Slot Game Myths – What to Believe?

Why Most Myths Aren’t True

If you have ever played slot machines, and even if you haven’t, you’ve no doubt heard of at least some type of “fact” about them that is supposedly going to better your chances of winning. And while some of them may seem to sound reasonable to a certain extent, others venture so deep into bizarre territory it makes you wonder how someone could have even come up with them at all.

Don’t worry, though – we will cover some of the weirdest myths about slot machines, too.

But the bottom line here is that the overwhelming majority of superstitions you hear about slot machines are just that. There is no truth to them, no matter how plausible they may sometimes sound. And the main reason for this is that all slot games are governed exclusively by their random number generators (RNG for short).

This is part of their software configuration that is in place to guarantee fair play. And due to its randomness factor, that automatically eliminates the possibility for some of the other factors listed below to influence the outcome of any given spin during gameplay. And especially if you are playing a game from a reputable software provider, you can rest assured that the RNG is working as expected.

Namely, there are heavy-weight regulators in the gaming industry whose job it is to test slot machines RNG’s and issue certificates as proof that they are indeed random. So if a slot game is rigged, there is no way that would slip past the keen eyes of these regulators. Furthermore, the event would be scandalous and the software provider would lose all credibility, which could quite possibly put them out of business for good.

However, not all myths necessarily have to do with the sheer presence of an RNG in a slot machine. And we will be sure to list some of those possibilities, too. So sit back, and watch as we bust some of the most popular, ridiculous, funny and outrageous myths about slot machines.

Popular Slot Myths

So here are some of the most common things that you are likely to hear about slot games and why they aren’t true.

There are “hot” and “cold” slots

There is a widespread belief that slots that have been paying out a lot recently are bound to enter a dry spell any minute now. That would be the so-called “hot” slots. And vice versa, if there is a slot machine that hasn’t been paying out at all over a longer period of time (a “cold” slot), then it is going to start raining cash very soon.

Here’s the thing about our friend the RNG that we mentioned earlier. Because of the fact that it generates winning spins randomly there is no way previous spins are going to affect future spins. I.e. the fact that a slot hasn’t paid out for a while isn’t going to necessarily mean that wins will start pouring in. They might, and they might not.

Only high rollers can win progressive jackpots

Gamblers tend to think that unless they are willing to spend big bucks on a progressive slot game, they have no chances of winning the jackpot. Here’s the good news: that’s not true!

This myth comes close to reality in the fact that with most progressive jackpots, it sometimes helps to play with the maximum number of coins. This is because with some progressive slots, the number of coins corresponds to the number of “tickets” that you compete for the main prize with.

And for some progressives, the maximum stake is actually even a requirement, but this will certainly be stated in the rules of the game. The bottom line, however, is that the jackpot is hit at random – and the game doesn’t care whether you bet 50 cents on a spin or $500.

All slot games are the same

Slot game and gambling skeptics in general will often say things like “you can never beat the game” or that “all the games are designed the same way”. And they couldn’t be farther away from the truth if they tried.

All slot games have things called volatility and a return to player ratio (RTP). Both of these things differ from title to title and they are what determines, how much you can expect to win (or lose) on a certain game. For instance, RTPs in regular land-based slot machines can range anywhere from 80% to 85% or more. And with online slots that number can go all the way up to 99%, which is a colossal difference.

And as far as volatility goes, some games are highly volatile and pay out large amounts, but it can take ages to actually land a win. And lower variance titles will pay out very frequently, but significantly smaller amounts.

The auto spin feature will hurt your chances

Again we turn to the good old RNG. Regardless of whether or not you decide to manually push the “spin” button every time, or you let the software handle that for you for a predetermined number of spins – the outcome of every spin is still as random as it was always intended to be.

There is nothing you can do to improve your odds

While this may go against everything we have been saying so far with the randomness factor and all, this is actually also a myth. There are, in fact, things within your power that can alter the result of your gaming sessions – to a certain extent.

And one of these things is choosing your slot games wisely. As pointed out already, not all slots are made the same. Some have a higher RTP (and it’s always advisable to seek those kinds of games out), and every slot games has its own variance. Do you have a larger bankroll, more experience playing slot games and a higher level of patience to wait for the big prizes? Then higher variance titles are the way to go.

And if you are more content with smaller wins, are new to slot games and would prefer to spend a humbler amount of cash, then aim for the less volatile offerings. While this remains a matter of preference, you will be much more satisfied with your experience if you choose slots according to your personal gaming style.

Slot machines can be rigged by the casino

Slot games and their respective providers are tested and certified by highly respected gaming authorities to ensure that the RNG is indeed random and not rigged or manipulated to, say, always make sure that the house wins.

It’s not impossible for there to be rigged games out there, but if the title is offered by a reputable developer and found at a trustworthy casino, such as the ones we list here, then you can rest assured there’s no cheating going on.

You can’t hit the jackpot if it was just paid out recently

Can you guess where this is headed already? Yup, the random number generator, of course! It doesn’t care whether the last jackpot was paid out yesterday or 2 years ago. There is no telling when is the next time that some lucky player is going to win the big bucks again.

Similarly, if you are playing a jackpot slot dead certain that the pot is about to drop any second now simply because that hasn’t happened in ages – you might want to take a step back to reconsider. If you’re going to play a jackpot title, do it for the fun of it, without relying on bogus theories.

Bizarre Slot Game Myths

So we covered the most misguided concepts about slot machines, but this list couldn’t be complete if we didn’t also mention a few notions that will put a smile on your face.

The best time of day

Starting off with the least impressive, some players believe that slot games pay out differently depending on the time of day. According to this idea, slots are likely to be more generous during less busier hours, as opposed to evenings and nights, when there are more people playing. That is decidedly not true, again due to the RNG. Similarly, holidays, weekends, rainy or sunny days will also not affect the payout frequency of slot machines.

The more generous machines are hidden

Another common misconception that sounds more like a conspiracy theory than anything else is that casinos tend to hide better paying slot machines away. So some players out there actually go lucking for the dustiest, least noticeable machines in the hopes that they can make a fortune on them. Needless to say, that wouldn’t really make sense to the casino. Any decent venue has dozens of different slot machines, and it certainly won’t be fearing that one single “golden” slot machine will be the reason of its bankruptcy.

Bonus money will decrease your chances of winning

Then there’s also the idea floating around that if you use bonus money or free spins awarded by the casino, then you will have slimmer odds of winning. But the truth is that the slot games make no difference between whose money you’re playing with. So whether it came out of your own pocket or the casino gave it to you as an incentive or a reward, your chances of winning will not change.

Warm up those coins!

We saved the best for last.

According to certain “expert” gamblers out there, if you physically warm up your coins before tossing them into the slot machine, that will improve your odds of landing a win. Yes. It’s a thing.

It’s a thing that raises more questions than we would expect from a slot machine myth, such as where the slot machine’s temperature sensors are located and what the ideal temperature of the coins should be. We’d also be curious to know the kind of medication the author of this theory was taking at the time it was conceived.

All in all, the main takeaway from the lore and legend surrounding slot games is that no external factors can really influence the outcome of your spins. Whether you win or not is determined randomly every time. And all you can really do to make the most of your experience is decide carefully what games to play, based on RTP, variance, and then possibly also theme and genre for the sake of enjoyment.

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