How to win slots in Vegas according to experts is all depending on your budget, on the machine and how much luck you have. Las Vegas is where the variety of slots feel endless and you can play slots from. With a 10 luck and a large enough bankroll, a slot machine is basically an ATM in this game. With my high luck build, I won far, far more caps, far, far faster playing slots than anything else. I got kicked out of every casino (except the Ultra Luxe, which doesn't have slots.
- How To Win At Slot Machines In Las Vegas
- Winning At Slots Vegas
- Las Vegas Slot Machine Tips
- How To Win In Vegas Slot Machines
If you are bored just playing against a slot machine, you might want to consider whether you want to participate in any of the online slot machine tournaments. The best online casinos virtually every day offer the opportunity to participate in one of their tournaments. Expecting interesting prizes, you can compare your slot strategy with other players around the world.
How to Play Slot Tournaments in Las Vegas Casinos?
All slot machine tournaments work very similarly to blackjack or poker tournaments. The online casino will announce the date when it will be held and on which slot (or slot machines) are eligible. Usually, players have to register, but in some cases, all you have to do is open selected slots and play. Sometimes, however, there may be 'Sit-and-Go' tournaments that begin when the minimum number of participants is registered.
The second step is entering the tournament. It can either be paid or free of charge. This is also the result of the price of the pool. Free tournaments usually have a prize pool of €50 to €300, but you can also find such tournaments that with free entry you can win up to several thousand euros. However, this is more an exception than a rule. Prizes in the thousands are 90 % only for paid tournaments. The entrance fee is usually in the order of several euros or dollars.
Once you are in the tournament and start playing, it is your goal to play/win more than all other participants. If your bankroll drops to zero and you do not have the option to re-buy, you are just at the end of the road. There are also several types of tournaments here. Firstly, it may be a tournament where it is easy to compare the balances of individual players after the tournament ends and the order will be created accordingly.
Another way to evaluate a tournament is through what is called the 'Winbox', when players only add prizes regardless of the amount of the final bankroll. Tournament winners with the highest Winbox then wins.
For example – entry to a 3 000-coin tournament, 6 spins
Spin | Bet | Win | Bankroll | Win Box |
0. | 0 | 0 | 3 000 | 0 |
1. | 75 | 0 | 2 925 | 0 |
2. | 75 | 250 | 3 100 | 250 |
3. | 75 | 25 | 3050 | 275 |
4. | 75 | 100 | 3 075 | 375 |
5. | 75 | 0 | 3 000 | 375 |
6. | 75 | 0 | 2 925 | 375 |
Tips and Trick How to Win a Slot Tournament
Since the online slot machines have not yet introduced elements to allow the player to influence the house edge, the results of the game rounds depend only on the player's luck. However, there are at least some basic pieces of advice that can significantly increase your chance of winning on slots.⭐
- Play as fast as you can
Play as fast as you can. In most slot tournaments, players will get e.g. 1 000 credits and only 10 minutes to play them through. If one spin costs you 3 credits, you have less than 2 seconds for one spin to clear your credit completely. You have to be really fast to do that.
- Always play for the max bet
Higher-stake games, especially those with a higher denomination, give you better payouts. Wizard of oz slot machine free no download. In particular, thanks to the maximum bet, you can qualify for the jackpot.
- Do not bother too much about how much you have already won
How To Win At Slot Machines In Las Vegas
Especially in Winbox games, do not worry about scoring on it. Individual winnings are not so significant. You have to play as fast as possible.
- Click through the Bonus Wheels as quickly as possible
In a tournament, you are mainly pushing for time; bonus spins with free spins can cause a significant delay if you do not speed them up.
- Check your time
It is not worth starting a 5-minute slot tournament 2 minutes before it's over. There is no way you can make it in time.
- Possibility to continue the game
Some of the tournaments give you the chance to continue playing, even if the lap time has elapsed. It will almost certainly cost you real money, including in free tournaments. If you want to win, it will sometimes be necessary to continue playing for money. Be sure that others will be willing to as well.
However, here too, use this option only if you are sure it is worth it. If you are already at the prize position after the base round, it can happen that by continuing with the game for the money, you only get to increase the lead over the player below you.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Slot Tournaments
Slot tournaments have a number of advantages and a few drawbacks. It is advisable to have all this information before entering the tournament. In our case, these are only general benefits or negatives. Specific situations, of course, will depend on a number of variables, such as what type of player you are, what slots you are allowed to play, if you can switch between slots, and finally but most importantly, one should not forget the VIP status players.
Advantages
- You have a higher chance of winning. *
- You know exactly how much you can lose.
- You have the chance to win high prizes for a small entry fee or free of charge.
