Casinos have more slot machines than all of the other games combined. But unlike many casino games, the slots still have some secrets.
The most common payout percentage found on the majority of slot machines will be between 94% and 96% and as such for example when you are playing a slot machine offering a payout percentage of say 96% over your long term play you can expected to get 96.00 returned as winning payouts for every 100.00 you play through on that machine. Question: Re: the question you discussed about receiving relatively small payouts for a large number of free spins on penny slots. I just returned from a trip to A.C. Two days ago and won 80 free spins while playing $1 per spin. Jul 01, 2019 As slot machines can and often do stay in place on a casinos gaming floor for many years, one way that a casino owner or operator will ensure players have a good playing experience when any new slot machines are placed on their gaming floors is by increasing the pay-out percentages for a few days or weeks. As slot machines can and often do stay in place on a casinos gaming floor for many years, one way that a casino owner or operator will ensure players have a good playing experience when any new slot machines are placed on their gaming floors is by increasing the pay-out percentages for a few days or weeks. These are probably the most popular contemporary form of gambling, and as modern times brought new challenges, slot machines evolved, too. Older models were mechanical as they used physical reels, but nowadays we have modern slots, equipped with complex microchips which make the winning combinations land on the reels in a random manner, using.
Looking to play slots online? Check out one of the sites above!
Here's a list of 15 slot machine secrets the casinos don't want you to know about.
1. Slot placement isn't random
Although casinos would like you to think that everything on the floor is placed in a completely random way for ease of access and aesthetics, this certainly isn't the case.
Every square foot of the casino is analyzed, measured, and reported on by the casino gaming department. Traffic patterns are monitored and value is placed on certain areas of the casino to determine which slots or games to place in that area.
Usually, the highest yield slots are placed in the most popular locations in the casino. On top of this, the most popular slots are also placed in these areas to attract players into the casino to play.
So now you know that those slots that are most prominent and visible are the ones that make the most money for the casino, which means they're also the most disadvantageous for the player. Head towards the back of the casino next time you want to play slot machines to find a better value.
2. Some slots pay out more than others
Not all slot machines are created equal, and this means they all don't pay out at the same rate.
Generally speaking, video slots pay out less than classic reel slots. This is because reel slots are cheaper to run and maintain, and aren't as appealing to the player as the video slot.
Video slots are now extravagant and have pop-culture themes, which attracts more players. Because of this, the casinos can dial down the payout rate.
Alternatively, the classic slots aren't as popular or appealing anymore so the casinos will dial up the payout rate to attract more players, and subsequently keep you at the slot longer. I suggest you do a bit of searching on the internet about slot payout rates as this information is widely available, particularly for popular gaming locations.
3. The slots club doesn't exist to reward you
This is one of the biggest cons in the gambling industry. You know how the casinos promote themselves as giving back to the player and rewarding you for your play? This is all a lie.
Now, I'm not saying you won't get some free play credits, access to promotions, and other comps for being a part of the slot or player's club, but this isn't why it exists. It exists to provide the casino marketing department with player data so that they can attract and retain you as a customer.
Yes, that's right, all the free money and comps you get out of the casino are from the marketing department. They will analyze your play, movement, likes, dislikes, and betting patterns to determine how best to market themselves to you so that you return.
The slots club is a powerful marketing tool, and while it's always a good idea to join and use your card whenever you play, don't fool yourself into thinking that this is all done to reward you.
4. You can't win at slots in the long run
People do win at slots all the time. They have big wins and small wins; the problem is that on a long enough timeline it's impossible to win.
Slots are manufactured and programmed in a way to ensure that they only pay back a certain percentage of the money that's placed into them by players. Usually, this is in the range of 70-90% but it can be far worse or better depending on where you're playing.
No one would ever play if you didn't win from time to time, so this is also built into the machines. Some casinos don't want you to know this and in some US states, they don't even have to tell you what the payout rate is. Fortunately, there are many states that do provide it to players, and I highly recommend taking advantage of that information.
Although it's pretty common these days for players to know that you can't win in the long run, some still don't know, and those that are oblivious to this fact are loved by casinos.
5. Max betting is the best option
This one may seem counter-intuitive but it's true. On most slots, max betting activates all the bonuses and jackpots and increases your odds of getting lucky and winning, which makes it the best option for players.
Although it doesn't make too much of a difference, it still creates more favorable conditions for the player. The casinos don't want you to know this because they want you to bet small and more often at a worse payout rate, which makes them more money in the long run.
One thing you certainly don't want to do though is max-bet above your bankroll and burn through more money than you intended to. Playing more than you can afford to lose is playing right into the casino's hands. If you can't afford the max bet on a slot then drop down in denominations or move to a machine where the max bet is smaller and works within your bankroll.
6. Class 2 slots aren't really slots at all
Sometimes you'll come across slot machines that are classified as class 2 slots. These are usually found on native Indian reservations or racinos in the United States.
