Online casinos are a highly lucrative business raking in millions of dollars every year. As with any successful business, there have been scammers, trying to trick unsuspecting players into losing their money.
There have been a multitude of cases reported, worldwide, about how scammers have stolen the life savings of casino players. This has led to paranoia among casino players that they will be scammed on it.
It is very difficult for an online player to trust a casino. To mitigate this issue, online casinos have employed several measures to ensure fairness in gaming, so that players can enjoy a game of chance without any intervention.
Are Online Casinos Rigged?
Like every other business, the primary goal of an online casino is to make a profit. However, if the casinos try to scam their players to make huge profits, they won’t come back. Casinos want new players to join their establishment while maintaining their existing player base. Therefore, online casinos comply with various rules and regulations set by governing bodies to ensure fairness in the games they provide.
Brick-and-mortar casinos make a profit when players fail in their games. Similarly, online casinos also earn when online players lose money. Traditional casinos heavily rely on “luck” to make a profit. Online casinos use advanced game servers to emulate real-life game mechanics so that players can win or lose according to chance. Millions of lines of codes, algorithms, and AI are used to simulate a real game of chance.
Most online casinos have provably fair games, which the players can play multiple times to determine if it is completely left to chance. Similarly, before investing money in any games, play the trial version of the game to check whether it is rigged. However, streaks of bad luck can affect players. This is completely random and in no way an indication of a rigged game.
Measures to Prevent Rigged Games
An online casino can convince its players by providing some data regarding the casino and its games. Here’s a few measures to prove that the casino games are not rigged:
- Random Number Generator (RNG): A random number generator is a coding technique or a machine that ensures completely random results. Typically used in slot games and other instant-play games, it ensures that the games are not rigged. RNGs from reputable game providers provide trustworthiness to the casino.
- Third-Party Auditors: Third-party auditors are external testing facilities that ensure the fairness of a casino, its games, and their transaction methods. The RNGs and game mechanics are tested multiple times by the auditors, which earns the casinos a certificate for fairness.
- Regulating Authorities: Government-owned organizations provide gambling licenses to online casinos. These organizations also audit the casino to know whether it complies with international gambling regulations.
- Good PR: Online casinos that advertise the winners to the public want the world to know that there is a high chance for players to win huge rewards. It won’t be possible with a rigged system. Casinos advertising their huge winners could be a fair and unbiased gambling site.
Who Are Casino Auditors?
All online casinos operate based on codes and algorithms. These lines of code determine the outcome of a game and decide whether a player wins or loses. It is the work of a casino auditor to verify the mathematical accuracy of the codes and also audit the financial transactions in a casino. Here’s a list of the few renowned casino auditors, whose certificates mean the casino provides an unbiased gambling experience:
- eCOGRA: eCOGRA or eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance is a testing agency that audits online casinos and other e-gaming websites. It was established in 2023 and is now one of the most renowned external auditors. An eCOGRA certification is highly valued in the gaming industry.
- GLI: GLI or Gaming Labs International has testing labs across the globe. There are Australian, European, and American chapters of GLI that test online casinos from the respective regions. The RNGs and games are separately suited for fairness by GLI.
- BMM: BMM Test Labs is an independent establishment that started its operation in 1981. Similar to GLI, BMM is also active across the globe and audits online casinos and online lotteries for fairness.
- iTech Labs: iTech Labs is one of the most famous casino auditors in the world. It was founded in 2004 and audits online casinos, online poker rooms, sports betting sites, and other wagering providers. iTech Labs annually audits online casinos randomly.
- TST: Technical Systems Testing is a renowned casino auditor that specializes in RNGS testing. RNGs used in slots, instant-play games, and online lottery machines are tested by TST and provided certification.
- SIQ: SIQ Gaming Labs is an accreditation facility that audits a variety of gaming devices such as slot machines, lottery machines, and other casino games. SIQ provides certification after testing that ensures the fairness of each game.
- SQS: The SQS Group[ Limited was founded in 1996. The testing facility headquartered in London has a wide array of testing tools used to audit casino games and their game servers.
- ECT: ECT or Eclipse Compliance Testing is an independent testing facility in the US. It primarily audits North American online casinos and land-based casinos. The casinos are certified as fair if they complete the testing process.
- QA Lab: QA Lab is an international testing facility that tests multiplayer and interactive gaming platforms. Online and land-based gaming platforms are tested using the facility’s advanced tools.
- Trisigma B.V.: Trisigma is a testing lab for casino games. It is an international organization and is highly revered in the gambling industry. Casinos and their games are tested multiple times to get certified as fair.
Conclusion
Online casinos operating under a license issued by a government organization and certified by external auditors are generally regarded as fair. It is important to ensure fairness as it is the only means by which new players will join the casino and ensure profits for the casino. Their online casinos have gone to extreme limits and spent thousands of dollars on third-party auditors to vouch for their fairness. Yes, online gambling is a game of chance. But with the right casino, you can have a blast for the amount you invest in it.
