Question: I know it's impossible to figure out where to find slots that pay well, but is there a certain denomination of machine that pays better than others?

Tim in Columbus, Ohio

Answer: As with everything in a casino, it's really all about the luck of the draw (or the pull of the handle in this case). Generally speaking, though, the higher the denomination, the higher the payout percentage.

According to Nevada state law, a machine has to give back at least 75 percent of what it takes in over the machine's pay cycle, which is usually based on a number of spins and is usually top secret. That's the base payout percentage, and if the casinos are playing fairly then all machines will be above that.

Since the bottom line is established by law, there is only so much the house can take on each machine. Considering that a nickel machine takes up the same amount of room as a dollar machine, the casinos usually make the payout percentage lower on nickel slots so they can take in more money on a percentage basis, and slightly higher on quarters, and slightly higher on dollars, and so on.

Of course, this is not a science and there's no guarantee that the dollar machine you sit at is going to give you a jackpot and the nickel machine across the aisle isn't.

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