Definition
Hold percentage is ambiguous unless the formula is declared. In betting and official market statistics, hold often means stakes minus payouts over stakes — effectively GGR margin. Some operator dashboards instead use cash hold: deposits minus withdrawals over deposits. These answer different questions and must not share one benchmark.
Formula
Cash hold amount = Deposits − Withdrawals
Cash hold % = (Deposits − Withdrawals) ÷ Deposits
Betting hold / GGR margin = (Stakes − Payouts) ÷ Stakes. RTP = Payouts ÷ Stakes. See GGR and NGR for official Danish examples; do not turn one market's product mix into a universal slot benchmark.
How operators use it
| Metric | Denominator | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Cash hold | Deposits | Cash movement; affected by withdrawals, balances and timing |
| GGR margin / betting hold | Stakes | Game or sportsbook economics |
| RTP | Stakes | Payout return; inverse of GGR margin under matching definitions |
| Withdrawal completion | Valid withdrawal requests | Operational and player-experience control |
Cash hold works as a triangulation metric only when read with opening/closing player balances, GGR margin, withdrawal requests and completion, cohort age and concentration. A single large withdrawal can move the ratio without any change in product economics.
Do not optimise cash hold by obstructing valid withdrawals. Report withdrawal success and time-to-complete directly; otherwise delayed payouts can make cash hold appear stronger while creating an operational problem.
Common misinterpretations
The most common error is publishing “hold” without a formula. The second is assigning a universal healthy range to a cash-flow ratio whose value changes with cohort age and balance movement. Third, a short window or concentrated player base can make the result volatile; always publish the period, cohort, denominator and concentration.
Related metrics: GGR and NGR · Payment Approval Rate · Bonus Cost · Churn Rate
Common questions
What is a healthy hold percentage for an online casino?
There is no defensible universal cash-hold range. First specify whether hold means stakes minus payouts over stakes or deposits minus withdrawals over deposits. Product mix, cohort age, balance change and observation window can move either metric; establish a comparable internal baseline.
How is hold different from GGR margin?
Hold compares money flows: deposits minus withdrawals, over deposits. GGR margin compares betting activity: stakes minus wins, over stakes. A casino can show normal margin with abnormal hold (a payments or behavior issue) or the reverse (a game-mix issue) — reading both locates the problem.
Why can a high cash hold require investigation?
A high deposits-minus-withdrawals ratio can come from cohort timing, balance accumulation, delayed or failed withdrawals, game outcomes or player mix. It does not prove churn or profit quality. Review withdrawal completion, balances, GGR margin and cohort retention before interpreting it.