Coin-Operated Slots Machines – The End Of An Era In Las Vegas
The Last Casino With Coin Slots Machines on the Las Vegas Strip
As slot machines have evolved, you’ll find that the old coin-operated slots are becoming a rare breed. If you happen to be in Las Vegas and looking for a coin-operated slot on the strip, then you’re going to have a hard time finding one. In truth, there is only one casino that has slots that still take coins. This feels very odd as most people’s idea of casinos in Las Vegas consists of punters sitting in front of noisy slot machines and repeatedly shoving in coin after coin. But that picture appears to be more than a little out of date.
The only casino on the whole of the Las Vegas strip which has slot machines that still take coins is Circus Circus. We guess that this casino has decided that all the effort of feeding and maintaining coin-based slots machines is still worth it. We imagine that there are still many customers who are happy to pay with coins. And Circus Circus wants to repay their gamblers for remaining loyal and for playing a lot. Obviously, this accounts for a study stream of revenue. Another factor may be the word of mouth advertising. This may lead players coming for the coin-operated slots to venture further into the casino and start to play other jackpot games.
Coin-Operated Slots Machines Las Vegas
It’s interesting to note that the coin-operating machines in Circus Circus are always incredibly busy. In particular one of the machines, a $1 Carousel which sits just inside the front door. It always has a group of excited players around it. Going onto the actual slots floor within the casino, and you’ll see that it’s packed out with punters. In fact, it’s true that Circus Circus is like a slot machine feeding frenzy at all times. For a huge variety of slots to play online, we suggest that you get yourself over to King Billy Casino, as they are, without a doubt, the best casino site to play.
The demise of the once-popular coin-operated slots machine comes from the fact that they are very labour intensive. Today’s more modern slots are played with what’s known as “TITO” which stands for “ticket in-ticket out” vouchers. The casino game producers understand just how much gamblers love the coin operating machines. To the point that they will even replicate the sound of coins dropping into the payout tray when there is no coinage involved. Though we will be the first to admit that modern slot machines have many benefits, there is still something comforting and more authentic about playing slots with real coins.
Going back a few years, when visiting casinos to win the jackpot, it would be a common sight to see the plastic casino-branded coin buckets being carried by every slot player. Likewise, the noise of coins going into the slot was almost as satisfying as the sound of coins falling into the slot payout tray. And if you remember back that far, think of all those coins you would have won. How you needed to shovel them into the bucket and carry them around with you. There was something supremely satisfying about the sheer weight of all those coins.
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The Types Of Players At The Coin-Operated Slots
Another thing you may remember if you’re over a certain age is those awful players. You know, the ones who used to hog the coin-operated slots machines in spite of other people waiting to use them. These unsociable players were known as “slot holes.” Then there was another group of equally badly behaved players who are referred to as “save holes.” They would stand around claiming that they were “saving” the machine for a friend or our family relative, who inevitably never showed up.
If you go to Circus Circus on the Las Vegas strip then it’ll remind you of just how much fun a traditional coin-operated slots machine can be. And it’s not just a fun experience either. Keep in mind that many of these slots have an RTP of around 97.4%. This means that you could actually class them as old school “loose” slots. Remember that the average slot payback percentage, anywhere else on the Las Vegas Strip, is around a paltry 92%.
A Few More Coin-Operated Slots
Although Circus Circus is the only casino on the Las Vegas Strip to offer coin-operated slots machines, it’s not the only one in Las Vegas. In fact, you’ll find two other casinos in the “city that never sleeps” with coin slots. These are the California Hotel and Casino and The El Cortez Hotel and Casino. Boyd Gaming actually owns and runs the California Hotel. Unfortunately, its coin-operated slot machines only feature video poker. Meaning that they have no spinning reels. In many ways, that takes away a lot of the fun. Up until around a year ago the Plaza Casino used to have coin-operated slots. But the high maintenance costs ensured that they were retired.
In downtown Las Vegas you can find The D, a casino that has a coin-operated slots machine, though it’s not a traditional slot. It’s actually a horse racing machine that works by betting quarters. It’s known as the Sigma Derby machine, and it’s the only one in any casino in the United States. Yes, it’s true, you can find the Fortune Cup machine everywhere. But that’s just a lazy knockoff of the original and fantastic Sigma Derby. We should point out that this machine has an almost cult-like following. You’ll always find a huge crowd waiting to play it.
An Authentic Playing Experience
If you venture a few miles outside of Las Vegas, you’ll find Jerry’s Nugget Casino which still boasts slot machines. The same is true for the small casino in Henderson, Skyline. This also has a number of these going out of fashion machines. But when it comes to these types of jackpot slots, we have to admit that they are on a steady decline and we imagine that they will soon go extinct. We know the new and modern digital slot machines may be able to replicate the sounds of the coins. But the effect is all rather cheap and nasty. In comparison, modern machines just seem so “soulless.” In truth, we even find the online slots, like those at King Billy Casino, to be more authentic.
It’s slightly ridiculous and even condescending to use the sounds of coins to try and replicate the sensation of playing on old-fashioned coin-operated slots. Part of the whole experience was having a fistful of real coins. And when the day was over, and you looked down at your hands, you could see they were absolutely filthy. Your nails would be black. But that was all part and parcel of the whole charm of the slot playing experience. Along with the glorious noise of falling coins. So try and keep its memory alive, as it gradually fades into history.
