Slots Airport
- UK airlines will hold on to airport slots without having to use them. Ministers extend waivers to ‘use or lose’ rules in boost to carriers including BA, Virgin and easyJet.
- The Worldwide Airport Slot Board (WASB), comprising Airports Council International (ACI World), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and the Worldwide Airport Coordinators.
The Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines (WASG) (formerly the Worldwide Slot Guidelines) has been developed by airlines, airports and slot coordinators to provide a practical solution that can be applied to any airport globally to allocate slots each season and manage a shortage of capacity. Apr 24, 2020 The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) uses runway slots to limit scheduled air traffic at certain capacity constrained airports. In the U.S., those airports are John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). If you love the slots that much, stay in a casino as long as possible and bring a book or a magazine or a tablet PC or a cell phone for the airport. Gray February 5, 2012 at 3:50 pm Right you are, Rob–no free drinks while playing the slots at the airport (delivered by scantily clad women or anyone else for that matter).
It’s easier than ever to find slot machines thanks to gambling expansion across the United States.
Most states confine their slots to casinos. But some states have extended slot machines to convenience stores, bars, and restaurants.
You now have numerous options with regard to finding these games. But there’s one place that you’re strongly advised against playing: airports!
Airport slot machines are notorious for offering low payback. Therefore, it only makes sense that people steer clear of these games.
But are airport slots really as bad as their reputation? Find out as I discuss more on these games and if you should really be scared to play them.
Where Do You Find Airport Slot Machines?
The only two American airports that feature slot machines are McCarran International (Las Vegas) and Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
Pennsylvania is strongly considering offering slots at their airport. But for the time being, Nevada is the only place in the US that has airport games.
This makes sense when considering that Vegas and Reno are two of America’s biggest gambling destinations. You can get off a plane and start spinning the reels right away in either of these locations.
These slot machines are also perfect for when you’re waiting for flights and want some entertainment while you’re passing the time.
Of course, McCarran International offers a much larger selection of slot machines, because it’s the more heavily traveled airport. 48.5 million passengers fly in and out of McCarran every year.
Reno is no slouch with 4 million passengers annually. But this number is dwarfed by how many passengers use the McCarran airport.
That said, go to Las Vegas if you want the wider selection of airport slot machines.
Why Do Airport Slots Have Such a Bad Reputation?
Slot machines in airports are notorious for offering the lowest payback of any land-based establishments. Many gamblers will do everything they can to avoid playing slots at an airport because they don’t want to waste their money.
Of course, the problem with land-based slot machines is that they don’t display payout percentages. This means that we have little idea on how airport games compare to slots found in other locations.
Compounding matters are that Nevada-based gaming reports don’t specifically discuss a return to player (RTP) for airport slots. Instead, they only cover broad areas like the Las Vegas Strip, downtown Vegas, and nearby Boulder City.
Airport Slots Regulation
The only real evidence that airport games pay less than other slot machines is a 2001 survey by Michael “Wizard of Odds” Shackleford.
Obviously, 2001 is a long time ago as far as the gaming world moves. But Shackleford did manage to prove that the McCarran International Airport has tighter slots than any Vegas casino.
His survey shows that Vegas airport slots only offer 85.02% RTP on average. Compare this to the Palms Casino, which topped the list at 93.42% payback.
This is over an 8% difference, which is massive as far as slots RTP goes. You would’ve lost an extra $8 on average if you played in the McCarran airport versusPalms Casino at the time.
The drawback to Shackleford’s data is that it’s currently 17 years old. Things may have changed to some degree for airport slots versus other venues.
At the same time, though, I’m inclined to believe that slots RTP hasn’t gotten much better at McCarran or Reno-Tahoe.
Why Do Airports Offer Lower Slots Payback?
Slot machine developers offer different RTP schedules that casinos can choose from. Most gambling establishments select payback that’s competitive with other area casinos.
After all, they don’t want gamblers quickly losing all their money and vowing never to come back. Furthermore, the casino is still profiting off their slot machines no matter if the RTP is 8% or 12%.
Airports differ, though, because they’re not technically competing against other casinos. Instead, they have a built-in advantage since many travelers use airports to visit Vegas or Reno.
