4.2 Gambler’s fallacy

‘Later events may be affected by or compensate for earlier ones.’

Many people hold the incorrect belief that dice or coins have memory. When playing games or placing bets, people often believe that their luck is about to change because ‘a 6 is due’ or ‘my numbers must come up as they haven’t come up yet’.

In fact, when using a dice, coin, lottery machine, etc., the probability of an event occurring is irrelevant of the previous results. For example, Chloe says:

‘I have thrown a dice 12 times and not yet got a 6. The probability of getting a six on my next throw must be more than .’