- The US gambling industry is prone to myths and misconceptions, but they can be easily debunked.
- Popular casino myths often arise due to misconceptions about losing money and spread quickly.
- Most casino myths are based on rumors and lack factual evidence to support them.
- The article debunks common myths such as rigged games, non-payment at online casinos, and loose/tight slots.
- Other myths addressed include oxygen pumping in casinos, freezing games when winning, and the legality of card counting.
A myth is defined as a widely held belief generally known to be false. You can find myths and misconceptions in pretty much every sphere of life. The US gambling industry is no exception, as it tends to be a bit of a magnet for all types of myths simply due to its nature.
Not all gambling enthusiasts look at US casinos the same way. Many go on tilt when losing money, which can certainly lead to coming up with a myth as a reason to blame. These misconceptions spread at lightning speed nowadays, raising suspicion even among the most experienced players.
Luckily, these misconceptions are very easy to debunk, and this is exactly what we are going to do here today.
There are tens of very popular and widespread casino myths, some of which will make you laugh. The important thing to know is that most of them are based on rumors and have zero facts to back them up. Let’s go ahead and debunk the most common ones.
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Myth 1: “Casino Games Are Rigged”
The best way to start is with the most enduring and dangerous — yet the easiest to debunk — myths. In the present day, it is very easy to check the legitimacy of any casino in the world. A casino must possess an adequate legal license from local regulators to operate. You can examine each casino’s license online. Per the terms of these licenses, casinos must undergo rigorous testing on a regular basis to demonstrate that their games are fair and unbiased.
People trust this myth mainly because “the house always wins” — in other words, all casinos make a profit. However, the crucial answer lies in the manner in which they do so.
Instead of having their games rigged, as the myth states, casinos have an advantage over players. The advantage is gained to ensure a long-term profit for casinos, which is reasonable because all gambling operators are essentially businesses.
This “house edge” represents a guaranteed return for the casinos over the long term. In the short term, however, anyone has a chance to beat the house because the percentages that ensure the casino’s long-term profit are very small and, by all means, beatable in the short term, especially with so many variables involved.
The best part about this casino advantage is that it is public, and anyone can find out the exact percentages of possible RTP (Return to Player) for any casino game.
Video poker games are known to have the lowest house advantage (Deuces Wild is a perfect example), set between 0.26% and 1.02% at most casinos. Land-based slots bring a significantly bigger house edge than online slots. What you, as a player, can do to increase your odds is select the games with the highest RTP.
Myth 2: “You Will Not Get Paid if You Win at an Online Casino”
This is another very frequent myth circling around online players, especially newcomers to the online gambling world. Because of this myth, many gambling admirers still refuse to trust online operators. They keep playing at local land-based casinos despite having better odds of winning online.
The answer to this myth is the same as the previous one. As long as you register an account at a reliable online casino (one that owns a valid license), your money is 100% safe. Online casinos will make a profit in the long run anyway, and having more players signing up with them is in their best interest.
To attract more players, they need positive reviews, and the last thing they need is a problem with a payout for a certain individual, which could then provoke unnecessary bad press.
Also, if any online casino refuses to pay the money you won fair and square, they jeopardize their license and the entire business.
You can only run into problems with a legitimate operator if you are violating their terms and conditions in any way, i.e., underage gambling, using someone else’s credit card, or breaking bonus rules.
Offshore online casinos are also partially to blame for this myth, as there have certainly been incidents of players being denied their payouts when gambling online at offshore casinos. Without a US license, these casinos fall outside our jurisdiction, and regulators have no power over them. So if they pack up and take your money, you’re out of luck. This is why we always recommend you only play at casinos that are fully licensed and regulated in the US. Unsure of where to play? Check out our list of the best online casinos in the US. Learn more: How Do I Choose a Safe Online Casino? 5 Things to Look For
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Myth 3: “Loose and Tight Slots”
The existence of “loose” and “tight” slots is also a very popular misconception, especially among gamblers at brick-and-mortar venues.
According to this myth, if you see that someone has won a big payout on a certain slot, you should play there as the slot is loose and it is “giving money.”
The same works out for cold slots. If a specific machine has not paid a larger amount of money for quite some time, it is considered idle and is worth avoiding as such.
Anyone who understands how slot machines function will know that this myth is false. As these games are totally random, there is no way anyone can predict how the symbols on the reels will appear next.
Myth 4: “Casinos Keep Patrons Awake by Pumping Oxygen into the Air”
It is one thing to use air conditioning to secure fresh air in crowded spaces, but it is completely another to intentionally pump oxygen into casino rooms to keep the players alert.
This myth instantly falls apart if you think about how much it would cost for the operators to complete such an operation. Oxygen is by no means a cheap substance, and casinos’ costs would skyrocket if they tried to actually keep the oxygen running through their ventilation systems 24/7/
Myth 5: “The Game Will Freeze if You Are Winning Too Much”
Once again, the best way to prove this myth wrong is to use simple logic. We know that casinos have their edge over players in the long run. Hence, it is in their best interest to keep the players as active as possible. The more time the gamblers spend spinning the reels, the higher the chances for a house to make a profit.
So, if you ever see a slot machine stopping, the reason will most likely be either a software or a hardware malfunction.
Myth 6: “Card Counting Is Illegal”
Although many gamblers believe otherwise, card counting is not illegal. Nobody can arrest you for counting cards at a casino. The worst thing that can happen to you is to get kicked out of the venue.
The reason they do it is to make sure the business’ profit is not affected because card counting at blackjack reduces the house edge, and it is reasonable to expect casinos not to want the counters around.
Some myths are funny and interesting, while others are so misleading to the extent they might even be dangerous to both casino operators and players. They have in common, though, that they are all false. Instead of relying upon others’ anecdotes, learn more about casino games and how casinos work to increase your chances of winning.
