20 Most Common Gambling & Casino Myths Analyzed & Debunked
Many myths and misconceptions can be quite difficult to overcome. This is particularly true for the world of casino gambling. Most often, the stories surrounding them are false and there is no evidence to support them. They persist and cloud the minds of even the most experienced players.
Casinos pump oxygen to keep their clients awake. What does the location of a casino’s slot machines have to do with your winnings? Can a betting strategy ruin a casino’s finances? These are all just baseless rumours. Because we are dedicated to bringing you only the best in gaming, our task was to debunk the persistent casino myths and reveal the truth about online casinos.
1. Casinos can be rigged and have an immediate effect on any game
We chose to begin this list with one of the most popular gambling myths. It is the same as the casino business itself. Although it is a false belief, let’s examine the reasons behind it. This topic is well-researched and we have written extensively about it. Visit our blog to learn more about the house edge or slot odds.
Casinos are businesses. Casinos are businesses. They must stay afloat and turn a profit every day. This basic principle is known as the house edge or house advantage. Every game, no matter whether it be a table or slot, has its unique house edge. We won’t get into the details of how to calculate the house advantage for any casino game.
The casino advantage is a guaranteed percentage of return to the casino and vice versa. It should not be confused with a guaranteed percentage of loss on players’ bets. These percentages will not guarantee payouts or wins for the house in the long term. The odds of winning any game are not always favorable in the short term. However, because of the many variables, it is possible to beat them all. All you have to do is choose the right one.
2. Casinos Keep You Awake with Oxygen
It is one thing to make sure customers are able to enjoy fresh, cool air. But in jammed rooms like those found on casino floors, it is another. However, casinos do not pump oxygen into the rooms to keep their customers alert and gambling. No, casinos don’t do this.
Talking about how casinos pump oxygen in order to keep gamblers awake is a common misconception. Medical-grade oxygen is a very expensive substance. Pumping large quantities of it into casinos would cause them to incur huge expenses. It would also mean that the casino would have to operate a mini oxygen factory.
Another reason casinos do not resort to this is because oxygen acts like a flame accelerator: increasing oxygen levels would increase the chance of setting a space on fire much quicker than in normal circumstances. Believe us, casinos don’t want to deal with fire hazards.
Professionals monitor air quality at casinos. For example, in Las Vegas, Gaming Commission delegate pay regular visits to the casinos to verify that oxygen levels are within the prescribed limits.
3. (Online) Casinos will not pay out if you win
Another common myth about casinos. Yes, there are tons shady websites online. Even those sites have deeper ways to scam you than just denying you your winnings. These are the most common delaying tactics. If you are trying to withdraw money from a casino with a bad reputation, you may face difficulties. Some casinos will ask you for proof of identity many times or even claim you never gave it.
Other times, casinos may make it easy to cancel a withdrawal without processing it. These are irresponsible gambling practices that are frowned upon by the world of iGaming.
Refusing a payout can result in serious legal consequences, such as losing their casino license. A casino that refuses to pay a payout can face legal consequences. Imagine how bad press it could receive if they simply refused to pay the punter what they are legally entitled. These types of news are quickly spreading on the internet, and we can assure you that no casino would ever want to risk it.
While there are situations where you might be denied a payment, it is most likely that they are related to certain breaches of the casino’s Terms and Conditions.
- Being underage
- Use of another person’s credit cards
- You can have more than one casino account
- Infringing bonus terms and conditions
4. If you are winning too many, the game “freezes”
The machine will not freeze, unless it is due to software or hardware malfunction. But it will continue to work because it discovered that you won more coins than it needed. This is just one of many casino myths.
Casino advantage works long-term, so it is not logical for a casino that you stop playing (even if your winnings are big) because it would be detrimental to its business model. The house also gains more profit by increasing its chances of winning big. This means that the casino can’t keep you away from a machine, and you won’t need to worry about your game being “frozen”.
If your game freezes while you play online, it may be because of connection problems or incompatibility.
You can learn more about video slot machines by listening to our podcast.
