Slot hold: the share of every bet the casino keeps
Slot hold percentage is the share of money bet on slots that the casino keeps. A game with a 92% return to player has a theoretical hold of 8%. Real hold over a month can differ from that because of luck.
Reviewed Oct 15, 2026
Answer first
90s- 01Hold = 100% minus return to player.
- 02An 8% hold keeps 8 cents of every dollar bet over time.
- 03Your cost per hour = bet × spins × hold.
Key numbers
Slot hold at a glance
In short
Key takeaways
- Hold and RTP are two sides of one number.
- Hold is measured on total money bet, not cash in.
- Lower denominations usually hold more.
- Monthly hold swings with jackpots.
On the machine
Where every dollar goes
$1 bet
Money played
92 cents back
Paid to players over time
8 cents kept
Hold
Hold vs return to player
| RTP | Hold | Kept per $1,000 bet |
|---|---|---|
| 98% | 2% | $20 |
| 95% | 5% | $50 |
| 92% | 8% | $80 |
| 88% | 12% | $120 |
| 85% | 15% | $150 |
Theoretical figures; real results vary.
Hold, RTP and handle
Every bet you make on a slot adds to coin-in, also called handle. Over millions of spins, the machine pays back a set share of that handle, its return to player. What it keeps is the hold. A game set to 92% keeps 8% of handle on average, no matter how many times the same dollar is bet.
That last point surprises people. If you put $100 in and keep replaying credits, you might bet $1,000 in total before the $100 is gone. An 8% hold on $1,000 of handle is $80. So the hold applies to every spin, and the faster you play, the more you lose over time.
Casinos and regulators report actual hold, the share of handle the slots really kept over a period. Nevada publishes monthly slot win and win percent by area and denomination. Because one large jackpot can swing a month, the actual figure can sit above or below the theoretical one.
Your cost per hour at different holds
| Bet per spin | Spins per hour | Hold | Average cost per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1 | 600 | 8% | $48 |
| $2.50 | 500 | 10% | $125 |
| $5 | 400 | 6% | $120 |
| $0.50 | 700 | 12% | $42 |
Our own math: bet × spins × hold.
Why hold differs by game
Lower denomination machines tend to hold more, because each spin brings in less money while the cost of the machine, the floor space and the staff stays about the same. Penny and multi-denomination video games often carry the highest hold on a casino floor, and high-limit slots the lowest.
State rules set a floor, not a target. Nevada requires machines to pay back at least 75%, New Jersey at least 83% and Mississippi at least 80%. Most casinos set games well above these minimums, but you rarely see the exact setting, because most US casinos do not post it on the machine.
Video poker is different, because its pay table tells you the return. A full-pay game can return more than 99% with expert play, so its hold can be under 1%. Slots do not show enough information to work out the hold from the screen.
Sequence
Estimating what a session costs
Step 01
Note your bet
The total per spin.
Step 02
Count your pace
Spins per hour, often 400 to 700.
Step 03
Assume a hold
8% to 12% is a fair guess for many slots.
Step 04
Multiply
Bet × spins × hold.
Step 05
Set a budget
Use the result as your hourly cost.
Reading reported hold
When a report says a casino’s slots held 7.5% last month, it means the machines kept 7.5 cents of every dollar bet over that time. It does not mean a single player lost 7.5% of their cash. Players who spin longer, faster or at higher stakes lose more in dollars at the same hold.
Table game hold works differently. There, regulators usually measure win against drop, the cash and markers exchanged for chips, not against total bets. A 15% table hold and an 8% slot hold are not directly comparable, so be careful when you see the two side by side.
Floor rules
Slot money terms
Know before you sit
- Handle
- Total money bet, also called coin-in.
- Hold
- Share of handle the casino keeps.
- RTP
- Share of handle paid back over time.
- Drop
- Cash or tickets put into a machine or table.
Common mistakes
- Thinking hold applies only to cash in
- It applies to every bet.
- Comparing slot and table hold
- They use different bases.
- Trusting a hot machine
- Hold is set by the game, not the day.
- Ignoring pace
- More spins mean a higher hourly cost.
Keep reading
Related pages
Go play
Where to play in Las Vegas
Tap a resort — each row opens that casino’s White Gambling page (hours, game mix, floor facts). Venues with this game in official counts, sorted high to low.
Open a casino page
Real listings · not adsAfter the 90 seconds
Questions before and after you play
A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.
01Basics
What is slot hold percentage?
The share of all money bet on a slot that the casino keeps over time. It equals 100% minus the return to player.
Is hold the same as house edge?
For slots, the theoretical hold is effectively the house edge on each spin, since it is the average share kept per dollar bet.
Can I see a machine’s hold?
Usually not. Most US casinos do not post settings, though some online games list RTP in the help screen.
02Numbers
What hold do most slots have?
It varies widely. Many casino slots fall roughly between 5% and 15%, with lower denominations usually holding more.
What is the legal minimum payback?
It depends on the state. Nevada requires at least 75%, Mississippi 80% and New Jersey 83%.
Why did a casino’s hold change last month?
Luck. A big jackpot can push actual hold down for a month, and quiet months can push it up.
03Play
How can I lose less per hour?
Bet smaller, play slower and choose games with a known high return, such as full-pay video poker.
Do high-limit slots hold less?
Often yes. Higher denominations tend to be set with lower hold, though each spin costs more.
Does hold change by time of day?
No. Changing settings needs approval and new software, so it does not change by the hour.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Slot machine Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Payout percentages and minimums by state
- Nevada Gaming Control Board · accessed Oct 15, 2026Approved games and gaming revenue reports
- UNLV Center for Gaming Research Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Research library on casino games and gambling
- National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER