Slot Machine Lowest House Edge

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Whilst many people decide which slot to play based on the theme, special features or promotional offers, the savvy gamblers steer towards slots with the highest RTP. The house edge of online slot machines can vary widely, and it stands to reason that the lower the house edge, the better your chances of winning.

A slot machine house edge is known by casino managers as the “hold”, and hold percentages vary a great deal, and do tend to be smaller at more expensive slots, frequently found to be around 1- 3% at the five dollar slots.

Top RTP SlotsRTPBet LimitsFree SpinsPaylinesRowsReels
Jack Hammer 297.10%£0.50 – £25010-2099315
Simsalabim97.50%£0.25 – £125Yes2535
Retro Reels Extreme Heat97.50%£0.30 – £112.50Up to 203035
Devil’s Delight97.60%£0.20 – £40Yes2035
Kings of Chicago97.80%£0.05 – £50Up to 30535
Starmania97.87%£0.10 – £20101035
Blood Suckers98.00%£0.25 – £50102535
1429 Uncharted Seas98.60%£0.10 – £100255035
Jackpot 600095.10 – 98.90%£1 – £2No533
Mega Joker99%£1 – £5No533

Of course, you should keep in mind that only the best slot sites to win offer high payout games from which you can take advantage. The return to player percentage of a game is measured over thousands of game rounds, and it stands to reason that the higher the RTP, the better the deal for the player. With this in mind, I have decided to create a list of the 10 online slots with the highest RTP.

#10 Jack Hammer 2 (NetEnt) – 97.1% RTP

Jack Hammer 2 is the first of many NetEnt slots to make this top 10 list. This entertaining slot has a crime and adventure theme, captured in a comic book style. There are an impressive 99 bet lines in this game, providing plenty of opportunities to win. It also boasts a variety of interesting features that make the game exciting to play, whilst creating chances to win. The Sticky Win feature sees any winning symbol combinations held in place for a free re-spin, and they continue until no new wins are created. There is also a free spin feature, where you get up to 20 free plays, where all wins are doubled and extra wilds randomly land on the reels. Jack Hammer 2 has a player-friendly RTP of 97.1%

#9 Simsalabim (NetEnt) – 97.5% RTP

This magical themed slot recreates all the excitement of a magic show. The stage is set, with symbols such as a magician’s wand and top hat, a caged dove and a Houdini-style chained chest. The hypnotist is wild, helping to complete winning symbol combinations. When you play Simsalabim, keep your eyes peeled for 3 bunny rabbit symbols on the first 3 reels. These trigger the bonus game, where you pull rabbits from the hats to reveal cash prizes of up to 50500 coins. The slot also features a free spins round, which provides the potential for big wins thanks to the triple payouts. All these features combine to provide a great RTP of 97.5%.

#8 Retro Reels Extreme Heat (Microgaming) – 97.5% RTP

The RTP of 97.5% is one of the highest you will find in the Microgaming slots selection.Retro Reels Extreme Heat has an old-school feel, with symbols you’d expect to see on a classic fruit machine, including cherries, lemons, bells, bars and 7’s. At the same time as providing a retro feel, it includes many features which you’d expect from a modern video slot. There is a free spin bonus, where you can get up to 20 free plays with all wins doubled. There are also wild substitutions and scatter pays. A highlight is the innovative re-spin feature. After any spin, you can choose to spin just one reel, which allows increased chances of winning.

#7 Devil’s Delight (NetEnt) – 97.6% RTP

Unleash your inner devil in this NetEnt video slot. Set against a fiery backdrop and tombstones, the 5 reels are filled with symbols from the underworld.Devil’s Delight is packed full of exciting features that provide plenty of chances to stack up the wins. The devil wild expands to cover entire reels. Whilst the free spins bonus features win multipliers of up to x5. Yet the real highlight of the game is the unique Soul Reaper bonus game. Match the correct sin to each character their soul will be added to the Soul-O-Meter whilst you reap a coin prize. When the Soul-O-Meter is filled with 15 souls, the Sin Spins feature is activated. Here, you get 10 Sin Spins where you can pocket some juicy rewards. With so many cool features and a high RTP of 97.6%, this is one hell of a slot!

