Electronic Slot Machine

Find out what slot machines actually returned to the public. Just clickbelow to see slot machine payback statistics for casinos in all U.S. states.

Class II machines only mimic slots but they have bingo soul: the outcome of the game is determined by the draw of the bingo numbers, which are later translated into slot reel combinations. So, think of it this way – when you place a wager on such devices, you, actually, buy a lottery ticket. Modern slot machines use a computer to generate random numbers, and these determine the outcomes of the game. The important thing to remember is that the results are truly random. The game doesn’t work on any kind of cyclical basis, and slot machine jackpots don’t become due. Slots don’t get hot or cold, either.

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AlabamaArizonaArkansasCalifornia
ColoradoConnecticutDelawareFlorida
GeorgiaIdahoIllinoisIndiana
IowaKansasLouisianaMaine
MarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesota
MississippiMissouriMontanaNebraska
NevadaNew JerseyNew MexicoNew York
North CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahoma
OregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth Carolina
South DakotaTexasWashingtonWest Virginia
WisconsinWyoming

ALABAMA SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Alabama has three Indian casinos that offer Class II video gaming machines. They are not required to release payback statistics about their machines.

ARIZONA SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

In mid-1993 Arizona’s Governor Symington signed a compact with the state’s tribes that allowed them to offer slot machines on their reservations.

The compact originally didn’t allow for any table games but in early 2003 blackjack was added as a permissible table game.

Arizona tribes aren’t required to release information on their slot machine percentage paybacks, however, according to the Arizona Department of Gaming, the terms of the compact require eachtribes’ machines to return the following minimum and maximum paybacks: video poker and video blackjack - 83% to 100%, slot machines - 80% to 100%, keno - 75% to 100%. Each tribe is free to setits machines to pay back anywhere within those limits.

ARKANSAS SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Arkansas has two pari-mutuel facilities featuring “electronic games of skill,” which are defined as “games played through any electronic device or machine that affords an opportunity for theexercise of skill or judgment where the outcome is not completely controlled by chance alone.”

The games offered are video poker, video blackjack, and “skill” slots where you have two opportunities to spin the reels. The “skill” factor comes into play because after seeing the results ofyour first spin you then have to decide whether to keep none, one, two, or all three of the symbols on each reel before you spin them again. Gaming regulations require that all of theelectronic games of skill must return a minimum of 83%.

For the one year period from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019, the average gaming machine’s return at Oaklawn was 92.81% and at Southland, it was 92.72%

CALIFORNIA SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

California’s Indian casinos are legally allowed to offer electronic gaming machines, blackjack, and other house-banked card games. The games of craps and roulette are not permitted. However,some casinos do offer modified versions of craps and roulette that are played with cards rather than dice or roulette wheels.

Most California card rooms also offer some form of player-banked blackjack, but because they are prohibited by law from playing blackjack, the game is usually played to 22 rather than 21.Additionally, players must pay a commission to the house on every hand they play. The amount will vary depending on the rules of the house but, generally, it’s about two to five percent of thetotal amount bet. There are about 90 card rooms in California and you can see a listing of them on the Internet at http://www.cgcc.ca.gov

California’s tribes aren’t required to release information on their slot machine percentage paybacks and the state of California does not require any minimum returns.

COLORADO SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Here’s information, as supplied by Colorado’s Division of Gaming, showing the slot machine payback percentages for each city’s casinos for the one-year period from July 1, 2018, through June30, 2019:

Black HawkCentral CityCripple Creek
1¢ Slots89.80%90.43%91.89%
5¢ Slots92.85%93.93%93.50%
25¢ Slots92.30%94.06%95.45%
$1 Slots93.69%94.82%94.83%
$5 Slots93.69%93.76%95.03%
All92.35%92.30%93.53%

These numbers reflect the percentage of money returned on each denomination of machine and encompass all electronic machines including video poker and video keno. The best returns for eachcategory are highlighted in bold print.

CONNECTICUT SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

The following information is from Connecticut’s Division of Special Revenue regarding Foxwoods’ slot payback percentages:

DenominationPayback %
90.09
91.38
90.73
25¢91.34
50¢90.77
$1.0092.99
$5.0093.67
$10.0094.29
$25.0096.51
$100.0094.14
Average91.95

These figures reflect the total percentages returned by each denomination of slot machine from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019.

Here's information from Connecticut's Division of Special Revenue regarding Mohegan Sun's slot payback percentages:

DenominationPayback %
1/4¢86.30
1/2¢85.91
88.86
86.65
92.08
25¢91.01
50¢91.73
$1.0092.94
$5.0094.41
$10.0097.41
$25.0095.50
$100.0094.55
Average91.90

These figures reflect the total percentages returned by each denomination of slot machine from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019.

DELAWARE SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Delaware’s three pari-mutuel facilities all feature slot machines. Technically, the machines are video lottery terminals (VLT’s) because they are operated in conjunction with the DelawareLottery. Unlike VLT’s in other states, however, Delaware’s machines payout in cash. The VLT’s also play other games including video poker, video keno, and video blackjack.

By law, all video lottery games must return between 87% and 95% of all wagers on an annual basis. Games can return above 95% but only with the Lottery Director’s approval.

According to figures from the Delaware Lottery for the twelve-month period from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019, the average VLT return at Dover Downs was 92.59%, at Delaware Park itwas 92.12%, and at Harrington Raceway it was 92.03%.

Electronic Slot Machine

In mid-2018 a U.S. Supreme Court decision legalized sports betting at all U.S. casinos. Delaware was one of the first states to act on the ruling and all three of the state’s casinos offersportsbooks.

