Las Vegas Progressives has the secret tips and tricks on how to win a progressive jackpot. Find Progressive Video Poker and Progressive Slot Machines in and around Las Vegas. Not only did many slots start moving to a progressive pot, but this was also the start of 5-reel slots and even video slots. The 1980s were a new and exciting time for slots. Although it seems like a lifetime ago with online slots available now, the '80s for slot machines was about as revolutionary as you could imagine.
The infamous gambling capital, Las Vegas, is home to more than 100,000 slot machines. The old one-armed bandits have been around for nearly a century now, and over all that time, they've evolved to say the least.
Las Vegas reigns supreme when it comes to the slots. The city's epicenter shifted from Downtown to present-day Las Vegas Boulevard, and the Strip is home to over 30 casino resorts. If your main focus is finding the best places on the Strip to play slots, this page is for you.
Using the latest payback percentage rates, which are also known as return to player (RTP) rates, a team of gambling researchers from the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) recently conducted a survey of every Las Vegas casino's slot machine inventory.
Based on that payback percentage data, the list below presents the seven best places to play 'loose' slots, or machines which offer a higher than average payback percentage, whenever you visit the heart of Las Vegas.
1 – Circus Circus Hotel and Resort
So, let's start with the glass half empty side of the Circus Circus to get it out of the way… This place is kind of a dump.
The big top theme hasn't been interesting in 20 years, and nothing else inside of the Circus Circus has been updated either. Renovations were announced in the latter half of 2019, but the décor at the time of this writing is significantly dated.
On the other hand, if you don't mind 'slumming it' for a spell, playing slots at the Circus Circus scoresan average payback percentage of 92.56%, the highest offered by any casino on the Las Vegas Strip. And if you happen to have the family in town, Circus Circus is still the best casino in town in terms of non-gambling entertainment for the kids to enjoy.
The aptly named Slots A Fun has been a staple of old-school Las Vegas gambling for generations now, and this gritty gambling hall is home to a diverse collection of 'Classic Coin Machines.' These are the big iron boxes of old, which still take quarters and use a pull-lever to send the reels spinning. You'll also find Classic Coin Machines for $1 a spin over at the Main casino.
Circus Circus' sterling 92.56% payback rate, which outdoes the Strip's overall average of 91.47% by more than a full percentage point, is bolstered by the popular Magnificent 7 slot machine. This three-reel design classic produces an average payback rate of 97.4%, good for some of the most favorable slot machine odds out there.
The Magnificent 7's machine uses a $1 coin denomination, and because it pays out the $1,000 jackpot with such regularity, many slot fans exclusively play this game.
If you're in the mood for a something a little different, take a whirl on the Carousel, a spinning platform outfitted with penny slot machines and offers a great view of the daily Circus performance.
2 – Luxor Hotel and Casino
Even if you didn't know its name, the Luxor is likely the first casino resort on the Strip to catch your eye during the initial after-hours excursion in Sin City.
A gleaming black pyramid seemingly taken straight out of the Egyptian sands and relocated to the Mojave Desert, the Luxor Hotel & Casino is best known for shining a bright beam of light straight from its peak into the skies above. This obelisk of light can be seen from miles away, making it one of the dominant features of the Strip's skyline.
Head inside, and you'll find more than 1,100 slot machines at the Luxor, one of Las Vegas' largest inventories. They collectively offer an average payback rate of 91.92%. The massive selection covers everything, from classic three-reel machines to modern video slots equipped with movable seats and sound effects, so slot players of all stripes will feel at home.
Coin denominations here range from $0.01 to $100, and those bets put players in the mix for jackpots that can eclipse the eight-figure plateau. As an MGM Resorts operated casino, the Luxor makes sure to spread all of the best progressive jackpot slot games, including Megabucks, Wheel of Fortune, and Millionaire 777's.
3 – Paris Las Vegas
If you're loyal to Caesars Entertainment properties and their Total Rewards program, rather than MGM Resorts and the M life card, you can head across Las Vegas Boulevard to Paris and find the exact same 91.92% overall payback rate.
The slot selection at Paris is impeccable, with more than 1,700 different machines dotting the well-appointed casino floor.
Playing slots at Paris is a treat in more ways than one, thanks to the property's world-class dining, shopping, and entertainment options.
4 – Excalibur Hotel and Casino
A step up from Circus Circus if you're visiting Las Vegas with little ones, Excalibur is famous for its medieval castle theme.
You'll be greeted at the entrance by 'town criers' dressed in traditional medieval garb, complete with Old English dialogue all the rest. Every night sees the white and black knights battle it out in a full-on jousting tournament, while audience members munch on oversized turkey legs and swill wine from a goblet.
Indeed, the ambiance at Excalibur is certainly unique to say the least…
As for the slot lineup, you'll find hundreds of slots at Excalibur, running the gamut from $0.01 to $100 stakes. All of the most popular machines are here too, including 88 Fortunes, Buffalo Grand, Dancing Drums, Monopoly Hot Shot, and so much more. All told, Excalibur's slot menu offers a 91.84% payback rate on average, good enough to beat the baseline for casinos along the Strip.
One of the coolest things about playing slots at the MGM-owned Excalibur is the seasonal tournaments that run once every month or so. Tournaments like the 'Excaliventure' or the 'Riptide Reels' offer $25,000 prize pools in a unique format, as players try to spin their way to the highest profits over a given period of time.
5 – Bally's Las Vegas Hotel and Casino
The Caesars-owned Bally's makes up for its worn-down appearance and generally uninspired interior with a long lineup of high-paying slots.
All told, the hundreds of slot machine games spread by Bally's combine for an average payback rate of 91.82%.
Bally's is the definition of a 'no-frills' casino at this point, so expect to find all of the slot industry's staple titles and jackpots without much in the way of cutting-edge technology.
But while the machines here might be dated, the players grinding them have a much higher chance to win than across the street at Bellagio, where the luxurious surroundings and fancy amenities mask one of the Strip's worst payback rates at 87.42%.
6 – O'Sheas Casino
If the vibe at Bally's is a no-frills affair, playing slots at O'Sheas is like stepping into another world altogether.
This Irish-themed casino within a casino is technically part of the LINQ, a relatively new addition to the Strip's landscape which was rebranded in 2014 by Caesars Entertainment. If you visited Las Vegas before that, you probably know The LINQ as The Quad or Imperial Palace.
As for O'Sheas, it previously occupied a location of its own near the Flamingo before relocating to the LINQ in 2013. But moving didn't do a thing to change O'Sheas famous Irish pub-inspired ambiance, which is best known for $1 drinks, beer pong tables, and an intimate setting.
The slots at O'Sheas average a 91.48% payback rate, so even though the selection might be a bit limited compared to other venues on this list, you'll still be above the Strip average.
7 – New York-New York Hotel and Casino
Coming full circle, the New York-New York casino is what Circus Circus could be if the latter had any ambition.
This MGM Resorts property boasts all of the 'extras' gamblers today have come to expect, complete with cafes and restaurants, retail shopping outlets, a variety of bars, and in-house shows. Kids are welcome here too, what with a full-scale video game arcade, carnival games, and the famous roller coaster twisting and turning outside.
New York-New York is also home to more than 1,500 slot machines covering all the bases, including the ubiquitous brands shown below:
- Wheel of Fortune
- Megabucks
- Jackpot Party
- Blazing 7's
- Top Dollar
- Sex and the City
- Monopoly
- Goldfish
- Wizard of Oz
Add them all up and you'll find an average payback rate of 90.99%. That's only 1.57% lower than the Circus Circus, making New York-New York the perfect alternative for sharp gamblers who know the value of a family-friendly casino that's also safe and clean.
Conclusion
Playing the slots is a time-honored ritual among recreational gamblers, and for many visitors to Las Vegas, it's the only game they'll ever play. Knowing that any spin can potentially produce a life-changing jackpot sets the slots apart from more modest table games like blackjack and baccarat, and the thousands of themes ensure one session will seldom sound, look, and feel like the next.
Naturally, the slot scene along Las Vegas Boulevard is just as eclectic as its multicultural-inspired skyline and carnival-like sidewalks. The games, stakes, themes, and jackpots span the spectrum from traditional to postmodern, but armed with this list of the seven best slot machine venues found on the Strip, you'll always enjoy the best odds around.
Free Online Slots – No Download Or Registration Required
Wheel Of Fortune
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Golden Wolves
Michael Jackson
Monopoly Slot
Divine Fortune Slot
Triple Red Hot 777 Slot
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Above, you'll find a selection of free slots that you'll likely recognize if you've ever been to the Las Vegas Strip.
These are the tried-and-true favorites. From Monopoly to Cleopatra, these are loved at both online and land-based casinos for their exciting gameplay, unique themes, and incredible winning potential.