#6 Kings of Chicago (NetEnt) – 97.8% RTP

Kings of Chicago mixes the best elements of a video slot with classic poker. The game is played with a deck of cards, which is shuffled before each round. Unlike normal slot machines, where payouts are made for matching symbols across paylines, in this slot, you win if you have a poker hand on one of the five paylines. The game includes a joker, which substitutes for all cards. Plus, the scatter label can randomly appear on any card. Get 3 or more and free deals, the equivalent of free spins are triggered. You can bag up to 30 free deals in the special feature and all wins are doubled. This innovative slot machine provides a unique twist on what you expect from a video slot, and boasts an impressive RTP of 97.8%.

#5 Starmania (NextGen) – 97.87% RTP

With colourful star symbols set against a pretty outer space background and a spacey, ethereal soundtrack, this NextGen slot is a real treat for the senses. Wilds are stacked onto the reels boosting your shot at winning combinations. There is also a free games feature, where extra stacked wilds can help create some big wins. The game features 10 paylines and wins are paid in both directions. With every line win, you also have the option to gamble your prize, for a chance to double or even quadruple your win multiple times. The great graphics, exciting features and favourable RTP of 97.87% make Starmania a real hit with players.

#4 Blood Suckers (NetEnt) – 98% RTP

The vampire genre has never been more popular, and it is the inspiration for this spooky NetEnt slot. You’ll see various Blood Suckers adorning the reels, along with the weapons to fight them off. It is not merely the impressive 98% RTP that draws players to this slot, but also the rich selection of special features. There are wild substitutions, scatter pays, free spins with triple payouts and a vampire slaying bonus game. Trigger the bonus and you will find yourself in an ancient burial chamber, filled with coffins. Open the coffins to slay vampires, earning coin wins with each creature you defeat.

#3 1429 Uncharted Seas (Thunderkick) – 98.6% RTP

This video slot from Thunderkick is visually stunning. The reels are replaced with a medieval style hand-drawn map and the symbols include a variety of sea creatures and beasts as well as sun, moon and star symbols. The slot includes a wild symbol which expands to cover entire reels, helping to create bigger wins. There is also a free spins bonus where you can earn up to 50 free goes. 1429 Unchartered Seas has a rewarding RTP of 98.6%, one of the highest you will find in a video slot, making it a popular choice with players.

#2 Jackpot 6000 (NetEnt) – Up to 98.8% RTP

Jackpot 6000 is a thrilling classic slot machine from NetEnt with a real old-school vibe. You can play with up to 5 paylines active, betting between 1 and 10 coins per spin. It is highly recommended to play with the maximum bet of 10 coins however, as this creates the possibility of triggering Supermeter mode. In this game mode, you can win a mystery prize of between 10 – 6000 coins when just 2 joker symbols land anywhere on the reels. Also, getting 3 jokers on a payline in Supermeter mode guarantees a jackpot payout of 6000 coins. When you play Jackpot 6000 with 1 – 8 coins, the RTP is a paltry 74.9% – 79.2%. Yet with 10 coins in play, the RTP ranges from 95.1% – 98.8%. The variance is because Supermeter mode is skill based, so you can directly impact the outcome.

#1 Mega Joker (NetEnt) – Up to 99% RTP

Whilst Jackpot 6000 boasts an extremely high RTP, it is just beaten to the top spot by another NetEnt classic slot; Mega Joker. Bet with just 1 coin and the RTP is an underwhelming 76.9%. Yet on the other hand, a max bet of 10 coins elevates the RTP to between 89.1% – 99%. Furthermore, it provides bigger payouts and the Supermeter mode. In Supermeter mode, you need to choose the bet level and the optimum level at which to collect your winnings. It is this element of skill which can increase the RTP. The skill component, retro style and engaging gameplay make Mega Joker a firm favourite with players.

