Are Online Casinos Rigged? Uncovering the Truth About Casino Fairness
Affiliate Disclosure : We earn a commission from partners links on BetterGambling. Commissions do not affect our editors' reviews, recommendations, or ratings.
The question “Are online casinos rigged?” is among the most common questions many players in the UK ask themselves when they become sceptical about gambling sites. Our BetterGambling explores casino fairness by looking at regulatory standards, independent audit companies, and how random number generators ensure the game results are always unpredictable.
The Ideal Online Casino – What True Fairness Should Look Like
True fairness means that rules are always clear, the outcome of each game is truly random, and their systems are tested regularly by independent audits to certify that everything is truly fair.
Additionally, this means that this fair casino must always provide clear terms and conditions, safe and secure payment options, customer support options with professionals who wish to fix issues or clarify anything unclear, and a good number of responsible gambling tools to ensure player’s safety while guaranteeing that all UK players stand an equal winning chance.
You Asked, We Answered: Are Online Casinos Safe?
An online casino is safe when it owns a license from a reputable body, which means this gambling body regulates its operations. Examples of reputable gambling authorities include the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority.
These authorities maintain safety by enforcing strict security measures (such as SSL encryption for all financial transactions) that all licensed casinos must use. However, despite all of this, a player must still carry out their research by reading independent reviews, verifying certifications or licensing a site display before they join
How Do Online Casinos Work? Behind the Games & Systems
Online casinos are digital platforms that use computer software and algorithms to simulate traditional casino games like slots, blackjack, baccarat, and roulette. Now, a bigger question among many players is: how do online casino games work?
The answer depends on whether the site is a licensed casino or an unregulated casino. While unregulated casinos will manipulate outcomes, licensed casinos ensure fairness by:
- RNGs (Random Number Generators): Algorithms generate random outcomes for each spin, card shuffle, or dice roll, ensuring that all game results have no predictable pattern.
- House Edge & Payout Rate: Games are designed with statistical models that guarantee the casino’s long-term profitability without rigging. A relatively high payout rate means a player will lose 4 out of 100 to the casino long term.
- Game Fairness Testing: Independent auditors like eCOGRA and iTech Labs run tests on RNG and game maths before issuing a certificate of fairness.
- Game Providers: Leading software providers (such as Evolution Gaming, NetEnt, Microgaming, and Playtech) with a strong reputation in the industry supply games that are already certified fair.
- Transparent game rules: Clear explanation of all game mechanics, paytables, and bonus terms & conditions to ensure players fully understand what is expected of them and how the game plays.
- Live Dealer Integrity: Live casino games employ real dealers from casinos with physical equipment like card shufflers. The game is streamed live from a casino or a studio to prevent digital manipulation.
- Data Security & Privacy: Strict compliance with data protection standards ensures the security of players’ personal and financial data at all times.
Below, our team of insiders has created a table comparing licensed vs unlicensed online casinos in the UK.
| Aspect | Legit Online Casino | Unlicensed casino |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing | Licensed by reputable gambling authorities like UKGC, MGA, or Gibraltar. | No license listed or unverifiable licensing information. |
| RNG fairness | Regular RNG audits by an independent company with a certification to indicate game fairness. | Lacks fairness certification from 3rd party and uses manipulated software. |
| Casino House Edge/Payout | The casino clearly indicates information on the house edge or game payout rate. | Unclear information on house edge/game payout rate with inconsistent payouts. |
| Security | Secure SSL encryption to ensure all personal and financial data shared on the casino site cannot be accessed by 3rd party. | Poor data protection leading to the compromise of user’s data by the casino or selling to data brokers. |
| Software provider partnership | Partners with trusted game developers with a track record of delivering quality casino games | Partners with low-quality or relatively unknown game developers. |
| Customer support | Professional 24/7 support staff who care about resolving issues through different support options like live chat, mail, phone, or contact form. | Mostly unresponsive or limited availability support staff who are unprofessional and don’t care about the player. |
| Payment Security | Uses payment options that are secure and encrypted, protecting player’s financial data. | May use unencrypted payment channels that are not secure and may lead to financial theft. |
| Responsible gaming tools | Provides tools to help players practice safe and sustainable gambling habits. | Missing responsible tools since the casino does not care about the gamblers, only their money. |
| Cashout | Transparent and timely cashouts with multiple popular payment methods | Delayed payments with large hidden fees. In many cases, they also do not pay winnings. |
Key Factors That Define a Legit Casino – What We Noticed
Legit online casinos put security measures in place and strictly adhere to the most rigorous testing process. This ensures players’ data is always safe and their casino games remain fair.
