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Until recently, I wasn’t aware that gas station slot machines existed. But I’m not surprised that slot machines are found in some filling stations because you can find slots in many other places.
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Where I live, no gas stations have slots games. But I recently traveled to a state (Oklahoma — home to the Winstar, Choctaw, River Spirit, and Riverwind casinos) where I saw my first convenience store slot machine, which gave me the idea to write about them.
In this post, you’re going to learn everything you need to know about slots in gas stations.
I’ve even included information about whether these machines are legal and if the games are as good as the ones you find in casinos.
Table of Contents
Gas Station Slot Machines for Beginners
Gas station slot machines work the same way as slots games in land-based casinos, online casinos, and mobile casinos. Of course, you’re not always going to find the same machines as you see in casinos. But the basic game mechanics are the same.
If you’ve never played slot machines before, here’s a quick overview of how these games work and how to play.
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Modern slots games are computer programs, which means that a computer and random numbers run everything the machine does. The companies that make slot machines program each machine to pay back a set percentage of bets and retain a set percentage for profit.
For example, a slot machine programmed to pay back 92% has a profit of 8% for the gas station. If you make 250 bets of $1 each on a slot game that pays back 92%, your expected return is $230, and the profit for the station is $20.
The computer program dictates what symbols show on the screen to produce the programmed results. The results are created using a random number generator. It would help if you were a computer programmer to understand precisely how the programming works. But the important thing to understand is that nothing you do can change the results.
When you find a game to play, you first need to read the rules and learn what the pay lines are and what each pay line pays.
The next step is to put money in the machine and press the spin button or pull the lever on the side of the machine if the machine has a lever.
When the reels stop spinning, you see if you won or lost.
Most slot machines create a balance when you put money in. Then, every time you take a spin, the cost is deducted from your balance. And when you win, the money is added to your balance. However, a few machines still pay out actual coins instead of adding to your balance when you win.
The Pros and Cons of Playing Slot Machines in Filling Stations
Like most things in the world, there are pros and cons to playing gas station gambling machines. Here are a few reasons to play these games and a few reasons not to play slots in gas stations.
Pros of Playing in Convenience Stores
The main pro of playing gas station slot machines is convenience. Gas stations are also called convenience stores because you can stop in and get gas and pick up a few things you need without going to a grocery store.
You can spend a little time trying to get lucky on a slot machine when you stop in the gas station instead of traveling to a casino to play.
Another reason why you might want to play slots in a gas station is because you can play for the same amount of money or less than it costs to play the lottery. So instead of buying lottery tickets, you can risk a few dollars on a slot machine.
The final pro is these slots games are easy and fast to play. In a couple of seconds, you can put some money in the machine and spin the reels. You don’t have to use any special strategy or waste time thinking about anything.
Cons of Playing in Convenience Stores
On the other hand, there are some reasons why you might want to skip playing gas station slot machines.
It would be best if you didn’t play slots in gas stations because the average return is lower than the return you get in most land-based casinos and online casinos. The return varies by machine, but most slots games in gas stations pay back less than other slots games.
Gas stations aren’t the cleanest environments, either. And many of the machines I’ve seen are dirty. Casinos do a better job keeping things clean than gas stations.
The final con is you don’t have much variety when you play slots in a convenience store. Stores don’t have much room. They only offer a limited number of options when you play slots. It might not bother you only to have a few options, but if you want to try many different slots games, you’re going to need to play in a casino.
What Kinds of Payouts Do Convenience Store Slots Offer?
The most important thing you need to know about any slot machine game is how much the machine pays out. The easiest way to compare two or more slots games is to use the return to player percentage. The RTP for a slot machine is comparable to expected return on a lottery game.
Return to player percentage is the amount you win back as a part of the total amount of money you bet. For example, if a machine has a 90% return to player number, you win back 90% of the total amount you bet in the long run.
The best slot machines have a return of 98% or higher. But machines that pay back this much are rare.
It’s challenging to find out exactly what the return is for any slot machine. And it’s almost impossible to determine the return for games in gas stations. Laws vary by state about these slots games, and the returns vary by machine.
But I can give you some general guidance.
On average, gas station slots have a lower return to player percentage than online slots games and machines in land-based casinos.
You can expect an average long-term return of at best 75% when you play gas station slots. However, the return on these machines is lower than the averages for online slots and land-based casino slots.
I know this makes it sound like you should never play slots in a filling station. But remember that every machine has a programmed return. In other words, if you’re lucky and play on a machine with a higher return, you’re going to receive comparable returns to machines you play in casinos.
