Being a game of chance, it is no surprise that slot machine myths exist. It only takes one superstitious person to experience something out of the ordinary and it becomes a sudden belief to a group of people. Probability can be tricky and because it is only a prediction of what is possible to happen next, does not yield any sure numbers. As far as slots or online slots are concerned, calculating the probability of winning is a lost cause, because the numbers just don’t stick. In theory they should and probably do in the long run, but not on a case-by-case basis.

It is also important to pay attention to the payout tables. There are many slot machine myths about bigger jackpots, better winnings, etc., but they are all inconsistent with what’s directly written on the machines. While it does make sense that the payout will be better when playing high denomination slots for example, it’s important to also take into consideration the amount spent compared to what can be won. What can you get for what you put in?

Let’s looks at some of the myths I came across:

Myth #1: A slot machine that has received extended play with no significant payouts is “due” to hit.

Fact: Every pull of the handle is independent from any previous pull and Just like the lotto or online keno the machine does not have any memory of payouts; therefore, it does not matter how long you have played the machine. The chances of hitting a jackpot on a machine that’s just been hit and one that has only paid out little amounts is the same.

Myth #2: If the machine feels cold to the touch, cold coins/tokens should be used. Likewise, if the machine is warm to the touch, warmed up coins/tokens should be used.

Fact: The temperature of the machine and/or coins has absolutely no bearing on anything. Because machines may be bought from many various suppliers, they are likely to work a little different, including how quickly they heat up etc.

Myth #3: If a slot machine has just hit for the top jackpot, it isn’t going to hit it again for a very, very long time.

Fact: The random number generator (RNG), which is working at all times even when there isn’t anyone playing the machine, decides when a machine will hit again. New numbers are being calculated by the millisecond and the deciding factor is whether or not you pull the handle while the right numbers have been generated.

Myth #4: The casinos loosen and tighten the machines at will.

Fact: While the casinos DO keep an eye on who wins/loses, they do NOT “tweak” the machines as doing so would be against government gambling regulations. The procedure of changing the payback percentage is long and a lot of paperwork is involved to avoid criminal charges.

Myth #5: The higher coin denomination the higher the payout.

Fact: The percentage payout does not vary all that much on higher end machines although it is true that nickel machines pay back less than quarter and dollar machines do. A recent survey showed nickel machines paying from a low of 85.2% to a high of 92.8% Quarter machines from a low of 91.1% to a high of 95.2% in downtown Las Vegas. Fifty cent machines from a low of 90.1% to a high of 95.4%, Dollar slots from a low of 90.0% to a high of 96.5% and five dollar slots from a low of 91.9% to a high of 97.3% at Lake Tahoe. The spread from quarter machines to five dollar machines, at the high end, is 2.1% hardly significant.

Myth #6: It’s all in how you pull the lever that makes you a winner or loser.

Fact: Well, that was the case when they first came out but since then, how long or how fast you pull has absolutely no influence on where the reels stop. The random number generator is constantly calculating new numbers. As soon as you pull the handle, the position of the reels has already been determined.

I’m sure that after you have read the slot machine myths and the factual details of each, you will have a clearer understanding of how slot machines really work. It’s easy to misinterpret things we don’t fully comprehend and even easier when luck is involved. So, whether or not you’ll need your lucky pendant the next time you visit the casino or online casino is up to you…

Internet gambling has seen a huge surge in popularity lately, which makes a lot of sense.  With people being so busy today, it’s hard to make a trip to the casinos.  But I read something that surprised me in that, apparently, most online gamblers online stick to one or two online casino games.
Now, I understand having your main games, but there are so many online casino games being offered, people should really try branching out more.

My main reason for joining an internet casino was for the online casino game options.  I love being able to bounce around to different tables without ever having to leave my couch.  I also like all the slot machine options, arcade games, and more.   Pretty much, if there’s any game you like, you can probably win money off it online.
One of my favorite new online casino games is Keno.  I think it’s because I watched The Price Is Right as a kid, but I have a lot of fun with it.  And I don’t need Bob Barker to call me down.

The selection of online casino games you get at internet casinos really can’t be matched, so its surprising people aren’t taking advantage of it.
Of course, maybe it’s good for me.  With millions of players joining up with internet gambling to play the traditional tables, that just leaves me with more games and less competition.  In any case, people can do what they want.  But I’ll be taking advantage of all the online casino games and making money at it.

