Reno Slots
Slots in the Reno/Sparks area of Nevada have a ~5% higher RTP than the Las Vegas Strip. So why isn’t everyone flocking there?
Pro: Slot RTP in Reno/Sparks is higher
RTP for 1¢ slots in Sparks is 92.98%. On the Las Vegas Strip, it’s 88.33%.
When we started playing slots, we chased the numbers
After losing big in Vegas, we flew to Sparks and played the same slots we normally play. Was there a noticeable difference? Nope. Here’s why.
Gambling in Nevada is controlled by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. They publish RTP statistics for slots by geographic area. At first glance, Sparks, Nevada (the city next to Reno) seems to be the best place to play slots. A 5% advantage is statistically significant.
Here’s the catch…
Return to Player (RTP) statistics reflect the amount wagered vs. the amount paid back to the gambler. 92.8% means that the gambler can expect to lose 7.2% over time where time is measured in years or even decades. RTP is based on data gathered over thousands of simulated reel spins, bets, bonuses, etc.
Beyond Gambling
Pro
Reno is pretty. If you wanted to take a break and drive into the mountains for skiing, rock climbing, etc. it’s all within a 30-minute drive. The park along the Truckee River in downtown Reno is beautifully designed and immaculate. Lake Tahoe is less than an hour away.
Food and drink prices in Reno are affordable. A fancy dinner in Las Vegas may set you back $600. In Reno, the bill will be half that.
Reno is a real small town, not a facsimile. The charming small-town streets and shops that Vegas is attempting in the Arts District have been in Reno for decades. People are friendly. Streets are safe.
Con
Flights are more expensive and there are fewer of them. It’s actually cheaper for us to fly from San Jose, California to Vegas than to Reno, even though it’s 100 miles farther away. There’s also only one direct flight per day vs. the dozen or so to Vegas. An indirect flight to Reno can take 3-7 hours.
Casinos in Reno are spread out across the region, sometimes by miles. The exception is the downtown area, but the casinos there aren’t high-end resorts; they’re more like what you would find in downtown Las Vegas.
Snowy roads. Enough said.