Hit frequency is a term used to describe how often a pokie produces a winning outcome over time. This page provides an informational explanation of hit frequency and how it fits into the overall design of slot-style games.
What hit frequency means
Hit frequency describes the likelihood that any winning combination will occur on a given spin. It is usually expressed as a percentage or ratio and reflects how often a game produces wins, regardless of their size.
In simple terms:
- Higher hit frequency means wins may occur more often
- Lower hit frequency means wins occur less frequently
Hit frequency focuses on occurrence, not value.
Hit frequency versus outcome size
It is important to understand that hit frequency does not describe how large outcomes are. A game can produce frequent wins that are small in value, or infrequent wins that are larger.
Common patterns include:
- High hit frequency with small, regular outcomes
- Low hit frequency with larger, less frequent outcomes
- Moderate hit frequency with mixed outcome sizes
For this reason, hit frequency should not be confused with payout size or return.
Relationship to volatility
Hit frequency is closely related to volatility but describes a different aspect of game behaviour. While hit frequency measures how often wins occur, volatility describes how outcomes are distributed in terms of size over time.
Key distinctions:
- Hit frequency: how often any win occurs
- Volatility: how variable and spread out outcomes are
- Two games can share the same hit frequency but have different volatility profiles
How hit frequency is defined
Hit frequency is determined during the game development process as part of the overall mathematical model. It is based on symbol probabilities, paytable design, and win conditions.
Important characteristics:
- Fixed within the game logic
- Does not change during play
- Not influenced by player behaviour
- Independent of session length or past results
Technical overview
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Hit frequency | Likelihood of a winning spin |
| Expressed as | Percentage or ratio |
| Describes outcome size | No |
| Related to volatility | Yes (but distinct) |
| Changes during play | No |
| Influenced by player behaviour | No |
What you can do next
- Learn how RTP is calculated from game mathematics
- Read how volatility affects outcome distribution
- Explore how payout structures shape hit frequency
- Return to the pokies section for more informational content
Informational disclaimer
PokiesHub Australia does not provide access to games and does not promote gambling activity. This information is presented for educational purposes only.
The content is intended to help readers understand how hit frequency is used as a descriptive concept within the Australian gaming industry.