iGaming Glossary / Hot and Cold
What is Hot and Cold?
The false belief that a game is due to pay or has gone cold. Each spin is independent, so this is a myth.
Hot and cold is the idea that a slot or table game runs in streaks: it is hot when it has been paying and cold when it has not, and a cold game is somehow due for a win. Many players track recent results hoping to spot the pattern.
The trouble is that fair games use a random number generator, and every spin or hand is independent of the last. The game has no memory, so a long dry run does not make the next result any more likely to pay.
Chasing a cold machine in the belief it owes you is a quick way to bet more than you planned. Treat each round as a fresh, random event. If you find yourself chasing losses, see our responsible gambling page.
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