- VIP status (if you have it) can guarantee free entry to the tournament.
Disadvantages
- You have to play fast.
- You may not be able to play on your favorite slot.
- If you win a jackpot, you will not be able to keep it. **
- You can only play in a tournament at a certain time.
* By having a higher chance of winning, of course, we are not thinking of tournament-adjusted payouts. RTP remains constant at all times. But, some prize pools are in thousands of euros, which may be equivalent to some local jackpots. The chances of winning such a jackpot are a few tens of thousands to 1. When in a tournament where there are 1 000 other players, you have a 1:1000 chance of winning.
** Your winnings during the tournament are only to determine the placement of the other players. This means that even if you hit a progressive jackpot, you are likely to win the tournament, but you will only win the main prize. All winnings on the online slot are dropped after the end of the casino tournament.
Slot tournament in online casinos
Online casino tournaments are slightly different from those you encounter in the big casinos in Las Vegas. If it is not a VIP event for regular players; any registered player can enter the tournament. There are always one or several slots selected for the tournament, and the date and duration of the tournament are also announced. Most online casinos have a calendar on their website for the months ahead, so there is no problem finding the best one for you.
Tournaments in online casinos are generally free to enter and have slightly different rules from tournaments in brick-and-mortar casinos. When playing in Las Vegas tournaments, players compete in a very short period of time. In online casinos, tournaments often last for several days or weeks.
One thing, however, is common to both casinos. Not all casinos have slot tournaments. Before you sign up in an online casino, make sure they offer it. And, of course, always read the General Terms and Conditions.
Top 5 Slot Tournament Casinos
Casino | Welcome Bonus | ||
Vera John | Up to €100 | Read Review | Visit |
Energy Casino | Up to €200 | Read Review | Visit |
OrientXpress | Up to €500 | Read Review | Visit |
LVBet | €10 No Deposit | Read Review | Visit |
Campeon Casino | Up to €300 | Read Review | Visit |
Billy King | Up to €200 | Read Review | Visit |
Tips and Tricks How to Win Slot Tournament in Online Casinos
You will most likely encounter two types of online slot tournaments. Depending on the type, you should choose the appropriate strategy. In both cases, even if you do not pay a fee, you will not play at the machines free of charge, but for real money instead. However, you can keep your winnings.
Tournament type: Get the most points
In this type of tournament, you get points for every bet you make. It is very simple. The more you play, the more points you get. You will also get more points for higher bets. But remember: only bets for real money are eligible for the tournament.
- Sign up for the slot tournament as soon as possible and play from the very beginning
Those who bet the most, win these tournaments. Therefore, it is best to play from the start and play as you would normally play. And invest more money at the end of the tournament, when you see that you have a chance of winning a prize. But if you do not want the first prize too badly, there is no point in pushing thousands to win the tournament when the maximum prize is several hundred € / $.
- Choose the best bet size
Maximize the number of points earned per bet. Some point distribution may look like this:
- Bet €0.20 up to €0.99 = 1 point
- Bet €1.00 up to €1.99 = 5 points
- Bet €2.00 up to €2.99 = 15 points
- Bet €3.00 up to €3.99 = 25 points
- Bet €4.00 up to €4.99 = 35 points
- Bet €5.00 + = 50 points
If you have a €500 bankroll, it does not make sense to bet for €2 and get 3750 points, if you can bet for €5 and get 5000 points. And of course, it makes no sense to bet over €5.
- Choose the slot with the highest return to player percentage (RTP)
Before the tournament starts, check out the RTP for all slot machines in the tournament. And choose the one with the highest. You will thus play the most favorable slot machine.
Tournament type: Biggest win on a single spin
In this type of tournament, win the highest value single spin amount relative to your bet amount. It is a little fairer, due to the condition that you do not have to have an astronomical bankroll to win. In addition, bet size does not matter either, because it is the ratio that counts. For example:
- Win €1 / bet €0.20 – your score is 5 (1 / 0.20)
- Win €100 / bet €20 – your score is 5 (100/20)
- Play with the minimum bet
As has been said, size does not matter. It only depends on the ratio. The more bets you make, the higher the chances of the big win. Do not play through your whole bankroll with high bets if you can make more little ones.
- Play on slot machines with higher payouts
Before you start the tournament, check out all the available slot machines and their payout tables. Does one slot offer a 2000-unit pay for three cherries and a €5 bet and another one 2200? Play with the machine with the higher payout ratio. Winnings will not strike as often, but they will be higher and you will get higher points. That is what counts.
What to be careful about when playing online slot tournaments
Just like with every other casino promotion, you should thoroughly review the Terms and Conditions. Especially focus on:
Winning At Slots Vegas
Registration Deadline and Tournament Duration
Although it may seem like a sure thing, players are wrong in this too. And it's pretty upsetting not to participate in a tournament just due to late registration.
