How do odds work in slot machines? Unlike some other games, they’re fixed. However you play, the odds of winning do not go up or down, but always stay the same.
Payout odds vary based on the machine. Two slot machines may look identical, yet may have different odds. So you can’t tell by the appearance of the machine.
Find out what slot machines actually returned to the public in all U.S. See which states have the best-paying casino slot games and which have the lowest-paying casino slots. Includes slot machine payback statistics for all U.S. Casino/resorts, riverboats and Indian casinos.
The odds of hitting the top award vary greatly by machine, and may be as low as one in 17,000,000 spins – comparable to winning Lotto 6/49.
Tip
Over the long run, the machine is guaranteed to make money.
Slot Payouts
When playing slots, knowing the payback or payout percentage of various machines can help you understand your chances of winning.
- Every slot machine arrives from the manufacturer with a computer chip capable of pre-determining how much of the overall player spend the machine will pay back to players over its lifetime. Machines are set by the casino, also known as the house, to payback a certain percentage of coins played, including paying out the jackpot
- The pre-programmed amount that the house keeps is called the hold
The payback percentage, regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), is: Minimum: 85%
The payback percentage is meant to be representative of the machine’s entire lifecycle, which can be many millions of spins. When the payback percentage is 85%, this doesn’t mean that you can expect to win back $85 if you gamble $100 on that individual session.
The payback percentage doesn’t affect the short-term. Because of randomness, anything can happen when you play.
Compared to other casino games, slots favour the house more.
Payouts of different machines
It's easy to think the higher the “denomination”, the more a machine pays out - for example, that a dollar machine will pay more than quarter machines. In Ontario, this isn't always the case. Always check the paytable to know what a machine pays out.
OLG doesn’t have complete control over the payouts of slot machines. This is regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
Casinos are not allowed to change a machine’s payout while someone is playing or winning on them, nor can they adjust machines during weekends.
Ready to play?
Introduction to California Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
California slot machine casino gambling consists of 65 tribal casinos, the third-largest number of casinos in any U.S. state after Nevada and Oklahoma.
I’ve dedicated this weekly series to slot enthusiasts such as yourself as you master casino slots and win your way to success by using this State-By-State Online Resource to improve your slots gambling performance by reviewing your state’s slots gaming industry.
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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in California*
The minimum legal gambling age in California depends upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 18 or, if serving alcohol, 21
- Poker Rooms: 18 or, if serving alcohol, 21
- Bingo: 18
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18
Slot Machine Private Ownership in California
It is legal to own a slot machine privately in California if it is 25 years old or older.
Average Slot Machine Odds
Gaming Control Board in California
The California Gambling Control Commission supports the regulation of tribal gaming through oversight activities as defined in California’s 61 tribal-state compacts.
Further, the Bureau of Gambling Control within California’s Department of Justice provides state law enforcement authority with jurisdiction over gambling activities.
Non-slots-related gaming control boards include the California Horse Racing Board and the California Lottery Commission.
Casinos in California
California has 65 American Indian tribal casinos, ten racetracks without gaming machines, numerous card rooms also without gaming machines, and cruise ships with onboard casinos to Hawaii, Alaska, and international destinations.
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The largest casino in California is San Manuel Casino having 4,800 gaming machines.
The second-largest casino is Pechanga Resort Casino with 4,000 gaming machines.
Commercial Casinos in California
There are no commercial casinos with slot machines in California.
Tribal Casinos in California
California’s 65 tribal casinos are:
- Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Palm Springs, 115 miles east of Los Angeles.
- Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage, 115 miles east of Los Angeles.
- Augustine Casino in Coachella, 125 miles east of Los Angeles.
- Barona Resort & Casino in Lakeside, 15 miles northeast of San Diego.
- Bear River Casino Resort in Loleta, 10 miles south of Eureka;
- Black Oak Casino Resort in Tuolumne, 100 miles southeast of Sacramento.
- Blue Lake Casino Hotel in Blue Lake, 10 miles north of Eureka.
- Cache Creek Casino Resort in Brooks, 35 miles northwest of Sacramento.
- Cahuilla Casino Hotel in Anza, 30 miles south of Palm Springs.
- Casino Pauma in Pauma Valley, 35 miles northeast of San Diego.
- Cher-Ae Heights Casino in Trinidad, 25 miles north of Eureka.
- Chicken Ranch Casino in Jamestown, 100 miles southeast of Sacramento.
- Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino in Coarsegold, 35 miles north of Fresno.
- Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, 40 miles northwest of Santa Barbara.
- Colusa Casino Resort in Colusa, 75 miles north of Sacramento.
- Coyote Valley Casino in Redwood Valley, 115 miles north of San Francisco.
- Desert Rose Casino in Alturas, 100 miles north of Susanville.
- Diamond Mountain Casino Hotel & Brewery in Susanville, 160 miles northeast of Sacramento.
- Eagle Mountain Casino in Porterville, 60 miles southeast of Fresno.
- Elk Valley Casino in Crescent City, 84 miles north of Eureka.
- Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, 125 miles east of Los Angeles.
- Feather Falls Casino & Lodge in Oroville, 100 miles north of Sacramento.
- Fort Independence Travel Center & Winnedumah Winns Casino in Independence, 90 miles east of Fresno.
- Garcia River Casino in Point Arena, 130 miles north of San Francisco.
- Gold Country Casino Resort in Oroville, 100 miles north of Sacramento.
- Golden Acorn Casino Travel Center in Campo, 40 miles southeast of San Diego.
- Graton Resort & Casino in Rohnert Park, 50 miles north of San Francisco.
- Hard Rock Casino & Hotel Sacramento at Fire Mountain in Wheatland, 36 miles north of Sacramento.
- Harrah’s Resort Southern California in Valley Center, 35 miles northeast of San Diego.
- Havasu Landing Resort & Casino in Havasu Lake, 200 miles east of Los Angeles.
- Hidden Oaks Casino in Covelo, 150 miles northwest of Sacramento.
- Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort in Jackson, 50 miles north of Los Angeles.
- Jamul Casino in Jamul, 10 miles east of San Diego.
- Konocti Vista Casino Resort in Lakeport, 120 miles north of San Francisco.
- Lucky 7 Casino Hotel in Smith River, 100 miles north of Eureka.
- Mono Wind Casino in Auberry, 30 miles northeast of Fresno.
- Morongo Casino Resort Spa in Cabazon, 90 miles east of Los Angeles.
- Pala Casino Spa and Resort in Pala, 35 miles northeast of San Diego.
- Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, located 50 miles north of San Diego.
- Pit River Casino in Burney, 190 miles north of Sacramento.
- Quechan Casino Resort in Winterhaven, 170 miles east of San Diego.
- Rain Rock Casino in Yreka, 250 miles north of Sacramento.
- Red Earth Casino in Salton Sea Beach, 114 miles southeast of Riverside.
- Red Fox Casino in Laytonville, 150 miles northwest of Sacramento.
- Red Hawk Casino in Placerville, 40 miles east of Sacramento.
- Redwood Hotel Casino in Klamath, 65 miles north of Eureka.
- River Rock Casino in Geyserville, 75 miles north of San Francisco.
- Robinson Rancheria Resort, Casino & Bingo in Nice, 115 miles northwest of Sacramento.
- Rolling Hills Casino Resort in Corning, 115 miles north of Sacramento.
- Running Creek Casino in Upper Lake, 120 miles northwest of Sacramento.
- San Manuel Casino in Highland, located 65 miles east of Los Angeles.
- San Pablo Lytton Casino in San Pablo, 15 miles north of Oakland.
- Sherwood Valley Casino in Willits, 130 miles north of San Francisco.
- Soboba Casino Resort in San Jacinto, 90 miles east of Los Angeles.
- Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella, 130 miles east of Los Angeles.
- Sycuan Casino & Resort in El Cajon, 10 miles east of San Diego.
- Table Mountain Casino in Friant, 15 miles north of Fresno.
- Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Lemoore, 50 miles south of Fresno.
- Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, 35 miles northeast of Sacramento.
- Tortoise Rock Casino in Twentynine Palms, 125 miles east of Los Angeles.
- Twin Pine Casino & Hotel in Middletown, 100 miles north of San Francisco.
- Valley View Casino & Hotel in Valley Center, 35 miles northeast of San Diego.
- Viejas Casino & Resort in Alpine, 25 miles east of San Diego.
- Wanaaha Casino in Bishop, 130 miles northeast of Fresno.
- Win-River Casino & Resort in Redding, 163 miles north of Sacramento.
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying California slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering California is:
- North: Oregon Slots
- East: Nevada Slots and Arizona Slots
- South: The country of Mexico
- West: Pacific Ocean
Best Odds Slots
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to California.
Our California Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in California? If so, join our California slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to freely join this closed Facebook Group community.
There, you can meet online and privately share your slots experiences with local slots enthusiasts about playing slot machines in California. Join us!
Payouts and Returns in California
Slot Machine Odds Of Winning
Tribal-state gaming compacts negotiated between the state of California and its 61 tribes do not include theoretical payout limits nor require public reporting of return statistics.
Summary of California Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
California slot machine casino gambling consists of 65 tribal casinos generally located on remote tribal reservations throughout the state.
Annual Progress in California Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Over the last year, Thunder Valley Casino Resort has fallen from second-largest casino to fourth largest after San Manuel Casino, Pechanga Resort Casino, and Graton Resort & Casino.
Also, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain has, at long last, opened.
Finally, one casino has permanently closed and another underwent a name change:
- Lucky Bear Casino in Hoopa has permanently closed.
- Paiute Palace Casino in Bishop is now the Wanaaha Casino.
Best Slot Machine Odds
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- Previous: Arkansas Slot Machine Casino Gambling
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Slot Machine Odds By State
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC