Moving up (Rookie)

I am going to Vegas for my first time, and I like to play slots, but in the past I would always stick to the 1cent machines or 5 cent machines. This time I would like to move up to the dollar machines or the 5 dollar machines, can you all suggest a plan of attack once I hit the casino floor? Like best place, machine, and such and such?

Do you like Video Poker?

Quote: hawkinsbo

I am going to Vegas for my first time, and I like to play slots, but in the past I would always stick to the 1cent machines or 5 cent machines. This time I would like to move up to the dollar machines or the 5 dollar machines, can you all suggest a plan of attack once I hit the casino floor? Like best place, machine, and such and such?

Most folks here will say move to table games. But if slots are what you like, play them. Best advice is play what you enjoy and bet with your head, not over it. $1 and $5 machines will usually give a better payout but can suck money even quicker if you have a losing session, which sooner or later you will.

Slot machines have very high house advantages, so most people on this forum would suggest playing table games. However, slots can be fun, relaxing and enjoyable, so play them if you so desire.

Make sure that you get a players card at whatever casino you play at and use it when you play your favorite slot machine. You can get quite a bit of free stuff, or comps, from the casino, especially if you play the $1 or $5 slot machines. In general, casinos will give you between 25% and 40% of your expected loss back to you in comps. This can be free rooms, free food, free shows, limo rides, etc.

Downtown Las Vegas and off the main strip tend to have slightly better returns then on the main strip itself. So you may want to go to one of those casinos to play. Consider playing the maximum number of coins whenever you play slots, provided your bankroll can handle it. Most slot machines will allow you to play up to 3 or 5 coins at once. You will notice that sometimes progressives can only be hit if you max out your coins.

When you walk up to a slot machine, take a second to notice the payouts. Some slots have smaller jackpots while others have huge progressive ones, like Megabucks. Decide if you want to play that major life changing jackpot machine, or one with a smaller jackpot. If both machines have the same house edge, the one with the smaller jackpot would pay out more frequently then the one with a multiple-million dollar one.

If you do decide to play table games, please ask the forum for suggestions or advice. Have fun in Vegas!

Win rates.
Denom. County Strip Boulder Downtown North
Penny 10.67% 11.59% 9.47% 10.97% 9.18%
Nickel 6.34% 9.26% 4.43% 8.75% 4.75%
Quarter 5.67% 8.13% 2.96% 5.12% 3.46%
$1 5.50% 6.47% 3.44% 4.65% 3.42%
$5 4.93% 4.78% 4.16% 5.77% 4.75%

So as long as you are comfortable staying and playing along the Boulder Strip, that is the best option. However, people have indeed hit jackpots at the airport and that is clearly the worst spot in town to ever play a slot machine.

Slot players are well-comped... because they lose so much money. So why do you want to play slots? Well, I guess if that is indeed what you enjoy then indeed go for it.

Quote: gambler

When you walk up to a slot machine, take a second to notice the payouts. Some slots have smaller jackpots while others have huge progressive ones, like Megabucks. Decide if you want to play that major life changing jackpot machine, or one with a smaller jackpot. If both machines have the same house edge, the one with the smaller jackpot would pay out more frequently then the one with a multiple-million dollar one.

Also pay close attention to (a) how many coins you need to put in to activate the jackpot, and (b) whether or not that last coin increases the other payouts as well. (The last time I was on the strip, I noticed quite a few machines with "1 coin pays" and "2 coins pay" columns, but no "3 coins pay column" except that "3 jackpot symbols with 3 coins pays the jackpot".

In general the jackpot, progressive and even the bonus require max coin and max lines. That can get very expensive with dollar machines, not to mention five dollar ones, when there are like 60 lines. SO watch out for that, too.

Let me also second, third and foruth the motion that you get a player's card. It's one of my first gambling laws, and Vegas laws, that you do't bet a penny without a card, and I dont' play enough for comps. In your case, high denomination slots ought to get you many and good comps.

Now, I don't know if the notorious Terrible's loss rebate applies to slots, but if it does you'll want to check into it. I think the Tropicana has a similar promo for new club members, too. The rebates are in the form of free play, so you can use them readily.

Other than that, mind your pay tickets and ahve fun.

I would play at the Palms. Palms slots pay lots!

I agree the Palms is a great place to play slots, video poker and video keno. You can catch a free shutle on Flamingo next to Bills Gambling hall. It takes you to the Gold Coast then you just walk across to the Palms. The shuttle will also take you to the Orleans. All three places should be looser than the strip and have better pay tables on the other games but make sure you read the glass and the pay tables because they are not all created equal there either.