Are Online Slots Rigged? Not if You Know Where to Play 2023 (2024)

Do Online Casinos Rig Their Games?

Trustworthy and reputable online casinos do not rig their games. However, all online casino games are made for the casino to have the best chance of winning. That means that players are always at a disadvantage, no matter which games they play.

As for online slots, they have something called RTP, which stands for Return to Player. This is the percentage of all bets that are paid out as winnings on the machine.For example, if the RTP is 96%, then 96% of all bets placed are paid as winnings. This is not per person or per game round but accumulated based on all players who have played. Furthermore, the RTP is calculated over millions upon millions of spins. This is why it’s unlikely to be correct for your gaming session.

It should also be said, however, that there are rogue casinos online that do not use fair random number generators (RNGs). These casinos can rig their RNGs to pay out as much or little as the casinos see fit. This is why you should only play at safe online casinos.

How Online Slots are Protected Against Rigging

Safe online gambling sites secure their slot games in a number of ways. Below we’ll give you more details about why you can trust slots at a licensed casino.

Random Number Generators

A RNG is what determines the result of any slot game round. RNGs ensure that the casino can’t interfere with who wins and how much they win. It is also not possible for players to rig the slots to gain an unfair advantage. This is, as long as the RNGs are certified. RNGs apply to small and big payouts equally.

Certification of RNGs

There are several companies that specialise in testing, auditing, and certifying casinos and their software. Two reputable companies with independent auditors are eCOGRA and iTechLabs. These companies also certify RNGs, after having ensured that they’ve not been tampered with.

Licensed Game Providers

In order to operate legally, a casino needs a gambling license, and in many jurisdictions, the gambling authorities that issue licenses require the same from game providers. If a game provider is licensed, it means their games have been tested and deemed fair. Choose games from providers that hold licenses from a reputable gambling authority, like the Malta Gaming Authority, to ensure game safety.

Return to Player Percentage

All slots online should show the theoretical RTP percentage. This percentage tells a gambler how large a portion of all bets on the slot will be paid out as winnings. Typically, this is somewhere around the 95% mark. However, this is only theoretical and calculated across all players and over millions of game rounds.

Play at Trustworthy Online Casinos

The number one piece of advice we’d give anyone who’s playing online slots is to play at a trusted casino.

You can easily find plenty of reputable and safe casinos to play at right here at LetsGambleUSA. We have reviewed and tested hundreds of casinos and listed the ones that are deemed safe.

Rigged and unfair games are not the only pitfalls at unsafe casinos. A casion might even claim to have fair games or games that pay out more than they should, but, if they make those claims, there’s a good chance that they won’t actually pay out your winnings.

At trusted casinos with certified RNGs, you can be sure that the games work as intended. Moreover, with stellar player reputations, you won’t have to worry about getting your winnings confiscated. Fair games and a good reputation are two of the things we always check for before recommending a casino.

Ensuring Secure and Fair Play Online

There is nothing you as a player can do to ensure fair play online. However, there is a lot the casino can do. Luckily, most casinos and all the reputable ones, do what they can and should.

Ensuring fair game starts with the casinos choosing which games to offer. There are thousands upon thousands of online slots, but most casinos won’t offer all of them. Most US offshore casinos only offer between 200 and 400 slots.

The casino’s being a bit picky with their game selection is always a good sign for fair games. This rule of thumb does not only go for games but also for the companies making them. Licensed and reputable game providers are essential if a casino wants good and fair games.

Next comes an RNG. An RNG is there to ensure that all players have the same chance of winning and that the slot pays out according to what it’s been made to do. The RNG should also be regularly audited by an independent third party.

Last, the casinos also need to give fair terms to their players. This goes both for general site terms and bonus terms. It’s not enough that the slots are paying out as they should if the casino won’t honour the winnings and cashout requests.

Do Online Casinos Cheat?

Most online casinos do not cheat. There are, of course, online casinos that are nothing but scams, and these should be avoided at all costs. Make sure you play at a safe one by picking it from our list of recommended casinos.

Assuming you play at a safe and reputable casino, the games they offer are not rigged. However, the casinos will always have an edge in all games offered at the casino. If they didn’t, they’d lose money offering the games. For online slots, this means that the casino will keep around 5% of all bets as their profit.

Around 5% to the casino also means that around 95% will be paid out as winnings. This is why we say that players are always at a disadvantage. However, remember that this is accumulated for all players playing the slot, and some will lose more so that some might win more.

In reality, when playing, you’re playing to win the money other players have lost. This does not mean that the casinos are cheating; it’s simply how their games are made.

