Reno might not have the larger-than-life image of its Nevada neighbor, Las Vegas, but the biggest little city has a lot going for it. Luxury hotels, a smorgasbord of fabulous dining options, and big-name acts ranging from Gladys Knight to Jerry Seinfeld over the coming months are all par for the course.
But wonderful though all that might be, even the incredible Ms. Knight is only a sideshow to the main attraction in Reno – the gaming. You stand as good a chance of hitting the jackpot here as you do in Vegas, and the rewards can be equally eye-watering.
Playing for the big win
There are all sorts of different strategies you can adopt when playing the slots, and it all depends on your ultimate goal. If you’re looking to make a $20 voucher last, then small wagers at a low volatility game are the way to go. It’s unlikely to pay out a dramatic sum, but the regular small wins will keep you in the game. For those who take a logical, mathematical approach, it’s all about Return to Player (RTP). Now, understanding a slots RTP is something that most people don’t worry about, but if you play regularly, there’s no denying that over time, the RTP has a direct bearing on your win rate.
But there are also those who care nothing for such niceties and are only concerned with the big win. They know that all the statistics are against them and the chances of winning millions are extremely remote. But still, like that winning lotto ticket, even a remote possibility is still a possibility. If you fall into this latter category, you’ll only be interested in the biggest jackpots in Reno. The following numbers are accurate at the time of writing – they will increase as the month progresses, until such time as someone secures the win of a lifetime.
Wheel of Fortune at Eldorado
Wheel of Fortune is one of the instantly recognizable jackpot games and is a feature in every Reno casino. Wherever you chose to play, the jackpot is likely to be in six or seven figures, but right now, the $1 game in the Eldorado has almost $3 million in the pot. It’s even higher than the $5 jackpot at present, so you’d be crazy to miss it.
The game itself is based on the TV show of the same name that everyone knows and loves, so it’s one of the most popular games in Reno even when the jackpot stands at more modest levels.
Pai Gow Poker at Silver Legacy
Progressive jackpots are not just limited to slot games. Many traditional table games also give you a shot at a progressive jackpot as a side bet, and again there are plenty to choose from in Reno’s 20 casinos. The biggest bang for your buck this month is Pai Gow poker, which has reached more than $1.2 million at the Caesar’s Silver Legacy resort.
If you’ve never played the game before, you are in for a treat. It’s not too complicated as long as you know the basic poker hands and how they rank. You and the dealer are each dealt seven cards, from which you must make two poker hands – a “low hand” with two cards and a “high hand” with five cards. To qualify, your high hand must outscore your low hand. To win, both hands must beat the dealer’s. If both the dealer’s hands are better, the dealer wins, and if it is one each, the game is a push, and stakes are returned.
How about some keno?
If poker is a little out of your comfort zone, keno is one of the oldest gambling games on record and is one that everyone can play. It’s really not so different from playing the lotto, except you have a little more choice in terms of how many numbers you want to guess in each draw.
Keno is massively popular throughout Reno and can accumulate some highly impressive progressive jackpots, so it has even more in common with the lotto than you might think. Just at the moment, the most mouthwatering of them all is again at the Silver Legacy, where the MegaKeno 10 Spot Progressive jackpot stands at around $3.3 million.
Deep down, we all harbor dreams of hitting the jackpot when we visit a destination like Reno. If you’re there over the next few weeks, why not chance a few dollars on the ones mentioned above – after all, you never know!
Read more: Best Indian Casinos
