Published on: February 16, 2026, 07:21h. 

Updated on: February 5, 2026, 12:57h.

Las Vegas has recorded 10 consecutive months of increasing gaming revenue, despite a decline in visitor numbers. This unusual trend has sparked speculation that casinos may be unlawfully boosting their slot machine earnings. Contrary to this belief, they are not—nor can they. Here’s the explanation…

Casinos Wouldn’t Jeopardize Their Licenses

Casinos in Nevada are required to maintain comprehensive records of slot performance, and the Gaming Control Board conducts surprise audits. With over 200 casinos located in Clark County alone, each venue typically undergoes inspections every two to three years. Furthermore, Nevada levies a 6.75% tax on gaming revenue, providing a strong incentive to ensure compliance.

Slot Machines Cannot Exceed Legal Payout Limits

As confirmed by two senior officials from the Gaming Control Board in a recent interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, it is technically unfeasible to exceed the legally allowed maximum hold on slot machines (the percentage of player wagers that casinos retain).

This is due to the fact that slot machines are programmed with fixed payout configurations that are set within their software. Casinos can only select from these predetermined settings and cannot design a custom, higher-hold option.

RTP Changes Are Indiscernible

The average percentage returned to players (RTP) is calculated over millions of spins. Within a single spin, or even over 100 spins, the returns can fluctuate dramatically, ranging from 0% up to astonishing amounts exceeding 100,000,000% of the wager.

A study conducted in 2021 by researchers Anthony Lucas from UNLV and Katherine Spilde from SDSU explored whether players could perceive variations in payout percentages. They examined four pairs of identical slot titles over six months:

• High-RTP versions returned approximately $95 for every $100 wagered
• Low-RTP versions returned about $85 for every $100 wagered

Players showed no tendency to shift towards the higher-paying machines. Over the six-month period, they could not detect any significant difference.

The Reality Is Different

Slots are indeed becoming tighter—but this is done legally and goes largely unnoticed. A report from the UNLV Center for Gaming Research in December 2025 reveals that the average slot hold percentage has increased by 26% over the past 21 years.

In 2004, the average hold was 5.72%, signifying that machines returned 94.28% of total wagers. By 2025, the statewide hold increased to an average of 7.15%.

However, it’s crucial to note that Nevada law mandates a minimum payout of 75%, meaning a hold of up to 25% is entirely legal.

Catch “Vegas Myths Busted” every Monday exclusively on Casino.org. Explore past myths at VegasMythsBusted.com. Have a Vegas myth you’d like to see debunked? Reach out via email at [email protected].