For slot machine enthusiasts, there's no place on Earth quite like fabulous Las Vegas. Most of the 40 million tourists who flock there each and every year stay on the Strip, where corporate operators like MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment run mega-casino resorts.
Finding the best slots to play is a combination of luck, patience, and a good knowledge of all the most effective casino slot machine secrets. In this part of my guide on how to pick a winning slot machine, we go through the five most essential slots tips every player should use.
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But during its heyday, all the action was confined to Downtown Las Vegas, where iconic casinos like the El Cortez and Golden Gate lined fabulous Fremont Street. Over time, Las Vegas' outlying areas—including the suburbs of Summerlin and Henderson, the 'Boulder Strip,' and North Las Vegas—attracted mid-market operators like Station Casinos and Boyd Gaming.
If slots are your game of choice, ditching the Strip is best. This page presents the seven best off-Strip casinos in Las Vegas for slot players based on the venue's average payback percentage.
A Quick Look at Las Vegas Slot Payback Percentages
According to the latest Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) survey of Las Vegas casino operators and their respective slot machine payback percentages, which are commonly referred to as return to player (RTP) rates, the Strip is home to the 'tightest' slots in town.
Las Vegas Slot Machine Payback Percentage Rates (by Region)
Region | Average Payback |
---|---|
The Strip | 91.47% |
Downtown | 92.67% |
Boulder Strip | 94.34% |
North Las Vegas | 93.53% |
The NGCB also provides data on regional slot machine payback averages broken down by the player's preferred coin denomination.
Las Vegas Slot Machine Payback Percentage Rates (by Coin Denomination and Region)
1¢ Slot Machines
Region | Average Payback |
---|---|
The Strip | 88.38% |
Downtown | 89.15% |
Boulder Strip | 90.38% |
North Las Vegas | 90.88% |
5¢ Slot Machines
Region | Average Payback |
---|---|
The Strip | 91.64% |
Downtown | 93.40% |
North Las Vegas | 95.29% |
Boulder Strip | 96.21% |
25¢ Slot Machines
Region | Average Payback |
---|---|
The Strip | 89.35% |
Downtown | 94.25% |
North Las Vegas | 96.41% |
Boulder Strip | 96.13% |
$1 Slot Machines
Region | Average Payback |
---|---|
The Strip | 92.43% |
Downtown | 94.63% |
North Las Vegas | 95.39% |
Boulder Strip | 96.13% |
$1 Megabucks Machines
Region | Average Payback |
---|---|
The Strip | 87.83% |
North Las Vegas | 88.52% |
Downtown | 89.07% |
Boulder Strip | 91.35% |
As you can see, the data reveals the Strip to be the worst place in Las Vegas to find 'loose' slots, or machines which offer a higher than average payback percentage.
If you don't mind ditching the fountain shows and $14 cocktails behind for a better bargain, taking your slot machine bankroll to an off-Strip casino offers the best bang for your gambling buck. Keep reading for the seven best off-Strip casinos to play loose slots in Las Vegas.
1 – Palms Casino Resort
The best slot machine selection in Las Vegas can be found at the Palms Casino Resort, home to more than 1,500 machines which combine for an average payback rate of 93.42%.
Given the 91.47% and 92.67% payback rates found on the Strip and Downtown, respectively, spinning slots at the Palms immediately provides an improvement of over 1% over the long run.
And fortunately for the folks who still like hitting the Strip for shopping or a show, the Palms is located just minutes from all the action.
Just head to Caesars Palace and turn westbound onto Flamingo Road, cross over the Interstate 15 bridge, and drive for another minute or so before looking to your left for the ultra-modern Palms tower.
Locals love the Palms for combining the look and feel of casinos on the Strip with perks like 3:2 blackjack, single-zero roulette, and of course, the loosest slots in Las Vegas.
You'll find all of the greatest slots here too, including Megabucks and its $10 million starting progressive jackpot award, Wheel of Fortune with its unique prize wheel waiting up top, and every major new release from designers like Aristocrat, Scientific Games, and International Game Technology (IGT).
2 – Gold Coast Hotel and Casino
If the loud music and pool parties that make the Palms so attractive for younger gamblers just aren't your thing, don't fret, because the nearby Gold Coast boasts a completely different vibe.
Located directly across Flamingo from the Palms, Gold Coast is a classic 'old school' off-Strip casino. The same staff members have worked here for decades, so they know their regulars by name and treat them like royalty.
