Hold
Industry and product terms
Definition
The share of all money wagered that the operator keeps after paying winners. Hold is the number to watch in any harm reporting: rising hold on the same handle means customers are losing a larger fraction of what they bet, usually because the product mix moved toward parlays.
Source
https://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/
Additional citation research
The original definition and sourcing warnings are retained. These sources support only the claims identified below, not necessarily the full entry.
- Tennessee Sports Wagering Council glossary
Supports: Defines hold as the amount of handle retained after winning wagers are paid; hold percentage is that amount divided by handle.
Remaining evidence gap: Rising hold alone does not establish increasing harm or a shift toward parlays. Outcomes, promotions, pricing, and accounting conventions can also change hold.
Cite this
Betttr. "Hold." The Gambling Recovery Glossary. https://betttr.net/glossary/hold/ (accessed 2026-09-20).
Last updated: 2026-09-20.
Corrections: support@betttr.net
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