Mccarran Airport Slot Machines

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McCarran International Airport shared out a photograph on Sunday of a woman smiling under her mask while holding money and sitting at a slot machine. SIMILAR STORIES: Henderson woman hits $676K. People playing slots. Kaoru, a woman from Torrance, hit a huge jackpot at McCarran International Airport with just a $5 bet. Playing the Wheel of Fortune penny slots in the C Concourse in Terminal 1, she won $873,511. If you are visiting Las Vegas primary in term of gambling, there are available slot machines all over the airport. The said slot machine has a number of around 1,200 where you can stay as long as you want. Every area in the airport is made with perfection, which is decorated with sculpture, arts as well as paintings.

  1. Mccarran Airport Map
  2. Mccarran Airport Las Vegas Slot Machines
sallyandmilt
I haven't seen any statistics about payouts at the airport slots. From casual observation on a number of times through (before we moved to Las Vegas) we seemed to have more luck ourselves and saw more other lucky people. Whether it is coincidence or not, it seems logical that machines would be set to higher payoffs there, since people arriving here are likely to consider themselves on the start of a lucky streak, a good attitude adjuster, and people leaving after leaving with less than they came with might leave in a better frame of mind when winning on their last try. (Sort of like having a terrific 18th hole after a lousy golf round - makes you want to come back.)
Just our thoughts, but wonder if there might be some validity to them.
wildqat
According to the Wizard's own (admittedly dated) survey, the airport slots are the worst in town.
Take from that what you will. :^)
DJTeddyBear
There are many schools of thought going on here.
Mccarran Airport Slot Machines

For example, in a casino, it make sense to have the slots near the strip entrance rigged to pay and make a lot of noise to draw in other customers. On the other hand, having the loose machines there, may make too easy for a bettor to make a hit and run.
Similarly, the slots near the buffet may be rigged to pay to encourage people to finish eating and get back to work. On the other hand, it may pay less, since people may throw a quarter in while on line to get in. Think captive audience.
At the airport, you also have a captive audience. Most people playing are waiting to board an outbound flight.
Your theory about getting people off on a hot streak sounds interesting, but ask yourself this question: What does the owner of the airport slots care about a gambler's activity in the casinos?
I mean, that would be a logical idea only if the airport slots are run/owned by the LV Visitors Bureau or Chamber of Commerce, or even the airport itself. Something tells me it's a private concession. I.E. They pay rent to the airport, etc.
I invented a few casino games. Info: http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ ————————————————————————————————————— Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
Wizard
Administrator
I stand by my survey linked to above that the slots at the airport are the tightest in the city. Captive audience + no competition = tight slots. I also have found that the theory that slots are loose by the doors, and tight were people are likely to linger, is just myth. My testing showed slots of a given denomination are set consistently throughout the casino. Some casinos seem to scatter some loose ones around randomly.
It's not whether you win or lose; it's whether or not you had a good bet.
pacomartin
Your idea about loose slots at the airport does make sense. It might have been a logical solution when they wrote the request for proposals. But the county auctioned off the rights to the highest bidder for this contract. So the slots are the tightest in town.
The man that owns the slot concession is Michael Gaughan who owns the South Point Hotel and Casino.
Wizard
Administrator
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong (as always), but in 91-92, when I did the survey, the airport slot concession was held by the owners of Terrible's.
It's not whether you win or lose; it's whether or not you had a good bet.
wildqat
Wikipedia says it's currently Michael Gaughan. It doesn't say when any transfer of ownership occurred.
inap
i always thought that the machines at the airport were tight also. but i'm surprised when i see both the quarter and dollar wheel of fortunes hit the progressive jackpot at the airport, and almost as much as in the casinos. i've also personally hit the 1000 point, $200.00 on the .25 cent wheel of fortune while just waiting for my better half go into the ladies room. i've also hit things like five 5's on dueces wild while killing time, and seen someone make over $1,200 hitting various jackpots on one 777 slot within just 15 minutes! he kept hitting 7's of various kinds!. and none of these happen after spending hours on the machines like in the casino.
i'm not saying machines at the airport aren't tight, but i do see them hit.
DJTeddyBear

.. Bovada blackjack rigged. i've also hit things like five 5's on dueces wild..

A card machine should hit exactly as often, no matter where it's located. But the pay table is probably lower.
Maybe the other slots are rigged to win more often, but pay less? Is that even possible? If so, that would give the illusion of a loose machine, while retaining more profit for the owner.
I invented a few casino games. Info: http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ ————————————————————————————————————— Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
FleaStiff

Captive audience + no competition = tight slots.

Precisely. Perhaps if the airport authority had sold the slot concession to the Chamber of Commerce there might be some sort of 'welcome to Vegas where you can really win' attitude of loose slots, perhaps not. Remember the money in Vegas is made at the hotels, bars, clubs and casinos, its not made at the airport. Why should airport slots be enticingly loose? Oh I'm sure they comply with all laws and regulations but the concession-owner knows no one is ever going to come back just to sit at the airport and feed quarters in all day long!
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Mccarran Airport Map

I'll never forget my first trip to Las Vegas. When I walked off the ramp into the airport and heard the musical, electronic sound of slot machines, a huge smile crept over my face. I'd never been greeted with that sound at an airport before. Walking through the airport from my gate to baggage claim, I passed clusters of slot machines here and there and found myself in awe. This has to be the most fun airport ever! I thought. I've pretty much had that same reaction every trip since. There's nothing that says 'Welcome to Las Vegas' quite like the sight and sound of slot machines.

I'm usually in too much of a hurry to get to my hotel when I land to think about lingering in the airport to play them, but on my trip home, it's a whole other story. I mean, really, picture your typical airport experience. You get to the airport early, as is recommended, and by some miracle, you zip through security quickly. You still have an hour and 45 minutes until your flight. Now what? Read the book you brought with you? But if you read it now, what will you read on the plane? Buffalo slot machine las vegas.

So you wander through your terminal—slowly—in and out of each shop that's trying to sell you last-minute souvenirs, snacks, books and magazines. That takes about 15 minutes. Now what? Maybe grab a meal at one of the restaurants, assuming you haven't already eaten. But at McCarran International Airport, you can extend your Vegas vacation right up until the minute you board your plane by playing the slot machines.

I'll bet you have some questions about gambling at the airport. I know I did. So let's tackle the big ones, shall we?

Airport Slot Machines

Where can I find slot machines at McCarran International Airport?

There are approximately 1,300 slot machines at McCarran, in baggage claim, the shopping areas, in terminals near gates—even in the car rental center. Trust me, you can't miss them.

Has anyone ever actually won playing slots at the airport?

Mccarran Airport Las Vegas Slot Machines

Shockingly, yes. According to Chris Jones, Acting Manager of Public Affairs and Marketing at McCarran, two players at McCarran won $392,000 and $259,000 respectively within four days of each other in May 2008. One lucky traveler won $3.9 million at a progressive Wheel of Fortune machine in January 2005. I've also seen many reports on TripAdvisor's Vegas forum from people who won enough money at the airport to make them happy. Personally, I've never won anything on the machines at the airport. Then again, I don't usually win in the casinos, either.

Does that mean the slots are looser at the airport?

Er, no. Conventional wisdom has long held that you should avoid playing slots at the airport because the payout is lower than average. (Although given how tight the machines have become on the Strip in recent years, I don't see much of a difference any more.) As with playing all slot machines, you should be prepared to lose, because you probably will. Gambling should be a form of entertainment, like going to the movies. It's just a fun way to kill time. . .with a (very) slight chance of winning back some of your money.

How do I get paid if I win or want to cash out?

As is the standard with most casinos these days, the slot machines at McCarran Airport feature TITO (or Ticket In, Ticket Out), meaning when you cash out, you get a ticket. There are no bill breaker machines here to exchange your ticket for cash, so you'll have to look for the uniformed attendant to make the exchange. There is one stationed at or near all slot locations.

Do I have to fill out an IRS form if I win over $1,000, like at the casinos?

Sadly, yes. Uncle Sam always wants his cut.

How long does it take to get paid? Will I miss my flight?

This probably depends on how close you're cutting your play to when your flight boards. There are ticket attendants on hand to pay you your winnings. If you win a couple of hundred bucks, they can probably pay you quickly with the money they have on hand. But if you win a big jackpot—say a couple hundred thousand or a million—they won't have that money on hand. So it will take longer to get paid, and yes, you may miss your flight. But if you won that much money, really, would you care???

How do you feel about playing the slots at McCarran? Would you do it to entertain yourself while waiting for your flight, or do you think it's a sucker's bet? Have you ever played there–and won?






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