In January 2010 the Delaware legislature approved the addition of table games for the state’s casinos.

FLORIDA SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Florida has three forms of casino gambling: casino boats, Indian casinos and gaming machines at pari-mutuels in two south Florida counties.

The casino boats offer gamblers the opportunity to board ships that cruise offshore where casino gambling is legal. From the East Coast, the boats sail three miles out into the Atlantic Oceanand from the west coast the boats travel nine miles out into the Gulf of Mexico. Since the casino boats travel in international waters they are free from regulations and the machines can be setto pay back whatever the operator wants without regard to a minimum payback percentage.

Florida has eight Indian gaming locations. The Seminole Tribe has seven and the eighth is on the Miccosukee Tribe’s reservation.

The Seminoles signed a compact with the state that allows them to offer both Class II and traditional Class III gaming machines. As part of their compact, five Seminole casinos are also allowedto offer the following:

  • blackjack
  • baccarat
  • mini-baccarat
  • three-card poker
  • let it ride
  • pai gow poker

The Miccosukee Tribe has not signed a compact and they only offer Class II gaming machines at their casino.

Class II video gaming devices look like slot machines but are actually bingo games and the spinning reels are for “entertainment purposes only.” No public information is available concerningthe payback percentages on any gaming machines in Florida’s Indian casinos.

The other games allowed in all Indian casinos include

  • high-stakes bingo
  • video pull tabs
  • poker

All of the casinos are open 24 hours (except Big Cypress) and all offer bingo except for both Seminole Hard Rock Casinos and the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek. The minimum gambling age is18 at all Indian casinos for bingo or poker and 21 for electronic gaming machines.

Broward County (home county of Fort Lauderdale) and Miami-Dade County both have four pari-mutuel facilities that each offer electronic gaming machines, but no table games.

Florida gaming regulations require a minimum payback of 85% on all gaming machines. From July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019, the gaming machines at Magic City returned 93.43%, CasinoMiami returned 92.34%, Hialeah Park returned 93.55%, Gulfstream Park returned 92.16%, Dania Casino returned 92.68%, Big Easy returned 91.50%, Calder returned 91.32%, and The Isle returned90.22%.

GEORGIA SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

There are two casino boats in Georgia which both sail three miles out into international waters where casino gambling is permitted.

Since the casino boats travel in international waters they are free from regulations and the machines can be set to pay back whatever the operator wants without regard to a minimum paybackpercentage.

IDAHO SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Idaho has six Indian casinos that offer electronic pull-tab machines and other video games. The machines don't pay out in cash. Instead they print out a receipt which must be cashed by a floorattendant or taken to the cashier’s cage. Some casinos also offer bingo (BG) and off-track betting (OTB).

The terms of the compact between the tribes and the state do not require any minimum payback percentage that the gaming machines must return to the public.

ILLINOIS SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Here’s information from the Illinois Gaming Board showing each casi­no’s average slot payback percentage for the one-year period from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018:

CASINOPAYBACK %
Casino Queen92.05
Harrah's Joliet91.98
Hollywood Joliet91.18
Argosy Alton90.83
Par-A-Dice91.02
Grand Victoria91.02
Hollywood - Aurora90.42
Jumer's89.94
Rivers Casino90.35
Harrah's Metropolis89.39

These figures reflect the total percentages returned by each casino for all of their electronic machines. As you can see, the Casino Queen returned the most to its slot machine players, whileHarrah's in Metropolis returned the least.

INDIANA SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Following is information from the Indiana Gaming Commission re­garding average slot payout percentages for the one-year period from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019:

CASINOPAYBACK %
Hoosier Park90.05
French Lick91.55
Rising Star91.38
Indiana Grand90.88
Blue Chip91.40
Belterra90.76
Majestic Star90.25
Hollywood89.96
Horseshoe Casino SI90.09
Majestic Star II89.88
Horseshoe Hammond90.07
Ameristar89.92
Tropicana89.61

These figures reflect the average percentage returned by each casino for all of their electronic machines including slot machines, video poker, video keno, etc.

IOWA SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Here’s information, as supplied by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, showing the electronic gaming machine payback percentages for all non-Indian locations for the one-year period fromJuly 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019.

LOCATIONPAYBACK %
Prairie Meadows91.67
Wild Rose- Emmetsburg90.61
Wild Rose- Clinton90.56
Wild Rose- Jefferson90.52
Q Casino90.63
Diamond Jo Worth90.52
Catfish Bend90.42
Riverside90.40
Diamond Jo Dubuque90.49
Grand Falls90.36
Casino Queen Marquette90.19
Ameristar90.05
Rhythm City90.26
Hard Rock90.29
Isle Bettendorf90.04
Harrah's89.77
Isle Waterloo89.73
Horseshoe Council Bluffs89.66
Lakeside Casino88.91

These figures reflect the total percentages returned by each riverboat casino or pari-mutuel facility for all of its electronic machines including: slots, video poker, video keno, etc.

KANSAS SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

In April 2007 the Kansas legislature authorized local referendums to allow state-run casinos in four counties.

The Kansas Racing & Gaming Commission does not release information about the payback percentages on electronic gaming machines in Kansas. However, gaming regulations require that allmachines return no less than 87%.

There are also five Indian casinos in Kansas and they are not required to release information on their slot machine payback percentages. However, according to officials at the Kansas StateGaming Agency, which is responsible for overseeing the tribal-state compacts, 'the minimum payback percentage for electronic gaming devices is 80%.'

LOUISIANA SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Gaming regulations require that gaming machines in casinos be programmed to pay back no less than 80% and no more than 99.9%. For video gaming machines at locations other than casinos, the lawrequires a minimum return of 80% and a maximum return of 94%.

Louisiana gaming statistics are not broken down by individual properties. Rather, they are classified by region: Baton Rouge (BR), Lake Charles (LC), New Orleans (NO) and Shreveport/BossierCity (SB).

The Baton Rouge casinos consist of the Belle of Baton Rouge, Hollywood Casino, L'Auberge and Evangeline Downs. The Lake Charles casinos include Isle of Capri, L’Auberge du Lac and Delta Downs.New Orleans area casinos are Amelia Belle, Boomtown, Harrah’s (landbased), Treasure Chest and Fairgrounds Raceway. The Shreveport/Bossier city casinos include Boomtown, Diamond Jack’s, Sam’sTown, Eldorado, Horseshoe, and Harrah’s Louisiana Downs.

Here’s information, as supplied by the Louisiana State Police-Riverboat Gaming Section, showing the average electronic machine payback per­centages for each area’s casinos for the 12-monthperiod from June 1, 2018, through May 30, 2019:

BRLCNOSB
88.70%88.57%88.96%89.01%
91.69%94.31%93.31%93.12%
25¢92.30%93.08%92.43%90.73%
$193.56%92.33%92.72%93.03%
$594.49%92.99%92.93%92.70%
All90.50%90.63%90.23%90.43%

These numbers reflect the percentage of money returned on each denomination of machine and encompass all electronic machines including video poker and video keno. The best returns for eachcategory are highlighted in bold print and you can see that the Baton Rouge area casinos offered the best returns in most categories.

MAINE SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Maine has two racetrack casinos (racinos) that offer electronic gaming machines, as well as live table games.

State gaming regulations require a minimum return of 89% on all machines and during the one-year period from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019, the average return on gaming machines atHollywood Casino was 90.15% and at Oxford Casino, it was 90.01%.

MARYLAND SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Maryland has five casinos that are allowed to offer electronic gaming machines, as well as live table games. However, Ocean Downs has no table games.

No public information is available about the actual payback percentages on gaming machines in Maryland. However, gaming regulations require a minimum payback of 87% on any one machine and allmachines within a casino must have an average payback of 90% to 95%.

MASSACHUSETTS SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed a bill in late 2011 that legalized casinos. The law allows three casinos, in three different geographic regions, plus one slot parlor.

The slot parlor, Plainridge Park Casino, a harness racing track located about 40 miles southwest of Boston, opened June 24, 2015.

The first resort-casino license in Region B (Western Massachusetts) was awarded to MGM Resorts and their $1.3 billion casino, MGM Springfield, opened August 24, 2018.

The second license for Region A (Eastern Massachusetts) was awarded to Wynn Resorts and their $2 billion, Encore Everett, is expected to open in mid-2019. The final license for Region C(Southeastern Massachusetts) had not yet been awarded as of late 2018.

Additionally, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is planning to build a destination resort casino near Taunton. That facility, First Light Casino, was expected to open by late 2019. However, theproject has been hampered by lawsuits that might stop it from being completed.

Massachusetts gaming regulations require a minimum payback of 80% on all gaming machines. From July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019, the gaming machines at Plainridge Park returned 92.03%,91.39% at MGM Springfield* and 91.49% at Encore.**

* Stats for MGM Springfield began August 23, 2018, when it opened

** Stats for Encore are June 23- July 31, 2019.

MICHIGAN SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

There are 17 Indian casinos in Michigan and the tribes are not required to release information on their slot machine payback percentages. However, according to officials at the Michigan GamingControl Board, which is responsible for overseeing the tribal-state compacts, 'the machines must meet the minimum standards for machines in Nevada or New Jersey.' In Nevada, the minimum returnis 75% and in New Jersey, it's 83%. Therefore, Michigan's Indian casinos must return at least 75% in order to comply with the law.

There are also three privately owned casinos in Detroit, but their slot payback information is not made available to the public.

MINNESOTA SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

All Minnesota casinos are located on Indian reservations and under a compact reached with the state the only table games permitted are card games such as blackjack and poker. Additionally, theonly kind of slot machines allowed are electronic video slot machines. Therefore, you will not find any mechanical slots that have traditional reels - only video screens

According to the terms of the compact between the state and the tribes, however, the minimum and maximum payouts are regulated as follows: video poker and video blackjack - 83% to 98%, slotmachines - 80% to 95%, keno - 75% to 95%. Each tribe is free to set its machines to pay back anywhere within those limits and the tribes do not release any information regarding their slotmachine percentage paybacks.

MISSISSIPPI SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

The Mississippi Gaming Commission does not break down its slot statistics by individual properties. Rather, they are classified by region.

The Coastal region includes Biloxi, Gulfport, and Bay Saint Louis.

The North region includes Tunica, Greenville, and Lula.

The Central region includes Vicksburg and Natchez.

With that in mind here’s information, as supplied by the Missis­sippi Gaming Commission, showing the machine payback per­centages for each area’s casinos for the one-year period from July 1,2018, through June 30, 2019:

CoastalNorthCentral
1¢ Slots91.99%91.95%91.73%
5¢ Slots94.78%94.96%95.73%
25¢ Slots93.91%92.41%93.78%
$1 Slots93.28%93.51%94.10%
$5 Slots93.78%95.16%95.52%
All92.18%91.87%92.32%

These numbers reflect the percentage of money returned on each denomination of machine and encompass all electronic machines including video poker and video keno. The best returns for eachcategory are highlighted in bold print and you can see that all of the gaming areas offer rather similar returns on their machines.

MISSOURI SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Here's information from the Missouri Gaming Commission regarding the payback percentages for each casino's electronic machines for the 12-month period from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019:

CASINOPAYBACK %
Ameristar- St. Charles91.0
River City90.6
Hollywood90.6
Ameristar- K.C.90.4
Harrah’s - N.K.C90.1
Lumiere Place90.0
Isle of Capri - Booneville90.1
Argosy89.9
Isle of Capri - Cape Girardeau89.7
Lady Luck89.3
Isle of Capri - K.C.88.9
St. Jo Frontier88.9
Mark Twain88.7

These figures reflect the total percentages returned by each casino for all of their electronic machines including slot machines, video poker, video keno, etc.

MONTANA SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Montana law permits bars and taverns to have up to 20 video gaming devices that play video poker, video keno, or video bingo. These machines are operated in partnership with the state and arenot permitted to pay out in cash; instead, they print out a receipt which must be taken to a cashier. The maximum bet on these machines is $2 and the maximum payout is limited to $800. Montanagaming regulations require these machines to return a minimum of 80%.

There are seven Indian casinos offering video gaming machines that also print out a receipt. The maximum bet on these machines is $5 and the maximum payout is capped at $1,500. According toMontana's Gambling Control Division, there are no minimum payback percentages required for gaming machines on Indian reservations.

NEBRASKA SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

No public information is available concerning the payback percentages on gaming machines in Nebraska.

NEVADA SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

NEVADA - Lake Tahoe

Here’s information, as supplied by Nevada’s State Gaming Control Board, showing the slot machine payback percentages for all of the south shore casinos for the fiscal year beginning July 1,2017 and ending June 30, 2018:

DenominationPayback %
1¢ Slots88.94
25¢ Slots91.24
$1 Slots92.55
All Slots93.33

And here's that same information for the north shore casinos:

Handheld Casino Slot Games

DenominationPayback %
1¢ Slots92.81
25¢ Slots91.40
$1 Slots91.52
All Slots94.29

These numbers reflect the percentage of money returned to the players on each denomination of machine. All electronic machines including slots, video poker and video keno are included in thesenumbers.

NEVADA - Las Vegas

Unlike New Jersey, the Nevada Gaming Control Board does not break down its slot statistics by individual properties. Rather, they are classified by area.

The annual gaming revenue report breaks the Las Vegas market down into two major tourist areas: the Strip and downtown. There is also a very large locals market in Las Vegas and those casinosare shown in the gaming revenue report as the Boulder Strip and North Las Vegas areas.

When choosing where to do your slot gambling, you may want to keep in mind the following slot payback percentages for Nevada's fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018, and ending June 30, 2019:

1¢ Slot Machines
The Strip - 88.33%
Downtown - 88.96%
Boulder Strip - 90.53%
N. Las Vegas - 90.79%

5¢ Slot Machines
The Strip - 91.96%
Downtown - 93.32%
Boulder Strip - 96.30%
N. Las Vegas - 95.24%

25¢ Slot Machines
The Strip - 89.34%
Downtown - 93.91%
Boulder Strip - 95.77%
N. Las Vegas - 96.27%

$1 Slot Machines
The Strip - 92.34%
Downtown - 94.12%
Boulder Strip - 95.49%
N. Las Vegas - 95.62%

$1 Megabucks Machines
The Strip - 87.31%
Downtown - 86.40%
Boulder Strip - 87.61%
N. Las Vegas - 86.98%

All Slot Machines
The Strip - 91.84%
Downtown - 92.22%
Boulder Strip - 94.26%
N. Las Vegas - 93.34%

These numbers reflect the percentage of money returned to the players on each denomination of machine. All electronic machines including slots, video poker, and video keno are included in thesenumbers and the highest-paying returns are shown in bold print. As you can see, the machines in downtown Las Vegas pay out slightly more than those located on the Las Vegas Strip.

Returns even better than the downtown casinos can be found at some of the other local casinos along Boulder Highway, such as Boulder Station and Sam's Town and also in the North Las Vegasarea which would include the Fiesta, Santa Fe and Texas Station casinos. Not only are those numbers among the best returns in the Las Vegas area, but they are also among the best paybackpercentages for anywhere in the United States.

NEVADA - Laughlin

Here’s information, as supplied by Nevada’s State Gaming Control Board, showing the slot machine payback percentages for all of Laughlin’s casinos for the fiscal year beginning July 1,2018, and ending June 30, 2019:

DenominationPayback %
1¢ Slots89.11
5¢ Slots92.59
25¢ Slots93.44
$1 Slots94.92
$1 Megabucks88.27
$5 Slots94.33
All Slots92.15

These numbers reflect the percentage of money returned to the players on each denomination of machine. All electronic machines including slots, video poker, and video keno are included in thesenumbers.

NEVADA - Reno

Here’s information, as supplied by Nevada’s State Gaming Control Board, showing the slot machine payback percentages for all of the Reno area casinos for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017and ending June 30, 2018:

DenominationPayback %
1¢ Slots92.69
5¢ Slots95.10
25¢ Slots92.16
$1 Slots95.38
$1 Megabucks87.40
$5 Slots95.06
All Slots94.56

These numbers reflect the percentage of money returned on each denomination of machine and encompass all electronic machines including slots, video poker, and video keno.

