Introduction to Oregon Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Do Casinos Own Or Lease Slot Machines
Oregon slot machine casino gambling consists of nine tribal casinos and many bars, taverns and pari-mutuel wagering sites with video lottery terminal (VLT) style slot machines.
There is a theoretical payout limit for non-tribal VLTs but none for video slot machines at the tribal casinos. No return statistics are publicly available.
This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.
Casino slot machine and electronic table game supplier Aruze Gaming America Inc has been shifting from its established business model of outright sale of its products to casino operators, amid the cash constraints placed on the industry by the Covid-19 pandemic, says Robert Ziems (pictured), the. As such, most casinos have moved to convert their coin slot machines and video poker to TITO operation because it is easier for the house, and less expensive. For long time gamblers though, a slip of paper just doesn’t have the same allure or vintage feel that a bucket full of metal tokens does.
Keep Reading … or Watch Instead!
Or … Listen Instead
Subscribe to my Professor Slots podcast at Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Amazon Audible | Gaana | Stitcher | Pandora | iHeart Radio | Tune-In | SoundCloud | RadioPublic | Deezer | RSS and everywhere else you find your podcasts!
Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Oregon*
The minimum legal gambling age in Oregon depends upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 21
- Poker Rooms: 18
- Bingo: 18
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18
Oregon state law says bars and taverns can have up to six VLT-style slot machines, along with a restriction on how close together these businesses may be relative to one another.
Pari-mutuel wagering sites may have up to ten VLT-style slot machines.
At non-tribal locations, the maximum bet is $2.50 while the maximum jackpot is $600.
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Oregon
It is legal to own a slot machine privately in the state of Oregon if it is 25 years old or older.
Gaming Control Board in Oregon
The Oregon Lottery regulates VLT-style gaming machines at non-tribal retailers. The Lottery’s 1992 video poker lottery terminal network was the first centrally controlled gaming system in the U.S. In 2005, the VLT network added Class III Vegas-style line games for slots.
Eight out of Oregon’s nine federally-recognized American Indian tribes have negotiated tribal-state gaming compacts. Regulation of tribal gaming in Oregon is by the Oregon State Police and the Tribal Gaming Commissions of each individual tribe.
The Oregon Tribal Gaming Alliance (OTGA) is a coalition of these tribes which own and operate casinos in Oregon. In 2015, tribal gaming accounted for less than 32% of all gaming conducted in Oregon. Nearly two-thirds of gaming takes place at 2,550 commercial sites.
Casinos in Oregon
There are nine American Indian tribal casinos in Oregon.
The largest casino in Oregon is Spirit Mountain Casino with 2,000 gaming machines.
The second-largest casino is Wildhorse Resort & Casino with 1,200 gaming machines.
Commercial Casinos in Oregon
Statewide, Oregon has 2,550 retailers operated by the Oregon Lottery.
Tribal Casinos in Oregon
The nine tribal casinos in Oregon are:
- Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City, 89 miles southwest of Portland on Route 101 along the Pacific Coast.
- Indian Head Casino in Warm Springs, 104 miles southeast of Portland.
- Kla-Mo-Ya Casino in Chiloquin, 105 miles southeast of Portland.
- Seven Feathers Casino Resort in Canyonville, 202 miles south of Portland.
- Spirit Mountain Casino in Grand Ronde, 64 miles southwest of Portland.
- The Mill Casino Hotel & RV Park in North Bend, 220 miles south-southwest of Portland on Route 101 near the Pacific Coast.
- Three Rivers Casino Resort Florence, 170 miles southwest of Portland near Route 101 on the Pacific Coast.
- Three Rivers Casino Resort Coos Bay, 223 miles southwest of Portland near Route 101 on the Pacific Coast.
- Wildhorse Resort & Casino in Pendleton, 215 miles east of Portland.
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying Oregon slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Oregon is:
- North: Washington Slots
- East: Idaho Slots
- South: California Slots and Nevada Slots
- West: The Pacific Ocean
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Oregon.
Our Oregon Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Oregon? If so, join our new Oregon slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.
There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Oregon. Join us!
Payout Returns in Oregon
For Oregon’s tribal casinos, no payout limits have been set nor are actual return statistics publicly available.
For non-tribal sites controlled by the Oregon Lottery, theoretical payout limits are available within the game’s menu for each individual VLT-style gaming machine.
A payout range is due to potential bonus rounds or other game features. The maximum theoretical payout is 96%. Extended play games may exceed this maximum.
These payout percentages by game theme are also online at the Oregon Lottery. For example:
- Five Times Pay Line Game has a payout percentage of 91.99%
- Dragon Fire Keno has a payout percentage range of 91.84% to 92.42%
Summary of Oregon Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Oregon slot machine casino gambling consists of nine tribal casinos and 2,550 commercial sites including pari-mutuel wagering facilities. Retailers can have six gaming machines while racetrack betting sites can have ten machines.
