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Common Misconceptions about Slots

3-reel slot machine

The gambling world is full of delusions. This is especially true about all possible systems and strategies, numerous signs, and fruitless attempts to solve fortune's mysteries. Myth creators haven't left online slots aside.

If you have ever been to slot halls, you have seen visitors frantically running from one slot to another, changing bets and the number of lines, following the progress of other players, and struggling to deduce which slot will give them payouts.

Let's examine some of the most well-known prejudices and myths about slot machines and try to dispel them, explaining how they work.

Slot Operators Often Change the RTP

Many casino customers are sure that slot hall owners regularly adjust the RTPs.

We can't deny it – changing slots' RTP is possible.

However, this procedure is not that simple. Usually, changing the slot's chip is required. The manufacturing company defines the return to the player and drives it into place.

To adjust the payments, the operator has to contact the manufacturer and legally coordinate this process. To protect yourself from this type of fraud on the part of the management, avoid dubious casinos. No reputable casino (or slot hall) will commit such fraud.

You may think adjusting the RTP is much easier at an online casino. But in reality, it is not. Casino owners are not always the manufacturers. The return to the player is set by the manufacturer responsible for the product's quality and honest work. Therefore, online casinos can't initiate such changes.

Although it is possible to change the RTP, honest casinos won't take advantage of this opportunity. Decent providers always keep information about the return to the player publicly accessible.

N.B. Now, some software providers offer video slots with several RTP levels. Casino operators can choose one of them whenever they like. But respectable websites provide information on the return to the player in such games.

Do not forget to check the paytable.

Name Return to player Max payout Variance Soft
99.07% x1000 Low
Play
99% x12075 High
Play
98.72%
Play
98.67%
Play
98.6% x670 Low
Play
98.18% Low
98.13% x15000 High
Play
98.12% x10000 High
Play
98.12% x500 Low
Play
98.11% x1500 High
Play
98.11% x7500
Play
98.1% x2500
Play
98.1% x2500
Play
98.03% x15000 Middle
Play
98.03% x5000 Middle
Play

Wins and Losses Are Equal to the RTP

Is it fair to say the amount paid to each player on a single machine always corresponds to the defined RTP?

Some people believe that if a player has bet 100$ on a slot which RTP is 97%, he is guaranteed to get 97$ back.

This statement is valid only in the long run. We are talking about hundreds of thousands or even more spins. You can make less for a long time and then win the maximum payout, which will compensate for the loss. However, you may also hit the jackpot after a few spins.

While it is unlikely that you will achieve a result close to the RTP during a few hours at the slot, it is possible.

The Next Player on the Slot Continues Your Session

Another exciting misconception is related to other customers. Some people believe the user taking over your slot gets the winnings that would belong to you if you continued to play.

First, each slot features a random number generator.

Even if no one is playing at the moment, the generator does not stop producing random numbers.

It happens very quickly when you press the keys. Therefore, the probability that the next player will hit it just as well as you did is too small.

In other words, if you're away from the slot and it landed a jackpot, do not worry: this is not your jackpot.

If you had kept playing, it probably wouldn't have happened.

Casinos Pay Jackpots to VIPs Only

Do you also think substantial progressive jackpots are only available to regular players or those picked by the casino management?

Let's start with the fact that most countries prohibit such activities in gambling and lotteries. You can not interfere with determining the winning numbers or symbols. By doing this, the casino endangers not only its reputation but may also be subject to a heavy fine or even termination of its activities.

Ladies play on their favorite Lucky slot in the casino

Do you think it makes sense to encourage customers this way when the casinos could do it in many other ways?

We can't deny that such a practice is possible, but you may face it only in places of dubious reputation, which should be avoided.

Besides, we know many cases when jackpots were won by players who have just recently started playing slots. Fortune smiled on them even on their first visit to a land-based or online casino.

Cold Slots Are about to Give Huge Payouts

Perhaps, most casino players think a slot that hasn't paid for a long time should win soon.

First, it is unclear what is meant by "long" and "soon."

Of course, no slot machine will pay constantly.

But it is impossible to determine when it is going to. Each spin on a particular slot has the same chances for a payout as previous and future ones. Of course, the slot should match the RTP in the end, but it may take hundreds of thousands of spins.

All casino staff and regular visitors know cases when particular slots make almost no payments for a long time or pay with enviable regularity.

If we talk about a jackpot, the chances of winning are the same in any spin and are not affected by previous runs. This is the basic principle of the random number generator, which deserves its name.


The Higher the Bet, the Better the Chances of Winning

It is generally considered that the odds of winning on a slot machine increase when you raise the bet.

In fact, by making a higher bet, you only increase the amount that can be won. However, it does not affect the random number generator, which has no information about the bets.

Bets are processed by another chip, operating separately from the RNG.

That means the amount you stake does not affect the slot's operation.

Nevertheless, you can't deny the reasonableness of such tactics in particular cases. Some slot machines will disproportionately pay for the most valuable combinations when playing at high bets. Thus, for example, when you bet five coins instead of one, you can win an amount that is no longer 5x but much more.

Carefully study the rules to define the most profitable bets for these slots.

There Are Winning Combinations of Slot Buttons

Do you think you can affect the results with the help of particular button-pressing systems?

This is an old myth, born in the era of the very first slots.

Many players are still sure they can make the slot pay by pressing particular keys in a special order. Allegedly, such cheat codes exist for different slots.

Perhaps, such techniques could help to win on primitive slot machines produced by questionable manufacturers. But don't you hope to cheat modern video slots from the leading developers?

However, some slots may lag time after time. Greedy casino visitors won't wait for the moment. The media has learned about several such cases in the last few years. Unfortunately, none of those "lucky" ones have been paid. Moreover, some of them were accused of fraud and even sentenced.

According to most casinos' T&C, any faults in the slots' operation will cancel the results. Attempts to take advantage of the errors are frauds that can be prosecuted.


Conclusion

As you can see, many misconceptions about slot machines are just delusions or misinterpretations of facts. Do not believe everything you hear, even from experienced players.

Nevertheless, Casinoz experts recommend extreme caution when choosing a casino and software.

  • Don't trust questionable casinos that do not hold the licenses of famous regulators!
  • Don't play fake slots!
  • Don't act against the law while playing slots!

Our reviews on Casinoz can help you choose online casinos and video slots, which will help you win as much as possible and avoid cheaters.

Frequently asked Questions

❓ Can casinos in Canada adjust the slot's RTP?

Some software providers indeed offer such a service to operators. However, honest online casinos always provide the RTP on the website and will never change it secretly.

🎰 Do slot payouts always match the RTP?

A slot will match the stated return to the player in an infinitely long period of time. However, the result of a single session may be significantly different.

🍀 Shall I pay attention to the volatility of a slot?

Yes, you should. It will help you choose the betting range and general strategy.

🔥 Do cold and hot slots exist?

Even though these terms are widely used in gambling, they have no mathematical base.

Denis Anipchenko
Denis Anipchenko
Editor-in-chief and online gambling expert

Denis is a true professional with many years of experience in the gambling industry. His career started back in the late nineties when he worked as a croupier, pit boss, manager and casino manager. This unique experience allowed him to deeply understand the world of gambling from the inside. Since the late noughties Denis has dedicated himself to writing articles and analyses about gambling, and since the early tens he has become a key figure in the Casinoz team. Here he not only writes and edits content, but also creates reviews, shares his expertise and helps readers understand the intricacies of gambling. Denis combines practical experience and in-depth knowledge, making him one of the most respected experts in the industry. His writings are always up-to-date, proven and useful information for anyone interested in the casino world.

An expert in:
  • casino operations
  • management
  • gambling analytics
  • RTP
  • volatility
  • regulation
  • trends
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Facts checked Alex Vasilev Scientific editor and fact checker
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