The main goal of an online casino in setting up the business and you playing casino games is the same. It is simply to make a profit. No hiding the fact that the casinos make money from you and other customers. The house always wins, is a cliché every player knows, but online casinos need to give the players a fair chance of profitable gambling.
The discretion of doing some digging to ensure your preferred casinos and games are not rigged falls on the players. Casinos, whether online or land-based, are designed to make a profit. Reputable ones thrive on a good reputation, which brings volume betting and higher returns in the long run. But like other human endeavors, the rotten eggs want to cut corners and make a quick profit in a short time. The question is, how do you know if your online casino is fair, honest, and the outcomes of its games are truly random?
Play online games with lower house edges
One of the ways casinos stay in business and maintain profitability regardless of the outcome of the game outcomes is the house edge. The mathematical advantage assured a percentage profit from all the players’ stake, resulting in a cumulative loss for the players. The mathematical advantage that guaranteed a return for a casino is the house edge.
Understandably, the betting companies have to make money both in the short and long term to stay in business. The overhead cost of paying the staff, buying the game software, designing an attractive betting platform and so on rests on getting a fixed cut from the players’ total stake.
It means the average casino player needs some luck to break even a heavy dose of luck to win big in the long run. It does not translate to casino games being rigged, but the collective prize all the players pay the house for providing an excellent gambling service and its ability to continue to do so.
However, the house edge of a casino of a game determines your odds of winning to a large extent. This house advantage varies from one online casino game to another. It is often lower or non-existent in games you play against other players rather than the house.
RTP of casino games determine your chances
On the flip side of house Edge is the RTP. While the house edge is the fixed profit of a casino on a game, the RTP is the theoretical amount the player stands to win from the total amount wagered.
To put it in a clearer perspective, let’s say a casino game has an RTP of 75% and two participating players who wagered a total of $100 over a particular period. At the end of the game, a total of $75 will be won by these two players. One player may win some of the $75 or all, that win is at the expense of the player’s bankroll.
Stating it bluntly, for every big winner from a casino game is a massive loser or a large number of losers.
Though other factors determine your chances in a casino game, playing a game that gives you a better mathematical chance of winning is smart. Reputable online publish the RTP of all their games to convince you of their fairness. An RTP of 80% is generally considered fair, but many games give the players higher returns. For instance, star clusters mega clusters, from Big Time Gaming, is one of the popular online slots and has an RTP of 96.54%.
Sophisticated Random Number Generator is important
Online games are more difficult to rig than traditional casino games. That is not to say all physical casinos rig their game outcomes, but online game outcomes are verifiable and employ complex computer programs such as the Random Number Generator.
The program generates a random seed number and uses a hidden algorithm to generate the outcomes. New seed numbers are generated every split second, making it almost impossible to game or rig the outcome. The best part is that both the random seed numbers and the mathematical operation employed in the algorithm are also unknown to even the casinos.
The RNG is not completely hack-proof, especially with a fixed algorithm. But it will take a lot of effort and resources, and the RNG is updated continuously.
Play at online games at licensed casinos
Online casinos have it easier than offline casinos that go through rigorous vetting processes to get a license. Some set up businesses without obtaining a license. After all, the internet is free for all. It makes it even more pertinent to play online gaming casinos that are not only licensed but by respected online gaming authorities.
Getting a license from these bodies is not a one-off scrutiny. They periodically check on their activities, audit their games and activities. Also, all licensing is not equal. Many online casinos settle for less strict Curacao or Cyprus licensing than going the extra mile to get their licensing from European regulators such as the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, etc. with stringent conditions.
The outcome of online games in a casino site with the mark of such regulators is almost guaranteed to be fair as they are regularly audited.