Top 4 Casino Myths That You Should Not Believe

You can increase your chances of winning at the casino by betting small and avoiding alcohol. But, an even better way of gaining an edge over the casino is learning how to count cards. Here we will talk about the Top 4 Casino Myths that you should not rely on.

Card counting has always fascinated the general public – not least because it’s a modern version of David and Goliath, where a gifted nobody takes on the big guys at the casino and wins.

But, if we’re to believe films like ‘Rain Man’ and ’21’, card counters are mathematical geniuses who can amass bags of cash in a few rounds of Blackjack. That is if they’re not thrown out of the casino for their illegal behavior.

Every game has its own set of myths, especially slots or gambling, whether you are playing cards online or sitting in any brick-and-mortar casino nearby. People tend to believe that there are some external forces at work other than skills and house edge. Let’s have a look at four big myths surrounding casino games. Here are the top 4 casino myths that you should not rely on.

Related read: Live Dealer Online Casinos vs In-Person Casinos and Myths

1. The Casino Myth: Games are Fixed

This belief is one of the most common and widely popular myths across all types of casinos and games. Many assume that casinos rig pokies to prevent people from winning. This misconception stems from the house edge that casinos hold in almost all their games – this is, however, a small benefit, not a method of cheating.

Understanding RTP and RNG

Gamers can easily find the Return to Player (RTP) percentage of any pokies online through reviews or the manufacturer’s website. Since a significant portion of the game is based on Random Number Generators (RNG), it’s impossible to manipulate or tamper with them.

Strict Legislation for Fair Play

Casinos need to adhere to legislation that protects players from unfair practices, both online and in real life. Any violation of these rules can attract hefty fines, leading to the potential loss of customers.

The Informed Player

Players today are more knowledgeable than ever before. Online games provide a game history that allows users to run results through an algorithm to check for discrepancies against the expected game odds.

Reputation Matters in the Digital Age

In the current information era, it wouldn’t be in the best interest of a casino to rig games in their favour. With the rapid spread of information and the potential for bad press, businesses in highly competitive spaces could be easily ruined.

As a result, sites go out of their way to ensure players feel safe about the games they play. Casino software suppliers spend thousands of dollars to audit their games for accuracy and reliability, often celebrating their passing grades publicly.

Faster Play, Faster Bankroll Dip

Online casino games are not rigged, but it’s worth noting that you’re likely to play many more hands within the same timeframe as a live session. This could cause your bankroll to dip faster.

Dispelling the Myths: The Facts About Online Casino Games

1. House Edge: A small advantage for casinos, not a sign of rigging.
2. RTP and RNG: Measures that ensure game fairness and transparency.
3. Legislation: Strict laws that protect players from unfair practices.
4. Informed Players: Today’s players have more access to game information than ever before.
5. Reputation Management: The importance of good PR in the digital age.
6. Game Auditing: A measure taken by casinos to ensure game fairness.
7. Online vs Live Play: The quick pace of online games could cause your bankroll to deplete faster.

2. Big Bet Can Win Big

A common misconception in the world of gambling is the notion that betting big leads to winning big. While it holds some truth that the return on a bet could be higher if the original wager is larger, it’s also a fact that an improper strategy of betting big may lead to more substantial losses when results go against you.

Implementing Smart Betting Strategies

There are numerous strategies that you can implement to help protect against big losses. Smart betting strategies often revolve around understanding the game you’re playing and being aware of the house edge that it carries.

Leveraging Gambling Literature

There are numerous books and guides available that offer insights into the various intricacies of different games. These resources can help you understand when to bet big and how to protect your gaming budget.

Winning Strategies in Gambling: A Checklist

1. Understand Your Game: Know the rules, strategies, and the house edge that comes with it.
2. Implement Smart Betting: Be strategic with your bets, and don’t always believe that bigger bets will result in bigger wins.
3. Leverage Gambling Literature: Utilize available resources to gain insights and develop effective betting strategies.
4. Budget Management: Plan your gaming budget wisely to ensure it lasts longer and increases your chances of winning.

