Vegas Slots Were Tighter Downtown Than on the Strip in 2024 😱

^{The recently refreshed High Limit Slots Salon at Palazzo is one of several spots driving rising slot revenue on the Strip. (Image: courtesy of The Venetian)} 

Downtown Las Vegas casinos held a higher percentage from slot machine play than their counterparts on the Las Vegas Strip, according to the final gaming revenue report of 2024 from the Nevada Gaming Control Board. 

Loose and tight slots are differentiated by the percentage casinos hold and how much they return to players.

Downtown Las Vegas casinos held 8.47% of slot machine wagers in 2024, while casinos on the Vegas Strip held 8.03%.

The return to player from slot machines on the Vegas Strip in 2024 was 91.97%, or $91.97 for every $100 played. In downtown Vegas casinos, the return was 91.53%, or $91.53 for every $100 played. 

Slot machines use a random number generator that is always running in the background. A loose or tight slot can simply come down to hitting the spin button at the right or wrong time. 

That said, playing slot machines where casinos hold the least amount of money can’t hurt.

This Isn’t Exactly a New Trend

Vegas Strip casinos holding less than those downtown isn’t exactly new. According to historical data from the board, downtown Las Vegas casinos have held more than the Vegas Strip since 2020. 

The half-point hold percentage difference may seem small, but it adds up. Downtown Las Vegas has long been considered as the home of the loosest slots in Las Vegas. That hasn’t been the case in quite a while. 

However, both tourist corridors in Las Vegas hold more than the average casinos throughout Nevada.

In 2024, the statewide slot hold was 7.2%. This was slightly larger than in 2023 when Nevada casinos held 7.16% from all slot machine play.

Anyone looking for the loosest slots in Nevada should head north to Reno, where no denomination held more than 6.16%. Anecdotally, Reno casinos have long been known for having the loosest slots in the Silver State.

Last year, Nevada casinos  $15.6 billion in gaming revenue. This was the fourth consecutive record-breaking year of revenue for licensed gaming operators in Nevada.

Penny Slots Are Biggest Money Makers for Casinos

Not all slot machines are created equal. Beyond the bells and whistles, slot machines come in different themes, types, and denominations.

While the board's revenue reports don’t offer insight into which specific game types and themes hold the most money for casinos, they do include data for each denomination—and the trends hold true across most areas of the state.

Penny slots are consistently the biggest money maker for casinos. Last year, Nevada casinos held almost 10% (9.36%, to be exact) from penny slots. Vegas Strip casinos held slightly more than 11% from these games, while downtown Las Vegas casinos held just under that number.

Penny slots are somewhat of a misnomer nowadays, with max bets on games frequently crossing the $10 to $20 threshold. A minimum wager might still cost as much as 88 cents.

In 2025, the penny now represents the minimum bet per line per spin. These games can have anywhere from 25 to 150 lines, meaning the minimum bet could range from 25 cents to $1.50. Wagers can go as high as 10 to 20 times the minimum bet.

These games are generally the largest, brightest, and loudest in casinos. Penny slots are among the most popular slot machines in casinos nationwide with new themes hitting casinos regularly. 

Popular penny slots include: Buffalo, Dancing Drums, Huff N Puff, Monopoly and Rakin’ Bacon.

Loosest Slot Machines in Nevada

Casinos typically hold less from slot machines as the denomination increases. Last year, Nevada casinos held the lowest percentage from $5 slot machines.

The average hold percentage for $5 slots in Nevada last year was 4.43%. The Vegas Strip was similar to the state average, holding 4.46% for these games.

Downtown Las Vegas casinos’ 7.39% hold percentage for $5 slots was much higher than the state average or the Vegas Strip. The lowest hold percentage for downtown casinos was 6.71% for $1 slot machines last year.

Again, the denomination refers to the per-line bet, so playing these games can get pricey. If there’s good news, it’s that they’re typically old-school reel slot machines with anywhere from one to nine lines.

These games are often found inside and around the high-limit slot rooms in most Las Vegas casinos.

Popular $5 slots include: Double Diamond, Top Dollar, Pinball, Wheel of Fortune.