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As you know, pokie machines are the most popular games in brick-and-mortar casinos worldwide. In the United States, pokies are also in high demand.
Contrary to the widespread belief, gambling in the United States is allowed not only in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Casinos are available in many states, although they do not work everywhere but only in certain areas.
Pokie Machines at American Casinos
Based on the data from the annual edition of the American Casino Guide (2013), we have prepared for Casinoz readers a review of video pokies in different states. We tried to focus on whether casinos provide such information.
Idaho
Six Indian casinos operate in the state of Idaho. They offer a variety of pokie machines. All of them give out checks to cash out.
The state government does not set a minimum payback requirement, so this data is not publicly available.
Iowa
In 2012, the Iowa state authorities, to oversee gambling and horse racing activities, published data on RTPs in pokie machines of different types:
- pokie machines,
- video pokies,
- video poker, etc.
The information was from several casinos. The range extends from 89,5% (Horseshoe Council Bluffs) to 91,6% (Isle of Capri - Waterloo).
Alabama
In Alabama, three casinos operate in the Native American territories. They have pokie machines, but the state law does not require organizers to provide data about the RTP in video pokies.
Arizona
On the territory of Arizona, Indian casinos have welcomed clients since 1993, offering them the same pokie machines. Gambling operators are not obliged to inform customers about the payback. Still, the Arizona Department of Gambling has sat the minimal levels:
- video pokies - at 80%,
- video poker - at 83%,
- keno - at 75%.
Thus, the RTPs should be at least as stated above.
Arkansas
In Arkansas casinos, there are video poker, video blackjack, and video pokies with strategy elements. Local authorities regulating gambling activities in the state require the RTP to be at least 83%.
In practice, it is considerably higher. In Southland, pokie machines have an average payback of 93.6%; in Oaklawn, it is 93.2%.
Delaware
Delaware offers pokie machines in all three local casinos. According to provincial law, the payback must be 87% to 95%, although with the authorities' approval, it may exceed 95%.
As of 2012, Delaware Park video pokies payout 92.4 %, Harrington Raceway - 91.5%, and Dover Downs - 92%.
| Name | Return to player | Max payout | Variance | Soft | ||
| 99.07% | x1000 | Low |
|
Play | |
| 99% | x12075 | High |
|
Play | |
| 98.98% | x3843 | Middle |
|
Play | |
| 98.72% | — | — |
|
Play | |
| 98.67% | — | — |
|
Play | |
| 98.6% | x670 | Low |
|
Play | |
| 98.18% | — | Low |
|
||
| 98.13% | x15000 | High |
|
Play | |
| 98.12% | x10000 | High |
|
Play | |
| 98.12% | x500 | Low |
|
Play | |
| 98.11% | x1500 | High |
|
Play | |
| 98.11% | x7500 | — |
|
Play | |
| 98.1% | x2500 | — |
|
Play | |
| 98.1% | x2500 | — |
|
Play | |
| 98.08% | x10000 | High |
|
Play |
Georgia
Residents and visitors of Georgia can gamble on two ferries, located five kilometers away in neutral waters, where such activities are not prohibited. On the other hand, no one controls the organizers of these casinos, so there is no data on the RTP in the games.
Florida
Gambling in Florida is of three varieties:
- casinos on Indian reservations,
- casinos on the ferries,
- pokie machines in one of the southern districts.
There are eight Indian casinos in the state. Seven of them belong to the Seminole tribe, and one is on the Miccosukee reservation. The Seminoles offer a variety of games, including pokies, blackjack, three-card poker, baccarat, Pai Gow, Let It Ride, and others. The Miccosukee casino has only pokies.
Interestingly, in some Indian casinos, gambling is permitted to visitors from eighteen years, and some allow only visitors older than twenty-one. Data on RTPs is not available.
Ferries with gambling games take customers on board and go five miles into the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. In these waters, a law of any country is no longer valid, and organizers of such casinos can set any RTP in the pokie machines. Of course, they do not provide information on it.
In several southern districts of Florida, pokie halls are permitted. The theoretical return to the player must be at least 85%. These are the demands of the local regulatory authorities. In the summer of 2012, the following RTPs were recorded: Magic City - 92,2%, Calder - 91 %, Mardi Gras Gaming - 92,5%, Gulfstream - 91,9%, The Isle - 93,2%.
Illinois
In Illinois, there are several casinos. In the summer of 2012, the state regulatory authorities set requirements for pokie RTPs. The complete list is not published. We can say that the rates vary from 89,2% (Harrah's Metropolis) to 93,4% (Casino Queen).
Indiana
The Indiana Gaming Commission provided data in June 2012 on the verification of payback in casino pokie machines operating in the state. The lowest one was registered in the Horseshoe Hammond (90%), and the highest RTPs are in pokies belonging to Hoosier Park (nearly 92%).
However, as you can see, the difference is not so significant. Moreover, these numbers include data on gaming machines, video poker games, electronic keno, and other games.
California
California casinos offer customers a variety of pokie machines, video poker, and card games.
Roulette and craps are unavailable there because they are forbidden in the state. Yet, some casinos have found a way out by developing the original versions of these games with cards instead of dice and wheels.
Such metamorphoses also occurred with blackjack. Local versions are played to twenty-two points, and the casino keeps a commission from payouts.
California has more than ninety gambling clubs. They do not provide public information on RTPs in their games because regulatory authorities do not require them to do it.
Colorado
Colorado casinos offer customers a variety of games, including pokie machines. In 2012, the local department on gambling control published data on the theoretical return to different cities.
These numbers vary a lot in some casinos. The range extends from 90% to 96.12 %.
Connecticut
MGM Grand and Foxwoods' average return on pokie machines in casinos is 91.59%. If you bet ten dollars, it rises to 95.27%.
At Mohegan Sun, the payout percentage for video pokies is 91.75%. A bet of ten dollars increases it to over 96%.
Kansas
Kansas casinos are owned by the state and located in four districts. There are also five Indian casinos. Detailed information on the paybacks in pokie machines is not provided. We only know that public clubs must payout at least 87% and Indian casinos no less than 80%.
To be continued ...
