Top 5 Slot Machine Myths Debunked

Published 4:34 pm Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Slots are basically casinos’ cash cow — land-based and online alike. If you ask 100 punters about their favorite casino game, 95 will answer with slots. Slot’s popularity also makes it the talk of the ‘gambling’ town. So, rumors have trickled down the years, creating myths rather than legends around these slot machines. We will debunk the top five myths in this article. Reading about the unfounded basis of these stories will give you a fresh perspective on slots. Let’s begin!

#1 Slot Machines are Rigged

Online casinos are totally incapable of controlling how slot machines payout (yes, the legit ones). There are dubious platforms out there with rigged slots, for sure. However, because a slot does not pay out as frequently as you want, it does not translate into ‘rigged.’ There are regulations around these slot games. 

So, when you register for an online casino, check out its operational license and fairness certificate. The latter must be from a well-founded third-party laboratory, such as iTech Labs. The certificate shows that the slot machines on the site have passed fairness tests, and their results are totally random. 

Subscribe to our free email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

Randomness often means dependence on RNGs. Yes, RNG tests are a part of the fairness tests. The certificate covers them all.

And if you don’t want to spend your precious time searching for the best place to gamble, just drop into this Wazbeecasino — the option I chose for stress-free, fair play.

#2 Slots are Due for a Payout

Oh, you might be thinking — this slot has not paid out for a while, so it should soon. Well, happy to inform you that your assumption has no basis and is totally wrong. There is never a slot that is ‘due’ to pay out — not a single fair one!

Heard of a Random Number Generator (RNG)? Well, this is a provably fair technology that ensures the results of slot machines are totally fair and random. The computer algorithm randomly picks winners at any point in time. 

Also, do not forget about slots’ volatility — it determines the type and frequency of wins. Base your assumptions on facts, not myths like slot machines are ‘due’ for a payout — pure fallacy.

#3 Higher Bets Increase Your Chances of Winning

You shouldn’t make this mistake when gambling on slots. Slots are absolutely different from sports bets. For the latter, bigger and multiple bets help to increase the likelihood of a big win. However, for slots, the amount you wager does not determine the frequency of your wins.

To thoroughly debunk this myth — this is why slots have a predetermined volatility. A slot with high volatility, which pays out occasionally, would not care about your bet size. However, spreading your bets across multiple win-lines will increase your chances of winning. Bigger bets have never and will never guarantee a slot win.

Placing higher bets may lead to irresponsible gambling, which you must always frown upon!

#4 Hot and Cold Machines

We have debunked the idea around the assumption that some slots are ‘due’ for a win. Many would tag the slots that match their belief as hot. So, inadvertently, they believe there are cold ones, those that are unlikely to pay out wins. The good news (if you will have it) is that there are no hot and cold machines. 

The same analogy for debunking hot machines applies to cold ones. Your chances of winning on these slot machines depend on several factors. Bets on slots are independent of one another. The last result does not influence the next. There is a clear dependence on RNG technology — each slot has volatility specs, too.

#5 Playing at Certain Times Increases Your Odds

Odds do change from time to time on slot machines, mainly land-based ones. However, don’t fall for the theatrics that playing at a specific time of the day (non-peak hours) will guarantee better odds. Casinos peddle this figment of the imagination to get players through the door. 

It is undoubtedly mandatory that red-brick casinos deactivate slot machines a few minutes before reprogramming new odds. However, it is illegal to change these odds during gaming sessions. So, if you arrive to play at the supposed non-peak hours during gambling sessions, then you just got played!

Conclusion

We have successfully managed to debunk the top five myths around slot machines. Now, you must better understand how these games operate — especially without bias. 

So, when you hear people peddling these myths, you can immediately quash them. Some of these myths explain why many punters play slot machines irresponsibly. If you can tell higher bets do not guarantee wins, you can manage your bankroll more effectively. The goal is to gamble responsibly — always.