Can pumping oxygen into a casino make players want to risk more? Is it true that logging out, clearing the cache, and logging back in increases odds in your favor? These and other intriguing theories often crop up between casino players. But are they real or fake? And how do we separate fact from fiction? We’re here to find out.

Unraveling the Myths: Online and Land-Based Casinos

We’ve all heard that one about pumped-up slot machines. Once a player has put in it enough money, a big win will surely hit at any moment. Or perhaps you came across the one which says that you’re more likely to hit a bonus if the online video slot volume is turned up to max. 

The world of casinos, whether online or brick-and-mortar, is full of these myths. And these stories can be equal parts intriguing and intimidating. Some can be quickly debunked. Others might have a grain of truth in them. And a few mysteries remain tantalizingly unresolved...

The WWW world of online casinos is filled with sleek sites optimised for gambling. They are open all hours, which means, they’re fertile soil for myths. Here are the ones most discussed in gambling forums online:

Myth 1: Online Casino And Online Casino Games Are Rigged

It’s the first one that you’ll see pop up in online gambling forums. Players accuse sites of being rigged in a way that ensures that players lose. While it’s true that casinos are designed to make a profit (that’s why the house always has an edge), reputable online casinos are always fair. Licensing authorities and regulatory bodies ensure this fairness in fact. They verify that all the games on the site use Random Number Generators (RNGs) to ensure fair gameplay.

However, this myth does have a kernel of truth when it comes to unlicensed or rogue operators. Always stick to licensed platforms, and you’ll avoid the traps of shady corners of the internet.

Myth 2: You’ll Never Win Big on an Online Slot

Most online casino players win some, lose some, and that’s it. They never score the win of their lifetime. So it’s easy to see why there’s this myth that big payouts are impossible to hit. But if you do a little research, you’ll find some impressive winner stories. A quick search for Mega Moolah winners will return a list of wins with six figures and beyond. Have a look for yourself!

Myth 3: Casino Bonuses Are a Scam

Steep wagering requirements certainly make it seem so. But if you’re aware of the terms of the bonus you’re claiming, you cannot say it’s a scam. Online bonuses are the street cries of an online casino. Sites use them to attract new customers. Whether to claim a bonus or not is entirely up to you. Online casino bonuses come with wagering requirements that must be met before you can withdraw any winnings. So, take my advise, and ALWAYS check the fine print. That way you can avoid nasty surprises.

Myth 4: Casinos Track Your Wins to Make You Lose

OK, this is a classic. I’ve heard players claim that the online casino they were playing at first let them win, then made them lose. According to them, the casino does this by rigging the system so it gets back the money. Of course, this is pure myth created by disgruntled players. While online casinos do track player behavior, they do it for marketing purposes. A licensed casino cannot alter odds.

Myth 5: There’s a Secret System to Beat Online Casinos

There are a lot of fancy names out there. The Fibonacci System. The Labouchere Betting System. The Oscar’s Grind Betting System. The Paroli Betting System … These betting systems stem from a persistent belief among some gamblers that there’s a foolproof system that can guarantee wins. Sadly, no strategy can overcome mathematical probability. While the systems I just mentioned are fun to try, the algorithms and encryption used by legitimate online casinos make it impossible to predict an outcome.

Myth 6: A Slot’s Volume Can Affect The Game

I love this myth. Some online slots players swear that you’re more likely to hit a bonus if your slot machine volume is turned up to max. Ever since I read it on a thread, I’ve been playing my online slots at full volume. Because you know, it never hurts.

Myth 7: Clearing The Cache

A recent myth states that to increase the odds in your favor while playing online, you need to log out after a session, clear your computer's cache, and log back in. Ha!

Land-based casinos have been around for long long years. They’ve been visited by millions of players. And the greater part of those players left the place poorer than when they went in. This fact alone is enough to understand why the bright buzzing luxurious casinos have sparked countless myths. Here are a few:

Myth 1: Casinos Pump Oxygen to Increase Gambling

This made me laugh the first time I read it, years ago. It’s still funny. Casinos are chilly places, but no, there’s no oxygen pumps that release extra oxygen into the air to keep players alert and gambling longer. As a casino myth, it’s gold of course. And as an idea, it would even make sense. But oxygen manipulation would be a logistical and legal nightmare.

On the other hand, some casinos are known to use scents to make their gambling places smell good. It’s about improving the feel of an environment. Does it make you want to gamble more? I don’t know about that.  

Myth 2: Slot Machines Near The Entrance Pay More

Here’s another brick-and-mortar classic. This myth claims suggests that slot machines that are closer to the entrances are better than the ones farther away. The reasoning seems to be that in order to lure players inside, land-based casinos place their best-paying slots closer to the entrance. The thing is, if this was something done in the past, it can’t happen any longer. Modern slot machines use the same software as online slots. The RNG algorithm ensures fair play and a random outcome on each spin, regardless of the slot’s location.

Myth 3: Dealers Can Influence Card Outcomes

We’ve seen this in many movies. A dealer reacts after a look from the casino manager. The skilled dealer somehow manipulates the game by changing the roulette ball, or pressing a hidden button, or changing the deck of cards. And abracadabra, the house wins. It’s all fiction. Dealers are professionals. They wouldn’t risk committing such a crime. A dealer that rigs a game will face severe consequences.

Myth 4: It’s Bad Luck to Leave a Hot Machine

Hot and Cold streaks are another widespread myth. Slot machines that have been played for a long time and have not yet paid out are perceived as being ‘hot’. Hot here means they are expected to pay out any moment. But this is just imagination. Or perhaps, superstition. No matter how much money you’ve fed the slot machine, the outcome cannot be affected. Each spin is independent, and past results have no bearing on future ones.

Myth 5: Card Counting Is Illegal

Card counting is a blackjack strategy used to determine if the player or dealer holds an advantage in the upcoming hand. By tracking the ratio of high to low-value cards dealt, card counters seek to tilt the odds in their favor and minimize the casino's house edge. Some casinos object to the practice, and try to prevent it. However, card counting is not illegal, and will not get you arrested.

Big Brother is everywhere these days. Casinos, both online and land-based, are undoubtedly observing your behavior. Whether it’s to prevent fraud, improve their marketing, or analyze player habits, there’s no denying they’re collecting data. But can they truly use this information to influence your outcomes in a systematic way? Officially, no—but the details of how data is used remain largely shrouded in secrecy.

It’s a myth that straddles the line between paranoia and possibility, and perhaps that’s what keeps it alive. Anyway, I do like a good conspiracy theory every now and then.

Separating Fact from Fiction

Where did all these gambling myths come from? Some are surely outright fabrications. Others I believe stem from misunderstandings. While many can be debunked, a few cannot be completely discarded – and that’s ok, because that little bit of mystery suits the casino experience.