NEVADA - Sparks

Here’s information, as supplied by Nevada’s State Gaming Control Board, showing the slot machine payback percentages for all of the Sparks area casinos for the fiscal year beginning July 1,2018, and ending June 30, 2019:

DenominationPayback %
1¢ Slots92.98
5¢ Slots97.19
25¢ Slots95.43
$1 Slots96.17
$5 Slots97.32
All Slots94.55

These numbers reflect the percentage of money returned on each denomination of machine and encompass all electronic machines including slots, video poker, and video keno.

NEVADA - Wendover

Here’s information, as supplied by Nevada’s State Gaming Control Board, showing the slot machine payback percentages for all of the Wendover area casinos for the fiscal year beginning July 1,2018 and ending June 30, 2019:

DenominationPayback %
1¢ Slots93.41
5¢ Slots96.80
25¢ Slots93.34
$1 Slots95.86
$5 Slots96.39
All Slot94.32

These numbers reflect the percentage of money returned on each denomination of machine and encompass all electronic machines including slots, video poker and video keno.

NEW JERSEY SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Following is information from the New Jersey Casino Control Commission regarding average slot payout percentages for the 12-month period from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019:

CASINOPAYBACK
Harrah’s91.79
Borgata91.66
Hard Rock91.41
Caesars91.03
Bally's A.C.90.76
Golden Nugget90.57
Resorts90.78
Tropicana90.35
Ocean Resort90.49

These figures reflect the total percentages returned by each casino for all of their electronic machines which includes slot machines, video poker, etc.

NEW MEXICO SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

New Mexico's Indian casinos offer an assortment of table games and electronic gaming machines. Additionally, slot machines are allowed at the state's racetracks as well as at about 40 variousfraternal and veterans clubs.

New Mexico gaming regulations require that electronic machines at racetracks and fraternal/veterans organizations return a minimum of 80%.

New Mexico's Indian tribes do not make their slot machine payback percentages a matter of public record but the terms of the compact between the state and the tribes require all electronicgaming machines to also return a minimum of 80%.

NEW YORK SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

There are several Indian casinos located in upstate New York which offer traditional Class III casino gambling.

The terms of the compact between the tribes and the state allow table games and slot machines, including video keno and video poker. These machines do not pay out in cash. Instead, they printout a receipt which must be exchanged for cash.

There are also some Indian casinos that offer Class II gambling which consist of electronic gaming machines which look like slot machines, but are actually games of bingo and the spinning videoreels are for 'entertainment purposes only.' No public information is available concerning the payback percentages on gaming machines at Indian casinos.

Here’s information, as supplied by the New York Gaming Commission, showing the slot machine payback percentages for all of the casinos for the fiscal year from April 1, 2018, through March31, 2019:

LOCATIONPAYBACK %
Tioga Downs91.62
Resort's World Catskills91.40
Del Lago90.94
Rivers90.50

In October 2001, legislation was passed to allow for the introduction of slot machine-type video lottery machines at New York racetracks. Officially referred to as Video Gaming Machines(VGM’s), they are regulated by the New York State Lottery Division.

All VGM's offer standard slot machine-type games, plus keno in denominations from five cents to $10. The machines all accept cash but do not pay out in cash. They print a receipt which must betaken to a cashier.

The legislation authorizing the VGM’s states, “the specifications for video lottery gaming shall be designed in such a manner as to pay prizes that average no less than ninety percent ofsales.”

Here's information, as supplied by the New York Lottery, showing the video gaming machine payback percentages for each of the state's racetracks for the fiscal year from April 1,2018, through March 31, 2019:

LOCATIONPAYBACK %
Resorts World94.16
Jake's 5893.73
Empire City93.06
Monticello92.40
Saratoga92.35
Finger Lakes92.12
Batavia Downs91.66
Fairgrounds91.66
Vernon Downs91.74

NORTH CAROLINA SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

North Carolina has two Indian casinos and both are affiliated with the state's Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians which signed a compact with the state. According to the terms of thecompact, the video gaming machines are required to return a minimum of 83% and a maximum of 98%.

NORTH DAKOTA SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

North Dakota has more than 800 sites throughout the state that offer blackjack, with betting limits of $1-$25, for the benefit of charities.

There are also six Indian casinos which are limited by law to the following maximum bet limits: blackjack-$100 (two tables in a casino may have limits up to $250), craps-$60, roulette-$50,slots/video poker-$25 and poker-$50 per bet, per round with a maximum of three rounds.

The terms of the state's compact with the tribes require gaming machines to return a minimum of 80% and a maximum of 100%. However, if a machine is affected by skill, such as video poker orvideo blackjack, the machines must return a minimum of 83%.

OHIO SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Ohio voters passed a statewide referendum in November 2009 to allow one casino to open in each of four major cities: Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo. There are also seven racetracksthat offer video lottery terminals.

Here’s information from the Ohio Casino Control Commission regarding the payback percentages for each racino and casino’s electronic machines for the twelve-month period from July 1,2018, through June 30, 2019:

Machine
CASINOPAYBACK %
JACK Cleveland
Hollywood Columbus
92.09
JACK Cincinnati
Miami Valley
90.73
Belterra Park
MGM Northfield
91.09
Eldorado Gaming
Hollywood Toledo
90.73
JACK Thistledown
Hollywood Dayton
90.27
Mahoning Valley

OKLAHOMA SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

All Oklahoma Indian casinos are allowed to offer both Class II and Class III gaming machines.

Most casinos offer only Class II machines which look like slot machines, but are actually games of bingo and the spinning video reels are for 'entertainment purposes only.' Some casinos alsooffer traditional Class III slots.

In either case, the gaming machines are not allowed to accept or payout in coins. All payouts must be done by a printed receipt or via an electronic debit card. No public information isavailable concerning the payback percentages on gaming machines in Oklahoma.

