Best Slots In Las Vegas
Golden Goddess is a progressive jackpot slot machine with 5 reels and 40. However, what goes unsaid is that North Las Vegas slots returned 93.91% and the Boulder Strip slots paid back 94.76%, so the best advice is to avoid the tourist areas and play where the locals play. Compared to fiscal 2011, all of the areas except the Boulder Strip showed a slight reduction in paybacks in 2012. Las Vegas is known as the city where people’s dreams come true. Unlike no deposit bonus casinos in the USA where you can play the best free spins slots machines, land based casinos offer the thrill to play with other players in a social setting.
Las Vegas is home to 160,000+ slot machines. People who don’t gamble or visit Vegas much don’t realize how much variety exists among these tens of thousands of games. Thanks to strict regulatory work, we know that the return to player percentage of Vegas slots ranges from 78% to almost 99%. Whether you’re an advantage gambler or not, you should recognize that some Vegas slot machines are designed to take more of your money and at a faster pace than others. In the industry, this is referred to as a machine’s “tightness” or “looseness.”
The loosest slots in Vegas in 2021 (and probably 2022) are at off-Strip casinos and casinos in North Las Vegas, at places like Fiesta Henderson or Sam’s Town near the Boulder Strip. Some slots at these off-Strip spots in Las Vegas are similar in theoretical return percentage to the more traditionally player-friendly slot games in Reno, some are even better than the average Reno machine.
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In this post, I’ll prove everything I just said with specific statistics, showing you how to find the loosest slots in Las Vegas in 2021. And let’s be honest, this information isn’t likely to change much in 2022, either.
What Are Loose Slots (In Vegas or Anywhere Else)?
A slot is loose if its theoretical return to player is high relative to other machines. RTP is measured as a theoretical percentage representing how much of a player’s money will be paid back out in winnings. The RTP tells you how much you stand to lose over a given period of time.
Loose slots have higher percentages.
Tight slots have lower percentages.
Loose vs. Tight Slots in Vegas Example
Let’s look an example:
50 Lions slot machines by Aristocrat are popular on Vegas casino floors. This is a 5-reel and 3-row video slot with all the modern features players like, with bonuses, wild symbols, a scatter symbol, but nothing too much in terms of video cut scenes or complex side bets or bonus games. It’s accessible to a huge number of players and that’s why you can find it on lots of different gaming floors.
The standard issue game of 50 Lions has an RTP of 94.71%.
That doesn’t mean that every version you find in Vegas has that same RTP – casinos are allowed to alter games to change the theoretical return percentage. This is done mainly by changing the pay tables in subtle ways or by actually changing the programming of the game itself.
This means that playing 50 Lions slots at the Peppermill Reno will be a totally different experience than playing at The Venetian on the Vegas Strip.
In fact, there could be as much as a 10% difference between that game at The Venetian and the game at the Peppermill.
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Does RTP Really Affect a Slot Machine’s Play?
I think this question really means “Will I notice any difference between two games with different RTPs?”
Maybe, maybe not.
You have to take RTP numbers with a Vegas-sized grain of salt. That’s because these numbers only become true when you consider them over an infinite period of time. In the short-term, you will not see exactly 97% of your money paid back when you play a slot with a 97% RTP for an hour or two. In fact, the shorter amount of time you play, the less a game is like its posted RTP figure.
That’s because these numbers are calculated for an infinite bankroll used for an infinite amount of time.
But don’t ignore RTP.
It’s the best (meaning the most scientific) way we have of quantifying a slot’s relative return to the player. We also like it because in most places where gambling is legal, operators are required to report RTP figures for all their games. This is true in Las Vegas and the rest of Nevada’s gambling areas.
Where Are the Loosest Slots in Las Vegas in 2021 and 2022?
Okay, now that you’re an expert on the meaning of RTP in slot play, let’s help you zero in on the slots with the best RTP figures in the entire city of Las Vegas.
For starters, it’s important to know the average RTP figures for various slot game denominations on the Strip. Here’s a quick guide to the most common:
- $0.01 Slot Machines – 88.38%
- $0.05 Slot Machines – 91.64%
- $0.25 Slot Machines – 89.35%
- $1 Slot Machines – 92.43%
If you’re looking for loose Vegas slots on the Strip in 2021 and 2022, head for either the nickel slots or the more expensive $1 games, mostly found in the high limit area.
Let’s compare those figures to the same ones for North Las Vegas:
- $0.01 Slot Machines – 90.88%
- $0.05 Slot Machines – 95.29%
- $0.25 Slot Machines – 96.41%
- $1 Slot Machines – 95.39%
Obviously, every denomination offers a better RTP in North Vegas than their companion machines on the Strip. Will players notice the difference on penny slots?
Maybe not, but the higher the denomination of the machine, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to tell that you’re playing on a machine with a better theoretical return percentage.
