Published on: January 23, 2026, 07:12h.
Updated on: January 23, 2026, 07:12h.
- Slot hold in Nevada has significantly increased over the last decade.
- The Las Vegas Strip shows the lowest average payouts in Nevada.
- For players, Reno offers the best chances; Nevada outperforms many states.
Have you been sharing your thoughts with anyone willing to listen about how the slot machines in Las Vegas have tightened? Well, it’s a fact. The “conspiracy” is genuine, and you, my friend, are completely validated.
In the year 2025, the slot hold in Nevada stood at 7.15%, suggesting that machines returned 92.85% of bets to players. Research conducted by the UNLV Center for Gaming reveals that this figure marks a 26% rise over the past ten years. Essentially, slots were returning approximately 94.3% to players a decade ago, compared to today’s 92.85%.
Put simply, the average slot machine in Nevada is retaining about 1.5 cents more for each dollar wagered, marking a significant change in slot machine economics when considering the scale of billions in bets.
Reno Might Be the Better Choice
Your other claim, that the Las Vegas Strip has the tightest slots in the state, also holds true.
Since 2004, the Strip has maintained the highest hold in Nevada, averaging 7.57%. Other regions with similarly high holds include Laughlin (7.42%), Downtown Las Vegas (7.17%), and South Shore Lake Tahoe (6.89%), as indicated by the research.
Reno is the most advantageous market for players, boasting an average hold of just 5.21% during the same timeframe. By comparison, slot holds on the Strip are about 45% higher.
But how do Nevada slots stack up against those in the rest of the nation? Casino.org analyzed regulatory reports and corporate casino performance across several states to find out—and the results aren’t as grim as you might think.
Nevada’s Slots vs. The National Landscape
Are Nevada’s slots truly worse than those found elsewhere in the country? To answer this question, Casino.org examined regulatory data and casino statistics from various significant US markets. The findings suggest they are not significantly worse, at least when compared.
Nevada
• 2025 statewide slot hold: 7.15%
• Implied RTP: 92.85%
Ohio
• 2025 statewide slot payout percentages ranged between approximately 92.17% and 92.46% (January–August), contingent on the month.
Conclusion: Ohio appears comparable, albeit slightly less favorable than Nevada.
Pennsylvania
• The statewide data (after promotional adjustments) suggests a hold of around 8.01%, translating to an RTP of about 91.99%.
Conclusion: Not as player-friendly as Nevada.
Connecticut
• December results indicate a slot hold of 8.49% at Mohegan Sun and 8.80% at Foxwoods, implying RTPs of approximately 91.5% and 91.2%.
Conclusion: These figures suggest a less favorable landscape than in Nevada.
Indiana
• Fiscal year 2024 data reveals $20.13 billion in coin-in and $1.98 billion in winnings, reflecting a hold of 9.84% (about 90.16% RTP).
Conclusion: Substantially worse for players compared to Nevada.
Iowa
• 2023 figures show $16.01 billion in slot coin-in and $1.57 billion in revenue, resulting in a hold of 9.81% (approximately 90.19% RTP).
Conclusion: Clearly less favorable than Nevada.
In Conclusion
It’s undeniable—slots in Nevada are tightening up, and the Strip is by far the most challenging place to play. However, when considering the broader national context, Nevada’s average RTP of approximately 92.85% actually surpasses many major markets in the Midwest and East Coast, such as Pennsylvania, Indiana, Iowa, and even Connecticut, based on recent data.
Ohio comes nearest to Nevada, but even there, state-level payouts generally lag behind those of Nevada for 2025.
So once again, you were right: The machines are indeed tighter. The Strip is the worst offender, yet somehow, Nevada isn’t the villain in this story.