So you think you know
some tricks
to influence luck?
Discover what goes on inside slot machines and other gambling games, and you will understand why it is impossible to predict the results of these games, no matter how many tricks you have up your sleeve.
8 true or false
statements on video lottery terminals
Video lottery terminals (VLTs) must be considered for what they are: a simple game.
However, we must not forget that this entertainment is based on chance. In the long term, all players inevitably lose money. To reduce risks of dependency, it is recommended to set limits and to respect them.
Learn more about VLTs by answering these 8 true or false statements. You will be better informed and able to keep a cool head.
Q1
True
or
false
Good VLT players are attentive and very observant. They can easily tell when they are about to win.
True or
False ?
Q2
True
or
false
With a video lottery terminal, the payback percentage is about 92%. In other words, gamblers will lose an average of 8% of what they bet over the long term.
True or
False ?
Q3
True
or
false
When a VLT has not paid out a jackpot for awhile, the machine is full and therefore on the verge of paying out.
True or
False ?
Q4
True
or
false
Every VLT has an electronic chip that generates random results. Nobody can predict what the next result will be.
True or
False ?
Q5
True
or
false
A good player can develop skills with games of chance like VLTs.
True or
False ?
Q6
True
or
false
Someone with a lot of money can play longer and more often than someone who has less. But that person is no more likely than anyone else to make money at VLTs.
True or
False ?
Q7
True
or
false
By definition, chance is unpredictable and uncontrollable. However, you can beat the odds at VLTs by playing longer or more frequently.
True or
False ?
Q8
True
or
false
Certain symbols that come up regularly (like the orange, the bell or the cherry, for example) can sometimes indicate that a jackpot is coming soon.
True or
False ?
Q1 ANSWER
FALSE. VLTs are games of chance. That means they are unpredictable and uncontrollable. It doesn't matter whether you pay attention or not. There is no skill involved and no such thing as an "expert" VLT player.
See the
question
Q2 ANSWER
TRUE. For every $100 you bet on a VLT, you will get back only about $92 over the long term. If you turn around and bet that $92, you will lose about 8% again, and so on. The more you bet, the more money you will lose over time.
See the
question
Q3 ANSWER
FALSE. There is no connection between the machine's money box and the electronic chip that manages the winning or losing combinations. Chance is the only factor that determines when a jackpot pays out. A machine is never "due" to pay out.
See the
question
Q4 ANSWER
TRUE. Every time you hit "play", one combination is selected from among the thousands produced by the VLT's electronic chip at that particular moment. This number determines whether you win or lose. There is no way to predict the outcome of a VLT game.
See the
question
Q5 ANSWER
FALSE. Chance makes everything unpredictable and uncontrollable. Nobody can "improve" or be "skilled" at VLTs.
See the
question
Q6 ANSWER
TRUE. Rich people truly have no advantage when it comes to VLTs. Playing longer or more frequently just means losing more money in the long run.
See the
question
Q7 ANSWER
FALSE. Nobody can "beat the odds" at VLTs. It's impossible because they are games of chance!
See the
question
Q8 ANSWER
FALSE. Every play is independent and has nothing to do with the plays before or after. There is absolutely no way to know when a jackpot is coming.
See the
question
To reduce the risks of dependency, it is advised to set limits and respect them.
- Set a spending limit according to your financial means
- Set a limit on the playing time for each session
- Set a limit to the frequency with which you play
The informed video lottery player:
- Accepts that they will lose the money they gamble
- Refuses to let themselves be controlled by dreams or illusions
- Never tries to win back their losses because they know that this money is lost forever
Close
Understanding how slot machines work
Our colleagues at the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation have joined efforts to create an informative video. Developed and assessed scientifically, this video presents two scenarios about how slot machines work. One explains how they actually work, while the other illustrates a popular myth. Can you tell myth from reality?
