By Brodey Sheppard - November 30, 2016
When you're playing online slots for real cash, of course, you would want to make sure that you are getting your money's worth. When we play online and encounter dry spells, we can't help but think that the game has been rigged. So, does this actually happen in online slots? How can you ensure that you are playing in a fair and secure online casino? Well, we've researched all the qualities that make a game or an operator fair to make sure that you get the most out of your money when you're playing slots online.
Regulated Online Casinos are Guaranteed to be Fair
You might be aiming to win some money; the main goal of the online casinos is to make a profit from customers who love gambling. There are laws and regulations which will help you to know are online casino slots rigged or not. In fact, it will also help you to know are online casinos fair. Gamblers often suspect that are casino games rigged. We are not going to lie – there are casinos with rigged online slot games. These are rogue casinos that aim to scam you out of your money as opposed to providing you with a legitimate online gambling experience. However, there are several ways in which a player is able to sport such casinos.
The sad reality about online slots is the fact that there can be sites and games that are rigged. Like we always say, not all slots sites are made the same. So, when choosing a site to play at, the first thing you have to consider is if the site offers a secure and fair gaming environment. The best way to ensure this is by checking whether a site holds an operating license and if it is registered under a regulatory board. Before these sites acquire their license, they have to go through rigorous testing procedures. Their software and games are tested to be secure and fair. The following are the gaming authorities recognised by the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR):
- Curaçao: Curaçao Gaming Control Board
- Alderney: Alderney Gambling Control Commission
- France: Autorite de Regulation Des Jeux en Ligne (ARJEL)
- Gibraltar: Government of Gibraltar, Gaming Division
- Isle of Man: Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
- Italy: Agenzia Delle Dogane e Dei Monopoli (formerly AAMS)
- Malta: Malta Gaming Authority
- United Kingdom: Gambling Commission
Here at HitYah, we only feature the best online slots that are regulated and licensed. Our team of expert slots analysts go through lengths just to review all the features of an online casino. We make sure that we bring you only the best that the industry has to offer so that you will have a pleasurable and rewarding experience online. One of our highly recommended slots sites is Jester Jackpots. It is regulated and licensed by the Government of Gibraltar and it has impeccable features that you will definitely love. When you create an account with Jester Jackpots, you will enjoy up to £600 worth of bonuses along with 100 free spins! Just deposit at least £20 and you will be able to take advantage of these exciting bonuses. Click the button below to start playing now!
Claim BONUS Now!Traditional Slot Machines Vs. Online Video Slots
Slot machines were initially used in brick-in-mortar casinos as an alternative game for casual players since they did not need much strategy or skill. All they have to do is pull a lever and they can start playing. Traditional slot machines in land-based casinos are composed of an elaborate configuration of levers and gears. There is a metal shaft which works as the central element and support of the reels. The reels move, thanks to the shaft which is connected to a handle mechanism. The reels stop spinning through the braking system. Sensors then communicate the results to the payout system. It is common knowledge that every pull of the handle keeps the reel combinations random and fair.
When video slots were created, they were designed to resemble traditional slots. However, there's a different process working inside these games to make the combinations random. Video slots in brick and mortar casinos use micro-chips that are designed to use software which carry a random number generator (RNG). Whether you're playing in a land-based casino or an online casino, you can rest assured that the RNG will give you a fair chance at landing a winning combination.
Online Slot Machines with Random Number Generators (RNGs)
If you want to know how online slot machines work, you must learn about Random Number Generators (RNGs). Online slot games that have been tested for fairness use an algorithmic computer system also known as RNGs. This system ensures that the player will only encounter a fair outcome when playing online. Moreover, RNGs also ensure that all players have equal chances of winning. Whenever a player clicks the Spin button, the system provides a random set of 'numbers' which are then translated into the results on the screen.
How do RNGs Work?
As soon as you click the Spin button, the RNG starts working, spitting out random numbers. The system takes a starting number – also referred to as the ‘seed number' – and then utilises a complicated algorithmic system to calculate a random number based on it. The new number then becomes the seed number, and the same algorithm churns out a new number. This process repeats over and over and there is no way to predict the number that will come up next. Now, it is important to mention that these numbers can be huge. In the industry, the typical RNGs work with random numbers that have over 200,000 digits! There are countless possible outcomes, making it virtually impossible to predict.
