WOO logo

On this page

Slot Machine Odds in Las Vegas

Introduction

The table below ranks Las Vegas casinos based on the looseness of their nickel video slot machines. The returns have been analyzed from a selection of five different machine types, with data available from as early as October 2001, though it may not reflect the latest trends.

Las Vegas 5 Cent Slot Survey

Rank Casino Average
Return
1 Palms 93.42%
2 Gold Coast 92.84%
3 Sahara 92.81%
4 (tie) Bourbon Street 92.63%
4 (tie) Imperial Palace 92.63%
4 (tie) Slots a Fun 92.63%
7 Key Largo 92.60%
8 Western 92.57%
9 Ellis Island 92.56%
10 El Cortez 92.56%
11 Orleans 92.56%
12 Circus Circus 92.56%
13 Gold Spike 92.55%
14 Fitzgeralds 92.54%
15 Fiesta - Rancho 92.53%
16 Arizona Charlie's East 92.51%
17 Barbary Coast 92.50%
18 Terrible's 92.49%
19 Arizona Charlie's 92.49%
20 Hard Rock 92.47%
21 Town Hall 92.47%
22 Longhorn 92.47%
23 Riviera 92.23%
24 California 92.14%
25 Lady Luck 92.10%
26 Nevada Palace 92.06%
27 Plaza 91.94%
28 Luxor 91.92%
29 Paris 91.92%
30 San Remo 91.88%
31 Excalibur 91.84%
32 Palace Station 91.84%
33 Ballys 91.82%
34 Las Vegas Club 91.76%
35 Four Queens 91.75%
36 Texas Station 91.71%
37 Casino Royale 91.67%
38 Boulder Station 91.55%
39 Aladdin 91.5%
40 O'sheas 91.48%
41 Hilton 91.40%
42 Boardwalk 91.28%
43 New York New York 90.99%
44 Horseshoe 90.96%
45 Sam's Town 90.89%
46 Santa Fe Station 90.87%
47 Flamingo 90.86%
48 Golden Nugget 90.85%
49 Stratosphere 90.8%
50 Tropicana 90.71%
51 Golden Gate 90.64%
52 Silverton 90.57%
53 Main Street Station 90.56%
54 Westward Ho 90.40%
55 Fremont 90.37%
56 Castaways 90.36%
57 Monte Carlo 90.24%
58 Stardust 89.97%
59 Frontier 89.91%
60 MGM Grand 89.81%
61 Harrahs 89.32%
62 Treasure Island 89.32%
63 Mirage 89.3%
64 Caesars Palace 89.05%
65 Mandalay Bay 88.87%
66 Rio 88.72%
67 La Bayou 88.26%
68 Mermaids 88.26%
69 Bellagio 87.42%
70 Venetian 86.66%
71 Airport 85.02%

Excluded Casinos

At the Suncoast and Rampart Casino in Summerlin, players are not permitted to play slots while taking notes, which restricts my ability to gather data from these locations.

Location Averages

The upcoming table presents average return percentages categorized by location.

Returns by Region

Location Average
Return
Off strip 92.07%
Downtown 91.66%
Strip 91.47%
Total 91.74%

You can find the sign mentioned just across from the Palms. Although I conducted the study, it was published by Anthony Curtis, which is how it gained notoriety. The omission of details in the sign is noteworthy; it implies a wealth of information that wasn’t disclosed. The findings merely indicate that the Palms had the least favorable nickel video slots among the casinos surveyed in Las Vegas. The fine print mentions an independent study that took place between November 2001 and February 2002, focusing on specific games like Austin Powers and Wheel of Fortune. However, Leopard Spots was excluded, and the study commenced in October. LasVegas Advisor The various myths regarding the placement of slot machines appeared to be unfounded, as machines located at the ends of a bank performed no better on average than those situated in the middle. Similarly, there was no discernible connection between the return rates and their locations in relation to entrances, table game areas, or zones with high or low foot traffic.

Observations

Most casinos demonstrated consistent return rates for their slots. If one nickel machine yielded a return of x%, similar machines also produced the same return. However, some establishments, like Treasure Island and several California casinos, varied their mix of loose and tight machines.

I received slot machine par sheets from a helpful anonymous source. The EPROM chip within the machine is responsible for determining the sequence of symbols on the reels, how stops are weighted, the payout for each winning combination, and other critical information pertaining to the machine's payouts. It falls upon the slot manager to choose which EPROM chip to order based on the desired return percentage. Typically, a single game may have approximately 8 potential return percentages, ranging from about 85% to 98%.

Methodology

Each set of par sheets features five distinct reel configurations. In video display slots, all stops carry equal likelihood since they are not weighted. The arrangement of symbols on each reel dictates the theoretical return of the machine; for instance, a machine with higher payouts might contain a greater number of high-value symbols.

On the machine, three consecutive symbols can be seen across five reels. By comparing noted outcomes to the par sheets, one can discern which reels are in play and, consequently, identify the relevant par sheet and return percentage. Various three-symbol combinations might appear in at least one of the par sheets but not in all. Thus, if one of these combinations is detected on an actual machine, it helps narrow down the potential par sheets. With sufficient gameplay, players can pinpoint it down to just one.

To differentiate the unique combinations, I developed software for each game that included the exact reel order of all five reels from the respective par sheets. The program counted instances where each possible three-symbol combination appeared on the identified par sheets. If a given combination was present but not at maximum occurrence, it was recognized alongside the corresponding par sheets.

Players simply engage with the game and match the results against the list of partially unique combinations. Generally, it takes around 5-10 plays on each machine to zero in on a single par sheet.

The averages displayed in the table represent an aggregate of averages. I calculated an average return for each type of machine at each casino, and then averaged those returns over five different machine types involved in the testing.

There seems to be some ambiguity about the definition of a 'slot machine' or 'slot.' My interpretation, which aligns with that of most gamblers, is a gambling device with actual spinning reels or their video counterparts.

Slot Machine Definition

In the gaming industry and among regulators, a slot machine is understood to encompass any gambling device, including reel slots, video poker, video keno, video blackjack, and so forth. For statistical purposes, casino managers and regulators often group all electronic gambling devices under the umbrella term 'slot.' For instance, statistics provided in the Slot Chart of Casino Player magazine and reports from the Nevada Gaming Control Board do not differentiate between just reel devices, but classify all electronic games as 'slots.' Therefore, the return percentages I present may differ from those reported by casinos and regulatory bodies. So far, my data is the sole source that specifically focuses on the return of reel slots.

A special thanks goes to Rob Feldheim for his assistance with slot gameplay and record-keeping. Rob helped me gather data from various casinos on the east side of town and parts of downtown. I would also like to express gratitude to Par Sheet Pete (a pseudonym), who generously provided the par sheets needed for this project, making it possible.

Acknowledgements

(Returns for quarter and dollar slots in Las Vegas).

Internal Links

Go to slot machine appendix3B (Jean/Primm slot returns).
Go to slot machine appendix 3D (Henderson slot returns).
Go to slot machine appendix 3E Mainstream media has extensively reported on this study. Here are some articles discussing it.
Go to slot machine appendix 3F (Montreal slot return).
Go back to slot machines .

External Links

An article published in the Las Vegas Review Journal on May 19, 2002, examined the potential implications of this study.