5. Online Casinos Are Illegal
They can be, but they are not likely to be found on any trusted website, such as AskGamblers. It is a fact that casinos put a lot of effort into complying with legal regulations. First, a casino cannot operate unless it has a gaming license. These licenses, by definition, guarantee the legality and legality of casino operations.
While more and more countries around world are introducing legislation that outlines how iGaming works in practice, others have already established rules for online gambling. Countries such as Malta and the United Kingdom are home to some of the most prominent licenses. Curacao is one example of a country that has less strict regulations. However, casinos with their licenses are legal in other countries.
6. Card Counting Is Illegal
The legality of casinos is a matter of debate. One myth that has been around for quite some time is that counting cards in casinos can land you in jail. Although casinos do not condone the practice of counting cards they will ask you to leave the establishment and possibly never return. This is it. You have the ability to apply all of your knowledge and the casino cannot stop you.
Let’s get clear on what card counting is not: Knowing each card dealt by heart. This strategy is used by players who try to memorize the remaining high- and low cards in the deck. This is how gamblers adjust their strategy. By keeping track of the remaining cards, they can adjust their bet sizes. Don’t be deceived. These strategies require years of practice before they can be used successfully.
What about online casino? Online casinos are not legal or illegal for you to count cards. It is common to count cards while playing blackjack. Let’s take this as an example. All of the blackjack decks are shuffled immediately by a virtual casino. This basically means that every hand you play is the first hand in the dealer’s hand. You don’t have an advantage here, counting cards is a waste of time that distracts you and takes away from the game.
7. There are loose and tight slots (or hot and cold)
It is a simple idea: When choosing a slot machine to play, look for the looser or more lucrative ones. The opposite is true for tight slots. These are known as cold or “cold” slots. They have done their share of paying out, and they are often in an unproductive state.
This is only one in a long list of casino myths. Understanding the RNG and how the slot machines work is important, no matter whether you are just looking to have fun at a casino or hoping for big wins. The so-called cold slot machines are currently in a dry spell and should be avoided by superstitious gamblers.
Such a thing is not possible in reality. Because slot machines are completely random, it is impossible to predict which symbols will land on reels next. You can add, subtract and multiply; you can make notes of symbols on reels so that you can calculate when the lemons are due. This will only waste your time, which you could have spent enjoying the game.
8. Paying Slot Machines are Placed Near the Entrance (or End) of an Aisle
The previous myth and the one that we are going to debunk are somehow related in some strange, superstitious way. An old Vegas casino rumor says that slot machines should be located at the end or entrance of an aisle to get larger payouts. (Or they may do it more often, but we aren’t sure). It doesn’t matter if a slot is placed in a certain place.
Frank Scoblete, in his book Break the One Armed Bandits, may have invented this myth. While we have no idea what Scoblete meant by this claim, we don’t think it is true. It suffices it to say that casino staff generally agree that the placement and outcome of games are unaffected by machines.
The casino manager would see it this way: long queues of people waiting to play one particular slot machine wouldn’t make a welcoming atmosphere. Instead, gambling houses want to make their entrances inviting and clean.
9. A busy casino is more likely to give you a chance to win on slots.
We are sorry to disappoint, but a specific day or hour of the day does not affect the chance of hitting a jackpot. This would imply that slot machines may be adjusted to give out more money during peak hours.
First, and most importantly, casinos do not have to be fined for manipulating the slot machines in order to make more money within a certain timeframe.
The fact that more people are playing makes it more likely that casinos will pay out larger jackpots. If we compare the highest hours of casino activity with the busiest, the numbers of jackpots won in terms of percentages of players or spins would not differ that much.
This blog provides more details about the topic.
10. My Casino Loyalty Cards Impact the Game
It’s not a good idea. Many players believe that slots machines are more likely than others to pay coins if the reels are pulled from members of the casino loyalty club. Slot machines are aware that you are just another player. Your status at the casino does not affect how the reels spin (or stop).
Software that tracks information about casino members is separate from RNG. Therefore, your individual membership card won’t affect the outcome. RNGs are not able to guarantee that the outcome is random.
However, we aren’t saying that you won’t receive perks for having a loyalty program at a casino. Although points earned from using your loyalty card can help you get cheaper meals and lower hotel rooms bills, they don’t affect the outcome of a particular game.
11. My Betting System Beats House Edge
The short answer to this question is that no matter how many gambling strategies you use, the house edge will always win. The long answer is: Let’s take a look at some popular strategies and find out more about betting system truths.
The Martingale System
Most people are familiar with the Martingale strategy. The Martingale system was created by Paul Pierre Levy (18th century French mathematician). It’s usually applied to games with a (nearly 50/50) chance of winning such as Roulette. The strategy recommends that gamblers should double their wagers after each loss in order to recover any previous losses and win a profit equal or greater than the original wager.
This system relies on the mistaken belief that an “unlucky streak” cannot continue forever, and that “luck,” in order to recover losses previously suffered, is not possible. Truth is, every game of chance has a random outcome. There is no way to predict which spin or how many dice will be thrown next. In terms of odds, you can have a losing streak that lasts for an interminable time. If our hypothetical gambler had unlimited money, time, and the number bets he could place, this would make it possible.
The Cancellation System (The Labouchere System).
This 18th century system of negative progression was developed by Henry Labouchere (Rutini player). The Martingale method is the same as this, but it is more complicated.
Our fictional gambler will write down a sequence of numbers. Let’s say it is three. The potential profit of the gambler is determined by the sum of these numbers. The sum of all the numbers in the sequence will determine the amount of your bet. If they win, the sequence ends with the first and last number removed. If they lose, they will add their wagered amount to end the sequence.
This continues until the gambler is left only with one number. The single number is staked. If the gambler does not stake a single number, the string of numbers will grow and eventually lead to bankruptcy. While unlimited wealth and unlimited time would likely produce a positive outcome for most people, in reality, there is no such thing as enough money or sufficient time.
Each of the Martingale and Labouchere systems have their reverse versions, and there are many other betting methods out there. The bottom line is, you can’t predict where the Roulette ball will land, or what color it will land.
The house advantage, as we mentioned, is designed to work in casino’s favor. It’s a long-term strategic business strategy that can’t been beat and you shouldn’t try to duplicate it.
These betting system truths are now out of the way. Let’s move onto the next line of casino myths.
12. My hand is influenced by other players
It is best to research the casino before going to it and to learn the basic principles of each game. You can save tons of nerves, and possibly even money, by understanding how a particular game works from a mathematical perspective.
Many players believe bad moves by other players can cause others to lose. Blackjack enthusiasts are not afraid to say that third-base players can cause other gamblers to lose their money. You can benefit from the bad choices of other players, it turns out.
It is possible to grasp the fundamental principles of the game and use them to your advantage. You’ll soon find that others’ actions don’t have to hurt your chances. Criticizing the choices and strategies of other players is not a good idea. You should not try to resist the temptation and find another table.
13. Dealers have the power to influence or cheat the outcome
The theory behind casino myths like this one makes perfect sense. The dealers control the games after all. They deal the cards, shuffle the decks, and spin the Roulette wheel. However, casinos have to be careful not to tamper or alter any game. It can result in severe consequences for both casinos as well as croupiers.
Take Roulette for instance. Many gamblers believe a dealer can predict where a ball will land on the wheel. However, with so many variables, it is almost impossible to predict the outcome (unless there are physical problems with the wheel). Casinos don’t want croupiers to control the result. Remember the house advantage? It’s designed to generate profits for the casino only when games are truly random.
A staff member of the casino keeps an eye on each table to make sure that no one cheats. If they see a cheater on one side, they will immediately remove him or her from the casino.
Let us show you an example of a casino scam gone wrong. In 2019, a Maryland Baccarat dealer was sentenced for 18 months to prison for a million dollar baccarat fraud scheme. Keep this in mind the next time someone tells that croupiers can alter the outcome of casino gaming.
14. Literal Payout Rates
This is a common misconception that newbies believe more than any other casino player. The Return-to-Player ratio (RTP), for a slot, is 94%. This means that players can lose no more than 6%. This is not how it works.