Which slot machines are eligible for the tournament?
Also, pay extra attention to this. There is no reason to play slots that are not in the tournament.
Winning criteria
In this article, we have described the strategies for the types of online slot tournaments that are the most common. You can also meet with exceptions and the winner can be evaluated according to other criteria. Keep in mind that different rules require a different strategy.
What is a prize pool and how will it be divided?
€5000 is pretty awesome, but if it is divided among 50 players, even the winner barely receives a few hundred. It makes no sense to spend €1000 in a tournament if the prize money is only €500.
What can you do with the tournament prize?
What will actually happen when you win? Some online casinos pay tournament rewards as bonus money and are subject to wagering requirements, which further reduces their value.
Introduction to Las Vegas Visit
In June of 2019, 3.6 million people visited Las Vegas. Perhaps you were one of them? Or maybe you've yet to have your first Las Vegas visit. Whether you're a frequent traveler to Las Vegas or a newbie, you want to be better prepared at playing slots in Las Vegas.
Good for you! Preparation is key. A little can go a long way, especially when it comes to your hard-won cash. In this post, I'll start with seven secrets to winning on slots during your Las Vegas visit.
This article has the following sections:
- Introduction to Las Vegas Visit
- Nevada Payout Return Limits
- Know Your Nevada Gaming Stats
- Check the Most Recent Payout Return Statistics
- The Many Wonderful Las Vegas Gambling Podcasts
- Downtown Versus the Strip
- When to Visit and When Not to Visit
- Candidate Winning Slot Machines in Las Vegas
- Always play for the max bet
Higher-stake games, especially those with a higher denomination, give you better payouts. Wizard of oz slot machine free no download. In particular, thanks to the maximum bet, you can qualify for the jackpot.
- Do not bother too much about how much you have already won
How To Win At Slot Machines In Las Vegas
Especially in Winbox games, do not worry about scoring on it. Individual winnings are not so significant. You have to play as fast as possible.
- Click through the Bonus Wheels as quickly as possible
In a tournament, you are mainly pushing for time; bonus spins with free spins can cause a significant delay if you do not speed them up.
- Check your time
It is not worth starting a 5-minute slot tournament 2 minutes before it's over. There is no way you can make it in time.
- Possibility to continue the game
Some of the tournaments give you the chance to continue playing, even if the lap time has elapsed. It will almost certainly cost you real money, including in free tournaments. If you want to win, it will sometimes be necessary to continue playing for money. Be sure that others will be willing to as well.
However, here too, use this option only if you are sure it is worth it. If you are already at the prize position after the base round, it can happen that by continuing with the game for the money, you only get to increase the lead over the player below you.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Slot Tournaments
Slot tournaments have a number of advantages and a few drawbacks. It is advisable to have all this information before entering the tournament. In our case, these are only general benefits or negatives. Specific situations, of course, will depend on a number of variables, such as what type of player you are, what slots you are allowed to play, if you can switch between slots, and finally but most importantly, one should not forget the VIP status players.
Advantages
- You have a higher chance of winning. *
- You know exactly how much you can lose.
- You have the chance to win high prizes for a small entry fee or free of charge.
- VIP status (if you have it) can guarantee free entry to the tournament.
Disadvantages
- You have to play fast.
- You may not be able to play on your favorite slot.
- If you win a jackpot, you will not be able to keep it. **
- You can only play in a tournament at a certain time.
* By having a higher chance of winning, of course, we are not thinking of tournament-adjusted payouts. RTP remains constant at all times. But, some prize pools are in thousands of euros, which may be equivalent to some local jackpots. The chances of winning such a jackpot are a few tens of thousands to 1. When in a tournament where there are 1 000 other players, you have a 1:1000 chance of winning.
** Your winnings during the tournament are only to determine the placement of the other players. This means that even if you hit a progressive jackpot, you are likely to win the tournament, but you will only win the main prize. All winnings on the online slot are dropped after the end of the casino tournament.
Slot tournament in online casinos
Online casino tournaments are slightly different from those you encounter in the big casinos in Las Vegas. If it is not a VIP event for regular players; any registered player can enter the tournament. There are always one or several slots selected for the tournament, and the date and duration of the tournament are also announced. Most online casinos have a calendar on their website for the months ahead, so there is no problem finding the best one for you.
Tournaments in online casinos are generally free to enter and have slightly different rules from tournaments in brick-and-mortar casinos. When playing in Las Vegas tournaments, players compete in a very short period of time. In online casinos, tournaments often last for several days or weeks.
