Are Online Casinos Fixed

This is one of those questions many blackjack players have. It ties into the age-long problem of whether or not online casinos are rigged. We can give you a quick answer — online blackjack is usually not rigged, but it can be.

As this is not a question that we can merely answer and be done with it, we still have to elaborate on what this means exactly. Stick with us if you want to learn why online blackjack usually isn’t rigged, as well as how it can be. Let’s take a look.

Are Online Casinos Rigged?

Are online casinos rigged? While you might be in it with the aim of winning some money, online casinos’ main goal is to make a neat profit from customers who love to gamble online. Laws and regulations are in place with the aim of making sure that online casinos operate in a fair and legal manner. People will say they don’t need it to be fixed for the casino to win. This is true, however, it doesn’t mean they are not fixed. They are most likely fixed because why would they not be? It makes billions. Most gambeling is fixed or manipulated, n.

Before explaining online blackjack and whether you need to worry about them being rigged, we need to talk about the places where one can play online blackjack — online casinos.

In all honesty, online casinos can always be rigged very easily. However, that doesn’t mean that they are. What’s more, the overwhelming majority of them aren’t. And the most important thing to understand here is that there are things that ensure online casinos and the games they offer aren’t rigged.

First of all, quality casino games developers don’t want to be associated with rigged games and casinos. Therefore, they don’t even make games that are rigged, including blackjack. Every good developer creates casino games with random number generators embedded in them to ensure that what happens in the games is entirely random.

Naturally, all casino games are made to slightly favour the casino so that the site can make a profit. However, this casino edge is always very small, and no matter how large it is, it doesn’t mean that you can’t win big in any single game.

Aside from the precautions taken by the software developers themselves, every online casino is subject to the laws of the country it operates in. If they are international, they are still subject to rules that ensure fair play and safety of players.

What’s more, each casino that’s certifiably fair holds the proper licenses. The best licenses in the online gambling world are the ones given by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC). So, if a casino has one of these licenses, you can be certain that it is fair and no more rigged than life itself!

It’s important to mention that many online casinos allow independent auditors to occasionally check their level of fairness and honesty.

Why and How Can Online Blackjack Be Rigged?

Players are very suspicious of online gambling games, and they have every right to be. It’s easy to think that the game is rigged because an online casino can easily rig a blackjack game. The casino controls the software, and it can thus control how the game unfolds. What’s more, with the way blackjack works, the casino can easily turn the odds in their favour without anyone noticing.

For these reasons, it’s understandable that you would worry about the game of online blackjack you’re playing being rigged. What’s worse, it’s not that these things haven’t happened before. For example, there is the infamous Potripper scandal in which the website’s owner had the ability to see players’ cards.

Cases like these are rare, but not unheard of. When it comes to blackjack, there are many ways a casino might rig the game. The most common method a bad casino could use is removing the aces or face cards completely. You would think that this is easy to notice, but the fact is that most blackjack games use less than 50% of available cards per game, so it’s likely that no one would notice.

Other methods of rigging an online blackjack game exist, but the reality is that most casinos won’t use them. This is mostly because of the reasons we already explained and the rules that prevent them from rigging games. However, most online casinos don’t even want to rig their games. It simply isn’t worth it. If someone realizes that a game of blackjack is rigged, the ensuing bad reputation could easily ruin the casino.

In all honesty, only a very dumb casino owner would want to rig blackjack, as the potential rewards are very low, while the risks are tremendously high.

How Can I Know If My Online Blackjack Game Is Rigged?

Finding out whether your game of online blackjack is rigged always comes back to the trustworthiness of the platform where you’re playing the game. As long as the platform itself is fair and legitimate, the chances of the blackjack game being rigged are minuscule.

One of the most important things to check is if the casino holds a license from one of the organizations we discussed (MGA and UKGC) or from another well-recognized agency. Also, make sure that the game of blackjack comes from a legitimate and popular software developer like Microgaming, Playtech, Evolution Gaming, NetEnt, etc.

When it comes to the game itself, you can also play live dealer blackjack games. Live games are easier to follow, and any potential problems are less likely to occur and easier to spot. However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t play regular blackjack games online. All of the best blackjack games are made with algorithms that shuffle cards entirely randomly. And of course, as long as the casino is good, the possibility for the game being rigged is virtually non-existent.

If you start losing a lot, it’s good to take a hard look at the way you’re playing. Unfortunately, the most likely reason for your constant losses has something to do with you, not the game itself.

Most players tend to blame the game for their losses, instead of inspecting their playing methods and strategies. In most cases, when players accuse the casino of their blackjack game being rigged, they are doing so because it doesn’t occur to them that they did something wrong. So, it’s important to consider this aspect as well when you’re looking into the fairness of the game.

The Bottom Line

All in all, online blackjack is almost never rigged, even though it can be. Most casinos where you’ll be playing the game are legitimate and fair, so their blackjack games are most likely fair as well.

In addition to that, even though a game of blackjack can be rigged in several ways, there is no point or need for a casino to do it. The rewards are low, and the risks are high, so you can be certain that an online casino would never have a need to rig a blackjack game.

In conclusion, you can relax and start playing online blackjack in your favourite, legitimate online casino without a single worry about it being rigged.

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FAQ

As long as the game of live online blackjack you’re playing is hosted by a legitimate, trusted casino, it certainly isn’t rigged. If you lose, the only reason is the lack of skill or luck.

If you compare it to all other online casino games, playing blackjack is extremely worthwhile. That’s because the game is mostly about skills and knowledge, and you have the highest chance of winning out of all casino games. The better you are at playing blackjack, the higher your probability of winning.

When frequenting online slots, it’s easy to call crooked reels and rigged games when things aren’t going your way.

You might argue your side and if you’re in a heated discussion with friends, you might even persuade one or two that the games have some form of a fix.

After all, who would actually be able to tell? With everything online, we might all be playing a fool’s game with nobody ever actually winning the big jackpots.

Lose for long enough and you’ll start questioning the legitimacy of the past winners, online leaderboards and news stories that all inform of life-changing sums despite being sat without a pair of pennies to rub together.

It wouldn’t be a surprise, everything else in the world can be rigged so why not online slots too?

You’re not alone in your thinking and many people often wonder: Are online Slots Rigged? The answer, however, is no.

Providing that slots you’re playing are licensed by a recognized body, there’s no way an online slot can be rigged.

They may have a house edge, but try and find me a slot, online or elsewhere, that doesn’t. Providing they’re licensed, they’re recognized as a fair game, but to understand the criteria of what makes a fair online slot, we need to delve into the details of how an online slot actually works.

It all started with the mechanical slot

The very first slots, dating back to the late 19th century, were mechanical and although lacking in features, were charming in their simplicity.

Pull the handle of the one-armed-bandit and you’ll be able to hear the gears turning, spinning the reels and chancing your luck at a jackpot.

With a physical machine, it’s much more difficult to rig, yes there’s the chance that there’s never going to be a winning payline, but it’s unlikely to rank as popular with the players so there’s very few around.

In a typical mechanical slot, players insert a coin and pull the lever which triggers the spinning of the reels.

This action allowed the reels to operate like tumblers inside a combination lock, activating a payout when the correct combination hits and the tumblers align.

A series of metal pins, known as the payout trigger, would work in tandem with the reel plate and determine the payout value – the better the combination, the longer that the trigger will be released, the more coins a player will win.

If you’re mechanically minded, you’ll see how it works and why they’re particularly difficult to rig without the use of electronics.

Parts will have to be custom made, fettled with and altered to make sure the reels aren’t making combinations and more often than not, it’s more complicated to make a fixed machine that it would be an honest one.

It’s a simpler time, sure, but there’s not exactly the same level of action that we see in the modern-day slot.

The evolution of electronic and online slots

It didn’t take long for the typical mechanical slot to evolve to the electronic equivalent and before long, the electronic slots developed into the online slot we all know and love.

The mechanical internals of the slot was swapped for a digital one and instead of gears running the reels from a pull of the lever, motors were used to spin the combinations of symbols, leaving the lever for purely nostalgic reasons.

Are Online Casinos Safe

Compare this to online and you’re now just clicking your mouse or tapping your screen over a button labeled ‘spin’ and trusting it to be fair.

There may have some serious steps forward, but to understand exactly how the online slots work, it’s important to know the logic behind them to make a valid judgment as to how fair the online slot actually is.

How the online slot works

Online slots are different to both electronic and mechanical in that they don’t exist at all in the physical space, but instead in the digital world as a series of algorithms.

The slot may be designed in an attempt to mimic the reels of the past, but don’t be fooled by flashy graphics and exciting features – the games are simply lines of code that you’re playing through the screen.

So what are the algorithms in place and what do they mean for our winnings?

Return to player (RTP) rates

The first number that we’re taking into account is the RTP rate and is featured across all three different forms of slot machines.

The return to player (RTP) rate is the percentage that a player should expect to win back of the sum that they’ve entered into the machine. Usually, you’ll find the RTP set around the 95% mark to lure players into believing that they’re not actually losing all that much money by keeping their win rates high.

In mechanical slots, this value is typically unknown due to the nature of the ‘random’ internals, but with electronic and online slots, the number is predetermined and written into the software when the game is created.

The minimum theoretical payout percentage is defined by law or regulation but varies depending on the jurisdiction.

In the state of Nevada, this percentage stands at 75%, in Mississippi, it’s at 80% and New Jersey sticks at 83%.

Any less than this and the slot machine is breaking the rules and will be subject to legal action if discovered.

Historically, many casinos, both brick-and-mortar and online, have been unwilling to publish the data surrounding their machines RTP values, making it impossible for players to know the theoretical return on the games they’re playing. However, particularly recently, these figures have been reaching the public domain via the release of information from casinos and the independent studies of gambling authorities.

RTP and variance

The return to player isn’t the only figure that’s of interest to players of the casino, the variance is perhaps of equal importance when picking a slot to play.

In theory, the higher the RTP rate, the less chance of losing significant sums over a long period of time you should expect.

Of course, this should only be used as a guide and it should be noted that those with lower RTP rates commonly offer increased opportunities for bigger one-off wins.

This effect is due to the impact of variance, a term describing the type of payout that should be expected from a slot machine.

A slot that boasts a high variance will pay out less frequently but will pay out large sums when a player finally wins.

The opposite is true for slots claiming a low variance with players find payouts more often but in smaller denominations.

Regardless of variance, RTP should be the main figure of interest and regardless of what type of wins you’re hunting down, the larger RTP values should always be the main focus and make up the bulk of play.

Random number generators (RNGs)

If we’re going to discuss how the online slot functions to make sure there’s a fair chance of winning and losing, we’re going to need to talk about random number generators (RNGs).

An RNG is exactly what it says on the tin, it’s a piece of code written into the game’s architecture that allows for random numbers to be generated, meaning that each player has the same chance to win as the next.

RNG’s display a set of numbers to the system each time the reels are spun when playing an online slot. These numbers generated are then translated into the results that we see on the screen, leading to different combinations of paylines.

The RNGs will coincide with the RTP of the slot and although the numbers generated will be truly random, they will be developed in such a way that still permits the desired RTG. Clever right?

What’s maybe most important to note is the memory of the system that dishes out the jackpots and although it may feel like a slot is ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ during different times of playing, they’re actually completely oblivious to past events.

The system itself has no memory, therefore, it cannot dictate when to permit wins and/or losses depending on how much players have previously won/lost. That means it’s equally likely to hit a jackpot immediately following another big win – the odds are the same.

Ultimately, your fate is in the hands of the algorithm and there’s not a lot you can do to change its mind.

The licensing of fair games

The way a slot works might make sense when it comes to the theory, but when you consider that the developers of the games are in charge of the payouts, a little bit of skepticism might start nagging away once again.

You’d be absolutely right to question the word of the game developer, after all, who’s going to sell more slots – the one that pays back more or less to the player?

It’s a point that emphasized even further when it comes to the online casino market with plenty of suppliers creating their own games for maximum control and maximum profit – so why would we trust these slots?

Thankfully, you don’t just have to take the word of the game developers that you’re in safe hands, instead, you can rely on the independent regulatory authorities and their licensing powers to ensure that all games are fair to play and match their stated RTPs.

But it’s not just the games providers that need the licensing to prove that they’re providing a fair product – all platforms used must have a trustworthy casino license by a recognized body to ensure that they’re up to scratch.

The license takes into account all things safety from the standards of security to the customer service that online casinos provide.

Authorities are incredibly thorough so it’s not just a case of a quick flick through and a license granted, but a solid look into different forms of criteria to make a judgment on both the games and the casino.

The credentials of the casino will be checked across a range of indicators, the financial clout and business competence evaluated and the policies in place to allow for a reputable organization to form.

It’s then and only then that the casino will be granted a license, but expect regular check-ups and interest whenever there’s game development from these entities.

Are Online Casinos Fixed In California

How to make sure you’re playing fair

If you’re sat there wondering whether or not you should be concerning yourself with the credentials of the casino – the conclusion is simple – you should always check the casinos licensing and reputation.

By only playing at licensed casinos you’ll be sure that you’re only gaming where it’s fair and where your personal data is safe and secure.

You don’t want to be playing subpar games with subpar odds with insecure data, so this is an absolute must when checking out new places to play.

In cases in which companies do not post official data regarding the RTP, it is good practice to investigate third-party testing companies that have the chosen slots within their portfolio.

Third-party sites are often out to help the consumer and they’re usually particularly trustworthy, especially when visiting well-respected sources.

The best bet is to target games that come alongside published payouts so you can ensure you’re getting the fairest deals.

Rival and BetSoft casinos are great examples of fair places to play and with payouts published online, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting involved with when you’re heading to the slots.

Ultimately, it’s a case of keeping your wits about you. Providing that you’re playing at a reputable, well-known and reliable site, the chances are that you’ll be in safe hands when spinning the reels.

The grey area comes with newly launched casinos that lack the licenses that we’d expect to be associated with the games.

If you’ve spotted a dodgy one, it’s best to steer well clear – there’s plenty of other places to play – no matter how good the sign up offer is!