- Appendices
- Slots Analysis
- Miscellaneous
Introduction
Slot Machines “Ding, Ding, Ding!” a classic sound heard throughout any casino floor. The first-floor of our new modern casino will deliver the latest slots and table games. The D boasts a second floor casino that invites guests to step back in time to enjoy vintage slots and an original Vegas vibe.
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- Vintage Coin Operated Slot Machines in Las Vegas. Vintage slot machines are getting harder and harder to find these days. Even in Las Vegas where there are close to 200,000 slot machines throughout the city, coin-operated models are few and far between. The one area of town where you can still find several casinos with coin slot machines is in.
The following table ranks the Las Vegas casinos according to the looseness of their video display reeled nickel slot machines. The returns are based on a sampling of five different types of machines. The data collected goes back as far as October 2001 so the information is a bit dated.
Las Vegas 5 Cent Slot Survey
| Rank | Casino | Average Return |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palms | 93.42% |
| 2 | Gold Coast | 92.84% |
| 3 | Sahara | 92.81% |
| 4 (tie) | Bourbon Street | 92.63% |
| 4 (tie) | Imperial Palace | 92.63% |
| 4 (tie) | Slots a Fun | 92.63% |
| 7 | Key Largo | 92.60% |
| 8 | Western | 92.57% |
| 9 | Ellis Island | 92.56% |
| 10 | El Cortez | 92.56% |
| 11 | Orleans | 92.56% |
| 12 | Circus Circus | 92.56% |
| 13 | Gold Spike | 92.55% |
| 14 | Fitzgeralds | 92.54% |
| 15 | Fiesta - Rancho | 92.53% |
| 16 | Arizona Charlie's East | 92.51% |
| 17 | Barbary Coast | 92.50% |
| 18 | Terrible's | 92.49% |
| 19 | Arizona Charlie's | 92.49% |
| 20 | Hard Rock | 92.47% |
| 21 | Town Hall | 92.47% |
| 22 | Longhorn | 92.47% |
| 23 | Riviera | 92.23% |
| 24 | California | 92.14% |
| 25 | Lady Luck | 92.10% |
| 26 | Nevada Palace | 92.06% |
| 27 | Plaza | 91.94% |
| 28 | Luxor | 91.92% |
| 29 | Paris | 91.92% |
| 30 | San Remo | 91.88% |
| 31 | Excalibur | 91.84% |
| 32 | Palace Station | 91.84% |
| 33 | Ballys | 91.82% |
| 34 | Las Vegas Club | 91.76% |
| 35 | Four Queens | 91.75% |
| 36 | Texas Station | 91.71% |
| 37 | Casino Royale | 91.67% |
| 38 | Boulder Station | 91.55% |
| 39 | Aladdin | 91.5% |
| 40 | O'sheas | 91.48% |
| 41 | Hilton | 91.40% |
| 42 | Boardwalk | 91.28% |
| 43 | New York New York | 90.99% |
| 44 | Horseshoe | 90.96% |
| 45 | Sam's Town | 90.89% |
| 46 | Santa Fe Station | 90.87% |
| 47 | Flamingo | 90.86% |
| 48 | Golden Nugget | 90.85% |
| 49 | Stratosphere | 90.8% |
| 50 | Tropicana | 90.71% |
| 51 | Golden Gate | 90.64% |
| 52 | Silverton | 90.57% |
| 53 | Main Street Station | 90.56% |
| 54 | Westward Ho | 90.40% |
| 55 | Fremont | 90.37% |
| 56 | Castaways | 90.36% |
| 57 | Monte Carlo | 90.24% |
| 58 | Stardust | 89.97% |
| 59 | Frontier | 89.91% |
| 60 | MGM Grand | 89.81% |
| 61 | Harrahs | 89.32% |
| 62 | Treasure Island | 89.32% |
| 63 | Mirage | 89.3% |
| 64 | Caesars Palace | 89.05% |
| 65 | Mandalay Bay | 88.87% |
| 66 | Rio | 88.72% |
| 67 | La Bayou | 88.26% |
| 68 | Mermaids | 88.26% |
| 69 | Bellagio | 87.42% |
| 70 | Venetian | 86.66% |
| 71 | Airport | 85.02% |
Excluded Casinos
The Suncoast and Rampart Casino in Summerlin do not allow playing slots and taking notes at the same time. I can not include any casino that prohibits the method in which I gather data.
Location Averages
The next table shows the average return by location.
Returns by Region
| Location | Average Return |
|---|---|
| Off strip | 92.07% |
| Downtown | 91.66% |
| Strip | 91.47% |
| Total | 91.74% |
The above sign can be found across the street from the Palms. Although I did the study Anthony Curtis published it in the LasVegas Advisor, which is how it become well known. The'...' in the sign encompases quite a bit of information,which was conveniently left off the sign. Actually the study only says that the Palms had the lowest nickel video slotsof the casinos surveyed in Las Vegas. The small print at thebottom says, 'Independent study conducted between November2001-February 2002 on Austin Powers, Fortune Cookie, Reel'em In, and Wheel of Fortune games. They left off LeopardSpots, and the study began in October.