These aren't traditional slots like what you would find in Las Vegas. Vegas slots are Class 3 slots and are proper slot machine games.
Class 2 slots are actually pre-programmed bingo games which present a slot face for entertainment purposes. Class 3 slots are usually illegal in the jurisdictions that have these slots bingo games, so game manufacturers and casinos combined their forces to come up with this alternative.
Sometimes you'll see a small bingo card on the bottom corner of the screen which will straight away tell you that this is a class 2 slot machine. So, be warned, these machines are not slots at all and you'll be effectively playing computer bingo when you start spinning on these.
7. Video slots pay out less than classic slots
Big fancy video slots will almost always pay out less than classic reel slots. This is because of the fact they're more entertaining, draw more players and action, and cost the casinos a lot more to run and maintain.
These big machines often take up two to three times the amount of space compared to classic slots and tend to cost the casinos a lot more to keep them running. In order to maximize profits, the casinos will then dial down the payout rate on these machines so they still make enough money on them.
Immersive video slots are a huge moneymaker for the casino, so don't go in thinking you have the same chance of winning on these compared to traditional old school slots. If you're looking for better chances to win on slot machines, then stick to the classic slots.
8. Slots are completely random
Casinos don't want you to know this, but slot machines are completely random in nature. Although they are weighted to pay out at a certain rate, this is still in line with the randomness of results that a slot will produce.
Each spin is completely independent of the previous spin. As an example, if you were to win the jackpot on one spin, then the likelihood of winning the jackpot on the next spin is exactly the same. No previous events impact future events. This isn't how they work.
Casinos don't want you to know this because they want you to think slots are 'hot' or 'cold', because that will cloud your judgment in respect to how much you play and gamble. This works out better for them in the long run so they are happy for these myths to grow and spread.
9. All of your play is tracked
From the moment you sit down at a slot and enter your player card and cash, every movement you make is tracked automatically by the casino. Slot machines are now networked and have sophisticated hardware and software to track everything you do.
This information is collected, analyzed, and insight reports are developed and delivered to the casino marketing department so they can work out the best possible way to market their casino and slots to you so that you keep coming back and play more. If you don't want your play tracked then simply don't use your player's card, but then you won't get any casino comps.
In the near future, if it's not being used already, casino marketing departments will start using security infrastructure to monitor and track your play irrespective of whether you use your card or not. Facial recognition programs will detect you, associate you with a player's card or create a new player account and track everything you do on a video feed.
This is a bit scary and it shows the lengths casinos will go to. If you play online, everything is tracked under your player account, so it's easier for online casinos to monitor what you do in this respect.
10. Payout tickets are more likely to be put back into a machine
Over the past 20 years, casinos have slowly phased out cash payouts at slots. These days you'll likely receive a ticket when you cash out, which you then must take to a cash-out machine or the cage to exchange for cash.
While the casinos will claim this is for your convenience, one of the main reasons they've made this change is to disassociate you from the fact you're holding money. This is similar to what they do with chips on table games.
Psychological studies have proven that people are far more likely to gamble more with a ticket or chips, as opposed to cash. So don't be fooled into placing your ticket into another slot on the way to cashing out, they've done this on purpose. I'd recommend that you always cash the tickets out for cash every time, instead of keeping it for play later.
11. Slot arms don't exist as much anymore because they slow down play
Back in the day, pretty much every slot machine had an arm, or lever, that you pull to activate the spin. These days it's much harder to find machines that have these.
While there are a few reasons for this, the main reason and the one the casinos don't want you to know is because using a lever is much slower when compared to pressing a button. Casinos want you to be playing as quickly as possible when it comes to slots because the more you spin the more the odds move in their favor.
So by having buttons instead of levers the game moves a lot faster. Some may even say they've removed the lever so people don't refer to slot machines as one-armed bandits anymore, but that may just be here-say.
12. Games are designed to be played as fast as possible
As we touched on in the previous secret, casinos want you to play whatever game you're on as quickly as possible. While one of the main measurements on a slot is the time spent playing, they also want you to play as quickly as possible.
This increases the yield on the machine for the casino, meaning they make more money. Consider this, if you have a bank of widely popular slots which many people want to play, and it takes 20 seconds per spin, that's quite a lot of time.
If a spin takes five seconds then you're getting four times the amount of play on that machine which results in much more money passing through. So, all the time the casinos are trying to think of ways to make games happen much faster. They don't want you playing slowly, so make sure you take your time next time you sit down at a slot. After all, the more time you play the more entertainment value you get.
13. Slot sounds and graphics are designed to make you feel happy
One thing that casinos certainly don't want you to know about is the fact that slot machine manufacturers have teams of psychologists and researchers that provide advice on what sounds, colors, movements and graphics to use in games in order to make the player feel as happy as possible.
This is both good and bad. Firstly, it's good if you're playing for entertainment's sake and know your limits when it comes to how much money you're willing to play with. If this is the case then why not play a game that's designed to make you feel happy.
