Our annual rundown on where to find the loosest slots in America

By Frank Legato

Welcome to our 23rd annual report on where to find the loosest slots in the country. In case you don’t know the story, it was our sister publication, Casino Player, that invented the notion of “loose slots” by publishing charts showing overall payback percentages of slot floors monthly, beginning shortly after the magazine was founded in 1988.

Loosest Slots In Bossier City Slots game has a unique set of symbols Loosest Slots In Bossier City (for example, Loosest Slots In Bossier City a bar, cherries, or the number '7'). Some symbols may seem to show up only occasionally on the reel, Loosest Slots In Bossier City while other symbols may appear frequently or more often. Loosest Slots Bossier City, ff13-2 casino fragment, fruit roulette online, slot igrica aparat. While all of our recommended casinos have passed the test, there are some which Loosest Slots Bossier City didn't meet our standards. These sites have been placed on our blacklist, meaning Loosest Slots Bossier City we strongly advise you don't visit these sites or deposit cash with Loosest Slots Bossier City them. Loosest Slots In Bossier City, eagles slot corner, are there casinos in seattle washington, free online monopoly slots no download no registration Licensing/Software A reputable online casino should be licensed and regulated by an independent governing body.

Editors of the magazine, established as a player-advocate publication, latched on to the fact that casinos in commercial jurisdictions were required to report their “hold” on the slots—that is, the percentage of all wagers that was kept by the casinos, or put another way, lost by their players. Casino Player flipped those numbers to show how much the players won.

Payback percentages showed exactly how much of all slot wagers each casino gave back to players as winnings. “Loose slots” soon became a marketing boast for casinos in their advertising. The only problem was that the percentage representing “loose” in a given month was misleading—a few jackpots on high-denomination slots would skew the results, with percentages over 100 percent actually possible on a monthly basis.

The real gauge of “loose” would come in the statistics for an entire year. Casino Player started compiling those numbers for the year 1993, publishing the first “Loosest Slots” awards in 1994. Two years ago, Strictly Slots took over the survey and report.

For years, players have relied on our Loosest Slots awards to guide them to the most generous casinos. And, those casinos have displayed their Loosest Slots awards proudly. Players love the report because it is based on historical fact, as opposed to manufacturers’ estimates of theoretical payback. While those theoretical numbers— included in our “Slot Spotlight” section—are accurate for individual machines the actual statistics on which this report is based reveal the casinos that went the extra mile for their players in placing the games with the highest theoretical payback on their floors.

And these days, knowing the casinos that give slot players the best deal is more important than ever. As we noted in our last Loosest Slots report, the statistics show that as an industry, the casinos have tightened their slots in response to the Great Recession, reacting to lower slot revenues by taking a bigger slice of the smaller pie. Statistics also show that has made things worse, as some players are quitting the slots altogether.

Casinos and slot manufacturers are responding by creating new types of games, many with elements that allow players to use skill to increase their return on games. Those games are not here yet, though, and for the vast majority of slot players who have no intention of quitting the slots, the best bet is to know where to get the best return. That’s where our Loosest Slots report comes in.

As always, we predicate our results with a few answers to the questions we always get about the report. First of all, we can’t cover everyone’s favorite casinos. Our results, both in our monthly payback charts and in this annual report, are based on statistics that are available publicly. Casinos report their hold numbers publicly only if required, and then, only in the manner in which they are required by law to report them.

That’s why many Native American-owned casinos, including all of the popular big California casinos, are excluded from the report. Indian nations are sovereign nations, and are not subject to state gaming laws requiring that they report their slot hold numbers publicly, unless it is part of the agreement, or compact, between a tribe and the state (as in Connecticut).

It’s also why you will not find denominations broken out in many locations—such as New Jersey, where regulators stopped reporting denominations two years ago.

Finally, the way the numbers are reported publicly is the reason video poker paybacks are not broken out in this report. No jurisdiction reports separate numbers for video poker. However, you’ll find that the casinos with the highest overall paybacks consistently offer the highest-returning pay schedules on video poker.

BEHIND THE NUMBERS

There were some surprises in this year’s results, but mostly, the casinos that were the most generous have remained the most generous.

But drilling down a bit into the numbers also shows that casinos in general have yet to reverse their policy of maintaining tighter slots than they once did. The vast majority of the results related to the top three loose-slots casinos in each jurisdiction are basically static when compared to last year, with differences typically in the hundredths of a percentage point—and mostly in the wrong direction.