In contrast, nobody goes to McCarran International or Reno-Tahoe International just to play slots. They can just as easily play at regular casinos and enjoy better gaming atmospheres.
Airports know that they don’t have to be competitive with local casinos because they’re always going to have customers hanging around. A certain percentage of these customers naturally become interested in slot machines as boredom sets in.
Yet another reason why airports can get away with offering low payout percentages is because they’re not counting on repeat players.
Sure, many travelers may use a specific airport multiple times in their lifetimes. But for the most part, these gamblers will play slots for a short while and not come back for a long time (if ever).
If these gamblers get stung by airport slots, then it’s not like they’ll simply choose another casino. Instead, their play is a temporary deal that vanishes when they fly out of the airport.
How Airport Slots Compare to Regular Casino Slot Machines
Airports may have less incentive to offer high payout percentages to gamblers. But that’s not to say they want to completely rip everybody off.
The McCarran and Reno airports’ reputation would only become worse if they lowered their slots RTP to Nevada’s 75% state minimum — which no establishment does.
Long story short, you at least have some chance of winning with airport slot machines. But how do these odds compare to standard land-based games?
Here’s information from a 2017 UNLVCenter for Gaming Research report, which shows slots payback in various areas of Nevada:
Nevada statewide slots RTP
- Penny slots = 9.83% house edge
- Nickel slots = 5.46%
- Quarter slots = 6.94%
- Dollar = 6.06%
- Multi-denominational = 5.23%
Las Vegas Strip
- Penny slots = 11.64% house edge
- Nickel slots = 8.21%
- Quarter slots = 10.52%
- Dollar = 7.41%
- Multi-denominational = 6.47%
Downtown Las Vegas
- Penny slots = 11.03% house edge
- Nickel slots = 6.36%
- Quarter slots = 5.73%
- Dollar = 5.38%
- Multi-denominational = 4.94%
Boulder Strip (26 miles from Vegas)
- Penny slots = 9.54% house edge
- Nickel slots = 3.56%
- Quarter slots = 3.69%
- Dollar = 4.30%
- Multi-denominational = 4.47%
Washoe County (Reno & Tahoe)
- Penny slots = 6.94% house edge
- Nickel slots = 4.51%
- Quarter slots = 6.77%
- Dollar = 4.42%
- Multi-denominational = 4.36%
One thing I’ve noticed about slots payback is that it’s gotten gradually better since the UNLV Center for Gaming Research began releasing these reports. I estimate that payback has improved by an average of 2% over the past 15 years or so.
If we apply this improvement to Shackleford’s report, then it’s reasonable to assume that McCarran and Reno airport slots offer an average of 87% RTP.
Slot Airport
This payback is far from outstanding. But you can see that it’s at least competitive with Vegas Strip slot machines.
On the other hand, Sin City offers much better payback than airport slot machines in non-Strip locations.
Airport Slot Machines Compared to Online Slots
The nice thing about airports is that they offer free Wi-Fi. This allows you to use your smartphone to play online slots and other casino games.
You have a much better chance of winning with slots if you simply play online while waiting at airports. Internet slots typically offer around 95% payback regardless of the coin denomination being used.
This is excellent when compared to slot machines in any land-based establishment — especially airports. I’ve even seen some online slots that offer up to 99% RTP.
Taking this 95% to 99% range, internet slots offer 8-12% higher RTP than airport slot machines. If your main goal is winning, then you definitely want to stick to your smartphone or tablet in an airport.
Of course, this isn’t to say that you have to completely nix airport slot machines. Nothing replaces the experience of actually sitting in front of a large screen and spinning the reels.
Meanwhile, both smartphones and tablets have much smaller screens than a physical slot machine. But if you can get past the small screens and lesser experience, then online slots will give you a stronger chance to win.
Should You Still Play Airport Slot Machines?
I’m not trying to dissuade you from ever trying slot machines at an airport. In fact, the math shows that you won’t lose a tremendous amount of money when compared to the average land-basedgame.
Here’s an example of theoretical losses with an airport slot machine based on what I’ve discussed:
- You’re playing a slot with 87% payback.
