Getting a Handle on Slots Odds

Before you decide to drop your quarter, nickel, or penny into a slot machine, you first need to understand the odds. Sad but true, coming up with a strategy to beat the odds — when they favor the house so strongly — is impossible. (Check out Chapter 3 for more on house odds.)
The payout of slot machines generally falls somewhere between 90 and 95 percent. That means for every $100 you put into a machine, your average return is $90 to $95 (a loss of $5 to $10). This hefty house edge makes slots one of the worst games in the casino. When you factor in the speed of the games, you start to understand why slots are so profitable for modern casinos.
If you’re serious about slots, check online for the most up-to-date slot payout information at sites such as www.wizardof odds. com. These watchdog sites post names of Las Vegas casinos with their observed rates, and they breakdown the odds of winning per coin played. The results show that nickel slots tend to be the tightest (worst odds) machines, returning about 91 percent, while $1 and $5 slots are the loosest (best odds), returning about 94 to 95 percent.
Generally, you find the best machines and odds where the competition is most fierce. Try the Las Vegas Strip, where casinos are clustered closely together, each of them vying equally hard for your gambling dollar. On the other hand, playing slots on the water often leaves you all wet. Because cruise ship casinos aren’t under the jurisdiction of U. S. gaming laws, some have payouts as low as 80 percent. Consequently, you’re better off tucking your money back into your purse or wallet and waiting until you’re on dry land.