RTP stands for a percentage of the total wagers that a particular slot will pay out to players. RTP, or the return on wagers for a particular slot machine, is simply an indication of how much RTP will be returned to players. Keep in mind that “a specific time” refers to at least one million spins. You cannot complain about the casino’s false RTP rates if you spin the reels only 20 times.
Independent testing agencies like eCogra are able to verify the integrity and security of online casino slots. They ran billions of computer simulations before concluding online casino slots pay out according to RTP rates.
15. It is not a good idea to play the slot machine that has just won
You can see that casino myths can have many iterations. This one draws on the hot/cold symbol theory. You don’t need to know that a particular slot paid out a prize for another player. Even if the machine has just paid out coins to the player before, you can still win big.
Reputable casinos such as AskGamblers state in their Terms of Conditions that two wins may occur simultaneously. Even if your response time is delayed for the first win you will still be able to claim the second. Every progressive jackpot has an initial point. It is the guaranteed money amount that is determined based on the popularity of a particular slot.
16. You can trick a machine by increasing your bet size
As with all other slot machine tricks, this one is also ineffective. While you could increase the coin size to get the desired result, we guarantee that it won’t. It would not be because you had increased the bet size or changed the number paylines. It would be random. To learn more about the common myths surrounding slot machines, see our comprehensive list of cheats.
The only type of video poker where you have a higher chance of winning is video poker. The highest RTP is achieved by betting maximum five coins. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that you will win.
17. It’s Jinx for Other Players
This myth, in truth, falls under the same category that the one that states having itchy palms is a sign you’re in for some big bucks. Playing against other players won’t bring you bad luck. It might not be something they like, but it will not affect their chances of winning (or losing).
You should, however, keep your manners professional if you choose to play against other players. You should be polite, avoid taking photos of other players and refrain from getting wasted at the tables. You’ll avoid drawing the ire of others by following these rules. You can also refer to our detailed guide on how to behave in casinos.
18. Gambler’s Fallacy: If you keep a tab on past results, you will win
Ah, the Monte Carlo Fallacy! Let’s take a look at gambling’s history and the famous Monte Carlo fallacy.
During a game at Roulette, on the 18th of August 1913, at Casino de Monte Carlo the ball fell 26 times in a row in a black fret. Naturally, players started betting on red as they believed the ball would hit red at some time. Although it did it for the 27th consecutive time, it took millions of Francs from their pockets.
It is extremely unlikely that such an outcome will occur, at 1 in 66.6 million. However, it is possible. It is one of many casino myths that can influence the future.
19. My luck must change
Although you can repeat this phrase over and over again as a mantra, it won’t be any more accurate than the first time. The chances of you winning the 100th bet are equal to the ones for the first. Odds of winning are… well, odd. They are determined by math and statistics and not by your wishful thinking.
It’s like thinking that you can get more luck by changing your seat at a table of poker. It won’t. For all we know, the cards you are hoping for are actually being dealt to the exact seat you left.
20. It’s All Luck
Our collection of common casino myths led us to the last misbelief about gambling: Lady Luck holds all of the cards and deals them.
Casino games are generally considered to be games of chance. A closer look at casino games will reveal that even though it may seem like luck or chance, the real reason is mathematics. Every game has a probability and mathematical matrix that accurately predicts its outcome. This is why it’s not a question of whether casino games have a strict rule (everyone has), but rather the number of variables that could influence any one of the many outcomes.
Casinos are based on mathematical principles which slightly tilt the odds in casino’s favor. This does not mean you can’t win. You can win because of many factors and variables that are short-term.
Casino games are haphazard, and many believe they are controlled by someone or something. It’s best to not “try your luck” if you believe this.
Ultimately, the key to improving your odds of success is learning from past experience and mastering the skills required to make smart decisions when the opportunity arises.
Final thoughts on Debunking Casino Myths & Misconceptions
We hope you find some answers to common myths about casinos.
All of it is part of our ongoing efforts in helping you become a better and more knowledgeable player.