Key factors that we observed are common to all legit online casinos are:
- One or more licenses from reputable gambling authorities or jurisdictions like UKGC or MGA.
- Verifiable game fairness certification from independent auditors like eCOGRA and iTech Labs.
- SSL encryption technology protects players’ personal and financial data shared with the casino (always look for HTTPS in the URL).
- Transparent bonus terms & conditions with clear information on withdrawal policies and fees.
- Withdrawals are quick, and players can cash out all winnings, either small or large.
Common Myths About Rigged Games (And Why Players Believe Them)
Misconceptions about rigged online casino games often come from misunderstanding how a licensed gambling site operates, wrong conclusions during a losing streak, and a terrible experience at an unregulated casino site.
In the table below, we debunk some common myths about rigged games with some insights on how players can protect themselves.
| Question | Reality | Explanation | How to Protect Yourself |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do online casinos target “lucky” players to make them lose? | ❌ No, licensed casinos do not track or sabotage luck players. | Casino games use RNGs which do not adjust based on player patterns or luck. | ✅ Ignore superstitions. Focus your time on playing at casinos with certified RNGs. Also, avoid casinos that claim luck-based algorithms. |
| Do bonus deals have hidden traps? | ✅ Yes, if the bonus terms are vague or unclear. | Legit casinos provide clear terms and conditions, listing all the wagering conditions and restrictions. | ✅ Read the bonus terms carefully and choose only casinos with a solid history of transparency. |
| Is online gambling rigged? Are live dealer games manipulated? | ❌ No, the live dealers and games are closely monitored. | Live dealer games are streamed from professional studios with real equipment like physical cards and wheels. | ✅ Opt for casinos partnering with trusted studios like Evolution Gaming. |
| Are the results of slot games truly random? | ✅ Yes, when the casino is certified fair by an independent auditor. | RNG algorithms ensure that all results are random, though unlicensed casino sites may not apply RNG standards. | ✅ Look for independent audit logos like eCOGRA at the bottom of the site and verify RTP information on the casino site. |
| Is online blackjack rigged? Is online roulette rigged? | ❌ No, the outcome of these games is based on RNGs | Online blackjack and roulette outcomes are random and independent of one another. | ✅ Check for independent audit seals from eCOGRA or iTechlabs at the bottom of the site |
What They Don’t Tell You: When Online Casinos Are Actually Rigged
While many online casinos maintain strict standards and operate based on fairness, some are actually rigged. These rigged sites manipulate game outcomes, change payout percentages, and use bonus traps to lure gamblers.
Quick signs to identify a rigged casino include inconsistent payouts, no independent audit, vague bonus terms, and multiple bad reviews from players.
Online Casino Scams: How Some Sites Cheat Players
Unlicensed online casinos use deceptive methods to cheat gamblers while undermining fair gambling. In the table below, we expose some less common online casino scams and how to identify them to avoid losing money.
| Scam Type | How Casinos Do It | Warning Signs | How to Avoid It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonus Traps | Offers a bonus deal that is too good to be true, then adds an impossible-to-meet wagering requirement like 80x. | -Vague or hidden rules in the bonus terms. -Bonuses are tagged “risk-free” but have complex terms attached. | -Always read the entire bonus terms. -Note all important details of the bonus. -Avoid online casinos with vague terms or excessive wagering requirements (above 50x). |
| No encryption | Operates without an SSL certificate which makes all communication with the site open to hackers. | -Website URL starts with HTTP and not HTTPS. -There is no padlock icon on the address bar of the browser. | Always check for the security certificate of a casino before creating an account. |
| Clone games | Rogue casino hosts games that are cheap copies of popular games, but in this case, their payouts are altered, or the game mechanics are rigged. | -Similar payout pattern across different game sessions. -Casino lacks certification badges from independent auditors like iTechlabs. | Only join casinos that partner with reputable developers like Evolution Gaming, NetEnt, or Pragmatic Play |
Real Stories: Online Casinos That Were Exposed for Rigging Games
Despite claims of transparency and fairness, certain online casinos have been caught rigging casino games or engaging in fraud. Let’s take a look at a real scenario where a casino rigged its game and how it deceived players.
The Rigged Casino That Got Caught
In 2007, during an AbsolutePoker Hold’em tournament with a £30,000 top payout, a Las Vegas player, Marco Johnson, observed the unusually frequent hands dealt at the final table. After finishing in second place, he requested his hand history and, to his surprise, got a detailed spreadsheet containing player emails and IP addresses at the game, raising suspicions.
After carefully analysing the data, Johnson found out that the tournament winner (known as Potripper) consistently won when another hidden user was in the game. The interesting fact was that this hidden user could see all the players’ cards. Further investigation traced the IP address to AbsolutePoker’s servers, directly linking it to the casino co-owners and former director, indicating this insider rigging must have defrauded players of a lot of money.
How to Spot a Rigged or Unsafe Casino Before You Play
| Red Flag | Why It’s a Problem | How to Identify It | Real Player Complaints | Risk Level | Signs You Should Walk Away Immediately |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Valid License | Unlicensed casinos aren’t regulated, meaning they can manipulate games and refuse payouts. | – No UKGC, MGA, or other reputable license displayed. – License numbers don’t match official databases. | Players reported casinos refusing payouts and blocking accounts after big wins. | High | – The license link is broken or missing. – Customer support avoids answering questions about licensing. |
| Lack of Independent Auditing | Without third-party audits, there’s no guarantee that games use certified Random Number Generators (RNGs). | Check for certification seals from independent testing agencies like eCOGRA or iTech Labs. | Players observed suspicious game behavior and inconsistent outcomes. | High | -There is no independent audit seal at the bottom of the site. -You get error messages when you try to verify the certification. |
| Hidden Bonus Terms | Misleading or hidden wagering requirements can trap players, making it nearly impossible to cash out bonus winnings. | Read the bonus terms; if they are too complex or vague, then it’s a red flag. | Multiple complaints from players about being unable to meet bonus playthrough conditions. | High | -The bonus terms avoid mentioning important conditions. -Bonus is too good to be true |
| Poorly designed website | A poorly designed site with broken links suggests a lack of interest in maintaining proper standards. | Test the website’s functionality and responsiveness. Check for consistent, professional design. | Players complain about the site loading slowly or some buttons not working. | Medium | -The website has a bad interface. -Casino site loads slowly and many buttons do not work. |
| Excessive Withdrawal Fees | Payment options with large fees can signal attempts to limit or withhold your winnings. | Look for hidden fees or unusual payment process | Various reports of large fees that were never mentioned earlier. | High | The site charges you a large percentage of your deposit or withdrawal amount as a fee. |
| Misleading Advertisements | Excessive promos may hide rigged practices or use deceptive policies to lure vulnerable players | Be careful with excessive bonus offers or spam emails that promise unrealistic winnings. | Punters report misleading bonus terms that are constantly changing | Medium | Casino site offers you a no-deposit free spin for new players to claim but as soon as you join, the bonus requires a minimum deposit. |
Key Takeaways – How to Ensure You’re Playing at a Fair Casino
Protecting yourself online starts with understanding that the online casino industry is filled with trustworthy sites and online casino scams. Understanding how to tell them apart will help you avoid losing money or your data. Here’s how to protect yourself:
- Only play at a casino site with a verifiable license from reputable gambling bodies like UKGC, MGA, or Gibraltar.
- Ensure the casino’s games are tested by independent auditors (eCOGRA, iTech Labs, or GLI) and have a seal to prove it.
- Ensure the site URL starts with HTTPS and has a padlock on the address bar.
- Legit casinos will reveal each game’s payout rate.
- Avoid casinos with high wagering requirements (above 55x).
- Do not join a sketchy-looking site with a poorly designed website interface.
- Read forum reviews to see what other players who have joined that site to hear what they have to say about their experience.
Insider’s Take – A BetterGambling Expert Breaks It Down
Are online casinos safe? As a casino gambler with over a decade of experience in the industry, I have observed that a fair casino will always show trustworthiness through its licensing, independent audits, and transparent policies. A gambling site that shares its third-party audit report sets itself apart from others.
Over the years, we’ve seen red flags from casinos that promise “no wagering, no deposit free spins” in their ads. However, upon claiming the offer, we discovered it had a high wagering requirement and required a deposit. I once avoided a site that refused to share details about its RNG test, a decision that later saved me money when the casino was revealed to be rigged.
So, back to answer the initial question: Are online casinos rigged? Yes, there are rigged casinos. You should look for casino sites that build trust and are transparent in their operations, and you’ll save yourself from online casino scams.
