Several cities worldwide have devised ways to create unique gambling experiences for locals and tourists. But Las Vegas – also called ‘Sin City’ – is the capital of them all. One of the most distinct features of the city is its numerous casinos. Las Vegas houses some of the world’s most recognized and fascinating casinos bustling with various slot machines, the most popular casino games, and a favorite of most casino lovers. But how many slot machines are in Las Vegas?
Las Vegas slot game offerings range from the popular standard slot machines to progressive jackpot-packed games like Megabucks, and many, many more. Today’s casino news is dedicated to seeing what the numbers say.
How Many Slot Machines Are in Las Vegas: A Thriving Scene
Slot machines are scattered throughout Las Vegas, so it is hard to define their exact number. However, to know how many slot machines are in Las Vegas, we’ll have to look briefly into the history of slot machines in the city.
The first mechanical games in Las Vegas were called “one-armed bandits.” The first machine debuted in the late 1800s. At the time, the city was still a small town, and gambling was only legal in a few establishments.
However, the narration changed in 1931 when Nevada legalized gambling, leading to a boom in the number of casinos and the popularity of slots. Electromagnetic slot machines replaced mechanical slots in the 1960s.
Fast forward to the 1970s, video slots entered the scene. Video slots became popular and quickly took over the slot landscape, becoming the most popular type of casino games in Las Vegas to date.
In the 2000s, the gaming industry also saw the inception of digital/online slots. Online slots offer convenience and a more comprehensive range of games, jackpots, and bonuses. Players can now play free Vegas slots online games from the convenience of their homes, with no need for expensive traveling, but the excitement of being in a casino is absent.
So, how many slot machines are in Las Vegas presently? Though the exact number is unknown today, Google and Bing’s search results reveal close to 200,000. Some analyses say it is between 160,000 and 200,000. This number includes those at restricted license locations.
However, to provide a balance, the number is within the range of 100,000 to 200,000, with the Vegas Strip holding a high percentage compared to the Downtown. According to the Nevada(NV) Gaming Control Board Revenue 2022 report, 34,588 slot machines are in the Las Vegas Strip in nonrestricted areas and 9,868 in Downtown. And they are all individual machines.
To further review how many slot machines are in Las Vegas, we’ll briefly look into the types of slots available in the City.