Secondly, it's bad when it comes to problem gamblers who don't know when to stop and are chasing that happy feeling that the games give them. So this is a two-way street; that's for sure. Casinos probably don't want you to know this because it isn't a great look.
14. Sometimes a win isn't a win
One recent trend on slots is to play a jingle and show an animation showing that a player has had a win; this used to be a good thing and it meant you were making a profit, but not so much these days.
Much to the ire of lawmakers and the regulators, slot machines now play this jingle and imply a win, even when the spin results in less money won than you actually wagered on that spin in the first place. So this is essentially a loss and it's trying to trick the player into thinking that they won.
Regulators are trying to have this outlawed but it will take some time. So, next time you're playing don't be fooled by the animation and sounds and the on-screen advice that says you've had a win. Make sure you check how much you ‘won' when compared to how much you bet, before you celebrate.
15. Major progressive jackpots are played across multiple venues
Have you ever walked past a progressive jackpot slot machine and stared in awe at the huge jackpot which is currently available and is running into the millions of dollars?
If so, then you may not be aware that these slots are actually linked nationwide and the jackpot is played across thousands and thousands of machines and the casinos actually have no part in this prize.
Casinos don't want you to know this of course; they want you to think that it's just that machine so that you sit down and play and spin away thinking that you're the only person who could possibly win that prize at that time.
These major progressive jackpot machines actually take a small cut from each bet you make and divert it to the major jackpot. So you should never play on one of these unless your ultimate goal is to win the life-changing money, and there's certainly nothing wrong with that.
Conclusion
Casinos are designed to make money just like any business. The slot machines are a big piece of the profit puzzle so the casinos do everything they can to make them more profitable.
Now that you know these 15 slot machine secrets the casinos don't want you to know you can gamble as an informed player. If you love slots there's no reason to stop playing, but you should know these secrets before you play again.
Slot machines are exciting because they offer quick entertainment and a large variety of themes. They also provide the chance to play for big jackpots and cool bonus features.
However, you may have the impression that slots are terrible with regard to return to player (RTP). Slot machines in land-based casinos especially get a bad rap for offering low payback.
But what's the real story? Are land-based slots really this bad in terms of payout percentages?
I'm going to look at a recent gaming report from Nevada to get to the bottom of the matter. You'll find that, for the most part, slot machines in brick-and-mortar casinos aren't as bad as they appear on the surface.
Slots RTP Figures from Nevada Gaming Report
Las Vegas is essentially the slots capital of the world. This lone city features tens of thousands of slot machines.
But if you're in Nevada, you don't have to visit Vegas to enjoy slots. The Silver State features over 165,000 slot machines sprinkled throughout its borders.
That said, the annual Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) report is one of the best sources to gauge how well slot machines pay. The NGC releases reports every month that detail how much is bet on their slots and what casinos make off them.
They also release a report that sums up the casinos' slots take for an entire year. This information provides a comprehensive look at how much slots are paying.
These reports divide slot machines up based on their coin denominations. You'll find everything from penny slots to multi-denominational games on the NGC's list.
Here's a look at how Nevada slot machines pay by coin denomination:
- Penny slots – 90.0% RTP (10.0% house edge)
- Nickel slots – 94.39% RTP (5.61% house edge)
- Quarter slots – 92.83% RTP (7.17% house edge)
- Dollar slots – 93.61% RTP (6.39% house edge)
- $5 slots – 94.46% RTP (5.54% house edge)
- $25 slots – 95.14% RTP (4.86% house edge)
- $100 slots – 93.80% RTP (6.20% house edge)
- Megabucks – 86.88% RTP (13.12% house edge)
- Multi denomination – 94.74% RTP (5.26% house edge)
Numbers Show That Most Nevada Slots Offer Solid RTP
You can see that penny slot machines are by far the worst in terms of how much they pay. These games only offer 90% RTP, meaning they carry a 10% house edge.
You're essentially losing $1 for every $10 bet on one of these games. Few casino games offer this bad of a deal.
In fact, Megabucks is the only entry on the NGC's report that has worse payback than penny slot machines. Even still, Megabucks is a huge progressive slot machine that offers better RTP as its jackpot grows larger.
Many people choose penny slot machines under the guise that they're playing a 'cheap' game. The reality, though, is that these slots are anything but cheap when considering the house edge.
You should also realize that 'penny' only refers to how these games require a penny per line. You're often forced to play anywhere from 25 to 300 lines, which means a total bet ranging from $0.25 to $3.00.
Nickel slots offer the best value based on the NGV's numbers. They pay back 94.39% and only cost $0.05 per line.
What Slot Machines Payout The Most Often Paid
Of course, this bet size is 5 times the amount as a penny slot per line. But you also have to consider that the payback is 4.39% higher too.
Quarter slots rated the second lowest in terms of RTP, only offering a payout percentage of 92.83%. You'd be better off sticking to nickel games in this case.
