Whille slots are a game of chance, there are ways to increase your odds of winning. This article will give you tips on how to win at slots in Las Vegas.
Over the years, Las Vegas casinos have become the most famous gambling destinations in the entire world for both professional and recreational players. Whilst online gambling sites in the USA have boomed with states opening the market, Las Vegas still holds the top position for in-person casino gambling!
One of the most popular games in Las Vegas casinos is slots because of their simplicity and high potential payouts. Although slots are primarily a game of chance, there are still strategies you can follow to increase your odds of winning. This article will give you tips on how to win at slots in Las Vegas.
Pick Slots With High RTP
Return-to-player or RTP is the percentage of how much of a player’s bet is returned to them on average. Each machine has different RTP figures set by the game developer or by the casino management.
For example, a slots game with 90% RTP means that for every $100 wager, it returns $90 on average to the player. However, the game has no regard for how much the player wagered or how many times they played it, as it just follows a mathematical model. It targets the RTP on a much larger scale and longer-term, which means the more spins they play, the more the players’ gains become accurate to the RTP. In short, there is no guarantee that you’ll get the $90 return for every $100 wager ratio unless you keep on playing.
Choosing a high RTP slot game will make a difference with your odds of ending up a winner over playing with one that has a low RTP. The RTP, the higher the potential returns, and naturally, the fewer the loss.
In addition, aside from RTP, you also have to consider the volatility of the slot game. Volatility, also known as variance, determines how frequently the slot usually pays out. The lower the game’s volatility, the more frequent you’re likely to win.
With high volatility slot games, expect less frequent but higher payouts. This contrasts with low volatility slots with more regular but smaller payouts. Choosing which one you prefer depends on what’s important to you. High volatility slots are for you if you have a huge bankroll and are after the excitement of big jackpots. But, if you enjoy winning more often regardless of the amount and want to get entertained in the casino longer, find low volatility slot games.
Now, in relation to RTP, low volatility games are much more effective in ensuring that your results are more accurate to the RTP. In conclusion, if you want better odds at winning slots with fewer risks and losses, choose a game that has a higher RTP and low volatility.
Check the Nevada Gaming Commission Statistics
Nevada has the most specific laws and regulations in the US regarding the legality of gambling, of course, considering that Las Vegas is the country’s gambling capital. The Nevada Gaming Control Board and Nevada Gaming Commission enforce and monitor these laws. Their website contains the information you need about gambling in Las Vegas, including a copy of every regulation and monthly payout statistics.
Regulation no. 14, section 14.040, explains all the “minimum standards for gaming devices,” Under subsection 1, it states that the legal payout return of these devices, including slots, is 75%. This alone should guarantee that all slot games in Las Vegas casinos should have a minimum RTP of 75%, and anything below that is considered illegal.
Fortunately, Nevada Gaming Commission also releases payout return statistics through their monthly gaming revenue report, accessed on their Statistics and Publications page. The data from all these monthly reports should help players find patterns on which slot denominations give the highest returns during that particular month. This, in turn, should give them ideas on which 9 slot cardboard shoe organizer machines currently have the highest odds.
The gaming revenue information is organized by state region, plus the duration divided between a current month, 3-month, and 12-month format. For the slot machine section, denominations are enumerated thusly:
1 cent
5 cent
25 cent
1 dollar
5 dollars
100 dollars
Multi Denomination
Other
To calculate the player return rate, focus on the column that says “Win Percent,” which equates to the casinos’ win percentage, and subtract the value from 100%. Note that numbers in parenthesis correspond to negative values.
For example, let’s look at the November 2021 gaming revenue report of all the non-restricted locations in the Downtown Las Vegas area. We can see that the current month’s lowest win rate from a slot machine was from the 100 dollars denomination with 4.05%. Now subtracting it from 100%, we get a 95.95% return to player rate. With this, we can assume that this particular game or variant gave the highest player returns in the region for November. From there, you can continue to look for some trends and patterns in the other denominations.
It may seem like a lot of work, but it only shows that taking your time researching and understanding these statistics, plus other information, can guide you in choosing the best Las Vegas slots to play.
Listen to Podcasters with Authority
Another source of reliable information about slot games and winning strategies is gambling podcasts, which are now accessible online. There are tons of gambling podcasters out there providing updates and covering Las Vegas slots for several years. They share timely tips and guides that can help you choose the best games. Here are some of the most reputable Las Vegas podcasters:
Gambling Podcast: You Can Bet On That
Gambling Podcast: You Can Bet On That is hosted by Mike DeVol and Dr. Mike, and they talk about their experiences as long-time gamblers who often visit Vegas. They share some stories and tips about the different casino games in a fun and entertaining way. Their episodes are available on multiple podcast hosting sites like Spotify, Apple Podcast, PodBean, and their official website.