Frequently Asked Questions

Because our goal is to keep you well informed we have put together a list of the most frequently asked questions and our team of experts has provided the answers below.

🏆 What are the best paying slots?

The best paying slots are the ones that feature a high RTP because that translates to a small house edge such as NetEnt’s Jack Hammer 2 slot or Simsalabim, with a return to player percentage of over 97%.

✍ How do I choose a good slot machine?

In choosing a good slot machine a player should look for high payouts, volatility and the features of the game itself. For example, you are bound to have a higher return on your investment while playing a slot with free spins and multipliers.

💱 What is the average payout on slot machines?

The average payout on slot machine varies among slots but you are going to find a higher return-to-player percentage in the recommended online casinos as compared to the traditional slot machines. Blood Suckers slot and 1429 Uncharted Seas slot have a very high RTP of over 98%.

🎰 What is a high variance slot machine?

High variance slots are destined for gamblers who are willing to play for huge wins.Kings of Chicago is a great example in that direction because it features not only a high RTP but also a high variance, which makes it ideal for our example. Flexible betting limits, free spins and a unique twist on slots as we know them are just a few perks of enjoying this title.

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Many gamblers consider slot machines to be the most expensive games in the casino. In fact, the old lever-operated slots are commonly referred to as “one-armed bandits.”

It’s true that slots drain gamblers’ money faster than the average casino game. However, you might be surprised to know that return to player (RTP) could be even worse.

Slot Machine Lowest House Edge

Research shows that casinos could actually offer lower slots payback and still draw plenty of players. How in the world would casinos get away with lowering RTP even more and still haul in a fortune?

Keep reading as I cover more on this study and what it means for the slots industry. But first, I’m going to discuss why casinos don’t currently offer lower payback.

Why Don’t Casinos Turn RTP Down to the Minimum?

The gaming industry becomes more competitive every year. Both online and land-based gaming see plenty of new market entrants on an annual basis.

Some refer to this trend as casino saturation, given that there are so many gambling options these days. The casinos themselves realize how competitive the industry is becoming, which is why they offer decent RTP.

No operator wants to be known as the place that has extremely tight slot machines. After all, gamblers aren’t going to play where they have no hope of winning.

Therefore, most casinos stay competitive with each other in terms of slots RTP. While they could legally offer the state minimum payout percentage, they commonly deliver RTP that’s 15% to 20% higher than the minimum.

Nevada, for example, only requires its operators to offer 75% payback for slot machines.

Yet a 2018 report from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Center for Gambling Research shows that Nevada’s nickel slots deliver 94.39% RTP (5.61% house edge) on average.

Anthony Lucas, a professor of hospitality at UNLV, explained casinos’ thought process when it comes to higher payout percentages.

“There becomes this issue of, ‘if I put a higher house-edge game in, I might make more revenue in the short run but in the long run, I might damage my brand and chase off all my players if they can tell I’m sort of price gouging.’”

Interesting enough, RTP for individual land-based slot machines isn’t public information. Megabucks, a famous Vegas slot machine, is the only land-based game that has its payback published in gaming reports.

The numerous other slots throughout the land-based gaming world don’t have publicly available RTP. Players only have their state’s respective gambling reports to go off of when looking for payout percentages.

Even at this, they can only see what each coin denomination pays back. Therefore, casinos could likely get away with featuring lower payout percentages.

But many casinos are still scared to gouge players. They feel that gamblers could possibly tell that they’re winning less if RTP is lowered.

UNLV Finds That Most Gamblers Play Regardless of the RTP

Lucas led the study in question to find out if players could truly tell lower payout percentages apart from higher ones.

Here are the main variables from his study:

  • The experiment was run in casinos in Australia, Mexico, and the US
  • Two identical slot machines were placed within a few feet of each other in casinos
  • The games were placed in “repeat market casinos,” or ones where customers come in up to five days per week
  • One game was programmed with RTP around 5% higher than the other

Strangely enough, researchers found that the regular customers chose the lower-paying slot more often than the higher-paying game.

“And what we find is that the high-house edge games actually win quite a bit more than the low-house edge games,” said Lucas. “There is no reason for players to play that game and yet — they still do.”

Gamblers Don’t Play Long Enough to Differentiate House Edges

The fact that regular slots players would choose low-paying games is baffling. After all, it seems like they would eventually develop a sixth sense for how often they win or lose.

But Lucas said that slot machines are designed in a way where it’s difficult to tell payout percentages.

“So the problem is players don’t have enough money, or time or interest to play the game long enough to ever tell,” he explained.

The results make perfect sense when considering that slots are among the most volatile casino games. Short-term results can vary wildly from one session to the next.

Gamblers have a difficult time figuring out how often they’re supposed to be winning with these games. Add in the fact that most slots don’t reach their stated RTP for countless spins, and players have very little way of judging payback by feel.

Will Any Casinos Pay Heed to UNLV’s Study?

Lucas believes that his study proves casinos could be making even bigger profits from slot machines.

“At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself if operators are leaving money on the table,” said the professor.

Whether or not casinos pay attention to these findings remains to be seen. After all, the industry is still leery of turning gamblers off with low payout percentages.

“There is a strong, well-established fear that they’ll be brand damage or push back from players because they think they can detect these changes,” he said.

Lucas doesn’t feel that the average gambler can determine payout percentages without the facts. If any casino asks him about the matter, Lucas is likely to tell them to lower RTP and capitalize on a higher house edge.

Figuring Out Land Based Slots RTP Is Difficult Anyway

One key takeaway from the UNLV study is that players have a tough time figuring out payback on their own. These games’ volatility makes it hard to get a feel for proper win frequency.

Of course, there’s really no such thing as proper win frequency anyway. Each slot machine can differ from the next in terms of how often it pays out.

Several factors go into hit frequency, including jackpot size, bonus features, RTP, and the number of small payouts.

A slot with a huge jackpot and several bonuses will pay less frequently than a game with lots of small payouts and just one bonus.

The slot with a big jackpot and multiple bonuses must make up for the extra money that it’s offering through the jackpot and features. Therefore, it can’t pay out as frequently.

On the same token, though, this slot can offer high RTP. But a gambler may mistakenly assume that it has lower-than-average payback due to its low hit frequency.

The speed at which slot machines are played also makes judging RTP difficult. Most gamblers play at a rapid pace that sees them spin reels 500-600 times per hour.

It’s hard to fully comprehend wins and losses at this pace. Therefore, most people don’t have any idea if one slot pays better than another at this speed.

Slots are also designed to put gamblers into a trance-like state, which is sometimes referred to as the “slot machine zone.” These games use a mix of flashing lights, loud sound effects, and immersive features to keep players glued to the reels.

Falling into the slot machine zone makes it less likely that one will have any idea of the payout percentage. They’ll simply continue spinning the reels until they finally get bored or run out of money.

Online Slots Make It Easier to Figure Out RTP

Online slots are different than their land-based counterparts when it comes to the availability of RTP. You can easily find payout percentages for most internet slots.

A big reason why is because games feature the same RTP at each casino. For example, NetEnt’s Blood Suckers slot always offers 98% payback no matter where it’s found.

Online game developers feature uniform payout percentages for their games across the industry. Contrast this to land-based slots suppliers, which give casinos options on RTP. Two casinos located side by side could be offering the same slot machine with much different payback.

Calculating the house edge of a slot machine, with R ...

Many online slots providers publicly release RTP for their games. You merely have to Google “[slot name] RTP” to find out its payout percentage in most cases.

