Casino gambling has exploded in popularity over the past few years and brought in new and younger players with the introduction of online gambling. Thanks to casino technology, people can play their favorite online slots for real money when they register for online casinos and set up an account. 

Despite the influx of new and younger punters, gambling myths that have been in circulation for decades are still rampant in casinos. These superstitions are usually the product of specific incident(s,) misinformation and sometimes straight-up desperation. 

This article will look into and debunk six of the most popular gambling myths and recommend ways to overcome them. 

Myth 1. Gambling Games and Machines Can Be Manipulated

Contrary to the belief that gambling machines and casino games are rigged and manipulated by casino officials, they’re simply designed to give the house the edge. You still have a chance to win as the house edge extends over a long period across several thousand players. 

When playing online with live dealer casino games, most players are aware that the odds are stacked against them, but they play anyway. It’s important to note that casinos are licensed by third-party regulators that monitor their gaming activities, making issues like game manipulation difficult. If casinos are found in violation of any of the rules, they could lose their license and ability to offer gambling legal products. 

Slot machines also have a random number generator (RNG,) which determines the symbols that land on each spin and guarantees random results. With this, you have the same chance to hit the jackpot on every spin. As for table games, knowing when to go all out during play will likely decrease your losses and belief that the games are rigged. 

Myth 2. Gambling Isn’t Addictive

This is perhaps one of the biggest gambling myths of all. Gambling is designed to be addictive and is based on a highly compulsion-inducing and habit-forming principle of psychology. The activity uses a variable ratio reinforcement schedule (VRRS,) which is made of variable and random ratios of reinforcement, e.g. winning.  

When you hit a win while playing in-person or online casino games, your brain releases dopamine, which makes you feel good. Gambling becomes addictive when you chase this feeling, placing more bets in a bid to secure more wins.  

To reduce the risk of developing gambling problems, set a spending limit before you reach a casino or play at a casino online. Restricting the amount of time that you spend gambling is also recommended. 

Myth 3. Hot and Cold Slot Machines

Most gamblers believe that when a slot machine begins paying out, it’ll land more wins. These devices are known as “hot” slots. On the other hand, when specific slot machines don’t pay for long periods, gamblers tend to avoid them as “cold” slots. 

This gambling myth is entirely untrue due to the presence of RNGs. This feature randomizes wins, making every spin equally as likely to pay out as the one before and the one that follows. Gamblers can also play online slots for real money without worrying about this myth. 

Myth 4. Card Counting isn’t legal  

Casino movies have long depicted card counting as illegal and forbidden when playing games like blackjack. Movies including “The Last Casino,” “21” and “Rain Man” have all shown characters being apprehended and punished after they were caught card counting. 

In reality, card counting is just an activity that casinos frown on because it reduces the house edge. The most card counting can cost you is a request to leave the casino premises; sometimes, other casinos are even warned about you. 

Myth 5. Gambling Can Make You Rich

Gambling was created as a form of entertainment, not a quick way to get rich. The belief that you’re just a game away from your big break has cost people huge sums of money when playing casino table games or other forms of gambling. It’s also the driving factor of compulsive gambling.  

It’s best to approach gambling as a game, not a means of getting rich. You should also know when to cut your losses and stop playing. 

Myth 6. Gambling Addiction Can’t Be Treated

No matter how bad your gambling condition is, it can be treated. Gambling addicts can achieve a lasting recovery with the right help and the desire to kick a nasty habit. Several gambling charities have sprung up worldwide to provide help for people struggling with this addiction. There are also multiple gambling tools like bank blocks and the self-exclusion register designed to aid problem gamblers in cutting back from the activity. 

Time and time again, popular gambling myths have been proven to be just that. Besides regular card games, these beliefs also extend to activities like bingo, online slots and more. Rather than depending on an unproven myth, approach gambling as it was intended, as a form of entertainment. BetMGM is regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement and only supplies players with games tested by the agency, meaning you can gamble away with fair odds and unmanipulated machines. Register with BetMGM to begin your casino online betting journey.