Slot machines are the most popular machines in both physical and online casinos. However, like all things that appear too good to be true, online slot machines have several myths attached to them.
Although these myths have no basis in truth, they have still spread like wildfire by people who do not understand the dynamics of the slot machine. With some verifiable facts, we can now debunk these myths.
Myth #1: Online Casinos Scam People
Although there are some sites online that are only designed to scam people, the vast majority of online slots businesses are legitimate.
If their purpose was to bankrupt people, pretty soon, online slots would be out of business. That’s because if many people go bankrupt after visiting an online casino, nobody will visit them and they would have to close up shop.
The only objective of online casinos is to provide hours of entertainment to people in exchange for money, help players earn some money, and employ people, making the economy better.
Myth # 2: Online Slots are Programmed for Hot and Cold Streaks
Online slots that seem to be paying more are said to be on a “hot streak” while those that are not cashing out are said to be on a “cold streak.” However, online slots are not programmed to do these things.
There are also some players who swear that at certain times of the day, they win more by playing online slots.
Some players also wait till evening to go online, laboring under the strange belief that they can win more during that time because there is more cash available from people who have lost throughout the day.
However, all the myths above have been generated because these people do not have a basic understanding of how online slot machines work. Slot machines are controlled by random number generators, and every spin the player makes is arbitrary.
That means all the results are totally random and everything hinges on a player’s luck.
An online slot machine may pay out once a day, may pay out tens of times a day, or may skip paying out at all for five days since it is totally random and follows the principles of probability.
In fact, there are entire companies built to ensure the results of online slots remain random. If these organizations find out that online slot machines are programmed to pay out at a certain time, they can sue the slot company for a lot of money.
Myth # 3: A Slot That Just Paid Out Won’t Do It Again Soon
Many online casinos now have a live feed that tells other players the usernames of the players currently playing on a certain slot machine, and how much they are winning. If an online slot machine is winning, many players will steer clear away from it.
This is due to the perception that an online slot that just paid out won’t result in another winning hand for a long time.
That’s why many players wait for a person to empty his bank account into a slot machine and jump on it to have a go because they believe the machine will now turn up a winning hand.
Once again though, this myth has no solid foundation as all the results of online slot machines are generated by random number generators.
Myth # 4: Online Slot Machines are Rigged
Although some online slot businesses may operate by unscrupulous methods, there is a way you can find out whether a company is legitimate. A reputable online casino will use the RNG (random number generator) software and will have a certificate of approval from a licensed agency. All you need to do is to scroll down to the bottom of the page to find out if the website checks out.
You also cannot download hacking software that will allow you to beat online slots.
If you do a chance upon software that claims to do this, you will only be wasting your money. If you ever research major online gambling software companies, like Playtech, Microgaming, and NetEntertainment, you will see they are worth billions of dollars.
They didn’t come this far by allowing hackers to infiltrate their gaming programs.
Myth # 5: Playing Slots with Bonuses Will Reduce Your Chances of Winning
This is quite an interesting theory. Many people believe that if they play with a bonus, the chances of them winning become slimmer. However, once again, they are operating under the erroneous assumption that online slot machines are programmed to act a certain way.
Just as the RNG cannot determine how the reels are spun, it also cannot determine whether a player is playing with their own money or bonus money. Hence, your chance of winning or losing will always be the same.
In essence, the main takeaway is that the online casino industry, like any other industry, has legitimate businesses and shady ones. Most online slot machines are there to provide you with entertainment for some profit, like all businesses.
However, there will always be those who try to take advantage of their players, but they can easily be identified by certain certifications.
All in all, the best online slot machines are operated by established and fair companies whose real aim is to provide you with the unique thrill associated with gambling.