Observations
There seemed to be no truth behind slot placement myths. Machines on the end of a bank did no better on average than those in the middle. There was also no correlation between return and proximity to such things as the main door, table game pit, high traffic areas, and low traffic areas.
Most casinos were very consistent in their slot returns.If one nickel machine had a return of x% then all others like it also returned x%. However some casinos did mix up loose and tight machines, most notably Treasure Island and the California casinos.
Methodology
A kind and anonymous source provided me with par sheets for the games in question. The EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) chip is what tells the machine the order of the symbols on the reel, in some cases how the stops are weighted, how much each winning combination pays, and any other pertinent information about how much the machine pays.It is up to the slot manager to select which EPROM chip to order according to the return percentage desired. On atypical game there might be about 8 different possible return percentages, ranging from about 85% to 98%.
Each of the different par sheets has five sets of distinct reels. On video display slots the stops are not weighted; in other words all stops are equally likely. The distribution of each symbol on each reel is what determines the theoretical return of the machine. For example a higher paying machine may have more of the higher paying symbols.
On the machine itself three consecutive symbols arevisible on five different reels. By comparing actualobservations of results to the par sheets it is possible todetermine which reels the machine uses, and thus which par sheet and which return. There are various three-symbol combinations that appear in at least one but not all par sheets. So if one of these combinations occurs on an actualmachine it narrows down the possible par sheets. By playingenough the player can narrow down the possible par sheets tojust one.
To help identify the unique combinations I wrote a computer program for each game, which had the exact reel order of all 5 reels of all the par sheets. The program then counted the number of par sheets with each possible three-symbol combination. If the number was greater than 0 and less than the maximum then that combination was identified along with the associated par sheets it belonged to.
It is then a matter of simply playing the game and comparing the outcomes to the list of partially unique combinations. It only takes about 5-10 plays per machine to narrow down the possibilities to just one par sheet.
The averages in the table are actually an average of averages. For each kind of machine at each casino I took an average return. Then I took the average of these averages over the five kinds of machines I tested for.
Slot Machine Definition
There is some confusion about what constitutes a 'slot machine' or 'slot.' My definition, and that of most gamblers, is a gambling machine with either actual spinning reels or video representations of the them.
People in the gaming business and regulators generally refer to a slot machine as any gambling machine, including reeled slots, video poker, video keno, video blackjack,etc.. For purposes of statistics both casino managers and regulators combine all the electronic gambling machines together. For example, the Slot Chart in Casino Player magazine and reports by the Nevada Gaming Control Board do not isolate just reeled slots but consider all electronic games a 'slot.' Therefore my return percentages should not be expected to agree with those reported by the casinos or regulators. As far as I know mine is the only source to isolate just the return of reeled slots.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Rob Feldheim for helping with the slot play and record keeping. Rob helped me with most of the casinos on the east side of town and part of downtown. I would also like to thank par Sheet Pete (not his real name)for providing the par sheets, without which this project would not have been possible.
Internal Links
Go to slot machine appendix3B (Jean/Primm slot returns).
Go to slot machine appendix 3D(Henderson slot returns).
Go to slot machine appendix 3E(Las Vegas quarter and dollar slot returns).
Go to slot machine appendix 3F(Montreal slot return).
Go back to slot machines.
External Links
The main-stream media has covered this study in depth. Here are links to some articles.
- Turning'em loose, an article that appeared in the Las VegasReview Journal on May 19, 2002, about the possible effectsof this study.
- One-Armed Bandit or Robin Hood?, an article by myself for Contingencies Magazine explaining the methodology, results, and weaknesses of the study.
- Play by the rules and the one-armed bandits will still win. Boston Globe article about slot machines, in which my Las Vegas survey is mentioned and my advice quoted. (cache)
Written by: Michael Shackleford
Weird and wonderful: two words that perfectly describe Las Vegas. Well, I suppose that is depending on how you plan your trip to Sin City. There are some of us that keep a little more weird than wonderful in the balance.
In fact, I’d say the most wonderful parts of Las Vegas are the weird ones. If you fall into this category too, what should you see? Where can you indulge in both the entertaining and the bizarre?
If I were to sketch out every strange form of entertainment in downtown Las Vegas, it would take ages. So, let’s tighten the focus a bit and pick just one item of this crazy city: slot machines. They’re iconic, noisy, flashy, and in some instances, utterly whacky. A slot machine can be a good entry point for the weirdness, too. Perhaps you’re looking to dip your toes in first before taking the plunge into absurdity.