The odds are always the best available on table games and video poker, and the slot machine menu running 1,900+ machines strong sports a 92.84% average payback rate.
One of the iconic venues operated by Boyd Gaming, the Gold Coast supplements its casino with a massive bowling alley upstairs, and comfort food like Subway and TGI Fridays.
While the amenities lean towards the quaint and casual side, the Gold Coast offers one of the more modern slot machine menus in Las Vegas. Using the website's convenient slot search tool, you can easily pull up complete listings for either reel-based or video slots that can be further sorted by coin denomination.
The reel-based lineup includes staples like 88 Fortunes, Blazing 7's Progressive, Double Diamond, Megabucks, and Super Times Pay.
And over in the video slot section, you'll find popular titles like 50 Dragons, Aztec Temple, Buffalo, Geisha, Mr. Cashman, Sex and the City, and White Orchid.
When you use the search tool, don't forget to click the little 'MAP' tab to the right of every game's entry. This will pull up a color-coded map of the Gold Coast showing the section where your favorite slot machine games can be located.
3 – Ellis Island Hotel, Casino, and Brewery
You'll only find a couple hundred slot machine installations at the independently owned Ellis Island Hotel, Casino and Brewery, but it's the last part there that makes this place something special.
Well, all the cold suds you can drink and a 92.56% average slot payback rate, that is…
The bulk of Ellis Island's selection is devoted to slots and other machines, but you'll also find a few blackjack, craps, and roulette tables, too.
It's the slots that bring sharp spinners here though, as the overall payback percentage is better than any of the glitzier and more glamorous casinos towering overhead on the Strip. And whether you win or lose, you can always tip back a brew or two straight from the source.
4 – El Cortez Hotel and Casino
If you appreciate a sense of history to go along with your gambling, paying a pilgrimage to El Cortez downtown is a true 'bucket list' item on the agenda.
After first opening its doors in 1941, El Cortez hasn't closed them for 77 years and counting, making it the longest continuously operating casino in Las Vegas.
The joint was owned by legendary mobsters Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, Gus Greenbaum, and Moe Sedway in the early days, and with its exterior signage unchanged all this time, El Cortez is home to an unmistakable air of nostalgia writ large.
Fittingly, you can find over 200 coin-operated three-reel slots that still use nickels and quarters to grease the reels. That lineup is supplemented by hundreds of modern video slots as well, a combination providing the best of both worlds for players. And so does the 92.56% average payback rate, which makes El Cortez the loosest slot parlor found along famous Fremont Street.
5 – The Orleans Hotel and Casino
Another member of the Boyd Gaming family, the Orleans Hotel & Casino is like a slightly more hip, Mardi Gras-themed version of the Gold Coast.
In the casino, hundreds of slot machines ranging from traditional to modern will be running to the tune of 92.56% payback.
6 – Fiesta Rancho Hotel and Casino
The wilds of North Las Vegas are home to the best penny slot machines in Sin City at an average payback rate of 90.88%.
And of all the North Las Vegas casinos to choose from, the best of the bunch is Fiesta Rancho, which combines class-leading penny slots with higher denominations for a 92.53% overall payback average.
Getting here is a bit of a trek. Take the I-15 North to Highway 95, head west, then hit the 95 northbound for a while. But trust us, this Station Casino property is worth the extra mile.
Per the Las Vegas Review-Journal annual rankings, Fiesta Rancho regularly earns the 'Best-Paying Slots' and 'Best Slot Club' awards as judged by local players.
7 – Arizona Charlie's (Decatur and Boulder)
The two Arizona Charlie's casino locations in Las Vegas can be found on Decatur Boulevard and Boulder Highway.
Both offer a generous 92.50% payback rate on average for slot players, along with a long lineup of new games, including the exciting titles found below: Www 888 com casino.
- $1 Wheel of Fortune
- Bally Quick Hits
- Buffalo Legends
- Buffalo Golds
- Buffalo Grands
- Dollar Mega Bucks
- Downton Abbey
- Elvira
- Good Fortune
- Konami Selexion
- Lightning Link
- Lock It Link
- New Generation Megabucks
- Space Invaders
- Wacky Races
- Walking Dead II
- World of Wonka
Conclusion
Venturing away from Las Vegas Boulevard to score improved odds has been a time-honored tradition among savvy gamblers for decades now. Forced to compete with their corporate counterparts on the Strip just to survive, off-Strip gambling halls like the seven listed above do everything in their power to attract customers.
