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Distorted beliefs about luck, skills and gaming knowledge, and their impact on gambling behavior

Published

3 years ago

8 minute read

Recreational and problem gamblers alike hold some irrational beliefs about gambling. Erroneous gambling related beliefs (EGRBs) imply beliefs in luck and skills, and illusion of control as players develop various winning strategies based on broader beliefs about the nature of randomness. Gamblers’ distorted beliefs of luck and skills result in problem gambling. People think that luck will change, and they will win their lost money back. However, each gambling event is independent of the previous one, like each toss of the coin is completely independent of the previous tosses. So, the odds in your 8 th bet will no more be in your favour simply because you lose the earlier seven bets. Over time, the more you risk, the more you lose.

In the context of online gambling, best online casinos Canada offers a variety of games to gamblers that can be accessed from anywhere. These include video slots, jackpots, table and card games, and sportsbooks. There are noticeably more online games than land-based games. No restrictions on bet admission lead to bigger jackpots for all players.

Video slots

Video slots like Gonzo’s Quest, Starburst, and Thunderstruck are among the most popular ones. Low volatility video games award small but frequent wins, while high volatility video games give a single, chunky win.

Jackpots

Jackpots like Powerball, Buffalo and Bonanza can be progressive, pooled, fixed or local, and have the highest reward that a video slot can pay.

Table and card games

Table and card games like blackjack, roulette and baccarat are skill-based games, and are found in different variants including Pai Gow and Red Dog.

Live games

Live games like poker, blackjack and baccarat are streamed and played live in full HD.

Sportsbook betting

Sportsbook betting, like soccer, baseball and basketball offers a live betting feature, so players can make wagers as the game unfolds.

Specialty titles

Specialty titles like Bingo, Keno and Wheel of Fortune are distinct and general.

Other beliefs and myths about gambling

Gambling will eventually pay off

Gamblers have a persistent belief that the next bet will pay, despite repeatedly losing the next bet. There is a delusional belief in the gambler that a stroke of luck is only a wager away, that results in gambling addiction. The belief that gambling will eventually pay despite losing a considerable about of money reinforces belief in gambling, and is the driving factor behind compulsive gambling.

Irrational belief in a big win

Those who are not addicted to gambling, they are clear when enough is enough. They walk away from their losses and get on with life. However, this does not happen with a compulsive gambler. They keep coming back with the irrational belief of an eventual big win.

I’m lucky, I almost won, and will make it this time

If you almost won, that doesn’t mean you are due for a real win. Future gambling outcomes are in no way influenced by the previous ones.

Playing multiple games increases the chances of winning

You may win more often by playing two slot machines or poker games at once, but you will have to spend more also. And remember, the more you play, the more are your chances of losing.

Betting on the same number will increase my odds

The outcomes of most games of chances, particularly lotteries and slot machines, are completely random, and cannot be altered, no matter what you do. Betting the same number each time won’t help you more than betting different numbers. No matter how many times you have betted for the number or how many people have betted on a particular number, the odds remain the same each time.

Loss Disguised as a Win (LDW)

Slot machines are programmed to promote problematic play, and win for the house. They operate on a principle called Loss Disguised as a Win (LDW) wherein the player is given a win of credits with a spin, which is fewer than the original wager. These frequent wins keep the player engaged, despite a net loss.

Gambler’s Fallacy or “Monte Carlo Fallacy”

Many people suffer from the “Gambler’s Fallacy” or “Monte Carlo Fallacy”, which is an erroneous belief that if something has happened a lot of times in the past, it will happen less in the future, and vice-versa. The fact is that each event is independent of the earlier outcomes. The odds of a head after 10 successive head tosses on the 11th toss remain 50:50, it is not affected anyway by earlier 10 consecutive head tosses. The same goes with gambling. Odds and chances are mathematical probabilities, and are not controlled in any way by metaphysical powers or luck.

It’s my lucky day

Simply because you feel that it’s your lucky day, it’s not that you are going to win. Needing money, or hoping to win, has absolutely no influence on the outcome of a game of chance.

Signs of problem gambling

Gambling becomes a problem when you have trouble stopping. Warning signs of problem gambling are:

 Feeling guilty or worried about gambling
 Gambling to win back lost money
 Borrowing money, selling things, and committing criminal acts to obtain money for gambling
 Experiencing extreme highs from wins, and extreme lows from losses

Financial implications of problem gambling

Financial troubles associated with problem gambling include reduced disposable income, financial insecurity, job loss, and increased debt.

Signs of financial problems include:

 Overdue and unpaid bills
Increased spending on credit cards
 Repeatedly borrowing money from friends and family
 Secretive about money problems
 Receiving calls from collection agencies

Gambling is not for making money, seek help if required

Gambling addiction results in problems that extend well beyond financial losses, such as relationship issues, career-related consequences, and social isolation. If you can afford it and play only for recreational purposes, not for making money, gambling isn’t really a problem. Remember that gambling is not a way to make money. If you have become addicted to gambling, seek the help of professionals with recovery, simply don’t rely on your will power. Because if you could do it with will power, you would have stopped it on your own before your life was devastated.

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The bizarre story of Taro Tsujimoto

Published on March 28, 2025

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The National Hockey League (NHL) has seen its fair share of strange moments, but few compare to the bizarre and hilarious tale of Taro Tsujimoto, a player who never existed. His “selection” in the 1974 NHL Draft remains one of the most legendary pranks in hockey history. If you want to wager on actual players, making the 1xBet app download is definitely a great idea.

