Jackpot Slot Machines – Everything You Wanted to Know
Jackpot slot machines are a staple in any online casino and a big crowd draw because of the massive flashing lights blinking million dollar prizes. They’re really like every other slot machine, but jackpot slots have one special difference, they’re pool of money is connected between several machines (this type is called progressive jackpot slots). This is how it is in both land-based casinos and online casinos. Each time someone makes a wager on a jackpot slot, a portion of their losses go into the giant jackpot.
Consider ten machines connected, one hundred machines or, in the casino of online casinos, millions of players connected. You will quickly get the idea of how the wins get into the million dollar figures. These games often have jackpots larger than national lotteries and you can spin the reels ten times in the time it takes to buy a lottery ticket. So the obvious appeal are the large jackpots, but deeper still is that instinctual gambling desire for the big payout.
Welcome to my channel 'TheBigPayback - Slot Machine Videos' where I showcase slot machine play. Yes, I actually travel to real casinos around the world, record my play, and take you right into the.
Listed above are seven of the top online slot jackpots for Microgaming Games. The numbers are drawn directly from the data provided by Microgaming and is all in real time. The Mega Mega Moolah slot jackpot is currently at an estimated 3.7 million dollars and King Cashalot is begging for a payout with $574,823. The Mega Moolah progressive jackpot slot prize is a pool of funds from several online casinos that offer Microgaming.
Online Slot Jackpots
Each of the slot jackpots above require that the player make max bet wagers in order to be eligible for the progressive slot jackpot. The Play now section under each of the slot jackpots above gives players an exclusive bonus to try out these games with 30 free spins and an additional $1600 in four 100% matching bonuses up to $200 each. Playthrough requirements are active on this promotion.
On each spin of an online slot set to max bet, with a jackpot or progressive jackpot reward, players instantly become eligible to win. In other words, every spin is an opportunity at a large pay like those seen on Mega Moolah and King Cashalot as mentioned above.
Microgaming Progressive Slots
Microgaming is well known for having paid out the largest known mobile casino game win at nearly 4000000. They have also held online slots tournaments with a payout to one lucky player of over 6000000. Along with those millions being paid out, Microgaming is also on record as having paid the largest win at online bingo with 5.8 million.
Some of the other online slot jackpots offered by Microgaming are attached to the following games:
WowPot™ this Microgaming progressive slot can be found as a 5 reel progressive and a 3 reel progressive slot. There are extra paylines on the version that has five reels and because of that this one gives more opportunities for players to win. Both versions of WOWPot share the same progressive pool so this makes for an often won, but always replenished progressive jackpot slot from Microgaming.
SupaJax™ is a game of video poker that is networked across the Microgaming casino network for larger progressive pots.
Fruit Fiesta™ is one of the most liked games by players out of the Microgaming progressive collection. The game has a very high frequency for scatter symbols to hit. There are two versions, the three reel and the five reel and both are connected to several online casinos that carry or are powered by Microgaming.
Lotsaloot™ this video slot game has a classic 3 reel version as well as a brand new, 20 pay line version with 5 reels. As with the other Microgaming progressives, both versions of Lotsaloot feed into a progressive fund.
Jackpot Deuces™as with SupaJax, Jackpot Deuces is an online video poker machine. This game is different in that it has deuces set to wild. Jackpot Deuces is connected to several online casinos.
Cash Splash™ this game is widely known as the 1st progressive jackpot to ever be online. It is found in online casinos as either a three reel or five reel.
Triple 7s™ is quite different from any other type of progressive that we have ever seen. Triple 7s just so happens to be a game of Blackjack setup with a progressive pot. Pretty cool for those fans of Blacjack.
Tunzamunni™is a progressive slot featuring a theme of treasure. It's fashioned in the old style of one line with three reels. Not exactly our favorite game out there, but there has to be someone playing because the progressive jackpot is up to around $41000. That's a lot of nickels!
The Dark Knight™ this online slot is particularly interesting as it offers four progressive jackpots within the game. These jackpots are triggered with a bonus wheel.
