How To Play Gas Station Slot Machines
- Can Gas Stations Have Slot Machines
- How To Play Gas Station Slot Machines Jackpots
- Top Slot Machine To Play
- How To Win Gas Station Slot Machines
- In other words, the so-called 'Pow'r Up' machines at some local gas stations 'are kind of like slot machines,' according to Milwaukee County Circuit Judge John DiMotto. The company behind the.
- Gas Station Slot Machines Cheat The games haven’t exactly gone mainstream just yet. In fact, PennLive suggest the state’s major convenience store and gas station chains have yet to.
- PLACES TO AVOID SLOT MACHINE PLAY. The Airport: There are plenty of slot machines at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas as well as in the Reno-Tahoe International Airport serving Northern Nevada. These should be avoided like the plague.
- I stopped by a gas station a few minutes from my house here in downtown Brandon, MS and when I walked in I noticed two people sitting down playing at a slot machine. The clerk said that reps from the Mississippi Lottery installed them.
Gambling authorities are there to ensure that the gaming industry is operating correctly.
Outside of Nevada, slot machines have largely been relegated to casinos. After all, most states don’t want slots in every nook and cranny.
More recently, though, some states have seen slot machines pop up in gas stations and convenient stores. These slots allow you to enjoy gambling when you’re making a quick trip to get gas and/or buy snacks.
Of course, gas station slot machines (a.k.a. skill games) are still relatively new concepts. You may not be used to them if you strictly play casino slots.
If you’re interested in playing gas station slots, then you can read the following guide. It covers how these games work and if they’re ultimately worth trying.
Basics of Gas Station Slot Machines
Convenience store slots play like casino slot machines for the most part. They feature spinning reels and bonus rounds just like regular slots.
If you’ve played a casino slot before, then you won’t have any trouble getting started with these games. You insert your cash to get credits and push the spin button to play.
The reels will begin spinning after you hit the spin button. The goal is to line up matching symbols in paylines and win prizes.
Gas station slots seem just like those in casinos so far, right? The twist, though, is that there’s a skill element involved.
Gas station slot machines require you to use skill in some capacity while playing. The skill-based factor differs based on the individual machine.
Some types of slots games merely require you to select a winning payline in order to collect the payout. Others offer in-depth bonuses, such as memory games.
In many jurisdictions, the slot machines need to contain skill to avoid being considered pure gambling. In this manner, they survive in a legal gray area.
How Gas Station Slots Differ from Casino Slot Machines
Convenience store slot machines may closely resemble casino slots, but they also have notable differences. Here’s a more in-depth look at how gas station slots are unique.
Skill Element
Skill is a defining characteristic of a gas station slot machine. It requires you to use some type of skillful action during the course of play.
The skill level varies based on the game.In the most basic sense, you merely need to manually select winning paylines. After tapping the winning lines, you’ll collect the relevant payouts.
Of course, these slots can also feature skill-based bonuses that are rather involved. You might, for instance, need to drive a race car. Your finish will determine how many credits you earn.
Found at Convenience Stores
You no longer have to visit casinos to play real money slot machines. Gas stations in certain states now feature slots.
The average state has a convenience store for approximately every 2,000 residents. This means that you likely live within 1-3 miles of the nearest gas station.
Assuming you’re also in a state with convenience store slot machines, then you’ll have easy access to these games. You might even be able to walk to play them.
Legal Grey Area
The legality surrounding convenience store slots varies depending upon the jurisdiction. Some states completely ban all forms of gambling (e.g. Utah) regardless of if the slots contain skill or not.
Others have loopholes that allow skill games to thrive. Gas station slot machines are normally available in these jurisdictions.
Of course, most convenient stores don’t have to obtain a gaming license to operate like casinos do. They license/purchase games that allow them to offer gambling through legal loopholes.
Little Info Available on the Games
You’re not going to see famous slot machines like International Game Technology’s (IGT) Megabucks or branded games like Game of Thrones in gas stations. Instead, you’ll find lots of generic slots in convenience stores.
These games aren’t well-known throughout the gaming world. That said, you won’t have a lot of information on these gambling machines.
You’re almost never going to find a payout percentage for them. Of course, very few casino slots offer return to player (RTP) in their help screens either.