The final set of numbers shows the theoretical return for games on the Boulder Strip:
- $0.01 Slot Machines – 90.38%
- $0.05 Slot Machines – 96.21%
- $0.25 Slot Machines – 96.13%
- $1 Slot Machines – 96.13%
Notice that some denominations are technically higher in the Boulder area than in North Vegas, while others are the opposite.
It’s not clear to me that you’ll notice much difference in a typical session of slot play, but some bettors really like to play on the best possible machines they can.
Where Are the Tightest Slots in Las Vegas in 2021 and 2022?
As a fun exercise, and as a cautionary tale for advantage gamblers looking to avoid tight slots, let’s take a quick look at the casinos with the tightest slots in Sin City.
Take note that all five of these are located prominently on the Vegas Strip.
The Venetian currently holds the title of Tight Slot Champion, with an average RTP across all their slots of 86.66%. That’s lower than the average slot RTP for the city of Las Vegas, which is right at 93%. It’s even lower than the overall RTP average for the Strip, which is 91.47%. About the only place you can play slot machines with a lower RTP average than the Venetian is the airport, where the average return is just over 85%.
The Bellagio is an icon, a gorgeous symbol of Vegas excess and American wealth. It’s also home to some really bad slots, in terms of RTP – the average slot machine here has a RTP of 87.42%. Sure, you can play at 2,300 different machines, among the biggest variety in the world, but you’re paying a small price for that privilege.
You should visit Caesars Palace for the Bacchanal Buffet, the world-class resort and amenities, and its poker room, which is among the best in the world. You should not visit if you’re looking for slots with low RTP figures, since the average here is 88.87%.
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Mandalay Bay and its gold-plated windows give off a heck of a Vegas vibe. The average slot RTP here is 89.05%, well below average even for a Strip property.
The Mirage is a new entry to this list, and offers a similar product to Mandalay Bay, down to the average RTP on their slot machines. In 2020, the Mirage tightened up even more, producing a slot RTP average of 89.3%, middling at best for the Vegas Strip, where the tightness of the slots is a well-known thing.
Conclusion
In my experience, two kinds of people are looking for “loose slots.”
You’re either an advantage gambler looking for the mythical 98.8% layout of 50 Lions so you can squeeze every penny out of the casino, or you’re a newcomer who thinks you can find a magical slot that will guarantee winnings. To the first kind of gambler, I say “Carry on.” Using the information in this post, and a little bit of time on Google, you can easily find out where the slots are loose and tight in Las Vegas in 2021. And 2022 looks to be much the same – it’s unlikely that looser slots are on the horizon as soon as next year.
If you’re the type who believes that they can find a slot machine so loose that it guarantees a payday, a word of warning. Slot machines are literally designed to take your money, and the manufacturers and gaming providers advertise this information publicly. Gambling is entertainment, with a fun and distracting game that gives you the chance to win a little bit of prize money. There’s no sure-thing in Las Vegas – not on the Strip, not in the North, and not in the airport gate.
If you want to find loose slots because it will increase the value of your entertainment budget, use the tools here to do just that. If you’re looking for loose slots as part of your retirement strategy, please understand that all gambling entails risk. Play for fun, not for profit.
Slots can create magic. The special effects, the wins, the bonuses, the scattered wilds, the soundtracks…all of it can be a secret vacation to your very own happy place.
There are those who play two, three, four slot machines at a time. I don’t recommend it. Choose one machine and let it pull you into another world, one populated by Vikings, or fairies, or jungle animals.
There is a Wild West Saloon slot that makes me order straight whisky and place the max bet, hitting that button like a rough character living on the edge.
Here are the best casinos for slot machines in Las Vegas. These properties also have so much more than gaming to offer, as do most casinos in Vegas.
Cosmopolitan
The Cosmo is fun for several reasons: you can people watch as you play the latest slots, the casino’s location is in the heart of the action on the Strip, and when you build up a solid hunger, you are close to Guy Fieri’s burger restaurant. Enough said!
The slot area in this casino is gorgeous! Chandeliers, elegant colors, groupings of machines rather than long rows, and a constant influx of the latest games make playing here very worthwhile.
Believe it or not, Snoop Dogg has created a slot machine called “Snoop Dogg Presents the Joker’s Wild,” and yes, the Cosmo has it.
The Game of Thrones slot can be found on the floor as well, but it is popular, so stake out a machine and grab it when it is free.
The Cosmo also has baccarat slots, which give you the feel of the table game without the presence of other players at the “table.”
Futher Info:Baccarat is a game not as well known in the U.S. as it is in Europe and Asia. A high-stakes game, this card game is played between you and the dealer, and there are only three outcomes: win, lose or tie.
