Do casinos cheat?
So do online casinos cheat? In conclusion, reputable, long-standing online casinos don't cheat, they're not rigged and they are fair. But before you start to gamble online, you'd be well advised to check out your options. Our casino overview page is designed to allow you to compare and contrast our approved online casinos. When you've narrowed. Do casinos cheat? With games already designed for profit, how far do casinos have to go before we can say they are cheating? Do casinos cheat? Let’s start with a quick sorting of definitions. If you merely say that cheating is being dishonest, then there are both honest and dishonest casinos. Vonn Bell gets revenge on JuJu Smith-Schuster with nasty hit (Video). These scholars aren't the first to ask the question of why people cheat (e.g., Barta & Kiene, 2005), but evidence regarding infidelity motives is surprisingly scarce, suggesting the need for.
Let’s start with a quick sorting of definitions. If you merely say that cheating is being dishonest, then there are both honest and dishonest casinos. The honest casinos comply with regulations, file required reports, and train their employees to abide by the law. Once in a while an honest casino will arrest its own employees for cheating.
The dishonest casinos are intentionally breaking the law. Don’t expect them to file accurate regulatory reports or call the police when their employees do something wrong.
And yet some argue that because casinos only offer games that come with a “house edge”, a theoretical percentage that favors the house, they’re really cheating the players. This subjective point has been debated many times from many angles.
Are you merely paying for entertainment or are you throwing your money away?
Is it the casino’s fault if you have a gambling problem?
That doesn’t really address the question of whether a casino cheats.
Cheating versus Stacking the Odds
Although we usually say “odds” when thinking of probabilities, the gambling industry uses “odds” to refer to the amount of money a casino stakes against your wager. Say you lay down $100 on a single number on a roulette table. The casino offers 35-to-1 odds on European roulette. That’s a high payoff, but gambling math enthusiasts love to use roulette to demonstrate how the odds differ from the probabilities. You have a 1-in-37 chance of the roulette ball landing on that number.
In this game it’s clear that if everyone bets the same amount on a different number, and 36 players pace bets at the same time, then the casino is guaranteed to keep 1/36 of the wagers. 35 of the players will lose their money but 1 player wins back 34 times his original wager (plus the wager itself).
In this unlikely scenario two people win: the house and the lucky player.
So is the casino cheating the players or is it merely taking a statistical “fee” for running a fair game?
The odds are stacked in the casino’s favor, ever so slightly. If you feel that is cheating then the lesson to be learned here is to not play roulette.
But if you are okay with the casino taking enough money to pay its bills and make a profit, then may the odds be ever in your favor.
Cheating versus Bad Gambling
In a completely fair game of chance neither side has an advantage over the other. You’re both staking a wager on the unknown outcome of an event, like a sporting event or the spin of a slot machine. One player’s wager may be proportionately greater than the other. Ideally that higher stake is comparable to the likely outcome of the event.
Here’s an example:
How likely is it that you’ll get five of a kind in draw poker?
On a video poker game the casino pays a really high prize for five of a kind (in games that allow that result). It just doesn’t happen often.
Another tenet of fair gambling is that both players know what they are doing. When it comes to the general gambling population, casinos do often have an advantage. Either players are trying out new games whose rules are unfamiliar to them, or the players may be tired or inebriated
It doesn’t help that casinos create an environment that helps you forget the time or drift into a semi-mesmerized state of mind.
If a gambler is playing with impaired judgment the casino has an unfair advantage.
But the casinos argue they don’t force players to drink. Nor do they require you to gamble continuously.
While critics argue that the casinos create fantasy environments that lull the alert mind into a dull state, the casinos counter that argument by pointing out that players can leave at any time. The casinos also offer entertainment venues, dining and restroom facilities, and shops. Members are welcome to get up, walk around, and do something other than play games.
It’s up to you to decide how you spend your time in the casino.
