Whether you’ve heard some crazy stories about cheating (or being cheated by) slot machines or came up with your own theories as to why you’ve been on an unlucky streak, there are plenty of myths around casino games, particularly slot machine games. While some of these myths may have an element of truth, others, if you believe them, will only throw you off your game and ruin the fun.

To ensure you have the best time playing online slots in the UK, we’re separating fact from fiction and showing you how to win on slot machines by being strategic and in the know. Here are the five most common myths about slot games.

Myth 1: Online slots will rip you off

Some people believe that online slots have been rigged to ensure that they don’t get any big wins and that land-based slots are more fair.

Truth: This idea is 100% false. Just like slot machines at land-based establishments, online slots are powered by a random number generator (RNG), which, as the name suggests, keeps the results of your spin totally random. Furthermore, licensed casinos are all designed (and frequently monitored) according to online gambling regulations, ensuring fair gameplay. Of course, all slots come with a house edge, which allows the casino to make money from each bet, but reputable casinos such as The Phone Casino do not fix any of their online slot games.

Fun fact: Online slots are actually way more lucrative than their land-based counterparts. The return to player (RTP) on virtual slots averages at around 95%, whereas the RTP on land-based machines averages between 88 and 90%!

Myth 2: The bigger the stake and jackpot, the more chance of winning

If you’re paying more and there’s a bigger jackpot up for grabs, then surely your chances of winning are increased too? Well, not exactly.

Truth: We all want to believe that playing at max bet on a machine with a big jackpot entitles us to a few extra coins, but this myth will be debunked as soon as you understand basic slot mechanics. Unfortunately, the jackpot, whether fixed or progressive, makes absolutely no difference to your chance of winning. What does make a difference, however, is the RTP, which determines the expected percentage of funds returned to you over several spins. 

Now, some slot games do feature a higher RTP when playing at max bet, but these are rare and you’ll need to check the game’s paytable to confirm this, otherwise you risk losing your bankroll fairly quickly. When looking for the best chance of winning, choose games with an RTP of 96% and above.

Myth 3: The payout is better at other casinos

Is the grass truly greener on the other side? Not when you’re talking about slot payouts. 

Truth: There’s no doubt that each casino, whether land-based or virtual, is unique, and some are more enjoyable than others. The Phone Casino, for instance, offers incredible promotions such as free spins and no-deposit games, which you won’t find at other casinos. Even so, when it comes to payouts, these are predetermined according to the slot game itself, not the establishment you’re playing at. 

The potential payout of each game is determined by the developers, and the casinos that feature the game have no say in it. So whether you’re playing 88 Fortunes at your favourite online casino from your couch, or at an establishment halfway around the world, your chances of winning, and expected win potential, are pretty much the same.

Myth 4: You can cheat or hack software

Just because you’re not playing in a brick-and-mortar casino doesn’t mean that cheating is allowed, acceptable, or even possible. But that doesn’t mean that people don’t try…

Truth: People have tried to cheat in a number of ways – using magnets, electronic cards and coins that have a non-standard weight, but these things simply do not work. Both land-based and virtual casinos have sophisticated security systems that allow them to detect cheating and keep their equipment and other customers safe. While there’s no way to study slot strategy and advance your skills as you might with other casino games, you can manage your bankroll, choose the right slots and play wisely to improve your chances of winning (and have a good time doing it).

Myth 5: There are hot and cold machines

We all know luck is the main component of slot games, but are certain machines luckier than others?

Truth: Before online slots, many casino regulars believed that certain machines ran hot, meaning that they paid out often, while others ran cold, meaning that wins were few and far between. This, of course, has little to do with luck, and a lot to do with RTP, hit frequency and the game’s volatility – all of which are predetermined and can be found in the game’s paytable. So hot and cold machines are just a myth, and while it’s common for games to move through periods of frequent and not-so-frequent wins, when you play for a while, things tend to balance out.

Explore the best slot games at The Phone Casino

When you register at The Phone Casino, you get to enjoy an array of exciting titles. Whether you’re looking for easy-to-learn slot machines for beginners or the latest and most advanced Slingo titles, there’s something for everyone!