3/26/2022

If you want a variety of machines but still want to maximize high slot payout percentages, check out the Bellagio Hotel & Casino, where there are thousands of ways to play including a number of high-paying slot tournaments. The Bellagio features over 2,300 reel, video reel and video poker games. The casino has over 2,000 slot machine games available, including popular titles like Wheel of Fortune and The Walking Dead. They also frequently host slot machine tournaments. A lot of people think of the Bellagio as the best place on the Las Vegas Strip to play poker, and they are right about this, of course. Their slots have amazing graphics and huge jackpots. It’s safe to say they have the most popular slot machines in Las Vegas casinos. Even though it isn’t one of the highest payout slot machines, Cleopatra is the most popular slot machine. Its RTP is just 88.98%, unlike the best paying slot machine with an RTP of 96.60% — Wheel of Fortune. Slot machines at Bellagio, Nevada. Since a casino’s slot inventory changes often, please only tag casinos where you played this game recently and feel confident the game is still there. Slot machines at Bellagio. Discussion in 'M life - MGM' started by clarkgriswald, Dec 26, 2018. Clarkgriswald Gold. Messages: 828 Likes Received: 1,266 Player's Clubs.

  • Factoid: Most large Las Vegas hotel-casinos have more than 2,000 slot machines.
  • Factoid: The slot machine was invented in 1895 by Chares Fey in San Francisco.

It is not accidental that two-thirds of every casino is littered with row-upon-row of slot machines of every type imaginable. The reason is that they provide the most profit to a casino ...and billions of dollars in tax revenue to the state. (The state of Nevada collects a $250 annual tax plus a $20 quarterly license fee per slot machine plus a percentage - about 5% - of gaming revenue.)

Slots account for more revenue to a casino than all other gambling games combined. Their formula for success is simple. They make money by paying out less than they take in. They are popular because players don't need any gambling knowledge and slots require only a very small bet. There are more than 200,000 slot machines in Las Vegas.

Most slot machines work the same way. The player pulls a handle or presses a button to spin a series of reels (typically three) that have pictures printed on them. You win when certain combinations of pictures line up with a pay line in the middle of a viewing window. The payout depends on which pictures land along the pay line. Some machines have multiple pay lines. A pay table (chart) tells you the amount of the payout. It is usually found on the front of the machine, above or below the area containing the wheels. While you can lose your money faster, the payout percentages are always better if you bet the maximum amount of coins on each “pull.”

All slot machines in use today in casinos are electronic (computerized) rather than mechanical. As a general rule, reels, handles, sound effects and other attributes are there to make them appear to be like older, more familiar, mechanical machines.Themed slot machines that require the manufacturer to pay a license fee (such as one named after a movie star, cartoon character, TV show, etc.) generally have lower payouts since the additional cost must be recouped. So stick with the traditional machines (such as the Double Diamond, Blazing 7s, and Red, White and Blue) that pay back more.

As a general rule, slot managers place their most popular - and best paying - machines in areas that generate excitement - such as near the front entrance and other high traffic areas. Some popular slots - such as nickel machines - are placed in the rear of the casino to get people to walk to the back. High payback machines are also sprinkled throught the casino floor.

Be aware that the higher the cost per 'handle pull,' the higher the payout. According to one industry insider, the so-called 'hold percentage' on the Las Vegas Strip averages 11% for nickels (that is, 89% is paid back), 6.5% for quarters, 4.5% for dollars, and 3.5% for five dollars and above. (The Nevada Gaming Control Board has a slighty different figure. See below.)

The payback percentage for Las Vegas (and all Nevada) slot machines are a known factor. Because they are taxed, all machines are strictly controlled and keep track of 'coin in' and 'coin out' which, overall, is a matter of public record. Manufacturers program each machine to payback a specific percentage which is based on a span of ten million handle pulls! Any slot can (and does) pay out more or less over a shorter period. It might pay out 400% today ...or 20% for a week.

A good website on slot machine gambling is located here ... and they have no advertising whatsoever.

The newest wrinkle in slot machines is coinless slots. They use bar-coded paper tickets instead of coins and are known as “ticket in/ticket out” ('TITO') machines. The traveling coin gal (and coin cups) are fast becoming a thing of the past. You feed bills and get paid in vouchers which are redeemed at the cashier’s cage. Don't forget to redeem the tickets! Some have expiration dates on them.

Video poker

Although poker machines have been around since 1964, video poker did not become popular until 1979 when International Game Technology (IGT) introduced its electronic “Draw Poker” machine. Video poker adds the element of skill and players are given decision-making options that regular slots don’t offer.

Video poker slots work the same way as regular rotating wheel machines. Instead of a reel, they have changing playing card images. They are generally based on five-card draw poker.

A series of five cards are generated from a freshly shuffled 52 card deck for each play and shown on the screen. The player discards some (or all of the cards) and replacements for the remaining cards are drawn. While you are deciding which cards you want to hold, the remaining 47 cards are constantly shuffling. After you decide and hit the button again, the cards stop shuffling and the x-number of cards you need to fill your draw hand come off the top and occupy the vacated positions.The objective is to get the best poker hand. Again a chart indicates the amount of the payout.

The most basic version pays on two jacks or better, but there are variations, such as “wild” cards.

All video poker is not alike. Be certain you are playing a “full pay” game which pays out 99.5% of incoming coin. They are known as a “9/6 JoB” machines – which stand for a payout of 9 coins for a full house and 6 coins for a flush with one coin inserted. (JoB stands for “Jacks or Better.”) The paytable for a full-pay or 9/6 JoB machine looks like this:

Royal Flush 250Straight Flush 50Four of a Kind 25
Full House 9Flush 6Straight 4
Three of a Kind 3Two Pair 2Jacks or Better 1

A casino can tighten a Jacks-or-better video poker machine by simply paying out less for a full house and flush. The most common way that a casino increases it's win is to pay only 8 for the Full House and 5 for the Flush. This is a short-pay 8/5 machine. The casino keeps an extra 2.2% on these machines.

A “10/7 DB” video poker machine (Full House=10 coins, Flush=7 coins) is better yet Payout (when played perfectly and max-credits) is 100.1%. Double Bonus Poker (DB) is a variation on video poker in which the payout for two pair is reduced from two to one in exchange for greatly increased payouts for other hands ...like a payout of 4000 for a Royal Flush.

The best place to play video poker is downtown or at such off-strip properties as Sam’s Town. A great video poker website is VideoPokerReview.com.

A couple of playing hints: Never keep a high card kicker with a pair; draw three cards. Hint No. 2: Always go for the Royal Flush if you have four of the five needed ...even if it means giving up a high pair. The odds are one in 52 that you will hit the needed card ...and Royal Flushes pay up to 4,000 to one if you put in the maximum number of coins.

Slot machines and the law

All slot and video poker machine models are tested by the state of Nevada to be certain that all results are based on a random number generator (RNG.) A new machine can’t be introduced until it meets all state regulations and technical standards. Because gross revenue is taxed, every machine keeps track of the money paid in and the winnings paid out.

Winning at slot machines is pure luck. And there is no such thing as a machine being “ready to hit.” The chances of winning never change whether it is the first or one hundredth pull. And a machine that hasn't paid recently is not due to win.

While winning combinations are determined on a totally random basis, the overall payback percentage is set on a standard machine. A casino tells the slot machine manufacturer what percentages it wants specific machines to pay back and that amount is programmed in. So, some machines are “looser” than others over the long haul.

Bellagio

The payback percentage is determined by state-approved computer chips which are installed by the manufacturer. The RNG in these microchips continuously generate hundreds of randomly chosen numbers every second the machine is on ...even when not being played. Each number corresponds to a set of symbols on the wheel. There are many approved chips for every machine type and the chip can be changed by casino technicians to “tighten” or “loosen” the machine payout. But this is hardly ever the case. It is easier just to change out the machine programmed by the manufacturer.

The state of Nevada requires that every machine pay out a minimum of 75 percent of the money it takes in. Due to competitive pressures, however, the overall payout percentage is much higher. Slot machines are typically programmed to pay out around 82 to 98 percent of the money that goes into them as winnings. Most pay around 92 to 96 percent ...certainly not the worst bet in the house. (Don’t be taken in by casinos that advertise winnings of “up to 99 percent.” They might only have one machine out of 2,000 set to pay that rate.) Hint: Playing the maximum coins always pays more per “coin-in” and reduces the house advantage.

Where are the “loose” slots?

According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, $1 slots pay out an average of 95 percent of receipts. (25 cent slots pay back an average of 93 percent, 5 cent machines: 90 percent.) And where you play the slots makes a difference. The payout on machines located on the Strip is about one or two percent lower than downtown or other off-strip properties ...a fact well known by the locals. Hotel-casinos frequented by Nevada residents on a regular basis (such as Sam’s Town) pay better than tourist hotels whose guests are there for only three days.

The newer and more luxurious hotels, have the poorest overall slot payout ...especially on under $1 machines. The poorest then would be the Bellagio, Venetian, Mandalay Bay and new Wynn Las Vegas. The best paying slots on the Strip are the older properties on the North Strip. Generally, avoid slots at the airport, convenience stores, restaurants and “restricted” operations ...that is, those with less than 15 machines.

Best Slot Machines Bellagio

Many veteran slot players believe that the loosest (best paying) machines are located in high traffic areas, such as near elevators, buffets, aisles, showrooms, registration areas, etc. Theoretically, frequent payouts are good advertising and entice others nearby to play. Typically, slot machines with a similar payout percentage are grouped together in the same area. In any event, the payback percentages on Nevada slot machines are the highest of any state ...and probably the highest of any country in the world.

Progressive slot machines

Progressive slots are exactly what their name implies; with each bet made, the jackpot grows. Progressive jackpots (such as Nevada's “Megabucks”) can pay astronomical amounts ...always in the millions of dollars. Their payout system is different from a standard machine and steadily increases as players put more money into it. To get the high jackpot, multiple machines and casinos are linked together to form one giant payout. Just about every Las Vegas casino participates in Megabucks.

The cardinal rule is to always play maximum coins at a progressive machine since they only pay the top jackpot if you bet max. Megabucks is a $1 slot so you must play 3 coins ($3.00) to hit the jackpot. When someone wins, the jackpot is reset to a starting value ...$7 million for Megabucks.

In the long run, the chances of winning a progressive jackpot are very, very remote and the overall payback is much lower than the standard $1 machine. Statistically, they are a very poor bet. In the short run, however, anything can happen and the “Megabucks” jackpot does get hit by someone about twice a year. (The odds of winning are one in 50 million.) The payout averages more than $10 million each time it does. It might be worth one $3 play.

Slot clubs and “comps”

Most casinos offer free memberships in “slot clubs.” They exist to attract, reward, and ultimately retain slot players. You join at the casinos slot booth and get a membership card - otherwise known as a “comp card” (as in “complimentary.”) It looks like a plastic credit card. The purpose of these clubs is to keep players from wandering from one casino to another. The card tracks your play and are the Vegas equivalent of frequent flier miles.

Whenever you sit down at a slot machine, insert the card in the slot at the top of the machine. At a table game, you give it to the dealer or the floorman. The machine (slots) or casino personnel (table games) then keeps track of how much you bet and how long you have played. A word to the wise! Never place your handbag on the floor when you are playing the slots. Keep it in sight at all times.

There are two schools of thought about applying for slot card membership. One is to apply for as many as you can because you will get a sign-up bonus prize on the spot for enrolling ...sometimes even a little free 'match play' gambling money to get you started. Joining a player’s club also identifies you as a gambler and gets you on their mailing list of upcoming offers. There are dozens of different slot clubs in Las Vegas.

The second theory is to concentrate your gambling - even if it is conservative - on one casino. You won’t get any “comps” (free meals, rooms, upgrades, shows or other offers) with just a few points at a dozen casinos. But they will add up when you gamble using a single slot card.

My recommendation is, at the minimum, to apply for Players Club membership at the two largest Las Vegas casino operations: MGM Mirage and Harrahs Entertainment. This way you can gamble at many of their owned casinos and still receive credit toward on your card. MGM Mirage recently merged with the Mandalay Bay Group. And Harrahs recently acquired Caesars Entertainment, Inc. These two companies will soon control nearly two dozen of the largest hotel-casinos ...about half the hotel rooms on the Strip.

Slot tournaments

Slot tournaments can be fun, take no skill to play and are offered at many casinos to their slot club members ...some by invitation only. The idea is to get the most “credits” by continually pushing the slot’s spin button. Sometimes the contest is free to enter ...but usually there is a small ($10 to $25) entry fee. The people who get the top scores wins a prize ...sometimes hundreds or thousands of dollars. Participants frequently get freebies and offers (sometimes worth more than the entry fee) just for entering the tournament.

The rules are simple. Generally you are assigned a certain machine, a time to play and a beginning amount of “credits” which must be played during a specified time period. For example: you might get to play a beginning 1000 credits in 15 or 20 minutes. The tournament is managed by casino personnel and there can be several tournament sessions to accommodate all who want to play. Many tournaments have hundreds of participants.

You just keep tapping the maximum bet button as fast as you can. Three credits are deducted each time. The machine has a special meter that keeps track of winning credits which can not be replayed. At the end of the time period, the machine locks up and play is over. An important objective is to use all your credits since they are lost if you do not. After you finish playing, you wait at your machine until a tournament official comes by and records your score. The scores on the winning meters determines the winners. It is that simple.

Slot tournaments are held in certain designated casino areas on specially programmed and outfitted machines that generate many more jackpot combinations than normally the case.

One advantage of a slot tournament is that you know ahead of time that your maximum loss will be the amount of the entry fee. (You should probably avoid the slot tournaments that have large entry fees ...those more than $100!) Winning them is totally pure luck ...the only skill needed is to be able to push the spin button quickly.

NEXT PAGE: 10.3 CASINO GAMES YOU SHOULD NOT PLAY!