OREGON SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Oregon law permits bars and taverns to have up to six video lottery terminals that offer various versions of video poker. Racetracks are allowed to have no more than 10 machines. The maximumbet allowed is $2.50 and the maximum single payout on any machine is capped at $600.

These machines are the same as regular video gaming devices but are called lottery terminals because they are regulated by the state’s lottery commission which receives a share of eachmachine’s revenue. The machines accept cash but do not pay out in cash; instead, they print out a receipt which must be taken to a cashier.

According to figures from the Oregon Lottery, during its fiscal year from June 28, 2018, through June 25, 2019, the VLT’s had an approximate return of 92.34%.

There are nine Indian casinos in operation in Oregon. According to the governor’s office which regulates the Tribe’s compacts, 'there is no minimum payback percentage required on the Tribe’smachines. Each Tribe is free to set their own limits on their machines.'

PENNSYLVANIA SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Pennsylvania gaming regulations require that gaming machines return a minimum of 85%.

The following is information from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board regarding average slot payout percentages for the one-year period from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019:

CASINOPAYBACK %
Parx Casino90.70
Valley Forge90.68
The Meadows90.14
Mount Airy90.31
Sugar House90.03
Wind Creek Bethlehem90.09
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs89.90
Harrah's Philadelphia89.82
The Rivers89.87
Lady Luck Nemacolin89.34
Hollywood Casino at Penn National89.38
Presque Isle89.31

RHODE ISLAND SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Rhode Island has two pari-mutuel facilities which both feature video lottery terminals (VLT’s). These machines are the same as regular video gaming devices but are called lottery terminalsbecause they are regulated by the state’s lottery commission which receives a share of each machine’s revenue. The machines accept cash but don’t pay out in cash; instead, they print out areceipt which must be taken to a cashier.

All VLT’s are programmed to play at least six different games: blackjack, keno, slots and three versions of poker (jacks or better, joker poker and deuces wild).

According to figures from the Rhode Island Lottery for the one-year period from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019, the average VLT return at Twin River was 92.10% and at Tiverton, it was91.63%.

SOUTH CAROLINA SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

South Carolina has two gambling cruise ships which sail three miles out into international waters where casino gambling is permitted. Since the casino boats travel in international waters theyare free from regulations and the machines can be set to pay back whatever the operators want without regard to a minimum payback percentage.

SOUTH DAKOTA SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Here are statistics from the South Dakota Commission on Gaming for the payback percentages on all of Deadwood’s slot machines for the one-year period from July 1, 2018, through June 30,2019:

Electronic Slot Machine
DenominationPayback %
1¢ Slots90.73
5¢ Slots93.56
25¢ Slots91.18
$1 Slots92.58
$5 Slots92.51
Average91.05

In addition to the Deadwood casinos, there are also nine Indian casinos in South Dakota. No information is available on the payback percentages of the video gaming machines.

TEXAS SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Texas has one Indian casino which offers gaming machines based on bingo. It also offers pull tab machines, bingo, poker and a player-banked blackjack game where each player must pay acommission to the house for each bet that is made. The commission is 50¢ for $3-$50 bets and $1 for bets over $50. The minimum gambling age is 21 and the casino is open 24 hours daily.

Class II video gaming devices look like slot machines, but are actually bingo games and the spinning reels are for “entertainment purposes only.” No public information is available concerningthe payback percentages on any gaming machines in Texas’ Indian casino.

WASHINGTON SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

There are 28 Indian casinos operating in Washington and they all have compacts with the state allowing them to offer table games, as well as electronic ‘scratch’ ticket games which use a finitenumber of tickets with a predetermined number of winners and losers.

All of the state’s Tribes are not required to release information on their slot machine percentage paybacks. However, according to the terms of the compact between the Tribes and the state, theminimum prize payout for electronic ‘scratch’ ticket games is 75%.

WEST VIRGINIA SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

West Virginia has four pari-mutuel facilities and one resort hotel that feature video lottery terminals. The VLT’s are the same as regular video gaming devices but are called lottery terminalsbecause they are regulated by the state’s lottery commission which receives a share of each machine’s revenue.

West Virginia law requires that VLT’s return a minimum of 80% to a maximum of 95%. VLT games include slots, blackjack, keno and numerous versions of poker. The minimum gambling age is 21.

For the one-year period from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019, the average return on VLT’s was: 88.97% at Mountaineer Park, 90.81% at Mardi Gras, 89.46% at Wheeling Island, 89.53%at Charles Town Races.

WISCONSIN SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

All Wisconsin casinos are located on Indian reservations and the Indian tribes are not required to release information on their slot machine percentage paybacks. However, according to the termsof the compact between the state and the tribes 'for games not affected by player skill, such as slot machines, the machine is required to return a minimum of 80% and a maximum of 100% of theamount wagered.'

Electronic slot machine tips

Slot Machine Handheld Games

WYOMING SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS

Wyoming has Indian casinos that offer Class II bingo-type gaming machines, plus traditional Class III slot machines.

The machines don't pay out in cash. Instead they print out a receipt which must be cashed by a floor attendant or taken to the cashier's cage. You can also make bets via a cashless systemwhereby you get a 'smart' card and deposit money to that card's account. The machines will then deducts losses from, or credit wins to, your account.

No public information is available regarding the payback percentages on Wyoming's gaming machines.