One thing, however, is common to both casinos. Not all casinos have slot tournaments. Before you sign up in an online casino, make sure they offer it. And, of course, always read the General Terms and Conditions.
Top 5 Slot Tournament Casinos
Casino | Welcome Bonus | ||
Vera John | Up to €100 | Read Review | Visit |
Energy Casino | Up to €200 | Read Review | Visit |
OrientXpress | Up to €500 | Read Review | Visit |
LVBet | €10 No Deposit | Read Review | Visit |
Campeon Casino | Up to €300 | Read Review | Visit |
Billy King | Up to €200 | Read Review | Visit |
Tips and Tricks How to Win Slot Tournament in Online Casinos
You will most likely encounter two types of online slot tournaments. Depending on the type, you should choose the appropriate strategy. In both cases, even if you do not pay a fee, you will not play at the machines free of charge, but for real money instead. However, you can keep your winnings.
Tournament type: Get the most points
In this type of tournament, you get points for every bet you make. It is very simple. The more you play, the more points you get. You will also get more points for higher bets. But remember: only bets for real money are eligible for the tournament.
- Sign up for the slot tournament as soon as possible and play from the very beginning
Those who bet the most, win these tournaments. Therefore, it is best to play from the start and play as you would normally play. And invest more money at the end of the tournament, when you see that you have a chance of winning a prize. But if you do not want the first prize too badly, there is no point in pushing thousands to win the tournament when the maximum prize is several hundred € / $.
- Choose the best bet size
Maximize the number of points earned per bet. Some point distribution may look like this:
- Bet €0.20 up to €0.99 = 1 point
- Bet €1.00 up to €1.99 = 5 points
- Bet €2.00 up to €2.99 = 15 points
- Bet €3.00 up to €3.99 = 25 points
- Bet €4.00 up to €4.99 = 35 points
- Bet €5.00 + = 50 points
If you have a €500 bankroll, it does not make sense to bet for €2 and get 3750 points, if you can bet for €5 and get 5000 points. And of course, it makes no sense to bet over €5.
- Choose the slot with the highest return to player percentage (RTP)
Before the tournament starts, check out the RTP for all slot machines in the tournament. And choose the one with the highest. You will thus play the most favorable slot machine.
Tournament type: Biggest win on a single spin
In this type of tournament, win the highest value single spin amount relative to your bet amount. It is a little fairer, due to the condition that you do not have to have an astronomical bankroll to win. In addition, bet size does not matter either, because it is the ratio that counts. For example:
- Win €1 / bet €0.20 – your score is 5 (1 / 0.20)
- Win €100 / bet €20 – your score is 5 (100/20)
- Play with the minimum bet
As has been said, size does not matter. It only depends on the ratio. The more bets you make, the higher the chances of the big win. Do not play through your whole bankroll with high bets if you can make more little ones.
- Play on slot machines with higher payouts
Before you start the tournament, check out all the available slot machines and their payout tables. Does one slot offer a 2000-unit pay for three cherries and a €5 bet and another one 2200? Play with the machine with the higher payout ratio. Winnings will not strike as often, but they will be higher and you will get higher points. That is what counts.
What to be careful about when playing online slot tournaments
Just like with every other casino promotion, you should thoroughly review the Terms and Conditions. Especially focus on:
Winning At Slots Vegas
Registration Deadline and Tournament Duration
Although it may seem like a sure thing, players are wrong in this too. And it's pretty upsetting not to participate in a tournament just due to late registration.
Which slot machines are eligible for the tournament?
Also, pay extra attention to this. There is no reason to play slots that are not in the tournament.
Winning criteria
In this article, we have described the strategies for the types of online slot tournaments that are the most common. You can also meet with exceptions and the winner can be evaluated according to other criteria. Keep in mind that different rules require a different strategy.
What is a prize pool and how will it be divided?
€5000 is pretty awesome, but if it is divided among 50 players, even the winner barely receives a few hundred. It makes no sense to spend €1000 in a tournament if the prize money is only €500.
What can you do with the tournament prize?
What will actually happen when you win? Some online casinos pay tournament rewards as bonus money and are subject to wagering requirements, which further reduces their value.
Introduction to Las Vegas Visit
In June of 2019, 3.6 million people visited Las Vegas. Perhaps you were one of them? Or maybe you've yet to have your first Las Vegas visit. Whether you're a frequent traveler to Las Vegas or a newbie, you want to be better prepared at playing slots in Las Vegas.
Good for you! Preparation is key. A little can go a long way, especially when it comes to your hard-won cash. In this post, I'll start with seven secrets to winning on slots during your Las Vegas visit.