The four progressive prizes for The Dark Knight are:
Mini Progressive starting a 10
Minor Progressive 100
Major Progressive 10000
and the Mega Progressive at an amazing 1 000 000
King Cashalot™ this progressive slot has a theme centered in the days of King Arthur. Well, in this case, King Cashalot. With wild multipliers, five reels, scatter symbols and nine paylines, this progressive slot jackpot is huge! The slot game also features a main bonus round where players can select and collect and a mini bonus round available on all wins where players can gamble for a larger win.
Treasure Nile™ doesn't have much to have said about it other than it's treasure, it's the Nile, it's progressive and it's a nine line payout.
Major Millions™ the very interesting thing about Major Millions is that the progressive jackpot will always start at 250000. There are three versions of this progressive jackpot slot and all are connected by Microgaming casinos and share the same jackpot.
More of the Mega Moolah Progressive Variations:
Mega Moolah™
Mega Moolah™ – 5 Reel Drive
Mega Moolah™ – Summertime
Other Table Game Progressives by Microgaming:
Roulette Royale™
Poker Ride™
Cyberstud™
Caribbean Draw Poker
Tips for playing Jackpot Slot Machines
Having played thousands of online slot games over the years and hundreds in the casinos, I feel that I can offer some expert advice.
Here are some tips that you may find useful for playing jackpot slot machines:
Manage that Money: You may have thousands of dollars built up in your account, but it only takes a few hundred to play to your first win. When playing slots, the objective is to maintain a balance between wins and losses. Playing with more manageable amounts helps you to keep track of those losses in your head.
Times Vs. Luck in Slots: Take the amount of money that you have and divide it by the lowest wager amount at max bet. Then do the math on the highest wager possible. At one-hundred dollars and a three dollar wager, you get thirty-three spins. With a wager of fifty-dollars versus your one-hundred dollars, you only get two spins. The win would be immense on that fifty dollar wager, but two spins is nothing unless your luck is spot on.
Max Bet is Your Friend: With most jackpot slots, you will need to bet the max for your coin amount in order to be eligible for a jackpot win. Do not make the mistake of hitting five scatters and missing out on a jackpot because you forgot to hit max bet.
Eyes on the Prize: Even though your real reason for playing is that huge jackpot, it is important not to let that drive your next play. There will be a lot of times that you are getting to your last dollar and the machine keeps looking like it will hit. If you can afford that, press through that is fine, but if you want to stay in the game, it might be a good idea to find another slot machine. Greed is a really good motivator and the idea of winning that jackpot will keep you pressing spin, but you still need to be mindful of the win/loss balance.
A Little Casino Recon: It is always good to know how high the jackpot got to before it was last won. Has it ever been won? Playing a slot machine game with a large jackpot in the hundreds of millions may mean your chances of winning are very slim. It took a lot of spins for that game to collect that prize. Then again, chancing it and giving the spin to luck, you may possibly win, but once again, very slim chance.
Jackpot Slot Machines are Fun: If I’m being honest, I really only have fun when I am winning at slots. When I start frowning at a jackpot slot machine, I then know that it collected more from me than what I wanted.
Play for the Big Win: So, the funny thing about progressive jackpot slot machines is that sometimes the winnings from a regular win can be larger than the actual jackpot. I find this to be true a lot of times with Betsoft games. In a game like Slots Angels for instance, there was a seven-thousand-dollar jackpot and I had a spin land on a twenty-thousand-dollar win. That’s why players should just play jackpot slot machines like any other slot game and consider the jackpot a nice bonus if it happens.
Types of Jackpot Slot Machines
The first two categories for jackpot slots are online and land based. There are then subtypes of those categories. There are three subtypes of progressive jackpot slots which occur in both land based and online slots. The first type is the wide area progressive, the second being stand alone and third being single casino progressive or ‘local’.
Wide area jackpot pool: this refers to a casino network jackpot in which several casinos participate and send money into the jackpot pool. This can be an area as large as a province, state or even globally when considering online casinos. This type of jackpot can quickly become very large and there are also more players contending for the win. Some of the largest jackpots in a wide area gaming network are the Microgaming Jackpots.
Stand-alone jackpot slot machines: these are jackpots which are slot machine specific. The money that is taken in by the house is kept to that online slot so the jackpots tend to be much smaller. This type of jackpot is oftentimes divided into three jackpot sizes of mini, medium and large depending on the software company that developed the game. These are the jackpots that you can win the most often and typically stay very low because of that fact.
In-Casino Jackpot Games: So this one gets a little complicated for online casino jackpot slots. The idea with this subtype is that there are several of the same slot game that feed the jackpot pool. With online casinos, they deal more with sessions than machines, so online casino jackpots can technically be considered this subtype. In land based casinos it is what it is, in that there can be rows of games all connected to the jackpot. That means paying into it and collecting from it. So the player sitting next to you could be making that jackpot larger for you with every spin.
Jackpot Wins are Always Newsmakers
I never understood this, but when someone hits a massive jackpot, just like a big lottery win, the local media makes it a story. Recently an older couple pulled 2.4 million dollars from a jackpot slot machine that had not paid out in well over twenty years. They of course had to put them in the spotlight.
So here’s the advice on this one, when playing a jackpot slot machine at a casino, be sure to have your best clothes on because there’s going to be a picture. Online jackpot slots winners may not have that concern immediately, but online casinos love to get their name out there. When you collect the cheque, expect to be called upon for a photo and a few words how you will spend it.
Jackpot Slot Machines from Olden Times Circa 1989
So in referring back to the couple that won all that money from the slot machine that had not paid out in years and years. It reminded me about a case in 1989 that was heard by the Nevada Gaming Commission. The case involved algorithms that were deemed as proprietary by a slot machines manufacturer in which they created “near misses” and way to many of them to be fair. Near misses are really just that, whenever you watch the symbols lining up and they are about to hit that jackpot or any win, and then “missed it by that much” to quote Maxwell Smart. So it was deemed unacceptable, for the real reel version, but surprisingly, the mapping of reels for virtual games like online slots or those now found commonly in online casinos for near misses above and below the payline are acceptable. It is a very interesting topics, especially in relation to jackpot slot machines and online slots. There is a scholarly article that covers the exact topic, in relation to a player’s reaction to a near miss.
What’s the Verdict Then?
Jackpot slots can be fun for a short thrill. In the long-game in playing online slots and slots for wins, personally I don’t seek out a jackpot. The large wins are fun to dream about winning, but I will stick to just playing for the short wins and lots of them!
What to do with Your Jackpot Winnings
Wow, ya that is totally up to you, grats! However, if you are feeling generous, the email is [email protected], I’ll be happy to count the money for you.
Find out what slot machines actually returned to the public. Just click below to see slot machine payback statistics for casinos in all U.S. states.
Alabama | Arizona | Arkansas | California |
Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida |
Georgia | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana |
Iowa | Kansas | Louisiana | Maine |
Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota |
Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska |
Nevada | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York |
North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma |
Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina |
South Dakota | Texas | Washington | West Virginia |
Wisconsin | Wyoming |
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 each tribes’ 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 set its 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 the exercise 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 of your 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 the electronic games of skill must return a minimum of 83%.
For the one year period from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018, the average gaming machine’s return at Oaklawn was 93.04% and at Southland it was 92.86%
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 the total 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, 2017 through June 30, 2018:
Black Hawk | Central City | Cripple Creek | |
1¢ Slots | 89.73% | 90.47% | 91.85% |
5¢ Slots | 93.16% | 94.07% | 93.51% |
25¢ Slots | 92.70% | 93.94% | 95.54% |
$1 Slots | 93.69% | 94.66% | 95.07% |
$5 Slots | 94.05% | 94.01% | 94.96% |
All | 92.41% | 92.38% | 93.61% |
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 each category 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:
Denomination | Payback % |
1¢ | 89.92 |
2¢ | 91.76 |
5¢ | 90.80 |
25¢ | 91.31 |
50¢ | 90.99 |
$1.00 | 93.12 |
$5.00 | 93.63 |
$10.00 | 94.29 |
$25.00 | 94.82 |
$100.00 | 92.61 |
Average | 91.91 |
These figures reflect the total percentages returned by each denomination of slot machine from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018.
