AP Glossary
WhatIsCeiling?
The maximum value a must-hit-by progressive can reach before it is guaranteed to pay out. The closer a progressive gets to its ceiling, the higher the expected value of playing that machine.
Why It Matters
Why this matters for advantage play
The ceiling is the mathematical guarantee that powers must-hit-by advantage play. Without a ceiling, you can never bound your expected cost — but with one, you can compute the worst-case spend to lock in the jackpot. Ceilings are what turn slot progressives from gambling into solvable AP problems.
MHB Progressives ExplainedCross-Reference
Related terms
MHB (Must-Hit-By)
A progressive jackpot guaranteed to trigger before reaching a specified ceiling value. MHB progressives are the most mathematically analyzable form of advantage play because the ceiling creates a known upper bound for expected cost calculations.
Floor
The starting or reset value of a progressive meter — the lowest point it returns to after a jackpot hit. The distance between the floor and the current meter value indicates how much has been contributed by players since the last hit.
Midpoint Method
A calculation technique for MHB progressives that estimates the breakeven point by finding the statistical midpoint between the current meter value and the ceiling. Assumes uniform trigger distribution — in practice, some games may be biased toward triggering near the ceiling.
Threshold
The specific meter value or counter level at which a machine transitions from -EV to +EV. Run the Slots calculates trigger thresholds for every supported machine based on base game return, meter rates, and bonus values.
Live Examples
Machines that use this
Documented Must-Hit-By machines on Run the Slots. Tap any title for the full advantage play guide.
Frequently Asked
Common questions about ceiling
On most must-hit-by games it appears in fine print on the belly glass or in a help screen, often as 'Must hit by $X' or 'Awarded by $X'. Some manufacturers display only the floor and require you to consult a published par sheet.
The jackpot is forced to pay out before any spin pushes the meter higher. In practice, the trigger almost always fires within a few cents of the ceiling on the spin that would have crossed it.
No. Standard progressives have no upper bound and can grow indefinitely. Only the must-hit-by subset (sometimes called 'mystery' progressives) have a guaranteed ceiling.
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