This article has the following sections:
- Introduction to Las Vegas Visit
- Nevada Payout Return Limits
- Know Your Nevada Gaming Stats
- Check the Most Recent Payout Return Statistics
- The Many Wonderful Las Vegas Gambling Podcasts
- Downtown Versus the Strip
- When to Visit and When Not to Visit
- Candidate Winning Slot Machines in Las Vegas
- Summary of Las Vegas Visit
Keep Reading … or Listen Instead!
This audio contains commentary not found anywhere else!
Subscribe to my Professor Slots podcast: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Gaana | Stitcher | Pandora | iHeart Radio | Tune-In | SoundCloud | RadioPublic | Android | RSS and wherever else you find podcasts!
1. Nevada Payout Return Limits
Nevada state gaming regulation #14 places a minimum legal limit on payout returns for slot machines. This minimum payout limit is 75%. Further, this lower limit applies per wager.
'All gaming devices must: Theoretically pay out a mathematically demonstrable percentage of all amounts wagered, which must not be less than 75 percent for each wager available for play on the device.'
Regulation 14.040: Minimum standards for gaming devicesLas Vegas Slot Machine Tips
What does this 75% minimum mean? Does it mean the player gets back 75 cents if they make a $1 bet on a slot machine? No, it doesn't.
What it means is that the statistical average is at least a 75% return over many, many bets. The additional use of the words 'per wager' in Regulation 14 means the slot machine must never be set less than an average 75% return.
For example, an unscrupulous casino operator might set a slot machine to have a 70% return for some time, then later set the payout return to 80% for an equal number of bets. Such a setup would also result in an average 75% return over both periods combined, but wouldn't meet Nevada's legal requirement.
Another close examination of the regulation shows something missing, which is well worth noting. What's missing? There's no mention of a maximum legal limit, which some states have put in place.
How To Win In Vegas Slot Machines
Without an upper legal limit on payout returns, casino operators in Nevada can offer the occasional slot machine which, on average, wins. Of course, casinos would lose money on slot machines set up this way. But, there are still good business reasons to do so.
I go over these reasons in How to Win at Slots in Older Casinos Built Before 2012. Suffice to say now, Nevada gaming regulations make doing so legal. Two questions naturally follow:
- Do Las Vegas casinos set up the occasional slot machine to be winners?
- How can a slots player find these winning slot machines?
The answer to the first question is yes. Casinos often decide to set up an occasional slot machine to win for promotional purposes. It's a silent casino promotion because casinos choose to do this on slot machines situated to be easily visible to passersby.
It's also worth noting that, like any business activity, it's on a careful budget. Casinos can't afford to do this often because, like everyone else, they are on a budget. But they do it. I know because I've found them before.
Later in this post, I'll share some recent experiences from my fan base regarding candidate winning slot machines in Las Vegas for your consideration. But knowing they exist, and why they exist, is a necessary first step to finding them.
2. Know Your Nevada Gaming Stats
The Nevada Gaming Control Board and the Nevada Gaming Commission regulate the gaming industry in Las Vegas. This state gaming commission's website is both thorough and comprehensive. The site offers several useful resources, but let's consider the other side of payout returns: Actual payout statistics.
Legal limits and reported statistics are like the difference between a plan of attack and an actual battle. Remember the adage, 'No plan survives contact with the enemy.' Or, in more normal circumstances, having a budget isn't the same as paying bills.
In terms of slots gameplay, we know that Nevada gaming regulations have set a minimum payout return limit of 75% per wager on their gaming machines. That's the law. But what happened? How did it work out in the real world?
Some states, including Nevada, do more than define a theoretical payout return limit. Nevada provides comprehensive payout return statistics. Each year, I review these actual statistics in Nevada Slot Machine Casino Gambling.
Rather than repeat myself fully, I'll point you toward the Payout Returns in Nevada section of the Nevada post just mentioned. For now, I'll say Nevada provides actual payout return statistics by:
- State region, including Downtown Las Vegas versus the Strip
- Slot machine denomination, including most common amounts but also multi-denomination, Megabucks, and other
- Duration, including the current month, last 3 months, and last 12 months
- Casino revenue range, including all casinos, over $1B, $1B to $12B, etc.
While past statistics never predict future behavior, a truism from the study of statistics, we can look at the available actuals to see if we can spot business trends.
Maybe, just perhaps, we can find a slot machine denomination with the best odds of winning last week. And perhaps they still have high odds this week.
Why? Because, in general, casinos are businesses as described and slots aren't table card games. The odds of winning at table card games can't change unless someone cheats or the game rules change.
Slot machines are electronic devices. Yes, they have random number generators – but RNGs are adjustable as a tool by the casino operator trying to control their financial performance metrics finely.
3. Check the Most Recent Payout Return Statistics
Before your next trip to Las Vegas to play slot machines, visit the Nevada Gaming Commission's website. Under Statistics & Publications, you'll find an entry for Gaming Revenue Report with PDF files available for download.
At the time of this writing, the most recently available monthly gaming revenue report from Nevada is for June 2019. These reports include the gaming statistics for slot machines, table games, and sports betting. Further, the left-most columns are for the most recent month with the remaining columns for a combined three months and twelve months.
Page 1 is a state-wide summary. Since we are discussing a Las Vegas visit, we need to find two specific state regions in the report: Downtown Las Vegas and Las Vegas Strip. Both are situated in Clark County.
The gaming revenue statistics for downtown Las Vegas begins on page 8:
- Page 8: All downtown Las Vegas casinos combined
- Page 9: Downtown Las Vegas casinos with over $1 million in gaming revenue
- Page 10: Downtown Las Vegas casinos with $1 million to $12 million in gaming revenue (none currently exist)
- Page 11: Downtown Las Vegas casinos with over $12 million in gaming revenue
The gaming revenue statistics for the Las Vegas Strip are on pages 12 through 17:
- Page 12: All Las Vegas Strip Area casinos
- Page 13: Las Vegas Strip casinos with over $1 million in gaming revenue
- Page 14: Las Vegas Strip casinos with $1 million to $12 million in gaming revenue (none currently exist)
- Page 15: Las Vegas Strip casinos with $12 million to $36 million in gaming revenue
- Page 16: Las Vegas Strip casinos with $36 million to $72 million in gaming revenue
- Page 17: Las Vegas Strip casinos with over $72 million in gaming revenue
Since the format is common on all these pages, let's review how to read and understand one of them: Page 8 – All Downtown Las Vegas Area casinos combined. The current month columns are:
- Number of Locations
- Number of Units
- Win Amount in 1000s of dollars
- Percent Change from the last month
- Win Percent
Note that Nevada reports the Win Percent for the casino, not the player. In most other states, this percentage is the casino hold percentage or Hold%. Subtracting it from 100% provides the percentage of winnings retained by the player. Further, negative numbers are in parenthesis.
The lowest casino Win Percent, i.e., highest player return, in June 2019 was the $25 denomination slot machine with a negative 7.57 Win%. There were nine of these slot machines at three locations with an overall monthly player return of 107.57%
Why so high? Quite likely, someone won big on one of these $25 denomination slot machines. That big jackpot pushed up the overall monthly average on all nine machines with this denomination in the downtown area.
Looking on the same line under the 3-month entry, it was 100% minus 4.77% equals 95.23%. The 12-month average was even smaller, at 92.44%. This abrupt change indicates playing $25 denomination in downtown Las Vegas is not the advantage it might otherwise appear.
Otherwise, slot machine denominations with the highest-to-lowest player returns for June 2019 in all casinos in the downtown Las Vegas area were:
- Multi-denomination: 100% minus 5.44% equals 94.56% return to the player
- 25-cent quarter slots: 100% minus 5.49% equals 94.51% return to the player
- 1-dollar slots: 100% minus 5.59% equals 94.41% return to the player
- 5-cent nickel slots: 100% minus 5.75% equals 94.25% return to the player
- 5-dollar slots: 100% minus 7.49% equals 92.51% return to the player
- 1-cent penny slots: 100% minus 11.03% equals 88.97% return to the player
- Megabucks: 100% minus 14.02% equals 85.98% return to the player
I understand that this is a lot of statistics. But consider what we learned even with this simple research of statistics from downtown Las Vegas casinos for June 2019: Grand fortune casino no deposit bonus.
- The worst payout returns are on Megabucks
- The second-lowest payout return is from penny slots
- The third-lowest payout return is from $5 and $25 slot machines
- The best returns, all very similar, are nickel slots, dollar slots, quarter slots, and multi-denominational slot machines
A further detailed analysis would be to perform the same straightforward payout return study on downtown Las Vegas casinos separated into three ranges of gaming revenue.
I'll save this further analysis for another time. We'd need to run down the monthly gaming revenue for each casino, likely from their casino operator's financial reports filed with the Security Exchange Commission.
4. The Many Wonderful Las Vegas Gambling Podcasts
So far, I've talked about gaming regulations and gaming revenue reports available from the state of Nevada. These topics were based on official information from the government. But, that's not everything we have. There are also people like you.
More specifically, there are people like you that have enjoyed Las Vegas so much that they started a podcast about it. There are more than a few such Las Vegas gambling podcasts. In preparation for your next Las Vegas visit, start listening to them to learn a lot of tips and tricks from these Las Vegas experts.
