What is hit frequency?
Definition and example from our casino glossary.
Definition
Hit frequency is the share of spins or rounds that return any win at all, whether or not the win exceeds the stake.
Hit frequency answers a narrow question: how often does something pay? A slot with a hit frequency of 25% returns a win on one spin in four on average. It does not say how large those wins are. Many hits on modern slots pay less than the total stake, especially on games with many paylines, so a win animation can accompany a net loss for that spin. Some regulators restrict celebratory sounds and visuals for these losses disguised as wins for exactly that reason. Hit frequency, RTP and volatility interact: a high hit frequency with a typical RTP usually means small, frequent returns, while a low hit frequency at the same RTP implies that the rarer wins must be larger. Not all providers publish the figure. When they do, it appears in the game rules, and it is more useful for judging session rhythm than profitability.