Debunking 5 common casino myths
By Lucy Wynne
Whether land-based or online, whispers over generations may have given you ideas about some casino formalities. But what is truth and what is fiction? We take a look at five common casino myths…
1. All casino games are purely luck
Let’s start with the classic ‘everything is a gamble’ quote. Although true, there are ways to up your odds at a casino. Methods include certain strategies which can increase your chances of winning, for example, a familiar strategy is utilising a basic blackjack cheat sheet. And although luck does play a part in gambling, you can increase your luck on certain games - not all, but some.
Card games are the ones you can learn to master and really up your chances of winning, hence why you find professional blackjack and poker players, but slots are completely random as they use a random number generator (RNG) mechanic to confirm the game isn’t rigged. So, playing slots really is a game solely based on luck.
2. Card counting is illegal
Contrary to what some people think, card counting is NOT illegal. Although frowned upon, this strategy (often used by intelligent people) can be a guaranteed way to win - but only if the casino does not clock on. The casino cannot report you to the police for any crime, but they can ban you from their premises if they suspect you have been card counting…Why? Well because you are making them lose money - without the guise of luck!
From 1979 until the mid ‘90s, mathematics students from Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) galavanted around the US states, trialling their card counting skills and winning lots of money. The scandal made front-page news and there was even a film based on the scandal called ‘21’ (2008). Due to the fact that card counting is not illegal, when the students got caught, they went unpunished in the law, but will remain banned from casinos worldwide for the rest of their life!
3. Casino games are rigged
This is a common myth on a general basis, and it can stand to be true in some unfortunate circumstances. However, if a casino is licensed by your local government, such as the UK Gambling Commission, the games will have to be tested for fairness in order for them to acquire the licence and start operating legally. The majority of operators - especially the major ones - won’t risk their licence, nor will they risk the monstrous fines that come at the cost of ‘ripping off’ their players. But you can be sure that you are always in safe hands if gambling with a casino recommended by FIRST. Rigged casinos will always be unregulated, so always play at regulated casinos.
On the other hand, just because an operator is licensed does not guarantee you any wins. You might have an unfortunate spell, but that does not mean that the games are rigged - or that the operator site is ‘dodgy’ - it is simply your lack of luck; something common and to be expected when gambling.
4. Withdrawals from big wins will be refused at online casinos
People tend to be hesitant about gambling online as they fear ‘what happens if I win big and they don’t let me withdraw my winnings?’. This isn’t a problem you need to worry about if you are using legal and secure online casinos that are registered with the UKGC. Legally, licensed online casinos in the UK have to pay you your winnings. You might have to wait a little longer than usual for a bigger payout, but if you don’t receive it then you can sue the operator.
Operators have a lot more to lose than the players do and an operator's reputation could be a make or break when it comes to the business succeeding. If no one trusts the site, people will go elsewhere to gamble.
5. The game will freeze when you make a big win
Coincidentally, I am sure this has happened to some people at some point but - unless it occurred at an unregulated casino - the chances are that it was just an unfortunate event. Most of the time, if a game freezes mid-win or mid-bonus round, when you reload it, it should save your progress and go back to where you were previously in the game; therefore not screwing you over and taking your winnings as you would suspect.
The common disclaimer you will often see says ‘malfunction voids all pays and plays’ which means if you have won by a default - and there has been a malfunction on site that leads to your victory - your winnings can be voided. This principle is most likely what led to this common myth being created. Most of the time, if your game freezes you will be able to reset and continue from where you left off; games freezing on purpose whenever you make a big win is false.