On the other hand, the casino wants you to you to play games. They create an atmosphere that makes you feel comfortable while playing games. The casinos’ strategy is to remain just on the right side of the line versus cheating and benefiting from a player’s poor judgment.
Cheating versus Declared Theoretical Returns
Gambling writers devote many words to explaining and analyzing “theoretical return to player” and “house edge”. These are two sides of the same coin. When the math is done correctly, both percentages add up to about 100% (allowing for rounding errors).
What the house doesn’t keep is supposed to be reallocated to the players.
Through the years writers have discussed how much the percentages on slot games matter and whether casinos adjust them. On older, mechanical machines there was, in fact, a switch that floor managers could use to change the approximate theoretical return to players.
Modern games now rely on computer software that is burned into special chips. The chips have to be replaced or reprogrammed in order to change the theoretical return to player. All of these changes have to be made according to regulations set by government authorities.
In other words, floor managers no longer just “flip a switch”.
The problem with studying theoretical returns, however, is that they are based on probability distributions. Probability distributions only accurately depict the data against which they are calculated. That data either comes from past games (which do not predict future results) or from simulated games (which do not predict future results). When computed against enough data these probability distributions indicate about how much money the players should retain (altogether, and not allowing for putting wins back into games) and how much money the casinos should keep.
In reality, a probability model could (and probably will ) be wildly wrong over a short number of plays. The fact that a player takes his winnings and gambles them on future games also alters the distribution. A theoretical return to player or house edge assumes that every wager is a new stake. Few players use only fresh wagers; most of us roll our winnings over.
Given all these variables, why should a casino cheat if it already has a statistical edge not once but twice over?
The risk versus potential reward is awful.
Cheating versus House Rules and Terms of Service
Players may not realize it, but legitimate online casinos pay close attention to all the terms they ask players to agree to. When you join an online casino or any casino’s rewards program, you agree to follow certain rules. Players who just assume they know the rules may run afoul of them. These player mistakes sometimes lead to disagreements and complaints, especially when casinos withhold winnings.
It is the player’s responsibility to read the terms of use and all applicable rules. Some online casinos have been known to break up these player agreements, displaying them in different parts of their websites.
Here’s an example:
You may agree to one set of rules when you join a casino.
But when you enter a tournament or take advantage of a special promotion you may be required to agree to another set of rules (explicitly or implicitly) that only apply to that tournament or promotion.
If casinos make it hardfor players to piece together all the rules they agree to abide by, then there’s a fair argument for saying the casinos are giving themselves an unfair advantage. By the same token, some players are caught trying to cheat the casinos and then complain about forfeited winnings.
There may also be honest player mistakes that regrettably lead to forfeited winnings.
Here’s an example of that:
Suppose you use your brother’s credit card to make a deposit in an online casino account. That’s illegal. The practice violates guidelines published by legitimate online casinos. You’re required to make deposits from your own financial accounts. When a casino discovers a player made improper deposits, they will revoke the player’s membership, return the original deposit, and retain all winnings.
Cheating versus Changing the Rules of the Game
Casinos sometimes add their own “house rules” to the games they offer. A blackjack table may restrict the kinds of wagers that can be made, thus diminishing the expected return to player.
A new roulette game may also be brought in. Have you heard about Sands roulette? This variation on the classic game offers 3 green numbers instead of the 2 found in American roulette and the one green number found in European roulette.
The odds in Sands roulette are even worse for players than the odds in American roulette.
As long as the casinos display these new rules prominently, such that the players are aware they are participating in non-standard games, then it’s all on the player. If a casino obscures the fact that the rules are different then most, people would argue the casino is not being fair.
That’s a form of cheating. Whether it’s illegal depends on how the house obscures the rule change and what the local laws permit.
Rigged Games Do Exist
Make no mistake, though.
There are indeed some unscrupulous casinos out there.
Illegal casinos can rig their games in various ways. Some online casinos steal the software used by other casinos and offer games without proper authorization from the game makers.
