Debunking Myths: Truth and Fiction About Slot Machines

So, you believe that a slot machine is going to bring you a jackpot because it hasn't been paid for a few hours. Or that if you stake more, you'll increase your chance of winning. Well, read along. It's time you learned about common myths about slot machines.

Lucky day

It's Saturday afternoon. You click on a bookmarked link to your favorite online casino. Excited, you open the Spotify playlist and hit play. That baritone saxophone always hits the right note. You sing along with Mark Sandman.

I feel lucky, I just feel that way
I'm on a bus to Atlantic City later on today
Now I'm sitting at a blackjack table, and, I swear to God, my dealer has a tag says Mabel
Hit me, hit me. I smile at Mabel. Soon they're bringing complimentary drinks to the table
Mabel gives me a great big smile, she's getting to know me she's on my side
Now I'm down a little in fact I'm down a lot I'm on a roller coaster ride that I can't stop
Yea my luck has changed, but she'll come back
That's the beauty of a game of chance

Slot machines are games of chance, and feeling lucky has nothing to do with probability – it's a common confirmation bias. This term refers to the tendency to interpret or remember information in a way that confirms one's preconceptions or beliefs.

Some gamblers might interpret certain events or circumstances as evidence of their luck. What they also do is tend to overlook or downplay contradictory evidence. For example, if someone wins a small prize in a raffle after feeling particularly lucky that day, they might attribute their win to their "luck" while ignoring the numerous times they haven't won in similar situations.

Hot and Cold Machines

Several more myths surround gambling slot machines, perpetuated by misconceptions or wishful thinking. One of them is the common belief that machines are programmed for "cold" and "hot" streaks. The first one brings no winnings, and the latter may bring you a jackpot. In reality, as in all games of chance, each spin on a slot machine is independent of the previous one. Past outcomes never influence future spins.

 This myth has serious consequences if you finally hit the jackpot. Many gamblers start increasing the stake because they believe that the "hot" streak has just started. Their initial win quickly disappears. That's the beauty of a game of chance, of course, but this could have also been avoided if they simply cashed the winning and left.

Many versions of this myth exist; the misconception that a jackpot cannot be won one after another is just another variant of the situation described above.

Slot Machines Are Tweaked; That's Why I Never Win.

If you registered at a legal online casino, say, one from the onlinekasyno-polis.pl ranking, the chances that slot machines in the lobby are somehow "tweaked" by the casino owner are literally zero. The Random Number Generator (RNG) gives results that are, well, completely random. Firstly, they are initialized with a seed value, which is often based on some external input, such as the current time. Then the software, using complex mathematical algorithms, generates a sequence of random numbers consisting of billions of numbers. All within a blink of an eye. The random numbers generated by the RNG are then mapped to specific symbols on the slot machine's virtual reels. RNGs are monitored by a software provider and external auditors. Any online casino Europe or slot producer caught red-handed risks high fines, loss of their license, and eventually bankruptcy.

Skill-Based Play

While some games, like poker or blackjack, involve real skill, this does not apply to slot machines at all. Still, many slot players believe they can influence the outcome of a spin through skillful play. However, slot machines are entirely based on chance, and there's no skill involved in spinning the reels.

Many gamblers are unaware that online slot games like Book of Dead, Starburst, or Big Bass Bonanza remind Lotto that it's not them who decide what the outcome of the drawing will be. In most online slots, the player can only increase or decrease the stake; that is the only parameter that can be modified, and it's not connected to RNG whatsoever. The decisions taken during bonus rounds do not influence the work of the RNG either. They are illusory. Such mechanics are implemented so that the player believes that it was due to his or her decisions, while the drawing was and will be entirely random, independent of his or her actions.

Summary

The myths described above are just the tip of the iceberg. Almost every gambler is prone to them. Distinguishing facts from fiction in gambling will not make you rich, but it may help you avoid going bankrupt immediately.