You’ve probably heard them all before – some of the great tales that exist surrounding casino games. From hot numbers to fixed machines, there are many theories that are passed around. However, how do you know whether they are true? You don’t, and if you hear something often enough, you may believe it.
Luckily, here at Coral we are ready to separate the fact from the fiction. So next time you hit the tables – or the slots – you will know exactly what you’re getting yourself in for.
The machines are fixed!
This is a common complaint – and guess what, these words are usually spoken by a loser. The complaint even spreads beyond regular casinos. When you play on our great range of table games online, you may hear similar stories going around.
We shouldn’t need to tell you, but we will anyway – of course they’re not fixed! When it comes to online games, all reputable companies are licensed and regulated to ensure that all their games are fair to play, with methods put in place to keep the unpredictability of the games in check.
That’s what makes the casino so appealing: the thrill of not knowing where the ball will land on the roulette wheel, and the tension as the dealer turns over their card at the blackjack table. Of course, that inevitably leads to losses, as you can’t win them all, but that’s part of the fun. If you take the games too serious and start believing it’s fixed, the casino is not for you!
This is an especially foolish myth when you consider that casinos have a house edge. Over time, this will reap profits naturally in the house’s favour, so there’s no need to fix machines to make money.
When it comes to the slots and the machines, random number generators mean that any number or symbol can appear, which leads us on to our next myth…
Another favourite! The idea that numbers on the roulette wheel are hot or cold has been passed on for years. For those that don’t know, a hot number is one that has landed a lot in recent spins, more than you would expect.
A cold number is the opposite, one that hasn’t been landed on for a long time. With hot numbers the theory is that they are common and therefore will come up again, which influences the next bet. Similarly, cold numbers are supposed to be avoided, as the ball will not land on them.
However, to highlight the strange aspect of it all, sometimes players will bet on cold numbers, believing that they are due to come out.
Of course, there’s no actual harm in following these theories, as it’s the same as betting on any number on the wheel, just don’t expect them to work!
The Gambler’s Fallacy
Similarly, to the hot and cold numbers, the fallacy arises because people don’t believe the golden rule on the roulette wheel – every spin is independent!
For instance, if a roulette wheel had landed on red five times in a row, most players would say with a degree of confidence that the next one will be black. Sure, it could be, but that would be falling into the trap.
On each spin, there is the same chance of landing on red, and the same chance of landing on black. This has to be applied, no matter the circumstances. Even if there were five, ten or twenty reds in a row, the rule still applies.
This can also lead to people raising the stakes on the opposite colour, and this is risky. You have to leave the previous spins in the past and ensure that you treat each spin in an isolated way.
Essentially, the Gambler’s Fallacy is thinking that you are due a win. As we know, there’s no such thing. If you have a 50% chance of winning, it doesn’t mean you’ll win one in two. If you have a 25% chance of winning it doesn’t mean that you’ll win once in four. Remember this!
That can stretch beyond roulette too. You are never due a win at a casino game, and the house edge, or odds of winning, are reflected on all customers over a long period. Therefore, don’t take them as gospel and believe they are applied to you every time that you play.
Bad players ruin hands
With games like blackjack, baccarat and Texas Hold ’Em, players are solely reliant on the cards that they are dealt. Therefore, the theory goes that playing with bad players can negatively influence your hands – but it’s not true.
At times, you may be annoyed if a player hit unnecessarily on blackjack, and ended up getting a card that you needed. However, that’s the luck of the draw, and it works both ways. They could hit and receive a card that would’ve been no use to you.
It’s unpredictable, it’s luck and it has no direct bearing, because ultimately, the card is face down, nobody knows what it will bring.
Should the first scenario arise, where a player takes a card that you need, it’s important to keep your cool. As well as maintaining the casino etiquette, if you are playing in a rage, it could impact your decision making. So, stay focussed and no matter how the cards come out, accept it and focus on what you need to do.
Don’t bet against your fellow player
As players of baccarat and craps will know, you get the chance to back another player or the dealer. If you back the dealer, some believe it will bring bad luck – but of course, this is false.
Just bet on whoever you want, whatever your initial reaction is. It won’t bring you bad luck if you bet on the dealer: it’s entirely up to you to choose who you want to bet on.
Even if your fellow player didn’t like you going against them, who cares? Everyone playing should be able to understand the rules of the game, and know that sometimes betting on the dealer can be the way to win.
The best of the rest
Whilst those are the main myths, there are some other trivial ones that have done the rounds.
Firstly, there’s an urban legend that casinos pump oxygen in to keep you awake on the floor. It’s no secret that you can get caught up with the excitement of the games and stay playing for hours without realising, but that has nothing to do with casinos filling the floors with oxygen!
Another popular myth with the slots is that the ones for the big payouts are located near the door and aisles, so that new players will see others win big. Again, this not true. If it was, why would anyone ever play near in the middle? All machines are the same.
Finally, there is the idea that you have to bet big to win big: if you raise the stakes you will leave with profit. This myth actually has an element of truth to it. Obviously, the bigger the bets, the more you could win. However, nothing is guaranteed: the odds are the same, whether you bet £1 or £100. It’s best to go with a strategy, make calm decision and stick to your budget!
Next time you go to the casino, or hear some of these myths, you won’t fall for them. Often these myths are circulated after players have lost or are upset, but their losses can be explained by bad luck or foolish plays. The unpredictability of the casino is what makes it fun: so, take losses in your stride, don’t get too disheartened and remember why you’re there. After all, casinos are all about entertainment.