Can you trust these casinos to be fair and honest with you?
Why don’t they just pay for the software and get legitimate online gaming licenses?
Illegal land-based casinos may use rigged roulette wheels, or they may employ dealers who don’t shuffle or deal cards properly. Once a casino operator decides to step outside the bounds of local laws there’s no knowing what they will do to their players. That is why law enforcement agencies in many jurisdictions work hard to crack down on illegal gambling operations. These guys are acting in bad faith from the very start and they most likely prey on people who are addicted to gambling.
In a legitimate land-based casino the dealers are required to stand in certain positions and move their hands in ways that make it apparent to security officers they are following the rules. Customers may think these hand movements are odd at first, but once you understand the language of dealer movements you should feel reassured.
A legitimate online casino must have a gaming license from a government authority. You should be able to find who licensed the casino on their website; you can then verify the casino’s license is valid by checking with that gaming authority.
Also, as you load the games in your web browser, watch the address bar to see where the URLs point to. If you don’t recognize the domain name of the gaming server, you may have reason to suspect the software has been pirated.
You can compare how the same games are served through different online casinos to see if someone is using a different gaming server. Of course, some companies own multiple online gaming casinos so a little due diligence is required.
But this is why it’s important to check with online gambling forums for updates about which casinos may be cheats.
Conclusion
Every gambler eventually stops to wonder if they are being cheated by a casino.Although there are illegal casinos, any properly licensed casino that abides by regulations is generally trustworthy.
Cheat Of Games
But like many other industries, the casinos do everything they can to help their customers spend more money (legally). Since the games are designed to ensure the house keeps at least some money over time, all the casino really needs to do is convince players to keep gambling.
Statistics does the rest.
Casinos are more likely to invest in developing a fun entertainment experience because they know that will pay for itself over time. Whether online or offline everything the casino does is designed to encourage you to play more. As long as the casino is obeying all applicable laws it doesn’t have to lie or intentionally mislead you.
So why do we gamble?
- We get a thrill from the experience of taking a risk.
- Because we enjoy doing things with our friends or even just amid crowds of strangers.
- Because we might win more money than we risk.
The player who pays attention to everything the casino says and does is less likely to feel cheated or be cheated. The bottom line when it comes to gambling against the house is to always be at the top of your game.
So go easy on the alcohol, even if it’s provided to you “on the house”.
Can you trust online casinos?
Gambling is all about taking risks, but you don't want to add uneccessary risks by playing at a casino that will cheat you out of your winnings, or not allow you to win at all.
Some gamblers insist that all online casinos are rigged, that 'impossible' things happen too often for them to be truly random.
This view is fairly widespread and seems odd to those of us involved in the industry. But online casino gambling is actually a victim of its own success, as the article below tries to explain.
The Top 10 questions we get asked
If you're new to online gambling, or have doubts about your experiences at online casinos, there are questions you need answering.
The following is a list of the most common questions we've been asked over the years. Hopefully, this page and the rest of the site can give you the answers!
- Are online casinos fair?
- Are online casinos legit?
- Which online casinos are honest?
- Are online casinos safe to play at?
- Can you win money at online casinos?
- Which online casinos actually pay out?
- Can you trust online casinos?
- Are online casinos rigged?
- Which are the most reliable online casinos?
- Which online casinos should I play at?
Do online casinos cheat?
In a word, NO!
But there remains a perception that they do. This is due to three simple factors that we outline below.
Why is gambling at an online casino different to a 'real' casino?
Frequency of games - more games per hour means 'unusual' events happen more often.
Playing alone - you don't see others players win, so have to judge the casino's fairness on your results only.
Past reputations - early, unregulated casinos were not always honest.
1. Frequency of games
One of the big advantages of online gambling is that you play at your own pace. You're playing against your own version of the casino, so you don't have to wait for others to place their bets or be paid out. There are no physical chips or cards or balls, so there's no 'clearing up' to be done between games. The cards are dealt quicker, the Roulette wheel takes less time to spin, the dice are always ready to be thrown.
As a result, you can play many more games per hour than you can in a land-based casino.
But there's a downside to this. Unusual events will seem to occur much more frequently than they would in a bricks and mortar casino. Not in terms of probablity, but in elapsed time.
As an example, the probability of getting 6 consecutive blacks in Roulette is approximately 1 in 64.
In a real casino, it can take two minutes between spins of the wheel, so this event will only occur on average every two hours or so (2 x 64 = 128 minutes). Playing online, you can get in three spins every minute, or 180 in an hour. Suddenly, the unlikely event of 6 consecutive blacks is happening every 20 minutes (180 / 64 = 21.33).
In both cases, the probability is the same, but the impression is that an unusual event is happening six times more often when playing online, which leads players to the conclusion that the online casino must somehow be rigged.
It's perfectly understandable, and a hard misconception to shake off. Players generally don't study probability but have an innate feel for how often results come. Anything unusual makes them suspicious.
But we assure you that the random number generators used by online casinos are completely random and are constantly monitored and tweaked to ensure that the results they generate are as close to 'natural' as possible.
Why Do People Hack Games
2. Playing alone
As mentioned above, when you play online, you're playing alone. That gives you a great amount of freedom, but there's an important psychological effect to consider.
Let's say you're playing Blackjack in a real casino on a table with four other players and you hit an unlucky streak and lose ten hands in a row. It's highly unlikely that all the players at your table are having such a bad time as you - the probability is that one or more players at your table will win some of those hands.
Even though you're losing, you can see others winning, so you know that the casino is honest.
Online, you're focusing only on your own results. Because you don't see anyone else win or, more importantly, see the casino lose, those ten losing hands seem to be against all probability.
As with the Roulette example above, it gives you an uneasy feeling that things are not quite right.
Think in terms of pure probability and you'll see that you've exactly the same chance of winning online that you have in a real casino.
3. Past reputations
Online gambling enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity. At times, it was like a new frontier. But like any new venture, it attracted some dubious characters along with the genuine operators.
Everyone involved in online casino gambling has to be honest about this: in the early days, some casinos cheated. It's an unfortunate fact, and for many years did nothing to improve players' confidence in the honesty of online casinos.
Fortunately, things have now changed. The online casino industry is one of the most regulated of all businesses. Most of those 'rogue' casinos have been run out of town - named and shamed and blacklisted by the numerous industry watchdogs.
These industry ombudsmen exist to uphold the image of fairness and reliability and will step in to investigate and resolve any player disputes. So long as you're playing at a regulated casino site, you'll be protected against any wrongdoing.
In the UK, things are even stricter. Since the Gambling Act was enforced, only regulated casinos are allowed to advertise or be promoted. In this case, regulated means licensed in an approved jurisdiction. This caused major headaches as many of the biggest casinos suddenly found themselves outside this so-called 'White List'. Most have now moved operations to places such as Malta, but some have resisted and are now unable to promote to UK and EU players.
Of course, the big money involved in online gambling will always attract unscupulous operators, so it's always wise to be wary of new casinos. Our recommended casinos have all been around for enough time to prove themselves trustworthy and reliable - and in the unlikely event that any of them prove to be the opposite, we'll get rid of them immediately.
Why People Cheat At Work
So do online casinos cheat?
In conclusion, reputable, long-standing online casinos don't cheat, they're not rigged and they are fair.
But before you start to gamble online, you'd be well advised to check out your options. Our casino overview page is designed to allow you to compare and contrast our approved online casinos. When you've narrowed down your options, read our individual casino reviews, where you'll find all you need to know - games, bonuses, languages, deposit and withdrawal options, customer service details.
If you're nervous about starting to gamble online, we recommend you try out one or more of our secure casinos, safe in the knowledge that the casinos we approve are licensed, regulated and - above all - honest.
Click here to see our recommended casinos!