Many players know all too well about the concept of high-paying slots and low-paying slots. These are not misnomers or fallacies; they are real-life realities. For example, there are slot machine games that are notorious for low payout rates, while there are other slots games that have significantly higher overall payout rates, usually owing to higher coin denominations required to play those slot games. You often hear the terms house advantage or house edge being used interchangeably when it comes to odds in casino games. However, when we are discussing Illinois slot machines games the term that is used by operators is payout percentage. It is essentially the same concept, but it is viewed from a different angle. If you want to know what the basic definition of a payout percentage is, it is simply the house edge subtracted from 100%.
LOUISIANA SLOT MACHINE PAYBACK STATISTICS Gaming regulations require that gaming machines in casinos be programmed to pay back no less than 80% and no more than 99.9%. For video gaming machines at locations other than casinos, the law requires. Casinos constantly add and remove slot machines, trying new slot variations, therefore, the following information is presented as a guide only because these numbers change slightly every day. Please remember not all gaming areas are required to supply payout reports.
RNGs and Slots Payouts are Linked
The concept of a random number generator is one that needs further illumination in order to understand how payouts of Illinois slot machines work. For the purposes of discussion, a random number generator simply randomizes the outcomes of slot machine games. The random number generator (RNG for short) is a computer program that has been designed and independently tested by third-party authorities affiliated with regulatory bodies to ensure the fairness and randomness of all outcomes. It is important not to confuse the purpose of an RNG and that of the casino’s payout percentage rate. These are two completely different aspects and they are for the most part unrelated to one another.
The casino is responsible for establishing its payout combinations to ensure that it remains profitable. The RNGs feature stops for every combination and every reel, but the payout for any combination hitting is determined by the casino. If you have for example 20 stops which each have an equal possibility of hitting over 3 reels, the calculation would be as follows: 1/20 X 1/20 X 1/20 equals 1/8,000 of all 3 spinning reels to land on a specific stop. Now the actual casino may have a payout for that combination of just 75:1 or 100:1 for example. This brings us to one of the most important aspects of Illinois slot machines and casinos: the payout is always less than the odds of winning.
Slot Machine Payouts By State
Typical Payouts and Payout Percentages
A standard online casino will have slot machine payout rates in the region of 95% – 98%. And the reason why these payout rates are so much higher than land-based casinos is a result of lower fixed costs of operations. Since everything is online, there is no need to maintain slot machines, no need to employ scores of personnel, no need to rent facilities other than servers, etc. Another important thing to bear in mind is PARS. Illinois slot machines players will typically not have access to things like this, but it is something that is important in the industry and is known to the casinos themselves. Many players believe that slot machine games which offer higher payout percentages will pay out more, but this is once again also open to interpretation.
Slot Machine Payouts By Casino
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.
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!