Do Online Casinos Cheat? — Our Experts Explain

While legitimate casinos play fair, many unlicensed sites exploit players for their money. So, how do online casinos cheat, and how can you avoid falling victim? Read on to find out!

Legitimate vs Illegitimate Casinos

Illegitimate casinos function without a gambling licence, which means they are not overseen by any gaming authority or bound by any regulations. Without the protection of a licensing body, these casinos can take advantage of players.

For one, they might lack security measures, so your financial and personal information is at risk. Their terms and conditions might be unfair or contain hidden clauses. Additionally, it is possible for them to have rigged games, as they’re not required to be checked by independent organisations. Since they operate outside of any legal obligation, it is easier for them to cheat or mislead their users.

Playing at licensed casinos guarantees your protection as a player, as such platforms must abide by strict regulatory frameworks, and their practices are frequently inspected. Gaming bodies, like the Malta Gaming Authority and the Curaçao Gaming Control Board, make sure that the casino is operating in a fair and transparent way. They regularly audit and verify casinos’ algorithms and RNGs (Random Number Generators), ensuring that casino games are unbiased and random. Furthermore, regulatory bodies can intervene on your behalf should you run into any issues.

Are Online Casinos Rigged?

Legitimate online casinos aren’t rigged. Games are designed to be profitable for online casinos; casinos have to maintain an edge over players to avoid going out of business. Although games always favour the house due to their RTP percentages and odds, this doesn’t mean they are rigged or that a casino is cheating.

Rather, this advantage is called the house edge — a built-in mathematical advantage ensuring an online casino will profit in the long run. While the odds may not favour the player, games are still fair and random, granted that you choose a legitimate online casino.

Ways In Which Illegitimate Casinos Cheat Players

Illegitimate online casinos have certain tactics to cheat players out of their money, taking shortcuts rather than relying on the house edge like legitimate platforms. By recognising these practices, players can avoid deception and protect themselves from such sites.

#1. Changing the Odds & RTP

Illegitimate casinos can directly rig games in their favour by tampering with game mechanics or algorithms. These operators might skewer the odds far more than the usual house advantage. Games are no longer random and fair, meaning players are more likely to lose funds than at legitimate casinos.

Moreover, software can be interfered with so that the RTP is lowered, ensuring that players have a lower likelihood of winning. The RNG may even be disabled, removing any randomness from game results. Some rigged casinos may even target successful players with these manipulations if they notice that they’re consistently winning.

#2. Inflating Odds & RTP

A common tactic for rigged casinos is falsely advertising the RTP or odds, inflating the figures to attract players to their site. Initially, they might show that the RTPs are over 98%, but they could actually be programmed to return far less. This misleads players into thinking they have a high chance of winning by playing a certain game.

False advertising is a simpler way of deceiving players without necessarily having to tamper with the game. This difference can even be noticeable when switching from demo to real-money mode. Demo games may pay out more frequently to trick players into using real money, but once the switch is made to real-money betting, the RTP can drop.

#3. Over-the-Top Bonuses

Illegitimate casinos may offer attractive promotions, which often carry hidden conditions that are almost impossible to fulfil. For example, they may have excessively high wagering requirements, so players can’t withdraw any winnings. These casinos may also hide tricky bonus conditions in the fine print, like how a bonus can be used, eligible games, or timeframes so that a player is restricted.

Such bonuses are seemingly too good to be true and are used to entice players to deposit funds rather than reward them or enhance their gaming. Before claiming any promotion, ensure you’re using a reputable online casino and carefully go over the terms and conditions.

#4. Hidden or Expensive Fees

Fees can apply when depositing and withdrawing real money at an online casino. Typically, reputable casinos don’t charge high fees for transactions — in fact, they don’t usually charge any at all. If there are fees, then they’ll be reasonable, reflecting only the actual costs involved in processing payments, and this information is clearly stated for players to see.

Sometimes, these fees are tucked away in the small print or aren’t disclosed upfront. Essentially, they’re trying to exploit players by creating hurdles to keep their money in the casino or to drain more funds from them.

#5. Delayed Payouts or No Payouts at All

While there is a house edge in casino gaming, players do sometimes win. Legitimate online casinos understand this reality and ensure that any winnings are paid out in a timely manner. However, rigged online casinos can try to cheat players out of their payouts. They might impose unreasonable terms or try to delay withdrawals as long as possible, hoping players will lose patience and continue their gameplay to lose the funds. In some cases, they may even flat-out refuse to process withdrawals, citing excuses like verification issues, technical difficulties, or hidden terms. You might find that when you reach out to customer support, they purposefully make it difficult to solve your problem.

How To Keep Yourself From Online Casinos Cheating

When selecting an online casino, you want to be cautious about your choice in order to have a safe and enjoyable gaming experience. Consider the following tips to avoid signing up for an untrustworthy platform:

• • Choosing a casino with a valid licence. Firstly, a surefire way to ensure your protection is to choose a casino licensed by reputable gaming authorities like the MGA, UKGC, Curaçao, and the government of Gibraltar. Licensed casinos must follow strict regulations that guarantee your safety as a player. Licensing information is usually found at the bottom of the site or in the terms and conditions.
• Reading customer reviews. Spend a bit of time doing some research and reading reviews. On sites like Quora and Reddit, you can find questions and answers from actual people who have used your potential casino. You’ll receive a more accurate picture on whether it is a trustworthy platform. Look for issues concerning withdrawals, rigged games, or misleading promotions.
• Opting for casinos vetted by third parties. Pick online casinos audited and certified by independent organisations like eCOGRA or iTech Labs. Certification from these third parties ensures that games are fair and random, so players aren’t cheated.
• Following websites like ours. Finding in-depth and reliable content is difficult, so it is important to only trust websites like ours. We do our due diligence in researching and verifying our information so that you can make well-informed decisions.
• Test the customer support. A quick and easy way to ask about licensing, withdrawals, casino bonuses, or any other questions is to contact customer support. If they’re clear and helpful, it is a good indication that the platform is trustworthy. However,  make sure to also follow the above tips.

Do Online Casinos Cheat? — Our Verdict

Online casinos can cheat you out of your money, which is why joining a legitimate and licensed platform is so vital. Doing so is the only way to guarantee player security, games fairness, and transparent conditions. If there’s one tip we can leave you with, it is to check an online casino’s licence before signing up and depositing any money.

How Online Casinos Can Cheat — Sources

• Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling — A 2013 book by David G. Schwartz about the history of gambling, including topics on casino operation and how game mechanics favour the house.
• Internet Gambling: How to Win Big Online Playing Bingo, Poker, Slots, Lotto, Sports Betting, and Much More — A 2006 book by J. Phillip Vogel, which explores online gambling, including the legality and security measures of online casinos.