slots | 91.59 |
$1 Slots | 92.08 |
All Slots | 94.40 |
These numbers reflect the percentage of money returned to the players on each denomination of machine. All electronic machines including slots, video poker and video keno are included in these numbers.
Unlike New Jersey, the Nevada Gaming Control Board does not break down its slot statistics by individual properties. Rather, they are classified by area.
The annual gaming revenue report breaks the Las Vegas market down into two major tourist areas: the Strip and downtown. There is also a very large locals market in Las Vegas and those casinos are shown in the gaming revenue report as the Boulder Strip and North Las Vegas areas.
When choosing where to do your slot gambling, you may want to keep in mind the following slot payback percentages for Nevada's fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018:
1¢ Slot Machines
The Strip - 88.38%
Downtown - 89.15%
Boulder Strip - 90.38%
N. Las Vegas - 90.88%
5¢ Slot Machines
The Strip - 91.64%
Downtown - 93.40%
Boulder Strip - 96.21%
N. Las Vegas - 95.29%
25¢ Slot Machines
The Strip - 89.35%
Downtown - 94.25%
Boulder Strip - 96.13%
N. Las Vegas - 96.41%
$1 Slot Machines
The Strip - 92.43%
Downtown - 94.63%
Boulder Strip - 96.13%
N. Las Vegas - 95.39%
$1 Megabucks Machines
The Strip - 87.83%
Downtown - 89.07%
Boulder Strip - 91.35%
N. Las Vegas - 88.52%
All Slot Machines
The Strip - 91.96%
Downtown - 92.67%
Boulder Strip - 94.34%
N. Las Vegas - 93.53%
These numbers reflect the percentage of money returned to the players on each denomination of machine. All electronic machines including slots, video poker and video keno are included in these numbers and the highest-paying returns are shown in bold print. As you can see, the machines in downtown Las Vegas pay out slightly more than those located on the Las Vegas Strip.
Returns even better than the downtown casinos can be found at some of the other locals casinos along Boulder Highway such as Boulder Station and Sam's Town and also in the North Las Vegas area which would include the Fiesta, Santa Fe and Texas Station casinos. Not only are those numbers among the best returns in the Las Vegas area, they are among the best payback percentages for anywhere in the United States.
Here’s information, as supplied by Nevada’s State Gaming Control Board, showing the slot machine payback percentages for all of Laughlin’s casinos for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018:
Denomination | Payback % |
1¢ Slots | 89.24 |
5¢ Slots | 92.86 |
25¢ Slots | 93.83 |
$1 Slots | 94.30 |
$1 Megabucks | 88.67 |
$5 Slots | 94.57 |
All Slots | 92.21 |
These numbers reflect the percentage of money returned to the players on each denomination of machine. All electronic machines including slots, video poker and video keno are included in these numbers.
Here’s information, as supplied by Nevada’s State Gaming Control Board, showing the slot machine payback percentages for all of the Reno area casinos for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018:
Denomination | Payback % |
1¢ Slots | 92.78 |
5¢ Slots | 94.00 |
25¢ Slots | 92.43 |
$1 Slots | 95.60 |
$1 Megabucks | 89.33 |
$5 Slots | 95.49 |
All Slots | 94.62 |
These numbers reflect the percentage of money returned on each denomination of machine and encompass all electronic machines including slots, video poker and video keno.
Here’s information, as supplied by Nevada’s State Gaming Control Board, showing the slot machine payback percentages for all of the Sparks area casinos for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018:
Denomination | Payback % |
1¢ Slots | 93.38 |
5¢ Slots | 96.71 |
25¢ Slots | 95.70 |
$1 Slots | 96.35 |
$5 Slots | 97.32 |
All Slots | 94.60 |
These numbers reflect the percentage of money returned on each denomination of machine and encompass all electronic machines including slots, video poker and video keno.
Here’s information, as supplied by Nevada’s State Gaming Control Board, showing the slot machine payback percentages for all of the Wendover area casinos for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018:
Denomination | Payback % |
1¢ Slots | 93.47 |
5¢ Slots | 96.80 |
25¢ Slots | 93.57 |
$1 Slots | 95.84 |
$5 Slots | 96.30 |
All Slot | 94.35 |
These numbers reflect the percentage of money returned on each denomination of machine and encompass all electronic machines including slots, video poker and video keno.
Following is information from the New Jersey Casino Control Commission regarding average slot payout percentages for the 12-month period from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018:
CASINO | PAYBACK |
Harrah’s | 91.77 |
Borgata | 91.72 |
Hard Rock* | 91.5 |
Caesars | 91.11 |
Bally's A.C. | 90.99 |
Golden Nugget | 90.86 |
Resorts | 90.75 |
Tropicana | 90.36 |
Ocean Resort* | 89.8 |
* These figures reflect one month of results from June 2017 as these casinos just opened.