However, this system can be flawed. If a player has knowledge of the seed number, they can beat the system. It is worth noting that these numbers are kept secure by gaming software companies. On the other hand, there is still a possibility for an online casino to use a software to rig the numbers in their favour. That is why it is highly important that you only play on sites that use third party auditing services. As we all know, RNGs of online slots can only be as fair as the business that operates them. Make sure that you look for indications that the site has passed third-party testing and auditing. Check whether the site has an e-Commerce and Online Gaming Registration and Assurance (eCOGRA) seal. This organisation provide independent reviews of online casinos to ensure that players know about their level of reliability and fairness.
eCOGRA offers three types of seals:
- Safe and Fair Seal
- Certified Software Seal
- Affiliate Trust Seal
Aside from the aforementioned seals, eCOGRA also provides three supplementary reports such as the Percentage Payout Report, a Randomness Review delivered by an independent auditor and the Certification of a Live Dealer. If you find an online slots site that has acquired any of the three seals mentioned above, you can rest assured that the operator follows fair gaming standards. Avalon casino catalina island california. Consequently, you will know that they will not, in any way, rig their featured slot machine games.
It's completely natural to be anxious before joining your first online casino. After all, you'll have to make a real-money deposit on an online platform and trust it with your funds. If you are wondering whether online casinos are rigged, we'll provide both a short and a long answer to that question. The short one is — no, they aren't, as long as you stick to licensed and regulated ones.
If that does not convince you, make sure to read this article and find out more about different ways online casinos can be rigged and how to stay away from such platforms.
How Can an Online Casino Be Rigged?
There are many ways to rig an online casino. Simply put, all casino games you play online use sophisticated underlying software. Developers working for reputable online casinos and content providers make sure to write code so that it cannot be tampered with.
All it takes to rig an online casino game is to alter its code so that the game is not fair anymore. Rigged online casinos usually offer games that are identical to the ones in fair and licensed casinos — the only difference is that you don't really have an opportunity to win any money. In other words, you'll pay and not get anything in return.
The probability of winning a prize in a rigged casino is usually much lower due to low RTP percentages.
Lowering the RTP
RTP stands for Return to Player, and it's a figure that shows how much money is returned to players when they make bets. If the RTP is 95%, players should receive $95 for every $100 they invest in online slots. Online casinos and developers will take the remaining $5 as a profit. Naturally, some players will be luckier than others and win bigger prizes, while the less fortunate ones will leave empty-handed.
Nevertheless, the overall distribution of prizes is such that casinos should take only a small portion of invested money while distributing the rest to players.
Rigged casinos often lower the RTP so much that it doesn't pay off to play games. If the RTP is low, the casino will take most of the money you invest and your chances of winning a prize will be extremely low.
How do these casinos set the RTP? The answer is simple — they change the code and do not include the RNG.
RNG Doesn't Work in Rigged Casinos
Every game of chance available in online casinos needs to have a random number generator (RNG). This is a piece of code included in casino games that ensures that they are truly random.
To explain the RNG further, we must first ask you the following question: How does luck work?
Nobody knows. It's a complete mystery to us. The only legitimate answer is to say that luck is a product of the universe being random. Some people are luckier than others when playing casino games. You can look at the outcome of playing games of chance as one way to measure someone's luck.
But how do you know that games are random? The answer is the RNG. Developers made a program that always comes up with entirely random results in games. Therefore, once they set the parameters and insert the RNG in the game, you can rest assured that there are no people on the other side adjusting the outcome — unless you're playing in a rigged casino.
Games in rigged casinos aren't random since they lack one of the essential pieces of software — the random number generator.
How Can I Make Sure That the Casino Is Trustworthy?
One of the safest ways to ensure that a casino is not rigged is to research the web and find additional information about the platform. Many professional reviews will tell you about all the disadvantages and disadvantages related to the platform you want to join.
Alternatively, you can find user opinions about specific sites and gather more info on their trustworthiness. Please note that users sometimes leave negative reviews about casinos and call them rigged simply because they weren't lucky enough. However, if all user reviews agree that a certain casino is rigged, you should definitely think twice before you open an account.
The good thing about the online gambling industry is that rigged platforms have short lifespans. In other words, if someone proves that they are rigged, other players will find that information rather quickly. Such sites are usually then added to blacklists all over the web and players start to avoid them right away. Being busted, rigged online casinos then stop operating as they aren't able to scam people anymore.
Yet, you should still be careful, as online scammers don't give up easily. If their rigged platform is shut down, they often don't hesitate to start the whole process afresh and lure newcomers into giving them their money.
Independent Auditors Ensure Fairness and Trustworthiness
If an online casino claims that it's fair and trustworthy, why should you trust them? After all, they could lie about this and still proceed with illegal operations. That's why independent auditing companies exist.
These are usually companies that are highly reputable as being independent and honest in their reports. They often check online casinos and other gambling platforms for fairness, after which they publish the results. To ensure that a casino is fair, auditors check their random number generators and many other things that help them determine whether a casino is fair and trustworthy.
