4/1/2022
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Here’s my list of the seven best casinos for slots in Las Vegas. 1 – Aria Aria Resort & Casino is one of the most luxurious properties on the Las Vegas Strip, and it also has one of the biggest slot machine areas anywhere in the city. On top of that, they have the biggest and best high roller slot machine parlor in the entire state. Once in the casino it started out mixed with me losing a quick few hundred on penny slots like DaVinci Diamonds and Kitty Glitter. I made my way over to the $5 slots to see if I might get lucky there and it was looking good when I quickly hit $450.00 on Pinball.


You have a lot to look forward to in Las Vegas—bright lights, constant partying, and endless opportunities. You also face an ocean of slot machines in every casino on the Strip and anywhere else in the city.

In fact, you’ll find over 200,000 slot machines in Las Vegas alone. And not all of these slot games are the same. Some casinos offer better rewards through their players’ programs, for example. Others have looser slots (games with a higher RTP).

Here’s my list of the seven best casinos for slots in Las Vegas.

1 – Aria

Aria Resort & Casino is one of the most luxurious properties on the Las Vegas Strip, and it also has one of the biggest slot machine areas anywhere in the city.

On top of that, they have the biggest and best high roller slot machine parlor in the entire state. It even has its own name, Spin.

People like me think of $100 per spin slots as being high limit games, but in Vegas, everything’s bigger and better. In Spin, some of the slot machine cost $5000 per spin.

It’s an architectural marvel, too. Famed New York architect Peter Marino designed Spin, which has more amenities than some casinos. This includes a staff of butlers to cater to your needs while you play. The cashier’s cage is separate from the gaming, and the bathrooms are all private.

Have you ever seen a full-service dining room inside the slot machine area? And Aria doesn’t just cater to high rollers. The casino has over 2,000 slot machine games available, including popular titles like Wheel of Fortune and The Walking Dead. They also frequently host slot machine tournaments.

2 – Bellagio

A lot of people think of the Bellagio as the best place on the Las Vegas Strip to play poker, and they are right about this, of course.

But Bellagio is also one of the best spots on the Vegas Strip to find slot machine tournaments and a wide variety of slots games to choose from. Including video poker games and slot machines, Bellagio has over 2,300 different gambling machines to choose from.

And they’re available in multiple denominations, catering to both low rollers and high rollers alike.

Many of Bellagio’s slot machines feature progressive jackpots where you can win $1 million or more on a single spin of the reels. No one offers better live entertainment or dining either.

Also, since Aria and the Bellagio are both owned by MGM, membership at the slots club there means that you automatically have a membership in M life Rewards loyalty program, which is the players club at the following casinos:

  • Aria
  • Bellagio
  • Delano Las Vegas
  • Excalibur
  • Luxor
  • Mandalay Bay
  • MGM Grand
  • The Mirage
  • Park MGM
  • New York-New York
  • Vdara

3 – The Venetian

The Venetian is famous for a lot of things, and one of those things is the varied selection of gambling machines available there. The casino has two floors worth of machines to choose from, and they have a great loyalty program.

The Venetian also makes it a point of keeping the latest games on the floor, and they’ve done an excellent job of making sure they have newer games than some of their competitors. If you’re looking for games like the new Ghost Busters slots or the Game of Thrones slots, this is the place.

Like Aria, the Venetian caters to high rollers.

They offer an area called “The High-Limit Slots Salon,” which is a quieter and less crowded area for customers comfortable with betting up to $5000 per spin playing the slots.

If you’re a customer here, you can even request your own brands of machine, and the casino will do its best to accommodate.

They offer butler service and a lounge where you can relax when you’re taking a break from the slots games.

If you’re a Gold or Platinum member of the Grazie loyalty program here, you get free transportation to and from McCarran Airport.

4 – The Golden Nugget

So far, this list has focused on slot machine games that cater to high rollers on the Strip. But not all the best slot machines are found on the famed Las Vegas Boulevard.

In fact, the payback percentages for machines in other parts of the city are usually superior to the glitzier properties on the Strip. And what better “other part of the city” is there than downtown?

The gaming floor at the Golden Nugget is huge, with over 1,000 gambling machines to choose from. They have some of the most varied games in the city, too. They carry the famous games like Wheel of Fortune, but they also have a bigger variety of “Buffalo” slots than almost any other casino.

They feature multiple progressive jackpot slots casinos, too. I’m one of those slot machine players who loves a good steak, so the presence of Vic and Anthony’s is a great reason to play here, too. It’s one of the 10 best steakhouses in the entire country.

5 – Sam’s Town

One thing you should be aware of about Las Vegas slots is that the payback percentage is lower on the Strip than elsewhere. The best places to play are older casinos that are a little off the beaten path.

Sam’s Town fits the bill nicely. What it lacks in luxury, Sam’s Town makes up for with high payout slot machine games.

One thing that Sam’s Town offers that isn’t available at other Las Vegas casinos is an online listing of the slot machine games they have available. You can search their database by denomination, type of game, or keyword in the game title.

Be warned, though, Sam’s Town is not your traditional Vegas experience. It’s older and a bit cheesier. It’s probably a more appropriate casino to stay at if you’re older or maybe if you have young children.

As far as the better payback percentages go, that’s worth a visit.

Just keep in mind that no matter how high the payback percentage is at a specific casino, the various slot machines on the floor have different payback percentages from one another.

The payback percentage for a casino is the AVERAGE of the slots on the floor. You might play a game with a 75% payback percentage, while your mom might be playing on an identical machine next to it with a 95% payback percentage.

And since the house has the edge, if you play either game long enough, you’ll eventually lose all your money.

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6 – Excalibur

If you’re more interested in payback percentage than glitz and glamour, you should look at some of the older properties on the Strip. Circus Circus and Excalibur both count, but Excalibur’s more recent renovations make it somewhat more palatable to the modern gambler.

Excalibur is old enough and low rent enough that they can afford to offer some of the best payback percentages on the Strip. And if you’re not a high roller, you should consider trying the slots here.

They have plenty of penny slots, and even their most expensive game tops out at $100 per spin—a far cry from the $5000 max at some of the other casinos in this group on the Strip.

That’s right. Excalibur is also owned by MGM, so you get to participate in the same huge slot club as most of the other casinos on this list.

7 – Downtown Vegas in General

Rather than close out this list with another casino recommendation, I want to recommend the Downtown Vegas area over the Strip for its selection of unusual slot machine games in various areas.

For example, the biggest slot machine in the world is the SlotZilla zip line. And when I say “big,” I’m being literal. It’s 128 feet tall. You zip down Fremont Street Experience on one of two lines, and the game has a huge video screen with reels and an animated arm to pull.

You can also view antique slot machines at the Main Street. They’re beautiful and well worth seeing. You’ll find them near the registration desk.

Many of the Downtown Las Vegas casinos offer huge, oversized slot machines. One place to find them is on the second level of The D. You’ll have to take the escalator to see this one. Also, you get to play for real coins here, which is a nice change of pace for old-timers who remember being able to cash out with a huge bucket full of coins.

You’ll also find a huge slot machine in The Golden Nugget.

Conclusion

Those are my picks for the seven best casinos for slots in Las Vegas. Do you disagree with my choices?

Aria opened in 2009 as part of the CityCenter complex in the south-central area of the Vegas Strip. The individual parts of CityCenter (Aria Resort and Casino, Mandarin Oriental, Vdara, and Veer Towers) are now referred to individually instead of “CityCenter.” Aria remains attached to the Crystals Mall but the mall has been sold and is no longer technically a part of CityCenter.

Aria is a large casino-resort with over 4,000 hotel rooms and a massive 150,000+ square-foot gaming floor. This moderately priced luxury resort has some of the most technologically advanced and beautiful hotel rooms in Las Vegas. The Sky Suites at Aria is a Forbes Five Star hotel. It is treated as a separate hotel inside of Aria.

The hotel is positioned as a luxury property, although it might be priced otherwise. You can often find midweek prices that rival those of lesser hotels on the Vegas Strip. The same can’t be said for the restaurants. Las Vegas doesn’t have many casino-resorts with as many high-end dining restaurants as Aria. Not only is there a great variety of restaurants to choose from at Aria but many of these restaurants are at the top of their category in Las Vegas.

Hotel rooms

Choosing a room at Aria is simple. You can choose from three options including the 520-square-foot deluxe room, a Tower Suite that’s up to 2,000 square feet or the Forbes Five Star Sky Suite. The entry level rooms at Aria are a notch above many of the entry level rooms at casinos in Las Vegas. These large rooms have 300-thread-count bedding, room for work or relaxation and are among the most technologically advanced rooms in Las Vegas. The 42” HD LCD TV connects to all of your personal devices to the entertainment center. All rooms include a separate tablet to control lights, temperature, and so forth.

