Whether brick-and-mortar or online, casinos are often shrouded in myths. Some of these stem go back many years and were spread to dissuade people from gambling. Others are more recent and only emerged following the explosion of online gambling over the last two decades.
Whichever the case, many myths concern beating the system and winning a life-changing sum of money. And while most of the myths surrounding slot machines have been proven false, some sound logical and are even believed by many.
What follows below is a compilation of the most common myths about slots. If you’re curious which are true and which you should ignore, keep reading.
Myth 1: You can control the outcome of a slot by stopping the reels
This is one of the most commonly believed myths. Originating from when mechanical slot machines reigned supreme, this also happens to be one of the broadest-reaching myths, believed by players worldwide.
The myth spread because older slots required physical interaction with players, like pulling the spin arm. The myth depicts that interrupting the spinning reels can trigger a win. Despite seeming slightly illogical, many believe that the myth has continued due to players’ ongoing desire to control some aspect of the bet.
While physical interaction played a part in the betting process with older machines, modern games on a site that provides range of best USA slot sites are entirely digital and give players zero control over spin outcomes. Therefore, stopping the reels has little impact other than concluding a spin more quickly, resulting in faster play times and the possibility of losing more money.
Myth 2: Slot machines can “get hot” or “be cold”
Another prevalent myth internationally is that slots “get hot” or “cool down” depending on what part of their win cycle they are on. Logically, this myth also implies the existence of win cycles—something casinos have been arguing against for years.
Many still believe this myth due to the human need to seek patterns or make logic out of situations, no matter how random they are. The myth continues to spread despite casinos refuting it, and this belief is also maintained despite any proof.
The reality, which starkly contrasts the myth, is that slots are entirely random. Due to their use of a random number generator (RNG), every slot machine spin is independent—not pre-determined based on a cycle of winning and losing. As such, the belief that machines can “get hot” or “grow cold” is entirely untrue.
Myth 3: Free online slots make you purposefully lose so that you’ll spend money on playing
Although this one is somewhat laughable, many people believe that free online slots purposefully cause losses to encourage players to spend more money to try to win. While this tactic is unlikely to succeed, the myth stems from a wariness people naturally have when something is free and comes with no conditions.
Despite many seeing through this myth’s weakness, it has continued to circle the iGaming industry. This is primarily due to players’ perceptions that casinos will do anything to get money out of them. The reality, however, is that many casinos simply want to provide a way for players to enjoy entertaining games and try their luck.
Moreover, most free online slots use the same RNGs as their paid counterparts. They are often only offered for free so players may test the game and get familiar with its rules. Therefore, if you lose while playing for free, you’d likely have lost while paying to play, too.
Myth 4: Playing on maximum bet increases your odds of winning the jackpot
Among the many myths surrounding slots, the belief that using the max bet will increase your odds of hitting a jackpot is among the most popular. This myth entered the gambling industry during the era of physical slots and has continued into the age of iGaming and online options.
Predicated on the idea that the machine will be more favorable toward you if you spend more when betting, the myth has continued because some machines require the maximum bet to be eligible for the highest jackpot. While this is true for many machines, others don’t have this requirement.
The truth is that while playing with the maximum bet on specific machines will make you eligible to win the highest jackpot, it has no impact on your odds of winning it. The odds of doing so remain the same regardless if you’re playing on the lowest or the highest bet.
Myth 5: All online slots are rigged
The belief that all online slots are rigged is one of the most laughable myths. Stating this discounts the trust millions of players worldwide place with thousands of reputable online casino websites to give them a fair chance at winning big.
Believed to stem from a belief that websites requiring online payment are scammers, the myth has had some validation due to the unfortunate actions of fraudulent online casinos. However, these have been in the minority compared to the many fantastic, trustworthy operators that exist.
So, while it may be true that some online slots are rigged, it is a far cry from generalizing and saying that this is true of all slots. Instead of believing this, players should educate themselves on how to spot a trustworthy online casino, like ensuring it follows gambling laws, and enjoy the rush and entertainment of safe, fair online slots.
Main Takeaways
Various beliefs about slot machines, such as that they have “hot” periods or can be tampered with by stopping reels, are unlikely to disappear. As long as players give these myths any weight, they will continue to spread and enter the minds of players in each generation.
However, by understanding how casino games like slots operate and how they ensure fairness, these myths can quickly be put to bed and debunked. As a result, players can spend less time worrying about old wives’ tales and more time reveling in the enjoyment slots can bring.
