These are some of the most popular casino attractions worldwide, with their bright lights, captivating sounds, and tantalizing possibility of a win. However, beneath all this excitement lurk several common misconceptions, especially about predicting slot machine outcomes.
The second most common myth among gamblers is that slot games could somehow be forecast either by detecting a pattern or following a technique, which is far from the truth, considering the RNGs that play a crucial role in slot machine outcomes are random.
Both physical casinos and online slot machines rely on RNGs. They represent the result of mathematical algorithms aimed at providing completely random results. This means every spin is independent of its predecessor. No matter how long you play or what pattern you begin to notice, the outcomes all boil down to chance.
How Do RNGs Work?
An RNG is a program using computer algorithms that constantly generates a continuous stream of unpredictable numbers. In online slots, those numbers correspond to a specific symbol appearing on the reels.
Every time you mash that “spin” button, another set of numbers gets generated, a fraction of a second later, by the RNG, which determines where the reels will stop. More importantly, it is one continuous process, even when the machine is not in use, so no spin can be influenced by previous ones.
RNGs operate in cycles so long that it is impossible for a player to accurately predict when the next outcome will be. Even if you assume a big win is due because the machine hasn’t paid out for some time, that assumption is incorrect.
Each spin is completely independent of the last, and your chances of hitting the jackpot remain precisely the same on every single spin, irrespective of previous near misses or wins.
The Fallacy of “Hot” and “Cold” Machines
Another myth that has been generally believed concerning slots is that some machines are “hot” while others are “cold.” Players are under the impression that a device that hasn’t given a payoff for some time is due to give a huge win soon, and vice versa, and when a machine has given a jackpot, it will not again for some time.
In fact, this is also an idea incited by the gambler’s fallacy, whereby belief is instilled that previous events will affect the chances of future happenings occurring. With RNGs, no slot machine could ever be “hot” or “cold.”
Be it in a casino or taking a chance at online slots, the probabilities of a win remain the same on every spin regardless of what the outcomes of prior spins were. This soothes many because it proves that slot machines are absolutely fair, with their results at the mercy of luck rather than at the hands of streaks and patterns.
Understanding Randomness and Probability
The very nature of slot games owes their randomness to an understanding of randomness and probability. Each pull of the handle, though decided by randomness, carries an element of chance regarding the symbol combination, much like the unpredictability of live football, where outcomes are uncertain until the final moments.
Each slot machine has a set percentage it pays out, referred to as the Return to Player (RTP) rate, or the percentage amount of money that should go back to the players from the overall money played on the machine.
For instance, if one slot machine has an RTP of 95%, what this actually means is that, over the long run, for every $100 wagered, it is expected to return $95. The figure, though, is considered over millions of spins and is not guaranteed as individual wins for players.
Debunking Slot Machine Myths
Quite a few slot myths seem to keep hanging on. Among these are the ideas that stopping the reels at just the right time will somehow influence the result and that playing at very specific times of the day can favor your potential outcome.
A few ideas are completely based on misunderstandings of how slots work. By the time you hit the spin button, the result has already been decided by the RNG. Stopping the reels or timing your spins does nothing to change it.
Some even believe that casino personnel or the online system may somehow affect the results of slots. Land-based and online casinos follow very strict regulations and are audited concerning the fairness and randomness of their games.
In Retrospect
Ultimately, it should iron out a lot of myths and misconceptions milling around in the process of playing slots, give a sneak peek into how RNGs work, and the randomness created in slot machines.
Whether you’re playing in a noisy casino or from the comfort of your home, each turn is independent and left entirely to chance. It follows, then, that the best attitude toward slots is to take them for what they are: games of pure chance for which the entertainment is in the surprise rather than any illusion of control or predictability.