That means selecting slot machines that offer generous payback percentages across the board, while still providing the best in modern slot game design.
Table Of Contents
Penny slots are at the foundation of modern gambling. Penny slot machines have been the most popular ones in the United States for decades.
People would pay their buy-ins with nickels and hope for the best.
When Bally came out with their now famous 'Money Honey' slot, players enjoyed the fact that they were allowed to play for up to five nickels at a time.
Don't be fooled by the fact that the word 'penny' is used to describe these games. Penny slots are not as cheap as they sound.
The first things that pop into your mind when you hear the words 'penny slots' might be low payouts and low costs.
In fact, casino penny slot machines were also viewed as slots that cost nothing but a penny to play, which can't be further away from the truth.
New Penny Slots: 2020 Addition
We've decided to expand the list and present you with a few extra penny slots that have become increasingly popular in 2020.
Take a pick and try out a new penny slot:
Double Tigers
Double Tigers is a well-designed penny slot with 3-reel, 8-payline and d 96.43% RTP.
You also get to adjust the volatility levels thanks to their unique Volatility Levels™ feature.
Necromancer
Evoplay Entertainment has really taken that extra step towards improving the slots experience when they came up with this VR-inspired 95.9% RTP game.
Throw on your VR set, grab your mobile and transport yourself to a place where scary things are happening.
The three-dimensional penny slot world offers you 80 betways and a type of gameplay that you don't see often in gambling.
Disco Bar 7s
With coin value ranging from $0.01 to $50, the max bet you can place on Disco Bar 7s is $500.
It's a classic video slot, so there isn't much going on in terms of bonus rounds, but fill up the spots with Disco Ball wild symbols and score a 10,000-coin win.
This 3-reel, 10-payline slot features an RTP of 95.96%.
Care to see our all-time top 10? Scroll down and enjoy the list and reviews of the best 10 penny slots in 2020!
Top 10 Penny Slots
Penny Slots are more than sitting down in front of a machine and popping nickel after nickel into it, after which you pull the 'arm'.
In fact, today's online penny Slots are an extrapolation of the old ones.
Penny Slot | Theme | Play Online |
---|---|---|
Book of Dead | Egypt | Go to Game > |
Golden Colts | Wild West | Go to Game > |
Blaze of Ra | Egypt | Go to Game > |
Pirates Charm | Adventure | Go to Game > |
Vikings Go to Hell | Mythology | Go to Game > |
Divine Fortune | Mythology | Go to Game > |
Wild Wheel Big Money | Riches | Go to Game > |
Valley of the Gods | Egypt | Go to Game > |
Gold King | Riches | Go to Game > |
Temple of TUT | Egypt | Go to Game > |
These penny Slots are multi-line games allowing for more than one coin bet per line.
With themes like popular movies, shows and games, but also bonus features and special symbols, these penny slot machines represent the best there is in the gambling industry today.
But enough with the chit-chat! You're here to learn about the best penny Slots you can play right now.
Below you can find a list of 10 greatest penny Slot machine games to play online.
The sites that offer these games offer both free penny Slot machines and free penny Slots with bonus rounds, you'll surely find the favourite suits you best.
All you have to do is pick your favorite, as millions of players around the world vouch for the quality of these very best 10 games.
Book of Dead
We've already mentioned this penny slot, but we'll do it again, this time in more detail.
This penny video Slot is extremely similar to the famous 'Book of Ra', yet still has some new features that will ensure good gameplay, emerging the player into the mysterious Egyptian-theme world the game depicts.
There are 5 reels and 10 paylines in the Book of Dead online Slots game.
The symbol to look for is the Book of Dead, which acts like the Wild and the Scatter of the Slot.
Golden Colts
If you get over the fact that this game is one of the creepiest out there, then you can start thinking about the Mega Symbols, Wild Reels, Stacked Symbols, Wilds, Scatters, Free Spins, and other features Golden Colts has to offer.
Blaze of Ra
Here's another Ancient Egypt virtual world for the fans of gods and amulets to explore .
The 5 reels are covered by 40 potential paylines, which is great considering the screen is cut into 4 rows and 5 columns.
The graphics of this game are very high-quality.
You have your desertic background with pyramids at the back of the reels, while the mighty god Ra stands on the left of the screen, watching your every move.
