- If you think that certain days are more lucky when playing slot machines, think again.
- Many people believe that it’s possible to beat slot games easily, which isn’t the case most of the time.
- One of the biggest myths is that you can tell when a slot machine is ‘due’, which just isn’t the case.
You can’t avoid them; they’re part and parcel of playing slot games. Some may amuse you with their absurdity, others may make you laugh because you think they might have some substance, and quite a few may just make you wonder what some people do for a living.
Yes, I’m talking about slot machine myths, old wives’ tales that have been going around for decades but seem destined never to die. So, let’s take a look at ten of the most prevalent ones and debunk them once and for all.
You Must Wager Max Bet to Get the Jackpot
This false belief has its roots in the old-fashioned three-reel slot machines, which were popular many years ago. Back then, if you didn’t wager the maximum number of coins, you wouldn’t be entitled to the progressive jackpot or the highest-paying combinations.
However, almost all modern slot machines are no longer reliant on the number of coins you insert or wager. The exception to this rule applies to so-called “10-line” machines, where you have to bet ten credits to be able to win on ten paylines (more on this later).
Nowadays, deciding how much to wager is down to your bankroll and play style. If you only have $20 to spend, there is zero chance that betting $100 on max bet will get you the jackpot, so it makes more sense to spread that initial $20 over several spins. Take note that in most cases, activating all available paylines is recommended, as five-symbol combos pay on active lines only.
Online Slots Have Cycles of Payouts
Some people truly believe that slots operate like vending machines, where you push the lever, and the rewards come tumbling down. They assume that slots have cycles during which they must payout, kind of like an animal pacing its hunger before devouring its prey. To put it simply: this is not the case.
All online slots are based on a system known as RNG (Random Number Generator), which creates completely random and unbiased results. Each potential stop on the reels has a corresponding number, and the RNG generates a sequence of numbers every millisecond. When you click the “Spin” button, the next set of numbers is produced, and – presto! – you get the combination on your screen.
In other words, you cannot tell when a slot machine is “ready” to payout or not. In fact, casinos don’t know either, which is why some slots seem to pay constantly for hours while others remain stubbornly tight even after you’ve thrown dozens of dollars at them.
It’s Easy to Win Big at Slots
This is one of those myths that originate from the rare occasions when someone hits a life-changing jackpot. Everyone wants to believe that they, too, could become an overnight millionaire with a single spin of the reels, so they keep feeding the machines with cash hopings to strike it rich.
no deposit bonus casinos codesDon’t get me wrong: winning big at slots is possible — but the chances are incredibly slim. Progressive jackpots can reach millions of dollars because most of the time, no one hits the required combination. In essence, someone has to win these lotteries, but there’s no way of telling when exactly it’s going to happen.
If you want to make serious money from online slots, you’ll need to wager seriously large amounts over the long term. Sure, it can happen that you’ll score a massive prize with only your first spin; however, that outcome would be nothing more than a fluke.
New Slots Are More Likely to Pay Out
Have you ever noticed how some people gravitate toward brand-new slot games as soon as they go live? They’ll spend countless dollars trying to “prove” that the casino hasn’t properly set the payout percentage, unaware that this is one of the worst places to chase fake winnable heater.
According to slot machine mythology, new games are more likely to pay out generously as casinos supposedly lower the RTP percentage (if applicable) during the teething period and use the collected funds to attract customers. The idea is that the venue will set the payout rate afterward to bring things back to normal.
The truth is that all slot games are carefully tested for fairness and Randomness by third-party companies, such as eCOGRA and iTechLabs. These agencies check whether the outcomes are indeed produced by RNGs and whether the published RTP% is accurate. In other words, the game won’t “know” that you’re playing, and the rules will be the same at all times.
You Can Make Sense of Coin Meters and Jackpot Displays
Slot cabinines often feature several meters and displays showing various info, such as the total bet, coin value, number of coins bet, credit balance, and jackpot amount. Some players seem to believe that they can manipulate the outcome by looking at/or interacting with those indicators, which is yet another example of silliness run amok.
For instance, many believe that looking Away when nearing a big win will make the slot machine deliver the goods. Conversely, some folks swear that you have to “teach the machine to payout” by following a specific routine involving pressing the service button or looking at the seven symbol on the pay table whenever it appears during the play. All this is absolutely ridiculous and without any grounding in reality.
Another widespread fallacy refers to jackpot amounts. Even though the size of a progressive jackpot looks huge and mind-boggling, this doesn’t change the odds of hitting it. The pot will trigger randomly, regardless of where it’s at – when you hit the necessary combo, the jackpot will pay out the full amount, no matter if it was $10,000 last week or $1 million today.
There Are Optimal Times/Days to Play
We’ve all heard stories about the best times to play slot machines: some claim that Sundays are the most fruitful, as players have their gambling fix after surviving another stressful week. Similar reasoning leads to the theory that holidays such as Independence Day (Fourth of July) in the US bring better returns due to the patriotic symbols found in American-themed slots.
