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- Appendices
- Slots Analysis
- Miscellaneous
Introduction
The following table ranks the Las Vegas casinos according to the looseness of their video display reeled nickel slot machines. The returns are based on a sampling of five different types of machines. The data collected goes back as far as October 2001 so the information is a bit dated.
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
The Suncoast and Rampart Casino in Summerlin do not allow playing slots and taking notes at the same time. I can not include any casino that prohibits the method in which I gather data.
Location Averages
The next table shows the average return by location.
Returns by Region
Location | Average Return |
---|---|
Off strip | 92.07% |
Downtown | 91.66% |
Strip | 91.47% |
Total | 91.74% |
The above sign can be found across the street from the Palms. Although I did the study Anthony Curtis published it in the LasVegas Advisor, which is how it become well known. The'..' in the sign encompases quite a bit of information,which was conveniently left off the sign. Actually the study only says that the Palms had the lowest nickel video slotsof the casinos surveyed in Las Vegas. The small print at thebottom says, 'Independent study conducted between November2001-February 2002 on Austin Powers, Fortune Cookie, Reel'em In, and Wheel of Fortune games. They left off LeopardSpots, and the study began in October.
Observations
There seemed to be no truth behind slot placement myths. Machines on the end of a bank did no better on average than those in the middle. There was also no correlation between return and proximity to such things as the main door, table game pit, high traffic areas, and low traffic areas.
Most casinos were very consistent in their slot returns.If one nickel machine had a return of x% then all others like it also returned x%. However some casinos did mix up loose and tight machines, most notably Treasure Island and the California casinos.
Methodology
A kind and anonymous source provided me with par sheets for the games in question. The EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) chip is what tells the machine the order of the symbols on the reel, in some cases how the stops are weighted, how much each winning combination pays, and any other pertinent information about how much the machine pays.It is up to the slot manager to select which EPROM chip to order according to the return percentage desired. On atypical game there might be about 8 different possible return percentages, ranging from about 85% to 98%.
Each of the different par sheets has five sets of distinct reels. On video display slots the stops are not weighted; in other words all stops are equally likely. The distribution of each symbol on each reel is what determines the theoretical return of the machine. For example a higher paying machine may have more of the higher paying symbols.
On the machine itself three consecutive symbols arevisible on five different reels. By comparing actualobservations of results to the par sheets it is possible todetermine which reels the machine uses, and thus which par sheet and which return. There are various three-symbol combinations that appear in at least one but not all par sheets. So if one of these combinations occurs on an actualmachine it narrows down the possible par sheets. By playingenough the player can narrow down the possible par sheets tojust one. Pharoahs fortune slot machine.
To help identify the unique combinations I wrote a computer program for each game, which had the exact reel order of all 5 reels of all the par sheets. The program then counted the number of par sheets with each possible three-symbol combination. If the number was greater than 0 and less than the maximum then that combination was identified along with the associated par sheets it belonged to.
It is then a matter of simply playing the game and comparing the outcomes to the list of partially unique combinations. It only takes about 5-10 plays per machine to narrow down the possibilities to just one par sheet.
The averages in the table are actually an average of averages. For each kind of machine at each casino I took an average return. Then I took the average of these averages over the five kinds of machines I tested for.
Slot Machine Definition
There is some confusion about what constitutes a 'slot machine' or 'slot.' My definition, and that of most gamblers, is a gambling machine with either actual spinning reels or video representations of the them.
People in the gaming business and regulators generally refer to a slot machine as any gambling machine, including reeled slots, video poker, video keno, video blackjack,etc. For purposes of statistics both casino managers and regulators combine all the electronic gambling machines together. For example, the Slot Chart in Casino Player magazine and reports by the Nevada Gaming Control Board do not isolate just reeled slots but consider all electronic games a 'slot.' Therefore my return percentages should not be expected to agree with those reported by the casinos or regulators. As far as I know mine is the only source to isolate just the return of reeled slots.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Rob Feldheim for helping with the slot play and record keeping. Rob helped me with most of the casinos on the east side of town and part of downtown. I would also like to thank par Sheet Pete (not his real name)for providing the par sheets, without which this project would not have been possible.
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(Las Vegas quarter and dollar slot returns).
Go to slot machine appendix 3F(Montreal slot return).
Go back to slot machines.
External Links
The main-stream media has covered this study in depth. Here are links to some articles.
- Turning'em loose, an article that appeared in the Las VegasReview Journal on May 19, 2002, about the possible effectsof this study.
- One-Armed Bandit or Robin Hood?, an article by myself for Contingencies Magazine explaining the methodology, results, and weaknesses of the study.
- Play by the rules and the one-armed bandits will still win. Boston Globe article about slot machines, in which my Las Vegas survey is mentioned and my advice quoted. (cache)
Written by: Michael Shackleford
6 Slots Tips and Tricks to Help You Win at Casino Slots
Everyone knows there are a number of casino tips and tricks to help gamblers have a fighting chance at beating the house –for example, blackjack players are able to learn basic strategy using tables while poker players can master the art of bluffing. Even good roulette players have a few strategies to help them win. But what about a good slot machine strategy? You're in luck — there are real ways to increase your chances of winning at slot machine games.
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Check out our tips and tricks for some sound advice on how to win at slots.
How Slots Work: Random Number Generators
Before you can begin conquering the one-armed bandits with your super slot machine strategy, there are a few things you need to know about how slot machines work. The best way to win at slots is to first understand how they are made, how they run, and how (and when) they are liable to drop a payout.
