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By far the most popular attraction in the casino world, slot machines take up more floor space in most casinos than all other gaming options combined! This is because they’re easy to play and offer huge jackpots to players, both of which make them extremely popular, especially among players who aren’t all that familiar with the more complex rules of table games.
It operates 1,450 slot machines in both pre- and post-security areas. In 2018, the airport made $36 million in revenue. Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) partnered with International Gaming Technology, PLC, which has overseen the slots since 1993. The airport has 240 slot machines that bring in $1.1 million a year. Slot player hits $4M jackpot on Las Vegas Strip A Dancing Drums Explosion video slot machine went boom on the Strip on Saturday night. Bellagio slots player wins nearly $4 million. The slot machines at the airport are currently owned & operated by The South Point Hotel & Casino. You would think the payback percentage is the same as at the casino itself. There have been a few big winners at the airport in the past few months!
Of course, the casinos tend to like slot machines too, because they’re the biggest moneymakers. That’s why it’s important to find the best casinos for slots, no matter what town you might be in.
In Las Vegas, most of the best games are found in the downtown and off-Strip area, while the flashier Strip casinos carry games with higher house edges. This is generally true when it comes to slot machines, too. The looser slots are usually in downtown casinos; meanwhile, Strip properties rely on all their extras and amenities to get people in the doors, and aren’t quite as generous once you start playing.
Slot machines in Vegas comes in all shapes, forms and sizes and cater for players on all budgets
However, there are exceptions to this rule, and good slots can be found anywhere you look in Las Vegas. Here’s our list of the best Vegas Casinos for Slots!
Palms Casino Slots
The Palms is mostly known for being an upscale casino/resort, but they also carry a reputation for featuring some of the loosest slots in the city. In fact, a study done in 2001-2002 by Michael Shackleford actually found that the Palms had the best return on nickel slots – 93.42% – of any casino in all of Las Vegas[1], by a pretty significant margin! We definitely recommend the Palms for anyone looking to get the most bang for their slots buck.
Stratosphere Casino Slots
Best Slot Machine In Vegas Airport Terminal
If you want to stay on the strip and can exercise a bit of caution in the games you play, take a look at the slot machine offerings in the Stratosphere. The overall selection doesn’t rank among the loosest around, but we like that they have quite a few dollar slots that advertise exactly how much payback you’ll be getting from the machines. In fact, some of their slots have an advertised payout of 98%! That’s hard to beat at the dollar level, making the Stratosphere one of the best Vegas slots casinos on the Strip.
Gold Coast Casino Slots
Located off the strip, the Gold Coast is another casino that performed quite well in the study we mentioned earlier. Not only does the Gold Coast have some of the loosest slots in Las Vegas, but they also have a ton to choose from, especially at the nickel level, making this a fine destination for slots fanatics.
Sahara Casino Slots
The Sahara is another Strip casino that doesn’t cater to the upscale market, meaning that their rooms are affordable, the cost of gaming is low, and the games tend to be a bit looser than the ones in the swankier joints up the road a bit. In fact, along with Slots-A-Fun, the Sahara has what are probably the loosest slots you’ll find anywhere on the Strip, offering reasonable paybacks event down at the nickel and penny levels, which makes it a great choice for those who want a fair slots experience without running up a big bill if they lose.
Slots-A-Fun Casino Slots
This tiny Strip casino may not even show up on your radar, but if you’re looking for cheap gaming and loose slots, you should stop by. Located right next to Circus Circus, Slots-A-Fun has some of the lowest betting limits anywhere in Vegas, and their slots offer excellent payback when compared to most of their Strip counterparts. However, it is expected that Slots-A-Fun will soon be rebranded and become a part of Circus Circus; whether the excellent slots gaming here will continue after that process ends is yet to be seen.
Honorable Mentions
While the five casinos we’ve listed above all feature excellent slots, they’re far from the only good slots casinos in all of Las Vegas. We’ve listed a few more to check out below; these all have reputations as being great choices for slots players, with loose machines and plenty of options for gamblers to choose from.
On The Strip Casinos
- Imperial Palace
- Riviera
Downtown Casinos
- El Cortez
- Main Street Station
Off-Strip Casinos
- Boulder Station
- Fitzgeralds
Worst Vegas Casino for Slots
Finally, where’s the worst place in Las Vegas to take a chance on the slot machines? Well, in some categories, this isn’t an easy pick, but most people who have been to Vegas at least once will know the answer to this one. Stay away from the slot machines at McCarran Airport; you’ve probably suspected they’re just there to lure in unsuspecting tourists who can’t wait to leave the airport before gambling, and you’d be right. They’re generally regarded as the tightest slots anywhere in the Las Vegas area.
Sources
[1]Palms Slots leave you smiling by RGTOnline.com
I’ll never forget my first trip to Las Vegas. When I walked off the ramp into the airport and heard the musical, electronic sound of slot machines, a huge smile crept over my face. I’d never been greeted with that sound at an airport before. Walking through the airport from my gate to baggage claim, I passed clusters of slot machines here and there and found myself in awe. This has to be the most fun airport ever! I thought. I’ve pretty much had that same reaction every trip since. There’s nothing that says “Welcome to Las Vegas” quite like the sight and sound of slot machines.
I’m usually in too much of a hurry to get to my hotel when I land to think about lingering in the airport to play them, but on my trip home, it’s a whole other story. I mean, really, picture your typical airport experience. You get to the airport early, as is recommended, and by some miracle, you zip through security quickly. You still have an hour and 45 minutes until your flight. Now what? Read the book you brought with you? But if you read it now, what will you read on the plane?
So you wander through your terminal—slowly—in and out of each shop that’s trying to sell you last-minute souvenirs, snacks, books and magazines. That takes about 15 minutes. Now what? Maybe grab a meal at one of the restaurants, assuming you haven’t already eaten. But at McCarran International Airport, you can extend your Vegas vacation right up until the minute you board your plane by playing the slot machines.
I’ll bet you have some questions about gambling at the airport. I know I did. So let’s tackle the big ones, shall we?
Airport Slot Machines
Where can I find slot machines at McCarran International Airport?
There are approximately 1,300 slot machines at McCarran, in baggage claim, the shopping areas, in terminals near gates—even in the car rental center. Trust me, you can’t miss them.
Has anyone ever actually won playing slots at the airport?
Shockingly, yes. According to Chris Jones, Acting Manager of Public Affairs and Marketing at McCarran, two players at McCarran won $392,000 and $259,000 respectively within four days of each other in May 2008. One lucky traveler won $3.9 million at a progressive Wheel of Fortune machine in January 2005. I’ve also seen many reports on TripAdvisor’s Vegas forum from people who won enough money at the airport to make them happy. Personally, I’ve never won anything on the machines at the airport. Then again, I don’t usually win in the casinos, either.
Does that mean the slots are looser at the airport?
Er, no. Conventional wisdom has long held that you should avoid playing slots at the airport because the payout is lower than average. (Although given how tight the machines have become on the Strip in recent years, I don’t see much of a difference any more.) As with playing all slot machines, you should be prepared to lose, because you probably will. Gambling should be a form of entertainment, like going to the movies. It’s just a fun way to kill time. . .with a (very) slight chance of winning back some of your money.
How do I get paid if I win or want to cash out?
As is the standard with most casinos these days, the slot machines at McCarran Airport feature TITO (or Ticket In, Ticket Out), meaning when you cash out, you get a ticket. There are no bill breaker machines here to exchange your ticket for cash, so you’ll have to look for the uniformed attendant to make the exchange. There is one stationed at or near all slot locations.
Do I have to fill out an IRS form if I win over $1,000, like at the casinos?
Sadly, yes. Uncle Sam always wants his cut.
How long does it take to get paid? Will I miss my flight?
This probably depends on how close you’re cutting your play to when your flight boards. There are ticket attendants on hand to pay you your winnings. If you win a couple of hundred bucks, they can probably pay you quickly with the money they have on hand. But if you win a big jackpot—say a couple hundred thousand or a million—they won’t have that money on hand. So it will take longer to get paid, and yes, you may miss your flight. But if you won that much money, really, would you care???
Best Slot Machines In Vegas
How do you feel about playing the slots at McCarran? Would you do it to entertain yourself while waiting for your flight, or do you think it’s a sucker’s bet? Have you ever played there–and won?