Playing free slots online is one of the best ways to try out these popular titles and practice your strategy. Many players also enjoy free play to relax and experience casino fun risk-free.
Where To Play Online Slots?
Free Slot Machines
The fastest and easiest way to play online slots is to find free slot machines. Of course, this page features 10 of the best free online slot machines that you can enjoy right now.
But this isn't the only site that hosts free slot machines. Thousands of sites host a free version of some of the most popular titles in the world. In fact, if there's a slot you played at a casino that you'd like to revisit, a simple web search would likely pull up the free version.
You can play free slots via your desktop or mobile browser. These streaming versions of the game require nothing more than a click, and you can start playing. Another option is to play free slots apps, and many exist in both Apple's App Store and the Google Play store for Android.
The reason people play free slot machines is for a variety of reasons. The most common is simply for entertainment. Like some would play mobile games like Candy Crush or Words with Friends, fans of slot machines like to play the free versions every now and again.
Another good reason is to practice on the free version and take what you learn to the paid version. The goal is to get more wins or improve your Return to Player (RTP).
Legal Online Casinos
Legal online casinos with paid slots only exist in a few US states:
- Delaware
After recent changes in legislation, online casinos will soon launch in Michigan. If you're not physically located in one of those states, playing real-money online slots is technically breaking the law. At the very least, the online casino operators are violating the law by offering their games to people in the state.
However, the consistent introduction of online gambling legislation in states across the country means that list may grow beyond these five states in the future.
In states where online casinos are legal, you can deposit money, bet on the slots, and withdraw any winnings. Like the brick-and-mortar casinos, the most popular slots at the online casinos have progressive jackpots, which can grow to over a million dollars.
You can also play any of the slots at online casinos for free in 'demo mode,' where you're using practice credits instead of real money. You can often do this before you even create an account.
Sweepstakes Casinos – Slots For Cash Prizes
In all of the US except for the State of Washington, you can legally play at sweepstakes casinos, a category of social gaming that also includes online poker and sports picks. This is a great option in states like California, Florida, and Texas, where real money online casinos are prohibited.
The two main sweepstakes casinos are Chumba Casino and LuckyLand. Both offer a large selection of slots that you can play for two different types of currencies: Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins.
Gold Coins are used simply for fun and can't be redeemed for a cash prize or gift card. However, you can also play in Sweeps Coins. Any Sweeps Coins that you win can be redeemed for cash prizes or gift cards. You just need to have the minimum number of won Sweeps Coins before you can redeem.
To receive Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, no purchase is required. Once you join, you're given both types of coins for free to play with. You can also purchase additional Gold Coins. Some Gold Coin packages of include Sweeps Coins.
Check this out to learn more about How To Play Sweepstakes Casinos.
How To Play Slots For Fun Online
Playing free online slots is the same as playing paid online slots, minus the need to deposit any money or even create an account. That's why playing slots for fun online is free in every US state, including the State of Washington.
You can play any type of slot for free. This includes classic three-reel slots as well as 3D five-reel slots with immersive bonus games and other special features.
The gameplay, including the odds of winning, is the exact same between the free slots and the paid slots. However, if the slot normally has a progressive jackpot, that will be absent from the free version.
Do you need to sign up or deposit to play free online slots?
No. And, in most cases, there's no way to create an account much less make a deposit.
However, some land-based casino websites, which do offer player accounts, have free online slots on their website. This came into even more prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Can you win playing free online slots?
Yes. Just like in the paid version, you can win without limits on the free online slots. But what you win is additional freeplay credits, and refreshing the web browser will reset your bankroll.
How Do Slots Work?
Slots are by far the most popular casino game for a few key reasons:
- Huge winning potential
- The option to play for low or high stakes
- The gameplay is extremely simple
Once you know the basics of slots, you'll be able to play any type that you'll come across. While each title can seem wildly different, they all work in fundamentally the same way.
The object of a slot machine is for a winning combination of symbols to appear when the reels stop. This is true whether it's a three-reel or a five-reel slot.
Setting Paylines
A winning combination of symbols is based on paylines that run across the reels. A slot can have as few as five paylines or over a hundred.
Usually, the symbol combinations are left to right across the paylines, and each payline can win independently. That means the more paylines you play, the higher your chances of scoring a payout.
In slots, wins are multipliers, not set amounts. So if you're playing a slot with 25 paylines and your total wager is $5.00, each payline would have a value of $0.20. If one scored a 100x multiplier, you'd win $20.
To play all paylines for the highest possible value, you can select 'Max Bet.'
Should You Always Do Max Bet?
No. You should always play with however much you're able to lose.
However, playing max bet does two things: gives you the best chance of winning the highest possible prizes.
Further, you may need to play Max Bet to qualify for certain prizes, including the progressive jackpot. Check the rules of the specific slot to make sure.
Slot Payback (AKA Return to Player)
A slot's payback is how much a player can expect to keep of their bankroll based on the average net wins. This is also known as Return to Player (RTP). A high slot payback is 90% or higher, and a low slot payback is 70%.
No slot has an average lifetime payback that's equal to or greater than 100%. However, some players seek out the games with the highest RTP to ensure the highest chances of regular wins. Others prefer the longshot slots, which have the lowest RTP but normally the highest potential prizes.
Bonus Features
A slot's biggest selling point aside from the jackpot, RTP, and overall theme are the bonus features. These are usually triggered when three or more 'scatter' symbols appear on the reels. You then have the opportunity to win more money, either through free spins, a minigame, or selecting a hidden prize.
Wild Symbols
The Wild symbol usually best matches the theme of the game. For example, Cleopatra is the Wild symbol in the Cleopatra slot.
Wild symbols can take the place of any other symbol aside from the scatter (and possibly other specialty symbols) to create winning combinations. Five wild symbols will often trigger the top prize fixed jackpot.
Progressive Jackpot Slots
When a slot has a progressive jackpot, it means a portion of every bet placed by everyone playing the slot contributes to a running total. The total progressive jackpot continues to increase as people play until it's won by a lucky player, then it's reset and starts again.
How to win a progressive jackpot depends on the slot. In some cases, it's simply randomly awarded at the end of a spin, and you may need to 'Bet Max' to qualify. Others will involve a bonus game.
Different Types Of Slot Machines
Because slots are always innovating, it's difficult to create a list of the different types. Instead, let's look at the key factors that separate one slot from another.
Number Of Reels
Three-reel slots are usually the simplest, where one payline runs across a maximum of three symbols.
Five-reel slots are the most common and can range from a handful of paylines to 743 All-Ways-Pays slots, which covers every possible combination of symbols going up and down and left to right across the reels.
Four-reel, six-reel, seven-reel, and other slots are pretty much nonexistent in physical casinos but you can find some online relatively easily.
Video Vs. 3D Slots
Video slots are the most common form of five-reel slots and often feature bonus and free spin features. 3D slots are the same, except they use 3D animation and graphics whereas video slots use 2D.
Denominations
Penny slots earned their name by allowing players to bet with just $0.01. But some slots can cost a minimum of $1.00 per spin, and betting the max can make your overall wager climb to as high as $125 or more. How to win on slot machines at the casino.
Volatility
When a slot is labeled low volatility, it means it pays out low wins regularly. When it's labeled high volatility, it means you'll often go for several spins without winning, but the winning streaks are often larger when they do come.
Coin Play Vs. Paylines
Coin play means you're simply setting the coin value that applies to the multiplier wins. Some variations, called Buy-Your-Pay Slots, won't allow you to win certain amounts or activate certain features unless you increase your coin value.
A slot's biggest selling point aside from the jackpot, RTP, and overall theme are the bonus features. These are usually triggered when three or more 'scatter' symbols appear on the reels. You then have the opportunity to win more money, either through free spins, a minigame, or selecting a hidden prize.
Wild Symbols
The Wild symbol usually best matches the theme of the game. For example, Cleopatra is the Wild symbol in the Cleopatra slot.
Wild symbols can take the place of any other symbol aside from the scatter (and possibly other specialty symbols) to create winning combinations. Five wild symbols will often trigger the top prize fixed jackpot.
Progressive Jackpot Slots
When a slot has a progressive jackpot, it means a portion of every bet placed by everyone playing the slot contributes to a running total. The total progressive jackpot continues to increase as people play until it's won by a lucky player, then it's reset and starts again.
How to win a progressive jackpot depends on the slot. In some cases, it's simply randomly awarded at the end of a spin, and you may need to 'Bet Max' to qualify. Others will involve a bonus game.
Different Types Of Slot Machines
Because slots are always innovating, it's difficult to create a list of the different types. Instead, let's look at the key factors that separate one slot from another.
Number Of Reels
Three-reel slots are usually the simplest, where one payline runs across a maximum of three symbols.
