Make sure the pump looks like all the others at a gas station, and make sure the tape around the credit card slot isn’t torn. 'You can still pay inside — a lot of those merchants do have EMV.
Have you ever wondered why there are so many slot machines at gas stations? With so many of them found at UK motorway services and US gas stations, they’re pretty hard to miss.
If you’ve ever been curious about just how many there are in total, then you’re not the only one.
That’s why we decided to collect data on gas stations with slot machines in the US and the UK, then plot them on a map for the world to see.
Check out our infographics below and keep scrolling to discover why spinning the reels and topping up your gas go hand in hand.
Which US States Allow Slot MachinesAt Gas Stations?
Across the 50 US states, only two — Hawaiiand Utah — ban all forms of gambling. Of the remaining 48 states, just 15 havegas stations with slot machines.
These include Illinois, Virginia andNew York, which lead the way as the states with the most station slots with1,894, 1,685 and 1,011 respectively. You won’t be short of slots to play in thecenter-east and east of the country.
Other states that offer gas stationslots include, unsurprisingly, gambling mecca Nevada with 632 official machinesat our last count, as well as Georgia, Arizona, South Dakota and even Texas.
Missouri, Illinois’ neighbor, isplaying catch-up with just three so far.
Which UK Service Stations Have SlotMachines?
When it comes to the UK there are no state laws governing slot machines, so there’s a much more even distribution.
Although, the majority are clusteredwithin close driving distance of England’s biggest cities such as London,Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds on busy driving routes, for obvious reasons.
As a much smaller place than the US,you’re more likely to come across a slot machine on your travels in the UK.
And the main operators that host themachines include Moto, Roadchef and Welcome Break service stations, which covermajor motorway routes such as the M1, M4 and M6 at destinations like Derby,Nottingham, Newcastle, and Swansea.
These three operators have amonopoly, accounting for 73 of around 85 stations with slots, according to ourcalculations.
Moto edges out its closest competitors with 32 known premises with machines. But there’s a good chance that if you stop at any of these services, you’ll find a gambling game.
Slots Are Big Business
We wanted to know why are there so many slot machines at service stations and truck stops.
Our research reveals that there are awhopping 7,237 slot machines installed across 112,781 surveyed gas stations inthe US.
While in the UK you can find servicestations with slot machines stretching from Scotland to the very bottom tip ofEngland, past Plymouth.
But what’s behind the surge inpopularity of petrol pumps with gambling games to play?
Service stations are places peopletypically stop at for only a short amount of time. This means stations needs tomake maximum money from their customers in the shortest time span possible.
So as well as offering fuel, food anddrinks, it makes sense for them to provide quick hits of entertainment with easy‘games’ for fast fun.
Customers spin the reels, and spend on them, while they wait for friends having a bathroom break or to recharge their batteries before hitting the road. It’s an effective way for roadside services to make money in a short window of time.
It’s easy to get bored while you’re at a gas station, but installing slots may mean these ‘pitstops’ keep customers around for a little longer.
And while you play, you fork out more for snacks and beverages, just like in a casino. And you may even spend your winnings there too.
A Bit Of A Gamble?
While the majority of drivers passing through will play service station slot machines as a quick fix for boredom, and to have fun, there are also those who suffer from gambling addictions.
Gas Station Slot Machine Strategy
So gas station slots arecontroversial, in that they offer another distraction or temptation in asurprising location, away from the bright lights of physical casinos and gamesarcades where players with problems would expect to find — and stay away from —slot machines.
There have also been reports in theUK of drug dealers using slots, or fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) to laundermoney by converting large amounts of cash into virtual money and then backagain, with receipts to prove the currency comes from gambling.
However, the UK has recentlyintroduced curbs on stakes to help tackle this and other slots-related issues.
So, as ever, we say play sensibly, safely and for fun. And remember to have gambling awareness in mind the next time you take a road trip and stop off for some slots action.
Something similar:
Sources:
https://motorwayservicesonline.co.uk/
https://data.gov.uk/dataset/8dc9bef0-ad46-497b-9a74-30a6ce9d2f98/licensed-gambling-premises
https://www.oregon.gov/deq/tanks/Pages/Tank-Lists.aspx
https://www2.deq.idaho.gov/waste/ustlust/pages/PublicReports.aspx
https://legacy.azdeq.gov/databases/ustsearch_drupal.html
https://ndep.nv.gov/land/underground-storage-tanks
http://deq.mt.gov/Land/ust/ustdownloads
https://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/LandProtectionRevitalization/PetroleumProgram/FilesForms/Dataandrecords.aspx#TankRegAnchor
https://dep.wv.gov/WWE/ee/tanks/ust/Pages/USTTankCertificates.aspx
https://www.tceq.texas.gov/agency/data/lookup-data/pst-datasets-records.html
http://denr.sd.gov/des/gw/tanks/Searchable_tank_database.aspx
https://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Land/Tanks/Registration/Pages/Regulated-Tank-List.aspx
https://www.dec.ny.gov/cfmx/extapps/derexternal/index.cfm?pageid=1
https://dnr.mo.gov/env/hwp/downloads/hwpet.htm
https://deq.louisiana.gov/page/underground-storage-tank
https://webapps.sfm.illinois.gov/USTSearch/
https://epd.georgia.gov/about-us/land-protection-branch/underground-storage-tanks
https://geodata.dep.state.fl.us/datasets/72919ffad1634afb8bedfdde68dad99f_5
https://www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=AB
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —Expect to continue swiping credit cards at gas pumps across the United States. Banks and credit card companies delayed implementing a new policy that would encourage gas stations to install chip readers at pumps.
The policy states the party with the least compliant chip technology is liable for refunding any fraudulent transactions.
Which Gas Stations Have The Best Slot Machines For The Money
The policy took effect at ATMs last year and was supposed to apply at gas stations beginning this month. But now, gas station owners have until October 2020 to upgrade their pumps before being held liable.
“These are pumps with devices that are embedded inside of them. If you look around, there's a lot of older gas pumps that are out there, and those pumps, in a lot of cases, have to be completely replaced,” explained Cathy Keeling, the senior vice president at Security Bank of Kansas City.
New terminals at gas pumps can cost between $500 and $1,000 each, according to Keeling.
Even with the new October 2020 deadline, gas stations are not required to install card readers at pumps, Keeling says. The move would just protect them from liability.
Gas Station Slot Machines Cheat
In the meantime, there's still a few things drivers can do to protect themselves at the gas pump. Make sure the pump looks like all the others at a gas station, and make sure the tape around the credit card slot isn’t torn.
'You can still pay inside — a lot of those merchants do have EMV [chip reading] terminals inside. I know it's less convenient to do that, but it's a safer way to do it; go in and pay in advance,' Keeling added.