Did you know there are over 42,000 slot machines in Las Vegas casinos? This translates to about 60% of Las Vegas casinos’ revenue, proving that the biggest winnings in casinos come from slot machines.
Just FYI, the highest slot jackpot ever recorded was $39.7 million in 2003 at Excalibur Casino.
With all the excitement, wishes, and lucky fingers, you are probably here wondering how you can become one of the lucky few to win it big at the slots. Picking the perfect venue and then the perfect slot is daunting, and we are here to lessen that burden.
Since there are literally thousands of machines to choose from, it is best you look at how to find a good slot machine in any casino, regardless of location and offerings.
Read on to learn what makes for the best slot machines, including the jackpots, multipliers, venue, timing, and other bonus features. Get to know the best popular slot machines that pay out big!
What Makes The Best Slot Machines?
1. The Perfect Venue
It is a common belief that the best casinos for spending less and earning more are off the Strip, in places like Fremont and other Downtown locations. However, slot machines are different.
With over 120,000 slots across Nevada, the variety is a lot and evenly distributed.
However, if you want the best odds, then Reno, Boulder Area, and North Las Vegas slot casinos have been consistently earning players more money than other regions in the city. Reno with the highest percentage of winning for players, followed respectively by Boulder Area, North Las Vegas, the Strip, and then Downtown.
The best casinos to play slots in on the Strip include Excalibur, Caesars Palace, Luxor, NYNY, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, and the Bellagio. As for Downtown, the best includes Golden Nugget, Binion’s Gambling Hall, and Circa Las Vegas.
2. The Perfect Time to Play
Many believe casinos tend to get tighter on busier hours, days, and events to make bigger profits. With that in mind, the most profitable times for players and enthusiasts are around 8 pm – 5 am since it is not in the bustling wake of the day when many casinos are tighter with their slots.
3. High RTP (Return to Player) Slots
The RTP is the percentage of wagered money a slot machine is programmed to pay back to players over time, typically displayed as a percentage. It represents the average amount returned to players from the total amount wagered.
Nevada has a 75% minimum Return to Player (RTP) according to Nevada’s Gaming Control Board, which states.
Therefore, an RTP of 75% means the machine, on average, pays back $75 for every $100 wagered. The good news is even the lowest-performing slots usually pay more than 85%.
Before you commence playing, it is best you select a game with a substantial RTP percentage by looking at the RTP % provided by the casino online.
Also, look at the pay table, which shows how much each symbol is worth that way, you know which symbols are more lucrative and whether there are any wild cards.
4. High Roller/Variance Slots
According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, the best win percentages come from high-roller slots like the ones that accept higher denominations, including $5, $25, and $100. Their returns are higher, upwards of $94.05% for every $100 spent.
You are likelier to lose faster with these slots, but you will also get a better payout percentage when you max the amount on each spin.
5. High Volatility
A slot machine with high volatility means less frequent payouts but higher-value payouts when you win.
While they may result in more frequent losses or smaller wins, they also present the opportunity for substantial jackpot prizes. This is appealing to many players willing to take on higher risks in exchange for winning larger, life-changing amounts.
For those who just want to have fun and do not care about higher payouts, then low volatility slots are the way to go.
6. Jackpots
Some slot machines offer progressive jackpots, which increase over time as players make bets. These jackpots can reach substantial amounts and are awarded to lucky players who hit a specific combination or fulfill certain requirements.
Go to slots with smaller jackpots since they tend to pay out more frequently. Higher jackpots are great but much harder to win, making their payouts rare and far in between.
7. Bonus Features
Slot machines that allow for free spins and bonuses are great for practicing. It is fun and gives you the chance to get better at the game. Bonus rounds are common in many modern machines giving you more chances to hone your skills.
11 Best Slot Machines To Play In Vegas
The house always wins! But you should still get to bring a good chunk of that win back home.
It is intriguing to note; by analyzing the earnings of slot machines and how much profit they bring to their casinos, it is possible to use this information to estimate the amount won by players.
This knowledge allows us to determine the most favorable types of slot machines for those who would like to visit and play.
Please keep in mind that you will need to play a lot over time to perceive the benefits of these profitable slot machines.
So, based on the Nevada statewide slot machine winnings and the gaming revenue data from the Gaming Commission, here are the best slot machines to play:
1. $5, $25, $0.05 Slot Machines
In 2022, Nickel slots recorded a 5.09% win for the house, translating to about 94.91% win for the players. That meant these slots were the most profitable. However, in 2023, the most profitable denomination was the 5 Dollar slot, which performed the same way the nickel did in 2022.
