Part I: Games & Gaming · Slot Machines & Electronic Gaming

Handle

Slot Operations

The total amount of money wagered by players, equivalent to coin-in on slot machines. Handle represents the total betting activity regardless of whether the wagers are made with freshly inserted cash or with credits won from previous spins. Because players typically recycle winnings into subsequent wagers, handle is always greater than the actual cash inserted (drop) during any given period. Handle is a critical metric for assessing player engagement and machine utilization. It is used to calculate the win percentage (actual win divided by handle), which should converge toward the theoretical hold percentage over large numbers of plays.

In practice

Handle should not be confused with drop. Drop is the cash actually inserted into machines; handle is the total amount wagered including recycled credits. For slots, drop and handle diverge significantly because of credit recycling.

One entry from the Casino Industry Glossary — 1,157 terms written for surveillance, compliance and operations professionals rather than for players. Definitions describe industry usage; where a term carries a regulatory meaning, verify against the instrument that governs your jurisdiction.