Cheating at Land-Based Casinos

Cheating occurs much more often at land-based casinos than at online casinos. The reason for this is that it’s not possible to cheat online because games and casinos are very well protected. We can thank technology like RNGs and site encryptions for that.

Security measures at land-based casinos are also very good, but they do have more security holes. Many of their games are operated by humans, and humans are not perfect. Furthermore, you might find mechanical old-fashioned slots at land-based establishments or older-type video slots where you can hack in and change their algorithms.

It’s a well-known fact that some casino establishments, like those along the Strip in Las Vegas, used to rig their games. This was done so that it would pay out less than what it was intended to do, which was easy money for the casino.

However, casinos cheating like that is no longer an issue. First, gambling authorities and regulatory bodies that license casinos have become much stricter over the years and check games for rigging. Second, with the internet, it would be impossible for a casino to survive the negative fallout if it was discovered rigging its games.

Online reviews from players ensure that maintaining a good reputation has become imperative for any gambling establishment. It’s simply not worth the risk for any casino to rig its games. Besides, the games are made to make a profit for the casinos anyway.

Why Players Think Online Casinos Rigged Their Slots

In some circles, there seems to be a common consensus that all slots are rigged against players. This is because these players claim to never win. However, there are two ways to think about winning when playing slots.

The first way is to think of the wins per game round. How often you win and how much is mostly up to the volatility of games. By choosing the slots with the volatility you prefer, you can win more often or rarely and a lot or little. But in the end, you will end up getting some wins.

The second version of winning or not is the long-term gain. This is what most players refer to when they say that they don’t win. Casinos would, on the other hand, claim that most players do win. The issue is that players do not cash out when they’re up; instead, they keep on playing until they lose.

It’s important to remember that a slot is an online casino game made to make money for the casino. It’s highly unlikely for a player to keep on winning in the long run.

So, when you do land a big win, the smart thing to do is to cash out your winnings. If you don’t, you’re likely to lose your winnings. Players that do not cash out are the ones complaining about never winning on slots.

Your Winning Chances on a Slot Machine

As explained in our online slot guide, your winning chances on a slot machine are determined by the RTP percentage in the game. That is, the RTP percentage determines your long-term chances of winning. Another important factor that’s more accurate in the short term is the volatility of the slot.

A high volatility slot is likely to deplete your bankroll quickly, but this is not always the case because if you’re lucky and hit a big win in a slot like this, you’re likely to get a huge win.

Low volatility in a slot is more likely to keep your bankroll stable and provide more playing time. You will probably not get huge wins but win plenty of smaller ones to keep your balance from dropping too rapidly.

So, when talking about winning chances on a slot, we need to consider both the RTP and volatility.

As for RTP, this is the theoretical winning chance you and all other players have on a slot. You can think of it in terms of all bets placed on the slot being collected in one pool. If the RTP is 95%, then 5% goes to the casino and the remaining 95% is divided among all players.

The thing to keep in mind is that not all players will get an equal share. Some will get a lot of it, and others almost nothing. How unequal the shares for the players are will be determined by the volatility of the game.

For you to win, you need to get a bigger share than what you theoretically should have. Basically, you need to get some of what, in a fair division, should have gone to other players.

FAQ

Are Online Slots Rigged Against Players?

Yes and no. Slots are made to pay out less than what players put into them. However, that’s on a general basis, and they will pay out according to their RTPs. They are fair as long as a slot uses an RNG to determine the results. Fair means that slots are not rigged for or against any players because all players have the same chance of winning.

How Can I Rig a Slot Machine to Pay Out?

As long as the slot uses a certified RNG to determine results, it’s not possible to rig the slot. Online slots that run on RNGs are very secure, and tampering with the slot in order to win is not possible. The only slots that are possible to rig are mechanical old-fashioned slot machines.

Which Games are the Safest Ones?

Any games that run on a RNG are safe. This includes slot machines, scratch cards, table games, and any other digital game at online casinos. To be sure that the games are safe and fair, just ensure the RNG is certified by an independent third party.

What is Fair Gaming?

Fair gaming is a collective term for games that are fair for players. This means that the games offer all who play on them the same chances of winning. The result of a game round is decided by an audited and certified random number generator. Neither the casino nor the players can interfere with it.

Are Casinos Cheating Players?

Trustworthy and reputable casinos are not cheating players. However, all games offered at casinos will give the casino an edge over players. This means that your chances of winning are always slightly below 50%. If the games gave casinos and players an equal chance of winning, casinos would lose money in offering the games.

Is it Possible to Win When Playing Online Slot Machines?

Yes, it is possible to win when playing online slots. However, slots are games of chance, and the odds are always against you. In order for you to win, you need some luck. Consider the game’s RTP and use the best slot strategies in order to increase your winning chances.