How to find loose slot machines. That is the question. Whether ’tis nobler to suffer the slings and arrows of tight slot machines… You get the idea.

Looking for loose slots isn’t an easy task. It’s not like you can download a PDF of the names and locations of every slot machine broken down by RTP. Gamblers interested in playing the loosest slot machine games have to do some research beforehand. The good news here is that you absolutely can find some reliable information about slots and their theoretical return percentages online.

Learning how to find loose slot machines on your own is a matter of understanding what makes a game loose and where to find those kinds of games. Because so much variation exists among the various gambling jurisdictions in the United States, it’s best to research loose slot machines in a regional way. As an added bonus, quality content you can find out some decent information about slots for free online, and most of that coverage approaches the topic from a regional perspective.

Loose vs. Tight Slots

Some people struggle to explain the concept of “loose vs. tight slots.” I suggest that people think of it this way – a particular slot machine game can only be tight or loose relative to another slot. A slot’s status as loose or tight is dependent on a comparison to another slot game or a group of other slot games.

Like most people who write about slots and math or slot strategy, I use one statistic to compare the relative loose or tight status of different slot machines. RTP, or Return to Player, is represented as a percentage. To the layman, RTP tells you how much of your cash a machine will pay back over time. Unfortunately, that’s not accurate.

In reality RTP is a theoretical figure. A machine listed as having an RTP of 90% won’t literally pay you back 90% of the cash you pay into it. That 90% figure creeps closer to reality as time creeps toward infinity. If you had an infinite amount of time and money, you might one day see that 90% return. Actual returns, in real-life gambling situations in brick & mortar casinos, will vary wildly around that 90% figure.

Let’s get back to that 90% figure. Imagine you’ve found a machine that you know for sure has a 90% payback figure. Is that a loose or a tight slot? Well, if most other games on that casino floor are in the high 80s, you’ve found a loose slot. If the other games are in the mid-90s, you’ve found a tight slot.

Finding Loose Slot Machines

It would be great if we could go to a manufacturer’s website, look up a slot machine they designed, find out the RTP number, and run with that. That isn’t the case.

For one thing, not every manufacturer makes that information publicly available. Another problem – slot manufacturers offer their games in many different payout formats. A casino in Vegas may order a 90% payback game, while a casino in Atlantic City goes for the 92.4% version.

A good example – Aristocrat’s popular 50 Lions slots. The game is often listed in online reviews and slot content as having an RTP of 94.71%, but that figure isn’t consistent across the board. You can never really know which version you’re getting without doing some additional research – the game is available in different denominations, each of which is guaranteed to offer a different payout rate.

How to Compare Slot Machines

Finding loose slot machines means comparing the games you’re going to play with the average game of that type in the area where you’re gambling.

Think of it this way – if I’m playing a quarter slot in Biloxi, Mississippi, should I compare my slot’s RTP to one being played in Macau? That’s not a useful comparison. It makes much more sense to compare the game I’m playing to other games available in the immediate area. I may compare this quarter slot to other Biloxi slots, or even compare it to other gambling venues in Mississippi, like those in Tupelo.

The best way to find a loose slot machine in a particular casino would be to determine the average RTP of all slots on that casino’s gaming floor, then stick to playing slots with a higher RTP than that casino’s average. This information isn’t always available. However, as you’ll see further down this page, we can find specific RPT figures and compare loose and tight slots in almost every popular US gambling jurisdiction.

Loosest Slot Machines by Region

Below, you’ll find my guides to the loosest slot machines in different popular US gambling areas. I’ll be adding to this content as I gather more resources and feel confident in sharing the particulars in how to find loose slots in different parts of the country.

Here’s a post about the loosest slots in Illinois. Long story short, visit the Argosy Casino in Alton, but that’s not your only option. Read the entire post to find out more.

The loosest slots in Arizona is one of my favorite posts, as Arizona is one of my favorite places to gamble.

I also have a post about the loosest slots in Colorado.

Don’t forget about the loose slot machines in Atlantic City. That’s still a big gambling destination even though it’s not the big deal that it used to be.

Finding the loosest slots in Reno is like shooting huge fish in a tiny barrel. Reno usually has the loosest slots in the country. That doesn’t mean every machine in Reno is a good choice. Read my post to read a warm-hearted defense of “the biggest little city in the world,” and a lot about loose Reno slots, too.

The loosest slots in Las Vegas are off the Strip. You probably already knew that. But do you know about the Boulder Strip? Do you know where to go in Henderson to find the loosest slots? Did you know that you can pretty well judge a slot game in Vegas based solely on its denomination? You don’t know Vegas slots if you haven’t read my post about loose Las Vegas slots.

Even smaller towns offer good deals. See this post about the loosest slots in Carson City.

You can even find loose slots in Ohio at casinos like Miami Valley Gaming.

More Regions, More Slot Machines

The loosest slots in Biloxi are spread all over town. You have to do some research before you hit the Biloxi gambling strip if you’re looking for loose slot machine games. My post will tell you what three casinos to visit for loose slot play in Biloxi, Mississippi. I’m also working on a post about loose slot games in Tupelo, Mississippi, but I need to gather more information. If you have some tips, feel free to leave a comment or send an email.

Playing the loosest slots in Oklahoma means jumping around to a lot of different casinos. That’s because the loosest games aren’t really concentrated at any one venue or in any one part of this relatively large tribal gaming scene. Read my post about loose slots in Oklahoma to find out the five best Oklahoma casinos for loose slots.

The loosest slots in California are at three specific tribal casinos. Sure, you’ll find some games with high relative RTP figures sprinkled around other parts of the state, but I’m convinced that a visit to these three spots will give you the best of what you’ll find in the Golden State in just a few hours of play. My post on the weird and wonderful California slot gambling scene will tell you where to go and even some words on which games to play if you’re looking for California loose slot machine games. I’ve written a separate post specifically aimed at loose slots in San Diego, too.

The loosest slots in Cincinnati are easier to find than ever with my detailed post on the subject. Follow the link.

It’s easy to find the loosest slots in Arkansas because the state’s gaming commission forces gambling providers to post regularly updated information, including RTPs and averages and such. Read my loose slots in Arkansas post to learn how to find the loosest slots in the state.

The loosest slots in Louisiana aren’t just in Shreveport, though a lot of the state’s loosest slot games can be found in that area. Read my post on the loosest slots in Louisiana to learn where to play and also some tips on how to find loose slots in Louisiana all on your own.

The loosest slots in Florida, of course, are probably also the loosest slots a the Seminole Hard Rock.

I haven’t written about the entire state of Indiana yet, but I have written about the loosest slots in French Lick, Indiana.

I just added a new post about the loosest slots in Deadwood, South Dakota, too. It and the page about South Dakota in general are nice companion pieces.

How to Find Loose Slot Machines: Conclusion

Most people don’t think of slots when they think of the phrase “advantage gambling.” Still, slot machine players who go out of their way to look for the best value machines are a significant part of the community. When given a choice, most slot players would choose a machine with a lower casino advantage, even if just to try it out. Understanding what makes a game loose or tight is critical to forming a gambling or bankroll strategy. That’s why we wanted to share what we know about how to find loose slot machines.

There’s no shame in playing slot games with a relatively low theoretical return percentage. Plenty of slot gamblers have fun playing those 70% RTP machines in the airport or at a truck stop. The purpose of spending money on a slot game is to kill sometime and have fun along the way – winning a little cash along the way is meant to be the icing on the cake. If you find a slot that you enjoy, it doesn’t really matter if it gives the casino a 50% edge or a 0.5% one.