Ever wonder how much money a casino actually keeps from the cash that hits the tables and slot machines? The answer lives in a simple metric called casino hold percentage—a number that shapes pricing, payouts, and even how long you play.
At its core, casino hold percentage is the share of money the casino keeps after players buy in or wager. It’s not the same as the house edge. Hold is what happened; house edge is what math predicts over time.

Casino Hold Percentage vs. House Edge

These terms often get mixed up, but they measure different things.

  • Hold Percentage: Actual result. For tables, it’s typically the casino’s win divided by the drop (cash bought into chips). For slots, it’s the win divided by coin-in (total wagers).
  • House Edge: Theoretical advantage per bet based on game rules and paytables.

Think of hold as the scoreboard and house edge as the playbook. A single night’s hold might swing wildly, while the house edge remains steady.

Key House Metrics That Feed Hold

Operators track several house metrics to understand performance. The big ones include:

  • Drop (Tables): Cash exchanged for chips at a table game.
  • Win (Casino): Casino’s revenue from a game or machine after paying players.
  • Coin-In (Slots): Total amount wagered on a machine.
  • Theo (Theoretical Win): Expected win based on house edge, average bet, speed, and time played.

Put together, these numbers help explain variations in hold and guide decisions that affect casino profitability.

How to Calculate Casino Hold Percentage

Use the formula that matches the game type.

Hold Formula: Table Games

  1. Find the table’s drop (total cash exchanged for chips).
  2. Find the table’s win (casino revenue from that table).
  3. Compute Hold % = (Win ÷ Drop) × 100.

Example: If a blackjack pit logs $500,000 in drop and $25,000 in win, Hold % = ($25,000 ÷ $500,000) × 100 = 5%.

Hold Formula: Slot Machines

  1. Find the machine’s coin-in (total wagers).
  2. Find the machine’s win (coin-in minus coin-out to players).
  3. Compute Hold % = (Win ÷ Coin-In) × 100.

Example: A slot shows $1,000,000 coin-in and $910,000 coin-out, so win is $90,000. Hold % = ($90,000 ÷ $1,000,000) × 100 = 9%.

Pro Tip: Handle vs. Drop

Some reports use handle (total chips in action) or include markers/credit. Always confirm the definitions used in your report before comparing holds across games or periods.

What Is Casino Hold Percentage Telling You?

Hold gives a quick read on real-world results, but context matters:

  • Volatility: A single weekend can produce a high or low hold, especially on games with big payouts, like roulette or baccarat.
  • Game Mix: More high-volatility games can push short-term holds away from the house edge.
  • Player Behavior: Buy-ins without much play inflate table hold. Long sessions with lots of re-buys can lower it.

Why Hold Matters for Casino Profitability and Game Retention

Hold affects pricing, guest satisfaction, and analyst forecasts.

  • Casino profitability: Sustained hold close to theoretical improves forecast accuracy and reinvestment decisions.
  • Game retention: If slots are too “tight,” time-on-device drops and guests churn. Right-sizing par values balances win with repeat visits.
  • Marketing ROI: Comps and offers depend on theoretical play; a gap between theo and actual hold can distort reinvestment.

Real-Life Story: The Weekend the Hold Spiked

During a July holiday at a regional property where I consulted, the roulette hold jumped above 30%—double the usual. The pit boss was worried something was off.

We pulled the shift data. Turns out a bachelor party bought in heavy, played short sessions, and colored up early without much handle. Drop was high, but there weren’t many spins. That drove a noisy spike in the casino hold percentage.

The fix wasn’t to change minimums or question dealers—it was to adjust forecasts and coach the team on how short-play can skew hold. The next weekend, with normal play lengths, hold reverted near the game’s house edge expectations.

Common Misconceptions About Casino Hold Percentage

  • “Higher hold means the game is rigged.” Not necessarily. Short-term luck, buy-in patterns, and volatility can cause big swings.
  • “Hold equals house edge.” House edge is theoretical per bet; hold is the realized outcome over a period.
  • “Tightening slots always boosts profit.” Raising slot hold can reduce play time and guest satisfaction, hurting long-term revenue.

Practical Tips for Players

  • Know the game’s house edge: Favor blackjack with good rules, baccarat banker bets, and full-pay video poker when available.
  • Watch paytables and denominations: Identical-looking slots can have different par settings. Higher denominations often have lower theoretical hold.
  • Manage bankroll by time: Budget by hours and bet size, not just dollars. Longer sessions smooth out luck swings.
  • Use player’s club data: Your theo mirrors expected loss. Compare comps and benefits to your play to maximize value.
  • Set limits: Decide win/loss boundaries before playing. Take breaks to keep decisions sharp.

Practical Tips for Operators

  1. Standardize definitions: Align teams on drop, handle, and win so reports match reality.
  2. Compare to theo: Track actual vs. theoretical hold by game, shift, and player segment.
  3. Right-size slot par: Test small adjustments and monitor time-on-device and repeat visits before rolling out broadly.
  4. Coach on play length: Short sessions can distort table hold; train leaders to read context before reacting.
  5. Close the feedback loop: Share weekly dashboards with marketing and operations to tune offers and floor mix.

Conclusion

The casino hold percentage is a powerful snapshot of what the casino actually kept over a period. Use it alongside house edge and other KPIs to see true performance, make smarter decisions, and create better player experiences. Whether you’re a guest managing your bankroll or an operator tuning the floor, understanding hold is how you play the long game.

FAQs

What is casino hold percentage?

It’s the share of money a casino keeps from play over a period. For tables, hold % is win divided by drop. For slots, it’s win divided by coin-in.

How is hold different from house edge?

Hold is the actual outcome during a time window. House edge is the mathematical expectation per bet based on rules and paytables.

What’s a typical hold for slots vs. table games?

Slot hold often ranges around 7%–12%, depending on denomination and market. Table holds vary widely; blackjack might see 5%–15% over short periods due to buy-in and play-length effects.

Can casinos change hold quickly?

On slots, operators can change par settings (subject to regulation), but they usually test gradually. Table hold changes with player behavior and volatility rather than a setting.

How can players use hold to manage bankroll?

Choose games and paytables with lower house edge, size bets for time-on-device, and track your theo via the player’s club to understand expected loss.