AP Glossary
WhatIsHold?
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.
Why It Matters
Why this matters for advantage play
Casinos and regulators talk in hold; players talk in RTP. They're the same number described from opposite sides of the table. Internalizing this lets you read state regulatory reports, casino quarterly filings, and par sheets without translation.
Hold Percentage GuideCross-Reference
Related terms
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.
House Edge
The casino's built-in mathematical advantage on a game, expressed as a percentage. On a slot with 92% RTP, the house edge is 8%. Advantage play temporarily reverses this edge on specific machines in specific conditions.
Base Game Return
The expected payback percentage of the slot's regular spins, excluding progressive contributions and bonus features. Knowing this helps calculate total RTP when adding progressive and bonus value.
EV (Expected Value)
The mathematical average outcome of a bet calculated over infinite repetitions. Positive EV (+EV) means the play is profitable long-term; negative EV (-EV) means the house has the edge. AP players only take +EV plays.
Frequently Asked
Common questions about hold
On slots, effectively yes. Hold is reported on a per-machine basis and represents the casino's share of coin-in. House edge is the same idea expressed across the broader portfolio.
Manufacturers and casinos size hold to denomination. Lower-denomination machines absorb more hold because their players are less price-sensitive and the per-spin loss is small in absolute dollars.
Most U.S. gaming regulators publish monthly hold-by-denomination reports. Per-machine hold is generally not public, but aggregated data is enough to compare properties.
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