Are Video Slots Rigged?

For starters, the answer is simply no.

 “Are video slots rigged” is one of the most common searches among players. But where exactly does it come from and why do players mistrust casinos so much?

Online slot machines and casino games in general function using complex mathematical algorithms that can’t be influenced. Then why does the myth of rigged games still exist you may ask.

To answer this question we need to go back in time, somewhere in 1899 when Charles Fay invented the slot machine.

The one-armed bandits

The initial machines were completely mechanical and quite charming in their simplicity. You just had to put in a coin and pull a handle, hoping that good ol’ miss Luck will smile at you that day. 

When you pulled the handle, the reels were powered by a series of metal pins which were the win triggers that worked in coordination with the reels plate to determine the outcome. 

To rig such a machine, certain parts needed to be custom-made to alter the outcome and make sure that the reels will not trigger certain combinations. Put simply, it was easier to develop a fair slot machine rather than a rigged one. The effort was not worth it. 

Modern Rigged Slots Myths

We can conclude that an old-school one-armed bandit was hard to rig and it was not worth it, however, that doesn’t solve the rigged slots myths as it continued for decades and still exists today.

Unfortunately, the actual myth regarding rigged slots has some sort of true roots which are surprisingly modern, not old. 

When the evolution of technology led to the iGaming market shifting in the online environment, there was a period where gambling laws, regulations, and third-party authority buddies were out of sync. 

Some technical gaps allowed rogue websites to take advantage of their customers by offering rigged games which had a low RTP.

Technically, these games weren’t rigged, meaning that a player could still win but the chance was far slimmer. 

Nowadays, the market has settled and online casinos are licensed and regulated by authority bodies. 

Also, because the market became so competitive, no casino operator will risk its reputation nowadays and offer rigged games to its customers. The risk of losing most of its players is far too big and the reward is far too small.

Understanding slots RNG, RTP, and Volatility

To be able to better explain why an online casino doesn’t need to rig a game, we first have to go “under the hood” to see how a modern slot works. 

All the modern online slots rely on an RNG (Random Number Generator) which is a mathematical algorithm that deals with the randomization of each spin.

The RNG takes into consideration a couple of aspects like RTP and volatility when deciding the outcome of a spin. This brings us to the next element which is the RTP (Return to player). 

This is the theoretical long-term result of playing a certain slot taking also into consideration the house edge. Most reputable software providers will display the RTP of their games on their website and you will find them formulated as a percentage. 

Let’s take Blood Suckers as an example. This slot has been developed by NetEnt, a reputable titan in the industry, and comes with a high RTP of 98%, placing it among the best payout slots on the market.

The 98% represents the theoretical percentage of the bets returning to the player in the long run with 2% remaining as a profit for the casino.

In our example, we have an RTP of 98%. Now let’s say that we play Blood Suckers with a bet of $1 per spin for a total number of 1,000 spins. Theoretically, out of the $1,000 invested, you should receive back the 98% which means $980 and $20 will remain as the casino’s profit.

You might be inclined to say that this is not fair at all but when it comes to online gambling, few things are fair. But thanks to this house edge, the gambling website can make a profit without having to rig games risking its reputation. 

Also, remember that the RTP is only theoretical, meaning that in the long run, you can win more or lose more than the percentage shown. In the end, a slot is a game of chance and nothing is guaranteed. 

The second element to take into consideration is volatility, which is the risk factor that determines the frequency and the consistency of prizes over a short period, as opposed to the RTP which calculates the return for a long-term investment. 

Online slots certifications

We have already mentioned that a reputable online casino is licensed and regulated by independent authorities. It’s very easy to see which of these authorities has granted the operating license to a gambling website because their logo will often appear on the main page or on all pages of the website.

Casino software providers go through a similar process when they release a new online slot machine. To be deemed fair and trustworthy, the game is tested by third parties like eCogra or iTech Labs. 

Once these reputable authorities have granted their license to a slot, you can be sure that the results are completely random and all gamblers who will play it will enjoy a safe and fair gambling experience. 

How to avoid rigged slots

Even if the situation on the market is much better due to the great improvement of the legal sector, there are still some rogue casinos and shady companies that try to take advantage of their customers. Luckily, they can easily be avoided by following just some basic rules.

The first piece of advice is to only play slots at trustworthy, licensed casinos. This will ensure that the specific casino will not get its hands dirty with rigged games and will be very careful of the software providers it partners with, avoiding shady companies at all costs.

Play only slots from reputable software providers that have been approved by an independent testing lab. You can find the logo of the testing lab during the loading screen.

Whenever possible, try to play the game in demo mode to see for yourself how it acts. There is no difference between the free version and the real money version of a slot, meaning that you can get an idea for yourself what the theoretical volatility is and if that particular slot is worth investing in.