Part III: Business & Regulation · Casino Marketing & Player Management

Hold Percentage

Market Segments

The percentage of total wagers (handle or coin-in) that the casino retains as win, calculated as: (GGR / Handle) × 100. Hold percentage represents the actual realized house edge over a given period and game type. It differs from theoretical house edge because it reflects real-world outcomes including player skill, luck variance, and game pace. Hold percentage is a critical operational metric—sustained hold below theoretical expectations may indicate advantage play, game configuration issues, or statistical variance requiring investigation. Table hold percentages typically range from 15–25% depending on game type, while slot hold percentages are generally set by machine configuration at 5–15%.

In practice

In Macau, mass market baccarat tables typically achieve hold percentages of 20% or higher, while VIP baccarat (using rolling chips) holds at approximately 2.8% of rolling chip turnover—a critical distinction explaining why mass market gaming is more profitable despite lower GGR per table.

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.