Higher-denomination machines return a higher percentage of wagers to bettors than do lower-denomination machines. As for your other questions, there is a variety of reasons players choose low-denomination games - especially pennies, nowadays - instead of.
The house edge at slot machines isn't based on how lucky the players are, it is based on the pre-programmed electronic software used. And, that house edge varies from casino to casino and from geographic location and state to state.
Don't be fooled by a billboard that says 'Our slots pay 99%' because that only pertains to a small number of machines, not the casino's overall house edge. All video slot machines (including poker) use a Random Number Generator to provide accurate odds for the player and the house.
The number of winning hands (symbols) in any program is mathematically proven before the slots hit the gaming floor, and while the odds vary for each player (because this really is gambling), overall, the anticipated house edge will eventually be achieved.
The House Edge at Slots
Each gaming jurisdiction requires all slot machines to be registered and all slot manufacturers must submit their programming and math charts to the state gaming office, such as the Nevada Gaming Control Board. While the state may only require a minimum payback of 86-percent, most video poker and slot machines pay more. The average payback in Nevada is lowest on penny slots at about 90-percent. Dollar slots and some Deuces-Wild poker machines have the highest payback at nearly 99-percent.
Of course just because a machine has a payback of 99 percent does not mean you will win back $99 for every $100 you play through the machine. That payback amount is an average. Over the course of an evening of gambling, you might lose $500 or win $5,000. That's the beauty of the gamble, right? And, the casino doesn't care either way, because they win an average of whatever their house edge is over the course of the month.
Slot Machine Odds Vegas
How does that 99-percent work for you? Aside from the ups and downs of jackpots and dry spells, your entertainment dollar is going to be based on how long you play. If you play a machine that takes $3 per spin and you pull the handle 10-times an hour, you are playing $3 x 10 x 60 = $1,800 in action. At 99-percent house edge, your play costs $18 an hour. Some nights you'll go home ready to kick the wall, and other nights you be singing a happy tune because you hit a jackpot and skated out with hundreds. That's gambling.
Play Within Your Means
As a general rule, the higher denomination slot machines have a greater overall payback percentage that the lower ones. That's great for those with a healthy bankroll, but you'll need to play the games that offer you the best bang for the buck. The worst thing a player can do is to play any game for more money than they can afford to lose or at a higher denomination than their bankroll will handle.
Another consideration is making sure you can qualify for any bonus screen or Royal Flush payoff. If you want to wile away the hours playing a single nickel in a machine, that's great. Enjoy. You won't win or lose much and you'll probably go home happier than most players. But your play comes with a catch!
That catch is that the house edge provided for each machine includes the big jackpots (such as a Royal Flush), and if you play below the minimum to reach the bonus screen, the house edge is much higher! You won't lose much, but you'll never win more than a couple of dollars.
The Best Option
The best option is to play the games you enjoy most, and make sure you read the Help Screen so you know how many credits it takes to qualify for at least the lowest progressive jackpot and the bonus screen (or Royal Flush at video poker). As a recreational player, your first goal is to have fun. If you only visit the casino occasionally the overall payback of the machine won't make much of a difference. If you visit regularly, make sure you join the Player's Club and play within your means!
Slots odds are the probabilities of getting a winning combination on the reels. They depend on the type of slot machine you play. Originally the odds were very easy to calculate as the only thing the players had to consider were the number of reels and the symbols used on each of the reels. As a result, the 3-reel slot machines are traditionally believed to be better for player's winning chances, and thus the more reels and symbols on them, the lower a player's advantage.
How to Calculate Odds
The odds of getting any combination on the slot reels are easy to calculate if you know the number of symbols used on each reel. Let's take a closer look at the odds and consider an example:
If you have to make a line of 3 diamonds on one payline to win the jackpot, it is most likely that each reel has only one diamond symbol on it. If the machine is a 3-reel one and there are 20 symbols on the reels, the chances of hitting this combination are:
Possible combinations on the reels: 20 x 20 x 20 = 8000. The odds of getting this combination are 1 in 8000. For a 5-reel slot machine the chances are even less: 20 x 20 x 20 x 20 x 20 = 1/ 3,200,000 (1 in 3,200,000). The slots probabilities are usually shown as a percentage, so for 3-reel and 5-reel slot machine with 20 symbols on each reel we have these probabilities:
Indian Casino Slot Machine Odds
However, the number of symbols on the reels can differ from machine to machine, and that is why the slots odds are different. Here we look at some more examples of slot machines containing 3 and 5 reels each with different number of symbols on them - for these examples: 20, 22 and 25.
| Slot Machine Type | Number of Symbols | Number of Combinations | Odds | Probabilities |
| 3-reel | 20 | 8,000 | 1 in 8,000 | 0.0125% |
| 22 | 10,648 | 1 in 10,648 | 0.0093% | |
| 25 | 15,625 | 1 in 15,625 | 0.0064% | |
| 5-reel | 20 | 3,200,000 | 1 in 3,200,000 | 0.0003125% |
| 22 | 5,153,632 | 1 in 5,153,632 | 0.0000194% | |
| 25 | 9,765,625 | 1 in 9,765,625 | 0.00001025% |
Slots Payback Percentages
The slots payback or return is the amount of money the slot machine pays out as winnings, against the total number of credits wagered by players. The payback is always shown in percentage.
The main idea behind counting the odds in slot machines lies in understanding how the machine pays out money. Unlike what many people believe, not everything is random in a slot machine. Slots are programmed to pay out a certain percent of the money put in with each play.
For example, one machine may pay back 80% of bets while another one may pay back 91% and even 100%. This means that for every dollar put in the machine the casino takes 9 cents and pays out 91 cents. But it does not do it for every dollar put in, it just pays out explosively and this is what makes the game so great.
You must remember that there are two basic types of slot machines. These are:
- Loose slots are slot machines that are programmed to return 82-98% of the wagered money, or even more if you play slots online. As a rule, high-denomination slots pay out more than those offering, for example, $0.05 or $0.25 bets. For more about typical paybacks on different slot machines please read the strategies page.
- Tight slots are machines that pay out less than 80% and sometimes down to 50% of the wagered money. To avoid playing at these slot machines try not to gamble in motels, airports, bars, gas stations, etc. The payback percentages vary from casino to casino and that is why it may be difficult to find the best machine in the gambling hall.
As you understand, one of the best slots tips on how to win at slots is always to look for the loose machines. It can be easy if the gambling hall shares this information with the visitors. In any case you can gamble on the Internet as most online casinos provide the statistic data about their slots games. So, when choosing one of the casinos recommended by SlotsDoc.com you can expect such paybacks: