Before we can discover whether casino games are rigged or not, we have to define what rigged means. If you’re asking whether it’s true that the house will always win, the answer is yes. The casino will always make money on its games in the long term because it has a mathematical advantage. Any Casino that has rigged roulette is violating gaming laws and can be shutdown and heavily fined, any casino knows that they dont benefit from rigging roulette, as it already has a. Rigged online casinos usually offer games that are identical to the ones in fair and licensed casinos — the only difference is that you don’t really have an opportunity to win any money. In other words, you’ll pay and not get anything in return. Every now and again, a gambler suspects that casino games or the casino itself is rigged. There are other theories being raised by gamblers. Such as if you play for longer periods of time you will strike it lucky or perhaps, that casinos are constantly trying to lure new players. Some games are way more of a ripoff than others — even by casino standards.
It’s only natural for a player to wonder if they’re victim to a scam or not when things aren’t going their way with online casino games. When playing virtual games like online blackjack or slots, it’s impossible to find out if the algorithm puts you at an extreme disadvantage or not. The question that crosses many gamblers’ lips: “are online casinos rigged?”.
This article covers everything you need to know about rigged gambling sites, how to avoid them, and where you can play safely.
Can Online Casinos Be Rigged?
It’s hard to answer this question definitely, but depending on the gambling site you play at, they could be, yes. That’s why it’s crucial that you do diligent research and sign up at a reliable one.
Some casinos are certified by independent third parties that study the site’s algorithm to ensure no rigging takes place. Those are the legit gambling sites that you should be playing at if you’re worried about authenticity.
How do Rigged Casinos Work?
The two main ways that casinos put you at a disadvantage are by tweaking the odds heavily in the house’s favor and duplicating scenarios in-game.
If you’ve ever played real money slots online, you’ll probably start to think the game is altered when every single spin gives you nothing at all. Although the outcome of all slots is produced by a random number generator (RNG), there are ways to tweak the algorithm so that the house wins more often than the player.
The second method casinos can rig a game is by duplicating a scenario in their games. When playing online blackjack, there will probably be times when you know the outcome will benefit the dealer; for example, when you get a 19 against a dealer’s face card, and they always get 20 in the end. When a gambling site is rigged, it’s no coincidence that this happens often – they structure the game to do that.
How to Identify a Fair Casino Site
Many illegal casinos have opened throughout the years, and many individuals have fallen victim to their tactics. However, we’ll show you the best ways to identify whether or not a gambling site is fair or not.
Positive Reviews
The first thing gamblers should do is read reviews online from players just like them. Look at websites like Trustpilot to find real users’ sentiments, and then look at websites that professionally review casinos to get the in-depth details. This way, you can make an informed decision before you sign up.Licensing
Usually, at the footer of a casino’s website, you can find certificates and badges to show users that they are trustworthy. It is illegal for sites to post these without verification or fake them. If the certification is legitimate, though, it’s almost sure that the casino operates fairly.Trusted Software Operators
Online casinos that host games from trustworthy game operators are likely legitimate sites. Examples of reliable operators include NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, Yggdrasil Gaming, Betsoft Gaming, etc.Algorithm Transparency
It is increasingly rare for an online casino to disclose their algorithm and RNG odds, but it’s a bonus if it does. A little bit of transparency goes a long way.
Top Online Casinos for US Players
Below we’ve listed the safest real money online casinos, where gaming fairness is guaranteed, and players can gamble safely.
| RANK | ONLINE CASINO | BONUS | # OF GAMES | MIN DEPOSIT | START |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BONUS280% up to $14,000 | # OF GAMES227 | MIN DEPOSIT$10 | ||
| 2 | BONUS100% up to $5,000 | # OF GAMES249 | MIN DEPOSIT$20 | ||
| 3 | BONUS150% up to $3,000 | # OF GAMES304 | MIN DEPOSIT$10 | ||
| 4 | BONUS250% up to $12,500 | # OF GAMES227 | MIN DEPOSIT$10 | ||
| 5 | BONUS100% up to $3,000 | # OF GAMES289 | MIN DEPOSIT$20 |
Safest Online Casinos
Check out below why these casinos made it to our list.
Although Las Atlantis is a very new casino, they are quickly solidifying themselves as a reliable option for gamblers. They have the Gaming Curacao license, which is the official certification from the Curacao government.
On top of this, they have an SSL secured cashier service and host games from reliable software operator Realtime Gaming. On top of that, they have a responsive customer support service dedicated to you.
Super Slots has quickly climbed its way up on our list. They have a variety of gaming options land an array of trusted deposit and withdrawal methods.
This gambling site is also RNG certified, which means that an investigative party has approved its algorithm. If you ever have any queries about the casino, you can contact them directly via their instant live chat service.
El Royale has a great selection of games from software operators Realtime Gaming and Visionary iGaming. They are also certified by the Curacao government and have SSL secured cashier services.
This casino also has a form in the footer of their site where you can submit player disputes to an independent third-party service if there’s ever anything you feel uncomfortable about.
Wild Casino offers a secure platform, with plenty of banking methods to start playing. It features games from Nucleus Gaming, which provides users with a smooth and trustworthy experience.
They are also RNG certified with 24/7 live chat for any queries players may have. Playing at this gambling site is a soothing experience with the guarantee that they operate legally.
BetOnline is one of the oldest and safest online casinos on the Internet, so it is hard to doubt them with that pedigree. A website doesn’t operate for almost 20 years while being rigged against their customers.
They have all the licenses and certifications you may want to see, and they have excellent customer service if you still feel uncomfortable. Playing at this site is a fair and fun experience.
Play at Safe Online Casinos and Win Real Money!
With the newfound knowledge of successfully identifying a fair casino, you’ll never fall victim to an illegal site that will steal your money from you again. If you follow our tips above, it should be easy to tell when a website is legit or not.
Alternatively, our recommended casinos have been vetted and investigated not only by us but governments and legal bodies. Don’t just take our word for it. Get started now and start winning real money!
Many casino players ask themselves, at some point, “are casino games rigged?”
New players wonder this because they’ve heard the popular expression, “the house always wins.”
Some experienced players also ask themselves this question because they’ve experienced overall losses when they calculate their profits and losses over time.
In this piece, I’ll answer the question with facts about casino games. As you will see, casino games are rigged to favor the house. But as long as you’re playing legit games at trusted casinos, you can still win.
Allow me to explain…
Understanding House Edge and RTP – How Casino Games Are Rigged
Before we can discover whether casino games are rigged or not, we have to define what rigged means.
If you’re asking whether it’s true that the house will always win, the answer is yes.
The casino will always make money on its games in the long term because it has a mathematical advantage.
Indian Casinos Are Rigged
However, if you mean rigged as you can’t win, no matter what you do, the answer is no.
Legit casino games aren’t rigged to cheat you.
There’s a chance that you can win, but even if you do, the casino will still make money because other players will lose enough to cover your win plus deliver some profit.
When playing casino games online, it’s important to understand two concepts.
- House Edge – This is the casino’s mathematical advantage. It varies from game to game. The house edge on slot machines is usually 4%, whereas, in blackjack, it can be as low as 0.5%.
- RTP – This is the average amount of money returned to players. For example, on slot machines, it’s usually 96%, whereas, in blackjack, it might be 99.5%.
You’ll notice the relationship between the house edge and RTP numbers. The house edge lets you calculate the casino’s profit on the game. So, does the RTP, but it tells you how much the casino will return to players. They’re two ways of expressing the same thing.
That means out of every $100 wagered on slots; the casino will make $4.
The RTP on a slot machine might be 96%.
This means that of every $100 wagered on a slot machine, players get $96 back.
In this example, do not make the mistake of thinking that the casino will only keep 4% of your money or will return $96 out of every $100 wagered by you. It’s possible that 10 players could lose $100 each, then one lucky player would win $40 on a $1 spin. RTP and house edge figures are averages.
Likewise, if you win a jackpot, you can be sure that the casino has either already taken more than that in profits or will do in the future. That’s why the house always wins. In this sense, casino games are rigged in favor of the house.
The House Edge for Popular Casino Games
Now that you understand the concepts of house edge and RTP, let’s look at the house edge for some popular casino games. Learning these will help you decide the best casino game to play to reach your goals.
Before we begin, note three things.
- First, the higher the house edge, the bigger the potential payouts.
- Second, different bets within a game can alter the house edge.
- Lastly, the house edge can be affected by what game variant you play.
| Game | House Edge |
| Blackjack | Between 2% and 0.28% depending on strategy and player experience. |
| Baccarat | 1.06% on player bet. 1.24% on banker bet. 14.3% on tie bet. |
| Roulette | 2.7% on European Roulette. 5.26% on American Roulette. |
| Slot Machines | Variable is 96% average. Up to 15% on progressive jackpot slots. |
| Keno | Variable is 20% to 30% depending on variant. |
| Video Poker | Variable depending on variant. |
| Craps | Variable depending on bet. 0% for taking the odds, up to 13.89% for 2, 12, and hard hops. |
| Sic Bo | Between 2.78% and 33.33% depending on what bet you place. |
As you can see, slot machines, keno, and some craps bets have the highest house edges. Casinos make most of their money on these games. That’s one of the reasons they’re almost always permitted in casino bonus terms and conditions. However, these games also offer you the largest potential returns.
Video poker almost always has the lowest house edge. It does vary depending on what variant you’re playing, but there are some games such as Jacks or Better have a house edge as low as 0.46% and can even have a negative house edge when played with a perfect video poker strategy.
Avoiding (Actual) Rigged Casino Games
You now understand that all casino games give the house a mathematical advantage, the extent that they do so depends on the game variant and often how you play it, and that even if you win a jackpot, the casino will still make money in the long game.
These greedy merchants aim to lighten your wallet by running rigged casino games in a literal sense. While it saddens me to have to report this, I believe in being positive.
Therefore, I’d like to focus on two things:
- There are far more honest, legit online casinos than there are rogue ones. I’d say it’s at least a 10:1 ratio.
- You can avoid rigged casinos by being aware of them and learning how to spot them.
Here are some clues that casino games might be rigged.
- The games aren’t powered by legit and verified safe software providers like NetEnt, Microgaming, RTG, or Evolution.
- You lose more frequently than you statistically should. The house edge table above will give you a clue as to how many hands, rolls, or spins you should win out of 100.
- The casino operator doesn’t have a valid gaming license. This is a red flag, and you have to ask yourself why.
There are also cloned casino games that appear to be from legit software providers. With experience, you can easily spot these because there will be glitches and other tells. They just won’t be of the same quality as authentic casino games.
Are Cruise Casinos Rigged
Look out for rigged casino games, and if you have any doubt, avoid them. They’re bad for you, the casino industry, and even the scammers who run them. They’d be much better off in the long-term if they ran honest, legit casinos that stood the test of time.
Rigged Casino Games – Frequently Asked Questions
I often like to wrap up my blog posts with three or four related questions I’ve encountered often. I’ll do so here on the subject of rigged casino games.