There are more than 200,000 slot machines in Las Vegas. A casino tells the slot machine manufacturer what percentages it wants specific machines to pay back and that amount is programmed in. So, some machines are “looser” than others over the long haul.

The first pit stop in Las Vegas for most visitors is usually a casino. Whether you are an experienced player on the casino floor or just starting, slot machines are the most profitable and entertaining games available.

Slot machines have proven to be popular among players time and time again. Casinos and other entertainment facilities are profiting tremendously from the revenues collected from slots.

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 for the user.

Slot machines, on average, have an RTP, or return to player, between 75% and 98%; in other words, for every dollar a player spends, the slot machine will yield about 75 to 98 cents right into their pocket.

Even with the high RTP and revenue, Las Vegas and other cities famous for their casinos fill their halls with slot machines because anyone can press a button.

Commitment is never a priority; the player can put down a small individual bet. A poker face is never required, neither is real skill, to win big.

However, research is still encouraged to profit off of slot machines at the highest level, such as reading on user experience on specific games and reading the RTP at each Las Vegas casino.

Return to player is perhaps the most critical factor in picking the best slot to play in Vegas. The higher the RTP percentage, the more likely the slot will payout.

An amateur way to discover a slot’s RTP percentage is to test it with a bet. If a slot claims to have a 94% payout, then after a $100 bet, the payback would equate to about $94. While this may seem straightforward, this method does not fit every player.

Checking message boards and online threads, as well as comparison sites containing slots reviews, are a great way to find the best slots in Vegas. Notable websites encourage players to share their experiences with slot machines; most of their reviews focus on the amount of cash they get to keep after playing.

Another tip to finding one of the better slots offered in Las Vegas is to look for promotions. By signing up to the casino’s player’s club, customers can access unique games, receive free slot plays, and gain eligibility to have freebies on their next visit.

Benefits are significant, especially when the rounds on the slot machines are free, increasing the already high payout.

The most profitable slots are coined as “loose slots” because they pay out the most amount of money to the player and are thus very desirable among customers.

A feature of profitable slot machines called “progressive jackpots” has become a popular way to transform a couple of hundred bucks to millions.

Progressive jackpots offer prize money compared to the national lottery games, which can easily make a millionaire in a single evening.

According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, the dollar slots pay back an average of 95% of receipts, 25 cent slots payout 93% on average, and 5 cent slots give back 90% to the players.

The payout from slots at the downtown or other off-Strip locations is one or two percent higher than those on the Strip. Hotel-casinos frequented by locals, such as Sam’s Town, pay better than the tourist hotels in the city. Nevada residents well know that fact when they consider which facilities contain the best slots in Vegas.

Moreover, the newer and more luxurious hotels are known for having the overall poorest RTP percentages.

Some of those hotels include the Bellagio, Venetian, Mandalay Bay, and the new Wynn Las Vegas. Since the amenities of these hotels are off the charts, slot machines do not have to be the most profitable asset (at least to the player).

However, some of these lavish hotels offer great prizes and entertainment that makes a higher payout from the slot machine. The Bellagio, for example, provides a slot tournament with 2,300 games as options. From jackpots and progressive features, the Bellagio slot machines can grow small bets into millions.

Generally, the best slots in Vegas are located in the older properties of the North Strip.

Slot machines may look flashy and modern, especially themed slots, but that does not mean they have the highest payout. The more traditional and old-looking games may be a better money’s worth.

Much like the endorphin rush of a “win,” a good-looking slot machine can trick the brain chemistry into wagering more money than intended. With that in mind, a simple-looking slot should be considered to help players gamble responsibly and win big.

Rather than always playing Star Wars or Avengers slot machines, players should have an eye out for the more dated and less appealing slot machines available on the casino floor. Many of them have substantial RTP rates and have stood the test of time.

One of these seemingly unappreciated slots is housed in Slots-a-Fun at Circus Circus Casino in Las Vegas. The selection includes classics, such as “Double Diamond” and “Red, White, and Blue.” Although they are not the flashiest, they are the best slots in Vegas.

Slots-a-Fun is a classic and exclusive casino that incorporates slot machines paired with an arcade, pool tables, bowling, and other forms of entertainment. Their slots have been proven time and time again as the machines to make the next big Vegas winner.

As mentioned before, these slots are not located conveniently for the tourists on the Strip. A general rule of thumb to follow: the more touristy the casino, the lower the payback on the slot machines.

