Slot machines are a tale as old as time, but slot machine myths span years of history. Back when a trip to the casino could be a weekly occurrence, slot machines were everywhere in every casino. Back then, they consisted of fruit machines, featuring three reels of various fruity symbols.
Now, slots have evolved into the digital sphere and have multiple different features, themes, and mechanics. Your highly-rated slot sites are now all competing to keep customers coming back for more. Slot machines may be popular, but with popularity comes negativity, in the form of misconceptions and myths.
Here at Fruity Slots, we consider ourselves professional myth busters! In this article, we will set the record straight, debunking common myths about slot machines and telling you the real truth.
Where Did Slot Machine Myths Come From?
The earliest slot machines had the simplest mechanics: the three-reel and five-symbol structure. Not much was known about their mechanics at the time, but people were fascinated by them.
Unfortunately, without an understanding of how the machines worked, a rumor mill around slot machines developed. People in the early 1900s thought there were tricks to winning big, when in reality, it was always random.
Even as slot machines evolved throughout the 20th century, rumors never dispelled. With newer slot mechanics, RNGs, video technology, and online integration, the rumors did not quiet; they evolved.
Dispelling Slot Machine Myths
In this section, we will aim to dispel popular myths about slot machines. Some myths will be as old as the earliest machines, while others will be more recent.
Hold onto your reels and don’t spin out!
Myth 1: Slots That Haven’t ‘Paid Out’ In A While Will Payout Big Money
This is a baseless rumour that players have made up relating to high volatility slots.
Reality: Slot machines that haven’t paid out money in a while are made like that. They are programmed to payout bigger amounts of money, yes, but that does not equal a jackpot. Modern-day slot machines use RNGs to determine the outcome, and each spin conducted by the machine is completely random. This means if a player hit the jackpot at the machine months ago, it doesn’t make it more or less likely that they will again.
Myth 2: Playing At Certain Times Of The Day Improves Odds
Rumors have surfaced that playing on slots at certain times of the day improves your odds, but this is just not true.
Reality: Slots are not programmed to follow a clock or give out more or fewer rewards based on the time of day. They cannot improve odds based on the time because RNGS do not operate based on it. What may affect the payout of jackpots is the number of people playing the slots, particularly online, but otherwise, playing at 5 pm is no different than playing at 5 am.
Myth 3: If You Bet Big, You Win Big
Players think if they bet a lot, they will see a high and profitable return. This is not always true. Sure, slot volatility does measure the size of payouts and how often players receive them, but it does not guarantee them.
Reality: Betting higher can enable you to unlock certain features of a slot, such as bonus rounds and access to jackpots. However, it has no impact on whether you win big money. Your fate is in the hands of an RNG, and not your bets.
Myth 4: Recent Jackpots Mean No Chances of Winning Again Soon
Similar to myth 1, this misconception is a common one that people make. They believe that once a slot machine pays out a jackpot, it is essentially cursed to remain winless for ages. Again, this is not true.
Reality: The frequency of jackpot winnings in a slot machine has no bearing on how soon someone else will win a jackpot at the same machine. Slot machines do not subscribe to a payout cycle, so they don’t reset like other games do. Therefore, players do not have to wait long periods of time for wins because the wins are completely random.
Myth 5: Casinos Control Slot Machines and Their Outcomes
Although it is tempting to blame a losing streak on the casino, they are not to blame.
Reality: Casinos, both online and in-person, cannot control the outcomes of slot machines. Both types of casinos are regulated and licensed by official bodies, and they must comply with regulations. This means that they also have to have their games and machines tested for fairness to ensure they are not rigged against customers.
Often in online casinos, you will find a FairPlay page, which shares with customers how the casino ensures games remain independent and fair. If anything, the ones who can control the machines in any capacity are the operators, who can ensure the games are properly maintained.
Why Myths About Slots Still Exist
Myths surrounding slot machines exist for a few reasons.
- Anecdotes: Anecdotes are common in social situations, and stories are what lead players to believe the myths about slots. Stories like “my friend won $10,000 while pulling the lever” are more common than you think.
- Gambling Psychology – Gamblers love to rely on patterns, and while it may work for table games, it does not work for reels. Players like to decode casino games to figure out how to win them.
Why Slot Machine Myths Cannot Be True
Now that we’ve discussed the why, we should talk about the how. There are a few technical reasons why slot machine myths cannot be true.
- Random Number Generators – RNGS are the backbone of the slot machine, and are the sole technology that keeps their outcomes random. This technology ensures spins are random and each one is different from the last.
- Volatility – The volatility is objective in each slot, and explains to players how often (roughly) payouts are received. It does not dictate the amount a player is paid or when they are paid.
Slot Machine Myths: The Takeaways
- Slot machine outcomes are not a part of a pattern.
- A slot machine system cannot be ‘beaten’.
- Betting big does not increase your wins; it only increases your risk as a player.
- Understand what slot you’re playing – look into their volatility and their RTP percentage.
