Myth #1: Casino Games Are Rigged

While it’s easy to cry foul when you lose, casino games are generally fair provided you play at a licensed establishment. Fortunately, British players can rely on the UK Gambling Commission to regulate and license all forms of betting. For your protection, the United Kingdom Gambling Commission has jurisdiction over live establishments and online sites that are located in Britain, as well as internet casinos that accept British players.

When playing at an online casino, the vast majority of games make use of random number generators or RNGs to ensure that what happens on the screen statistically mirrors what would happen in real life. These computer algorithms ensure that every spin, number drawn, card dealt, and roll of the dice is fair and random.

Myth #2: Winning Is a Matter of Luck

Even though it is certainly fun to believe in lady luck, destiny, or your fortune being written in the stars, winning and losing come down to mathematics. It is essential to understand that every casino game provides the house with a slight statistical advantage. This house edge ensures that over time the casino will take in more money than they pay out to players, which is exactly how casinos profit. Of course, there is plenty of variance over the short term, which means that it is possible to defy the odds and win. As a player, you can put yourself in the best position to win by playing games with a lower house edge or enjoying games that feature elements of skill like poker.

Myth #3: Keeping Tabs on Past Results Will Help You Predict What Happens Next

When playing games of pure chance like roulette, many people assume that they can easily predict the future by delving into the recent past. In reality, every spin of the roulette wheel, roll of the dice, and shuffle of the deck is a random and independent event. There is no link between what just happened and what is about to happen. Just because 15 of the last 20 roulette numbers were black, you shouldn’t assume that the overwhelming majority of the next 20 will be red. The actual odds only become statistically significant over the long haul, which goes far beyond the time you can spend playing.

Myth #4: A Great Betting System Will Help You Overcome the House Edge

Even though the internet is filled with betting systems that claim they can give you the upper hand, just about all of these techniques are useless. The fact is the casino always has the advantage. Of course, there are measures you can take to improve your odds such as playing games with a low house edge like baccarat. Many betting systems do integrate some form of bankroll management. Although managing your bankroll effectively won’t reduce the house edge, it can keep you in the game longer, which translates into more opportunities to win.

Myth #5: Casinos Let You Win Periodically to Deter You From Walking Away

Conspiracy theorists will have you believe that security staff are constantly monitoring your play so they can throw you a bone when you look like you’re about to lose interest. The truth is every outcome is a matter of chance. Whether you are relying on the random number generator that powers a video slot machine or the mechanics of a roulette wheel, what happens is governed by the laws of chance. Random number generators, as well as physical equipment, are regularly audited and inspected to ensure everything is above board. Any interference by a casino official would be highly illegal.

Myth #6: You’ll Eventually Win if You Play Long Enough

While it is possible that your perceived losing streak will be followed by a winning streak, it isn’t probable. What’s more likely to happen is you’ll run out of money before that elusive big win ever sees the light of day. It’s critical to understand that every game of chance is an independent statistical event. Think of it this way. When you roll the dice in a game of craps, the dice have no way of knowing what happened before. Even if your so-called luck seems like it has a way of evening out over time, there are no guarantees other than the house wins over the long haul.

Myth #7: Card Counting Is Illegal

Despite what you might have heard, there is nothing illegal about card counting in Britain. Although casinos aren’t fond of this mathematical system, which players use to gain an advantage by keeping track of which cards remain in the deck, it’s perfectly legal. In most countries, players are free to use any strategy they see fit as long as it doesn’t interfere with the gameplay. For example, physically marking cards is considered cheating. Of course, casinos do their best to deter players from counting cards. In addition, it’s not possible to count cards if you play online.

Myth #8: Certain Slot Machines Are Overdue For a Win

Given the unrivalled popularity of slots, it shouldn’t be too surprising that these games have their own lore. As you might expect from the topic of this article, most of the beliefs players hold are false. The fact is you shouldn’t expect a slot machine to suddenly pay out to compensate for what seems like a dry spell. Every spin of the reels is the result of a random number generator. Where the reels land depends on a complex computer algorithm rather than what happened recently.

Myth #9: You’ll Become a Better Player if You Play More Often

While it is possible to master poker strategy over time or learn how to play blackjack properly, practice is irrelevant when playing games of pure chance. Once you learn the basics of games like roulette, baccarat, craps, bingo, slots, and the lottery, success becomes a matter of chance. In other words, if you are new to the world of betting, you shouldn’t treat the skills you plan on acquiring as a future remedy to the money you might lose today. This is true whether you play on the internet or at a live casino anywhere in the world.

Myth #10: Internet Gambling Is Prohibited By Law

Although there are places on the planet where internet gambling is either outlawed or exists in a legal grey area, the United Kingdom is not one of those places. In fact, gambling isn’t just completely legal in Britain, but the government formally licenses and regulates the industry so that players don’t have to rely on shady sites. If you want to play with total peace of mind, just make sure you choose a casino, poker room, virtual bingo hall, or bookmaker that’s properly licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. It’s the easiest way to be certain that the games are fair and you’ll be paid promptly if you win.