People often think online slots are rigged because of rumours. By ‘rigged’, people mean that the outcomes in online slots are fixed and cannot be changed.
In most cases, people use anecdotes to try to prove that online slots are set up and controlled by casinos, which is a common myth surrounding them.
However, the idea of online slots being rigged isn’t new, as it started back in land casinos. People would say that in some casino games, the house has an unfair advantage. In a land-based casino, this is a lot harder to disprove, because in theory, it would be easier to “rig” machines and even slots, because they’re in-house.
However, in online casinos, this is arguably harder because casinos have to go through extensive testing of their games to make sure they abide by a fair play policy.
But in order to answer yes or no to whether online casinos are rigged, we have to delve deeper.
How Do Online Slots Work?
First, we will explain how online slots work. Online slots operate on random number generator technology, where the software produces thousands of random numbers every second. Once players start playing, the RNGs lock in a combination, which determines what symbols show up on the reels.
This ensures that all spins are independent and no same sequence is generated when players are playing. So by definition, the outcomes are random, and previous results have no impact on future ones because they are random.
What About Return Rates?
Another important part of online slots is the return to player (RTP). This is the percentage of money that a slot gives back to the player over a period of time and spins. The RTP is a percentage, and this is well documented on online slots and usually cannot be changed.
Additionally, the RTP does not reflect the return to a single player, but rather to many players, as it is spread out over multiple spins. High RTP slots return more money to players over time and are beneficial for managing your bankroll.
Slot Volatility
Another big part of slot operation and technology is volatility. Volatility is ingrained in slot machines and cannot be altered. Although volatility cannot be measured numerically, people describe slots as low, medium, and high volatility. In online slots, volatility describes the frequency and size of payments. Low equals small but common payouts, and high equals rare but big payments.
Some players think volatility correlates with slots being unfair, but it is ingrained in them to operate that way. Realistically, the volatility lets players know what they’re getting before playing the game.
You can look up a slot and find out its volatility level, which enables you to understand the payout structure before playing – can you really call that unfair?
So Are Online Slots Rigged?
In short, and even if some are, it is difficult to create a slot that is rigged. In every country where gambling is legal, online casinos must follow local licensing and regulations guidelines. If they have multiple licenses, they must follow those for their website in each province.
Also, under these bodies, they must prove their games are fair and, as mentioned previously, have them independently tested for fairness. Many casinos will have their Fair Play policy listed on their website to assure customers that games are reliable. In addition to testing the games, the RNG technology in them is also heavily scrutinised, and various thorough checks occur to ensure no manipulation of outcomes is possible.
If customers should be worried about anything, it is playing in unlicensed and unregulated casinos. You may think you’re bypassing rules, but it is more likely that these casinos are using rigged software to manipulate game outcomes, and not the average online casinos.
So Why Do People Still Think Online Slots Are Rigged?
Despite multiple points proving otherwise, people still believe online slots are rigged for the following reasons:
- Myths Around Slots – Myths are one of the biggest contributors to slot misconceptions. People believe things, like that the casino can change the odds of the slot machines or that playing at certain times of the day produces a different outcome. In turn, these cause others to doubt the legitimacy of slots and the casinos.
- Anecdotes – As we mentioned at the beginning of this blog, people believe hearsay stories that slots are rigged. Hearing from a friend that they won because they pressed the button at a certain time makes people think they can do it too, and encourages distrust in casinos and the belief that slots are unfair.
- Psychology – Some people believe that because they have dry spells and losing streaks on slot machines, which is very common, that they are rigged. Players who are used to winning games find it hard to understand that slot outcomes are random, so they claim there is something wrong with the game or that it is fixed to cope with not winning.
How To See If A Casino Is Safe
It is important to play safely and responsibly in online casinos, and there are some things you can do to check if the casino is safe.
- Check their licensing – See if the casino you’re playing at has a legitimate license and account number. Find out your country’s gambling authority. You may be able to find them on the licensing bodies’ registry if you’re not sure.
- Verify game information with the developers and casino – Cross-reference information about games such as their RTP and mechanics. If things do not match very closely, you could be playing a pirated version of the game.
- Scout for a Fair Play policy – See if the casino has a fair play or security policy displayed on their website. Verify these with reviews if possible. If reviews say the casino isn’t safe, then it is probably true.
Our Final Verdict: Online Slots Are Not Rigged
No, online slots are not rigged at all. Slot technology is combined to ensure that outcomes are random and no previous games affect the current ones. With that being said, there are plenty of fake and unregulated casinos that exist online that use manipulated software to rig games.
You should always thoroughly research the casino you’re playing to check its licensing and regulation certifications, as well as information on security and fairplay policies. However, casinos are obligated to have their games tested, which means RNG software and slots are thoroughly tested to ensure their outcomes are fair, random, and legitimate.