The results also show that the real culprit in this situation is the multi-line penny slot, the style of game that has been the game of choice, and thus, the style of the most popular games from each manufacturer.

Slot games in dollar-and-higher denominations are still returning payback percentages in the mid-90s and higher, topped by North Las Vegas at 96.11 percent returned from dollar slots—a house edge of only 3.89 percent. That is a great return for a slot player, and it represents an increase from last year’s results.

Now, look at the penny denomination. Of the nine jurisdictions reporting individual denominations, the average return on pennies for the loosest casino or region was 90.58 percent this year, a house edge of 9.42 percent that has actually gone up since last year. And that’s the cream of the crop in each area. The vast majority of penny games return less than 90 percent, with many actually in the mid-80s.

Until the casinos and/or their regulators can reverse this trend, your best bet as a slot player is to go where the slots are the loosest. And as usual, when it comes to slots, there’s no place looser than Nevada.

SILVER STATE SHINES

Once again the top three places to find the loosest slots in the nation are in Nevada. For a remarkable ninth year in a row, the casinos of Reno, Nevada get the award for Loosest Slots in America.

The Silver Legacy, the Eldorado, the Atlantis, the Peppermill, the Grand Sierra, the original Harrah’s and all the other casinos in Reno collectively returned 94.86 percent of slot wagers to players this year, basically equal to the last year’s 94.93 percent.

Second place in the state and the nation goes to the “Balance of County” group of casinos, which refers to casinos in Clark County, Nevada, home to Las Vegas, but are off the Strip—they include the Orleans, Hard Rock, The Palms, Palace Station, M, Silverton, Gold Coast and others. This group returned 94.54 percent of slot wagers, compared to 94.58 percent last year. Close behind that was the Boulder Strip, referring to casinos on and around Boulder Highway in Las Vegas (Sam’s Town, Boulder Station, Cannery East, Arizona Charlie’s, etc.), at 94.44 percent—up a tenth of a percent over last year.

Once again, the third-place Nevada casino was nearly a full percentage point higher than the closest region in our survey, the Cripple Creek, Colorado casinos at 93.55 percent.

Elsewhere, Casino Queen repeats its title for the Loosest Slots not only in Illinois but of all regions where casinos are singled out in the results, returning 92.65 percent of wagers. However, this year, there were two other individual casinos right on Casino Queen’s heels. Horseshoe Cleveland returned 92.38 percent, and Prairie Meadows in Iowa returned 92.05 percent.

In Atlantic City, the top three remained the same from last year. Harrah’s Resort again wins the city’s Loosest Slots award at 91.69 percent, up slightly from last year. Following closely were the Borgata at 91.63 percent and Bally’s at 91.01 percent. Connecticut also returned the same results, including the exact same payback percentage of 91.9 percent for winner Foxwoods, a virtual tie with second-place Mohegan Sun at 91.79 percent.

In Iowa, Prairie Meadows takes over the Loosest Slots crown at 92.05 percent, with Wild Rose Jefferson a new top-three finisher at 91.82 percent and Wild Rose Emmetsburg, last year’s winner, in third place at 91.48 percent. In Louisiana, the top two regions switch places over last year, with Baton Rouge taking the top spot at 91 percent over Lake Charles, last year’s winner.

Pennsylvania has a completely new top-three Loosest Slots casinos, with Valley Forge Casino Resort winning the crown at 90.18 percent, followed by Pittsburgh’s Rivers Casino and The Meadows. Last year’s top three—Parx, Nemacolin and Mount Airy—were all lower than Meadows’ 90.08 percent, which means most of the casinos in Pennsylvania return less than 90 percent overall. (Even with free play, that’s pretty bad.)

The rest of the survey finds repeat winners—Cripple Creek in Colorado, Rising Star in Indiana, the Coastal Region of Mississippi, River City in Missouri and Horseshoe Cleveland in Ohio.

Our congratulations to the Loosest Slots winners—by bucking the trend of tighter slots, you’ve proven that you can still provide a slot player a fair gamble.

Shreveport – and neighboring Bossier City, which together make up the larger metro area – actually hosts the largest number of active casinos in all of Louisiana. Between the two city centers, there are a whopping seven separate casino venues, though only three of these stand out as truly special destinations. Nevertheless, once the LA legislature legalizes sports betting, Shreveport sportsbooks should be up and running at all 7 locales.

