Distinguishing between gambling fact and fantasy can prevent you from losing more than you bargained.

People often hold false beliefs or myths about gambling. Whether it’s believing in lucky numbers or rituals, or that they can somehow influence the outcome of a game, that type of thinking can lead to problems.

Here are some common myths and the truths behind them.

“If I keep gambling, my luck will change and I’ll win back the money I’ve lost.”

Each time you place a bet, the outcome is completely independent of the previous one. That means that the odds are no more in your favour on the tenth bet than they were on the first bet. Over time, the more you risk, the more you lose.

“If I play more than one slot machine or more than one poker game at a time, I’ll increase my chances of winning.”

You may win more often by playing two slot machines or poker games at once, but you’ll also spend, and ultimately lose, more. Remember, over time, the more you gamble, the more you lose.

“I have a special strategy that helps me win. I pick certain numbers for the lottery and press the stop button on a slot machine at exactly the right time.”

The outcome of most games of chance, particularly lotteries and slot machines, is completely random. You cannot influence it, no matter what you do. For lotteries, that means that betting the same numbers each week won’t help you win any more than betting different numbers. The odds of winning LOTTO 6/49, for example, are 1 in 14 million each time you play: It doesn’t matter how many people have purchased tickets or what numbers you play – the odds remain the same.

Whether you win playing slot machines is based solely on the randomly drawn numbers generated by the machine’s computer. Those numbers determine the game’s outcome before the reels stop. Pressing the stop button may help you learn the outcome of the game faster, but it won’t influence the outcome in any way.

“I have a feeling today is my lucky day. I just know I’m going to win.”

Hoping, wishing or even needing to win money has absolutely no influence on the outcome of a game of chance.

“Online betting apps and sports betting sites are all the same.”

Some gambling sites and apps are licensed, and some aren’t. If you live in Ontario, make sure you play on a licensed iGaming Ontario (iGO) site or app as they have responsible gambling features built in to keep your play safer. Visit the Ke-Bet.com for a complete list of licensed sites and apps in Ontario.

“The way to make money on the big game is to bet on every outcome.”

All bets involve some risk, so there’s no such thing as a sure bet. Gambling shouldn’t be used as a way to make money, but as a way to have fun.

“As long as I play within a budget, I’m gambling safely.”

Playing with a set budget is a great way to stay away from financial harms. But if your gambling impacts other important areas of your life like time spent with loved ones, it may be a sign you need help.

The house always wins in the long run

You may have heard that expression, but do you know why the house always wins? The expression comes from a term known as the house edge. House edge is an expected percentage return to the casino on every bet. In simple terms, house edge is the difference between “true odds” and “payout odds”.

True odds are defined as the likelihood of an event occurring. An example of true odds in roulette is 38-1.

Payout odds are the rate a casino will pay out if an event happens, like a win. An example of payout odds for roulette might be 35-1.

The difference between true odds and payout odds are how the casino makes it money. So even when players hit a jackpot, over the long run, the casino comes out on top.