If you’re running hot and the machine suddenly goes cold, there is no tomfoolery going on – just bad luck.įun Fact: Slot machines in Nevada are required to return a minimum of 75% of wagers to players per the Nevada Gaming Commission, although they returned over 90% in 2019. Older machines that are not server-based cannot be updated from the backroom and require operators to open up the machine and replace a computer chip to adjust the payback percentage. Many machines require that a player gamble with the maximum amount of money to have a chance at winning the jackpot. The machine then must sit idle for an additional 4 minutes after the change before play is allowed. When a change is made, the machine must be taken out of play with a message displayed on the screen noting an update is taking place. Slot machines in Nevada must sit idle for 4 minutes before an adjustment to payback percentage or game rules can be made.
The Nevada Gaming Commission states “Once a game is initiated by a player on a gaming device, the rules of play for that game, including the probability and award of a game outcome, cannot be changed.” They can’t change rules or that machine’s payback percentage while you play. While casinos in Las Vegas can adjust payback percentages on server-based machines remotely, there are certain rules they must follow. Slot Machine Myths Can casinos change the slot payback percentage while you are playing?