A Mathematical approach for optimizing the casino slot floor: A linear programming application

Linear programming is a tool that has been successfully applied to various problems across many different industries and businesses. However, it appears that casino operators may have overlooked this useful and proven method. At most casino properties the bulk of gaming revenues are derived from slot machines. It is therefore imperative for casino operators to effectively manage and cultivate the performance of this department. A primary task for the casino operator is planning and deciding the mix of slot machines in order to maximize performance.This paper presents the task of optimizing the casino slot floor as a linear programming problem. The method has been applied to data supplied by a Las Vegas repeater market hotel casino. Two models were developed, and both produced results improving the performance of the casino slot floor. The research provides casino operators with a systematic method that will help analyze and enhance their slot operations.