The Tower Suites are a step above the typical hotel room on the Vegas Strip and they’re still not the highest level of a hotel room at Aria. When you get to the Aria you’ll check-in from the Tower Suites Lounge where complimentary espresso, tea, juice and soft drinks, light pastries and seasonal snacks are available every day until midnight. The suites vary in size from 920 to 2,000 square feet. Book a corner suite or larger in the Tower Suites and receive luxury round-trip airport transportation to and from the airport.

Last, and certainly not least, are the Aria Sky Suites. These rooms have received the AAA Five Diamond award and are among the best accommodations in Las Vegas. Like the Tower Suites, the Aria Sky Suites have their own check-in lounge. Unlike the Tower Suites, everyone in these suites receives turndown service, personalized concierge, luxury round-trip airport transportation and has its own separate pool from the rest of the hotel. Suites range in size from a 1-bedroom suite that’s just over 1,000 square feet to a 2-story 2-bedroom suite that’s over 2,000 square feet.

Dining

Most casinos on the Vegas Strip are full service and offer different restaurants for every mood. However, Aria has some of the best restaurants in every category of food under one roof. Even with the fine dining, they have something that will work for most price ranges.

Casual

  • Aria Cafe – Traditional casino cafe that has something for every craving
  • Buffet – Recently redesigned and moderately priced buffet
  • Burger Lounge – Quick serve burger restaurant near the poker room
  • Five50 Pizza Bar – Pizza by the slice or by the pie
  • Jean-Philippe Patisserie – Pastry shop serving crepes, sandwiches, and sweets
  • Pressed Juicery – Fresh pressed juices
  • Starbucks – Everyone needs a quick cup of coffee in the morning

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Between casual and fine dining

  • Herringbone – This ocean-to-table restaurant focuses mostly on seafood
  • Julian Serrano – Traditional Spanish food served as tapas
  • Lemongrass – Thai-inspired Asian dining

Fine dining

  • Bardot Brasserie – French cuisine with a twist from world famous Chef Michael Mina
  • Blossom – This restaurant has over 100 Chinese dishes, many with an American twist
  • Carbone – A modern take on the classic Italian-American restaurant
  • Javier’s – Fine Mexican cuisine with large tequila selection
  • John George’s Steakhouse – This steakhouse has three different types of beef from around the world
  • Sage – Contemporary American cuisine from James Beard Award-winning Chef Shawn McClain

Casino

The casino has 150,000 square feet of gaming space. The main gaming floor is divided by Alibi Lounge and the high limits gaming area. These dividers help make massive space appear cozier. The casino floor is laid out with the customer in mind and is intuitive to navigate. The table games are in the middle and surrounded by slot machines toward the lobby end of the hotel. The poker room and sports book are set to the side and have a more private feel than many on Vegas Strip.

One of the best features of the Aria casino is that it offers natural sunlight. You’ll find actual sunlight surrounding the main casino floor and skylights in the high limits room. Despite the natural light, the decor still makes the casino feel somewhat dark even though it’s lit by thousands of new slot machines.

One of the benefits of staying at an MGM Resorts hotel is that you don’t even have to leave your hotel room to gamble. You can take part in the low-roller EasyPlay slot tournaments on your mobile device or place sports wagers with you PlayMGMapp that offers all the same wagering opportunities as the sports book.

Nightlife

Aria has just enough nightlife to offer something for everyone. That said, the lounges, bars, and nightclub aren’t huge and are often more crowded than comfortable. Yes, they’re popular but the spaces might be under-serving the customer. This is rare to see at such a busy casino on the Las Vegas strip. Here’s a look at the nightlife you’ll find at Aria.

  • Alibi – This bar offers a relaxing lounge experience combined with traditional casino bar with video poker
  • BaccaratLounge – Relaxing lounge is hidden from the main casino floor
  • Gem – Casino bar made for video poker players
  • High Limits Lounge – Excellent getaway from the main casino floor
  • Jewel – One of the newest nightclubs on the Vegas Strip always attracts A-List talent
  • Liquid – Dayclub for when you’re in the party mood when the sun is out
  • Lobby Bar – A great meeting place just off the main lobby
  • Lift – Located just off the casino floor serving craft cocktails and offering video poker
  • Sports Bar – Small bar located by the sportsbook where you can play video poker and watch the games

Entertainment

Aria closed their showroom to add convention space to the hotel. The casino doesn’t have any show entertainment, but it’s a quick walk to the Park Theater at Monte Carlo and T-Mobile Arena at The Park. If you’re looking for entertainment inside Aria you’ll have to enjoy one of the many bars or nightclub detailed above.

