Casinos offer a wide array of games that take a lot of luck to win. While some people find the fortune factor of these kinds of games exhilarating, others only get frustrated while playing. Some would go even as far as to accuse the house of rigging the game, especially in pure luck games such as roulette.
Online casinos get the majority of the blame in these instances, as it's much easier to feel that a faceless computer is cheating you than an employee of a land-based institution. But is online roulette really rigged, or is it just a myth?
In this article, we will dive into the world of online roulette and answer the question of whether it is unfair or not. We will also shine a light on how to spot and avoid playing rigged roulette.
No, online roulette isn’t rigged. While other games, such as poker, have a tactical factor to them, roulette is purely a game of chance both in real life and on the internet. Casinos and other sites that provide roulette use RNG (Random Number Generator) software to determine the outcome of a spin and to mimic the random chance of a physical spin.
The reason why online roulettes aren’t rigged is the same reason why land-based ones are fair. Casinos have to abide by rules made by independent bodies that oversee them. These bodies determine whether a casino can get a license to legally operate and supervise their games’ fairness to see if they can continue to operate. Online casinos generally have the same regulations placed upon them, overseen by the same bodies, so they also have to keep their games as authentic as possible.
Online casinos also rely on garnering a returning customer base. If they rigged their roulettes, a majority of their players would notice and would simply opt out of playing on their platform, ruining their reputation. So, while it might seem lucrative to cheat players in the short run, it would hurt the business overall.
If you are careful, you won’t bump into rigged online poker. However, it is possible to slip up and bump into a disreputable site. These sites often operate without a gaming license or aren’t considered to need one.
These platforms can easily manipulate the outcome of a virtual roulette spin. While land-based casinos would need to use physical tricks such as magnets to influence the ball’s movement, online ones only need to tweak the RNG software used to rig the game completely. It is much more effective as well, as they can determine the exact position of the ball based on where you put your money to cheat.
Keep in mind that roulette is already in favor of the house by design. Casinos have a 5.26% edge on winning, so if you keep losing, you can only blame statistics and chance optimally. Unfortunately, however, it is still possible to play rigged roulette if you’re not careful.
Spotting rigged online roulette can be a bit tricky. As stated before, roulette is a game of chance, and if you lose a lot in a row, it’s entirely possible that you are just out of luck. In these cases, it might be better to take a break or give up entirely.
If you are on a disreputable or shady site, you have a much higher chance of not just being unlucky but being actively cheated. An easy way to spot these websites is to look at their presentation. If the platform looks like it’s held together by bandages and good-will it’s probably a good idea to leave. But appearances aren’t everything. Research if the site you want to play roulette at has a license and make an informed decision based on that.
The easiest way to avoid rigged online roulettes is to play at well-respected, reputable, and legal online casinos and sites. These operate by a rigid set of rules that prohibit them from cheating on games. If you are on a licensed website, you are much more likely to participate in a fair game. Another good way is to play with real dealers. Virtual machines are easily rigged, but broadcasted dealers have a much harder time fooling the players
Being informed is key. You should always research the casino before deciding to commit your hard-earned money to it. Look for certifications, reviews, and other forms of trustworthy pieces of information and make a decision after that. Here are some websites that you can be assured of having fair virtual roulette tables:
The best way to avoid playing rigged online roulette is to not play at all. It might sound silly, but if you are really skeptical of the legitimacy of these sites, even if they are legal, you should consider playing the alternative in land-based casinos. It is fair to be cautious about virtual platforms, knowing that they are easier to be rigged, but if you still want to wager some money on spins, land-based casinos are the only other place you can go to.
Online roulette is generally not rigged. Legally operating online sites have an obligation to play by rigid regulations that prohibit them from cheating. They also need to retain a patron base to stay in business. Roulette is a game of chance, so if you are playing on a reputable platform, you are most likely just unfortunate.
It is easy to rig online roulette, however. Adjusting the software behind the game to cheat you out of your money is a much more effective way of rigging than what can be done at a physical table. You should always be informed about the site you are playing at and avoid them if they are operating without a license. Opt for well-respected online casinos for a fair game of roulette, choose live dealer tables instead of virtual ones, or go to a land-based casino, instead to heavily reduce the chance of playing rigged roulette.