These figures reflect the total percentages returned by each casino for all of their electronic machines which includes slot machines, video poker, etc.
New Mexico's Indian casinos offer an assortment of table games and electronic gaming machines. Additionally, slot machines are allowed at the state's racetracks as well as at about 40 various fraternal and veterans clubs.
New Mexico gaming regulations require that electronic machines at racetracks and fraternal/veterans organizations return a minimum of 80%.
New Mexico's Indian tribes do not make their slot machine payback percentages a matter of public record but the terms of the compact between the state and the tribes require all electronic gaming machines to also return a minimum of 80%.
There are several Indian casinos located in upstate New York which offer traditional Class III casino gambling.
The terms of the compact between the tribes and the state allow table games and slot machines, including video keno and video poker. These machines do not pay out in cash. Instead, they print out a receipt which must be exchanged for cash.
There are also some Indian casinos that offer Class II gambling which consist of electronic gaming machines which look like slot machines, but are actually games of bingo and the spinning video reels are for 'entertainment purposes only.' No public information is available concerning the payback percentages on gaming machines at Indian casinos.
Here’s information, as supplied by the New York Gaming Commission, showing the slot machine payback percentages for all of the casinos for the fiscal year from April 1, 2017 through March 31, 2018:
LOCATION | PAYBACK % |
Tioga Downs | 91.79 |
Resort's World Catskills | 91.49 |
Del Lago | 91.20 |
Rivers | 90.60 |
In October 2001, legislation was passed to allow for the introduction of slot machine-type video lottery machines at New York racetracks. Officially referred to as Video Gaming Machines (VGM’s), they are regulated by the New York State Lottery Division.
All VGM's offer standard slot machine-type games, plus keno in denominations from five cents to $10. The machines all accept cash but do not pay out in cash. They print a receipt which must be taken to a cashier.
The legislation authorizing the VGM’s states, “the specifications for video lottery gaming shall be designed in such a manner as to pay prizes that average no less than ninety percent of sales.”
Here's information, as supplied by the New York Lottery, showing the video gaming machine payback percentages for each of the state's racetracks for the fiscal year from April 1, 2017 through March 31, 2018:
LOCATION | PAYBACK % |
Resorts World | 94.16 |
Jake's 58 | 93.53 |
Empire City | 93.12 |
Monticello | 92.29 |
Saratoga | 92.29 |
Finger Lakes | 92.03 |
Batavia Downs | 91.58 |
Fairgrounds | 91.56 |
Vernon Downs | 91.56 |
North Carolina has two Indian casinos and both are affiliated with the state's Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians which signed a compact with the state. According to the terms of the compact, the video gaming machines are required to return a minimum of 83% and a maximum of 98%.
North Dakota has more than 800 sites throughout the state that offer blackjack, with betting limits of $1-$25, for the benefit of charities.
There are also six Indian casinos which are limited by law to the following maximum bet limits: blackjack-$100 (two tables in a casino may have limits up to $250), craps-$60, roulette-$50, slots/video poker-$25 and poker-$50 per bet, per round with a maximum of three rounds.
The terms of the state's compact with the tribes require gaming machines to return a minimum of 80% and a maximum of 100%. However, if a machine is affected by skill, such as video poker or video blackjack, the machines must return a minimum of 83%.
Ohio voters passed a statewide referendum in November 2009 to allow one casino to open in each of four major cities: Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo. There are also seven racetracks that offer video lottery terminals.
Here’s information from the Ohio Casino Control Commission regarding the payback percentages for each racino and casino’s electronic machines for the twelve-month period from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018:
CASINO | PAYBACK % |
JACK Cleveland | |
Hollywood Columbus | 92.04 |
JACK Cincinatti | |
Miami Valley | 91.44 |
Belterra Park | |
Hard Rock Rocksino | 91.04 |
Eldorado Gaming | |
Hollywood Toledo | 90.70 |
JACK Thistledown | |
Dayton Raceway | 90.11 |
Hollywood Mahoning Valley |
All Oklahoma Indian casinos are allowed to offer both Class II and Class III gaming machines.
Most casinos offer only Class II machines which look like slot machines, but are actually games of bingo and the spinning video reels are for 'entertainment purposes only.' Some casinos also offer traditional Class III slots.
In either case, the gaming machines are not allowed to accept or payout in coins. All payouts must be done by a printed receipt or via an electronic debit card. No public information is available concerning the payback percentages on gaming machines in Oklahoma.
Oregon law permits bars and taverns to have up to six video lottery terminals that offer various versions of video poker. Racetracks are allowed to have no more than 10 machines. The maximum bet allowed is $2.50 and the maximum single payout on any machine is capped at $600.
