- The Nevada Gaming Control Board reports that the Las Vegas Strip contained over 160,000 slot machines in 40 different locations in 2019, generating revenues reaching almost $270 million per month. While these numbers are beneficial to the establishments and their operators, slot machines are also known to be the most profitable game in a casino.
- Location of Megabucks Slot Machines in Las Vegas. This map was created by a user. Learn how to create your own.
- This map was created by a user. Learn how to create your own.
Las Vegas man hits Megabucks. Ed Koch and Jace Radke. The jackpot totals at the Megabucks machines located in various Nevada casinos, including 88 locations in the Las Vegas Valley.
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.
Megabucks Machines In Las Vegas
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.
Megabucks Las Vegas Locations Las Vegas
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. Slotocash bonus codes 2019.
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.
The Curse of Megabucks Progressive Slot Machine
Megabucks is a Nevada state-wide slot jackpot network that is owned and run by the slot machine company, International Game Technology (IGT). Considered Nevada's state lottery, Megabucks is extremely popular and has created quite a few millionaires in its 19-year history. Thanks to excellent PR hype, Megabucks continues to spur hysteria every time the jackpot reaches ‘megabuck' proportions. It is also a slot machine that generates an incredible amount of gossip and legends surrounding the game and its winners. However, if we look at the real truth behind IGT's Megabucks – even with all the myths and legends dispelled - we will see that this progressive slot is simply a bad game to play.
How does Megabucks Work?
IGT's Megabucks is a dollar coin slot machine that requires 3 coins ($3.00) to hit the jackpot. The jackpot is reset to a specific amount after every grand win. While the present reset amount is $10-million, there is talk that this will soon rise to $11-million. Megabucks is part of the company's MegaJackpot slot system that connects about 750 machines in 136 Nevada casinos to one primary jackpot that builds from the base jackpot amount. International Game Technology owns the Megabucks machines and the casino gets a cut of the money that each machine wins from the players. It is common knowledge that IGT created Megabucks to compete with state lotteries.
Where can Megabucks be Played?
The State of Nevada is the true home of Megabucks and can be found in most popular casinos on the strip. Unlike multi-state lotteries, this game does not cross state lines. IGT runs Megabucks jackpots in the states of California, New Jersey and Mississippi, as well as some Indian reservations. However, these don't encompass as many venues as the Nevada edition and their jackpots are traditionally much smaller. Each state that offers Megabucks has a separate jackpot system with separate meters and winners. If a jackpot is won in one state, it does not affect the progressive jackpot in another.
Each Megabucks machine has its own RNG (random number generator) and chooses its own outcomes. These outcomes are reported to a central station. When the jackpot is hit on one machine, the central station sends out a message to the other machines to reset their meters.
What are the Odds of Winning Megabucks?
Statistics regarding the true odds of winning the Megabucks jackpot remain sketchy. Some put the odds down to about one in 50-million, while others, such as the Las Vegas Sun, put it as ‘low' as 1 in 17-million. It is certainly understandable why the betting surrounding Megabucks sometimes reaches hysteric proportions and has people crossing over the state line to have a shot at winning so many millions. But do winners really get what they are promised? Let's take the example of a $35-million win. Initially, for that amount of money, winners get a check of $1.4 million. They then have between sixty and ninety days to decide whether they want to take their money in annual installments over twenty-five years or a lump sum of 60% of the money. For a $35-million win, that would result in $21-million before taxes. Needless to say, most winners choose the former option.
Whichever option the winner chooses, he or she is still needs to take into account the taxes payable to the IRS. They are subject to the maximum tax rate of nearly 40%, with state taxes also needed to be taken into account. When all is said and done, the prize money dwindles somewhat miserably after Uncle Sam takes a bite.
The Curse of Megabucks
No gambling machine in the history of Vegas has had so many urban legends, myths and stories surrounding the game of Megabucks. Usually these stories center around the tragic fate of Megabucks winners – leading many to believe that winning the multi-million dollar jackpot will result in an untimely death. While almost all these stories have proven to be false, Megabucks still has the obstinate reputation of being cursed.
