Lake Tahoe (updated December 28, 2022)

Lake Tahoe was long of the best options you had to earn Diamond or Seven Stars at Caesars. Unfortunately, they removed the good machines (99.54% return and above) in December 2022, and this market is now just mediocre.

In case you're wondering, semi-nearby Harrah's Northern California (Ione) has no machines which are even semi-decent, so don't bother with that property.



Harrah's Lake Tahoe

25-15-9-4-4 Deuces Wild ("LV Airport Deuces") $1/credit 1-play (98.91% return). Will take you 10 hours or so to earn 2500 tier credits -- maybe more if you're not that familiar with Deuces. At the California Bar.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $545
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $5450



Harvey's Lake Tahoe

8-5 Bonus Poker 1-play, $1 per credit (99.17% return). There are six $1 progressive machines near the poker room (they are slant tops). There are four upright $1/$2/$5 machines (1 play) near the elevators. This is a 99.17% theoretical return, and is the best machine in Tahoe, but the $1/credit thing will make earning very slow.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $415
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $4150

9-6 Double Double Bonus, $1/$2/$5 per credit (98.98% return). There are some of these near the poker room, and others by the elevator. This is the best option if you want to earn Diamond relatively quickly (will take about 2 hours at $5/credit).
Average loss getting to Diamond: $510
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $5100

9-5 Jacks or Better 3 play, $0.25/$0.50/$1 per credit (98.45% return). Located by elevators. This will take you about 3.5 hours if you triple play at the $1 level, but this isn't a very good return. Still better than Double Double Bonus if you don't have that much tougher strategy memorized.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $775
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $7750