There is no theoretical payout limit for video slot machines at Oregon’s tribal casinos, nor are return statistics publicly available. However, non-tribal VLTs each show their theoretical payout limit within the game theme menu as well as online at the Oregon Lottery. The maximum theoretical limit for these non-tribal VLTs is 96%.
Annual Progress in Oregon Slot Machine Casino Gambling
In the last year, there has been little to no change in the Oregon slots gaming industry.
Related Articles from Professor Slots
Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots
- Previous: Oklahoma Slot Machine Casino Gambling
- Next: Pennsylvania Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC
You can find as many objects to collect as you can find collectors, but some of the most interesting collectibles are slot machines. You can buy them used, but the legality of owning a gambling machine varies from state to state. This page takes a look at some of the issues involved in buying a used slot machine to start or expand a collection of your own.
Where Do You Live?
The first thing you should understand is that no matter where you live, if you’re using a slot machine to offer gambling to other people, you need a license. In some states, gambling is completely prohibited. Chances are you’re an individual collector and don’t have a gambling license, so don’t let people gamble on your games unless you have a high risk tolerance for illegal behavior.
In some states, even collectors aren’t allowed to own a used slot machine. These states include Alabama, Connecticut, Hawaii, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Ownership of slot machines, used or otherwise, is illegal in those states.
Other states have no legal restrictions on slot machine ownership as long as you’re not using them to run a gambling business. These states include: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia.
The other states have specific guidelines based on the age of the machine. For example, in California, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming, it’s legal to own a slot machine as long as it’s at least 25 years old. Other states have higher or lower age limits—in Florida you can own a slot machine as long as it’s 20 years or older, but in Massachusetts, it has to be at least 30 years old. And still other states base it on what year the machine was built; in Illinois and Iowa, for example, it’s only legal to own slot machines that were constructed before 1950.
To the best of my knowledge, this information is complete and accurate, but before buying your own used coin-op slot machine, you should check with local legal authorities to make sure you have the most up to date information. You should always obey the laws in whatever jurisdiction you reside.
What Kind of Dealer Are You Dealing With?
You’ll find plenty of people selling used slot machines on the Internet. Many of these are third-party sellers. That means they don’t offer slot machines directly; instead, they just take your order and then buy the slot machine from someone else and have it shipped to you. You’ll often notice that these third party dealers use stock images or pictures that were stolen from direct dealers’ websites.
It’s better to deal with a direct dealer when you can. These dealers will often offer a warranty on the machines they sell. They’ll also be able to help you over the phone if you’re having a problem operating your game. Third party dealers aren’t able to offer you this level of service.
One way to be sure you’re dealing with an actual dealer instead of a third party is to ask them if you’re able to visit their showroom or warehouse. Third party dealers, for obvious reasons, don’t have showrooms or warehouses.
What Kinds of Used Slot Machines CAN I Buy?
Most dealers offer reconditioned machines that have been retired from use in Las Vegas style casinos. Many of these are the same IGT (International Game Technology) manufactured games that you’re used to seeing in the casino, only older and more primitive. Most dealers also provide replacement parts and repair services.
Best Casino Slots Machine
One thing to look for when considering buying a machine from a dealer is whether or not they use real glass or plexiglass. Real glass is superior as plexiglass fades over time. You can expect to pay a little more for a machine with real glass, but it’s worth the extra cost. If you’ve ever seen a faded plexiglass screen on a used slot machine, you’ll know what I mean.
Slot Machines Casino Free Games
Many of these games can be set up to enjoy on “free play” mode. You don’t have to insert any kind of money in order to play these games. You can even modify these games to pay out tickets.
Examples of some of the popular and well-known games available for sale on the Internet include titles like Cleopatra, Double Diamond, Munsters, Red, White, and Blue, Sizzling Senves, Tabasca, Texas Tea, and Wild Cherry slots. Many other titles are available besides these, but you’ll recognize a lot of these brand names as still being available (albeit in newer models) in casinos today.
How Much Should I Spend?
Used slot machines are collectibles, and they’re priced accordingly. Shipping is usually going to be expensive, too. You can probably expect to pay at least $600 for a good machine and $200 for shipping. Video slots will cost twice that or more, and you’ll sometimes have the option of upgrading to a new LCD monitor when buying a video slot machine. Those are expensive, too–$400 or $500.
Other upgrades you can pay for include stereo sound packages, coin in coin out functionality, and/or backlit reels (on mechanical or electro-mechanical machines). These upgrades generally cost between $100 and $200 each.
Of course, these prices apply to relatively newer slot machines. Older antique slot machines can cost more or less. I’ve seen slot machines from the 1930s and 1940s that were beautifully refurbished for sale for as little as $325. Some of these older machines are barely recognizable as slot machines, but they make beautiful, conversation-worthy collections.
Conclusion
Buying a used slot machine can be a fun way to start a new hobby of collecting gaming machines, but do some research first. You want to make sure that it’s legal to do so before you get started. You also need to do some research into dealers before spending any money. Avoid third-party dealers, and find a direct dealer with a warehouse who offers warranties and telephone customer support.