AP Glossary
WhatIsMeterRate?
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.
Why It Matters
Why this matters for advantage play
Meter rate is the second leg of MHB math after ceiling. Combined with the floor, it tells you how many dollars of coin-in are needed for the meter to reach a given value. Low rates mean longer +EV chases and heavier cover fees per session.
Cross-Reference
Related terms
Coin-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.
Progressive Jackpot
A jackpot that increases with each bet placed, funded by a small percentage of each wager. Progressives can be standalone (single machine) or linked (multiple machines). When a progressive grows high enough above its reset value, the added value can push the total RTP above 100%.
Linked Progressive
A progressive jackpot fed by multiple machines, causing faster meter growth than standalone progressives. Linked progressives across a bank of machines or an entire casino floor reach +EV thresholds more quickly.
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.
Live Examples
Machines that use this
Documented Progressive machines on Run the Slots. Tap any title for the full advantage play guide.
Frequently Asked
Common questions about meter rate
Watch a fixed dollar amount of play (yours or someone else's) and record the meter delta. Rate equals delta divided by coin-in. A few hundred dollars of coin-in is usually enough to estimate within 10–20%.
On most progressives, yes — rate is a fixed percentage of coin-in. A few games have tiered or threshold-based rates, but those are exceptions.
Major progressives often run 1–3% of coin-in. Mid-tier progressives 3–6%. Minor progressives can be 5–10% or higher.
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