Loose Slots Data in Las Vegas is Misleading

^{The electronic table games (ETGs) at Golden Gate Casino are considered slot machines in Las Vegas. (Photo: Marc Meltzer / Casinos.com)}

Slot machines dominate Las Vegas casino floors. Players are always looking for an advantage, even though the games are operated on a random number generator.

Since outcomes are random, one of the main strategies is to play the “loosest slots,” which hold less and return more. The thinking is that a loose slot will pay more often.

Slot machine data in Las Vegas no longer means what most players think it does. The numbers used to track “loose” and “tight” slots now include games that are not traditional slot machines.

Casinos are adding electronic table games (ETGs) and other electronic options to offer more variety while reducing labor costs. In Las Vegas, some of these games are classified as slots even though they can include everything from blackjack to horse racing.

The Nevada Gaming Commission provides data showing where casinos win the most. This might sound obvious, but when casinos win, players lose money.

Casinos.com reviews these reports monthly. Not much changes month to month beyond baccarat revenue on the Las Vegas Strip.

In Nevada, table game data is easier to understand than slot machine data because slot revenue includes a mix of games.

I reached out to Shelley Newell, senior economic analyst at the Nevada Gaming Control Board, to clarify common questions about the data.

Slot Machine Revenue Includes More Than Slot Machines

 Slot hold percentages are no longer measuring only slots. They reflect a mix of games with very different odds.

Two types of games contribute to slot revenue but are not traditional slots:

• Multi-game and bartop machines with video poker, keno, video blackjack, and roulette
• Electronic table games without dealer assistance

Slot revenue has long been skewed by bartop games. Video poker can have a house edge of about 4% with perfect play, and some games fall below 1%.

Electronic table games typically hold closer to their live dealer counterparts, which is also lower than most slot machines.

Finding loose slots is more difficult than ever because the data continues to evolve.

Comparisons are becoming more complicated as casinos add more electronic table games, a trend that will continue as these games generate a larger share of revenue.

For example, Golden Gate’s shift to only slots and electronic table games will affect downtown comparisons since it previously offered more live dealer games.

Not All Electronic Table Games Are Counted the Same Way

To further confuse things, not all ETGs are counted the same way by Nevada gaming regulators. Slot machine revenue includes all games without a human dealer. Some games that look like table games are counted as slots, while others are not.

Here are a couple of examples:

When an electronic table game does not require a dealer, the revenue is counted as slot revenue. These craps and roulette games at New York-New York are considered slots by Nevada gaming regulators.

When a human is involved, they are classified as “live dealer-operated electronic table games,” and the revenue is counted as table games. Stadium baccarat at Rio is one example.

The number of electronic table games in Las Vegas has grown significantly since 2020. Over time, they may become the primary option for lower-limit table play on the Strip.

Their inclusion in slot revenue makes it more difficult to interpret loose versus tight slot data. According to Newell, there are no planned changes to how this data is reported.

The numbers are not wrong, but they are more misleading than they appear.

Technically, Downtown Slots Remain Tighter than the Strip

There are always questions about the loosest slots in Las Vegas. As in 2024, downtown casinos held more from slot play than the Strip in 2025, meaning they were slightly "tighter."

According to state data, downtown casinos held 8.3% of slots revenue, compared to 7.6% on the Strip. The difference is small but adds up over time.

However, that data includes more than traditional slot machines. It is not based solely on games like Wheel of Fortune, Buffalo, or Dragon Link.

What This Means for Your Bankroll

Most players want to make their gambling budget last as long as possible. Gaming data can help, but only if the players understand what is included.

Games with a lower house edge generally allow for longer play and better value.

Anything can happen in a single session, and understanding casino math can help put a player in a stronger position for a better outcome.

“Loose slots” are not a myth, but the data used to identify them is less clear than it once was. The Strip versus downtown debate is also becoming less reliable as more electronic table games are added to casino floors.