A 92% rate means that a machine is programmed to pay back, over time, 92 cents for every dollar wagered. Most states also set payout minimums - typically 75% or 80%. The rates, determined by computer chips embedded in the machines, generally range from about 92% in Atlantic City and Connecticut to a tad shy of 95% in Nevada.
States with reporting regulations make the numbers public, either by region - the Las Vegas Strip, for example - or by individual casinos.
