With the popularity of online slots and the potential maximum payouts each slot game has, it is only natural to wonder just how much money does a slot machine hold?
Spoiler alert: it is not much. The RTP rate of the slot machine mainly determines this amount. As a result, there is a small amount of money a slot machine can hold at a time.
How Much Money Does A Slot Machine Hold
Slot machines have long been one of the significant sources of entertainment in bookies and casinos.
While they are now largely online, many punters still prefer to play their favourite slot games using physical slot machines.
Compared to online slots, they can be quite straightforward and only require a few coins to get started.
These slot machines are sometimes referred to as one-armed bandits because they originally had a single lever on the side of the machine. You pull this handle to spin the reels. Today, slot machines are operated with a button to spin the reels, but the handle is sometimes still present for nostalgia or decoration.
These machines are designed to take in more money than they pay out, ensuring a profit for the casino. But how much money do slot machines hold?
The "hold" in slot machines refers to the amount of betting coins the slot machine can take in that the casino keeps for itself. The RTP rate of the slot machine mainly determines this amount. As a result, the amount of money a slot machine can hold at a time is lower than one might expect.
For example, if a slot machine has an RTP rate of 95%, that would indicate that it holds 5% of the money it takes in. But, more on that later.
Return To Player Explained
The term "Return to Player" (RTP) describes the percentage of money taken in that a machine should, in theory, pay back to players over time.
For example, a slot machine with an RTP of 95% should, theoretically, pay out £95 for every £100 it takes in. The RTP rate is calculated by the slot's developer over a large sample of simulated spins - usually in the hundreds of thousands or millions. Therefore, it works out as paying out 95% of all money taken in over time, but in short sessions, this value may not be reflected; the slot may pay out more or less than this.
If you are an avid slot player, the RTP rate is an important aspect to consider when choosing what slot games to play.
However, please note that RTP does not guarantee anything, as slots are random.
The RTP of a slot machine is usually expressed as a percentage and can range from around 70% to over 99%. It will never be 100%; otherwise, the casino would never make any money on them.
A slot's hold and RTP rate go hand in hand. Going with the example above, a slot machine with 95% RTP means the slot has a 5% hold. So, for every £100 wagered, the slot holds £5, in theory.
Because both the hold and RTP are measured over a period of time, it is impossible to tell, contrary to popular belief. Additionally, this is not linear, so you may not consistently lose 5% if you play a 95% RTP slot.
Do Slot Machines Have To Payout When Full?
No, slot machines do not have to pay out when full. You cannot determine when a slot machine will payout, nor can you force it to payout by filling it with coins.
The only time an online slot pays out is if you form winning combinations and trigger a payout, either a regular payout or a jackpot.
Another thing to take into consideration when operating a slot machine is the Random Number Generator (RNG). This tool allows the slot machine to produce random numbers or symbols, making it impossible to trick a slot machine into paying or determining when it might pay.
The idea that slot machines have to payout when full then may imply that slot machines can be manipulated, which is not the case. All slot machines are a game of chance. If a slot machine does become full, a member of staff will remove some of the money so that the slot machine can continue to be used.
In conclusion, a slot machine hold and RTP are two sides of the same coin, and there can't be one without the other. Typically, the RTP is much larger than the hold, which means that slot machines hold very little money.
Additionally, slot machines do not have to offer payouts. The only time they do is if you created a winning combination or triggered a jackpot, not because they are full of coins.