Dollar slots didn't pay much either, offering 93.61% RTP throughout 2018. You may not find it worth betting this much when considering the relatively low payback.
$5 and $25 slots paid well at 94.46% and 95.14% RTP, respectively. It's no surprise that these games offer high payout percentages when considering that casinos like rewarding players for betting more.
What's surprising, though, is that $100 slot machines only offered 93.80% RTP. But this low figure can possibly be explained by the fact that fewer people play these high-roller slots. They're subject to more volatility as a result.
Multi-denominational slots had one of the best payout percentages at 94.76%. You should consider choosing these games in Nevada, based on how they both offer good RTP and allow you to select your bet size.
Comparing These Figures to Online Slots
You can see from the information above that most land-based slot machines in Nevada don't offer completely terrible payback. Penny slots are the only ones that have extremely low RTP at 90%.
Meanwhile, some of the coin denominations like nickel (94.39% RTP), $5 (94.46%), and $25 (95.14% RTP) offered fair payback in 2018. You're only facing around a 5% house edge with these games.
Unfortunately, most slots in brick-and-mortar casinos don't measure up to what's offered at gaming sites. Online casinos typically offer the best RTP and lowest stakes.
Most online slots at least have 95% payback, with many delivering even higher RTP than this. Referring back to the NGC report, only the $25 slots had over 95% RTP.
Therefore, online casinos offer the best chance of winning with slots. This is especially true when considering that you don't have to bet as much to achieve high payback.
While many internet slots feature fixed paylines just like their land-based counterparts, they only require you to bet one cent per line. Going further, they still offer high payout percentages when you're wagering a penny on each pay line.
Nevada slots, on the other hand, offer drastically lower RTP for penny games. You're facing a 10% house edge on land-based penny machines, versus a 5% house advantage with online penny slots.
Video slots are now extravagant and have pop-culture themes, which attracts more players. Because of this, the casinos can dial down the payout rate.
Alternatively, the classic slots aren't as popular or appealing anymore so the casinos will dial up the payout rate to attract more players, and subsequently keep you at the slot longer. I suggest you do a bit of searching on the internet about slot payout rates as this information is widely available, particularly for popular gaming locations.
3. The slots club doesn't exist to reward you
This is one of the biggest cons in the gambling industry. You know how the casinos promote themselves as giving back to the player and rewarding you for your play? This is all a lie.
Now, I'm not saying you won't get some free play credits, access to promotions, and other comps for being a part of the slot or player's club, but this isn't why it exists. It exists to provide the casino marketing department with player data so that they can attract and retain you as a customer.
Yes, that's right, all the free money and comps you get out of the casino are from the marketing department. They will analyze your play, movement, likes, dislikes, and betting patterns to determine how best to market themselves to you so that you return.
The slots club is a powerful marketing tool, and while it's always a good idea to join and use your card whenever you play, don't fool yourself into thinking that this is all done to reward you.
4. You can't win at slots in the long run
People do win at slots all the time. They have big wins and small wins; the problem is that on a long enough timeline it's impossible to win.
Slots are manufactured and programmed in a way to ensure that they only pay back a certain percentage of the money that's placed into them by players. Usually, this is in the range of 70-90% but it can be far worse or better depending on where you're playing.
No one would ever play if you didn't win from time to time, so this is also built into the machines. Some casinos don't want you to know this and in some US states, they don't even have to tell you what the payout rate is. Fortunately, there are many states that do provide it to players, and I highly recommend taking advantage of that information.
Although it's pretty common these days for players to know that you can't win in the long run, some still don't know, and those that are oblivious to this fact are loved by casinos.
5. Max betting is the best option
This one may seem counter-intuitive but it's true. On most slots, max betting activates all the bonuses and jackpots and increases your odds of getting lucky and winning, which makes it the best option for players.
Although it doesn't make too much of a difference, it still creates more favorable conditions for the player. The casinos don't want you to know this because they want you to bet small and more often at a worse payout rate, which makes them more money in the long run.
One thing you certainly don't want to do though is max-bet above your bankroll and burn through more money than you intended to. Playing more than you can afford to lose is playing right into the casino's hands. If you can't afford the max bet on a slot then drop down in denominations or move to a machine where the max bet is smaller and works within your bankroll.
6. Class 2 slots aren't really slots at all
Sometimes you'll come across slot machines that are classified as class 2 slots. These are usually found on native Indian reservations or racinos in the United States.
These aren't traditional slots like what you would find in Las Vegas. Vegas slots are Class 3 slots and are proper slot machine games.
Class 2 slots are actually pre-programmed bingo games which present a slot face for entertainment purposes. Class 3 slots are usually illegal in the jurisdictions that have these slots bingo games, so game manufacturers and casinos combined their forces to come up with this alternative.
Sometimes you'll see a small bingo card on the bottom corner of the screen which will straight away tell you that this is a class 2 slot machine. So, be warned, these machines are not slots at all and you'll be effectively playing computer bingo when you start spinning on these.