Here's information from Connecticut's Division of Special Revenue regarding Mohegan Sun's slot payback percentages:
Denomination | Payback % |
1/4¢ | 86.30 |
1/2¢ | 85.91 |
1¢ | 89.05 |
2¢ | 87.62 |
5¢ | 89.97 |
25¢ | 91.53 |
50¢ | 91.98 |
$1.00 | 92.91 |
$5.00 | 93.80 |
$10.00 | 97.26 |
$25.00 | 95.01 |
$100.00 | 94.69 |
Average | 91.86 |
These figures reflect the total percentages returned by each denomination of slot machine from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018.
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 Delaware Lottery. Unlike VLT’s in other states, however, Delaware’s machines pay out 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, 2017 through June 30, 2018 the average VLT return at Dover Downs was 92.63%, at Delaware Park it was 92.08%, and at Harrington Raceway it was 92.00%.
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 offer sports books.
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 offers 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 Ocean and 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 set to 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 allowed to offer blackjack , baccarat , mini-baccarat , three card poker , let it ride and 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 concerning the payback percentages on any gaming machines in Florida’s Indian casinos.
The other games allowed in all Indian casinos are: high-stakes bingo, video pull tabs, and 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 is 18 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, 2017 through June 30, 2018 the gaming machines at Magic City returned 93.38%, Casino Miami returned 93.17%, Hialeah Park returned 93.41%, Gulfstream Park returned 92.24%, Dania Casino returned 92.41%, Mardi Gras returned 91.74%, Calder returned 91.16%, and The Isle returned 90.22%.
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 payback percentage.
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 floor attendant 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:
CASINO | PAYBACK % |
Casino Queen | 92.34 |
Harrah's Joliet | 92.10 |
Hollywood Joliet | 91.16 |
Argosy Alton | 90.82 |
Par-A-Dice | 91.02 |
Grand Victoria | 91.03 |
Hollywood - Aurora | 90.44 |
Jumer's | 90.10 |
Rivers Casino | 90.20 |
Harrah's Metropolis | 89.47 |
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, while Harrah'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, 2017 through June 30, 2018:
CASINO | PAYBACK % |
Hoosier Park | 91.70 |
French Lick | 91.67 |
Rising Star | 91.63 |
Indiana Grand | 91.63 |
Blue Chip | 91.49 |
Belterra | 90.92 |
Majestic Star | 90.48 |
Hollywood | 90.15 |
Horseshoe Casino SI | 89.95 |
Majestic Star II | 89.95 |
Horseshoe Hammond | 89.92 |
Ameristar | 89.86 |
Tropicana | 89.53 |
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 from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018:
LOCATION | PAYBACK % |
Prairie Meadows | 91.77 |
Wild Rose- Emmetsburg | 90.97 |
Wild Rose- Clinton | 90.63 |
Wild Rose- Jefferson | 90.59 |
Q Casino | 90.59 |
Diamond Jo Worth | 90.49 |
Catfish Bend | 90.45 |
Riverside | 90.41 |
Diamond Jo Dubuque | 90.39 |
Grand Falls | 90.32 |
Casino Queen Marquette | 90.30 |
Ameristar | 90.30 |
Rhythm City | 90.25 |
Hard Rock | 90.11 |
Isle Bettendorf | 90.04 |
Harrah's | 89.60 |
Isle Waterloo | 89.53 |
Horseshoe Council Bluffs | 89.50 |
Lakeside Casino | 88.69 |
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 all machines 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 State Gaming 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 law requires 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/Bossier City (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’s Town, 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-month period from June, 2017 through May, 2018:
BR | LC | NO | SB | |
1¢ | 88.71% | 88.43% | 88.90% | 88.82% |
5¢ | 91.70% | 92.50% | 94.02% | 92.40% |
25¢ | 93.03% | 92.50% | 92.78% | 90.88% |
$1 | 93.81% | 93.10% | 92.60% | 92.36% |
$5 | 93.59% | 93.48% | 93.41% | 92.22% |
All | 91.28% | 90.63% | 90.34% | 90.30% |
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 each category 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, 2017 through June 30, 2018, the average return on gaming machines at Hollywood Casino was 89.70% and at Oxford Casino it was 89.88%.
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 all machines 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, the project has been hampered by lawsuits which might stop it from being completed.
Massachusetts gaming regulations require a minimum payback of 80% on all gaming machines. From July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018, the gaming machines at Plainridge Park returned 92.03%
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 Gaming Control 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 return is 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, the only kind of slot machines allowed are the electronic video variety. Therefore, you will not find any mechanical slots that have traditional reels - only video screens
Slot Machines For Sale
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%, slot machines - 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 not release any information regarding their slot machine 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, 2017 through June 31, 2018:
Coastal | North | Central | |
1¢ Slots | 91.72% | 92.20% | 91.83% |
5¢ Slots | 95.06% | 94.90% | 95.48% |
25¢ Slots | 94.33% | 93.14% | 93.72% |
$1 Slots | 93.65% | 94.41% | 93.93% |
$5 Slots | 94.16% | 95.47% | 94.87% |
All | 92.33% | 92.06% | 92.25% |
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 each category 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, 2017 through June 30, 2018:
CASINO | PAYBACK % |
Ameristar- St. Charles | 91.1 |
River City | 90.7 |
Hollywood | 90.7 |
Ameristar- K.C. | 90.4 |
Harrah’s - N.K.C | 90.4 |
Lumiere Place | 90.4 |
Isle of Capri - Booneville | 90.2 |
Argosy | 90.0 |
Isle of Capri - Cape Girardeau | 89.7 |
Lady Luck | 89.2 |
Isle of Capri - K.C. | 88.9 |
St. Jo Frontier | 88.9 |
Mark Twain | 88.6 |
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 are not 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. Montana gaming 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 to Montana'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:
Denomination | Payback % |
1¢ Slots | 89.17 |
25¢ Slots | 91.43 |
$1 Slots | 93.08 |
All Slots | 93.31 |
And here's that same information for the north shore casinos:
Denomination | Payback % |
1¢ Slots | 92.72 |
25¢ Slots | 91.59 |
$1 Slots | 92.08 |
All Slots | 94.40 |
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 these numbers.
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 casinos are 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, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018:
1¢ Slot Machines
The Strip - 88.38%
Downtown - 89.15%
Boulder Strip - 90.38%
N. Las Vegas - 90.88%
5¢ Slot Machines
The Strip - 91.64%
Downtown - 93.40%
Boulder Strip - 96.21%
N. Las Vegas - 95.29%
25¢ Slot Machines
The Strip - 89.35%
Downtown - 94.25%
Boulder Strip - 96.13%
N. Las Vegas - 96.41%
$1 Slot Machines
The Strip - 92.43%
Downtown - 94.63%
Boulder Strip - 96.13%
N. Las Vegas - 95.39%
$1 Megabucks Machines
The Strip - 87.83%
Downtown - 89.07%
Boulder Strip - 91.35%
N. Las Vegas - 88.52%
All Slot Machines
The Strip - 91.96%
Downtown - 92.67%
Boulder Strip - 94.34%
N. Las Vegas - 93.53%
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 these numbers 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 locals casinos along Boulder Highway such as Boulder Station and Sam's Town and also in the North Las Vegas area 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, they are among the best payback percentages 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, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018:
Denomination | Payback % |
1¢ Slots | 89.24 |
5¢ Slots | 92.86 |
25¢ Slots | 93.83 |
$1 Slots | 94.30 |
$1 Megabucks | 88.67 |
$5 Slots | 94.57 |
All Slots | 92.21 |
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 these numbers.