Some slots developers even put the RTP in the info section. Therefore, you can simply visit the info screen to see the payback.

Given the nature of internet slots, game developers must be more competitive with each other in terms of RTP. They can’t feature a bunch of slots with 90% payback and expect to draw numerous customers when competitors are offering 95% RTP.

Machine

Do Most Players Really Care About Slots Payback?

Gamblers should theoretically care about slots RTP. After all, payback determines their long-term chances of winning.

Slot Machine Lowest House Edge Video Poker

A slot machine with 96% RTP is going to pay out more money to the average gambler than a game with 92% RTP.

Of course, if everything were about payout percentages, then each game would need to offer high payback to remain competitive. But RTP isn’t everything, which is why some operators can get away with tighter slots.

The truth is that the average gambler doesn’t fixate on payout percentages. They’re instead interested in a variety of factors, including graphics, animations, themes, and bonuses.

Many players will disregard lower payback if a slot has an entertaining theme and the right features. Who cares if a game only offers 91% RTP when it has stellar 3D graphics and two second-screen bonus rounds?

Some players are more concerned with how often they win versus their long-term chances of making money. These same gamblers would rather be on a 50-line slot that delivers frequent wins versus a game with 98% RTP.

Speaking of which, slot machines with lots of paylines can often mask low payback. A 50-line game can deliver multiple tiny wins that don’t even equal the bet size (a.k.a. losses disguised as wins). A gambler is unlikely to notice, though, and rather focus on how they’re picking up small wins.

Here’s an example of losses disguised as wins:

  • You’re playing a 25-line slot
  • You bet $1 per spin
  • You earn two payouts worth a collective $0.50
  • Lights flash and sound effects begin blaring
  • This production helps mask the fact that you lost $0.50 overall

Players often feel good about slots wins, no matter how small. This is why losses disguised as wins are so effective at keeping people on the reels.

Of course, some gamblers do care about payout percentages. Otherwise, online game developers wouldn’t bother making RTP figures available to the public.

These players will do research in order to find the best-paying games. To them, a slot that offers 97% payback is a big deal.

Many casinos and game developers try to satisfy this breed of gamblers. They don’t want to offend such players with low RTP.

On the other hand, Lucas’ study shows that the average gambler is oblivious to payout percentages. Taking this into account, it’s likely that casinos are leaving some money on the table regarding RTP.

Conclusion

Most states have low minimum slots RTP figures compared to what we’re used to. Nevada’s minimum requirement is just 75%, which would equate to a 25% house edge.

Luckily, no casino in the Silver State offers such horrendous payback. But Lucas’ UNLV study shows that gambling venues could likely get away with lowering RTP.

His research reveals that gamblers can’t get a good sense for how payback differs between games. They don’t have the time nor money to play at a slot machine long enough to notice that one game offers 5% higher RTP than the next.

Payout percentages for land-based slot machines aren’t available to the public. Therefore, gamblers would be in the dark if every casino lowered payback by 5%.

On the other hand, savvy players could look at state gaming reports and see that slots are paying less than in previous years. The industry as a whole might take a hit if such news circulated throughout the media.

As it stands now, though, casinos may not be truly maximizing their profits with current payout percentages. Some gambling establishments might even review Lucas’ research and look to increase their earnings by decreasing RTP.

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Hopefully this scenario doesn’t come into play. After all, slot machines can already be costly enough due to their fast play rate and addictive design.

Slots With Low House Edge - Find The Most Profitable Slots

Online slots are always an option if you’re ever scared that land-based casinos will lower payback. You can easily find RTP for most internet slots through simple Google searches.

Chances are, though, that you won’t have to avoid land-based casinos anytime soon. Lucas’ research is exactly that — research.

More Slot Machine Lowest House Edge Images

His study doesn’t guarantee that casinos will decrease payback. It just shows that they could lower it without players realizing.

What Casino Games Have The Lowest House Edge?

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