3. Gambler’s Fallacy

There exists a prevalent myth in the gambling world: if you are playing a game with a one in four chance of winning, you should at least secure one win if you play four games. This misconception is known as the gambler’s fallacy. Following this line of thinking, if you do not win in four games, you might feel that a win is overdue. Consequently, if you do not win, you may interpret this as a cold streak of losing and assume that the table, dealer, or game is “cold”, prompting you to switch to another one.

Odds: Immune to Myths

Contrary to this widespread belief, this is not how odds function. Odds are immune to myths. It’s crucial to understand that it’s only the hand you’re dealt with or the wheel spin that changes – the odds remain constant, regardless of the length of your play.

Dispelling the Gambler’s Fallacy: Key Facts to Remember

1. Gambler’s Fallacy Misunderstands Odds: The belief that a win is due after a series of losses is a misconception about how odds work.
2. Each Game is Independent: Each hand dealt or wheel spun is independent of the previous one, so the odds do not change based on past results.
3. Cold Streaks are Perception, not Reality: The idea of a table, dealer, or game being “cold” is more about perception than any concrete statistical reality.
4. Odds Remain Constant: The odds of a game are consistent, regardless of your play’s length or the outcomes of previous plays.

4. Card Counting is Illegal

Card counting has always been a controversial topic in the world of gambling. While some see it as an art, others consider it a form of cheating. In reality, card counting is simply a method of keeping a mental note of all the cards dealt in a hand of blackjack. With the rise of live dealer games, this technique has found relevance even in online gambling.

Understanding the Complexity of Card Counting

Given the large number of cards in a deck and the fact that casinos often use multiple decks, mastering card counting can be a challenging skill to acquire. Although it may give a player an edge of up to 1.5%, it’s important to note that while it is not completely illegal, many casinos discourage this method. Thus, it is often more beneficial to hone your skills through traditional practice.

The Legality of Card Counting

Contrary to popular belief, card counting is legal in most parts of the world, including Australia, the UK, and the US. What is illegal, however, is using an electronic device during casino card games to aid in card counting.

Advantage Play (AP) and Card Counting

Card counting is often classified under the larger umbrella of ‘advantage play’ (AP). AP is not cheating but rather a method of using the information gathered throughout the game to evaluate the best betting strategy.

However, if you choose to count cards, it’s advisable to be discreet. Casinos might ask you to leave if your methods are too obvious. Also, bear in mind that many believe card counting is tough to master.

Choosing Your Card Counting System

While some traditional card-counting systems like Hi-Lo can be hard to learn, there are more modern systems which are easier for casual players to grasp. For instance, the Speed Count method is as easy to learn as the basic playing strategy for casino card games like Blackjack. This skill could give you a slight edge over the casino.

Key Points on Card Counting

1. Art or Cheating?: Card counting is a skill, neither art nor cheating.
2. Legality: Card counting is legal in many parts of the world.
3. Advantage Play (AP): Card counting falls under AP, helping you make informed bets.
4. Discretion: Be subtle if you’re counting cards to avoid unwanted attention.
5. Choice of System: Choose a card-counting system that suits your skill level, like the Speed Count method for beginners.

Synopsis

In the realm of online gambling and pokies, myths and misconceptions can easily cloud the player’s judgement, steering them away from the real dynamics of the game.

The ‘Rigged Game’ myth misleads players into believing that casinos manipulate games to their advantage, undermining the reliability of the Random Number Generators and rigorous auditing processes. However, in reality, the integrity of online games is strictly regulated, and any discrepancies can lead to severe penalties for the casino.

The notion of betting big to win big tends to oversimplify the complexity of gambling strategies. While larger bets can yield more substantial winnings, they can also lead to greater losses. Therefore, effective budget management and smart betting strategies are vital to a successful gaming experience.

The Gambler’s Fallacy, the belief that a win is due after a series of losses, can lead to misguided expectations. Each game’s outcome is independent of the previous one, and the odds remain constant, immune to such fallacies.

Lastly, the discourse around card counting is often filled with misunderstanding. Card counting, while difficult to master, is a legal practice that falls under ‘Advantage Play’. It’s a strategy that uses information available during gameplay to make informed betting decisions.