Yes, Dealers Want You to Win: 7 Casino Myths Busted

#1: You Can Consistently Beat the Dealer 

Many articles and YouTube videos claim to have a foolproof way to consistently beat the dealer. This is a myth.

There is no way to always win at a casino game. Every table game has a built-in house edge that gives the house an advantage.

This ensures that the casino will make a certain amount of profit for every hand dealt or for every spin of the ball.

Some players will have good luck streaks during which they consistently win; however, they will also have bad luck streaks where they consistently lose.

There is no way to tell if you are going to win or lose, as you don’t know what the next card will be.

Some skills can improve the odds, but they do not guarantee a win, as there is a significant element of luck involved.

Again, there is no way to consistently win at gambling. 

#2: There Is a Strategy to Win Every Time

If someone tries to sell you a guaranteed strategy that always wins, they are scamming you. There is no system that always wins. This is a myth.

There are plenty of methods out there that improve the odds. However, they don’t consistently win every time.

Each technique has pros and cons. For example, Edward Thorp’s basic blackjack strategy lowers the house edge, which is better for the player, but it does not guarantee a win for every hand.

The Martingale System is a common strategy; however, in order for it to work, the player will need an incredibly large bankroll because a bad luck streak can be costly.

Bankroll management is extremely important when determining how much you can afford to lose and then sticking to that amount.

Once you lose that predetermined number, leave the casino.

Many players chase their losses, trying to recover what they have lost, which can be extremely dangerous as it often leads to bigger losses. Never chase your losses.

#3: Card Counting Is Illegal

One of the biggest myths in the industry is that card counting is illegal.

While casinos frown upon it, card counting is not illegal. It doesn’t change the outcome or influence the results of the hand.

It is doing math in your head to give you a better edge. You will not get arrested for doing that, and there are no federal or state laws that prohibit the practice if it is done in your head.

However, in Las Vegas, casinos are considered private companies on private land, and they can 86 anyone for any reason.

In other states like New Jersey, operators are prevented from discriminating against players based on presumed card counting skills.

There is a New Jersey State law that prohibits them from discriminating against players based on skill or luck. 

But just because a casino can kick you out doesn’t mean they are allowed to call the police and put you in jail for card counting.

What is illegal is using an electronic external device on a table to cheat. This can get you thrown into jail.

Using an app that helps you win is considered illegal and can get you arrested. That is why using a card-counting app on your phone while playing is considered illegal. 

In Las Vegas, Nevada Statute § 465.083 makes it illegal for anyone —a player or staff member—to cheat.

Chapter 465 defines cheating as “alter[ing] the elements of chance, method of selection, or criteria which determine (a) the result of a game, (b) the amount or frequency of payment in a game”. 

Multiple lawyers in Nevada confirm that card counting is not considered cheating by this definition.

#4: The Fantasy of “Hot” and “Cold” Slots

The idea that a slot machine can be “Hot” or “Loose,” meaning it is ready to pay out, or “Cold” and “Tight,” meaning you are due to lose, is all a myth.

Each spin is independent of previous spins.

Slot machines use a random number generator (RNG) to create new combinations and results with every spin. Each round is literally a random event unrelated to the last spin.

For example, if someone just won a jackpot on a slot machine and then leave, that does not mean the machine is done paying out for the night. 

Past events don’t predict future events. This is also known as the Gambler’s Fallacy, where players believe that past events predict future events.

However, this is not supported by evidence. The Gambler’s Fallacy, also known as the Monte Carlo Fallacy, was sparked by a roulette game at the Casino in 1913.

During the game, the ball fell into a black streak. With black hitting 26 times in a row, naturally, the players started betting on red.

All that did was cost them money. Always consider the odds or probability when figuring out your desired outcome.

The Gambler’s Fallacy also applies to slot machines. The belief that a machine is “due” for a payout after a series of losses is false. Each spin is independent and random.

In games like roulette or slots, the outcome of past spins doesn’t influence future spins.

Another way to look at this “Hot” and “Cold” theory is that “Hot” would be similar to having a winning streak, whereas “Cold” would be similar to having a losing streak.

