- Some people have outlandish theories about how online slot machines work.
- One theory suggests that casinos put their worst games right in the middle.
- Other slot machine theories are debunked with a little critical thinking.
Online casinos have been growing in popularity over the last decade or so, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Hundreds of thousands of players log on every day to play their favorite games and try to win some money.
One of the most popular game types at online and land-based casinos is slot machines. They are easy to pick up but very hard to master, and many people think they can find ways to beat them.
You might have come across some wild theories about how slot machines work, so I am going to debunk those claims today.
Let’s get started on these ridiculous slot theories before you waste any more time believing them.
Worst Games Are in the Middle
This is one of the most common slot theories that I came across when doing my research. People seem to think that online casinos put their worst games right in the middle.
The idea behind this theory is that if you see the hottest slots at the ends of rows, the ones in the middle must be the least popular. That makes absolutely no sense.
Casinos, whether online or land-based, want as many of their games to be successful as possible. If they put their best games at the ends of rows, it wouldn’t make much sense.
Any experienced slot player knows that the of slots is completely random. Any pattern you think you see is just a streak of wins or losses; there isn’t more waiting for you in the middle reels.
So, don’t avoid the games in the middle of your favorite slot machine sites just because of this dumb theory. Stick to your favorite games, or try something new!
Imperial Palace Casino Review - Table Games, Slots & Poker RoomIf you want to learn more about slots, this guide breaks it all down for you.
You Need to Max Bet to Win the Jackpot
I remember being young and watching old Western movies with my dad. We would laugh when the protagonist hit the slot machine jackpot after putting in the max bet.
It’s a staple of old media, but it doesn’t hold up in reality.
Some players think that they need to bet the maximum amount per spin in order to . This idea couldn’t be further from the truth.
2023's Best American Casino Guide to Video Poker - Top CasinosEvery good will tell you that you should be able to open the game and afford the maximum wager.
That’s not always the case for progressive jackpots, which grow based on player contributions. Sometimes you need to bet a certain amount per line or on a single payline to qualify for the jackpot.
Reading the rules before you start playing is vital if you want to understand how that particular slot works.
There’s also another reason why you shouldn’t feel pressured to bet the maximum amount. Slot machine developers want you to like playing their games.
If you feed in money and never win anything, you’re not going to keep playing.
Offering a jackpot for smaller bets gives players of all budgets a chance to win big. Making the jackpot winning bet feels as good as winning the prize itself.
Huge Online Gambling Wins That Will Blow Your Mind - #8 is CrazyDon’t fall for this stupid theory and bet more than you can afford, just to see if it’s true.
Which Online Slot Theory Is Most Popular?
By now, you ought to know that the most popular theory is that “you can win at slots by breaking the bank.”
People use all kinds of weird methods to try and win money from online slots. I’ll talk about a few of the looniest strategies I found below.
Follow the Sheep
Have you ever heard of herd mentality? Basically, a large group of animals (or people) all follow the same leader.
In this scenario, players watch which slot game others are playing and jump in once a few losers have gone by.
The idea is that everyone can win together, but that’s not how it works in practice.
People often choose games at random. Just because three other people picked a slot doesn’t mean that it’s going to pay out just because they spun the reels.
To debunk this theory even further, different people have different luck. Just because your friend won on a game doesn’t mean that you’re guaranteed to lose.
You’re better off picking a slot that you enjoy and sticking with it than trying to ride someone else’s coattails.
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Play the Last Payline
A lot of classic slots had a limited number of paylines. Currently, you can find slots with fixed payline structures of 1, 3, 5, 25, and 243 ways to win.
poker on lineWhen five-reel, multi-lined slots became popular, everybody stopped playing three-reel games. As a result, you can still find some great classics with low limit bets.
Some players believe that you should only play the final payline because it costs less and you’re more likely to hit it.
Again, this theory stems from the notion that slots have invisible columns or rows that are more likely to stop matching symbols.
Paylines aren’t like bingo where you have the same chance of matching numbers in one column versus another.
The only time you should consider payline theory is if the game has 243 ways to win or a similar mechanism. In such cases, hitting more winning combinationstruly is a matter of luck.
Check out the to learn everything you need to know about playing them.
Free Spins No Deposit Required Bonus 2023 - Best Casino & Slots in UKUse a Spinning Strategy
What is the most important part of a slot machine? I would argue that it’s the spin button.
Some players agree, taking this online slot theory to extremes. They believe that the speed and intensity of your spins affect your chances of winning.
For example, if you pull the lever slowly on a land-based machine, you’ll lose. Alternatively, you should mash the screen on mobile or hit the button as hard as possible on an online slot.
Others take it a step further and recommend spinning at specific times. Perhaps you should click the button when a certain sound finishes, or while the casino logo is on screen.
Like every other theory on this list, this one has no basis in reality.
The outcomes of each game are determined before you spin. The random number generator provides results that are totally independent of external factors.
Trying to win at slots by spinning harder will only leave you with sore fingers and a lighter wallet.
Live Casino Roulette Tips - Improve Your Odds of WinningMake In-Game Purchases
Quite a few slot machines feature in-game purchases, also known as .
They allow you to buy a chance to enter a special bonus round. These features usually require a specific combination of symbols to unlock them naturally.
Some people think that purchasing access will increase your odds of winning from that feature. Others think that making small wagers will increase the value of prizes inside the mode.
Although in-game purchases can be appealing, none of that is true.
The only thing you get when buying your way into a mini-game is a set experience. It’s the equivalent of watching an cutscene in a video game.
As for the second part of that theory — it doesn’t make any sense. The values of prize symbols are determined independently from everything else in the game.
Purchasing features won’t change those values, nor will your spending habits.
Only stick to your prepared and continue having fun.
Reverse Engineer Casino Software
If you dig around online, you might come across some people claiming that they can “hack” slot software.
These hackers aim to manipulate the so that big prizes appear in a window they create on their screen.
Not only is this theory absurd, but attempting to hack an online casino could land you in serious trouble.
Guide: Gambling Laws in PennsylvaniaFirstly, reversing engineer software is illegal in most countries. Getting caught could lead to huge fines and lengthy prison sentences.
Secondly, it’s impossible to accomplish what these theorists claim to want.
Casino software operates on powerful servers that are encrypted with multiple layers of protection. Even if you managed to steal some source code, it wouldn’t do what you think it does.
Slot software is designed to produce random results. Altering said software would break that system and render the game useless. Additionally, casinos regularly audit their RNG software to ensure fairness.
In short, don’t attempt to hack online casinos under the assumption that you’ll win more at slots.
no deposits slotsMore Stupid Theories About Online Slots
Can’t get enough of the dumb stuff people say about online slots? Me neither. Here are a few more stupid theories that will make your eyes roll into the back of your head.
Different Browsers Affect Outcomes
Using the right tools for the job is crucial in the modern world. Your choice of web browser affects your online experience in many ways.
Some people think that certain browsers increase the chance of winning big prizes. I guess the theory goes that the code for Chrome, Firefox, or whatever is written in such a way that it improves luck.
Others suggest that using torbrowser or a VPN will help you remain anonymous and trick the casino.
Casinos Near Akron, OH - Best Choices within 30 milesOnce again, none of this makes any sense.
Your chosen internet browser has zero effect on the random number generator used in slot machine games. Also, wearing lucky socks and eating green jellybeans for breakfast won’t change your luck — slots are inherently random.
Using a VPN might be a good idea if you live in a country where online gambling is illegal. However, masks your IP address and encrypts your data, thus protecting your privacy.
It doesn’t confuse online slot machines.
Change Rolling Direction
Wheel of Fortune slot machines have been hugely popular since the early days of electronic gaming. Many developers tried to recreate that magic with slot games featuring bonus wheels.
Players would throw a virtual ball at a colorful wheel filled with various prizes. Hitting your desired segment depended on friction, weight distribution, and a dozen other factors.
Brilliant minds created sophisticated models to understand the physics behind wheel bonuses. One of those models involved changing the rolling direction.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the next stupid theory about slots emerged from that community. Some people thought that throwing the pointer in different directions would lead to bigger prizes.
Maybe it works on home versions, like the , but it definitely doesn’t work online.
katrina casino caseAll results from wheel bonuses are programmed into the game. They are completely random, and there’s no difference between clockwise and anticlockwise rolls.
Stop trying to win at slots by changing the rolling direction; it’s not working for anyone.
Someone Has to Win, Right?
My personal favorite among all the stupid slot theories is the idea that they have to pay out. Some players truly believe that jackpots go for a certain amount of time without paying before they must drop.
For example, someone claims that a slot hasn’t paid its $500,000 jackpot in six months — therefore, it’s overdue.
They assume that the machine is like a lotto where the odds remain constant and somebody has to win eventually. Once that happens, all the other overdue tickets/spins will return to their pool of potential winners.
Sadly, that’s not how it works. Slot machines don’t have an internal meter tracking how long it’s been since they made a big payment.
The only time a progressive jackpot needs “to go” is when it reaches its maximum value. When a player hits the qualifying combo on one or more connected machines, it resets to a predetermined base amount.
online real money slots usaThis misconception leads to many upset gamblers who spend hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars chasing a lost cause.
Please don’t try to win at slots by chasing overdue jackpots.
Don’t Try to Win at Slots by Using Stupid Theories
I hope you’ve learned a valuable lesson today. Trying to win at slots by using stupid theories is a one-way street to disappointment.
These crazy ideas were floating around before the Internet, but they spread like wildfire in the digital age.
Remember that slot games are entirely random and operate on a per-spin basis. What happened on the previous wager has no impact on the next one.
If that sounds too risky for you, perhaps you should consider a strategy for blackjack instead.
Best Real Money Casino Sites for UK Players (2023)Good luck and happy spinning! And for more useful information, check out the following post.
Adam is a sports tipster and casino writer who is always looking for ways to beat the house. His favourite sports are boxing and MMA, which he loves to watch as well as write about.
Carefully concealed beneath his suave demeanour and dashing good looks is a dedicated and experienced writer.