- You’re betting $1 per spin.
- You perform 600 spins per hour.
- 600 x 1 x 0.13 = $78 in theoretical losses per hour
Now assume that you’re at an actual Vegas or Reno casino:
- You’re playing a slot with 94% RTP.
- You’re betting $1 per spin.
- You perform 600 spins per hour.
- 600 x 1 x 0.06 = $36 in theoretical losses per hour
The difference in hourly theoretical losses here is $42. This means that airport slots cause you to loseat about twice as high of a rate.
Obviously, you’d rather choose the game that only leads to $36 theoretical losses if all aspects are equal. However, the key thing to remember is that airport slots cost more due to their location.
The question to ask yourself is whether you’re willing to face doubled losses in order to play slots while waiting at the airport. Everybody’s answer will vary based on their bankroll, desire to win, and the need for entertainment.
Serious players who only care about maximizing their chances of winning may think that it’s preposterous to play at an airport. In contrast, those who want to be entertained while waiting on a flight may be perfectly fine with taking a bigger risk.
It’s also not like airport slot machines offer the most-horrific odds ever. Even if these games still pay the 85% RTP listed in Shackleford’s 2001 report, this is still better than some casino games, prop bets, and the lottery.
Land-based keno games can carry a 40% house edge, which dwarfs the estimated 13-15% house advantage seen with airport slot machines. Many US lottery tickets have anywhere from a 30-50% house edge.
If you’re still worried about airport slots, then you can set a strict stop-loss limit. Here’s an example:
- You have a $1,000 bankroll.
- You want to save most of this for casinos, which offer better odds.
- You set a stop-loss limit of 5% ($50) for airport slots.
This small percentage allows you to still enjoy slot machines at airports without going overboard and blowing your casino bankroll.
Conclusion
Playing slots at an airport is an intimidating prospect when considering that you stand a lower chance of winning. But don’t let the lower odds completely turn you off of airport slots.
I estimate that these games now offer between 85-87% RTP based on old statistics and the way the slots industry has changed.
This RTP range is a far cry from the 94-97% that internet slots offer. However, it’s at least competitive with the Vegas Strip and its 88-93% payback.
You also have a chance to win big jackpots with airport slot machines. A California woman hit a $1.6 million jackpot while playing McCarran International’s Wheel of Fortune Pink Diamonds in 2017.
This win goes to show that you can get lucky with slots anywhere, including the McCarran machines.
Of course, I’m not advocating that you fly into Vegas or Reno and stick to their slots. You can find better opportunities at surrounding casinos or even with your mobile device.
Instead, the key takeaway here is that airport slots in moderation won’t bankrupt you. The important thing is to set a stop-loss that you’re comfortable with and stick to it.
By Dr. P.P.C. Haanappel, Emeritus Professor of Air and Space Law, Consultant
Regularly, Aeropolitical Updates reports on airport slot developments throughout the world. “Slots” is a complex subject. The following is an attempt to systemize the matter, at least legally.
Airport slots and other slots
An airport slot is an arrival or departure (runway) time allotted to a particular airline at a particular airport, for a particular season (summer or winter). It is the airline’s choice for which route the slot will be used. Not all airports are slot controlled, especially not the non congested ones. Airport slots presuppose the existence of landing rights, in international air transport whether pursuant to bilateral air transport / services agreements or to some other agreement between states in the sense of Articles 5 and 6 of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. In Europe, for instance, landing rights result from the supranational / multilateral EU, EEA, EU-CH, and ECAA Agreements. Thus, airport slots and landing rights are distinct: the latter must precede the former.
Airport slots are to be distinguished from Air Traffic Control (ATC) en route slots, the some 15 minute period within which a flight, on any given day, must begin and end the use of (congested) airways. In Europe, Eurocontrol’s Central Flow Management Unit (CFMU) is in charge of allocating these slots.
Note: airport slots are scheduling times; en route slots are actual times. Both are instruments to control congestion and to allocate the use of scarce resources, runways and airways.
