Are Online Slots Rigged
We’ve all been there at some point during an online slots session. The reels keep on spinning and spinning, with not a single win in sight. Even when wins do land, they are so insignificant that they come nowhere near to restoring our balance to what it was at the start of the session.
We often ask ourselves, “Are online slots rigged?”. The simple answer to this question no – not least because the software developers behind slot games are heavily regulated.
Cheating slot machine players out of their money is hardly a good way to get new sign-ups. In a sense it's hard to define 'rigged online slots' since technically an online casino doesn't cheat if it has ridiculously low payout percentages set to its slot machines. But we should treat them the same as. Regulated Online Casinos are Guaranteed to be Fair 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. But don’t worry, online slots aren’t rigged. The online gambling industry is highly-regulated and promotes fair play. They do business to give you enjoyment, too. You’re in control of the type of player you are and you get to choose the slots that suit your taste.
All you’ll need to provide is five minutes of your time, and you’ll learn a lot from Greg Dunlap about a slot machine and why slots aren’t rigged, but are instead very well designed systems to make money for casinos: Despite the video being a few brief minutes, he covers a lot of ground, including. So, if you’re wondering “are online slots rigged?”, here’s why they’re not. RNGs Prevent the Rigging of Online Slots. Online slots function by means of a series of algorithms. The graphics resemble the real-life reels of old school mechanical slot machines. But behind the scenes, it’s just lines of code.
Moreover, software providers must get their games certified by Testing Houses before the title can launch into the online casino space. As the Testing House itself must also be in possession of a gaming license, this ensures beyond doubt that online slots are not in any way, shape, or form – rigged.
So with that being said, why does it seem like we are at times being cheated by online slot games, with hours and hours of gameplay without landing a bonus entry or large win? Well, if you’re keen to find out why, we would suggest reading on. Within it, we’ll explain how the long-term RTP and win frequency rate determines how much you win or lose in the short run.
Let’s start with the all-important ‘RTP’.
The slot RTP: What is it and why is it important?
If you’re still new to the online slot space, then we think it is absolutely crucial that you gain a firm understanding of what the RTP is, and why it will dictate how much you win or lose on your chosen slot game. In its most basic form, the Return to Player – or simply RTP, is the long-term statistical advantage that the slot game has over you. In this sense, it operates exactly like the house-edge that you will find in other casino games, such as blackjack, roulette, and video poker. However – in the case of online slot games, the house-edge operates in reverse.
By this, we mean that the higher the RTP percentage, the lower the house-edge – and vice-versa. For example, let’s say that you are playing an online slot game that comes with an RTP of 95%. In order to assess the long-term house-edge, we need to subtract the RTP from 100. In this example, the house-edge would be 5%. At the time of writing, online slot games typically come with an average RTP of between 94% and 96% – albeit, with the space becoming more and more competitive in recent years, these averages appear to be increasing in size – which is great.
The RTP and short-term losing streaks:
So now that you know how the RTP works, you might be somewhat confused as to why you are still encountering a losing streak on your chosen slot game. In fact, you’re probably still asking yourself “Are online slots rigged?”. Well, we need to unravel how the long-term RTP percentage works in more detail for you to understand that online slots are not, and cannot, be rigged.
First and foremost, the RTP percentage rate is based over the course of time. For example, if you play a slot game that comes with an RTP of 96%, this doesn’t mean that you will win £96 for every £100 staked, or £960 for every £1,000 staked. On the contrary, the RTP of 96% is based over billions and billions of individual spins.
As such, a more reliable way to look at the theoretical payout is to assume that for every £1 billion that goes into the machine, £960 million will be paid out, with £40 million being retained by the casino site in question. As a result, players can experience periods of wins and losses at any given time.
For example, you have just as much chance of winning a progressive jackpot prize of £1 million+ with a single spin of 30p, as you do playing the same game for days on end. You see, the long-term RTP percentage ensures that the machine remains random at all times. As long as it achieves its percentage rate over billions and billions of spins, it will distribute its wins sporadically.
In layman terms, this means that if you get your timing right, you will walk away a winner. On the contrary, if you get your timing wrong, then you will likely experience long periods where you win nothing. As you have probably guessed, there is no way of knowing when a machine is going to pay out, so in this sense – it’s all a game of chance.
Are slots rigged? Not if the software developer is regulated
If you’re a seasoned online slots player, then you will no doubt have come across software providers such as Microgaming, NetEnt, Quickfire, and Playtech. For those unaware, the aforementioned software developers are behind thousands of well-known slot titles, which covers everything from 3D slots, classic slots, movie and TV themed slots, and progressive jackpot slots.
On top of being at the top of their game, the above software providers have something else in common – they are all regulated by leading regulatory bodies. Think along the lines of the Gambling Commission in the UK, and the Malta Gaming Authority. One of the key licensing conditions set out by gaming bodies is that software developers must ensure that their games are 100% true and fair. This also covers the long-term RTP, meaning that developers need to ensure that the stated percentage rate is accurate beyond doubt.