While there is no timeline on when these Shreveport sportsbooks will open for business, there have been recent discussions in the past. The 2018 legislative session saw two different measures being considered in LA congress: HB 245, which would have expanded gambling in the state, permitting sports betting and SB 266, which would have authorized a statewide vote (or referendum) on legalizing sports wagering. Both of these bills ended up dying in their committees, but that hasn’t ended the possibility of bringing it to the Pelican State. Similar measures are set to be enacted in 2019, as the state could start putting their money down as early as 2020.

There are still options if you are looking to bet in Shreveport by using online betting sites. These offshore operators have years of experience and reliability in the field, which is completely legal for Louisiana residents. Check out sites like Bovada, BetOnline, SportsBetting, MyBookie, BetDSI, and BookMaker to start playing.

Betting On The NFL In Shreveport

A lot of people in Shreveport want to place wagers on the NFL, given their proximity to New Orleans, and their fandom of the New Orleans Saints. NFL betting in Shreveport can be accomplished in two ways. First, you can use an offshore sportsbook to place wagers on the NFL. Second, you could use one of the local sportsbooks, which will require you to travel to the actual location of the sportsbook. One thing to note is that the lines on teams like the Saints will be a little less favorable at the local books - they have to account for all the hometown fans. This means that the best way to bet on your local team is to use the offshore sportsbook, because they’ll have the fairest lines.

Is Sports Betting Currently Legal In Shreveport, LA?

Sports betting is currently not legal in Shreveport in terms of land-based sportsbooks. The riverboat casinos and land-based ones will be the first to host the industry, once legislators move forward to the discussion. There is nothing in the LA Code outlawing betting on sports and as long as you are not using an unlicensed operator in the state, you should have nothing to worry about. Offshore sportsbooks provide that legal and safe feel and you can join as many of these books as you wish, allowing you to shop for the best LSU, Saints, and Pelicans lines available.

Minimum Age To Wager At Shreveport Sportsbooks

The minimum age to wager at Shreveport sportsbooks is 21 years old. This falls in line with the casino-gaming minimum age of the state and most of the states around the country. Online books do allow for bettors to be 18 years old for sports betting in Louisiana, but we recommend waiting until you are of legal Louisiana betting age for no potential problems. If caught underage gambling, you can have your funds confiscated and may be slapped with a fine. You will also be breaking the law. If you want to bet on the Saints at the offshore sportsbooks, you’re going to want to be over 21 years old, no matter what.

Best Sportsbooks In Shreveport, Louisiana

The best sportsbooks in Shreveport, Louisiana are the online options as each of these books has its own special benefits. Once Shreveport sports betting is formally legalized for in-state action, the above books may no longer be the best options for you but they will still provide their benefits. The action won’t be loaded heavily in favor of the home teams and you would be able to find better odds with the offshore operators. Additionally, federal laws prevent state-operated books from accepting wagers across state lines, whereas offshore sites do not have this restriction. If you ever travel or even live near the Louisiana border, you could find yourself locked out of your account.

When they come into play, the best books will be at the Eldorado Shreveport, the Sam’s Town Shreveport, and Harrah’s Louisiana Downs in Bossier City. Based on pedigree alone, Harrah’s should offer the most complete sportsbook right off the hop, but all the local gambling hotspots should have comparable, competitive sports betting products. If you want to place some wagers on the New Orleans Saints or bet on the NFL in Shreveport, these local sportsbooks should become great if you want to get a serious in-person experience!

• Eldorado Resort Casino Shreveport
• Address: 451 Clyde Fant Pkwy Shreveport, LA 71101
• Phone: 877-602-0711

As a popular nationwide brand, Eldorado hotel-casinos are the cream of the crop anywhere they set up shop, and the Eldorado Resort Casino Shreveport is no exception. The Eldorado Shreveport sportsbook should be a first-rate betting experience, as well, particularly since the chain has plenty of experience offering timely, fair lines to millions of customers every year.

This resort is a sprawling property located on the Red River, right next door to Sam’s Town at the main bend of the Cross Bayou. While the main hotel has no pool, all the rooms are newly renovated and guests can enjoy inexpensive upgrades to suites (including the lavish 1000-square-foot Monarch Suite). The gaming floor itself houses a number of table games and more than 1500 slot machines (as well as a poker room with tournament limits for beginners and pros alike).