Regulatory framework
From the 1960s onwards, IATA has been involved in scheduling procedures at airports, first to co-ordinate airline schedules to promote interlining, later, more importantly, to allocate (scarce) airport runway arrival and departure slots. The former Scheduling Procedures Guide (SPG) and Conferences (SPC) have been replaced by the Worldwide Slot Guidelines (WSG) and the biannual IATA Slot Conferences (SC).
The operation of the IATA slot allocation conferences for airports located in the EU, and by extension in the EEA, CH and ECAA, is somewhat modified by the applicability of the EU Slot Allocation Regulation 95/93 (as amended). In the US, where currently only three airports are slot controlled and another four slot monitored, the FAA participates in the IATA system for international flights. It should be recalled that slot allocation or monitoring is principally a self-regulatory airline activity, through its trade association IATA.
As mentioned earlier, however, in international air transport, slots presuppose governmentally granted traffic rights. Slots are an airline agreed modality to exercise governmentally granted traffic rights. ICAO has developed a number of model bilateral clauses on slot allocation, which are basically procedural in nature, in order to facilitate the process.
Iata Slots
Ownership of slots
An often asked legal question is who owns airport slots? The answer to this question cannot be found in the above-mentioned IATA, EU, FAA, ICAO instruments. The answer, if any, depends on national legal systems, in particular national constitutional and property laws. Usually, the answer will be that the airport (operator) owns the slots. Alternatively, in other jurisdictions the answer will be that governments or airlines own the slots. The answer, however, is not that important. What is more important than the theoretical question as to ownership, is the practical question as to value of slots and whether they can be traded. There is no doubt that slots have an economic, pecuniary value, depending on their scarcity. The scarcer a slot, the higher the price for an airline that wishes to use it. In the initial allocation process, slots will normally be assigned free of charge.The legal question hereafter is whether an airline, holding a slot, can sell it to another airline: secondary slot trading.
Trading of slots
The same legal instruments, mentioned above, are also not crystal clear as to whether secondary slot trading is allowed. In Europe, slots may be exchanged by airlines, one for one. Whether this “exchange” may be for “value”, for “consideration”, by “onerous title” remains somewhat hazy. Common law courts have accepted the validity of secondary slot trading for pecuniary consideration more easily than continental courts. For already some ten years now, the EU Commission has favoured such slot trading, but this had not been laid down in formal legislation.
Slots and mergers / take-overs / alliances
In competition and antitrust law procedures for the approval of airline mergers, take-overs or alliances, national or EU authorities may also condition such approvals by requiring the applicant airlines to surrender slots on particular routes to other, sometimes new entrant carriers, so as to reduce the competition restricting effect of mergers, take-overs or alliances. Such conditioning is usually respected by the airlines involved and the slot allocation at the relevant airport(s) adjusted accordingly. Whether the effect of the slot surrender actually leads to increased competition in practice, is another matter.
Slots and bankruptcies
The more it is realized that slots have an economic, pecuniary value, the more they are used in bankruptcy proceedings as an asset upon which creditors can take recourse in the proceedings surrounding the bankruptcy of an airline. In the year 2017, the failure of Monarch Airlines (UK) and Air Berlin showed how their slots can be sold for value to competing airlines, thereby generating capital for creditors.
Airport Slots Las Vegas
Airport systems, traffic distribution and local rules
Airport Slots Eu
Some cities or urban conglomerations have multiple airports in what is called: an airport system. Between such airports, local authorities may distribute traffic over the various airports by way of a traffic distribution rule, but, at least in Europe, such distribution may not be discriminatory, amongst other things, as to carrier identity or nationality.
Finally, within the (runway) slot allocation system, there may be local rules, only applicable to one airport or airport system. These rules are supplementary to the IATA and (inter)governmental ones. For instance, at Amsterdam Airport, in the autumn of 2017, a local rule was introduced to enable Russian all-cargo carrier AirBridgeCargo to continue flying notwithstanding the fact that it could not meet the normal rule that airlines must use at least 80 percent of their slots in any given season (summer or winter) if they do not wish to lose their historical precedence, that is claim on slots in the next corresponding season.
Dr. P.P.C. Haanappel, Emeritus Professor of Air and Space Law, Consultant
E-mail: info@peterhaanappel.com
19 January 2018