These machines are the same as regular video gaming devices but are called lottery terminals because they are regulated by the state’s lottery commission which receives a share of each machine’s revenue. The machines accept cash but do not pay out in cash; instead, they print out a receipt which must be taken to a cashier.
According to figures from the Oregon Lottery, during its fiscal year from June 28, 2017 through June 25, 2018, the VLT’s had an approximate return of 92.21%.
There are nine Indian casinos in operation in Oregon. According to the governor’s office which regulates the Tribe’s compacts, 'there is no minimum payback percentage required on the Tribe’s machines. Each Tribe is free to set their own limits on their machines.'
Pennsylvania gaming regulations require that gaming machines return a minimum of 85%.
The following is information from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board regarding average slot payout percentages for the one-year period from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018:
CASINO | PAYBACK % |
Parx Casino | 90.95 |
Valley Forge | 90.71 |
The Meadows | 90.26 |
Mount Airy | 90.24 |
Sugar House | 90.02 |
Sands Bethlehem | 90.00 |
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs | 89.97 |
Harrah's Philadelphia | 89.94 |
The Rivers | 89.76 |
Lady Luck Nemacolin | 89.43 |
Hollywood Casino at Penn National | 89.30 |
Presque Isle | 89.26 |
Rhode Island has two pari-mutuel facilities which both feature video lottery terminals (VLT’s). These machines are the same as regular video gaming devices but are called lottery terminals because they are regulated by the state’s lottery commission which receives a share of each machine’s revenue. The machines accept cash but don’t pay out in cash; instead, they print out a receipt which must be taken to a cashier.
All VLT’s are programmed to play at least six different games: blackjack, keno, slots and three versions of poker (jacks or better, joker poker and deuces wild).
According to figures from the Rhode Island Lottery for the one-year period from August 1, 2017 through July 31, 2018 the average VLT return at Twin River was 90.89% and at Newport Grand it was 91.05%.
South Carolina has two gambling cruise ships which sail three miles out into international waters where casino gambling is permitted. Since the casino boats travel in international waters they are free from regulations and the machines can be set to pay back whatever the operators want without regard to a minimum payback percentage.
Here are statistics from the South Dakota Commission on Gaming for the payback percentages on all of Deadwood’s slot machines for the one-year period from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018:
Denomination | Payback % |
1¢ Slots | 90.70 |
5¢ Slots | 93.34 |
25¢ Slots | 91.01 |
$1 Slots | 92.39 |
$5 Slots | 91.20 |
Average | 90.91 |
In addition to the Deadwood casinos, there are also nine Indian casinos in South Dakota. No information is available on the payback percentages of the video gaming machines.
Texas has one Indian casino which offers gaming machines based on bingo. It also offers pull tab machines, bingo, poker and a player-banked blackjack game where each player must pay a commission to the house for each bet that is made. The commission is 50¢ for $3-$50 bets and $1 for bets over $50. The minimum gambling age is 21 and the casino is open 24 hours daily.
Class II video gaming devices look like slot machines, but are actually bingo games and the spinning reels are for “entertainment purposes only.” No public information is available concerning the payback percentages on any gaming machines in Texas’ Indian casino.
There are 28 Indian casinos operating in Washington and they all have compacts with the state allowing them to offer table games, as well as electronic ‘scratch’ ticket games which use a finite number of tickets with a predetermined number of winners and losers.
All of the state’s Tribes are not required to release information on their slot machine percentage paybacks. However, according to the terms of the compact between the Tribes and the state, the minimum prize payout for electronic ‘scratch’ ticket games is 75%.
West Virginia has four pari-mutuel facilities and one resort hotel that feature video lottery terminals. The VLT’s are the same as regular video gaming devices but are called lottery terminals because they are regulated by the state’s lottery commission which receives a share of each machine’s revenue.
West Virginia law requires that VLT’s return a minimum of 80% to a maximum of 95%. VLT games include: slots, blackjack, keno and numerous versions of poker. The minimum gambling age is 21.
For the one-year period from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018 the average return on VLT’s was: 91.13% at Mountaineer Park, 90.90% at Mardi Gras, 91.03% at Wheeling Island, 91.02% at Charles Town Races.
All Wisconsin casinos are located on Indian reservations and the Indian tribes are not required to release information on their slot machine percentage paybacks. However, according to the terms of the compact between the state and the tribes 'for games not affected by player skill, such as slot machines, the machine is required to return a minimum of 80% and a maximum of 100% of the amount wagered.'
Wyoming has Indian casinos that offer Class II bingo-type gaming machines, plus traditional Class III slot machines.
The machines don't pay out in cash. Instead they print out a receipt which must be cashed by a floor attendant or taken to the cashier's cage. You can also make bets via a cashless system whereby you get a 'smart' card and deposit money to that card's account. The machines will then deducts losses from, or credit wins to, your account.
No public information is available regarding the payback percentages on Wyoming's gaming machines.
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