Of course, Shreveport offers plenty to do outside of gaming, too. Visitors can take in the marvels of wartime manufacturing at the Barksdale Global Power Museum, while the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum and the Sci-Port Discovery Center offer educational activities and displays for curious minds of all kinds.

• Sam’s Town Hotel and Casino
• Address: 315 Clyde Fant Pkwy Shreveport, LA 71101
• Phone: 877-429-0711

The Sam’s Town Hotel and Casino sits directly upriver from its Eldorado neighbor, and it boasts a 514-room, 23-story hotel, as well as three floors of casino action (including 1100 slot machines and a host of popular table games). The premium restaurant on the premises is William B’s Steakhouse, though there are ample casual dining options available as well. Of course, the real attraction will be the Sam’s Town sportsbook once it’s up and running, as this will truly tie the entire Sam’s Town gambling experience together.

In addition to the standard hotel amenities, Sam’s Town offers the Magnolia Ballroom, which is perfect for hosting parties of all kinds, as well as the Spa Blue and a swimming pool with deck-side service. Of course, off the premises, there’s plenty to do as well, as Shreveport is brimming with life on the bayou. Enjoy local restaurants serving world-class creole dishes, take day-tours via riverboat rentals, and check out the many museums and art installations in the city. Just remember to pack your tennis shoes!

Loosest Slots In Shreveport Bossier City

This casino has it all and having your B connected membership only enhances the fun and entertaining time you will have moving forward as you continue to come back to Sam’s TownHotel and Casino. With this membership, there are so many extra things that members can access like rewards and points can be earned the more you make visits to this casino. There is more than just one tier that you can improve. In fact, the more points you earn the more points you get closer to moving on to the next tier which you can enjoy for a whole year and by the time that year is up, you would most likely have earned enough points to move on to the next following tier.

• Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Casino and Racetrack
• Address: 8000 E Texas St. Bossier City, LA 71111
• Phone: 318-742-5555

Harrah’s is one of the biggest names in the gambling industry, with successful, luxurious properties seemingly everywhere in the US where gambling is legal. As one of only four racinos in Louisiana, Harrah’s Louisiana Downs features live Thoroughbred racing from May to October, while it hosts quarter horse meets from January through March. The two major races at the venue each year are the Grade II Super Derby and the Tiznow Handicap. Also notably, the venue features a yearly festival where exotic animal races are held around the 1.25-mile track. If you ever wanted to see an ostrich race or a camel race, now you know where to go!

Of course, making racebooks is not dissimilar from making sportsbooks, and the Harrah’s Louisiana Downs sportsbook review – once the service is open to the public – should bear that out. Look for the Harrah’s sportsbook to be the Shreveport locals’ favorite sports betting hotspot. Also, aside from its forthcoming sports wagering product, Harrah’s Louisiana boasts a massive 150,000-square-foot game room with over 1300 slot machines.

There are no table games at Harrah’s (due to Louisiana racino laws), but the venue is universally praised for its loose slots, frequent payouts, and the ultimate “bang for your buck.” Harrah’s Louisiana Downs is also smoker-friendly, though it effectively separates smoking and nonsmoking sections. (Once the Harrah’s sports betting lounge is open on the premises, you can expect this part of the facility to be non-smoking.)

While there are no hotels at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs, the surrounding Bossier City has plenty of lodging options. Harrah’s is located amidst the winding Red Chute Bayou, with Marriott and Holiday Inn properties within walking distance of the venue. In the wider city area (including Shreveport), visitors can enjoy the excellent Shreveport Aquarium, the RW Norton Art Gallery, the Shreveport Water Works Museum, and the shop-filled Louisiana Boardwalk. And, as always, there’s plenty of Cajun and Creole cuisine around every corner. Bon appetit!

Other Possible Shreveport Sportsbook Locations

In addition to the above premium venues, there are other gambling destinations in Shreveport and Bossier City. These include Boomtown Bossier City, Diamond Jack’s Casino Bossier City, the Horseshoe Casino Bossier City, and the Margaritaville Resort Casino.

All of these are considered riverboat casinos, though – like the rest of LA’s riverboat gambling properties – they are basically large buildings attached to permanently-docked boats and “barges” on their properties’ waterfront locations.

Loosest Slots In Bossier City

As you can see, when it comes to Shreveport sportsbooks and Bossier City sportsbooks, you have multiple options within close driving distance of any part of this large metro area.