Gambling Myths: Sorting Out Fact and Fiction

A player who has figured out how the game works can predict the outcome.

It is impossible for anyone to predict the outcome of a game of chance, regardless of the game. The law of odds applies to all games of chance and gambling. This means that each draw and each throw of a pair of dice, for example, is independent of the previous and subsequent ones. Since the outcome is determined by chance, strategies of any kind are futile.

A video lottery terminal (VLT) or a casino slot machine that hasn’t paid out for a while is "due" to pay soon.

VLTs and slot machines are designed to pay out randomly. It is thus impossible to determine, control or predict the moment at which a prize will be paid out.

Furthermore, the payoff rate and the collection rate are two distinct concepts. It’s important not to get them confused. Find out more >>>

By dint of playing, every player will end up winning.

Betting on a game of chance means essentially or otherwise knowing you’re going to lose. The more you play, the more you increase your odds of losing the money bet on each game. Of course, some people occasionally do win more than the amount they bet. A monetary loss, however, is inevitable for those who play on a regular basis.

Winning a substantial amount of money in any game is a question of luck and the odds of losing are always greater than the odds of winning. For instance, the odds of winning the Super 7 grand prize with one ticket are 1 in 20,963,833.

Some numbers are drawn more often than others in lottery draws.

Statistically, one number is just as likely to be drawn as any other. As an example, when a person throws a die, the odds are one in six that she’ll get a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. Throwing the die a second time will result in the same odds.

Quebecers spend more on video lottery terminals than on any other forms of gambling.

According to a study conducted in Québec in 2002* [PDF format, in French only, 606 KB - Help], the three most popular gaming activities are:

• buying lottery tickets (68%)
• entering draws and participating in fundraisers (40%)
• playing in casinos (18%)

Among the other more popular games of chance and gambling, we find: betting on card games among friends and family (10%), bingo (9%) and video lottery terminals (8%).

*Source: Ladouceur, R., Jacques, C., Chevalier, S, Sévigny, S., Hamel, D., and Allard, D. (2004). Prévalence des habitudes de jeu et jeu pathologique au Québec en 2002 (in French only). Québec and Montréal, Université Laval and Institut national de santé publique du Québec.

The percentage of compulsive gamblers in Québec increases yearly.

According to a study conducted in 2002* [PDF format, in French only, 606 KB - Help], pathological gambling is not on the rise in Québec. In fact, the number of potential compulsive gamblers among Québec’s adult population dropped to 0.8% in 2002 from 1% in 1996.

*Source: Ladouceur, R., Jacques, C., Chevalier, S, Sévigny, S., Hamel, D., & Allard, D. (2004). Prévalence des habitudes de jeu et jeu pathologique au Québec en 2002 (in French only). Québec and Montréal, Université Laval and Institut national de santé publique du Québec.