As human beings, we’re programmed to see patterns in everything. It’s a survival mechanism, dating back to the ancient days of hunting and gathering in the wild.

It’s stuck around with us ever since, popping up all throughout our daily lives. One place where it likes to pop up is during games of chance. Slot machines, for example.

Slot machines are designed to be the purest game of chance there is. A game of complete randomness. And yet, ask any regular slots player, and they’ll swear up and down that there’s a knack to it. They’ll swear different machines have different tells, and that if you can spot them, you’ll be able to win big.

So, how do you know when a slot machine will hit? Is it even possible to tell? Let’s take a look.

How Do You Know When a Slot Machine Will Hit?

The short answer? You can’t.

I’m sorry, I know that’s not what people want to hear. But the fact of the matter is, slot machines are pure games of chance, and any claims otherwise are just superstition, the same as any other.

Now, that’s not to say that there’s no way to maximize your payout, or your enjoyment, from a slot machine. There are a few things you can do to try and increase your odds of walking away with something.

As with all gambling games, never go into something that doesn’t fit your pocket. Have some money, be willing to lose it if you have to, and don’t go beyond that. Any successful gambler will tell you that knowing when to quit is one of the most important skills they have.

The closest thing to an actual slot machine tell is the difference between video slots and three-reel slots. There actually is a difference in the odds between the two. Namely, three-reel slots have a higher chance at a big payout, but a lower chance of a win overall. Video slots tend to have a higher win chance, but lower odds of a big win.

Going into it knowing that can help you decide what game you’re going to play, based on your wants and what you can afford that night. But that’s as close as we’re ever going to get to an actual tell, and beyond that both games are still completely random.

Don’t believe me? Test out your luck on one of my favorite online games, Rick and Morty Megaways. 

Have Fun With Games Of Chance

How do you know when a slot machine will hit? Unfortunately, the answer is that you can’t tell. Slot machines have been engineered down to the smallest detail to make them as random as possible, so that people can’t game them at the casinos.

Any tells that may have existed and that you may have heard of have surely been removed. Any games you find in the casinos, or online, are pure chance.

That’s not to say that you shouldn’t go and play. Just because they’re random doesn’t mean they can’t be a great time. And now that you know better how they work, it’s easier to know what you’re getting into. So go out, find a game, and have a great time.

Improv is the style of theatre that is completely unplanned, instead being created spontaneously by the actors as they respond to each other. It’s commonly used in comedy—just think of the TV show Who’s Line is it Anyway—as the comedian has to tailor their set depending on the audience’s reaction, as well as dealing with any hecklers. Improv is one of the core techniques of acting, stretching the imagination and sparking creativity in a performance, but did you know that you can also bring improv techniques into your day to day life to enhance your social skills and strengthen your connection with people? Here are four situations in which improv can be used to benefit your everyday life:

1. Improve your social skills

Improv is not just for actors and comedians. Whilst you might not think of yourself as a natural performer, acting does make up a large part of your everyday interactions with people, especially in social situations. You might be mingling with new people at a party, telling a funny story at a bar with friends, or out on a first date in which you really want to make an impression. Regardless of the situation, every social interaction that takes place is based on your spontaneous response to the other person’s reaction to you. The core of improv is being fully present, thinking on your feet, and connecting with people—all essential skills for successful social interaction. There are places for you to learn improv skills for use in your everyday life; Vegas Improv Power, for instance, offers classes in Functional Improv both online and at their Las Vegas workshop. By learning improv, you will learn the skills needed to confidently respond to social cues, helping to reduce social anxiety and allowing you to look forward to, rather than fear, parties and meeting new people.

2. Public speaking and presentations

Most people will face the challenge of public speaking on at least one occasion in their life. You might be asked to speak at a wedding—or a funeral. Or you might have to give a presentation at work. Either way, it’s probably a situation in which you’re worried about making the right impression on the audience: being funny but not inappropriate to appeal to the variety of generations at a wedding; providing a fitting tribute to the deceased when you might be finding it hard to control your emotions; disseminating information in an engaging way and responding to any questions or queries from your colleagues. Learning improv will give you the skills to seamlessly adjust your presentation to your audience’s response, whether that is a speech appropriate to the situation and audience, or a work presentation tailored exactly to your colleagues’ needs and current knowledge. You will go into public speaking with the confidence that you can deliver an impactful presentation, perhaps with a little bit of humor.

3. Team building

An improv session is a great team building event for your workplace. You might have recently restructured and taken on new members, or your team might be spread across the country in different cities or even states, not meeting regularly in person. Either way, learning improv is a great way to build connections between colleagues and strengthen your team as a whole, all in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Your team will probably consist of several different personality types who all contribute something important to the team—for instance, a loud extrovert who can talk to clients and bring the sales in; or someone who is more reserved who does the detail work. Improv is a great way of bringing different people together who wouldn’t normally work together, teaching them to respond to their colleague’s social cues and improving group harmony and understanding, and therefore boosting the productivity of your team. As well as being a bonding exercise, your team can learn skills that are transferable to the workplace, such as active listening and adapting to change.

4. Management training

Improv can benefit managers as well as their team. As the team leader, you will probably be expected to give presentations to a variety of audiences, from leading weekly catch up meetings with the rest of your team, to presenting sales presentations and progress reports to clients. You will also have to pick up on different social cues presented by your team and respond to them to ensure the group harmony and efficient running of your team. Improv will provide you with the adaptability and people reading skills necessary to boost your managerial skill set.