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Top 10 Slot Machine Myths
Myth #1 - Slot Machines are the worst gamble at a casino
There are plenty worse gambles in the casino. Take a stroll down to the keno
lounge or wheel of fortune, make some of the proposition bets at craps,
make idiot plays at blackjack, bet a parlay at the sports book. An average loose
machine pays better than roulette. Next time a friend tells you how bad your
odds are at the slots, hear a little more about what they play and bets they
make. You may be getting the better end of the bargain.
Myth #2 - Pulling the handle a certain way will make you a winner
Whether or not you pull the handle slowly, quickly, gently, or roughly will
not alter your probability of winning. Pushing the "spin reel" button
as opposed to pulling the handle won't change your luck either. You either win
or lose depending upon how the luck goes and the little twirls and shuffles
you might do to get the winner going won't make a difference, not mathematically,
not in reality.
Myth #3 - Slot machine managers know when certain machines are 'due'
If a slots manager knew a machine was about to spit out the sweet land of milk
and honey, believe me, you wouldn't be the one playing the machine. You'd be
watching his or her mother, spouse, or other family member out at that machine.
Myth #4 - A machine that just 'hit' won't 'hit' again anytime soon
I'm sure you've found yourself saying as I have at times - "That machine
just hit. I'd better find another machine, because this one isn't going to pay
again anytime soon." Although the laws of probability dictate that the
longer a machine is played, the closer it gets to paying off a jackpot, it is
equally likely that a jackpot could hit at any time, including the next spin.
Myth #5 - Warm Coins are a sign that the machine is due to pay off soon
Many players believe this to be true, the truth is, it only means that the lights
inside the machine have thrown a little heat on the coins and warmed them up.
It means nothing more than this.
Myth #6 - After putting a lot of money into a machine it just has to pay
off!
Not necessarily so. Payoffs are not calculated in that manner; they are calculated
on a percentage pay out over an indefinite period of time. This means that over
time a slot machine will payback whatever percentage it has been set - it has
no idea how long you have been playing, and what's more it doesn't care!
Myth #7 - A machine that hasn't paid recently is due to 'hit'
Not necessarily so either. It cost my pocket quite a bit to learn this the hard
way - on a dollar machine with the overflow bucket overflowing. This is a sure
sign that the machine has not hit in quite some time but it doesn't mean that
it's due to hit. I was sadder but wiser.
Myth #8 - That maintenance man just rigged my machine so I wouldn't win!
Maintenance employees are only there to do their job which is to make sure that
the machines are operating properly. The payout schedules are preset at the
factory into the machines random number generators.
Myth #9 - You can "prime" a machine before beginning serious play
This practise will get you exactly nothing. Machines don't know they are being
"primed" and will treat the priming coins the same as any other coins
played. This popular myth is just that.
Myth #10 - Casinos can loosen or tighten the slots with the flip of a switch
The slot machines have a computer chip in them that determines the pay back
percentage. These are preset at the factory. In order for a casino to change
the pay back, they would have to change the chip. In most jurisdictions there
is paper work that has to be filled and submitted to the Casino Control Commission
for each machine if the chip is changed. It is time consuming and the chips
are very expensive. For this reason, it is more economical to decide on the
pay back percentages before purchasing the machines and having the factory ship
them with the proper chip.
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