Up Slot

Up slot refers to a slot machine’s payout percentage over a long period of time.

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A machine’s payout percentage is averaged after thousands of spins which can take about a year or so. This means that a slot machine that has a payout percentage of 97% will sometimes have a payout of 120% and sometimes drop as low as 20%. This cycle is generally called a slot machines up/down cycle. When the slot machine is having a low payout period, then it is in its down cycle. If the machine is experiencing a period of high payouts, then it is in its up cycle. These periods are also called "sizzling" (for up) and "sputtering" (for down).

Generally, experienced players will walk away from a machine that is in its down cycle but will keep playing on a machine that is up.