7. Video slots pay out less than classic slots
Big fancy video slots will almost always pay out less than classic reel slots. This is because of the fact they're more entertaining, draw more players and action, and cost the casinos a lot more to run and maintain.
These big machines often take up two to three times the amount of space compared to classic slots and tend to cost the casinos a lot more to keep them running. In order to maximize profits, the casinos will then dial down the payout rate on these machines so they still make enough money on them.
Immersive video slots are a huge moneymaker for the casino, so don't go in thinking you have the same chance of winning on these compared to traditional old school slots. If you're looking for better chances to win on slot machines, then stick to the classic slots.
8. Slots are completely random
Casinos don't want you to know this, but slot machines are completely random in nature. Although they are weighted to pay out at a certain rate, this is still in line with the randomness of results that a slot will produce.
Each spin is completely independent of the previous spin. As an example, if you were to win the jackpot on one spin, then the likelihood of winning the jackpot on the next spin is exactly the same. No previous events impact future events. This isn't how they work.
Casinos don't want you to know this because they want you to think slots are 'hot' or 'cold', because that will cloud your judgment in respect to how much you play and gamble. This works out better for them in the long run so they are happy for these myths to grow and spread.
9. All of your play is tracked
From the moment you sit down at a slot and enter your player card and cash, every movement you make is tracked automatically by the casino. Slot machines are now networked and have sophisticated hardware and software to track everything you do.
This information is collected, analyzed, and insight reports are developed and delivered to the casino marketing department so they can work out the best possible way to market their casino and slots to you so that you keep coming back and play more. If you don't want your play tracked then simply don't use your player's card, but then you won't get any casino comps.
In the near future, if it's not being used already, casino marketing departments will start using security infrastructure to monitor and track your play irrespective of whether you use your card or not. Facial recognition programs will detect you, associate you with a player's card or create a new player account and track everything you do on a video feed.
This is a bit scary and it shows the lengths casinos will go to. If you play online, everything is tracked under your player account, so it's easier for online casinos to monitor what you do in this respect.
10. Payout tickets are more likely to be put back into a machine
Over the past 20 years, casinos have slowly phased out cash payouts at slots. These days you'll likely receive a ticket when you cash out, which you then must take to a cash-out machine or the cage to exchange for cash.
While the casinos will claim this is for your convenience, one of the main reasons they've made this change is to disassociate you from the fact you're holding money. This is similar to what they do with chips on table games.
Psychological studies have proven that people are far more likely to gamble more with a ticket or chips, as opposed to cash. So don't be fooled into placing your ticket into another slot on the way to cashing out, they've done this on purpose. I'd recommend that you always cash the tickets out for cash every time, instead of keeping it for play later.
11. Slot arms don't exist as much anymore because they slow down play
Back in the day, pretty much every slot machine had an arm, or lever, that you pull to activate the spin. These days it's much harder to find machines that have these.
While there are a few reasons for this, the main reason and the one the casinos don't want you to know is because using a lever is much slower when compared to pressing a button. Casinos want you to be playing as quickly as possible when it comes to slots because the more you spin the more the odds move in their favor.
So by having buttons instead of levers the game moves a lot faster. Some may even say they've removed the lever so people don't refer to slot machines as one-armed bandits anymore, but that may just be here-say.
12. Games are designed to be played as fast as possible
As we touched on in the previous secret, casinos want you to play whatever game you're on as quickly as possible. While one of the main measurements on a slot is the time spent playing, they also want you to play as quickly as possible.
This increases the yield on the machine for the casino, meaning they make more money. Consider this, if you have a bank of widely popular slots which many people want to play, and it takes 20 seconds per spin, that's quite a lot of time.
If a spin takes five seconds then you're getting four times the amount of play on that machine which results in much more money passing through. So, all the time the casinos are trying to think of ways to make games happen much faster. They don't want you playing slowly, so make sure you take your time next time you sit down at a slot. After all, the more time you play the more entertainment value you get.
13. Slot sounds and graphics are designed to make you feel happy
One thing that casinos certainly don't want you to know about is the fact that slot machine manufacturers have teams of psychologists and researchers that provide advice on what sounds, colors, movements and graphics to use in games in order to make the player feel as happy as possible.
This is both good and bad. Firstly, it's good if you're playing for entertainment's sake and know your limits when it comes to how much money you're willing to play with. If this is the case then why not play a game that's designed to make you feel happy.
Secondly, it's bad when it comes to problem gamblers who don't know when to stop and are chasing that happy feeling that the games give them. So this is a two-way street; that's for sure. Casinos probably don't want you to know this because it isn't a great look.
14. Sometimes a win isn't a win
One recent trend on slots is to play a jingle and show an animation showing that a player has had a win; this used to be a good thing and it meant you were making a profit, but not so much these days.
Much to the ire of lawmakers and the regulators, slot machines now play this jingle and imply a win, even when the spin results in less money won than you actually wagered on that spin in the first place. So this is essentially a loss and it's trying to trick the player into thinking that they won.
Regulators are trying to have this outlawed but it will take some time. So, next time you're playing don't be fooled by the animation and sounds and the on-screen advice that says you've had a win. Make sure you check how much you ‘won' when compared to how much you bet, before you celebrate.
15. Major progressive jackpots are played across multiple venues
Have you ever walked past a progressive jackpot slot machine and stared in awe at the huge jackpot which is currently available and is running into the millions of dollars?
If so, then you may not be aware that these slots are actually linked nationwide and the jackpot is played across thousands and thousands of machines and the casinos actually have no part in this prize.
Casinos don't want you to know this of course; they want you to think that it's just that machine so that you sit down and play and spin away thinking that you're the only person who could possibly win that prize at that time.
These major progressive jackpot machines actually take a small cut from each bet you make and divert it to the major jackpot. So you should never play on one of these unless your ultimate goal is to win the life-changing money, and there's certainly nothing wrong with that.
Conclusion
Casinos are designed to make money just like any business. The slot machines are a big piece of the profit puzzle so the casinos do everything they can to make them more profitable.
Now that you know these 15 slot machine secrets the casinos don't want you to know you can gamble as an informed player. If you love slots there's no reason to stop playing, but you should know these secrets before you play again.
Slot machines are exciting because they offer quick entertainment and a large variety of themes. They also provide the chance to play for big jackpots and cool bonus features.
However, you may have the impression that slots are terrible with regard to return to player (RTP). Slot machines in land-based casinos especially get a bad rap for offering low payback.
But what's the real story? Are land-based slots really this bad in terms of payout percentages?
I'm going to look at a recent gaming report from Nevada to get to the bottom of the matter. You'll find that, for the most part, slot machines in brick-and-mortar casinos aren't as bad as they appear on the surface.
Slots RTP Figures from Nevada Gaming Report
Las Vegas is essentially the slots capital of the world. This lone city features tens of thousands of slot machines.
But if you're in Nevada, you don't have to visit Vegas to enjoy slots. The Silver State features over 165,000 slot machines sprinkled throughout its borders.
That said, the annual Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) report is one of the best sources to gauge how well slot machines pay. The NGC releases reports every month that detail how much is bet on their slots and what casinos make off them.
They also release a report that sums up the casinos' slots take for an entire year. This information provides a comprehensive look at how much slots are paying.
These reports divide slot machines up based on their coin denominations. You'll find everything from penny slots to multi-denominational games on the NGC's list.
Here's a look at how Nevada slot machines pay by coin denomination:
- Penny slots – 90.0% RTP (10.0% house edge)
- Nickel slots – 94.39% RTP (5.61% house edge)
- Quarter slots – 92.83% RTP (7.17% house edge)
- Dollar slots – 93.61% RTP (6.39% house edge)
- $5 slots – 94.46% RTP (5.54% house edge)
- $25 slots – 95.14% RTP (4.86% house edge)
- $100 slots – 93.80% RTP (6.20% house edge)
- Megabucks – 86.88% RTP (13.12% house edge)
- Multi denomination – 94.74% RTP (5.26% house edge)
Numbers Show That Most Nevada Slots Offer Solid RTP
You can see that penny slot machines are by far the worst in terms of how much they pay. These games only offer 90% RTP, meaning they carry a 10% house edge.
You're essentially losing $1 for every $10 bet on one of these games. Few casino games offer this bad of a deal.
In fact, Megabucks is the only entry on the NGC's report that has worse payback than penny slot machines. Even still, Megabucks is a huge progressive slot machine that offers better RTP as its jackpot grows larger.
Many people choose penny slot machines under the guise that they're playing a 'cheap' game. The reality, though, is that these slots are anything but cheap when considering the house edge.
You should also realize that 'penny' only refers to how these games require a penny per line. You're often forced to play anywhere from 25 to 300 lines, which means a total bet ranging from $0.25 to $3.00.
Nickel slots offer the best value based on the NGV's numbers. They pay back 94.39% and only cost $0.05 per line.
What Slot Machines Payout The Most Often Paid
Of course, this bet size is 5 times the amount as a penny slot per line. But you also have to consider that the payback is 4.39% higher too.
Quarter slots rated the second lowest in terms of RTP, only offering a payout percentage of 92.83%. You'd be better off sticking to nickel games in this case.
Dollar slots didn't pay much either, offering 93.61% RTP throughout 2018. You may not find it worth betting this much when considering the relatively low payback.
$5 and $25 slots paid well at 94.46% and 95.14% RTP, respectively. It's no surprise that these games offer high payout percentages when considering that casinos like rewarding players for betting more.
What's surprising, though, is that $100 slot machines only offered 93.80% RTP. But this low figure can possibly be explained by the fact that fewer people play these high-roller slots. They're subject to more volatility as a result.
Multi-denominational slots had one of the best payout percentages at 94.76%. You should consider choosing these games in Nevada, based on how they both offer good RTP and allow you to select your bet size.
