Amaya slots are by far and away the worst slot machines for payouts with a 92% RTP average (more on that later). NetEnt make the most player friendly slot games averaging a 96.51% payout percentage. The majority of companies are within 1% of each other setting an online industry standard of about 95% for slot payouts.

Slot machines are big business in the gambling industry. You can win big money from a small bet – and they’re easy to play. The question we all want to know is: how to pick a winning slot machine and find the ones that pay out the most?

1. Pick slots with the highest “Return to Player Percentage”

1. Slot machines in Las Vegas are required by law to payout 75% of the money that goes into them, actual payout in Las Vegas is approximately 95%. Will you be the one that takes the money instead of gives it?
2. A 97% payback slot machine will pay 97% of the money back, that does not mean that if you put in $100 you'll get back $97, it means that the machine is set to payback 97%, this figure is included.

If you’re looking for slot machines that are most likely to hit, then you want slots that have the highest percentage of RTP.

Essentially, the higher the RTP percentage, the more likely the slot is to pay out.

How is RTP calculated?

Well, if you take a slot that has an RTP of 94% then the theory is that if you put $100 into the slot then you could expect an estimated return in winnings of $94 (over a long period of time). Obviously, that’s a rough guide and is not the case for every player.

2. Scan message boards and threads online

The likes of TripAdvisor forums and Reddit often have slots players sharing their experiences of trips to places such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Macau. These players will then often highlight slots at casinos where they have enjoyed decent pay outs.

You can also pick up handy tips and tricks from other players.

3. Use casino comparison sites

If you don’t want to spend time trawling threads looking for online slots with the best payouts, a great place to look is on comparison sites that offer independent online slots reviews.

You’ll find slots with the best RTPs as well as a list of the online casinos offering the games and, best of all, you don’t have to lift a finger.

4. Research game developers to find out which offer high RTP%s

For players starting afresh, a fair bit of research will be required to find out where to find the slots most likely to hit. It won’t take long before certain trends start to appear.

Slots by the same developers constantly being mentioned, certain casinos being identified as possessing loose slots, and slot machines by name that have proven to be big earners for players.

Online software developer Playtech has a reputation for releasing slots with high RTP percentages. Slots such as Goblin’s Cave, Ugga Bugga, and Ocean Princess all offer above average RTP.

Other developers such as Barcrest, WMS, and NetEnt are also renowned for their slots with high RTP.

5. Avoid games that hardly ever pay out

On the flip side of tip #4, it will also be worth taking note of the slots that are notorious for not paying out. The more slots you can add to a blacklist of bad earners helps to narrow down the slots that can be labelled for their higher payouts.

A number of slots have been highlighted by players as games to avoid due to their low RTP. The likes of Wish Upon a Jackpot by Blueprint Gaming, Adventures in Wonderland by Ash Gaming, and King Kong by Cryptologic frequently appear on such lists.

How do slot machines work?

You insert money, spin the reels, and wait to see if you won anything. It’s simple. But inside the machine it’s a bit more complicated than that.

Slot machines work by using a complex piece of software, known as a random number generator (RNG). This determines the results of every spin. So when you spin the reels, the RNG ensures that whatever outcome it produces is totally random.

Some people might sit and play slots for hours on end, winning nothing, while someone else may come along and win on their first spin.

And when they pay out, they really pay out…

Slots pay out how much each day in Vegas?

The Nevada Gaming Control Board found that in 2017 there were 38,434 slots in operation across 40 locations on the Las Vegas Strip. It was estimated that those machines generated revenues worth $269,527,000 per month. That equates to an average slot generating $226 per day.

This figure is even more startling when you consider that most slot machines have an RTP (return to player) over 90%. The average slot pays out at a rate of 93-94%. That gives an insight into how much money is pumped into the machines each day.

It should be noted that these figures might be for Las Vegas but it is a trend that echoes around the world. The RTP is dependent on the manufacturer rather than the casino. Slots developers can set a range for the RTP but the casinos must stick to offering an RTP within that range.

Progressive Jackpots FTW

One of the big draws of slot machines is the fact that they can create millionaires in an instant. Progressive jackpots online offer prize money that is on a par with national lottery games.

On September 28, 2018, a record-breaking progressive jackpot win of €18,915,721 was triggered by an anonymous player on the Mega Moolah slot by Microgaming at Grand Mondial online casino. It’s paid out over a whopping €874 million since it began.

A number of other slot machines have paid out crazy sums of cash in the past. On January 20, 2013, an anonymous player won €17,860,868 on the Mega Fortune slot by NetEnt at the Finland-based Paf Casino. Online progressive jackpots are crazy popular because the minimum bet values are lower than at land-based casinos and the convenience of accessing them remotely or on the go makes them more appealing than trekking from casino to casino by foot.

What Slot Machines Have The Best Payouts

Progressive jackpots are not restricted to online slots, though. The largest ever payout on a slot machine came back on March 21, 2003, when a 25-year-old engineer from Los Angeles triggered a jackpot worth $39,710,826 on the Megabucks slot at the Excalibur casino.

The Megabucks slot has also paid out sums of $34,955,489 to Cynthia Jay-Brennan on January 26, 2000, at the Desert Inn casino. $27,570,879 to a 67-year-old retired flight attendant at the Palace Station on November 15, 1998, and $22,618,156 to Johanna Huendl at Bally’s on March 27, 2002.

You are more likely to win on a game with a smaller jackpot over these huge progressives, however, it’s still possible to get lucky and scoop a massive cash prize off just one spin.

Slots are a beast in their own right. You can spend all day playing the slots with the highest RTP and get nothing. Then you could have two spins on a slot that is reputedly dry as a bone and hit a big payout. Sometimes the only way to find out what works and what doesn’t is to get out there and spin those reels yourself.

Sources:
https://gaming.nv.gov/
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g45963-i10-k21393-Which_slots_are_easiest_and_best_to_win_on-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html
https://www.reddit.com/r/gambling/comments/8akung/what_are_some_practical_tips_from_seasons/
https://www.microgaming.co.uk/News/Multiple-millionaires-made-on-Microgamings-Mega-Moolah
https://lasvegassun.com/news/2012/may/23/nine-biggest-las-vegas-jackpots/

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.

Slot Machine Payout Laws

Play Within Your Means

Slot Machine Payouts By Casino

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!

Slot Machine Payout Percentage

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

Nevada Slot Machine Payout Percentages

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!