Many believe that the hotbed of rumors surrounding Megabucks is based on the true but tragic story of a 37 year-old cocktail waitress named Cynthia Jay-Brennan. In 2000, Jay-Brennan, was the lucky winner of $34.9-million Megabucks jackpot, played in the Desert Inn Casino in Vegas. Only six weeks after her win, Jay-Brennan was tragically involved in an automobile crash. Her sister was killed instantly and she, herself, was left a quadriplegic. The driver of the car that hit the pair was under the influence of alcohol and was subsequently put away for 28 years; however, this did not stop rumors flying that Megabucks was a cursed game to win.
The truth is that Jay-Brennan's accident was not the start of these rumors, as they existed well before the year 2000. However, since this event, many stories continue to surface regarding the tragic fate of every winner of subsequent Megajackpot wins. When a 25 year-old won the jackpot in 2003, stories spread like wild-fire of his untimely ‘death' through various ways, including a fatal drug overdose in a casino hotel and in a gang fight as far away as Los Angeles. All these stories have, thus far, proven to be false and while the winner chose to remain anonymous, IGT has assured the public time and time again that the lucky young man is alive and well, and enjoying his riches.
Other urban legends related to Megabucks tell stories of underage players who could not claim their winnings, employers of a casino who played Megabucks and couldn't claim their prize because of a law forbidding workers to gamble at their places of work and other tales along the same vein. To date, none of these stories have come up as true.
How to win jackpot on slotomania. A rumor, which has not yet been dispelled, is one regarding the change in the Megabucks programming system. Some claim that IGT changed the programming of the system to make the jackpot hit less frequently but for more money. While IGT claims that they did not do anything of the sort, there are many experts in the gambling field who feel that some sort of change was made in the past.
Finally, a minor rumor that can be dispelled is one that says that the central station to which each jackpot machine reports chooses the winner. IGT assures its gambling public that each machine has its own RNG and thus every machine chooses its own outcome.
Conclusion: Megabucks is Megajunk
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.
Megabucks Machines In Las Vegas
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.
Megabucks Las Vegas Locations Las Vegas
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. Slotocash bonus codes 2019.
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.
The Curse of Megabucks Progressive Slot Machine
Megabucks is a Nevada state-wide slot jackpot network that is owned and run by the slot machine company, International Game Technology (IGT). Considered Nevada's state lottery, Megabucks is extremely popular and has created quite a few millionaires in its 19-year history. Thanks to excellent PR hype, Megabucks continues to spur hysteria every time the jackpot reaches ‘megabuck' proportions. It is also a slot machine that generates an incredible amount of gossip and legends surrounding the game and its winners. However, if we look at the real truth behind IGT's Megabucks – even with all the myths and legends dispelled - we will see that this progressive slot is simply a bad game to play.
How does Megabucks Work?
IGT's Megabucks is a dollar coin slot machine that requires 3 coins ($3.00) to hit the jackpot. The jackpot is reset to a specific amount after every grand win. While the present reset amount is $10-million, there is talk that this will soon rise to $11-million. Megabucks is part of the company's MegaJackpot slot system that connects about 750 machines in 136 Nevada casinos to one primary jackpot that builds from the base jackpot amount. International Game Technology owns the Megabucks machines and the casino gets a cut of the money that each machine wins from the players. It is common knowledge that IGT created Megabucks to compete with state lotteries.
Where can Megabucks be Played?
The State of Nevada is the true home of Megabucks and can be found in most popular casinos on the strip. Unlike multi-state lotteries, this game does not cross state lines. IGT runs Megabucks jackpots in the states of California, New Jersey and Mississippi, as well as some Indian reservations. However, these don't encompass as many venues as the Nevada edition and their jackpots are traditionally much smaller. Each state that offers Megabucks has a separate jackpot system with separate meters and winners. If a jackpot is won in one state, it does not affect the progressive jackpot in another.
Each Megabucks machine has its own RNG (random number generator) and chooses its own outcomes. These outcomes are reported to a central station. When the jackpot is hit on one machine, the central station sends out a message to the other machines to reset their meters.
What are the Odds of Winning Megabucks?