Following the $5-Dollar slots was the $25-Dollar slots with a 5.19% win for the house and 94.81% for players. Nickel was third with a 94.67% win for players.
The worst performers were the Penny Slots with a 90.32% win for the players.
From this data we can conclude that the best slots in terms of denomination are the $5, $25, and $0.05.
However, since the difference is very negligible, just make sure to avoid penny slots which will take the most of your money. This is a similar case to Quarter slots, they take the most money from players with a more than 8% loss.
Nickel slots have performed well in several years in a row, making them ideal for those who want to win at little costs. They are easy to play, affordable, and carry lower risk. They are hard contenders to beat!
However, nickel slots are also rare, with just about 900 nickel slots in operation as of 2022, this is a decline from 1035 slots in 2021 and it getting lower. This leaves us with the $5 and $25 as the best slots.
2. Higher Limit Slots ($5 and above)
Also known as High Roller Slots, these are slots where you can place bets with maximums reaching up to hundreds of dollars. In many casinos, the least you can bet at High Limit Slots is $5, and this can add up to hundreds of dollars.
Betting with higher denomination is one of the guaranteed ways to increase your odds in slot machines. This is because of the RTP we talked about.
Higher denominations generally have a higher RTP than lower denominations. Meaning, if you bet the same amount in a penny slot (90.32% RTP) and a $25-dollar slot (94.81% RTP), when you win in both of them the $25-dollar slot will give you more money because it has a higher RTP than a penny slot.
3. Higher Jackpot Slots
- E.g.: Mega Moolah, Double Jackpot Slots, Megabucks
Mega Moolah is one of the most popular slot games in the world. The minimum jackpot win is $1 million, which means that even if you win once in your entire gameplay, you get to be a millionaire in just an instance.
Slot machines with big jackpot prices like these ones make them very ideal for someone looking to make a lot of money. However, keep in mind that you will probably lose a lot of money and time before you hit the jackpot.
Another great jackpot slot is the Double Jackpot, a classic and simple slot game with pictures of bells, bars, cherries, 7’s, and all the bells and whistles that are reminiscent of traditional slot machines. The odds are good, and winning is straightforward with a jackpot of $50,000 or more.
Megabucks has recorded previous winnings of more than $4, $20, and $39 million across various casinos. These are slots where you only need to win once.
4. Progressive & Multiplier Slots
- E.g.: Mega Moolah, Megabucks, Fu Dao Le, Piggy Bankin, Cleopatra, Bonanza, Mega Fortune, Divine Fortune, Age of the Gods
Numerous games provide impressive player return rates even with jackpots, yet they fall short of the life-altering sums occasionally won by fortunate gamblers through progressive jackpots.
This is where progressive slots come in. A small portion of each bet made by different players on the game contributes to a jackpot pool. This jackpot pool continues to grow until a lucky player hits the jackpot.
Therefore, players can play for a long time despite losing, this is because the one moment they win, their many loses (and others’) will still have contributed to the huge jackpot.
Now, what about multiplier slots.
Slot machines with multipliers i.e. 2x, 3x, 5x, or higher, allow a player to push a button to set the desired multiplier. Once they hit the winning combination, the payout is multiplied by the specific multiplier value they chose, and therefore significantly increasing their wins.
Mega Moolah is one of the most famous and widely recognized progressive jackpot slots of all time. A notable win in Mega Moolah was in 2015, when a player won a whopping $18 million.
Fu Dao Le, on the other hand, includes both multiplier and progressive elements to offer players 243 ways to win with traditional old-school Chinese symbolism. It is not only a fun game to play but also offers free trials and bigger wins.
5. Popular Slot Machines
- E.g.: Wheel of Fortune, Buffalo Grand
Slot machines get popular only if they are fun and profitable. If you walk into a casino and see many people playing the classics like Wheel of Fortune and Buffalo Grand, then you know you will make a few bucks from them.
Wheel of Fortune is a popular progressive slot game with higher payouts compared to penny slots.
Buffalo Grand is another popular choice, with the highest recorded player win of $1.39 million in 2021.
6. Classic Slot Machines
- Top Dollar, Pinball, Double Diamond, Triple 7s, Mega Joker
Classic slots like the Mega Joker, created by NetEnt, are known for their traditional 3-reel slots and simple design with limited number of reels and pay lines.
The reason to choose classics is because they were designed for low volatility. If your goal is to just enjoy the game with less chances of losing and you do not care about huge bonuses then these ones are for you.
Nevertheless, they are classics, who doesn’t like playing classics!
