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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.
- Turning\"em loose One-Armed Bandit or Robin Hood? An article written by me for Contingencies Magazine detailing the methodology, findings, and limitations of the study.
- Adhere to the rules, and the one-armed bandits will still prevail.
- A Boston Globe article discussing slot machines, which references my Las Vegas study and includes my recommendations. Strategies and insights that are mathematically sound for casino games like blackjack, craps, roulette, and many others available for play.cache )