Uncovering the Truth Behind Common Gambling Myths
4 minutes
Last Updated: June 15, 2022
Anyone who’s gambled for any meaningful period of time will know there are dozens of myths and superstitions circulating among players.
Many of these myths have become so commonplace that it’s hard to tell which ones have bases in reality and which are complete nonsense.
As someone who’s been around gambling for many years now and understands the industry from both sides, I’ve decided to look into some of the common gambling myths and reveal the truth behind them.
So, without any further ado, let’s get right into it, starting with probably the biggest myth out there that almost every player I’ve had the pleasure to meet believes.
Live Slots Pay Better When They’re “Full”
I can’t count the number of times someone has approached me in a local casino to inform me about a good slot machine that was “filled” by a high roller.
They would go out of their way to get me to play on this machine, honestly believing they were doing me a solid.
Simply put, most gamblers believe that once a slot machine has taken in a lot of money, it must give some of it back.
If there were any truth to this common myth, I’d be grateful for the information, but unfortunately, this is not how slots work.
Every machine is programmed with a certain RTP (Return to Player) percentage. This RTP is realized over the lifetime of the machine. The fact that someone lost a lot of money on it a few hours ago doesn’t influence the odds of it paying the next player in any way.
The only time when this actually matters is if you come across compensated slots, which are still available in some UK bookie shops. With these games, the amount of money wagered influences the likelihood of the jackpot.
You Can Beat Roulette Using a System
Right after slots, roulette is easily one of the most popular casino games in existence. It is exciting, fast-paced, and offers plenty of entertainment for your money.
So, it’s no surprise that players have come up with countless plans and strategies over the years to beat the wheel.
In my years in the casinos, I’ve pretty much heard it all. At this point, it seems like everyone has their own strategy, and they all believe it works (despite their results showing the exact opposite).
They’ll blame it on bad luck. The truth is much simpler.
There is no mathematical way to beat roulette. The game is designed so that the house always has an edge of around 2.7% (and about double that if you play American roulette).
It doesn’t matter if you’re using a system, play your favorite numbers, or toss a chip onto the table and let the sheer luck decide your next bet.
Whatever you do, in the long run, your results will be exactly the same, and the only sure bet you can make is that those results will not be positive.
I have nothing against having a system for roulette (I have one myself). But, you should know that all of them are equally as good and, in the long run, none of them are winners.
Casinos Don’t Like Winners
Another common gambling myth, especially present among hardcore veteran players, is that casinos dislike winners.
They believe that casinos hate it every time they have to pay out any meaningful win.
This is simply not true because the only way for casinos to stay in business is if some people win. What would be the appeal if you lost every single time you went to play?
It’s true that some casino employees don’t like winners and hate paying wins (as if those were deducted from their paycheck), but their attitude doesn’t reflect that of a casino.
No serious casino cares about a player walking away with a nice win. In fact, they love it, as they know you’ll be happy about it and tell your friends, which can help bring in more business.
Will they try to get you back in and have you play again as soon as possible? Of course, this is their business, after all.
Summary: Where Do Gambling Myths Come From?
These three gambling myths are just the tip of the iceberg. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of these floating around. But where do they come from?
That’s one question I can’t answer. It’s impossible to say where some of these myths originated and who started them.
What’s certain is, just like with all myths and stories, these have changed and grown over time, with players adding new bits and pieces.
At the end of the day, you really shouldn’t pay too much attention to these common gambling myths and let them influence your decisions. But who doesn’t like to hear a good story every now and again?