2023's Guide to Gambling in Connecticut - Casinos, CT Online Gambling, and MoreOthers insist that you should only play slot games during the day, avoiding nighttime sessions, for some reason.
Needless to say, none of these slot machine myths hold water. As we’ve already established, slots use Random Number Generation, which means that there’s no pattern to their operation. It’s like trying to teach your name to a hurricane: not only is it impossible, but the whole idea is inherently flawed and shouldn’t see the light of day.
Hot Slots Keep On Running Hot
The opposite of the “slots have cycles of payouts” myth, this false belief states that if a slot game has paid out several times in a row (ideally to other players), it’s bound to go cold any moment and reverse the trend, delivering a series of wins to make up for the previous losing streak.
Knowing when a slot machine is “due” is something that’s impossible, even for the manufacturer who created the game and has access to its source code. As you may have guessed by now, online slots rely on RNG, which means that each spin is an isolated event with the same (theoretical) probability of winning or losing.
In addition, previous outcomes don’t affect the future ones. Unlike card games where you can see the dealt cards and calculate the remaining ones in the deck, all symbols on slot reels are formed the moment you press the “spin” button.
You Must Choose a Jackpot That Suits Your Skill Level
An offshoot of the “easy way to win big at slots” myth, this false belief tells you to choose a progressive jackpot whose amount is roughly equal to your skill level.
Suppose you’re a novice player who’s just learning the ropes and lacking in confidence. In that case, this slot machine myth advises you to aim for small jackpots, as shooting for the stars will only end in frustration and disappointment. Instead of chasing a multi-million dollar prize that’s very unlikely to drop anytime soon, you should stick to prizes in the low six-figure range, which allegedly have better odds.
Experienced gamblers, on the hand, are urged to chase the highest progressive jackppts they can find, as they offer both a reasonable chance at winning and substantial sums of cash.
US States With Legal Online Casinos (and 5 That Ban Them)In reality, your skill level does not matter. It doesn’t matter if you’re a high roller or a penny-pincher, a beginner or a seasoned pro – your chances of winning a progressive jackpot are always dictated by the game itself and nothing else.
You Can Use a Player Reward Card to Win More Often
Casino loyalty programs are designed to reward your loyalty and give you additional perks, such as comps, free play, rebates, and other goodies.
Using a player reward card won’t increase your winning chances, nor will it speed up the spin rate or alter the payout percentage. What it will do is give you access to various promotions and discounts across the gaming floor and beyond.
If you’re not using a player reward card when playing at online casinos, you’re basically leaving free money on the table.
Sure, some people may view this as a form of manipulation, but that’s just a side effect of how casinos generate revenue. Gambling venues aren’t charities; they have to turn a profit to stay afloat, and complementary drinks and meals are just one side of the equation.
Think of it as a business promotion: you buy a product, say, a pair of sneakers, and you get a coupon for a discount on your next purchase. Casinos extend this philosophy to the entire complex, giving you a loyalty card that unlocks special deals and discounts if you gamble, eat, drink, and be merry within its walls.
You Should Bet on the Paylines That Have Won Previously
Lasting testament to the “there might be something in this slots thing if we just give it five more minutes” school of thinking, this slot machine myth tries to establish a connection between previously winning paylines and future outcomes.
According to this notion, if a certain payline has delivered several wins in a row, you should continue betting on it, riding the wave of luck. Of course, the opposite must also be true – if a line has gone cold, it’s time to abandon it and search for warmer pastures.
Once again, the problem here is the assumption that there’s some memory inside the slot machine. But this simply isn’t the case; each spin is independent of all other spins, and there’s no way to influence it unless you hack the game, which we definitely don’t recommend.
How to Win at Online Slots?
As you can see, most slot machine myths are based on the assumption that these games have some memory and can be influenced or predicted. However, as we’ve explained above, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Slots work according to strict rules and algorithms, and apart from a few basic strategies and tips that you can employ, there’s not much you can do to tilt the odds in your favor.
Playing at a trustworthy online casino is the first step toward responsible gambling. Our detailed guide will show you how to pick a good operator and enjoy your favorite slot games in a safe and secure environment.
Live Casino Games That Are Insanely Popular OnlineOnce you’ve found a reliable gaming site, it’s time to familiarize yourself with the most common . Apart from choosing a trustworthy casino, these are perhaps the most important thing you can do to improve your bottom line.
Finally, you should understand the nuances of your chosen game and study its paytable before spending real money. Most importantly, you should remember that online slots are meant to be fun, not a way to earn quick cash. Approach them with respect, and they will reward you handsomely.
Nicholas is a writer for GamblingSites.com who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and more. He also covers other various topics such as entertainment, general sports betting tips, and more.
One of hisPassions are sports besides writing, and he aims to inform and share his knowledge with everyone. Nicholas is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, and now he writes from the West Coast of Illinois.
