Casinos are a huge part of our entertainment culture, even though they have some societal stigmas.
People are naturally drawn to the idea of having a “big win”, and a night at the casino can be both thrilling and exciting, yet the media still paint gambling as a dirty habit. This negative slant only fuels some of the many myths and untruths about casino gaming.
If you’re taking the plunge now that all of the Covid restrictions are coming to an end, and planning a trip to one of London’s bustling casinos, then you may be wondering whether some of the things you have heard about them are true or not?
Here are five myths you may have heard about casinos that are simply not true. Now you know, you can put on your best clothes and swankiest shoes and step out for a fun night out.
1 Casinos pump out extra oxygen
This is one of the most famous urban myths surrounding the casinos in Vegas and the rest of the world. Many people believe that casinos are secretly pumping oxygen into the building to keep players alert and wanting to play. This is, in fact, completely untrue.
Firstly, it’s just not feasible; pumping oxygen into casinos could lead to all sorts of complications. If anything, casinos may make their rooms a little colder than you would normally like, but there certainly won’t be any extra oxygen in the air that you are breathing.
2 Casino games are rigged
Lots of people seem to think that casinos rig their games. This myth is important to debunk because the truth of the matter is that casinos are most certainly NOT rigged. They are heavily regulated, and the governing body ensures that games are fair, despite what a lot of people think.
Of course, casinos would prefer if people didn’t have a big win, but they certainly aren’t doing anything underhand to hinder your chances. What is true is that there is a house edge with every game, which everyone is already aware of. But as far as casinos and game rigging is concerned, there is definitely no skulduggery going on.
3 The house always wins
Fortunately for visitors to the casino, this is another myth. Even though the house edge suggests that the house always wins statistically, this is in the long term. There is nothing to say you cannot walk out of the casino one night with a profit. You might win at a table game like roulette or blackjack, or you could even get a big win on one of the slot machines.
You might get some beginner’s luck. But if you are visiting a casino for the first time, it’s best to read up a little about the games you can play, so look at blackjack basic strategy, types of roulette bets, or the rules of Texas Holdem if you want to try a poker game.
4 Slot games have hot and cold streaks
Many people are under the impression that slot machines have hot and cold streaks, so the more you play them, sooner or later the machine will pay out.
Again, this is another myth that needs to be debunked. Slot machines are just that, machines, and they work on a random number generator basis. Winning is purely down to luck and nothing else. Every time someone plays on a slot machine, they have the same chance of winning as the person before them or after them. Some will get super lucky and win a slot jackpot.
It’s known as the gambler’s fallacy - an incorrect belief that certain random events are less or more likely to occur due to the outcome of previous events. Think of it this way; if three tosses of a coin were heads, it doesn’t make it more likely the next will be tails. The next toss is a 50/50, just like the previous ones.
5 Card counting at blackjack is illegal
Many films have been made around casinos, some of which give people false information, such as the legality of counting cards whilst playing blackjack.
Counting cards in blackjack is NOT illegal. Of course, the casinos don’t particularly like it when someone does it, as they have a much better chance of winning. So, if you know how to do it and you are going to try it, be subtle and be prepared because if you get caught, you may well be asked to leave!
Summary
There’s no doubt people love gambling, and casinos are here to stay. People visit them for various reasons: some want to make some big money; others just want to go out and have a great time. People love casinos, which is why we’re happy to debunk some of the myths that surround them.