Overall, slot machines, no matter where you play them, don’t offer returns as high as some other casino games like blackjack. But you can’t play blackjack in a convenience store.
Are Slot Machines in Gas Stations Legal?
In some states, gas station slot machines are legal. In some states, gas station slots are illegal. And in some areas, the laws are vague.
The most important thing to understand about the legality of gas station slot machines is that you can probably play without worrying about getting in trouble if a station has a slot machine. If law enforcement decides to crack down on local gambling, the gas station owner is the person who gets charged.
If you need to know if the slot machines in your local gas station are legal, contact a lawyer. You can also research the gambling laws in your state on the internet.
As a slots player, you don’t have to worry about being arrested. But if you own a gas station and want to put slot machines in, you need to find out what the law says and the possible penalties for offering gambling.
As a business owner, you should avoid doing anything that can lead to jail. For example, if you own a store in a state where gas station slots are legal, follow the rules, and you don’t have anything to worry about legally. But if you’re operating in a state where the laws are vague, you should talk to your attorney before you install slot machines.
Can You Hack Slot Machines in Gas Stations?
Slot machine players have been trying to find ways to beat the games for as long as the machines have existed. Every slots player wants to know if there’s a hack they can use to win. Some dishonest gamblers have even tried figuring out ways to cheat the games.
The simple answer is that there’s no way to hack slot machines in gas stations.
You can’t time the spins to improve your odds. And you can’t use a magic cheat code that unlocks wins. A system to beat slot machines, no matter where the machines are, doesn’t exist.
However, there are still some things you can do to improve your odds of winning. I’m hesitant to call these hacks, but you might consider them hacks depending on your definition.
The first thing you can do is research the exact slot machines available in gas stations where you live. In some areas of the country, you find unique slot machines, like 8-liners in Texas. But, unfortunately, you don’t find these machines in many other places.
The focus of your research needs to be on the return percentage for each available machine. Unfortunately, return percentage details are hard to find. But you know what to expect if you can find them. And if you can find the percentage for multiple machines, you can always choose to play the best machine.
Another thing you can do is play on machines with jackpots. Of course, you’re not going to hit the jackpot often, but if the jackpot is high enough, at least you’re going to win a lot of money when you get lucky.
Convenience Store Slot Machines versus Casino Slot Machines
Gas station slot machines can be the same as casino slot machines. But you usually find different games in gas stations than in casinos. The machines work is the same, but the slot machines aren’t usually the same.
Gas station slot machines aren’t nearly as diverse a casino slot machines but they work much the same. If you have a good casino slot machine strategy you’ll find you can apply this same skill set to gas station slot machies.
Casinos tend to have the newest and biggest brand name slot machines. On the other hand, gas stations tend to have older machines that aren’t branded with anything popular.
Casino slot machines also tend to be cleaner than gas station slots. This is because casinos do a better job keeping their games operating well. The gambling machines in gas stations are usually a secondary concern for the owners.
Slot machines in casinos are their main source of income. The machines in gas stations are a small percentage of profit for the owner.
Many gas station slot machines pay out cash prizes like all of the machines in casinos. But in some areas, the machines pay out merchandise and services instead of cash prizes. Gas station owners use this method to get around gambling laws.
Overall, playing slots in a casino is a better experience and environment than playing slots in a gas station.
Gas Station Slot Machines versus Online Slot Machines
The main difference between playing online slot machines and playing in a gas station is you don’t have to travel to a gas station to play slots when you play online. But this isn’t the only difference.
The brands of slots available online aren’t the same as the brands located in gas stations. Most slot machines found in gas stations are either not branded or have old brands and are out of favor.
Online slot machines offer higher returns than gas station slot machines. And online casinos offer bonuses when you sign up to play their games. You don’t get bonuses when you play slots in a gas station.
You also have to make an electronic deposit when you play slots online. However, when you play slots in a convenience store, you can use cash.
Other than playing slots, there’s not much difference between playing online slots and gas station slots. It’s convenient to play slots when you stop at the gas station. But taking a few spins on your computer or smartphone is even more convenient. You don’t have to travel anywhere to play online slots.
Conclusion
Gas station slot machines are a fun way to gamble when you stop in the store. But you’re better off in the long run playing online slots or in a more traditional gambling environment, like a casino.
Your odds are better online and in a land-based casino, but it doesn’t hurt to take a chance if you’re at the gas station anyway.