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Pool

Aria has a complex of three pools. While this may seem like a lot, these pools are smaller than some other casinos on the Vegas Strip. Lounge chairs are limited and you may have to pay to rent one for the day. Since the hotel has such great service, your best deal at the Aria pools might be to rent a cabana for the day.

Must see attractions

  • Experiment with the in-room tech – The technology available at Aria is unmatched by any hotel in Las Vegas. In-room tablets let you control everything from electronics to ordering extra towels from housekeeping. You don’t even have to wait to get to your hotel to try the tech. Just check into your room from your mobile phone before arriving at Aria.
  • Enjoy the art – Aria has paintings, sculptures, and art installations from acclaimed artists as part of their Fine Arts collection. You can find artwork inside and outside of the hotel, casino and the rest of CityCenter.
  • Get a room near the elevators – The tower hallways at Aria are curved and among the longest in Las Vegas. Save yourself a few minutes each time you walk to and from your hotel room by getting a room closer to the elevator.
  • Visit Jewel – This is one of the newest nightclubs in Las Vegas. Jewel is managed by Hakkasan Group and has a constant flow of A-List talent come through the beautiful new nightclub.
  • Try Absinthe for the first time – There are very few bars in America that serve Absinthe. Sage not only has an Absinthe Bar but they have an Absinthe cart that comes around for tableside service.

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Aria loyalty club

MGM Resorts International owns and operates Aria. Their loyalty club, M Life Rewards, is one of the largest casino loyalty clubs in Las Vegas. MGM Grand Detroit, Beau Rivage (MS), Gold Strike (MS) and MGM National Harbor (MD) also accept M Life Rewards. The club will expand to Borgata (NJ) soon and MGM Springfield (MA) when it opens.

These casinos outside of Las Vegas make M Life Rewards one of the biggest casino loyalty clubs in the country. You can earn points and credits at any M Life Rewards casino to use at Aria in Las Vegas. M Life Rewards has an array of partnerships that allow you to both earn and use rewards outside of the casino.

M Life Rewards can be slightly confusing since you earn different types points at two different rates. You can ear tier credits that allow you to climb status to earn specific benefits. Points accumulate for Express Credits that can be redeemed for shopping, dining, Free Play that can be used in slot machines, and gift shopping points.

Tier levels

Here’s a look at the different Tier levels and how many credits you’ll need to achieve the coinciding benefits for Las Vegas:

  • Sapphire – Entry Level, everyone starts here
  • Pearl – Earn 25,000 Tier Credits
  • Gold – Earn 75,000 Tier Credits
  • Platinum – Earn 200,000 Tier Credits
  • Noir – Invitation only

Tier credits

In addition to gaming, you can earn Tier credits, express comps, free play, and holiday gift shop points from spending money on gaming, dining, entertainment, hotel rooms, shopping, spa treatments and golf at any MGM Resorts property. Here’s how Tier credits and points are awarded:

  • Slot machines – 1 point and 10 Tier Credits for every $3 you play (You also earn 1 cent in Express Comps and 1 cent in FreePlay.)
  • Video poker – 1 point and 10 Tier Credits for every $10 you play (You also earn 1 cent in Express Comps and 1 cent in FreePlay.)
  • Table games – (blackjack, three card poker, etc.) – Varies on the type of table game you are playing, your average bet and how long you play
  • Non-gaming – 25 Tier Credits for every $1 you spend

Different tier levels earn points at a different rate:

  • Sapphire – No bonus
  • Pearl – 10% bonus
  • Gold – 20% bonus
  • Platinum – 30% bonus
  • Noir – 40% bonus

Tier Credits earned from October 1 to September 30 qualify you for your tier beginning each October 1. If you advance to a higher tier at any time, you’ll enjoy those benefits for at least one full year.

Tier benefits

Each tier you reach with M Life Rewards brings greater benefits. The benefits are only incrementally better since you have 5 tiers. M Life Rewards offers discounts and pre-sale ticketing opportunities for all levels. Being a member has benefits even if you’re just visiting to see a concert and staying elsewhere.