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Gambling is a billion dollar industry that attracts millions of people around the world. While games such as Texas Hold ‘Em poker receive more fanfare, by far the most profitable and available attraction in these casinos is the slot machine. While familiar in appearance, these devices are a mystery to the layperson. Dating back to the late 1800s and with a history rooted in the California Gold Rush, “slots” use the principles of probability and chance to beguile players and create a profit for owners. The design of slot machines has evolved from mobile mechanical parts to mostly electronic components over the course of the last century, but their charm and attraction remain strong. With the advent of computer servers and live streaming of data, slot machines are poised to intrigue and befuddle a new generation of gamblers hoping to hit the jackpot.

Introduction

The gambling industry brings in billions of dollars every year all over the world. Places such as Las Vegas and Monte Carlo have built their reputations on gambling establishments with hundreds of games ranging from poker to electronic horse racing and with all kinds of luxurious accoutrements from flashy shows to nightclubs. People travel from many different places, sometimes bringing a month’s worth of savings, so that they can participate in these games of chance and experience the casino atmosphere. More often than not, they leave having lost more money than they have won, but having enjoyed the experience nonetheless.
Since its introduction in 1893, the most popular form of gambling has been the slot machine. Slots are simple, giving rewards when the correct combination of symbols has surfaced. They rarely cost more than five dollars and require only the push of a button or the pull of a handle to play. Flashing lights, exciting sounds, and large grand prizes entice players who hope to strike it rich. Because they do not require skill or practice to play, these machines give everyone the chance to win. Immortalized in movies such as Casino and Ocean’s 11, slot machines continue to be the most profitable game in any casino. In Las Vegas alone, slot machines accounted for 67% of total casino profits in 2006 [1].
Various models of slot machines are in use today, but the most popular contains a combination of electronic and mechanical parts. Using the fundamentals of probability, slots are uniquely engineered to appear simple while disguising their true inner workings from the public. The slot machine combines engineering acumen, mathematical know-how, and psychological deceit in a single, attractive package.

History

In San Francisco in 1893, Gustav F.W. Schultze invented a small countertop gambling machine to capitalize on the strong gambling tendencies that resulted from the Gold Rush. This device accepted a nickel, which caused a colored disk to begin spinning. After the disk stopped, a connected star wheel determined the payout. A slide then cut the correct number of coins and dropped them into a payout cup. During the late 1890’s, Charles Fey perfected this machine by adding three wheels instead of one and changing their orientation so that they flashed symbols of playing cards through a window. Using more springs, cams and levers, Fey contrived a mechanism that allowed the reels to stop in succession, creating an atmosphere of suspense [2]. With over a thousand different possible combinations and a 75.6% payout of money played (meaning the owner kept 24.4%), Fey’s contraption known as the “Bell” became the standard archetype for slot machines and a popular attraction in saloons.

Herbert S. Mills further perpetuated the popularity of the Bell machines. By increasing the reliability and decreasing the cost of manufacturing slots, Mills was able to ship these machines throughout the new territories of the United States. He also pioneered the inclusion of a pack of gum with play in order to skirt the growing number of laws restricting the use of these gambling attractions. In essence, gamblers could only play once they performed the legal transaction of “buying” the gum. In 1906, Mills introduced his own slot machine with the now-classic bell and other symbols (Fig. 1) supplanting the original card signs on the slot reels [2]. Furthermore, he expanded the window opening from one to three lines to add another factor to entice people to play, as players could now see how close they were to winning.

Slot innovation continued in the twentieth century. During the 1920s, slots were revamped to accept quarters and even silver dollars. Sometimes skill elements were added, such as buttons that allowed the player to attempt to stop each specific reel at a moment of his or her choosing. Most importantly, the concept of the jackpot was incorporated. Windows showing a buildup of coins proved to be effective bait for many players.
In 1963, Bally Manufacturing Company introduced the first electronic slot machine. Electromechanical sensors replaced the mechanical slides and allowed for brand new features. All three lines in the slot window could offer payouts, as well as diagonal matchups, allowing for many more winning combinations [2]. Furthermore, multiplier machines could accept multiple coins for larger prizes. Soon, logic cards and integrated circuits replaced the switches and wires. In 1981, Michael S. Redd founded International Game Technology (IGT), a public company that pioneered a radical new invention in slots. Redd took all the recent electronic breakthroughs and coupled them with a computer that replaced the original wheel randomizer. This computer generated random numbers that instantly decided the payout and where each “reel” would stop. A motor simultaneously carried out these directions on the slot screen. These machines remain the basis for slots in today’s casinos.

The Modern Electronic Reel Slot Machine: A Piece by Piece Breakdown

Slot machines produced today are a far cry from their mechanical ancestors. Computer chips have replaced spinning wheels, and electronic credits have replaced coins. This fusion of new age electronics with old fashioned nostalgia creates a machine that, while simple in theory, beguiles players on a regular basis.
At the heart of all modern slot machines is a computer chip called the Random Number Generator (RNG). This device replaces the original spinning wheel found in gambling machines from the first half of the twentieth century. The RNG is capable of continuously generating thousands of random numbers and, in the case of the three-reel slot, thousands of three-number combinations every second [3]. Each of these three numbers in the combination serves to designate where the reels will stop.

To simplify the thousands of combinations into discrete slots on reels, each random number in the combination is divided by a set value (typically, slot machines use 32, 64, 128, 256, or 512 as that value). The computer records the remainder of this quotient, which by mathematical law cannot exceed the set value [4]. The remainder is mapped to a certain symbol that is physically distributed among the number of slots the reel contains. A virtual representation of this mapping using a set value of 128 and a reel with 22 slots may be seen in Fig. 2.

