Of course they pay. They have to pay something However, to win the top jackpot on a penny machine, you have to bet the maximum amount. Most of the penny machines I've encountered require 2-3 dollars (200-300) credits per spin. Since it is a known fact that the penny machines odds are worse than higher denominations, why not just play the 25,50 or 1 slots? I have put a 20 in a penny slot and sat there for 30 minutes playing a few credits at a time. Yes, I won a few hundred pennies here and there (2-5 dollars) but eventually, it took my 20 bucks. I have also stuck a 5 in to a penny machine and hit max bet and won 200 bucks. I just think that overall they are a waste of time, and you are not betting 15 cents per spin of you are winning huge jackpots on the pennies. The poster who saw someone win 15k with 15 cents. I'd like to know where this macine is, because I have been in alot of casinos and I have never seen a penny machine that only requires 15 coins to hit the top prize.