Drop

Detailed Explanation

Drop is a key revenue metric representing the total amount of cash, chips bought in from the cage, and non-negotiable chips dropped into table drop boxes during a defined accounting period. When a player exchanges cash for chips at a table, the cash is immediately inserted through a slot into a locked metal drop box beneath the table.

Drop differs from Handle (total amount wagered) and Win (actual casino profit). The relationship between Win and Drop is expressed as the Hold percentage: Win ÷ Drop = Hold%. For table games, typical hold percentages range from 12–25% for baccarat and 15–25% for blackjack, depending on game variant, player composition, and bet limits.

Casino executives monitor drop closely as it represents the volume of money in play. Revenue fluctuations driven by a few large-player sessions — particularly in baccarat — can cause significant volatility in a casino's reported quarterly earnings.