I’ve picked five different specific slot machines that are definitely worth a trot out to see. These machines are elaborate, unique, and in one instance, a way to gamble on a historic disaster. If you’re prone to contemplation, you may want to bring a healthy dose of gallows humor for that one. If that doesn’t qualify as both weird and morbidly wonderful, I have no idea what would.
Sigma Derby
Ahhh, Sigma Derby. I have such a soft spot for this machine. It’s utterly impractical, but also beautiful. Sigma Derby is oversized and breaks down often, and the manufacturer is long out of business by now. This is one of the reasons why you can only find it at two casinos in Las Vegas: The D, and the MGM Grand.
I suppose whoever made this machine decided one classic form of gambling wasn’t enough. Sure, a slot machine is a well-loved cliché…but what if you could cram an entire horse track into that slot machine?! Sounds like double the crazy fun, right?
At least, that’s how I imagine the design process went. This machine does, in fact, have an entire miniature horse track smack dab in the middle of it. The horses have individual odds, which is a nice twist. The stakes are low as well, making it friendly to a wide range of players.
Honestly, if I can nerd out for a moment, Sigma Derby is worth peeking at just for its incredibly unique design. It is a work of art. It’s been labeled a “designation game” for a good reason. If you’re looking for something both odd and beautiful, definitely check out Sigma Derby.
Golden Nugget’s Huge Machine
Yeah, this is more or less precisely what its name implies. This is just a humongous, oversized, stupidly giant slot machine that you can play. You’ll find it at the Golden Nugget Casino.
It may look like something from the set of The Price is Right, but you’ll find this slot at the Golden Nugget. Now, if you’re uncomfortable with feeling a bit conspicuous, this probably won’t be the ideal machine for you. If you don’t win anything at all, pulling the arm on this device feels like standing in a spotlight.
It’s known for attracting crowds. I mean, can you blame the spectators? The machine has four reels that are about the size of a regular slot machine on their own. It also measures over 8 feet tall. If you happen to win, there’s no doubt that everyone in the vicinity will notice.
Don’t miss this enormous oddity. If you have stage fright, just indulge in a couple of beverages and soak up the attention. There’s no other machine around that feels as momentous when you pull the arm.
Golden Gate Classics Collection
Golden Gate has the esteemed designation of being Las Vegas’s oldest casino.
Appropriately, Golden Gate has a selection of classic slot machines that are still operable. There are plenty of other locations that display vintage slot machines, but not many will let you play them.
The machines are preserved beautifully. If you’re a history nerd like me, you’ll certainly get a sense of wonder as you play machines that date back to the beginning of the 20th century. This was a period when slot machines were commonly marketed as distractions for the bored wives of table players.
Of course, we live in more enlightened times now. Wives are equally as likely to be winning (and losing) money at the tables as their husbands. However, if your significant other gets on a hot streak and you’re feeling a little left out, why not tap into the original purpose of these vintage machines and give them a spin?
Silver Strike
Silver Strike machines can only be found at two locations in Las Vegas: El Cortez and Four Queens. Despite the limited sites, many people consider this specific slot machine to be worth a journey.
This slot machine has a legitimate fan base. I can’t think of too many others that can claim that. In fact, when you run a Google search for a Silver Strike machine, one of the most common searches is “Silver Strike machine for sale.” You know a machine has something unique to it when slots hobbyists are looking to acquire one!
Honestly, I can’t say that I understand the appeal of having a slot machine in your living room. I’d instead go try and “strike silver” on a casino floor and save the space.
The primary appeal of this machine is its unique payout. Silver Strike machines, in keeping with their name, spit out silver coins for winnings. The value can range from $10 to $300. The higher-value ones tend to come out with a protective cover.
As you can see on the fan website, people tend to hold onto the coins. If you’d rather cash them in, then you can, of course, do so with the casino’s cashier.
Titanic
Okay, I’ll come clean: you have to be a bit historically minded to see the weird in this one. A dark sense of humor will help tap into that wonderful, too.
This Bally-made machine is a spin-off from the blockbuster movie everyone loved twenty years ago. Licensed slot machines are undoubtedly old news; I’ll admit that. Still, can you claim in good conscience that it isn’t bizarre to see people cheer when they spin for three icebergs? This is hard “too soon” territory, but it fits into the category of “weird” in my mind.
This machine captures the Las Vegas spirit perhaps better than any other. I’d say no other machine on the list manages to capture the optimism of gambling money right alongside such a weirdly fatalistic theme. After all, over a thousand people died on the real ship!
If it all feels a bit odd, maybe you can donate some of your winnings from this machine to victims of sea vessel accidents. That should straighten out the karma of celebrating those icebergs.
Wrapping Up
You’re going to spoiled for choice is you’re searching for the weird and wonderful in Las Vegas. If you’ve got a specific penchant for slot machines, you can trust the list I’ve put together here to steer you in the right direction. There are cult favorites, disaster games, and trips to Las Vegas’ historical past to experience. I can assure you, these slot machines are well worth checking out, so get to it!