Are you heading out to sunny Las Vegas sometime soon? Lucky you. Of course, you’ll need all the luck you can get. Especially if you plan on spending some time at the slots. Las Vegas casinos are chock-full of these captivating little machines, each offering flashing lights, fun music and the thrill of a potential payout. But there are so many casinos, and all of them claim to have the best slots. Where should you go for the experience of a lifetime? We’ve found there are three casinos which offer the best of the best.

Head to The Venetian – for best variety

The Venetian is a veritable maze of slot machines, each one enticing a different kind of player. That’s because there are so many slots on offer here. The Venetian is widely known throughout the city as the place to be for slot machine variety. With over 1,247 slots games from which to choose, there’s sure to be something here that fits your needs.

Players heading here will be enchanted instantly with the wide-open floor of the Venetian and the rows and rows of slot machines that call it home. You can expect to find old classics dotting the floor as well as the latest games and new releases. These include the new Orange is the New Black, Sherlock Holmes and House of Cards slot machines.

The Venetian offers every type of slot game, from progressive jackpot games to games with massive payouts at a single spin. Slot masters love the Venetian for its famous high-limit slots lounge. This room houses the high rollers, who may bet up to $5,000 on a single spin. The sanctuary room is located right in the lap of luxury and offers customers the chance to choose their favorite branded machine to play on — whatever you like, you can play it here. The wide variety of options here makes the casino an excellent experience different games.

All Bets are on at Mandalay Bay Casino

Mandalay Bay is a luxury pit stop on your way to slot machine heaven. From its gold-leafed windows to its award-winning pools, the Bay is the place to be for revelers and families alike. Whether you’re a newbie or an experienced player, Mandalay Bay has something to entice you. You’ll find that this 24-hour casino has some of the best games around like Wheel of Fortune progressive slots, Austin Powers video slots and the ever-popular Megabucks and Blazin’ Sevens slots.

If you’re new to the game, this is an excellent place for you to begin. That’s because bets here start off at just one cent. It’s great for players who are getting their bearings in the world of casino slot machines because it means they can play freely and without stress. If that’s you, you’ll place one-cent bets throughout the floor, which houses the slot machines.

If you want to try your luck at increased bets, that’s also possible. Move up to a nickel, a quarter, or twenty-five dollars and give yourself some time to adjust. Mandalay Bay is known for its friendly atmosphere and attentive staff who are there to help you in any capacity you need. This casino is the best experience for newbies on the Strip.

Choose the Bellagio for High-Stakes Spins

Are you looking to play some intense, high-stakes slots? If you’ve got a few thousand bucks burning a hole in your pocket, you should head on over to the Bellagio. Everything about this casino compound screams luxury, from its $5,000 per night suites to its world-famous chef Wolfgang Puck. The Bellagio has it all.

And that includes ultra-high-stakes slot machines. You have the chance to score big money here on the slots, but you’ll have to be willing to make a substantial investment. You can put thousands of dollars at once into the slots here if you’ve got the capital to do so. The Bellagio is also home to high-stakes slot tournaments where players have the opportunity to win millions on the floor. So, this casino is your best bet for high-stakes spinning. It’s also great for those who have a competitive spirit and want to pit their luck against the house or even other players.

Best Slot Machines Bellagio

Leaving Las Vegas? Play Slots at Home

Just because your Vegas vacation has come to an end doesn’t mean you need to give up all hope of an excellent slot experience. How can you continue the tradition of fun and satisfying spins outside the casino? By using the internet. Playing slots online is a great idea, but you may not know where to start.

Never fear because we’re here to divulge the best venue around: Wink Bingo. With a wide selection of fun online slots, you get the same thrills, chills and super-sweet deals you’d normally get in a casino right from your computer. You’ve got options with this site, and they include Vegas-style slots games that are sure to keep you on your toes. You’ll be taken right back to the Strip with the Cleopatra and Cleopatra II, both of which are modeled after one of the first video slots to appear in Vegas casinos.

Playing slots online is one of the best ways to keep the thrill alive long after you’ve left the bright lights and 24-hour action of Las Vegas. It’s easy to play online, and you’d be surprised at how attractive the bonuses and promotions are once you get the ball rolling. You can be treated like a VIP at online casinos as at regular casinos — and you’ll never have to leave your living room to play.

Bellagio

No matter where you decide to host your slot tournament, rest assured that any of the casinos on this list will help you have the time of your life. You’ll be wined, dined and get the chance to explore one of the most vibrant cities in the entire world. When the time comes to leave, you don’t have to be too heartbroken. After all, you can always come back. Until then, keep the reels spinning at home.

PaceVegas is the Publication of Everything About Las Vegas. Known for it’s hard hitting exposes of crimes, the underworld and everything interesting about Vegas, it’s won numerous awards from those who are scared to actually read the stories.