MGM Resorts is the first casino operator to charge for parking on the Las Vegas Strip. If you’re a Pearl member or greater the fees for self-park are waived. Valet fees are waived for Gold members and above. These daily parking fees range anywhere from $8 to $18 per day depending on the property and type of parking. The parking discount is one of the best benefits, along with Tier bonuses and increasing retail discounts. Here’s a look at the benefits for each Tier:

Sapphire

  • Dedicated reservation line
  • Access to M Life Moments
  • Personalized offers at MLife.com
  • Earn Express Comps
  • Special offers from partners
  • Earn Points and convert to Free Play or Express Comps
  • 5% discount at participating retail shops
  • Earn Holiday Gift Shoppe Points
  • Pre-Sale Ticket Access to Select Events, Concerts, and Fights
  • M life Flat Rate Pricing for select MGM Resort shows
  • Avis Rental Car Discount (at on-property rental counters)

Pearl

  • Same as Sapphire plus the following
  • Invitations to Members-Only Events and Tournaments
  • Extended Expiration For Points and Express Comps
  • 10% Tier Multiplier Bonus on Points Earned at all M life Resorts
  • 10% Tier Multiplier Bonus on Express Comps Earned at M life Resorts
  • Exclusive Room Discounts or Comps
  • 10% discount at participating retail shops
  • Buffet Line Pass
  • Exclusive Seating at Arena Events

Gold

  • Same as Pearl plus the following
  • 20% Tier Multiplier Bonus on Points Earned at all M life Resorts
  • 20% Tier Multiplier Bonus on Express Comps Earned at M life Resorts
  • Room Upgrades (view, corner or suite subject to availability)
  • Priority Hotel Check-in Line
  • 10% discount at participating retail shops
  • Cafe Line Pass
  • Fine Dining Priority Reservations
  • VIP Line Access to Nightclubs and Pool Day Clubs for You and a Guest

Platinum

  • Same as Gold plus the following
  • 30% Tier Multiplier Bonus on Points Earned at all M life Resorts
  • 30% Tier Multiplier Bonus on Express Comps Earned at M life Resorts
  • Priority Access to Pool Cabanas and Bungalows
  • Spa / Salon Priority Reservations
  • Platinum Experience upon Check-in
  • 15% discount at participating retail shops
  • Priority Valet Service
  • Priority Taxi Service

Noir

  • Same as Platinum plus the following
  • VIP Lounge Check-in
  • Guaranteed Hotel Reservations
  • 15% discount at participating retail shops
  • Guaranteed Dining Reservations
  • Guaranteed Show Reservations
  • Complimentary Limousine Service To / From Airport

M Life Rewards partners

M Life Rewards offers members many benefits that extend beyond MGM Resorts hotels and casinos. This program has a large group of preferred partners where you can earn or use rewards for both loyalty clubs.

Current partners include Hyatt, Southwest, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Avis, Pinnacle Entertainment (casinos), Cirque Du Soleil, Thunder Valley Casino, Reflection Bay, and Morgans Hotel Group. You can find more information at the bottom of this M Life Rewards overview.

The Hyatt-M Life Rewards partnership is one of the best non-casino partnerships in Las Vegas. You can you earn Tier Credits at over 600 hotels and resorts worldwide. Even better is that M Life Rewards members can get their tier status matched as a Hyatt Gold Passport. This is a great way to climb status without even being in Las Vegas.

Partner properties

M Life Rewards connects 12 casinos around the country including these Las Vegas casinos:

  • Aria
  • Excalibur
  • Luxor
  • Monte Carlo
  • New York-New York

M Life Rewards online

The M Life Rewards website was recently rebuilt. It now looks and feels similar to the rest of the MGM Resorts’ websites. This is a welcome change from previous versions of the website frequently had bugs. The new website looks great and is easy to use.

The current version of the M Life app looks similar to the individual MGM Resorts casino websites but offers information for every property. The app is quick, smooth, easy to read and intuitive. You can sort information in the app by each casino or by the category of information you’re looking for (shows, restaurants, etc.).

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This app doesn’t assume the user is an M Life Rewards member and offers all the information you could want. In addition, the app links to all related apps such as MyVegas, PlayMGM and easyPLAY. This is probably the best looking and most functional Las Vegas casino app around.

M Life Rewards best bets

  • Sign up – You receive discounts on hotel rooms and pre-sale ticket purchasing opportunities just for signing up.
  • Go Pearl or Gold and skip parking fees – The $8 to $18 self-park and valet fees add up every stay. This is one of the benefits you can put a dollar figure on.
  • Get Bonus Points – Each Tier level you climb offers greater point multipliers. The rich get richer with M Life Rewards so you might as well enjoy it.
  • Priority Check-In – MGM Resorts casino are among the busiest in Las Vegas. Since the majority of customers are entry-level tier status the check-in lines can be massive. Skip the huge lines when you’re Gold or better.
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