No Established VIP Programs
Many convenience stores have loyalty programs that offer savings on gas and other items. Every purchase you make at these stores can result in points.
However, gas station slots aren’t subject to any defined a VIP program. You might get points for playing the slot machine too, but you won’t receive traditional casino comps like free drinks, meals, and limousine rides.
Contrast this to land based casinos, which boast elaborate loyalty programs. These VIP plans allow you to pick up everything from three-course meals to hotel stays.
Jackpots Aren’t As Large
Many convenience store slot machines offer jackpots. You might be able to win thousands of dollars through some of these games.
However, you’re not going to be chasing multimillion-dollar prizes. Such jackpots are reserved for land-based and online casinos.
Some progressive slot machines in casinos offer top prizes worth six or even seven figures. The online slot Aztec’s Millions, for example, features a $4.4 million jackpot at the time of this writing.
Are Gas Station Slot Machines as Clean as Casino Slot Machines?
This wasn’t as big of a concern before 2020 as it is now, but you always need to consider how clean the slot machines you’re playing are. While every business is supposed to be cleaning things on a regular basis, some businesses aren’t doing as much as others.
The few gas stations I’ve played slot machines in do a decent job of cleaning, but they’re not doing as good as the casinos. This can be a real issue, especially if you get sick from playing slots in a gas station.
This is a personal issue, but I’ve always disliked sitting down at a slot machine that was dirty. You don’t have any idea who played on the machine before you, and what kind of germs they left behind.
Of course, this isn’t just the case with gas station slot machines. Some smaller casinos don’t do a good job keeping their machines clean. I got in the habit of carrying a small container of cleaning wipes before 2020, and I won’t go to play slots anywhere without them now.
Should You Play Slots at a Casino or Gas Station?
If you had all the time in the world, then casinos would be your best option for playing slots. They feature of the largest game selections, biggest jackpots, and detailed loyalty programs. You can visit a casino and enjoy lavish comps while playing for jackpots worth up to seven figures.
However, you might still consider gas station slot machines due to the convenience factor. They’re readily available and may be located near your house.
Then again, not all states tolerate slots in convenience stores. If you live in one of these states, then you either need to visit land-based or online casinos to play.
Of course, you can always alternate your play between one setting and the other. Sometimes you might feel like a big trip to the casino. In such cases, you’ll be able to play countless slots and enjoy resort amenities.
Other times you may simply feel like playing a quick slots session without any hassles. Skill games are perfect for these purposes.
You shouldn’t need to travel long to find convenient store slots if your state offers them. This option allows you to save on both time and travel costs.
Conclusion
Casinos have long been the most-popular spots to spin the reels. They’ll likely remain favorites among gamblers into the foreseeable future.
However, gas station slot machines make for suitable alternatives to land-based casino slots. They don’t require as much travel and still feature exciting games.
You might even appreciate the opportunity to try a different type of slots. Convenience store games require a skill element that’s rarely seen in casino slot machines.
Of course, not every state allows slot machines in its gas stations. They like keeping slots where they belong in online and land-based casinos. If your state does allow skill games, though, then you should consider giving them a try.
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.Introduction to Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2021
Kentucky slot machine casino gambling consists of six parlors offering pari-mutuel-based electronic gaming machines, four of which are at horse racetracks.
I’ve dedicated this weekly series to slot enthusiasts such as yourself as you master casino slots and win your way to success by using this State-By-State Online Resource to improve your slots gambling performance by reviewing your state’s slots gaming industry.
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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Kentucky
The minimum legal gambling age in Kentucky depends upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 21
- Poker Rooms: Not available
- Bingo: 18
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18
Historically, Kentucky has had a fascinating relationship with gambling. While casino gambling was never legal, gambling dens were prevalent before the Great Depression of 1929. To this day, the open display of illegal gambling from that time in American history continues to negatively affect the perception of gaming in Kentucky.
Kentucky’s constitution prohibits Class III Vegas-style slot machines. In 2011, Historic Horse Racing (HHR) electronic gaming machines arrived in Kentucky. These gaming machines look like slot machines, but the results of each bet made are based on many past, anonymous, horse racing results from across the U.S.