Slot machines run on random number generators (RNGs), which are computer programs tested and certified by a regulatory authority. The programs randomize where individual reels stop with every spin, so each spin is separate and totally independent from any other, making them completely random. The previous spins have no bearing on the next spin.
Based on that, it might sound a bit hopeless to figure out a slot machine strategy, but there are 6 ways to help you to win at slots –and we've listed them here so you can start winning big today.
Slot Tip #1: Learn to Move On
If you've been sitting at a machine for a while and you can't remember the last time you had a winning spin, don't wait around for things to hopefully swing back around. It's just time to move on to another machine. The same goes for online slots games – if it's been a while since your last win, you should probably move on to the next game. Your best option when you're losing is to save your money for the next game in line and not throw good money after bad.
Also, keep in mind that not all slots are created equal. Some of them tend to pay off more frequently than others. Whether this is a function of the game itself, the software company, or both, it's good to know that some slots are ‘tight' (paying out less often) and others are ‘loose' (more frequent payouts). Knowing which machines are loose increases your chances of winning at slots.
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Slot Tip #2: Look for Loose Machines
One of the best slot machine tips: a loose slot is your best friend. They're harder to find, but they're worth searching for. In land-based casinos, loose machines are placed strategically. They're usually located in highly visible areas where big wins are seen by many people, which encourages spectators to play. However, visibility isn't always a good thing. Slot machines located in places with high visibility but constantly shifting traffic – such as airports and reception areas in restaurants – are some of the worst slots to play. It's better to wait until you're in an actual casino, no matter how eager you are when you get off the plane. The perfect spot to play slots is in a visible, slow-moving area with a great number of machines to switch among during cold streaks.
Online slots are obviously not arranged in neat rows in cyberspace. In the absence of a physical floor plan, there are still ways to determine whether or not a particular slot is loose or tight. The volatility rating of a particular slot determines how often—and how much—a game it pays out. Generally speaking, a low volatility slot pays out more often but in smaller amounts, while a high volatility machine pays out larger sums but not as frequently.
The volatility rating is usually listed in the stats of the online slot game. Each online slot game has a volatility rating: low, medium, or high. It's really up to you which you prefer: long waits and huge payoffs, regular yet small wins, or a happy medium of both. You just have to ask yourself: do you gamble for the money alone, or are you in it for the thrill of the chase?
Slot Tip #3: Pay Attention to Paytables
Every single casino slot machine in the world has a paytable, and the best possible strategy on learning how to win at slots is to check that out before you sit down to play. Slot machines might look the same, but their rewards are definitely not. In the online world, paytables are usually located under the 'Help' or 'Rules' section of a particular game, so you are able to check them before you get invested. The paytables and paylines vary widely, so research and choose the best ones before you start throwing money into it and hoping for the best.
You can also do a bit of homework (aka Googling) to find the RTP (Return to Player) rating for a slot machine before you play it. By looking at the RTP percentage rating for a particular slot, you can see exactly what kind of advantage the slot has over the player. A rating of 97% or higher is a loose slot, 95% – 96% is average, and below 94% RTP is a tight machine. Just remember, a tight machine pays out rarely, but when it does, it pays big.
Slot Tip #4: Jackpot or No Jackpot?
Progressive jackpots are recommended by some gamblers while others say to avoid them at all costs. The latter group argues that anything that looks that good always comes with a catch. While the ludicrous amounts of cash on offer are enticing, the potential for big rewards is coupled with low payouts. Those millions in the jackpot had to be built up somehow, and it isn't by being generous with payouts.
On the other hand, playing for a progressive jackpot could be the only way to win millionaire money playing slots. The odds of winning a jackpot are similar to those of winning the lottery, but that's the fun part, right? If you can control your bankroll and playing pace, the progressive jackpot offers a slim chance of walking out of the casino with money lining your pockets—and then some.
It all comes down to how much risk you are comfortable with. Our progressive jackpot slot machine strategy? Go for whatever type of slot you are comfortable with. If you want to play for kicks and you're more than happy with winnings that are a little less than extraordinary, don't worry about searching for games with a progressive jackpot. But if you're looking for a chance to win big and shoot for your dream of taking your yacht to the Caribbean, then go right ahead.
Slot Tip #5: Bet What You Want
Most slots players will tell you to bet the maximum amount every time if you want to avoid losing to the casino in the long run. The truth is that your chances of winning on most slots won't change based on the size of your bet. The only difference is pretty simple: the bigger your bet, the bigger the rewards when you win. This becomes especially important in online slots, where there are features and bonuses added to make the rewards even bigger.
Bet whatever you can afford and don't worry about going for the maximum bet every single time. Also keep in mind your bankroll, which should be pre-determined before you start playing. Only gamble with what you can afford to lose and you're guaranteed to have fun –without breaking the bank.
Slot Tip #6: Use Your Free Trial
Before you pay for the real deal, it's always a good idea to take advantage of any free trial offered. Most online casinos give players the chance to try the majority of their slots games for free before they ever have to put down real cash. A popular no deposit website also provides players with an opportunity to check out the paytables, paylines, bonus features, and progressive jackpots without risking anything.
Slots of Vegas offers a no-download, instant-play feature that gives players the opportunity to try out over 80 slots games, along with table games, video poker, and specialty games –all completely free. Head over to the Instant Play section at Slots of Vegas and put our slot machine tips to the test today!