While most gamblers understand the odds they face, some subscribe to a variety of gambling myths that can eventually lead to problems. Some of the most common gambling myths are discredited below.
MYTH:
I have a feeling that today is my lucky day. I just know I’m going to win.
REALITY:
Hoping or wishing to win has no influence on the outcome of a game of chance. Likewise, superstitious behavior does not ensure favorable results.
MYTH:
I almost won; I must be due for a win.
REALITY:
“Almost” winning in no way means that a real win is around the corner. Future gambling outcomes are not influenced by previous outcomes.
MYTH:
I have a special strategy that helps me win. I always play the slot machine at the very end of the row.
REALITY:
The result of each spin of the slots is entirely random. Results are not affected by altering play patterns, time of day or position of the machine within the facility. No matter what you do, or what is going on around you, the slot machine’s computer is continually generating random combinations. Each time you play the slot machine, it stops on a random combination and displays the results. The next time you play, it simply repeats this process.
MYTH:
If a slot machine hasn’t paid out in a while, it’s due for a win.
REALITY:
Slot machines operate randomly at all times – no matter how many wins or losses have occurred in the past. A machine that has not paid out for a while has no greater chance of paying out in the future. The result of your last game has no bearing on the result of your next game.
MYTH:
If I see a certain card coming up frequently in a poker game, I should bet on it because it will likely come up again very soon.
REALITY:
There are 2.6 million possible hands in a deck of 52 cards. Since each hand is independent of the last, the chance of one card coming up again once it has already appeared is no more – or less – likely than that of any other card.
MYTH:
If I keep gambling, my luck will change.
REALITY:
Each time you place a bet, the outcome is completely independent of any previous bets. This means that the odds are no more in your favor on the 10th bet than they were on the first bet.
MYTH:
I have studied the rules of the game and know how to beat the house.
REALITY:
Casino games are designed with a house advantage. Mathematically, the house advantage is a measure of how much the house expects to win, expressed as a percentage of the player’s wager. In some games, player betting or skill decisions can affect the house advantage, but it’s important to keep in mind that the house always has some advantage against the typical player.