Hit Rate

The ratio of hits to spins on a slot machine. Also known as hit frequency.

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A spin is a single slots bet. A hit is a winning slots bet. So if you play 100 spins on a slot machine and have 30 hits, the hit rate would be 30%. Many slots players want to know the hit rate of a slot machine before they play it.

Knowing the hit rate of a slot machine can be misleading, though. If you win $1 on a slot machine, that's considered a hit. If you win $10,000 on a slot machine, that's considered a hit. So charting hits without reference to the amount won on the hit can be a bit spotty.

In fact, certain slots players prefer to avoid slot machines with the highest hit rates, because this generally means a lot of small hits. There's not much fun in playing on a $0.50 slot machine and winning $1 on a bunch of spins, because the player doesn't have much upside. Given that slot machines have a house edge where the payout percentage is assures long term profits for the casino, a machine that draws out slots sessions tends to dictate an eventual losing session for the player.

Instead, slots players prefer a slot machine which offers a chance for a big jackpot, allowing the player to walk away with a profit on the slots session. Slot machines with a high hit rate are called gimmicky machines by veteran slot machine players.