Land on a Scarab, the Scatter of the game for bonus rounds with free spins.
Pirate's Charm
This Quickspin penny Slot has a Mystery Charm Respin feature which lets you re-trigger bonuses repeatedly in the game.
The thing that makes this game stand out is the possibility to play on up to 243 paylines, which is why many players consider Pirate's Charm to be one of the best Slots ever produced by Quickspin.
As a penny Slot, you can start betting from as low as $0.2 on one spin.
The game feels like the movie Pirates of the Caribbean, offering great visuals and a theme song fitted for a pirate's life feel to it, with stunning visuals and a very nice pirate soundtrack.
Then, if you need more Slots of this kind, have a look at our curated list of the best pirate Slots.
Vikings Go to Hell
We are all familiar with the stories about the courageous Nordic Vikings, the rulers of the Scandinavian seas and the lands surrounding them.
Vikings Go to Hell is a 5-reel, 4-row, and 25-payline Slot featuring the last recorded years of these amazing people.
Of course, the story is fantasized, so the Vikings have to take on the demons of the underworld in order to make it out alive.
Look for the Sticky Wilds which will enable multipliers and free spins once they appear on your reel. The minimum bet? Just $0.1 for one spin.
Divine Fortune
Here's another penny video Slot to consider if you're into Ancient Greek-themed Slots.
This visually gorgeous game will emerge you into the world of the gods with its 5-reels, 3-rows configuration and 20 pay lines.
Having an RTP of 96.69%, Divine Fortune can be more like a 'Divine Comedy' when you land on some Wilds, for example.
There are also three progressive jackpots scattered throughout the game.
Wild Wheel Big Money
Wild Wheel might be just a penny Slot, but don't be fooled by that, as it has one of the most impressive arrays of bonuses in the industry.
Piggy Banks, Wads, Gold Coins, and Dollars, but also Gold Bars and Cash Suitcases, these are the symbols of this Slot.
When you land on 3 Wilds, you get to play the Wheel of Fortune Bonus Game. This is the feature you should hope to become familiar with since it is the best one in the game.
Valley of the Gods
Are you ready to take another trip to Ancient Egypt?
With nice, yet simple graphics, good sound effects and bonuses, Valley of the Gods is one of those Egyptian Slots with a simple gameplay but a great return for their players.
This game by Yggdrasil has the Anubis and the Horus statues as its most rewarding symbols.
The Return to Player rate is 96,2%.
Gold King
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With the Gold King Slot, you won't get to earn all the gold on the planet, but at least can spend some time playing a game with good graphics, sounds, and gameplay.
The simple 5 reels, 3 rows, and 20 paylines make this game a favorite with both the novices and the experienced players alike.
Released only a few months ago, this new Slot game is already a hit and the symbols to look for are the Gold Bars and the Gold Kings, for free spins and other bonuses.
Temple of TUT
Remember the famous story of the discovery of King Tutankhamen's tomb?
How about you yourself take on the trails of Howard Carter and George Herbert and try to figure out the mystery surrounding this Egyptian figure?
In Temple of TUT, there are more Super Reels than there are tombs in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt!
Land on 5 Free Spins Symbols and you will activate whopping 30 Free Spins.
The Stacked Wilds can be randomly discovered after any normal spin, but the symbols to look for are the Light beam and the Golden Scarabs.
Good luck not catching a cold, or a deadly Ancient Curse.. Pot of luck.
Penny Slots FAQ
Are dollar slots better than penny slots?Best Time To Play Slots
It all depends on what you're looking for. Penny slots are amazing for players who like to spend time getting to know the slot machine and spinning reels without the pressure of making bug bets.
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What is the trick to winning on penny slots?Penny slots are great because you can bet as little as $0.01 while you're still learning the ropes, but if you're looking to land some wins, you will probably need to increase your bets. There is no single trick that will help you win on penny slots every time, but slot strategy tips will come in handy.
What penny slot machines have the best odds?Generally, if you want a penny slot machine with the best odds, you should aim at those with RTP over 97%. Progressive jackpots, bonus rounds and free spins features should also be taken into account when you're deciding how much you could win on a particular slot.
What is the best penny slot game to play?It's hard to say what penny slot game is the best to play because it varies from person to person. We've put together many great penny slots, so skim through the article and see what strikes your fancy - this list of top penny slots will have your new favourite on it.
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