What is handle
Handle is the total amount wagered, summed across every bet placed in a defined window or product. It is the operator’s headline volume metric, distinct from revenue. A sportsbook with high handle but a poor risk-management quarter can post low GGR; a slot vertical with steady handle produces predictable GGR governed by certified hold percentage.
The label varies regionally. Handle is the US sports-betting term; turnover is the more common European casino term. Both describe the same underlying figure.
Handle, hold, and GGR
The three metrics are tightly linked. GGR equals handle multiplied by hold percentage. Handle is the volume; hold is the percentage of that volume the operator retains as gross income; GGR is the result. The relationship is structural and is the foundation of every operator’s revenue forecast.
Slots and other RNG products produce predictable hold rates that track the certified game math. Sportsbook hold fluctuates with sporting results and risk-management performance. Live casino sits between the two.
Why handle matters in B2B
Handle is the canonical activity metric across iGaming. Regulators measure operator scale in handle; tax authorities calculate gambling duty against it in some jurisdictions; investors compare operators on handle growth alongside GGR; B2B vendors size commercial agreements against expected handle volume. Reporting handle accurately and disclosing the methodology behind it (bet placement timing, bet voids, free-bet treatment) is a baseline expectation.
Frequently asked questions about What Is Handle in iGaming?
Handle is total wagered; GGR is the operator’s gross gaming revenue, which equals handle minus winnings paid out. Handle is always larger than GGR by a factor that depends on the hold percentage.
Yes. Handle is the more common US sports-betting label; turnover is the more common European casino label. They describe the same metric.
Methodology varies. Some operators include all wagers regardless of funding source; others exclude bonus-funded stakes. The reporting methodology has to be disclosed and held consistent.