While the Las Vegas Strip has a win percentage of about 8%, the slots in Reno and Boulder have a more generous casino wins of around 5%.

Some of the casinos located in Reno, Boulder, and North Vegas include Eastside Cannery, Sunset Station, M Resort, Jerry’s Nugget, Texas Station, and Boulder Station.

Geographical location should not be the only consideration when looking for great slots. Some veteran gamblers and websites claim that corners within a specific casino itself have some of the better slot machines.

High traffic areas, such as near elevators, a front desk, aisles, showrooms, registration areas, etc., contain the loosest slots in the casino.

Some people do not even have to go to a casino to access a slot machine. An entertainment facility is perhaps the unrivaled source to use for the best slots in Vegas.

Airports, convenience stores, and grocery stores are the first locations to avoid playing slot machines. Even though the majority are in clean and well-run establishments, they do not offer significant returns with their slot machines.

What these three different places have in common is that under Nevada law the slot machines in airports, convenience stores, and grocery stores are entirely controlled by large corporations.

With that in mind, it should not be surprising that the slot machines in these facilities provide a much lower payout percentage than the typical slot found in a Las Vegas casino.

Even though convenience store owners can obtain a lease or purchase of slot machines, the Nevada law changed in favor of larger corporations having control over the slots and their payouts.

Nevada grocery stores are the only place that can legally provide slot machines because they have leased the space through a larger company. Although they can offer marginally better odds than the former two, grocery stores should still be avoided when it comes to slot machines.

The loosest slot machines in the past 12 months have been Megabucks and penny slots. Megabucks had the tightest slots at over 11% casino win percentage. Penny slots are the most popular denomination, even though their win percentage is not the most generous.

Megabucks offers some of the best slots in Vegas with the highest winnings. In 2014, a man playing a Megabucks slot machine in Rampart Casino hit a $14 million jackpot after playing for five minutes on a $20 bill when the slot paid off.

This payout is not the only one from a Megabucks machine. Megabucks has produced life-changing jackpots for multiple players for over two decades.

Their slogan markets the casino’s accomplishments perfectly: “Dream big. Win big”. Even with players only spending a $1 for a spin, there is always a chance of the jackpot prize of $10 million.

In addition to Megabucks and Slots-a-Fun, there are plenty of casinos offering some of the best slots available in Las Vegas.

Many websites report O’Shea’s, Stardust, and older casinos located on the north side of the Strip as the places to visit for great and profitable slot machine winnings.

The casino nearest to offering the loosest slots in Las Vegas is Palms resort, which has an average game payout percentage of about 94%.

Lower payout slot machines also have distinct locations on the casino floor. Some of those include the leading slot machine on the floor, those near the table games, and close to the poker room. Since all of these areas have too much action, either from different games or other slots, the RTP does not have to be too high.

Furthermore, it is better to be aware of which specific slot machines should be avoided. The reason behind it is the exact opposite as to why the already mentioned slots are the best: the worst slots have a low percentage of payback.

Several slots have unfortunately been added to the universal list of worst slots found in Las Vegas, such as Wish Upon a Jackpot by Blueprint Gaming, Adventures in Wonderland by Ash Gaming, and King Kong by Cryptologic due to their low RTP.

Different software companies specializing in slot machines have reputations that reflect off of the RTP’s. While some developments have been mentioned before for their low percentage payback, others are renowned for their slots having high RTP rates.

Playtech is one of the more famous software companies that develop successful and popular slot machines located in Las Vegas casinos. Games created by this company include: Goblin’s Cave, Ugga Bugga, and Ocean Princess. All offer reputable and above-average percentage payouts.

Other software companies known for distributing slots with high paybacks are Barcrest, WMS, and NetEnt.

In addition to Palms Casino and Resort, there are other casinos in Las Vegas that have multiple slots maintaining an above-average payout.

Fitzgerald’s Casino and Hotel has established a favorable reputation for offering the loosest slots in downtown Las Vegas. Ranked regularly, the machines in Fitzgerald’s that are given the best paybacks include reel, penny, and progressive slots.

Slot machines are incredibly entertaining, easy, and a great reason to visit a Las Vegas casino.

Although research is essential, in-depth research is not necessary unless you are wagering a significant amount of money. Specific slot machines should be sought out to cash in millions, which has been proven to be possible within five minutes of playing.

The different themes, bonuses, promotions, and prizes, prevent slot machines from ever becoming boring. For some lucky few, a slot will transform a single $5 bill to $5 million or more than that colossal amount.

With the press of a button, a slot machine can make an average player into a millionaire, or give the customer an affordable and responsible amount of fun on the Las Vegas casino floor.

With some of these tips that differentiate the better slots in Las Vegas, slot machines can become more of a calculated game than intended.

Overall, Vegas is the numero uno destination to play slots in the United States. The key is to be wise and risk only as much as you can afford to lose.

It is essential to ask around and try some old slots that have a proven track record of wins. Don’t just be impressed with design and wager money in the excitement!

Home > Online Casinos > Casino Articles > Most Famous Slot Machine Games

Companies have been making slot machine games for well over a century. And over time, certain companies have gained name recognition due to their hit slots, innovative features, and / or exploits in other business avenues.

What are the companies that have become most famous in the slots world?

You can find out below as I cover the 7 most famous slot machine manufacturers and what games they're responsible for.

1. IGT

With offices stretching from Las Vegas to Rome, International Game Technology, or IGT, is widely regarded as the largest slots producer in the world.

IGT launched in 1971 under the A 1 Distributing brand. By the 1980s, they made their mark in the slots industry by creating Megabucks, the first ever wide area progressive slot machine.

Megabucks is still extremely popular in land based casinos today, having awarded more progressive jackpot money than any other slot in history.

In 1996, IGT launched another legendary slot machine called Wheel of Fortune. Based on the long running game show, Wheel of Fortune has paid out millions in jackpot money over the years.

Thanks to their acquisition of WagerWorks in 2005, IGT entered the online gaming space and has since turned out a number of online hits like Cleopatra, Coyote Moon, CSI: Slots, Family Guy, Ghostbusters, Jeopardy!, and Wolf Run.

But IGT continues to excel the most in the brick and mortar space, creating games like Avatar, Back to the Future, Breaking Bad, Bridesmaids, Dirty Dancing, Ellen, House of Cards, Judge Judy, Orange is the New Black, Sex & The City, Star Trek, TMZ, and The Hangover.

One more thing worth adding is that IGT was acquired by the Italian gaming company GTECH in 2014 for $6.4 billion. It's been business as usual ever since, aside from the company being renamed IGT PLC.

2. Bally

Bally is possibly the most innovative slots developer in the industry, which is strange considering that their company started in a totally different direction.

Launched in 1968 under the name Advanced Patent Technology, the company collected over 80 patents within its first decade. A couple of their most notable patents included an ultrasonic meat tenderizer and an ultrasonic fluidic fuel system for combustion engines.

It wasn't until the 1980s that Advanced Patent Technology got involved in the gaming industry and began producing slot machines. After a series of name changes and failed casinos, Bally made their mark by producing cutting edge slots technology that defines the company today.

In 2010, Bally unveiled the U Spin feature, which lets players spin a wheel during slots bonus rounds through a touchscreen. This development won Best Slot Product honors at the 2010 Gaming & Technology Awards.

Other Bally innovations include iREELS, which uses an LCD screen to create an intense 3D effect, and the iDECK, which allows you to control bonus round features with your hands.

Some of the notable slot machines produced by Bally include Betty Boop, Cash Spin, China River, Duck Dynasty, Grease, Hot Shot, Money Vault, Pawn Stars, Playboy, and Wild Huskies.

In 2014, Bally was purchased by Scientific Games for $5.1 billion and is now a subsidiary of the latter.

3. Amaya

Amaya made international headlines in June 2014 when they announced plans to buy PokerStars for $4.9 billion. This deal made Amaya the world's largest publicly traded online gaming company just a decade after they launched in 2004.

Despite their close association with online poker now, the Canadian company continues producing online and land based slots too. Many of Amaya's land based slots have been adopted into online versions.

Popular slot machines that Amaya has developed or acquired include Batman, Battle of Olympus, Captain Nemo, Cash Grab, Conan The Barbarian, Emerald Island, Forrest Gump, Green Lantern, Jade Idol, Jenga, King Kong, Millionaires Club, Rags to Riches, Street Fighter II, Superman: Last Son of Krypton, The Flash Velocity, and Vampires vs Werewolves.

Amaya is also involved in business to business deals, completing several major transactions besides the PokerStars deal.

They acquired Chartwell for $23 million in 2011 and Cryptologic for $35.8 million in 2012. Amaya also signed a deal with Aristocrat to adapt some of their land based slot machines into online slots.

In 2015, Amaya sold Chartwell and Cryptologic to NYX Gaming for $110 million in cash and $40 million in NYX Digital shares. This move marked the company's exit from the B2B space so that they can focus on their business to consumer operations.

Las Vegas Slot Machine Sales

4. Microgaming

Launching in 1994 on the Isle of Man, Microgaming is a true pioneer in the online gaming world. They're credited with developing the first ever online casino, Gaming Club, as well as over 600 online slots.

Aside from the volume of games they offer, Microgaming has become famous for delivering record breaking jackpots through their Mega Moolah game.

In January 2013, an anonymous Finnish man won a record online payout of €17,861,813 through Mega Moolah. But this was topped two years later when a British soldier named Jonathan Heywood won €17,879,645 in October 2015.

Other popular Microgaming slots besides Mega Moolah include Agent Jane Blonde, Avalon, BAR BAR Sheep, Battlestar Galactica, Cashapillar, Game of Thrones, Hellboy, Hitman, Immortal Romance, Jurassic Park, King Cashalot, Major Millions, Terminator 2, The Dark Knight Rises, Thunderstruck, and Tomb Raider.

Casino Slot Machine Manufacturers

5. Arisocrat

Aristocrat Leisure Limited is the oldest company on this list, having produced their first slot machine in 1953. Aristocrat has since become one of the world's largest slots manufacturers with games in over 200 licensing jurisdictions.

This Australian based company is best known for developing hundreds of land based slot machines. But as mentioned before, they signed a deal with Amaya to create online versions for their most popular slots.

Aristocrat is famous for slots classics like Big Red, Let's Go Fish'n, Queen of the Nile, Wicked Winnings, Wild Panda, and Wolf Moon.

Aristocrat continues to be a major player in the slots industry today, producing more modern games like Britney Spears, Dumb & Dumber, Game of Thrones, Sons of Anarchy, The Big Bang Theory, The Sopranos, and The Walking Dead

6. Konami

Konami is far from the biggest slot machine manufacturer on this list. But they're definitely one of the most famous due to their success in the arcade and video game industries.

Launching as a repair and jukebox rental business in 1969, this Japanese company began developing arcade games in the 1970s. Konami achieved great success in the 80s with hit games like Frogger, Scramble, and Super Cobra.

They saw more success in the console gaming market with NES / Famicom releases like Castlevania, Contra, and Metal Gear – all of which have spawned sequels and been adapted to later consoles.

In 2005, Konami opened an office in suburban Las Vegas, which marked their move into casino gaming. They've since opened an office in Australia too because of the heavy interest in gambling there.

Some of the slot machines that Konami has produced for both online and brick and mortar casinos include African Diamond, African Treasure, Ancient Dragon, China Shores, Full Moon Diamond, and Treasure Voyage.

7. WMS Gaming

A subsidiary of the Williams Manufacturing Company, which launched in 1943, WMS Gaming gained notoriety for producing arcade and pinball games in the 1970s and 80s.

Both industries began declining in the 90s, though, leading WMS Gaming to focus on slot machines. And the Chicago based company quickly made its mark in 1996 by introducing multi line and multi coin secondary payouts through Reel 'em In.

These two innovations helped accelerate a slots industry that had previously relied on simple themes and payout structures.

Although WMS Gaming makes over 70% of its revenue in the US casino market, their products are also found in other countries like Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, China, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, and the UK.

Some of WMS' notable slot machines include Amazon Queen, Bruce Lee, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Giant's Gold, King of Africa, Kronos, Reel 'em In, Star Trek: Red Alert, Wizard of Oz, and Zeus.

Conclusion

IGT PLC, Bally, and Aristocrat are a few of the giants that have shaped the slots industry. These companies have developed hundreds of slot machines that can be found in casinos around the world.

But as Microgaming has proven, you don't need to have a brick and mortar presence to be an industry heavyweight. Microgaming supplies slots to dozens of online casinos and has paid out the largest online jackpots in history.

Some of the new players in the industry like Amaya, Konami, and WMS have already made impacts as well.

We have WMS to thank for more complex slots due to the multi coin payouts and secondary bonus features that they introduced.

Slot Machine Manufacturer Las Vegas Odds

Despite launching in 2014, Amaya has already become the world's biggest online gaming company. It'll be interesting to see what lies in their future after expanding so rapidly.

Slot Machine Manufacturer Las Vegas Nevada

Konami is a newer slots company, but based on their long history of success with video games I expect them to continue doing well with slots.