Slot machines have long been prevalent in both land-based and online casinos. Due to the huge variety of games, substantial jackpots, and many attractive special offers and promotions, myths about slot machines have been around as long as the games themselves.
Some players swear that slots are rigged by the house, while others believe they’ve developed a fool-proof strategy that guarantees their profits.
But is there any truth to these common myths?
This article busts five of the most common slot myths that will make you think twice about what you previously thought to be true about some of the most popular online slot games.
Myth 1: Slot machines are rigged
How many times have you heard someone say that slot machines are rigged? This viewpoint stems from the famous phrase ‘the house always wins,’ and people often take that to mean that casinos stoop to immoral, black-market tactics to protect their profits at all costs.
But the reality is that every slot machine is controlled by a Random Number Generator (RNG), which determines the probability of the slot paying out. From classic slots to new video slots, you are guaranteed integrity.
Casinos are also required to publish the Return to Player (RTP) percentage of their slot games. Thus, before playing slots, you can find out the RTP of a particular game before spending your money. RTPs tend to be between 85-99%, which is undoubtedly contrary to popular opinion and compellingly busts the myth that slot machines are rigged.
Myth 2: Slots have hot and cold streaks
Thanks to the RNG that powers every slot, the nature and pattern of the spins are totally random. Therefore, the notion of hot and cold streaks is just a figment of gamers’ imagination.
While some seasoned slot gamers will tell you they have a particular game worked out, their rationale is nothing more than coincidence. Every spin is unique and random and doesn’t follow a set pattern.
So, if you find yourself winning big bucks on a slot machine in a short space of time, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will blow cold for the next player.
Myth 3: Using auto-play features pays less than manual spins
Some people are convinced that using the auto-play feature on a slot machine will return less money than performing manual spins. But in reality, how you choose to spin the reels doesn’t affect the payout rate of an online slot machine.
The primary purpose of the auto-play feature on slot machines is to make life easier for players, and it speeds up gameplay.
Ultimately, you have precisely the same chance of winning and jackpots payout on both manual and automatic spins, whether you spin manually or automatically.
Myth 4: Casinos prefer paying progressive jackpots to VIPs and high rollers
Many people believe that casinos want VIP members on their sites and those that spend the most money to win progressive jackpots. But it’s illegal for casinos to be biased, and even if they wanted to, it’s not up to them to pick who wins their jackpots.
This myth perhaps stems from the fact that the greater the money risked per spin on some online slots, the greater the odds of winning the progressive jackpot.
While this favors players who are willing to take a higher risk and gamble more money, it’s certainly not a case of online casinos favoring certain players over others.
Myth 5: Players can’t improve their chances of winning slots
A common myth held by players who are a bit down on their luck when playing slots is that they can’t do anything to improve their chances of winning.
