The Truth about Slot Myths

As the biggest crowd drawer in casinos, it should perhaps come as no surprise that tales concerning slot machines have sprouted through the years. A lot of these slot myths have remained strong, and it is essential for anyone who wants to play the game to be aware of the facts behind them.

A lot of the misconceptions regarding these machines are largely due to a lack of knowledge concerning the technology used to create them. One slot myth has it that their online versions rarely register a big payout because they are rigged.

The fact is that the symbols that appear in online slots are controlled by the RNG (Random Number Generator), the same ones which are used in land based casinos.

These devices are built in the slot machines and produce totally random combinations. In fact, studies have shown that there is no difference, payout wise, between an online and land based slot.

An often repeated slot myth has a player plugging away continuously without any success, and the moment he steps out, the next player hits the jackpot. This fallacy has been spread by movies and television, but in fact the chances of hitting the jackpot are random, and can appear at any given point regardless of who is playing.

The random number generator can also be used to debunk another slot myth; that is, that by counting or analyzing the symbols that appear you will have a better chance of hitting the jackpot.

This is somewhat akin to the card counting scheme in table games, except that while card counting can sometimes work, counting slot symbols never has and never will. The reason is that the RNG is capable of coming up with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of combinations.

One of the most persistent of all slot myths is that there is a secret mechanism in the machine that allows casino operators to turn it "hot" or "cold". A flick of a switch can tighten a slot if it is giving out too much cash, and it can also be loosened up if there are few customers.

There is a chip inside each slot machine, but it is used to evaluate the pay out, not control the machine. To turn the machine hot or cold would require replacing the chip, and that can only be done in a factory and through the Casino Commission. Any attempt to circumvent or alter the structure of the slot to make it "hot" or "cold" would never pass through.

Connected to this is the slot myth that a cold machine will pay out soon if you keep playing. As with roulette wheels, the RNG has no recall of the previous combination and the kind of symbols that will appear is totally independent of the previous ones.

The proliferation of slot myths is due to lack of technical knowledge regarding the structure, and inability of some gamblers to accept losses. By simply ignoring the tall tales and focusing on your bankroll strategies, the more enjoyable and profitable you gambling experience will be.