7. High Volatility Slots
- E.g.:, Triple Red Hot 7’s, Diamond Queen, Huff and More Puff, Wheel of Fortune, Buffalo
Diamond Queen is a 5 x 3 slot classic game that is known for its high RTP percentages, usually more than 94%, as well as its high volatility. The bonus hit frequency is low, meaning you won’t get the bonus often, but since it is a progressive game, you stand higher chances if you continue playing.
Some players find a sense of satisfaction in taking on the challenge of high-volatility slots. The pursuit of elusive big wins can be psychologically rewarding, creating a sense of accomplishment when they finally hit a substantial payout.
Triple Red Hot 7’s is another slot machine that is popular because when you win, it is usually in large amounts.
However, as a rule of thumb, choosing lower volatility machines is the wiser choice if you want to lower your chances of losing. Go for high volatility machines if you have a bigger bankroll, so that it can become a higher reward which mitigates the risk.
8. Must Hit By” Slot Machines
- Thunder Cash, Great Zeus, Double Buffalo Spirit
These are slot machines that must pay the player when they reach a certain number. Essentially this gives the player a higher chance of winning because once the player has reached that value, the slot machines has to pay.
9. Entertaining Slots
- E.g.: Penny Slots & Heidi’s Bier Haus
So, why are penny slots on this list of best slot machines in Vegas? Well, it is because they are plain fun.
Even though penny slots have the worst win percentages, they are cheaper to play. With just a penny, you can play on any of the slots, which makes for good cheap fun.
Heidi’s Bier Haus is another popular fantastic slot game that has some of the freest tries for training and entertainment. With up to 100 free spins, Heidi’s Bier Haus offers you a chance to just sit and relax and get to know the fun side of slots.
Sometimes you want to start with training wheels or just goof around. Penny and Heidi’s Bier Haus slots are the perfect machines if that is what you are looking for.
10. Loosest Slots
The concept of ‘loose slots’ is one shrouded in myth, debate, and misconceptions. A loose slot is a belief that some slots are more likely to pay out winnings more than others as you continue to play.
However, since slot machines are under strict regulations, it is harder to see why gamblers firmly cling to the idea. Some say it is because casinos are flexible in adjusting payout percentages, but again, this is always in a given regulated manner.
For those who believe in loose slots, the best places for the largest payday are said to be Reno, the Boulder Area, and North Las Vegas. It is believed that Downtown is tighter than the slot casinos on the Strip.
11. Non-Branded Slot Machines
Avoid branded/commercially-licensed slot machines if you want to win big.
Slot machines from a movie, tv show, or general pop culture phenomenon are contractually obligated to pay loyalties. Hence, they are less likely to give huge payouts.
However, they are extremely fun to play with interesting themes from your favorite guilty pleasures like Mad Max: Fury Road and even the Big Bang Theory.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Slot Machines Pay The Best In Vegas?
Higher roller slots like the $5 slots and multi-denomination slots like the $10, $25, and $100 have the highest payout in Vegas. This is the opposite of penny and quarter slots that have the lowest payouts.
Multiplier, progressive, large jackpot, and high volatility machines are also better payers. Examples include Diamond Queen, Monte Carlo, Buffalo Grand, Double Jackpot Lion Share, Mega Moolah, and Piggy Bankin.
Slot machines with the best RTP are High Roller Machines and include Ugga Bugga (98.74% – 99.07%), Book of 99 (99%), Ooh Aah Dracula (99%), and Mega Joker (99%).
2. What Is The Best Slot Casino In Las Vegas?
There is no single best slot casino in Las Vegas. Strip and Downtown casinos have the greatest number of slots under one roof, making them the most fun, but you are also more likely to lose. For the most fun, go for both Strip and Downtown casinos, but do not go expecting to win.
The best slot casinos, in terms of likelihood to win, are located in Reno, Boulder Area, and North Las Vegas. These include Boulder Station, Sunset Station, M Resort, Sam’s Town, Arizona Charlies, Jerry’s Nugget, Texas Station,
3. Which Slot Machines Are Most Likely To Win?
The slot machines with the highest likelihood of winning are those that combine different features to give players more options.
To increase your chances of winning, go for slot machines that have low-medium volatility, a higher RTP, progressive & multiplier features, bonuses, ad “Must Hit By”. The more the features the higher likelihood the slot machines will help you win.
Final Thoughts
It is important to know that slot machines are designed to be entertaining, and winning is based on luck rather than skill. They use Random Number Generators which means there is no strategy in playing slots.
With that in mind, ensure you can set your limits on your gambling budget, know when to stop, and never chase losses. Slot machines, like any form of gambling, should be enjoyed responsibly. Have Fun!