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Slot Machine Appendix 3E
Exploring the Link Between Coin Size and Slot Machine Returns in Las Vegas
Many readers have read my Appendix 3A Regarding higher denominations, I had been hesitant to share my findings until May 2002 due to a lack of adequate sample size. However, as inquiries continued to pour in, I've decided to share what I have. I want to emphasize that my primary focus remains on nickel slots. Most of the video slots I've tested fall into the nickel category. Remember, you can typically wager around 100 coins at once, equating to about $5 per spin. Therefore, betting higher amounts isn't usually necessary unless a player possesses a significantly large bankroll. Up until now, I've only discovered quarter video slots in 16 casinos in Las Vegas, and dollar slots in 8, with even those establishments offering limited options.
Below is a table featuring all the casinos where I encountered at least one quarter or dollar video slot machine. The table presents the returns on nickel, quarter, and dollar machines ranked by their nickel returns. You might notice that some casinos experience a slight decline when moving from nickels to quarters. This observation can be attributed to variations in sampling. Certain types of machines generally yield better payouts than others, and those in the quarter category tend to be less generous. It's important to note that the nickel returns displayed here might not correspond with those found in the referenced appendix, as Appendix 3a contains updates that are not present in this section. Appendix 3A Returns by Coin Size for Las Vegas Slot Machines
The chart provided illustrates the return rates for each denomination across the casinos. This chart appears to indicate a general relationship between the returns on nickel and quarter slots, although the correlation isn't particularly strong. A loose correlation also exists between quarter and dollar slots, except for the outliers like Arizona Charlie's and Excalibur.
Casino | Nickel | Quarter | Dollar |
---|---|---|---|
Palms |
93.42% |
94.97% |
|
Rampart Casino in Summerlin |
93.13% |
94.96% |
|
Circus Circus |
92.56% |
94.01% |
|
Arizona Charlie's |
92.49% |
92.76% |
|
Riviera |
92.23% |
92.76% |
|
Excalibur |
91.84% |
92.17% |
|
Texas Station |
91.71% |
92.53% |
|
Casino Royale |
91.67% |
94.49% |
94.97% |
Aladdin |
91.50% |
92.64% |
94.97% |
Santa Fe Station |
90.87% |
94.47% |
96.23% |
Flamingo |
90.86% |
92.50% |
94.96% |
Tropicana |
90.71% |
90.12% |
|
New York New York |
90.57% |
89.78% |
|
Main Street Station |
90.56% |
90.05% |
|
Caesars Palace |
89.57% |
90.44% |
92.53% |
Harrahs |
89.32% |
92.76% |
|
Treasure Island |
89.32% |
90.04% |
|
Mirage |
89.07% |
88.29% |
92.17% |
acknowledgments : Special thanks to Par Sheet Pete (a pseudonym) for offering the par sheets that made this project feasible. Additionally, I am grateful to Rob Feldheim for his contributions in gathering data for this analysis.

Casino name abbreviations:
RCS = Rampart Casino in Summerlin
CC = Circus Circus
AC = Arizona Charlie's
Excal = Excalibur
TS = Texas Station
CR = Casino Royale
SFS = Santa Fe Station
Trop = Tropicana
NYNY = New York New York
MSS = Main Street Station
CP = Caesars Palace
TI = Treasure Island
This report contains a detailed analysis based on nearly 4000 actual spins recorded on a Reno slot machine.
Internal Links
- Appendix 1 An illustration depicting the virtual reels of a theoretical slot machine alongside an explanation of how the average return is computed.
- Appendix 2 : Rankings of slot machines in Henderson/Lake Mead for the year 2002.
- Appendix 3A : 2003 Las Vegas slot machine rankings.
- Appendix 3B : 2002 Jean/Primm slot machine rankings.
- Appendix 3C : 2002 Tunica slot machine rankings.
- Appendix 3D : Returns for Quarter and Dollar Slots in Las Vegas, 2002
- Appendix 3E This illustrates the methodology used to calculate the return for my
- Appendix 4 Examination of the Red, White, & Blue Slot Machine.Wizard's Fruit Slot Machine .
- Appendix 5 analysis of the 21 Bell Slot Machine.
- Appendix 6 Investigation into a skill-based slot machine available in North Carolina.
- Lock and Roll Information and mathematically sound strategies for various casino games including blackjack, craps, roulette, and countless others.
- Deconstructing Megabucks .
- Baltimore Sun article , in which I am quoted.