Determine your hard-line betting number. This is the amount you are coming to Las Vegas to play with. Once you've put this money into the slots, that should end your play. Next, walk around the slots and see which ones are most interesting to you. If you see a machine someone has recently won from, you can still play it; wins are generated completely random, so there is no rule that it will take a number of spins before you can win, too. Decide whether you prefer the old-style pull-down handle or the electronic spinners (neither has an advantage over the other).
Look for a machine with a three-reel single payline (the line that goes across the screen showing which items must line up). These machines often pay the most and the most frequently. If it's in your budget, play a higher-input slot machine. This means putting a one-dollar coin (or dollar bill) into a $1 input slot machine rather than playing a 25-cent machine four times. It may reduce your time playing, but larger-input machines have shown to pay higher. Go with your comfort level.
Brand name slot games can be fun because they are based on familiar themes (game shows, etc). Some examples include Wheel of Fortune, Quartermania and Megabucks. These machines have the highest turnover and, according to Victor Royer, author of 18 books on gambling, they pay out the most.
Visit older casinos. According to the Going to Las Vegas website, older casinos may "loosen" their machines to draw in visitors. The site references the Riviera and Circus Circus as potential payoff opportunities. Avoid the slots between Friday and Monday mornings, when tourists flood in. Some gambling professionals believe the casinos tighten their machines those days. Weekday play may provide the best return on your investment. Avoid slots in heavily populated areas, such as buffet lines, casino show waiting areas or by the table games.