Companies that are currently considered leaders in the online gambling industry are eCogra, GLI, and iTechLabs. If you find certificates from these auditing firms in an online casino, you don't have to worry.
What Does an Online Licence Provide?
Slot machines were initially used in brick-in-mortar casinos as an alternative game for casual players since they did not need much strategy or skill. All they have to do is pull a lever and they can start playing. Traditional slot machines in land-based casinos are composed of an elaborate configuration of levers and gears. There is a metal shaft which works as the central element and support of the reels. The reels move, thanks to the shaft which is connected to a handle mechanism. The reels stop spinning through the braking system. Sensors then communicate the results to the payout system. It is common knowledge that every pull of the handle keeps the reel combinations random and fair.
When video slots were created, they were designed to resemble traditional slots. However, there's a different process working inside these games to make the combinations random. Video slots in brick and mortar casinos use micro-chips that are designed to use software which carry a random number generator (RNG). Whether you're playing in a land-based casino or an online casino, you can rest assured that the RNG will give you a fair chance at landing a winning combination.
Online Slot Machines with Random Number Generators (RNGs)
If you want to know how online slot machines work, you must learn about Random Number Generators (RNGs). Online slot games that have been tested for fairness use an algorithmic computer system also known as RNGs. This system ensures that the player will only encounter a fair outcome when playing online. Moreover, RNGs also ensure that all players have equal chances of winning. Whenever a player clicks the Spin button, the system provides a random set of 'numbers' which are then translated into the results on the screen.
How do RNGs Work?
As soon as you click the Spin button, the RNG starts working, spitting out random numbers. The system takes a starting number – also referred to as the ‘seed number' – and then utilises a complicated algorithmic system to calculate a random number based on it. The new number then becomes the seed number, and the same algorithm churns out a new number. This process repeats over and over and there is no way to predict the number that will come up next. Now, it is important to mention that these numbers can be huge. In the industry, the typical RNGs work with random numbers that have over 200,000 digits! There are countless possible outcomes, making it virtually impossible to predict.
However, this system can be flawed. If a player has knowledge of the seed number, they can beat the system. It is worth noting that these numbers are kept secure by gaming software companies. On the other hand, there is still a possibility for an online casino to use a software to rig the numbers in their favour. That is why it is highly important that you only play on sites that use third party auditing services. As we all know, RNGs of online slots can only be as fair as the business that operates them. Make sure that you look for indications that the site has passed third-party testing and auditing. Check whether the site has an e-Commerce and Online Gaming Registration and Assurance (eCOGRA) seal. This organisation provide independent reviews of online casinos to ensure that players know about their level of reliability and fairness.
eCOGRA offers three types of seals:
- Safe and Fair Seal
- Certified Software Seal
- Affiliate Trust Seal
Aside from the aforementioned seals, eCOGRA also provides three supplementary reports such as the Percentage Payout Report, a Randomness Review delivered by an independent auditor and the Certification of a Live Dealer. If you find an online slots site that has acquired any of the three seals mentioned above, you can rest assured that the operator follows fair gaming standards. Avalon casino catalina island california. Consequently, you will know that they will not, in any way, rig their featured slot machine games.
It's completely natural to be anxious before joining your first online casino. After all, you'll have to make a real-money deposit on an online platform and trust it with your funds. If you are wondering whether online casinos are rigged, we'll provide both a short and a long answer to that question. The short one is — no, they aren't, as long as you stick to licensed and regulated ones.
If that does not convince you, make sure to read this article and find out more about different ways online casinos can be rigged and how to stay away from such platforms.
How Can an Online Casino Be Rigged?
There are many ways to rig an online casino. Simply put, all casino games you play online use sophisticated underlying software. Developers working for reputable online casinos and content providers make sure to write code so that it cannot be tampered with.
All it takes to rig an online casino game is to alter its code so that the game is not fair anymore. Rigged online casinos usually offer games that are identical to the ones in fair and licensed casinos — the only difference is that you don't really have an opportunity to win any money. In other words, you'll pay and not get anything in return.
The probability of winning a prize in a rigged casino is usually much lower due to low RTP percentages.
Lowering the RTP
RTP stands for Return to Player, and it's a figure that shows how much money is returned to players when they make bets. If the RTP is 95%, players should receive $95 for every $100 they invest in online slots. Online casinos and developers will take the remaining $5 as a profit. Naturally, some players will be luckier than others and win bigger prizes, while the less fortunate ones will leave empty-handed.
Nevertheless, the overall distribution of prizes is such that casinos should take only a small portion of invested money while distributing the rest to players.
Rigged casinos often lower the RTP so much that it doesn't pay off to play games. If the RTP is low, the casino will take most of the money you invest and your chances of winning a prize will be extremely low.
