Who Has The Best Slots In Vegas
Caesars Palace is a casino known as a destination for high rollers, in no small part because it keeps popping up in movies playing that part. This is a place with plenty of high limit games, so come prepared to spend some money. Poker players can enjoy a large room that offers a daily tournament schedule. A race and sports book give players a vast array of games to watch and bet on, plus private booths with their own individual screens. Numerous restaurants, an A-list of entertainers and an upscale shopping mall are also on the grounds of the hotel, in case you decide to give Lady Luck a break for a while.
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Which Casino Has The Best Slots In Vegas
Recommended for Casinos because: Caesars Palace has an upscale reputation as a high-limits casino but players will find a wide selection of games.
Terrisa's expert tip: The poker room at Caesars Palace was recently relocated and now offers players 4,500 square-foot poker room featuring Pai Gow, Texas Hold'em, Let it Ride and Three Card Poker.
The El Cortez in Downtown Las Vegas has been around for decades, long before mega-sized casinos and ATM machines. The property's history includes Ben 'Bugsy' Siegel, who was once a partial owner. Today the vintage casino attracts patrons who want to experience what's left of Old Vegas. Gamblers will find a large selection of low-limits games, a casual atmosphere, and a large supply of colorful customers who keep the vibe authentic. Perhaps most notably, gamblers can also find single and double deck blackjack. Las Vegas got its start Downtown, thanks to places like the El Cortez. Today, it's still a reason to make the trip to Fremont Street.
Recommended for Casinos because: The El Cortez gives players a taste of 'Old Vegas' with its vintage ambiance, low-limit machines and single and double deck blackjack.
Terrisa's expert tip: If you miss the clinking and clanking of coin-operated machines, El Cortez has an abundance of old-school style penny and nickel machines along with plenty of modern games with tickets.
South Point's location on the far end of Las Vegas Boulevard means it's not considered a part of the Strip, which is a bonus for visitors looking for less glitzy options. The casino has a large local customer base, which many believe means better odds. The casino offers a wealth of machine play, with over 2,200 slot and poker machines. The casino floor holds over 60 table games, including all the standards as well as some newer games like Progressive Fortune Pai-Gow Poker, No Commission Baccarat and Three Card Poker. A non-smoking poker room, bingo room and a race and sports book round out the gaming options here.
Recommended for Casinos because: With over 2,200 slot and poker machines, South Point's casino is a great choice for players who prefer machine play.
Terrisa's expert tip: The South Point's Arena and Equestrian Center hosts events throughout the year, with an emphasis on horse-related shows and events. Check the website for a listing of coming attractions.
This beautiful resort on the far west side of the city is one of those Vegas casinos that attracts both locals and tourists. Boasting thousands of slot/video poker machines and table games including blackjack, baccarat, craps, poker and roulette, the casino at Red Rock Resort is sure to have everyone's favorite game. There's even a 610-seat bingo hall (with a non-smoking section) and a keno lounge. Non-smokers can also enjoy a game of poker in Red Rock Resort's smoke-free poker room. A private high-limit room is available for high rollers, a mobile app is available for wagering and there's a 206-seat race and sports book with a 96-foot video wall for sports fans to watch and bet on all the latest games.
Recommended for Casinos because: The casino at Red Rock Resort has the typical casino games but also bingo and keno, which aren't offered in all casinos.
Terrisa's expert tip: When you need a break from the tables, the Red Rock has plenty of non-gambling things to do, like bowling and movie theaters, plus they have great restaurants.
Bellagio Las Vegas is a luxury property with an Italian-ish theme, but that only scratches the surface of this iconic Vegas hotel and casino. The atmosphere here is perhaps the biggest reason to stop in and check out the casino, with its high-class attitude and well-kept decor. Notably, Bellagio has a 7,000 square-foot poker room with two high-limit areas. On the casino floor, you'll find a race and sports book, table games like Pai Gow, craps, baccarat and slots. The classy, slightly less-smoky casino wins points from many players. The upscale clientele and a large selection of high-limits games attract gamblers looking for a more refined Vegas casino experience.
Recommended for Casinos because: The Bellagio's casino has an upscale feel with plenty of games, a sports book and a large poker room with two high-limit areas.
Terrisa's expert tip: If you're looking for the well-known, high-limit 'Bobby's Room' poker area, it's been renamed to the Legends Room. This smoke-free area includes tableside dining and a full-service cashier cage.
Just as you'd expect from a classic Las Vegas casino, The Mirage has the full array of expected games: blackjack, Baccarat, craps, roulette, a variety of poker and even casino war. Guests can also enjoy non-smoking tables, once an unusual feature in Las Vegas but something more people are requesting. Slots range from a penny per play to $1,000. A full-service, non-smoking race and sports book will let you watch and wager on all the games, which are broadcast on huge 85' HD projection screens. A sports bar is also available onsite, and VIP seating is offered as well. Mobile betting is also offered.
Recommended for Casinos because: With a wide range of games and a smoke-free race and sports book, the Mirage's casino is prepared for every type of gambler.
Terrisa's expert tip: The Mirage offers BetMGM, a mobile gaming app that allows bettors to place wagers on sports from anywhere--in the casino, in your room--as long as you're within the state.
The D in Downtown Las Vegas has been around for a while. Originally opened as the Sundance, later changed to Fitzgeralds, and now in its latest incarnation as The D, this long-time Fremont Street casino hotel is going stronger than ever. On the first floor, players will find a standard array of table games, slots and video gaming. On the second floor, the vibe is vintage with coin-operated machines. The D's Dancing Dealers® will spice up your game, and when you're in need of a break, LONGBAR offers over a thousand feet of counter, flair bartenders and video poker machines. On the second floor, Vue Bar gives you a great view of Fremont Street perfect for watching the Viva Vision light show.
Recommended for Casinos because: The D's selection of modern and vintage games means players are certain to find a table or machine that's just right for them.
Terrisa's expert tip: The D's second floor is home to a host of vintage gaming machines, like the Sigma Derby horse racing machine. If you miss the sound of quarters clanking through machines, this floor is for you.
The sleek and sophisticated casino at ARIA features more than 150,000 square feet of gaming space, including 1,940 slot machines and 145 table games. Gamblers can test their luck at blackjack, craps, baccarat, roulette, Let it Ride, Pai Gow and Ultimate Texas Hold'em, among other games. ARIA also has a luxurious 24-table poker room, a favorite stop among many poker players. ARIA also boasts an intimate (and non-smoking) race and sports book that can show up to 200 live events at once and displays big events on at least one of its 220-inch TVs, so bettors are never in danger of missing any of the action. You can also use your mobile device for sports betting from anywhere in the state of Nevada when you use the BetMGM app offered at ARIA and other MGM properties.
Recommended for Casinos because: ARIA's casino has an impressive array of table games and slots, a popular poker room and a non-smoking race and sports book.
Terrisa's expert tip: The popular poker room at ARIA holds a daily tournament at 1 p.m. On weekdays buy-in is $140, but weekends start at $240, when no-limit Hold'em is offered.
You don't have to be a high roller to feel like one at this upscale casino, featuring 111,000 square feet of gaming space. Alongside popular table games like baccarat, blackjack, Big 6, European roulette, mini-baccarat, Pai Gow poker, roulette and three card poker, guests will find all their favorite slot machines, including Wheel of Fortune and Monopoly. There's also a state-of-the-art race and sports book featuring a VIP section with individual wagering monitors and a 27-table poker room that offers a variety of games and limits to suit all levels of play. Daily tournaments are available, and players can dine without leaving their seats.
Recommended for Casinos because: The elegant Wynn Las Vegas offers guests a large casino floor and sports book, all with a sophisticated ambiance.
Terrisa's expert tip: If you plan on spending much time in the casino, be sure to join the players club, Wynn Rewards. You'll get discounts and benefits throughout the property.
The Venetian's stunning architecture provides bettors with one of the more memorable gambling environments on the Vegas Strip. Combined with its sister property, The Palazzo, The Venetian offers hundreds of table games in separate areas covering a huge area. Gaming options include blackjack, baccarat, roulette, craps, Pai Gow poker and various novelty games. For guests who prefer playing the one-armed bandit, there are more than 1,000 slot machines to choose from at the Venetian alone. Even when the casino is busy, it's large enough that you never feel crowded. There's also poolside gaming available at The Palazzo, and the Venetian offers mobile gaming for race and sports book betting no matter where you are.
Recommended for Casinos because: With a large casino offering everything from slots to baccarat, The Venetian is sure to have the right game for every type of player.
Terrisa's expert tip: Sports fans may be disappointed to hear that the popular sports bar Lagasse's Stadium is closed, but the Venetian's nearly 10,000 square-foot Race & Sports Book still offers fans ample space to watch and bet on games.
- 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.
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)