I’ve been fortunate to play slots in each of the 23 casinos spread across Louisiana. You’re probably familiar with the big casino draws like Shreveport and Lake Charles. Still, I’ve put the time in the slot banks from Opelousas to Dry Prong.
The best payout casinos in Louisiana are Horseshoe Bossier City, Eldorado Casino Resort Shreveport, and Golden Nugget Lake Charles. The loosest slots in Shreveport are Double Diamond Deluxe, Double Classic Sevens, Pink Diamond, and Triple Gold Bars. And, the loosest slots in Lake Charles are Buffalo Inferno, 5 Dragons Rapid, and Bonus Sizzling 7.
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I’ll cover everything you’ll ever need to know about all of Louisiana’s 23 casinos in this post. I’ll also tell you where you’ll find the best payouts and the loosest machines in the state.
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Louisiana has a rich gambling history, and today the industry is governed by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.
Working in lock-step with the Gaming Enforcement Division of the Louisiana State Police, the LGCB oversees everything from horse racing to casino slot machines.
One of the LGBC’s primary functions is to establish and regulate the payout limits on slot machines in the state’s casinos.
Louisiana has a theoretical payout range on casino slot machines between 80-99.9%. This number represents the percentage of every penny that a device is expected to payout to the players.
For example, a machine with a 90% payout will make $10 for the casino out of every $100 played. This oversight is essential for several reasons.
Possibly the most prominent component is what it means for the consumer. Players remain protected from predatory practices like offering games with payouts below a specific threshold.
The games with the highest payout percentage will be the most coveted on the casino floor. Or so it would seem, the sobering reality is that many slot enthusiasts fail to take this number into account.
Other players aren’t sure where to find the payout percentages for the casino cash cows. Luckily, solving the mystery of where to find the best payout on slots is easy as pie.
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety posts the average payout of slot machines for four significant reasons right here: https://dpsweb.dps.louisiana.gov/gamingforms.nsf/Slot?OpenView&Start=1.
The report is published each month and gives you a fantastic overview of not only what areas are performing the best but what machines tend to payout above average.
As of January 2021, 12,777 slot machines were operating in Louisiana casinos. The average payout was 90.4%.
The penny slots were understandably the worst at only 89% payout on average. Meanwhile, the $50 games, of which there are only five, came in highest at an impressive 99.2%.
Taking this information into consideration before your casino trip, you can align yourself with the games that give you the best opportunity to win.
Louisiana gaming law also allows for video gaming devices in a host of places most of us would least suspect them. These video poker games are permitted to operate by law in restaurants, bars, truck stops, hotels, and racetracks/off-track betting locations.
There are over 12,500 of these machines located at over 1,500 different locations throughout the state. These machines face the same oversight from the LGCB, but the licenses are vastly different.
Entities that wish to operate VGDs are assessed a franchise fee on the total revenue generated by the games. The franchise fee varies based on the type of establishment and can be found below.
When you look at the revenue generated by the state and the abundance of gaming options for individuals, it becomes pretty clear why the games are so popular.
Figuring out payout percentages on these video gaming devices is unclear. The games require skill and strategy as opposed to the pull and pray of your average slot machine.
Still, VGDs create enormous financial benefits for the state. From January 2020 to January 2021, the state collected $357,008,064 in franchise fees.
That figure is large enough to give the state’s casinos a severe case of side-eye. Nonetheless, these franchise fees go towards important public works programs and infrastructure.
Slot machines in Louisiana payout much like their famous Las Vegas cousins. This similarity is what draws players from the region.
You may find better slot payouts in many Louisiana casinos because they want to keep that money close to home. Regardless of how popular gaming in Louisiana has become, they can’t compete with the image Las Vegas has created.
So, the casinos will beef up the payouts on games to draw players to their games.
In Shreveport, the penny slots dominate the casino floor. That is a fact that is equally true throughout the state and casinos around the country.
Shreveport offers a higher payout on its penny machines. At 89.3%, it can boast having the loosest penny slots in the state.
It’s essential to keep in mind that we’re talking about fractions of a penny. However, these tiny fractions can translate into real dollars quickly.
Here are a few of the best penny slots you’ll find in Shreveport:
Lake Charles is another of Louisiana’s hottest gambling destinations. The penny slots aren’t as attractive here, but the $0.05 denomination machines payout attention grabbing 93%.
The nickel games are hot in Lake Charles, and I’m going to share some of my favorites with you:
The quarter slots are also a hot commodity in Lake Charles. Still, If you want the best odds in Louisiana, save up and hit the $5 games.
While it’s imperative that you find a game that offers the best returns, your primary focus should always be on fun. So, select the games that keep you engaged and entertained.
When it comes to finding the best casinos in the state, you have many more choices than you might imagine.
In the Shreveport area, Eldorado Resort Casino checks all of the boxes. In regards to games, the casino boasts over 1,500 of the latest games to hit the market.
Eldorado has one of the most comprehensive VIP experiences in the state. The Slot Rewards Program offers a vast array of casino comps, up to and including free spins.
The slots at Eldorado offer incredible jackpots to round out their fabulous allure.
Lake Charles has been giving Shreveport a run for its money. Lake Charles is home to four fantastic casinos, but Golden Nugget Lake Charles stands above the competition.
You’ll find games from $0.01 up to $100 at Golden Nugget. Guests can choose from over 1,600 games that feature cool pop culture icons and fantastic return to player.
Whether you’re merely looking to stretch your bankroll to its limits or chasing a mammoth win on the progressive slots, Golden Nugget has got all of your slot machine needs covered.
While Lake Charles and Shreveport are the king and queen of Louisiana gaming, there’s a tribal casino making a big splash.
Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder is just a short trip from Lake Charles. This casino has erupted as having some of the loosest slots in the state.
Additionally, Coushatta has more slot machines than any place in Louisiana, thus making Coushatta a premier destination for slot players.
Many of you may not believe that Louisiana can duplicate the atmosphere of Las Vegas off the Strip. Take your slots prowess and your pocketbook to Louisiana, and what you find in the casinos there may surprise you.
You may think that being 1,409 miles from the bright lights of Sin City protects the Louisiana casinos from much competition. You couldn’t be more wrong.
There’s fierce competition within the state, for starters, with each casino fighting tooth and nail to gain and retain customers. The casinos must also compete on many levels, with the VGDs found in every nook and cranny of the state.
Still, the competition across state lines proves to be the most challenging for the Louisiana casinos.
Louisiana shares a border with Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Arkansas and Mississippi both have varying levels of competition.
Texas has no real casinos to speak of but provides another critical challenge. Texas is the largest of the 48 contiguous states. With no casinos, its residents travel out of state to do their gambling.
Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth are two of the largest metropolitan areas in the country. So, when it comes to filling the casinos, Louisiana relies heavily upon this area.
For years, this was a no-brainer for Texans looking to get in some casino action. The tribal bingo halls in Oklahoma were no match for the large casinos in Louisiana that had the financial backing of the casino industry.
Not to mention the glitz and glamour one expects upon arriving at a full-fledged casino. Gamblers expect a spectacle, and the nondescript slots rooms of Oklahoma didn’t provide much.
However, things have changed dramatically over the past decade. WinStar World Casino is located just an hour north of DFW and is now the world’s largest casino. Choctaw Casino in Durant may be considered by many to be the little brother of WinStar (no relation). Still, the casino offers every game that you’ll find in Louisiana or Las Vegas within 45 minutes of downtown Dallas.
Arkansas doesn’t steal many customers from Louisiana, but some players would still prefer to stick close to home.
Mississippi has blossomed as a casino destination and significantly impacted the casino action enjoyed by Louisiana. While the slots payouts are relatively standard across the board, travel costs have more people playing slots in their own backyard.
Lousiana first got back in the game as a result of legislation that allowed for riverboat gambling. A nod to the region’s rich heritage.
Since 1991 when the bill passed, Louisiana has seen its share of successes and failures. I’d say a thriving gaming industry that currently has 23 casinos operating within its borders is one of the highlights.
Here are the 23 casinos that you can currently sit down and enjoy your favorite spinning reels in Louisiana:
The sheer volume of casinos in Louisiana is something that neighboring states can’t rival. That makes Louisiana a must-visit for slot players looking for the pinnacle when it comes to variety.
For those of you who think a move to Louisiana sounds excellent, you’re probably onto something. The state provides a wealth of cultural history and outdoor activities.
You can even legally own your own slot machine, provided it’s at least 25 years old.
The best payout casinos in Louisiana come in a variety of establishments. Whether you choose the loosest slots in Shreveport, make a turn south to Lake Charles, or venture to one of the state’s tribal casinos, Louisiana is a slot machine aficionado’s dream.
So who pays for those Volcanic eruptions? Pirate Battles? Carnival Parades? and Glittering Showrooms? Slot Machines. 60-65% of casino revenue is generated by those bell-ringing one armed bandits that seem to multiply on casino floors like rabbits. So how does the average player gain an advantage and possibly win? Well... aside from cheating (which we really don't suggest you get involved in) the only way to gain some sort of advantage is to choose your slots with utmost care and discrimination.
Slot machines in Las Vegas are required by law to payout 75% of the money that goes into them, actual payout in Las Vegas is approximately 95%. Will you be the one that takes the money instead of gives it? That is up to luck, but with a little investigation one can easily learn to identify which machines are more favorable to the player than others. Slot machines are all about the payout... Red White and Blue, Double Diamond, Dick Fucking Clark, Cherry whatever. At the end of the day what every slot player needs to do is look at the pay schedule on the machine they want to play. Very often the same machine one row over will pay 5,000 credits on 3rd credit jackpot while you're playing on a 2,000 3rd credit machine. Plain and simple you're cheating yourself.
A few notable slot machines we here at VT have found more playable, or more interesting, than the other nonsense out there like Leprachaun's Gold or Tabasco Slots or whatever.
We like machines that have the best payouts on the lowest winning spins. These will keep you going longer between larger wins and not enact the ATM-In-Reverse principle seen at many of the larger joints (Venetian being the worst we've experienced).
100 or Nothing
Red, White and Blue
Slot Machine Jackpots Photo Gallery
Wheel of Fortune
Wild Cherry
Below are the slot payback percentages for Nevada's fiscal year beginning July 1, 2002 and ending June 30, 2003:
5¢ Slot Machines
The Strip - 90.32%
Downtown - 91.50%
Boulder Strip - 93.03%
N. Las Vegas - 92.97%
25¢ Slot Machines
The Strip - 92.59%
Downtown - 94.83%
Boulder Strip - 96.47%
N. Las Vegas - 96.63%
$1 Slot Machines
The Strip - 94.67%
Downtown - 95.35%
Boulder Strip - 96.48%
N. Las Vegas - 97.21%
$1 Megabucks Machines
The Strip - 89.12%
Downtown - 88.55%
Boulder Strip - 87.76%
N. Las Vegas - 89.41%
$5 Slot Machines
The Strip - 95.33%
Downtown - 95.61%
Boulder Strip - 96.53%
N. Las Vegas - 96.50%
All Slot Machines
The Strip - 93.85%
Downtown - 94.32%
Boulder Strip - 95.34%
N. Las Vegas - 95.32%
For every dollar you wager in a slot machine, you will lose 100% - Payback% of that dollar. For example, you're at Bellagio playing the $1 Double Diamond slot, wagering Two Credits ($2) per spin. According to the table, for every $2 spin you will lose 5.33% of that bet... just shy of 11¢. Granted these 11 cents don't get extracted instantly... this is computed over time. So if your bank roll limit is $10 it will take you, on average 52 spins before your bankroll is toast (under $1) and you are out of credits.
STAKE x (Payback Percentages) = STAKE x (Payback Percentages) = STAKE x (Payback Percentages) = ...
Repeat calculation until the number gets below the minimum bet - if you play long enough, you're gonna go broke. THAT is a FACT. Slot machines are entertaining, relaxing, require little thought beyond pressing a button. IF you want to truly GAMBLE, you might want to look into Video Poker, and eventually Blackjack as other options.
Granted, sometime in there you just might hit that $500 win on the Wheel of Fortune, or The Elvis progressive might shake rattle and roll $1000 your way... but the math inside the machine determines that you will in fact lose a certain percentage of your wager on each spin, and the more you spin... the more you will lose despite short runs of successful jackpots. If you find you are UP... leave. Every spin of a slot machine generates a random number that has NOTHING to do with previous numbers. SLOT MACHINES do NOT run in streaks (even if you might wish to think they do). Don't expect to get any of the money you put into a machine out of it unless you learn to press the CASH OUT button.
VT fully recommends the following books to help you decrease the house advantage on casino card games.
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