It might seem spurious to mention a 6th Century Chinese treatise when discussing 21st Century Blackjack, but I believe that what is contained within it, has much to say about creating a successful strategy.  It has been used as the basis of tactics from war room to the board room, from the battle field to the sports field.  So why not Blackjack?

Sun Tzu, the author of ‘The Art of War’, was one of the first to recognize the importance of positioning in strategy and that this can be affected by the opinions of competitive players in that atmosphere.  In addition, the art of planning was not simply a run-down of things on a list to tick off, but a necessity to be able to keep a clear head and react quickly and appropriately with ever-evolving circumstances.  Just these two aspects alone, are embedded deeply into the psyche of the best Blackjack players.  They know that in order to be successful at Blackjack, they have to be aware of what their competitors are doing and further than that, if the unexpected does happen, they must be prepared at a stroke to alter course, figuring out another way to succeed if an avenue has been closed off.

If we all agree that Blackjack is the game of high skill and exacting tactics and strategies that we know it to be, perhaps The Art of War should be on your reading list, as well as any other books about the game itself.

Poker is probably the most popular card game today.   Now considered an official “Game of Skill” poker has come out of people’s smoky basements or the dark lit rooms inside casinos and is now a televised sport.

Cities across the world host poker tournaments where winners walk away with thousands (or even millions!) and newfound fame.  More and more people are able to make poker into a profession, thanks also to the possibility to play online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You don’t have to be a professional to enjoy the game.  You can be a spectator, or easily start your “poker career” by playing in free tournaments and practice play tables at almost any online poker room.  Once you get the hang of it, you can play for small denominations against players from all across the globe!  (These websites have rules that dictate that all chat conversations between players must be in English to avoid cheating.)

There are many different variations of the game, the most popular being Texas Hold’em.  Other poker variations include Omaha Hi-Lo or Stud (7 card of 5 card.)  
It’s interesting to learn the different types and then pick the one that appeals to you the most.  Different online casino websites offer different kinds of games.  If you do choose to play poker online, make sure you choose a website that has lots of players online and great customer support.  Also, we recommend reading up on the rules offered on the company’s website and making sure that you participate in as many practice (play money) games as you can before starting to gamble with real money! 

Who hasn’t been sitting in front of their PC playing Blackjack in an online casino and just wished that you were being a little bit more successful?  We all know that Blackjack is not simply a game of luck and there are systems designed to help us win.  One of these is the 1-3-2-6 betting system, which is based on the Paroli strategy.

Seems complex, it’s actually quite straightforward.  Obviously the system is premised on an accumulation of winning and would go something a little like this:  For arguments sake, we’ll call 1 unit $10.  So you bet that and you win.  In the next hand, you would bet 3 units (i.e. 3x your original stake of $10).  Who knew, you won that hand too.  In the next hand, you bet 2 units (of the original) i.e. $20.  Strike me down if you haven’t won that hand too.  So in the subsequent hand, you bet 6 original units ($60).  With a 1:1 casino payout will give you $120, that’s 12 times your opening wager.

The 1-3-2-6 system does rely, as stated above, on a run of four wins and so might be better suited to an online casino.  It might also be better suited to smaller wagers as one of the golden rules, is know when to quit whilst you’re ahead.  So, the next time you are at the Blackjack table in your internet casino, why not see if you can’t give it a try.

Friday night poker was a regular guy thing for all of us. Every few weeks, we’d get 4 or 5 guys together from the workplace and have a Texas hold’em showdown. Six months ago, however, that all changed when 2 of our guys were transferred to different companies in England. We were sure that we were going to have to stop our poker games for good, until we discovered the online casino.

I had heard some rumors about playing at an online casino, but I had never tried it out for myself. The straw that broke the camel’s back, however, was the absence of our two friends. What were we going to do without them, and how would our poker nights survive? Consequently, we decided to give an online casino a try and see if we couldn’t salvage the game.

We checked out some poker blogs to see what people were recommending for sites. We had thought we could – at the very least – join a game where we were all present. However, we were ecstatic when we discovered we could design our very own poker tournament, with only the 5 of us involved. We could play and still chat to one another via a live chat like old times. The online casino also took care of the financial transactions for us!

Of course, we still meet up in the summer’s to play some live Texas Hold’em in person. However, in the meantime while we’re separated, an online casino is working just fine!