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, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018:
Denomination | Payback % |
1¢ Slots | 92.78 |
5¢ Slots | 94.00 |
25¢ Slots | 92.43 |
$1 Slots | 95.60 |
$1 Megabucks | 89.33 |
$5 Slots | 95.49 |
All Slots | 94.62 |
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, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018:
Denomination | Payback % |
1¢ Slots | 93.38 |
5¢ Slots | 96.71 |
25¢ Slots | 95.70 |
$1 Slots | 96.35 |
$5 Slots | 97.32 |
All Slots | 94.60 |
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, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018:
Denomination | Payback % |
1¢ Slots | 93.47 |
5¢ Slots | 96.80 |
25¢ Slots | 93.57 |
$1 Slots | 95.84 |
$5 Slots | 96.30 |
All Slot | 94.35 |
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, 2017 through June 30, 2018:
CASINO | PAYBACK |
Harrah’s | 91.77 |
Borgata | 91.72 |
Hard Rock* | 91.5 |
Caesars | 91.11 |
Bally's A.C. | 90.99 |
Golden Nugget | 90.86 |
Resorts | 90.75 |
Tropicana | 90.36 |
Ocean Resort* | 89.8 |
* These figures reflect one month of results from June 2017 as these casinos just opened.
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 various fraternal 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 electronic gaming 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 print out 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 video reels 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, 2017 through March 31, 2018:
LOCATION | PAYBACK % |
Tioga Downs | 91.79 |
Resort's World Catskills | 91.49 |
Del Lago | 91.20 |
Rivers | 90.60 |
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 be taken 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 of sales.”
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, 2017 through March 31, 2018:
LOCATION | PAYBACK % |
Resorts World | 94.16 |
Jake's 58 | 93.53 |
Empire City | 93.12 |
Monticello | 92.29 |
Saratoga | 92.29 |
Finger Lakes | 92.03 |
Batavia Downs | 91.58 |
Fairgrounds | 91.56 |
Vernon Downs | 91.56 |
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 the compact, 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 or video 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 racetracks that 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, 2017 through June 30, 2018:
CASINO | PAYBACK % |
JACK Cleveland | |
Hollywood Columbus | 92.04 |
JACK Cincinatti | |
Miami Valley | 91.44 |
Belterra Park | |
Hard Rock Rocksino | 91.04 |
Eldorado Gaming | |
Hollywood Toledo | 90.70 |
JACK Thistledown | |
Dayton Raceway | 90.11 |
Hollywood 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 also offer 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 is available 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 maximum bet 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 each machine’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, 2017 through June 25, 2018, the VLT’s had an approximate return of 92.21%.
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’s machines. 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, 2017 through June 30, 2018:
CASINO | PAYBACK % |
Parx Casino | 90.95 |
Valley Forge | 90.71 |
The Meadows | 90.26 |
Mount Airy | 90.24 |
Sugar House | 90.02 |
Sands Bethlehem | 90.00 |
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs | 89.97 |
Harrah's Philadelphia | 89.94 |
The Rivers | 89.76 |
Lady Luck Nemacolin | 89.43 |
Hollywood Casino at Penn National | 89.30 |
Presque Isle | 89.26 |
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 terminals because 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 a receipt 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 August 1, 2017 through July 31, 2018 the average VLT return at Twin River was 90.89% and at Newport Grand it was 91.05%.
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 they are 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, 2017 through June 30, 2018:
Denomination | Payback % |
1¢ Slots | 90.70 |
5¢ Slots | 93.34 |
25¢ Slots | 91.01 |
$1 Slots | 92.39 |
$5 Slots | 91.20 |
Average | 90.91 |
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 a commission 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 concerning the 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 finite number 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, the minimum 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 terminals because 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, 2017 through June 30, 2018 the average return on VLT’s was: 91.13% at Mountaineer Park, 90.90% at Mardi Gras, 91.03% at Wheeling Island, 91.02% 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 terms of 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 the amount wagered.'
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 system whereby 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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