Up/Down Slot Cycle

Slot machines are mandated to pay out a certain percentage over an extended period (often a year). The percentage will not remain constant throughout that year, though, so an up cycle is when the machine is paying out larger than the average percentage and a down cycle is paying out less than the average percentage.

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For instance, if a machine is supposed to pay out 95% over a year's period, then if the machine pays out 120% over a certain period of time, then the machine is in an up cycle. If the machine is paying out only 70% of the money payed into it, then the machine is experiencing a down cycle.

Players obviously want to catch a machine on an up slot cycle and avoid it on a down slot cycle, though this is easier said than done. The up/down slot cycle is not predictable, so don't expect to learn when a machine is on an up-cycle and play it.