Based on pari-mutuel wagering regulations for horse races, the HHR machines circumvented the constitutional prohibition against slot machines. In recent years, HHRs have become increasingly, some say wildly, popular.
Kentucky’s flourishing slots industry has recently come under scrutiny by state lawmakers. Why? Because most of the taxes generated by HHR machines go to horse industry funds and program.
Since 2011, HHR bets total $5.3 billion. About $80 million went to taxes, of which $51 million went to the horse industry. Only $29 million went to general tax revenue for the state.
While this $29 million may seem like a lot, Kentucky lawmakers noticed it’s substantially less than the tax revenue received from slot machine bets in other states.
These HHR machines revived the horse racing industry in Kentucky and manufacturers of these games are looking to expand across the U.S. And the Commonwealth of Kentucky has decided it wants a bigger piece of the pie.
For more details, see WDRB’s Top Story in its Sunday Edition from mid-2019, “Is Kentucky being ‘shortchanged’ on its ‘slots’?”
In February 2021, state lawmakers came to an agreement to push off a controversial tax revenue increase until 2022.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Kentucky
In Kentucky, it is legal to own a slot machine privately.
Gaming Control Board in Kentucky
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) regulates skill-based games at pari-mutual racetracks in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
These devices are Historic Horse Racing (HHR) electronic gaming machines. In January 2021, the KHRC reported Kentucky offers 3,672 HHR machines, a nearly 20% increase from a year before.
Casinos in Kentucky
Kentucky has six commercial casinos with HHR electronic gaming machines.
The largest casino in Kentucky is Oak Grove Racing Casino Hotel with 1,300 gaming machines.
The second-largest casino is Red Mile Gaming & Racing with 902 gaming machines, an HHR parlor in partnership with Keeneland Race Course.
Commercial Casinos in Kentucky
There are six gambling establishments offering HHR gaming machines in Kentucky including:
- Derby City Gaming in Louisville, 74 miles west of Lexington on the Indiana border.
- Ellis Park Racing Gaming in Henderson, 105 miles northwest of Bowling Green.
- Kentucky Downs Gaming in Franklin, 29 miles south of Bowling Green.
- Oak Grove Racing Gaming Hotel, 59 miles northwest of Nashville on the Tennessee border.
- Newport Racing & Gaming, 86 miles north of Lexington on the Ohio River just across the state border from Cincinnati.
- Red Mile Gaming & Racing in Lexington.
Tribal Casinos in Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky has no federally recognized American Indian tribes and, therefore, is unable to have tribal casinos.
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying Kentucky slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Kentucky is:
- North: Illinois Slots, Indiana Slots, and Ohio Slots
- East: West Virginia Slots
- Southeast: Virginia Slots
- South: Tennessee Slots
- West: Missouri Slots
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Kentucky.
Our Kentucky Slots Facebook Community
Can Gas Stations Have Slot Machines
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Kentucky? If so, join our Kentucky slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to freely join this closed Facebook Group community.
There, you can meet online and privately share your slots experiences with local slots enthusiasts about playing slot machines in Kentucky. Join us!
Payouts and Returns in Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky does not offer any theoretical payout limits on HHR gaming machines.
How To Play Gas Station Slot Machines Jackpots
However, return statistics are available after a bit of number crunching. The KHRC offers monthly return statistics for HHR gaming under Reports.
Calculate player win percentage by dividing Less: Return to Public by Total Handle starting on page 15. For January 2021, the monthly Player’s Win% for HHR machines were:
- State-wide: 91.1%
- Derby City: 90.9%
- Ellis Park: 90.6%
- Keeneland/Red Mile: 92.5%
- Kentucky Downs: 91.2%
- Newport: 90.2%
- Oak Grove: 90.9%
From this January 2021 report, Red Mile at Keeneland had the highest player win percent at 92.5% while Newport had the lowest at 90.2%.
Summary of Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2021
Kentucky slot machine casino gambling exists as competition based Historic Horse Racing (HHR) gaming machines where the results of bets are based on many past horse race results.
Annual Progress in Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling
In September 2020, Oak Grove Racing Gaming Hotel opened. Otherwise, in the last year, Newport Racing & Gaming opened.
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How To Win Gas Station Slot Machines
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC