Common Slot Machine Myths

The slot machine has long been associated with the casino. In fact, a casino cannot be rightfully called a real casino if it doesn't have any of those so-called "one-armed bandits." The slot machine has proven to be a timeless source of entertainment and wealth for lucky casino patrons.

With all the money that can be potentially won by a slot machine player, various myths and superstitions circulate on the best way to hit the jackpot. Most of these slot machine myths are pure nonsense and should be ignored at best. But the myths persist and some casino patrons couldn't help but give them a try.

Here's a rundown of the most common slot machine myths and why you should avoid them like the plague.

Pull the handle or push the button?

Most slot machines have two implements for starting a game - to push the play button or to pull the lever or handle. Although the lever is no longer necessary as slot machines have gone from mechanical to electronic, manufacturers leave it there to retain the machine's original design and "flavor."

Some people think that using the slot machine's handle or lever instead of the button (or vice versa) can improve their chances of winning. Actually, it doesn't really matter whether you push the button or pull the handle because both methods work the same way - which is to start the Random Number Generator (RNG). The RNG is a computer process which generates combinations of totally random numbers, which in turn determine the outcome of a game.

Hot and cold machines

"Hot" or "cold" slot machines doesn't mean that they feel hot or cold when touched. A "hot" slot machine means that it has consecutive winning streaks while a "cold" machine rarely gives out any prizes.

A slot machine may "heat up" when a player has a winning streak in playing the machine. However, this situation is just normal, just as a poker or roulette player has a lucky streak. So a hot slot machine may turn cold later on, or vice versa. It all evens out in the long run.

Almost winning

You may have noticed that a slot machine sometimes comes up with combinations that are one symbol or reel off the winning combination. Some people think that if they see such combinations, they are already very close to winning. This is not true because every combination is totally independent of past and future spins. Once you start another slot machine game, the previous result is not going to count.

Knowing these slot machine myths and why they don't work can help you play slots wisely and successfully. So the next time you play the slot machine, use your common sense and forget all those slot machine myths.