Slot Myths - Slot Machine Myths
It's no secret that profits from slot machines make up most of the gambling industry's income. But that wasn't always the case. At their start, slot machines were only begrudgingly placed on the casino floor to entertain the spouses of high rollers. They only generated around 30 percent of a casino's profit. From these humble beginnings, slot machines have come to dominate the gambling world. Almost any recreational gambler has spent some time feeding quarters into a slot machine.
As the game type has grown in popularity, several myths and misconceptions have been passed from player to player, becoming almost gospel. This is because many people don't understand the inner workings of a slot machine. As a result of this lack of knowledge, they come up with their own ideas to explain a win or a loss. The introduction of video slot machines has only intensified the speculation about how the games work.
Here we'll dispel some of the mystery surrounding slot machines by explaining away a few of the major myths associated with this popular casino pastime. Knowledge is your greatest weapon against the casino, and knowing the truth can only help your gaming. Perhaps this information will help you enjoy your time at the slot machines a little more!
Slot Machine Myth 1:
The slot machine you just left hit
a jackpot. If you'd stayed it would've been yours!
This, unfortunately, isn't true at all. Modern video slot machines
do not have a list of outcomes that they follow. There is no hidden
program that says a jackpot will hit in the next 5 spins.
Instead, video slot machines use a special computer chip known as a Random Number Generator, or RNG. The RNG is constantly generating random numbers each microsecond, even when no one is playing the game.
When you hit the stop button, the slot machine quickly grabs the random number of that microsecond and compares it to a list of every possible outcome in the game. The outcome that corresponds to the random number is the outcome that appears on the screen. Because the RNG is running all the time, there's no telling which spin will yield a jackpot.
Each and every spin has a completely random outcome.
Slot Machine Myth 2:
The number of icons on each reel can
give you the odds of winning.
This is another myth. Video slot machines are all controlled by
computer chips. Because of this setup, video slots no longer need
a static reel makeup. The computer chips inside the machine can
control, and alter, the number of stops on any reel. You may only
be able to count 10 icons on each reel of a three-reel machine.
This might indicate that the odds for winning would be 1 in 1,000
(10 x 10 x 10 = 1,000). However, the controlling chips could actually
program 256 stops on each reel, holding them all in the game's memory.
This puts the actual odds of winning nearer to 1 in 17 million.
It's those massive odds that allow slot machines to offer such large
jackpots. With so much of the outcome dependent on computer chips,
the odds are hidden and can't be calculated by simple observation.
Slot Machine Myth 3:
Casinos can press a button and make
their slot machines tighter or looser.
False once again, thanks to computer chips! The only thing controlling
the payout percentage of any given slot machine is the chip inside
it. Casinos have no control over this percentage whatsoever; the
manufacturer sets the payout percentage at the factory. If a casino
wanted to reduce how often a machine pays out, the machine would
need to be opened and the controlling chip replaced. Most areas
with legalized gambling regulate slot machines, requiring large
amounts of paperwork to make a microchip change legal. Such exchanges
are costly and time consuming. It's much easier for casinos to choose
the payout percentage when purchasing the games, ensuring the proper
microchip is installed at the factory.
Slot Machine Myth 4:
A slot machine is due for a hit if
there's been no recent payout.
This is untrue, as well. Machines can't be predicted, thanks to
the RNG. Each spin is an independent event. Slot machines can't
keep track how often they've paid out or not. Every time the reels
spin, the outcome is completely random. This myth can be extremely
hazardous to follow, too. Playing a machine that's not paying out
in the hopes that a jackpot is due will only eat away at your bankroll.
Slot Machine Myth 5:
Slot machines are sensitive to the
temperature of the coins used to play them.
Completely false. Slot machines dedicate their processing power
to maintaining the icons on the reels and generating the random
outcomes of each spin. The coin slot of a slot machine is a simple
mechanical device. It doesn't sense temperature at all. So play
coins of any temperature!
Slot Machine Myth 6:
Using slot club cards reduces how
often a machine pays out.
This is perhaps the most damaging myth out there. The RNG controls
every outcome. The card reader only keeps track of the money you
put in the machine. There's no connection between these two components.
This might not seem like a big deal, but consider that every time
you use your club card, you're earning comps (customer loyalty benefits
such as drinks, meals and rooms) as well as betting on slots. Avoid
using the club card and you could be missing out on more than just
an easy way to wager.
There's no better tool in your gambling skill set than knowledge. Gather as much as you can to make the most of your gambling fun.