Slot Hit Frequency Explained
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Slot hit frequency measures the share of spins that return any payout, even a small one. Even if you win less than your stake, it still counts as a hit.
What hit frequency measures
Slot machines that pay out on a high percentage of spins have a high hit rate. The figures are usually expressed as a percentage, so a 25% hit frequency means about one in four spins results in some kind of win, which may be less or more than the player staked. Hit frequency does not promise big payouts, only how often, on average, some payout arrives.
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How hit frequency differs from RTP and volatility
Slot hit frequency is separate from return-to-player (RTP) and volatility. RTP is the share of all stakes a slot is designed to pay back over a long series of plays, typically measured in millions of spins. Volatility measures how the slot's pay-outs are distributed over that same period, describing the likelihood of highs and lows in a session.
RTP and volatility describe a slot's long-term prospects, while hit frequency tells players how often, on average, they will get some reward, however small. A slot can have a good RTP and a high hit frequency, paying out often but in small amounts. It can also have a good RTP but a lower hit frequency, meaning fewer wins but larger payouts. Hit frequency works alongside but independently of RTP and volatility.
Where players may see hit frequency
Some slot games show their hit frequency percentage alongside RTP, volatility, and other figures. NetEnt, for example, lists a hit frequency of 23.00% for Starburst on its game page. But many studios do not publish this figure, as win frequency does not directly translate to session profits, and few slot games explicitly display it.
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