Comparing These Figures to Online Slots
You can see from the information above that most land-based slot machines in Nevada don't offer completely terrible payback. Penny slots are the only ones that have extremely low RTP at 90%.
Meanwhile, some of the coin denominations like nickel (94.39% RTP), $5 (94.46%), and $25 (95.14% RTP) offered fair payback in 2018. You're only facing around a 5% house edge with these games.
Unfortunately, most slots in brick-and-mortar casinos don't measure up to what's offered at gaming sites. Online casinos typically offer the best RTP and lowest stakes.
Most online slots at least have 95% payback, with many delivering even higher RTP than this. Referring back to the NGC report, only the $25 slots had over 95% RTP.
Therefore, online casinos offer the best chance of winning with slots. This is especially true when considering that you don't have to bet as much to achieve high payback.
While many internet slots feature fixed paylines just like their land-based counterparts, they only require you to bet one cent per line. Going further, they still offer high payout percentages when you're wagering a penny on each pay line.
Nevada slots, on the other hand, offer drastically lower RTP for penny games. You're facing a 10% house edge on land-based penny machines, versus a 5% house advantage with online penny slots.
You can of course pick higher denominations at online casinos. Some high rollers prefer get extra action this way.
However, the beauty of online slots is that you don't have to bet more just to win more. You can just play for low stakes and still expect the same payout percentages.
The main downside to internet slots, though, is that they don't feature a real casino atmosphere. Brick-and-mortar venues, on the other hand, offer unique sights and sounds as players spin the reels.
You just can't get this same experience while playing slots through your smartphone or PC. But the upside is that you can expect high RTP no matter if you're betting a little or a lot on each line.
High Paying Online Slots Are Easier to Find
Another advantage to internet slots is that it's easy to find the RTP for many games. You can look up online slots payout percentages through multiple ways:
- Look at the info/help screen.
- Google the game itself.
- Google the game provider to find their slots RTP list.
- Search for articles that cover 'online slots with the best RTP.'
The first method is obviously the easiest, because you can simply visit the help screen to find the payout percentage. The only downside to this route is not all online slots providers list the RTP in the info section.
You can also google the game itself along with the word 'RTP.' You should quickly find the payback using this technique.
Searching for a game's provider (e.g. NetEnt or Rival Gaming) along with the word RTP is yet another effective route. This method will bring up pages that list RTP for many or all of a certain provider's slots.
If you're really serious about having the best chance to win, you can search for articles that discuss the industry' highest-paying online slots. Mega Joker (99.0% RTP), Ugga Bugga (99.0%), and Blood Suckers (98.0%) are among the industry's best-paying games.
Keep in mind that not all developers publicly list the RTP for their slot machines. Therefore, you won't be able to find payout percentages on every single online game.
But the good news is that you can find payback for most internet slots. This fact makes it easy to learn your chances of winning when playing online.
How Can You Find the Best Playing Vegas Slot Machines?
The problem with searching for land-based slots RTP is that it's never publicly available information. Therefore, the average gambler won't be able to figure out the payback for an individual slot that they're playing.
The reason for this situation is that casinos can order different pay schedules from providers. Therefore, a Plants vs. Zombies slot machine could offer 95% RTP at one casino and 93% RTP at the establishment next door.
Contrast this to online casinos, where developers typically offer the same payout percentages across all the casinos they supply. It therefore makes sense why you'll have such an easy time finding RTP for online slots versus the land-based variety.
Megabucks is the only exception to the rule. This progressive slot brings in so much money for Nevada casinos that it's routinely listed on their gaming reports along with its annual payback.
Coin denominations are the only thing you have to go off of when searching for payout percentages at brick-and-mortar casinos. You can look at state gaming reports, such as the NGC's, to get a rough estimation on the RTP for a given game.
The one big drawback, though, is that these figures are merely RTP averages for each coin denomination. Just because nickel slots pay 94.39% across the board in Nevada doesn't mean that the individual nickel game you play will offer the same RTP.
You also have to consider that these figures can change from year to year. Dollar slots might pay 95% in Nevada one year, because a few players hit big jackpots on these games and boosted their numbers. But the collective payout percentages could fall to 93% the following year if nobody wins big.
Still, knowing the average payout percentages for coin denominations is better than nothing. You should check out the gaming report for your state to get an idea on how much you can win with each type of game.
You Must Bet a Lot to Play Vegas Slots with High RTP
Referring back to the NGC report, you can see that your best chances of winning are with the higher denominations. $25 slots offered the best RTP last year at 95.14%, while $5 games also paid well at 94.46%.
Most casinos order higher payback for the larger denominations. They want to encourage players to wager more per spin, which is why they reward them with better RTP.
You have to decide whether it's worth betting between $5 and $25 per round just to enjoy a higher payout percentage. After all, you're going to lose more on average with these games, even when they're offering the best RTP.
