We get a lot of questions here about slots and how they work. While there is always a new one, some come up time and again. So much so, that they have cropped up in the mind of most players at least once. A lot of the myths on this list originated ‘back in the day’ in the halls of physical casinos before the internet was widespread. As such, there may have been a grain of truth to them back then. Fortunately, things have improved since the wild west days so let’s take a look at some of the most common slot myths out there.
Slot Myth #1: Casinos are rigged
If there is one common concern that many new players share it is about the system being rigged. While no one can guarantee that every slot provider out there is running a clean show, it is easy to find the legit operators. Say what you will about gambling regulators, but they have done a fairly commendable job of cleaning up the industry and setting casinos straight.
To avoid rigged casinos, only use operators that are fully licensed and regulated by the UKGC for British Gamblers, or reputable European regulators such as the MGA. If a casino is regulated, they usually make this crystal clear on their site. If you can’t find licensing information, run while you can to the next casino on the list.
Slot Myth #2: Slots are rigged
The next trust issue is over rigged games. It is fine to be a sceptic; it is your money after all. However, developers, as well as providers, work hard to win players’ trust. They do this by employing Random Number Generators (RNGs) with their games. Number one, these RNGs ensure that every spin is completely fresh, random, and completely uninfluenced by the spins that preceded it. Secondly, regulators test and audit RNGs as part of licensing to ensure that slots are providing the numbers they claim so players receive fair games.
Contrary to popular belief, casinos do not have any influence over the games you play. They may have the option to choose from a range of predefined RTP settings if allowed by the developer (RTP should be stated in the help file), but the actual outcome of each spin is determined by a random number generator. Moreover, all casino games need to be tested and certified by independent agencies and are heavily regulated in the same way casinos are. When you play an online slot at your favorite casino, the actual slot is not hosted by the operator but has been embedded on the site in the same way websites allow you to watch Youtube videos without having to go to Youtube.
Players will sometimes accuse casino games of being rigged, especially when on a losing streak. But this is a claim that is not true as long as you stick to trusted casinos of the kind we list on Bigwinboard.com. How can we be so sure? Keep reading and you will find out why there’s absolutely no reason for casinos or developers to “rig” games.
Playing on a bad casino puts you at risk of playing pirated software, although it’s becoming less common these days as players have become more educated. There are two main reasons why pirated slots are being used – to avoid licensing costs and to increase revenue.
Slot Myth #3: How can you be so sure slots are not “rigged”?
- To ensure that the games are fair and comply with local laws, all casino games need to be certified by independent testing agencies. These agencies will simulate millions of spins, examine the random number generator, and thoroughly go through every aspect of the game.
- There are many thousands of people working (and that have worked) in the iGaming industry. It’s highly unlikely that such a large number of people would have been able to keep quiet about a conspiracy on such massive scale during all these years. Not only is a plot like this unlikely, it would also be a serious criminal offense. No sane company would take a risk to “rig” games when it would be pointless to do so. Which takes us to the next section, RTP.
- Slots are designed to give the casinos an edge by a few percents. The actual edge for a given slot is represented by something called Return to Player (RTP). Every slot has its own RTP, so a slot with a 95% RTP will pay back 95% of the money to the players, while the remaining 5% is for the casino to keep. This ensures that the casino is guaranteed to make a profit in the long run, no matter what happens. Hence there is no need to “rig” a slot or for a casino to risk its name and reputation while also committing a criminal act.
Slot Myth #4: New games perform better than old
This is another persistent claim we often see on various forums and one that is a bit harder to refute. Again, new slots
Changing the RTP of a game would be both costly and time consuming given the fact that it would need to go through certification again, but there is nothing to suggest that the variance of a game cannot be altered. For example, by lowering the frequency of big wins while increasing the frequency of smaller wins, the RTP would remain the same while making it harder for players to land wins they would feel worth withdrawing. To the best of our knowledge, there is nothing that prevents a game developer from making such changes (correct us if we are wrong).
There’s also a “cash flow” theory used to explain why some feel slots perform better when first released compared to later stages of its life-cycle. According to this theory, new games generate wins more frequently because they attract more players, thus increasing the turnover. While it makes sense, your odds should remain the same no matter how long a game has been available on the market.
Finally, there are also some question marks in regard to max win caps. Some game providers advertise wins of up to 50,000 times your stake, but we know for a fact that these games are often capped well below the max potential depending on where you play. In our opinion, it should be clearly stated what the biggest achievable max win on a given slot is, no matter where you play.
Having said this, we again have to stress the importance of playing at trusted casinos and sticking to trusted game providers. This also means playing on casinos regulated by trusted licensing authorities. Examples of reputable licensing authorities are: Malta Gaming Authorities (MGA), UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC), Gibraltar Licensing Authority (GLA), Danish Gambling Authority, and the Swedish Gambling Authority.
Slot Myth #5: A 9% RTP means I get 96% of my bets back
In the long run, this is statistically true. However it is not so clear cut in the short term. The thing about the return to player rate is that it is calculated using an enormous amount of spins. So in the short term, 100 spins might return 50%, or it might return 10,000%. That’s why some sessions are disappointing, whereas others strike it big within a few spins. That is the nature of gambling right there and the ups and downs of playing slots.
Slot Myth #6: Slots that haven’t paid out for a while are due a big win
It can be natural to feel this way, but it is not how slots work. Yes, pay out a certain percentage as indicated by RTP rates. But keep in mind the huge number of spins needed to calculate that figure. A slot that hasn’t paid out much for a while might continue that way for a while to come. It is just as likely to pays out big on the very next spin. You have to see slots as completely random. Literally anything can happen on the next spin which is what makes them so exciting, and why bankrolls are set to avoid chasing winners. Keep in mind that slots don’t owe us anything, no matter how much we might have put in.
Slot Myth #7: You should avoid slots that have just paid out a jackpot
Again, this is the same line of thinking as the previous point and needs to be dealt with in the same manner. We have no idea what a slot will do next, even if it has just paid out a fortune. Remember, each spin is completely independent of everything that preceded it.
Slot Myth #8: You need to bet at max level to win jackpots
Fortunately this is generally no longer the case, though there are exceptions. In the past, some slots were released with jackpots attached that could only be won if players bet at the max level. The great news for jackpot hunters who happen not to be high rollers is that this practice is far less prevalent now. Jackpots are much more democratic and can usually be won while spinning at any bet level. Make sure to check this point when reading a game’s paytable for the first time.
Slot Myth #9: Casino bonuses have less chance of winning
This is certainly not the case at legit, regulated online casinos. Slots have no idea where the credits in your account came from so react no differently when spun using free spins or bonus cash. Cool fact, Mega Moolah jackpots have been won from welcome bonus free spins in the past. So, you can rest assured that bonuses are just as useful as cash when it comes to winning at slots.
Slot Myth #10: Slots are easier to win at certain times of the day
A hangover from the physical slot rumour days that is false. The RNGs that govern them have no idea what time it is. Online slots are 24 hours a day; they don’t care when the credits go in, or when the wins go out. Feel free to play whenever you like knowing that you have the same chance of winning whenever you do.
Slot Myth #11: Some slots run hot while others are cold
This is another physical slot rumour that has crossed over to the online world. Hot slots are those mythical money printing machines that spew forth coins just by looking at them. Cold slots are those frigid numbers that don’t pay out no matter what. As we have looked at in-depth, RNGs do not allow this type of behaviour. It doesn’t mean you can’t get on good or bad rolls, but each spin is independent of the spins that came before it.
Final word on slot myths
As you can see, most slot myths revolve around rigged games, or slots that are programmed to behave certain ways, as if they have minds of their own. Fortunately, we live in a pretty open time which is good news for online slots players. Online casinos are transparent with things like RTP, and stats and figures are easy to find. This means players can know exactly what they are getting into. Stick with licensed, regulated online casinos, and you can confidently gamble knowing that the games are fair and random.