Each show is more-or-less available anywhere you find podcasts. Some shows are former or current radio shows which distribute as a podcast so, again, look for them wherever you find podcasts.
If you've never listened to a podcast before, you might wonder how to start doing so. Here's how. There are a selection of podcast apps and services on this webpage. It's on the right side if you're at a computer or at the end if you're on a mobile device.
Those linked images go to my podcast show at those sites. After subscribing to my show, of course, use their search tool to find any of the following podcast show names:
- Five Hundy by Midnight
- Vegas Never Sleeps
- 360 Vegas
- You Can Bet on That
- Gambling with an Edge
- Vegas Confessions Podcast
- Vital Vegas
The longest-running Las Vegas gambling podcast is Five Hundy by Midnight: The Original Las Vegas Podcast. They've been at it since January of 2005 providing weekly episodes since then. At the time of this writing, they are up to episode #702. The hosts are relatively focused on Las Vegas news stories.
Vegas Never Sleeps by Steven Maggi is a former radio show now distributed as a podcast. He's been broadcasting since 2008. His show is mostly thoughtful interviews with various Las Vegas entertainers and others. I was one of those other interviewees in March of 2018.
360 Vegas is a popular podcast about all things Las Vegas. They also host an annual meetup called 360 Vegas Vacation. The 2019 event, Twitter hashtag #360VV9, is on September 1-3, 2019. At the time of this writing, it's still about a month away.
Gambling Podcast: You Can Bet on That, a podcast for the recreational gambler, is hosted by Mark and Dr. Mike. They have great chemistry and produce a fun and friendly show. While they are physically located in San Diego, they are so near Las Vegas and visit so often that they often talk about it.
Gambling with an Edge is a weekly live radio show in Las Vegas found afterward as podcast episodes. It's hosted by Bob Dancer and Richard Munchkin of video poker fame. They interview professional gamblers, authors, and casinos insiders.
Vegas Confessions Podcast is all about the casino and gambling lifestyle. The three hosts are often in Las Vegas. They cover Las Vegas topics as well as gambling superstitions, casino games, food reviews, trip reports, and more.
Last but certainly not least is Vital Vegas by Scott Roeben. His blog, twitter feed, and podcast are incredible. He loves Las Vegas. Here you'll find essential Las Vegas news, tips, deals, and (as he says) WTF. In my opinion, out of all the Las Vegas podcasts I mention here, pick Vital Vegas. You won't regret it.
None of these podcasts have paid me to promote them in this blog. I like to listen to them and thought you might find them useful in preparing for your Las Vegas visit.
I should further note that this is not a comprehensive list of Las Vegas podcasts. For instance, I haven't yet listened to the Faces and Aces Las Vegas podcast. Again, the podcasts listed are merely those I have discovered and enjoyed over time.
5. Downtown Versus the Strip
Las Vegas is famous for the Strip with its world-famous mega-resorts, shops, five-star dining options, and entertainment venues. But there is also the smaller and lesser-known historic downtown Las Vegas with its venerable casinos, museums, and zip line.
Comparing the Strip to Downtown is like comparing apples and oranges. Each location is a unique experience with different options. At a high level, I could perhaps best describe Downtown as where many locals go while the Strip is where out-of-towners tend to be.
How do I know this? Because of reported gaming revenue for the two areas. For 2018, the Las Vegas Strip had $6.6 billion in annual gaming revenue. Also for 2018, Downtown Las Vegas had less than 10% of that annual gaming revenue or $650 million.
The Strip has big casinos, big acts, and big everything else. Again, it's world-famous and hardly a secret. Downtown Las Vegas is known as Old Vegas or merely Fremont Street. For many visitors, Old Vegas is the secret worth sharing.
Old Vegas is more than one secret. It is perhaps as many as 15 secrets, all by itself. In advance of your Las Vegas visit, consider reviewing this post from The Crazy Tourist, 15 Best Things to Do in Downtown Las Vegas.
If you are staying on or slightly off the Las Vegas Strip but want to visit downtown Las Vegas or vice versa, how do you get there? How far apart are they?
Downtown and the Strip are about two to five miles apart. With light traffic on Las Vegas Boulevard, it takes 15 to 20 minutes to drive from mid-Strip to the Fremont Street Experience. This time applies to driving your car, or taking a rental, including finding a spot to park.
Otherwise, there's taking the bus, walking, rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, and taking a taxi. It's a two-mile walk from the Stratosphere on the north end of the Strip.
6. When to Visit and When Not to Visit
Whether you visit the Las Vegas Strip, downtown Las Vegas, or both, winning at slots in Las Vegas means considering when to visit. This question has to do with the number of visitors in Las Vegas at any given time.