How do these casinos set the RTP? The answer is simple — they change the code and do not include the RNG.
RNG Doesn't Work in Rigged Casinos
Every game of chance available in online casinos needs to have a random number generator (RNG). This is a piece of code included in casino games that ensures that they are truly random.
To explain the RNG further, we must first ask you the following question: How does luck work?
Nobody knows. It's a complete mystery to us. The only legitimate answer is to say that luck is a product of the universe being random. Some people are luckier than others when playing casino games. You can look at the outcome of playing games of chance as one way to measure someone's luck.
But how do you know that games are random? The answer is the RNG. Developers made a program that always comes up with entirely random results in games. Therefore, once they set the parameters and insert the RNG in the game, you can rest assured that there are no people on the other side adjusting the outcome — unless you're playing in a rigged casino.
Games in rigged casinos aren't random since they lack one of the essential pieces of software — the random number generator.
How Can I Make Sure That the Casino Is Trustworthy?
One of the safest ways to ensure that a casino is not rigged is to research the web and find additional information about the platform. Many professional reviews will tell you about all the disadvantages and disadvantages related to the platform you want to join.
Alternatively, you can find user opinions about specific sites and gather more info on their trustworthiness. Please note that users sometimes leave negative reviews about casinos and call them rigged simply because they weren't lucky enough. However, if all user reviews agree that a certain casino is rigged, you should definitely think twice before you open an account.
The good thing about the online gambling industry is that rigged platforms have short lifespans. In other words, if someone proves that they are rigged, other players will find that information rather quickly. Such sites are usually then added to blacklists all over the web and players start to avoid them right away. Being busted, rigged online casinos then stop operating as they aren't able to scam people anymore.
Yet, you should still be careful, as online scammers don't give up easily. If their rigged platform is shut down, they often don't hesitate to start the whole process afresh and lure newcomers into giving them their money.
Independent Auditors Ensure Fairness and Trustworthiness
If an online casino claims that it's fair and trustworthy, why should you trust them? After all, they could lie about this and still proceed with illegal operations. That's why independent auditing companies exist.
These are usually companies that are highly reputable as being independent and honest in their reports. They often check online casinos and other gambling platforms for fairness, after which they publish the results. To ensure that a casino is fair, auditors check their random number generators and many other things that help them determine whether a casino is fair and trustworthy.
Companies that are currently considered leaders in the online gambling industry are eCogra, GLI, and iTechLabs. If you find certificates from these auditing firms in an online casino, you don't have to worry.
What Does an Online Licence Provide?
If an online casino lacks a licence provided by an official regulatory body, we advise you to stay away from it. It may not be rigged, but having no licence is not a good sign. Reputable licence providers will never compromise their reputation by giving a licence to a rigged casino. Sure, some casinos become rigged over time, but as soon as regulators find that out, they revoke their licences for that platform.
Who are these regulators? In most cases, they are official commissions that decide who gets a licence. For example, in the UK, the most well-known gambling authority is the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. Casinos licensed by the UKGC need to pass a strict test that ensures no illegal operations are taking place.
There are also a couple of 'global' regulators that license online gambling platforms, such as the Malta Gaming Authority, which is highly respected in the online gambling industry. Therefore, if you access a site and see that it's licensed by the MGA, you can be sure that the casino is fair and trustworthy.
To find out whether an online casino is licensed or not, you should scroll down to the footer of the site, where information about licences is usually provided. You can then check the licence number to make sure that the information is not false.
Apart from licences, it's also important to check who the owner of the casino is. Companies that own online casinos have either a good or bad reputation, and you definitely don't want to play in casinos owned by companies that have a history of running blacklisted casinos.
Casinos Use Cutting-Edge Security Methods to Protect Themselves and Their Users
Even legitimate online casinos can become rigged if they fall into the wrong hands. For example, they could undergo a cyberattack and hackers could rig games in some way. Luckily, that almost never happens nowadays.
All reputable online casinos use state-of-the-art technologies that make sure nobody can tamper with the games. Moreover, these technologies protect users, their sensitive data, and their funds from all kinds of cyberattacks. For example, every casino needs to use SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption to ensure secure communication.
Conclusion — Research Before Signing Up
We live in the day and age where information travels fast, which is why it's pretty easy to spot a rigged online casino. They don't have any security measures, licences, RNGs, and many other things required to operate properly.
However sophisticated, rigged casinos are fairly easy to see through, and that's why we highly advise you to explore the site before joining it. If you're still not sure, feel free to read reviews provided by casino experts and users. They'll provide you with vital information about the site you're considering, including whether it's rigged or not.
Online Slots Are Rigged Against
Related Articles