Five-reel slots are the most common and can range from a handful of paylines to 743 All-Ways-Pays slots, which covers every possible combination of symbols going up and down and left to right across the reels.
Four-reel, six-reel, seven-reel, and other slots are pretty much nonexistent in physical casinos but you can find some online relatively easily.
Video Vs. 3D Slots
Video slots are the most common form of five-reel slots and often feature bonus and free spin features. 3D slots are the same, except they use 3D animation and graphics whereas video slots use 2D.
Denominations
Penny slots earned their name by allowing players to bet with just $0.01. But some slots can cost a minimum of $1.00 per spin, and betting the max can make your overall wager climb to as high as $125 or more. How to win on slot machines at the casino.
Volatility
When a slot is labeled low volatility, it means it pays out low wins regularly. When it's labeled high volatility, it means you'll often go for several spins without winning, but the winning streaks are often larger when they do come.
Coin Play Vs. Paylines
Coin play means you're simply setting the coin value that applies to the multiplier wins. Some variations, called Buy-Your-Pay Slots, won't allow you to win certain amounts or activate certain features unless you increase your coin value.
Paylines are either fixed or variable. For both, you set the value of each individual payline, and multiplier wins apply to that payline. But with variable paylines, you can set the number of lines you want to play as well as their value. With fixed paylines, you automatically play all of them.
How To Play Slot Machines
Brick-And-Mortar Casinos
The most common place to play slots is at a land-based casino. In most states, casinos are either commercially operated or tribal-owned and located on Native American lands.
The ten states that do not have any land-based casinos are:
- Alaska
- Hawaii
- Georgia
- Utah
- Nebraska
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
- Virginia
- Vermont
The highest concentration of casinos and slot machines in the United States can be found in Las Vegas, Nevada. And not only that, it's also where you can find the largest jackpots of all time. In fact, the top six biggest casino wins ever were all on Vegas slots.
Another major hotspot is Atlantic City, New Jersey, where several casinos operate in close proximity. But if you live in the continental United States, there's a good chance that there's a casino with over a hundred slot machines within driving distance.
Las Vegas Best Slot Machines To Play
Why are slots the most popular game at the casino?
Slots can make up 75% or more of a casino's total gambling revenue. That means the rest comes from all table games and poker tables combined. Why? Because slots are fun, attractive, and can turn relatively low wagers into multi-million-dollar payouts.
The Most Popular Slots Offer The Highest Payouts
It should come as no surprise that the easiest way to get people to play a slot is by offering an enormous potential jackpot.
Enter the slots area of a Las Vegas casino, and you'll find dozens of options with a top prize that can be well into the millions. All it takes is one single spin to win it all. That's hard to resist.
So it's no wonder that the progressive jackpots are the most popular. Tiger slot machine. The most talked-about usually is.
Free Online Slots FAQ
Yes. No matter where you're located in the US, it is completely legal to play free slots online.
Because you're playing with demo credits rather than real money, it's not considered gambling. And if you download a free slots mobile app, you don't even need an internet connection to play.
Yes, you can win real money playing slots online. However, you'll need to be in one of the three states (DE, NJ, and PA) where it's legal to win money legally. Michigan and West Virginia will soon offer legal online gambling as well.
Best Slots In Vegas
To win cash prizes, anyone located in the US (except for the State of Washington) can legally play at sweepstakes casinos, which have a wide range of online slot machines.
You can also play free slots using demo credits that cannot be redeemed for prizes right here at bonus.com and elsewhere.
No. You do not need to create an account to play free slot games online. Even if you're playing in demo mode at an online casino, you can often simply go to the site and select 'play for fun.' Only online casinos and sweepstakes casinos require signup to play.
No. You do not need to download anything to play free online slots. The titles are instantly available directly through your web browser. However, there are a number of free slots on your phone whether on your Android or iOS device.
Yes. Most of the popular Las Vegas slots are available to play for free online. That's because a lot of the gaming software developers provide their titles to both brick-and-mortar casinos as well as online casinos. Plus, the demand for the most popular options make them particularly readily available.
Yes. Because you do not have to create an account, you're not providing any of your personal information. Unsafe slots are those run by illegal online casinos that take your payment information. Free slots are always completely safe simply because they don't accept real money.
The benefits of playing free slots include:
- The ability to play simply for the fun of it.
- Testing a game to see if you like it.
- Practicing strategy before risking real money.
- Placing huge bets that you otherwise wouldn't want to do.
