AP Glossary
WhatIsCoin-In?
The total amount of money wagered on a machine, not the same as money lost. A player who bets $1,000 in coin-in may only lose $50 if the machine returns 95%. Used to calculate meter rates and track session costs.
Why It Matters
Why this matters for advantage play
Casinos rate players, calculate meter contributions, and report results in coin-in — not net loss. Understanding the difference is essential when reading meter rates, computing expected bonus contribution, and estimating how much you can put through a +EV play before it flips back to -EV.
Coin-In ExplainedCross-Reference
Related terms
Meter Rate
How fast a progressive meter increases per dollar wagered, expressed as cents per dollar of coin-in. A meter rate of $0.50 per $100 coin-in means the progressive grows by half a cent per dollar bet. Lower rates mean slower growth and higher cost to reach breakeven.
Hold
The percentage of coin-in that the casino keeps. A machine with 8% hold returns 92% to players (92% RTP). Hold is the inverse of RTP.
RTP (Return to Player)
The theoretical percentage of wagered money returned to players over time. A 95% RTP means $95 returned per $100 wagered on average. RTP above 100% indicates a +EV situation.
Session
A single play period on one machine. AP sessions are typically short — play only while the machine is +EV, then leave. Long sessions grinding through -EV territory is gambling, not advantage play.
Frequently Asked
Common questions about coin-in
No. If you bet $5 and win back $4 and bet that $4 again, your coin-in is $9 even though you only brought $5. Coin-in counts every wager, including recycled winnings.
Every spin is logged on the slot accounting system, and your coin-in is tied to your players-club card when it's inserted. Tier credits, comps, and host attention are usually driven by coin-in totals.
Meter rates and bonus contributions are quoted per dollar of coin-in. To estimate how fast a progressive will rise or how much bonus value you'll generate per session, you compute everything in coin-in, not net spend.
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