In 2018, over 42 million people visited Las Vegas. In June of 2019, 3.9 million people visited according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau. Only 514,000 visitors, about 13% of the monthly visitors, were visiting in June to attend a conference. Chinese dragon slot machine.
Per month, most visitors are in March at less than 3.8 million while the least visitors were in February at 3.2 million individuals. Conference attendance is meager during December.
What I'm trying to do here by digging into these statistics isn't to examine the number of visitors in a month or a year in the city of Las Vegas. What I'm trying to dig into relates to experiences my fanbase has been having when visiting Las Vegas.
What happens to them? Whether they are on the Strip or Downtown, they have been reporting that they win at slots on weekdays and lose playing slots on weekends.
Why? I can explain why, and touched on why above, but it hardly matters. This pattern exists, whatever its cause. And I want that you should know about it when planning your Las Vegas visit.
I touched on why this is above, about casinos being a business with fine control over their payout return statistics for slots. This control is now daily due to technological advances in casino operating systems. At most modern casinos, central computers control slot machine odds of winning.
As I have mentioned elsewhere, casino operators have been seeing an unprecedented number of casino visitors. To manage such large groups, casino operators needed to automate their casinos. Doing so allowed them to reduce their workforce while also providing them the ability to achieve their daily financial performance metrics.
Both changes resulted in significantly reduced operating costs. However, automation means casinos can quickly adjust the odds of winning on all their slot machines. When would they need to do this?
It's a business decision. Casino operators universally decrease the odds of winning on slots machines during the weekends when hotels have higher occupancy. To keep some balance, they'll also increase the odds of winning on slots during weekdays.
Nevada gaming regulations require a monthly revenue report from each casino. That's a monthly report. Even if it was a weekly report, this difference in weekday and weekend payout returns is unnoticeable.
Both a weekly and monthly report shows the payout return average over their respective periods. Only a daily report would show the casino's behavior of changing slot machine odds within a week.
But the Nevada gaming regulations don't show daily gaming revenue reports. No state does. So, casino operators can do this without breaking any laws.
Based on experiences shared by my audience, there are lower odds of winning on slot machines starting by 10 a.m. on Friday through around sunrise on Monday morning. Further, the same reduction occurs on significant holidays or whenever Las Vegas has more extensive than usual crowds of visitors.
Please plan your Las Vegas visit accordingly, especially when choosing which day or days you plan on playing slot machines while there. In general, if there's a crowd then be very cautious about risking your bankroll.
7. Candidate Winning Slot Machines in Las Vegas
Scott Roeben first mentioned the best slot machine I know about in Las Vegas. He runs the Vital Vegas blog, Twitter feed, and podcast. This slot machine is in Four Queens in downtown Las Vegas over by the cashier's cage.
Scott posted a photo of this 'Old Faithful' slot machine on Twitter along with its general area within the casino. It's a 2-credit, $5 denomination Progressive Wheel of Fortune machine.
Being a $5 denomination slot machine, it's high-limit. I don't recommend playing high-limit slots unless you can afford the relatively large bankroll required to make 100 to 120 bets of $10 each. Don't ever bet with any amount of money you can't afford to lose.
Remember, winning by luck isn't something with which I can help you or anyone else. Instead, winning because you have an excellent plan is something with which I can and do help.
Bonus Secret
Thanks for reading so far into this rather long post with so much statistics. You deserve a reward. And so here it is.
Less than two months ago, audience member James reported from the Four Queens Casino in downtown Las Vegas. Based on his experiences, they've set up their slot machines to provide a quick win or 'taste' followed by no wins.
The advantage play to use in response to this casino setup is what I call my 'Five Pull' approach. For slot machines there, make only five bets before moving to another slot machine. If you win anything at all, move on without making any remaining bets.
Optionally, if you can, try to play slot machines not played for at least a few minutes or longer. Of course, finding an idle slot machine isn't possible on busy nights at the casino.
I explain this specific winning strategy in detail in my blog article Winning Strategy 1: Only Win Immediately.
Summary of Las Vegas Visit
In June of 2019, 3.6 million people visited Las Vegas. Next month, you might be one of them. Whether you're a frequent traveler to Las Vegas or a newbie, this post helps you be better prepared for playing slots in Las Vegas.
When it comes to winning with slots at someplace you're not as familiar with as your local casino, preparation with a little thought is the key to a successful trip.
Join our Nevada slots community, a private and closed Facebook Group, for more advice from fellow lovers of slots and Las Vegas.
Have a great Las Vegas visit and let us know how it goes!
Related Articles from Professor Slots
Other Articles from Professor Slots
- Previous: Online Resource: A State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series
- Next: Why You Need to Start a Recreational Gambling Podcast
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC