Video Lottery Terminals
Video lottery terminals are a form of entertainment for many people. But playing wisely means knowing the risks involved, understanding what chance really entails when it comes to these games, and knowing how to overcome the beliefs that could cloud your judgment.
The risks
Games are fast
Game time is short, and, sometimes, wins are a blast! But amid the excitement and adrenaline rush, it’s easy to place a couple of quick bets and hit the limit of your gambling budget. So time isn’t the only limit that needs to be respected. On top of keeping an eye on your watch, it’s best to keep an eye on your wallet, too.
Tips and Tricks
Setting a time limit
Making a habit of checking the time often
“Almost” winning happens a lot.
Video lottery terminals often display a series of symbols that’s only one symbol away from a winning play. It makes you feel that you “almost won” and could entice you to try your luck again. In reality, however, you’re never “close” to winning. The odds of winning or losing will be exactly the same for the next play. A word of advice: when you reach your time or gambling budget, it’s best to stop playing.
Tips and Tricks
Sticking to your gambling budget
Why not gamble with a friend?
It can feel like you can control the game
The fact that you can choose the game or the wager can create the illusion of control. But in reality, it’s impossible to predict or influence the outcome. The amount of time and money you spend playing are the only factors you control.
Tips and tricks
Setting your wager amounts based on your budget
Playing to have fun, not to make money
Determining what you can afford to lose
Determining what you can afford to lose
The size and frequency of payouts are determined by a game’s volatility. Some games have small, frequent payouts while others pay out big wins at much less regular intervals. It’s up to you to decide which you prefer: A better chance to win small amounts more often, or a better chance to win larger amounts less often.
It’s risky to think you’ll win if you just keep playing
The results of previous games have no influence on upcoming games. Here’s how it works: Every possible outcome is recorded in a computer program that’s been certified by an independent laboratory. When you press “Play,” a random number generator produces a combination from thousands of possible combinations. In short: Every new game is a reset. This is what we call the independence of events.
Remember: The more you play, the more you risk losing
The result of each new game is independent of those of previous games. And with each new spin, the odds of losing are always higher than those of winning. Generally speaking, the more you bet, the more you lose.
Additionally, games provide the house—i.e., Loto‑Québec— an advantage. For example, the return-to-player rate for video lottery terminals is 92%, which means that about 8% of the total money wagered goes to the house. This rate is calculated from thousands of games. At the end of the day, you should play because it’s fun, not to win.
Beliefs
See what’s true or false
When I see the same combination of symbols several times, it means the terminal is about to pay out.
False.
This is what we call the “gambler’s fallacy.” In reality, results are never pre-determined. Every machine is equipped with a random number generator, an electronic chip that produces thousands of combinations per second, whether or not you’re actually playing.
The same terminal can pay out several times in a row to the same player or different players.
True!
It’s rare, but it does happen. And the reason is simple—it all comes down to chance. You could win on back-to-back games or you could go a long time between payouts. Just keep in mind that the losses will outnumber the wins.
If I play more than one terminal at a time, I’ll increase my odds of winning.
True!
But you’ll also increase your odds of losing because the probabilities don’t change, and in general, you’ll lose more than you win. That’s why you’re not allowed to play more than one terminal at a time—it prevents you from losing too much, too quickly.
At some point, the machine will pay out.
False.
The odds of winning—also known as the probability of winning—are the same for every game. Video lottery terminals are equipped with a random number generator that produces a combination from every possible combination the moment you press “Play.” So a terminal could go a long time without a payout!
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