The slot version can get you comfortable enough with the style of play that you might want to try your hand at the actual table game. Baccarat is just one of many table games offered on the Cosmo’s 100,000 square foot gaming floor.
If you are lucky enough to also stay at the Cosmopolitan, the standard rooms are rumored to be as big as the suites at Caesar’s Palace.
Red Rock Casino
The Red Rock is the place to meet and mingle for everyone heading back from the Red Rock National Park, which is just a few minutes west of the city. It is also the place to meet and greet for the locals who live in the surrounding community of Summerlin. The draws at this casino are the machines and the restaurants.
Note:When you see the sizeable slot floor, you will know you are in one of the best Las Vegas casinos for slot machines.
Although table games are popular here, and there is a high roller suite as well, it is the huge slot selection that draws many to this elegant casino hotel near the western edge of Sin City.
The Red Rock also hosts a movie theater, bowling alley, a food court that offers Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, and a Capriotti’s (simply the best sandwich in Las Vegas; try the Grilled Italian).
There are bars tucked here and there throughout the property. I love the Lucky Bar because I can keep an eye on the casino action, but the Onyx bar is ideal for lovers who wish a quieter, more “tucked away” place to enjoy a whisky sour or a rye-and-water.
Excalibur
The Excalibur is the fun, castle-themed casino on the Strip. Their slot area attracts hard-core slots players, the kind of people who play one machine for hours on end. The Excalibur boasts that it offers the newest games but also hangs onto the classics.
The point of gambling—no matter the game, table, or machine—is to feel lucky. We all have our favorite slot machines, and if they are cycled out to make room for another game, we can lose that lucky feeling.
Thus, knowing where you can find your classic favorites at one of the best casinos for slots in Las Vegas is a big mark in favor of playing here. (Plus, the rooms are always affordable.)
When you are ready for a break from slot play, buy a ticket to the Excalibur’s dining experience, featuring Arthurian-era action such as jousting and feats of horsemanship.
Note:The Excalibur also has some of the best swimming pools in Las Vegas. Furthermore, the pool bartender makes a stiff Bloody Mary.
The pools at this casino are not as well known as those at the Mandalay Bay and other properties which heavily advertise their swimming areas, but the Excalibur’s pools (there is an adults-only option in addition to other pools) are some of the most enjoyable in town.
The Palms
The Palms is a chic property, standing close to the Strip but off in its own zone.
This casino hotel, famous for hosting Paris Hilton when she is in town, also boasts a popular player’s card club. As with other casinos, the player’s club is free to join and is generous with gifts and promos.
Note:The Palms boasts 1500 different slot machines, which range from penny bets to $100-a-pull machines.
If you want to settle in with a machine and let the world fade away, play at the Excalibur. If you want to play slots and keep an eye on who is coming and going in the city, find a central machine and play at the Palms.
If you catch a sizeable win, treat yourself to a service in the Palms spa, which offers such exotic treatments as Reiki energy healing and gemstone massage treatments.
The Wynn
Despite the distinctly upscale appearance of the Wynn (slot machines with garden views, fresh flowers everywhere), travelers to Vegas note how friendly this casino is.
Slots players do highly recommend joining the Wynn’s player rewards club, as the benefits (such as the occasional free buffet ticket) are worth it.
If you prefer a low-smoke or smoke-free atmosphere in which to game, the Wynn has been considered the top location for this, out of all the best Las Vegas casinos for slots.
Is the phrase frequently used by guests in their comments on the Wynn experience.
Sam’s Town
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As elegant and upscale as the Wynn is, you’ve got Sam’s Town on the opposite end of the spectrum.
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Sam’s Town, away from the Strip on the Boulder Highway (but still very easy to get to from the Strip), is an older property and feels warm, “down-home,” friendly, and lively. Sam’s also has a bit of history attached to it.
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The slots players at Sam’s always appear to be having a good time. The slots floor is smoky and crowded (which I love…it gives me that old-school “casino” vibe), and players come into Sam’s as strangers and often leave having made a friend or two at the machines.
Sam’s has a unique feature that I love, and you will, too, especially if you are traveling with your family.
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There is a glass conservatory in the middle of the property called “Mystic Falls,” and it features streams and pathways through greenery and the occasional glimpse of animatronic wildlife. It always feels cool and calming in Mystic Falls, even on the hottest Vegas day.
A Final Note
Even if you prefer to hunt down your favorite machines as you wander among the options in the top casinos for slots in Las Vegas, I do encourage you to try out the latest and greatest slots.
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New ways to reward players are constantly being added to the newest slots, and you can benefit from stacked wilds, scattered wilds, and other features designed to entice you.
Also, in addition to more pay lines and better odds, the newest machines have such high-tech graphics that play can feel 3D. That is a lot of entertainment for a quarter!
If you like to gamble online for money as well, you’ll find many of the same games at leading casino sites.