Winning and losing streaks are seen as luck, but in the mathematical world, it is known as “Statistical Fluctuation.”

If you took a coin and flipped it 100 times, you would see streaks of heads and streaks of tails. This applies to good luck and bad luck. How often have we heard the phrase “When it rains, it pours”?

Keep in mind that if you are on a losing streak, this doesn’t necessarily mean you are due for a win.

Many players chase their losses and keep playing, thinking they are due for a win, yet they keep losing. By doing this, you could easily lose your life savings.

Stay sane, bet responsibly, and manage your bankroll well.

If you are on a losing streak, it is a good idea to walk away from the casino for a day or so and then try again. 

#5: Dealers Cheat to Favor the House

The idea that the dealer can influence the game’s outcome to favor the house is a myth.

They have no control over the game or its outcomes. It is more beneficial for the casino to run a clean game than to have their people cheat.

The honesty and integrity of the game are of the utmost importance.

If the casino is found to be cheating, it will ruin its reputation and could lose its gaming license. Dealers are under strict rules to play fair and ensure there is absolutely no cheating.

Contrary to popular belief, dealers do not want their players to lose. If the players lose, they cannot tip, but if they are winning, they will tip.

More money for the players means more money for them. Plus, they are only paid minimum wage, which in Las Vegas is $10.25 per hour.

Dealers have no reason to steal from players and give that money to the casinos.

They live off their tips, and they want their players to win. It is actually more beneficial for them if the player wins than if they lose.

The same is true for poker. The idea that poker croupiers can cheat to favor certain players is largely a myth. Casinos do everything they can to ensure fair play.

Mind you, some do cheat; however, they usually do so in favor of the player. Teams of cheaters will recruit them to help them cheat, and casinos are always looking for these suspicious workers.

If a dealer is caught cheating, they will get fired and 86 them from the industry. 

#6: Games Are Rigged

The belief that all casino games are rigged to ensure the house always wins is a myth.

Casinos don’t need to rig the games when they have a built-in “House Edge.” Even though they have a built-in advantage, games are highly regulated to ensure fairness.

You cannot blame your losses on a casino game. The state’s Gaming Control Board regulates every licensed casino in America.

To be approved, the casino’s games and slot machines must be checked and tested by third parties, verifying that there are no faked games.

If the casino has a rigged game, this will damage its reputation and cause it to lose its gaming license. It is just not worth it for the casino.

Keep in mind that casinos are businesses, and the main goal of a business is to make a profit. The house edge is how casinos make money.

For example, the house edge on double zero roulette is 5.26%. This means that if a player goes to the roulette table and bets $100 per spin, they are expected to lose $5.26.

If there are 60 spins in one hour, the total amount the player is expected to lose during that one hour is $315.60. As you can see, this can add up pretty fast.

The casino wants to keep the player on the table for as long as possible. If it has high house edge games, such as 20% to 30%, the player will consistently lose, get upset, and leave.

Instead, they have many blackjack games where the players win every other hand. This will keep them at the table, playing for a longer period of time, which means more money for the casino.

It is also a myth that casinos can change their odds at will. In reality, the edges are verified by regulatory authorities and cannot be changed at will. 

The following is a list of games with their house edge. Remember, you want games as close to zero as possible.

#7: Casinos Pump Oxygen to Keep Players Awake

This myth suggests casinos pump extra oxygen into their buildings to keep players awake and gambling longer.

There’s no evidence to support this. Plus, oxygen fuels flames.

It is absurd to think that they would risk burning to the ground just to keep their players awake, especially when many gamblers smoke while gambling.

That doesn’t mean casinos don’t do other things to encourage their players to stay for a longer period of time, such as changing the décor.

For example, they use comfy chairs at the tables to keep players seated for as long as possible. They also create a brighter atmosphere, which tends to attract more money.

Players will never see a clock or a window in a casino because they don’t want their players to know how much time has passed.

These strategies are also known as “Classic Design”.

Another example is when the player is going to the bathroom or trying to find an exit, they have to walk through a labyrinth of slot machines first.

Casinos also feature high ceilings and beautiful décor that make players feel more comfortable in that space, encouraging them to stay longer and return often.