In the 1970s, the NHL Draft was a much less glamorous event than today. It was a tedious process conducted over the phone, with teams calling in their picks. The 3 biggest highlights of what happened during that year’s draft were:

  • the draft dragged on for hours;
  • there were multiple rounds and teams selecting unknown prospects from obscure leagues;
  • frustrated with the monotony, Buffalo Sabres general manager Punch Imlach decided to have a little fun.

As the 11th round approached, Imlach instructed his team’s representative to draft Taro Tsujimoto, a supposed forward from the Tokyo Katanas of the Japan Ice Hockey League. The name sounded authentic enough. The league officials, unfamiliar with Japanese hockey, accepted the pick without question. By downloading the 1xBet app you will also be able to wager on great NHL teams too.

A small problem

There was a small problem with all of this, as 2 things didn’t exist: Tsujimoto and the Tokyo Katanas. Imlach had completely fabricated the player as a joke, taking advantage of the NHL’s lack of verification. When it comes to NHL wagers, there is no better platform than the 1xBet Canada site.

For weeks, the league listed Tsujimoto as an official draft pick, and even some newspapers reported on Buffalo’s mysterious new Japanese prospect. Eventually, the Sabres admitted the hoax, and the NHL was forced to retroactively erase the selection from its records.

Despite being a fictional player, Taro Tsujimoto took on a life of his own. Buffalo Sabres fans embraced the prank, and over the years, his name has become a cult legend in hockey culture. Some fans even wore jerseys with “Tsujimoto” on the back. The joke persisted so much that when EA Sports released NHL video games, players could occasionally find Tsujimoto in the game’s draft pool as a hidden Easter egg.

More than just a prank, the story of Taro Tsujimoto highlights 2 things: the quirks of old-school sports management and the creativity of one of hockey’s most colorful executives. Today, with the draft process being highly scrutinized and broadcast live, such a prank would be impossible. But Tsujimoto’s legacy lives on as one of hockey’s greatest inside jokes. What is not a joke are the great rewards that a platform like the Canadian 1xBet site can give you.

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60% of Canadians gamble each month – why the industry is going from strength to strength

Published on March 26, 2025

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When it comes to regulating gambling, Canada has a somewhat relaxed approach. The Canadian Gaming Association oversees the industry, but it’s up to individual provinces to enact and enforce any laws relating to online casino gaming, sports betting, traditional casino gaming, and other forms of gambling.

Canada’s online casino gaming laws are not totally clear, but individual provinces are starting to put this right. Ontario was the first and did so when it launched its own regulated igaming market in April 2022. Now some other provinces have followed suit, creating a safer igaming environment for players in those provinces. Below is a look at gambling in Canada compared to other parts of the world, at gaming laws in Alberta compared to other provinces, and at the future of the Canadian, US, and UK gambling industries.

Canada: a forever love of gambling

Gambling in some form or other has always been popular in Canada. Way back in the 1990s, research found six in ten Canadians (60%) gambled every month. Additionally, four in ten (43%) spent between 1 and 20 Canadian dollars on gambling. Fast forward to today and the Canadian gambling market is worth 14.2 billion US dollars as of January 2024, according to data on the website of consumer and market data company Statista.

It seems Canada enjoys wagering just as much as two other countries that love a gamble: the US and the UK. Data on the Statista website shows that 49% of US adults took part in gambling activities in 2023. Fifty-six percent said their attitude towards gambling had relaxed, compared to the 50% of 2019.

The UK returned similar stats for the same year. Forty-eight percent of adults reported engaging in gambling activity. Online casinos generated the most gross gambling yield in 2023, but it was the nation’s National Lottery that people played the most.

 

Alberta: following Ontario’s lead

The regulatory developments in Ontario have triggered movement in Alberta. In May 2024, Bill 16, the Red Tape Reduction Amendment Act, made it through the process and later received Royal Assent to become law. The act removes the monopoly of gaming by a single government entity and will allow private operators, licensed by Alberta’s provincial regulator, to provide online gaming services in Alberta, meaning players will have a choice of more than one Alberta online casino to play at.

The regulation transforms Alberta into one of the more liberal provinces when it comes to online gambling, others being Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia.

Several provinces, such as Novia Scotia and Northwest Territories, have no provincially regulated online gaming sites. Some also restrict betting on horse racing and/or other types of sports betting, obliging citizens to use international betting sites for freedom from caps and betting on as many events as they wish.

What lies ahead for the Canadian, US, and UK gambling industries?

Canada’s appetite for gambling is clear, and the industry’s online sector is beginning to thrive. Ontario has enjoyed vast success by creating its own regulated market, one which, in just its first year, saw Canadians place billions in wagers and the industry itself generate more than a billion in total gaming revenue.

Canada can expect to see other provinces follow Ontario’s lead and allow private operators to provide services in the province under license. The purpose of the regulation is player protection. Any province that develops a regulated market will focus on this, so there will also be regulations around the advertising of gambling services.

The US

Gambling online is the future for the US, too, although states are slow to legalize it. As of September 2024, 38 states had legalized sports betting, following the US Supreme Court’s ruling that states could regulate sports gambling directly.

Despite allowing sports betting, some states only permit in-person betting, and only a few states allow online casino gaming. Operators believe online casino gaming is the future of gambling.

The UK

In the UK, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) will get bigger and bigger. Companies have realized AI can enhance players’ experience and are embracing it more and more. For instance, sports betting websites can use it to crunch data and provide iGamers with stats and other data to make better betting decisions. They’re also understanding they can use AI to prioritize content players are likely to be interested in and to personalize their offerings and services to players’ preferences.

Canada enjoys gambling as much as America and the UK. Although laws around igaming are more of a grey area in Canada, some provinces are clearing the issue up by creating regulated markets and experiencing great success. As time goes by, more are sure to follow.

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