Gambling becomes a problem when you have trouble stopping.
“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.
“Almost” winning in no way means that a real win is just around the corner. Future gambling outcomes are in no way influenced by previous outcomes.
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.
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.
Hoping, wishing or even needing to win money has absolutely no influence on the outcome of a game of chance.
Gambling becomes a problem when you have trouble stopping.
There’s a treatment centre ready, willing and able to help you.
The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting safer gambling by influencing positive change and advancing responsible gambling standards in Canada and around the world.