Five Hundy By Midnight
Five Hundy By Midnight claims to be “The Original Las Vegas Podcast” as they’re the longest-running podcast and the first one which content is purely about Las Vegas. Hosted by the husband-and-wife tandem Tim and Michele, they share their experiences with casinos, hotels, and other Vegas-related stuff. You can listen to all of their episodes on their website or find them on Apple Podcast, TuneIn, or PodChaser.
Vital Vegas
If you’re looking for insider scoops, Vital Vegas is the right podcast for you. Scott Roeben, an award-winning blogger, has been in Las Vegas for more than 20 years, so you can expect that he knows every in and out of every casino, restaurant, and entertainment show. All Vital Vegas episodes are in Libsyn, Apple Podcast, Casino.org, and other hosting sites.
Gambling With An Edge
Bob Dancer and Richard Munchkin give you professional gambling advice that can “make you a better gambler tomorrow than you were yesterday” on Gambling With An Edge. They talk about their experiences, plus interview other professional gamblers, experts, and authors, to discuss relevant news and updates in the industry. Gambling With An Edge is available on the Las Vegas Advisor’s website, Apple Podcast, Blue Wire Podcasts, and more platforms.
360 Vegas
Multimedia professional Mark Wojtowicz hosts 360 Vegas. It is one of the most popular shows covering everything about Las Vegas. It features several segments that talk about different topics of expertise on gambling and their experiences in the city. They have one called “Slots,” where they invite experts and manufacturers to cover the newest slot games and share how they are played. Listen to their episodes on their website and Apple Podcast.
LAS VEGAS SLOTS TIPS
A slot machine throwing three 7s
If you are planning to be a regular patron of casinos in Las Vegas, here are some tips we highly recommend to make the most of your experience:
Take Advantage of Loyalty Club Cards
All Las Vegas casinos have loyalty club programs and issue players cards. Even you’re just planning to play for the day or week, consider getting a loyalty card and playing the games using it. Casinos can track how much you have already wagered in total and how frequently you play through the card. With this, you can accumulate points and be entitled to the best hotel deals as well as other casino bonuses. Casinos value their loyal customers and, now and then, give them access to exclusive promotions and prizes.
When you visit a casino, go directly to the loyalty club program desk and sign up. They will require you to fill out a form and present a government-issued identification card. They will then process your application and issue you your card on the spot.
Look for Small Local Jackpot Slots
When choosing between Las Vegas slots, opt for the games that have fixed jackpots. Slots that offer progressive jackpots have high volatility most of the time, which means although they offer big prizes, you have a slimmer chance of winning anything. Meanwhile, fixed jackpot slots give you better odds of winning high payouts, and the best ones are those with low volatility.
Play Within Las Vegas Casinos
In Las Vegas, airports, 7/11s, even laundromats now have slot machines in them. Although they’re tempting to use, it is highly recommended that you refrain from playing them and stick with casino slots. Firstly, the Nevada Gaming Commission does not regulate non-casino venues like these airport slots. Second, most of these machines have meager return-to-player rates, which means you can’t expect to make a lot of money. However, if you just want to get entertained while waiting for your flight to board, then maybe it can be an excellent way to pass the time.
Using and Avoiding Specific Numbers
Famous examples of this numeral superstition are the beliefs that the numbers 6 and 13 are unlucky, while 7 and 3 are lucky numbers. Because of this, casino players avoid 6 and 13 during the games, while they heavily use the number 7. Casinos are aware of these, so they often don’t display the two “unlucky” numbers and use seven on several slot games.
Keep in mind that this particular belief is cultural, which means that number 13 may be considered lucky in some cultures. So it’s all up to you, but we recommend not fixating on this too much as you can be missing out on your one chance of winning a jackpot.
Playing Las Vegas Slots at Night
There are several superstitions the luckiest time to play at Las Vegas casinos is at night. This one can be more logical since there are certain times and days when it is best to play. It depends on what time the casinos pay more and are more crowded. However, slot games are not affected by this logic since they generate random results, and your odds of winning from them do not change, no matter the time of day.
Playing Games at the Back
For some players, the location of the slot machine is important, and they believe that the closer it is to the entrance, the higher the winning odds. This is another superstition that has some logic behind it. Casinos place the games with looser payouts upfront to attract customers and create a thrilling atmosphere. However, although this is an effective way to play slots that offer high and consistent payouts, it shouldn’t stop you from exploring the casino and finding better games.
Slots are one of the best and most exciting ways to enjoy your time in Las Vegas casinos, especially if you’re just new to the game. With our tips on how to win at slots in Las Vegas, you give yourself the best chance of walking away as a winner.
