There are some myths and legends when it comes to slot machines. We will now get to the bottom of known myths. At first glance, slot machines seem to be simple games. You bet money, spin the reels and hope for big wins. Of course, some players make things more complicated. They form opinions about why they win or lose and hold on to those beliefs.
The problem with slot machines is that their outcomes are not completely transparent. You can’t just unscrew a slot machine to check why your bets are winning or losing. In comparison, with blackjack or baccarat, you can physically see all the cards that are in play. Therefore, you can have more confidence in the results. The nature of slot machines has led to a number of myths and untruths. Here are five of the biggest misconceptions or myths about slot machines that you may have even heard yourself. To analyse them or get to know them better, you can, of course, play a few slots at https://www.richardcasino3.com/games/slots.
1. Casinos can change the RTP at any time
Return to Player (RTP) refers to how much a slot machine pays back over time. Some gamblers believe that these payout ratios are not set in stone. They claim that casinos can and will change the RTP at any time.
Many of these gamblers believe that casinos can change the payout ratios with just the push of a button. For example, an operator can lower the RTP on all slot machines during busy evening hours. In theory, this move makes sense, as casinos would make more profit by taking advantage of busy hours. However, it is illegal in most countries to change payout ratios on a whim.
Licensing authorities have set rules for their operators. Nevada law, for example, requires a slot machine to be shut down for four minutes before the RTP is changed. Casinos must wait another four minutes after the payback is adjusted. Any advantage they gain from lowering the payback percentage is negated by the downtime of the machine. Land-based casinos do not lower the RTP just to cheat customers. It is not worth closing games to tinker with payout percentages in this way.
Many online casinos and software providers are also subject to the regulations of their licensing authority. These regulations usually affect the modification of payout rates too. However, some gambling sites are located in lax jurisdictions. Such Internet casinos can theoretically get away with changing payout percentages without players knowing.
But the vast majority of online casinos license their games rather than develop them themselves. Developers like Microgaming and NetEnt, for example, run the slots for their casino customers. Providers often operate in multiple jurisdictions, some of which require third-party audits. These audits ensure that developers offer fair games.
Long story short: even online casinos and providers have major hurdles when it comes to changing payout percentages.
2. You can time spins correctly to get a bigger win that way
Playing slot machines does not require any skill. You just press the spin button and wait for the result. Nevertheless, there are players who believe that the correct timing of the spins is what matters in slot machines. These players wait for the perfect moment to press the spin button. They believe that they have to wait a certain number of seconds between spins. If they wait for the perfect amount of time, their chances of winning improve. Those who fall for this belief lack understanding of the Random Number Generator (RNG).
The RNG refers to a programme that runs through numerous payout combinations to determine the results. Lower payoffs have a higher probability, while higher payoffs occur less frequently. The problem with timing the spins is that the RNG moves at an incredible speed. Most of them cycle through millions of combinations in a matter of seconds. At this speed, you have no chance of timing the spins with any consistency. The RNG works so fast that every spin is pure luck.
3. Online slot machines rip you off
Internet casinos have always been considered less trustworthy than land-based establishments. Players have difficulty trusting a site that does not use physical slot machines and other gaming devices. The fact that players cannot physically interact with online slot machines leads to the assumption that they are more unfair. Also, you are supposedly more likely to get ripped off in an online casino than in a brick-and-mortar casino.
It is true that Internet casinos have more freedom in some gambling countries. Sites licensed in Curacao or Belize, for example, are not subject to the same high standards as casinos licensed in the UK. But most online casinos license/lease their software and games. They do not produce and operate their slot machines themselves. Instead, a third-party software provider takes care of this aspect. So the developer would be the one to rip off the players.
In the history of online gambling, there are a few isolated cases where software providers have operated faulty games. However, it is very rare that an Internet slot is intentionally developed to cheat players. Providers and casinos will destroy the trust of their customers by cheating. They already have an advantage, so it is not worth cheating to gain an even greater advantage.
4. Slot machines start paying less when you win
Experiencing a hot slot session is one of the greatest joys of gambling. Slots can yield big wins in no time, which can send you soaring. However, some players have a negative attitude towards these lucky streaks. They believe that the games are programmed to pay out less when you win. This belief goes back to the idea that casinos meticulously control slot machines. They can supposedly tell when players are winning big and quickly reprogramme the games to pay out less.
The first problem with this idea is that casinos don’t spend hours monitoring who wins. The staff already have enough to do without having to worry about a successful player. The second problem is that gambling companies already have a built-in advantage. They know there will be winners, but they will still profit in the long run. Another reason why casinos do not reprogram games to pay out less is that this is usually illegal. They would be breaking the laws of their country by taking such action.
And finally, gambling companies need players who win every now and then. It is clear that players need some confidence that it is possible to win to keep playing slots.
5. The online autoplay feature pays less
Most online slots offer a helpful feature called autoplay. This option ensures that the reels spin automatically with your chosen to bet options. Autoplay is great because it means you don’t have to manually press the spin button every time. Instead, you can set your betting preferences and relax while the reels spin.
However, some players are convinced that virtual slot machines are less profitable when autoplay is used. There is no real logic to support this notion. We can only assume that players make this claim when their money disappears faster with automatic play.
However, this phenomenon can be explained with a few logical reasons. Some games run faster with the automatic game than with manual spins. Time passes more quickly for players when they are not spinning the reels. Most players are not aware of how much they can lose in the course of 20 to 100 automatic spins. Contrary to this assumption, online slots do not suddenly pay less just because autoplay is enabled. With this option, players have the same chances of winning as with manual games.
The belief that auto-play causes more losses is based on psychological factors and false perceptions. In truth, this option has no effect on the chances of winning.
Conclusion
The world of slot machines is littered with veritable myths that have been passed down through the decades. Seeing through these misconceptions is the key to a better slot experience, and hopefully, more money wins.
Casinos don’t programme slot machines to pay out less just because you win. They definitely expect some winners and have no need to compensate for the rewards given out. Online slots are wrongly labelled as games that rip off players. It is extremely rare for a slot machine to malfunction.
Online casinos only license the software, so they cannot change the results themselves. Most software providers operate in several countries and must undergo third-party audits to ensure fair play.
In summary, slot machines are surrounded by numerous myths due to their nature. They operate electronically and do not allow players to physically see the results. Therefore, some players experience unfathomable events and spin stories about how slot machines work. It is important that you do not fall for these untruths. Instead, do your own research on slot machine strategy. Focus on what works, including looking for slot machines with high RTP and pay attention to volatility.