Here's a comparison between dollar and $25 slots to illustrate this point:
- You play a $1 slot for 1,000 spins.
- 1 x 1,000 = $1,000 in bets
- The RTP is 6.39%.
- 1,000 x 0.0639 = $63.90 in theoretical losses with the dollar slot
- You play a $25 slot for 1,000 spins.
- 25 x 1,000 = $25,000 in bets
- The RTP is 4.86%.
- 25,000 x 0.0486 = $1,215 in theoretical losses with the $25 slot
- 1,215 – 63.90 = $1,151 fewer losses with the dollar game
Even though the $25 slot offers around 1.5% higher payback on average, it still costs much more to play. Unless you're a high roller, you shouldn't be playing these machines just for the better payback.
Luckily, Nevada offers some games with solid RTP that don't cost a fortune to play. Nickel slots featured 94.39% RTP in 2018, while multi-denomination games paid 94.74%.
Based on these games, you can see where it's possible to win a fair amount with cheaper Nevada slots. But you'll need to bet more on average to attain the higher RTP.
Make Sure to Have a Bankroll Management Plan before Visiting Nevada
Playing slot machines in the Silver State isn't cheap. These games don't pay as much as online slots, and they normally feature lots of fixed paylines.
You want to have a good bankroll management plan going into any Nevada trip. Performing bankroll calculations beforehand helps you properly budget for your trip and avoid losing too much money.
Of course, the hope is that you win plenty of money. But this doesn't normally happen unless you hit a huge payout or two. You should prepare as if you're going to lose so that there are no surprises.
Here are variables to consider when setting up your slots bankroll management plan:
- Your bankroll amount
- Average bet size
- Losses per hour
The first variable is the most important, because you want to set aside an amount of money that's strictly for slots. These funds shouldn't be needed to pay bills or other expenses, given that you could potentially lose everything.
Your average bet size may change from session to session. However, this figure is simply an estimate of your average wager across the board.
Losses per hour is the toughest variable to estimate here. But you can simplify it by considering that the average slots player usually loses around 250 wagers per hour. This figure assumes that you don't win any huge payouts and steadily lose money on a machine.
Once you have these three variables worked out, you can perform bankroll management calculations to estimate how long your funds will last.
Here's an Example- You have a $2,500 bankroll.
- Your average bet size is $1.
- You lose 250 bets ($250) per hour.
- 2,500 / 250 = 10
- Your bankroll will theoretically last for 10 hours.
Remember that this is only a theoretical figure on how long your bankroll will last. But it at least gives you a fair estimation on how far a certain amount of money will go with slot machines.
Don't Expect to Get Many Slots Comps from Vegas Casinos
Some slots players think that they're going to be showered with rewards when they visit Vegas and other Nevada casino destinations. However, slots comps aren't what they used to be.
Following the Great American recession, many casinos began redirecting their focus. Rather than heavily concentrating on gambling, they began expanding their other entertainment options.
Now, gaming establishments are also focused on their restaurants, nightclubs, shopping, and spas. They often feature comprehensive reward programs that comp players for spending money anywhere in the resort — not just on the gaming floor.
This means that gamblers are no longer the featured customer in Vegas. Instead, they're just one of various types of customers that visit Sin City and other Nevada casino locations.
The average slots comp rate these days is 0.1%. This figure differs quite a bit from the 0.2% or 0.3% that many casinos offered in the past.
You may not think that this looks like a big difference. However, earning 2x or 3x less rewards has a big impact on your bottom line.
You should still make an effort to sign up for the player's club at any Nevada Casino you visit. After all, it's better to pick up some rewards than none. But you shouldn't count on comps to help make up for lower payout percentages.
Conclusion
Many gamblers have heard the stereotype that slot machines in land-based casinos pay poorly. They may have even developed this notion themselves after losing badly in a few sessions.
But the numbers show that not all land-based slots pay terribly. The nickel, $5, $25, and multi-denominational games all offered payback ranging between 94.39% and 95.14% last year.
These aren't outstanding payout percentages, especially when compared to online slots. But they're passable and show that games in land-based casinos can offer a decent chance to win.
However, you really want to watch out for penny slots in brick-and-mortar venues. These games only paid back 90.0% last year, showing that, unlike the name suggests, they're far from cheap.
Even when you do find a land-based slot that pays well, you have to account for the increased wager size. Penny slot machines are supposed to be the cheapest games, yet they can cost anywhere from $0.25 to $3.00 to play. The costs only go up from here.
You can give yourself the absolute best chance of winning by playing online slots. These games offer higher RTP and lower minimum bets than brick-and-mortar games.
The only catch is that internet casinos don't have the same atmosphere at land-based establishments. You therefore need to weigh whether winning or all-around entertainment is more important.
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No matter where you play, though, it's wise to come up with a bankroll management plan. Doing so gives you a solid idea on how long your bankroll will last.
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In summary, slot machines are all about having fun. But it never hurts to also know your odds of winning, whether in Nevada or beyond.