Statistics regarding the true odds of winning the Megabucks jackpot remain sketchy. Some put the odds down to about one in 50-million, while others, such as the Las Vegas Sun, put it as ‘low' as 1 in 17-million. It is certainly understandable why the betting surrounding Megabucks sometimes reaches hysteric proportions and has people crossing over the state line to have a shot at winning so many millions. But do winners really get what they are promised? Let's take the example of a $35-million win. Initially, for that amount of money, winners get a check of $1.4 million. They then have between sixty and ninety days to decide whether they want to take their money in annual installments over twenty-five years or a lump sum of 60% of the money. For a $35-million win, that would result in $21-million before taxes. Needless to say, most winners choose the former option.
Whichever option the winner chooses, he or she is still needs to take into account the taxes payable to the IRS. They are subject to the maximum tax rate of nearly 40%, with state taxes also needed to be taken into account. When all is said and done, the prize money dwindles somewhat miserably after Uncle Sam takes a bite.
The Curse of Megabucks
No gambling machine in the history of Vegas has had so many urban legends, myths and stories surrounding the game of Megabucks. Usually these stories center around the tragic fate of Megabucks winners – leading many to believe that winning the multi-million dollar jackpot will result in an untimely death. While almost all these stories have proven to be false, Megabucks still has the obstinate reputation of being cursed.
Many believe that the hotbed of rumors surrounding Megabucks is based on the true but tragic story of a 37 year-old cocktail waitress named Cynthia Jay-Brennan. In 2000, Jay-Brennan, was the lucky winner of $34.9-million Megabucks jackpot, played in the Desert Inn Casino in Vegas. Only six weeks after her win, Jay-Brennan was tragically involved in an automobile crash. Her sister was killed instantly and she, herself, was left a quadriplegic. The driver of the car that hit the pair was under the influence of alcohol and was subsequently put away for 28 years; however, this did not stop rumors flying that Megabucks was a cursed game to win.
The truth is that Jay-Brennan's accident was not the start of these rumors, as they existed well before the year 2000. However, since this event, many stories continue to surface regarding the tragic fate of every winner of subsequent Megajackpot wins. When a 25 year-old won the jackpot in 2003, stories spread like wild-fire of his untimely ‘death' through various ways, including a fatal drug overdose in a casino hotel and in a gang fight as far away as Los Angeles. All these stories have, thus far, proven to be false and while the winner chose to remain anonymous, IGT has assured the public time and time again that the lucky young man is alive and well, and enjoying his riches.
Other urban legends related to Megabucks tell stories of underage players who could not claim their winnings, employers of a casino who played Megabucks and couldn't claim their prize because of a law forbidding workers to gamble at their places of work and other tales along the same vein. To date, none of these stories have come up as true.
How to win jackpot on slotomania. A rumor, which has not yet been dispelled, is one regarding the change in the Megabucks programming system. Some claim that IGT changed the programming of the system to make the jackpot hit less frequently but for more money. While IGT claims that they did not do anything of the sort, there are many experts in the gambling field who feel that some sort of change was made in the past.
Finally, a minor rumor that can be dispelled is one that says that the central station to which each jackpot machine reports chooses the winner. IGT assures its gambling public that each machine has its own RNG and thus every machine chooses its own outcome.
Conclusion: Megabucks is Megajunk
So, while we understand that most stories flying around the industry regarding the curse of Megabucks are false, we cannot ignore the fact that this is simply a bad slot game to play for 2 reasons. First is the house 'hold'. Megabucks holds between 10% - 15% of every dollar played. Many slot machines in Nevada hold as little as 2% or 3%. The second reason that makes Megabucks a terrible play for the serious gambler is that you only receive 60% of your jackpot. There are many other progressive slots in your casino that pay big jackpots, but give you the whole thing.
When we strip Megabucks from all the pomp and glam that surrounds it, we find a mediocre progressive slot game that doesn't give you much for your money. And even if you do win, you don't exactly get the flashy numbers promised to you – you will have to settle for a sum that is much more modest in nature, paid off to you over a period of 25 years. Final conclusion? Megabucks is megajunk. There are lots more fish in the proverbial gambling sea.
