Do physical casino machines have better odds than online ones?

There is no such thing as a better or worse machine, because both offline and online slots are regulated. What matters is the Return to Player (RTP) percentage, but the RTP for online slots will always be higher, owing to lower operating costs than for land-based slots, which have to factor in staff bills, machinery repairs, and rent.

As a result, the mathematics of slot machines favor the casino in both environments, a fact that is confirmed through testing by relevant regulatory entities. Some internet casinos even publish the machines’ payback percentages, although you will rarely find that information on the floor of a brick-and-mortar establishment.

My recommendation? Pay attention to that RTP number, not the place. The only thing that matters is finding the game (online or offline) with the highest RTP number. Purists will insist on the “real life experience” of land-based machines, but in terms of probability, it’s all the same – just look at those figures.

In land-based and online slots, RNGs determine the odds. While slot machines in brick-and-mortar establishments traditionally had a fixed RTP, online slots often reveal their RTP ahead of time. Traditional casinos have “proven” themselves over many years, whereas online slots are just as trustworthy if they are licensed. Some are great, others not so much, but as long as you play slots with the highest RTP, there’s no difference.