7 Slot Myths Busted

Everything You’ve Heard About Slots Is (Mostly) Wrong

If you’ve spent any time spinning the reels, whether that's online or down your local pub, you've probably heard a few “facts” about how slots work. 

You know the ones we're talking about: “machines are overdue payouts” or the classic “certain times are better to play than others.”

Sorry to burst your bubble, but most of this is absolute nonsense. Slots run on maths (and RNG), not myths. 

In this blog, we’re putting the biggest slot myths under the microscope and separating fact from fiction.

Myth #1: Slots Run Hot and Cold

This belief implies that slot games go through cycles where they're more, or less, likely to pay out. 

Like any casino game, yes, slots can go through winning or losing streaks, but there's no built-in hot or cold cycle in regulated slots. They aren't washing machines!

If you encounter a lucky winning streak, this is just the slot's volatility/variance. 

For example, loss streaks are more common in high-volatility games, as payouts are rarer but tend to be bigger when they do go off. 

Myth #2: Always Play Max Bets

Flinging all your cash at a machine and placing the maximum bet level will not guarantee an automatic win.

The Return-to-Player rates (RTPs) are independent of stake size and will never change, even if you do a max bet of £100 per spin. 

For example, if a slot is classed as having a 96% RTP over hundreds and thousands of spins, it should, theoretically, pay out at a rate of 96%, regardless of stake sizes. 

Increasing your stake can lead to bigger wins (or losses), so tread carefully. 

Myth #3: Slots Are Rigged

While slots will always have an inherent house edge (otherwise, how else will the casino make money?), they're not “rigged” in the way you might think. 

Slots will always use Random Number Generators (RNGs) to ensure every spin result is completely random and unbiased. 

These games will also be regularly audited and tested for fairness by regulatory bodies like the UK Gambling Commission and eCOGRA, so there's no funny business going on behind the scenes. 

Myth #4: Online Slots Pay Less Than Land-Based Ones

In fact, online slots tend to have higher RTP rates than slots found in brick-and-mortar casinos. 

Many top-rated online slot machines regularly have RTPs of 96% or higher, while land-based slots in arcades, pubs, and casinos are typically much lower at around the 80% mark.

Myth #5: Newer Games Are Better Than Old

It’s tempting to think the latest slot releases automatically outshine the classics, just because they're shiny and new. 

Fresh titles can come packed with bonus features, free spins, and flashy graphics, but that doesn't guarantee balance or even replayability. 

And the truth is, not all new slot releases have better odds than older games. 

You can always check the game's settings on a case-by-case basis to see the volatility and RTP level. 

Myth #6: There Are Better Times to Play Than Others

The classic pub theory: “You’ve got to play late at night, that’s when the jackpots drop.”

Or sometimes it’s lunchtime, or payday Friday, or when Mercury’s in retrograde… truth is, the exact timing doesn’t matter at all.

Slots don't have ingrained clocks on when they're going to drop a win; they run on RNGs, which don't care whether it's 3am or 3pm.  

Each spin is just as unpredictable as the last, which is part of what makes them so fun to play. 

If you happened to win big at 2 in the morning on a Saturday, that's pure chance and luck, not a hidden “lucky hour” hidden in the slot's computing.  

Myth #7: Slots Are Overdue For a Win

Finally, and this is a big one: many players think that slots must pay out soon if it hasn't in a while. 

In truth, as we've already established; each slot spin is completely random, regardless of stake sizes and how many times the game has been played. 

Slots also don't track history to decide future outcomes, since RNG controls the entire process.

That means that no matter how many times you've already lost, the probability of landing a win is always going to be the same. 

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, slots are meant to be fun, not witchy-woo superstition.

The slot myths we've busted are mostly harmless stories, and they're not the only ones out there!

The harsh truth is this: slots are games of chance that run on RNGs, and each spin is 100% random. 

There is no secret timing, no hidden pattern, and no rituals you can perform to make wins happen.

So, no, sacrificing your first-born will not help you secure a jackpot. 

Debunking these old slot machine myths helps you avoid false expectations and keep the games enjoyable. 

Whether you still believe in these stories or not, make sure you play responsibly and don't forget to have fun!