For as long as humans have lived on earth, they have gambled.  From betting on thrown stones, sticks and animal bones in the pre-historic era to pigeon-lotteries of China and sophisticated board games in ancient Egypt, Persia and Greece, gambling has always intrigued the human race. Some betting games involved elements of skill while others were purely luck-based. Regardless, the participants would convince themselves that "this time" it was their turn to win.

The belief that there's a pattern to wins – even when rational thought shows clearly that there isn't – is part of man's biological make-up. Yet, for online casino players, it's possible to become a more intelligent gambler by understanding how video gaming machines actually work and the role that the Random Number Generator software plays in determining wins. Find out more about  what is RNG in online casinos and use that knowledge to become a more successful player here at SlotoCash.

Biology Meets Casino Gambling

Gamers often convince themselves that they are "due" for a win and they may make unwise betting decisions based on that myth. Casinos do their best to encourage gamers to keep playing but the idea that winning or losing in a game of chance can be influenced by the number of rounds already played or the level of bets made is part of our biological framework that causes our brains to function as a pattern-recognition machine.

The belief that we can influence random events has become known as the "Gambler's Fallacy" – mainly because the phenomena is most prevalent in the world of gambling.  Gambler's fallacy refers to the mistaken belief that if a random event has occurred in a different rate than normal, it will be "due" to happen either more or less frequently in the future (depending on how it played out in the past). In actuality, for independent events (like a roulette spin or a coin flip), the past has no effect on future odds.

Our brain, however, gives us a different message. It finds it hard to recognize the pure, independent mathematics of random events. There's an evolutionary pattern-seeking instinct that has ensured human survival over thousands of years. On the most basic level, if a rustle in the bushes was usually followed by the appearance of a predator, our ancestors' brains wired that sequence together – and that's what told them to run from a rustle and kept them alive.

Because of this, we instinctively don't like randomness. When we see a sequence of events—like four black outcomes in a row on a roulette wheel — our brains try to impose a narrative on it restore balance to nature. So we're likely to predict that the next wheel spin will result in a red outcome.

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Gambler's Fallacy and the RNG

Our brains are essentially highly advanced pattern-recognition machines, but that biological programming can misfire when it encounters the pure, independent mathematics of modern random number generators.

The Random Number Generator powers all video gaming machines at today's regulated online casinos. The RNG operates by creating an endless, unpredictable sequence of outcomes based on a complex mathematical algorithm.

Thousands of new sequences are created every second so every time you hit "spin" the game software will capture a split-second snapshot of whichever random number is being generated at that millisecond.

The result is immediately mapped onto the game's payout grid. What you see, on your gaming screen, is the visual result. Since the RNG is constantly running and resetting, every single event is an isolated, distinct outcome. It has no memory of past wins or losses.

Gaming Strategies

RNG or no RNG, some casino players like to use a gaming "strategy" which, they believe, will alter the built-in house edge of a game of change. The strategies aren't meant to change your mathematical odds of winning a round but rather to guide you on how to bet based on whether you won or lost the previous round. Understanding how these strategies operate can help you avoid dangerous betting traps and help you manage your bankroll.

The most popular of these systems include:

Martingale System (Negative Progression)

Directs you to double your bet after a loss so, when you finally win, you'll recover all past losses and make a profit.

Fibonacci System (Cumulative Progression)

Tells you to move one step right in the sequence to determine your next bet after a loss (based on a sequence of numbers). After a win you move two steps to the left and back.

The Paroli System (Positive Progression)

You double your bet after every win and if you lose, you return to the base bet. This system attempts to capitalize on winning streaks rather than chasing losses.

Expert Tip

When you gamble, you probably are simply looking for some fun-filled entertainment with the possibility of enjoying some real money winnings. But in actuality, you are fighting a biological urge that may not line up with your best financial interests.

According to neurobiological studies, when a casino gamer experiences a "near-miss," it will trigger a dopamine release that sends a signal that urges the player that he is "due."

Our brains are hardwired for a world of cause and effect: if I light a match, I get fire; if I wear my boots, my feet won't get wet. But when you're playing casino games, it's important to keep in mind that digital betting games are different - they games operate in a cold, mathematical universe where the future is never based on the past. Casino gaming is entertainment, but should never rely on patterns when you're deciding when and where to place your money.

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