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In order to enforce these stringent regulatory requirements, software providers will have their gaming data audited by the gaming bodies they are licensed by. This acts as a significant safeguard against your concerns of slots being rigged. It is also important to note that the role of Testing Houses should not be understated.
As we noted above, Testing Houses are tasked with certifying slot games before they reach the online casino market. This includes a thorough and in-depth analysis of the game’s underlying software algorithm. If there are any doubts whatsoever about the integrity of the slot game in question, it won’t be approved by the Testing House and thus – won’t reach the online casino space.
What should I do if I think an online slot game is rigged?
If you have read our article up to this point, then you should now have a firm grasp of the many protections and safeguards put in place to ensure that online slots are not rigged. However, if you truly believe that you are playing a slot machine that is in fact rigged, then there are a number of options at your disposal.
First and foremost, you should initially take your concern up with the respective slot site. Rather than speaking with an unqualified agent via live chat, we would suggest writing a formal email to the casino. Within it, you should state the slot title that you believe is rigged, as well as a clear explanation as to why you think it is rigged.
Once the casino receives your email, they will then give you an explanation as to whether or not your concerns are valid. If you do not like the response that you get, you should then ask the casino to take this up with the specific software provider behind the game. Alternatively, you can attempt to speak with the software developer directly.
If you are still not getting the response that you require, then you will need to take your complaint up directly with the regulatory body that licenses the software developer. Remember, your complaint is against the software provider, not the casino, as operators have no control over the games that they host. Instead, they merely license them from the developer.
As most online slots sites are now regulated on multiple fronts, you need to go with the gaming body that has jurisdiction over your country of residence. For example, if you’re based in the UK this will be the Gambling Commission. If you’re based in Mainland Europe, then this is likely to be either the Malta Gaming Authority of the Gibraltar Gambling Commission.
Tips to ensure you are not playing a rigged slot machine
In order to conclude our guide on ‘Are online slots rigged?”, we have listed a few handy tips to ensure your gambling endeavours remain safe and secure (and winning) at all times.
Tip 1: Stick with established software providers
Before spinning the reels on your chosen slot game, be sure to check the name of the software developer behind the title. Although there are now hundreds of independent software developers active in the online slots space, we would suggest sticking with established industry leaders. Think along the lines of Microgaming, NetEnt, and Playtech.
Tip 2: Check whether or not the online casino is regulated
Although it is a legal requirement for online casinos to operate in a regulated environment and thus – be in full receipt of a valid gaming license, this isn’t always the case. As such, check the operator’s license number with the respective gaming body. This way, you can be 100% sure that the online slots site is legitimate.
Tip 3: Check that the slot game is certified
As a final check, you should assess whether or not the online slot title has been certified by a regulated Testing House. You might need to do some digging around to find this data, although in most cases you will find it hidden within the paytable. If the game is fully certified by a regulated Testing House, you can then be 100% sure that the slot is not rigged.
Many of us have been excited about playing slots at some point, only to find the excitement quickly turning into disappointment. Nothing seems to work. Only small wins and not even a single bonus game. You feel cheated.
Was the slot machine rigged?
In all honesty, it could have been. If you played at one of the reputable real-money online casinos, however, it probably wasn't. You just happened to be on the bad side of variance (in the long run, you should lose a lot of money at slot machines anyway).
And we'll never truly know. Since you're supposed to lose at slot machines and online casinos have no obligations to share their payback percentages, they could run their machines at ridiculously low returns and we wouldn't have the slightest clue about it.
Many people will tell you that rigged online slots are rare because online casinos have no reason to cheat; they make so much money from slot machines already simply by offering fair games.
That's far from a convicing argument - as if there were no greedy people in the world. But there's some logic behind the argument as well. Since the casino already has an edge over the player, the only thing they need is to get more players. Cheating slot machine players out of their money is hardly a good way to get new sign-ups.
In a sense it's hard to define 'rigged online slots' since technically an online casino doesn't cheat if it has ridiculously low payout percentages set to its slot machines.
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But we should treat them the same as if they were cheating.
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The solution I've come-up with is to play at reputable sites that have reputable private auditors testing their RNGs and payout percentages. Even better if the private auditor has been allowed to publish how much the online casino has paid out monthly.
Still, one could argue that you never know if online casinos bribe private auditors to creating good reports. True. We'll never know for sure.
But if you believe that there are online casinos without rigged slots, why not trust the ones that are willing to let auditors publish their results for everyone to see? The ones that seemingly have nothing to be ashamed of?
If I were to run an honest online casino with no rigged slot machines, why wouldn't I publish payout reports? Why would I let anyone think that I could have rigged online slots at my casino?
By the way, one of the ways to keep an eye on dishonest, cheating online casinos is to look at internet blacklists, such as the one at Casinomeister.com.