This is how the odds swing in favor of the casino. The quotient remainders are not all distributed equally among the actual slots on the reel. Blank spaces are weighed heavily, as seen in the Percent Chance of Choosing Symbol column, as are those that have a lower payout. Furthermore, each of the three reels is weighted differently. For instance, the first reel is most likely to hit the jackpot slot, while by the third reel the likelihood is minuscule. Along with a heavy weighting to blank spaces surrounding the jackpot, this creates a “near miss” effect and keeps the player in suspense [3].
The RNG is part of a larger Computer Processing Unit (CPU) that controls other various functions of the slot machine. The basic functions include the Start switch, Max Bet switch, token or credit sensor, and RAM to store the various hit combinations, reel stops and payouts. Depending on the style of machine the CPU also may control the hopper, which stores tokens or coins, or the credit account of the player [5].

For a machine with actual spinning reels, once the random numbers have been generated, the machine uses a stepper motor to turn each reel and stop it at the predetermined point [4]. A stepper motor is an electromechanical device that uses electrical pulses to drive a shaft or spindle in discrete increments. These incremental movements are related to the frequency and sequence of the electrical pulses, allowing for total movement control [6]. If the machine only has a screen, then a piece of software animates a virtual spinning reel.

Overall, the slot machine’s actions are controlled by a simple algorithm based on basic programming principles like IF switches and loops. The algorithm begins once the on switch is triggered (usually by the insertion of a token or credit). At this point, the start button or “lever” is pulled, which leads the RNG to choose the random numbers that will control the positions of the reels. The step motor simultaneously spins the reels until they arrive at the correct position. If the selected combination corresponds to a payout, many machines will trigger a program of flashing LED lights and sounds, and the payout will be awarded. Otherwise, the game ends, and the player must trigger the start switch once more by adding a new token or credit. In addition to this simplified loop shown in Fig. 3, some machines include special jackpots or other attractive motions and sounds in order to create a more satisfying experience for the gambler.

Slot-Machine Innovations

By today’s standards the technology employed in slot machines has not advanced very significantly. Fig. 4 shows some of these newer slot machines. The Random Number Generator central to the slot machine’s function has existed for decades. Even newer slots with more than three reels, multiple payout lines and interactive games are child’s play when compared with a current video game system. However, new innovations to the world of gambling games are cropping up and copying many existing prototypes of networked machines.
In recent years, slot machine designers have worked closely with video game architects in order to bring some of the visual appeal found in virtual gaming to the gambling arena. Video monitors, 3D graphics, and group competition are all making their way into slot construction [7]. Furthermore, slots have taken on a pop culture persona in order to keep up with a younger generation of gamblers. Games featuring “Lord of the Rings” and “Sex and the City” themes have already appeared at gaming expos. Designers have even added multi-level games to help bring gamblers back.

One of the most intriguing developments in slot technology involves connecting slots to servers, much as office computer networks are designed. This innovation would allow casinos to easily manage minimum bets, percentages paid, and the type of game available on a machine. Furthermore, these activities or factors could be adjusted based on the time of day, level of activity at each floor, or even the players’ personal information [8]. These networks will also allow different games to be recommended for different players as well as the streaming of live television to built-in screens.

The appeal of slots has always been the atmosphere of suspense it creates with its spinning reels coupled with the appeal of “easy” money. The average person can easily set the minimum bet and playing is as simple as pressing a button. Recently, slot machines have been overshadowed by other table games such as poker, which is extensively televised, and the live excitement of craps. Changing with the times and utilizing new technologies will allow popular gambling machines from the past to remain as attractions to new generations of gamblers.

References

    • [1] “Nevada Reporting Huge Casino Profits.” Online Gambling Paper. n.d. Web. 16 Jul. 2010. <http://www.ogpaper.​com/news/news-0222.h​tml>.
    • [2] Jack Kelly. “Slots: Perfecting a machine to take away your money.” American Heritage of Invention and Technology-Online 16.2 (2000): 34. Web. 13 Jul. 2010.
    • [3] Michael Bluejay. “How Slot Machines Work.” Top Ten Las Vegas Tips. n.d. Web. 16 Jul. 2010. <http://vegasclick.c​om/games/slots/how-t​hey-work.html>.
    • [4] Tom Harris. “How Slot Machines Work.” HowStuffWorks. 26 Feb. 2002. Web. 15 Jul. 2010.<http://enterta​inment.howstuffworks​.com/slot-machine.ht​m>.
    • [5] Haruo Inoue. 1997. Slot Machine. U.S. Patent 5,609,524, filed July 12. 1995, and issued March 11, 1997.
    • [6] “Stepper Motors.” Omega Engineering Web. 16 July 2010. <http://www.omega.co​m/prodinfo/stepper_m​otors.html>.
    • [7] Christopher Palmeri. “Face-lift for the One-Armed Bandit.” Business Week 21 Dec. 2009: 77. Web. 15 July 2010. <http://www.thefreel​ibrary.com/FACE-LIFT​+FOR+THE+ONE-ARMED+B​ANDIT-a01612094149>.​
    • [8] Quentin Hardy. “Well-Armed Bandits – Forbes.com.” Forbes Business News. 19 May 2008. Web. 16 Jul. 2010. <http://www.forbes.c​om/global/2008/0519/​054.html>.
    • [9] “Old Downtown Las Vegas History.” EarlyVegas. n.d. Web. 20 Jul. 2010. <http://www.earlyveg​as.com/downtown.html​>.
    • [10] Rusman. “Playing in an Online Slot Machines for Players.” Games and Entertainment Reviews. 6 Aug. 20101. Web. 11 Oct. 2010. <http://www.komiks-d​k.net/slot-machines/​playing-in-an-online​-slot-machines-for-p​layers.html>.