Gaming Guru

Ask the Slot Expert: Where Can I Find Paybacks for Slots in Arizona?

I'm in Arizona and never see anything published on which Indian casinos pay back what percentages. I remember reading on the pay backs on Vegas casinos that the North Vegas paid the highest then downtown, and last the strip casinos. Is there someplace Arizona publishes this info?

Larry

Dear Larry:

I couldn't find any paybacks for Arizona's slots online and this excerpt from American Casino Guide (www.americancasinoguide.com) explains why:

Arizona tribes aren't required to release information on their slot machine percentage paybacks, however, according to the Arizona Department of Gaming, the terms of the compact require each tribes' machines to return the following minimum and maximum paybacks: video poker and video blackjack - 83% to 100%, slot machines - 80% to 100%, keno - 75% to 100%. Each tribe is free to set its machines to pay back anywhere within those limits.

Not very helpful, is it?

I recommend you play in a casino with high-paying video poker. Casinos with high-paying video poker tend to have high-paying slots too.

Best of luck in and out of the casinos,
John

Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert, at slotexpert@comcast.net. Because of the volume of mail I receive, I regret that I can't reply to every question.