Many players ask the same question after a bad session: is the game rigged? This guide looks at what the testing agencies and one strict regulator actually say. It also shows why the honest answer is not "so you can win", and where the real risks are. It is education only. It is not advice to play.
Who decides the result of a spin
#Online slots use a random number generator, or RNG. eCOGRA, an industry testing agency, says online casino games "utilise a RNG (Random Number Generator) for the source of randomness". It also says any single spin can win or lose, so even a high RTP does not guarantee a result.
The software that holds the RNG and the game rules is made by the studio that built the game. The casino offers the game to its players. In a game from a tested studio, a result is not picked by a person at the casino for each player.
Who sets the RTP
#RTP means return to player. eCOGRA says it is "calculated and assigned to the game before it is released to the public". Its FAQ adds: "No, the RTP of a game is not changed after it's released." eCOGRA also says RTP is tested for accuracy by game developers and by specialised testing agencies, and that games must be tested again after updates which may affect fairness.
Our guide RTP vs volatility explained shows what RTP means for one session. It says very little.
What a strict regulator forbids
#The UK Gambling Commission publishes technical standards for online games. Its standard RTS 7 states the aim "to ensure that games and other virtual events operate fairly". Among its requirements:
- Random number generation and game results must be "acceptably random".
- "Adaptive behaviour (that is, a compensated game) is not permitted." The guidance says this prohibits "automatic or manual interventions that change the probabilities of game outcomes occurring during play".
- The rules, payouts and outcome probabilities of a game may not be changed while it is available for gambling, except as the game's own rules provide, and changes must be brought to the customer's attention.
- Games may not falsely show near-miss results, for example by swapping one losing result for a different losing result.
Note what this is. It is the rule of one regulator, in Great Britain. We read the page, but we did not read the rules of the regulators that license most casinos popular in the Balkans, such as Curacao, and we do not say they have the same rules. Check which regulator licenses the casino you use, and look for its technical standards.
Fair does not mean you win
#Even in a perfectly fair game, the casino has an edge built in. At 96 percent RTP the game keeps about 4 of every 100 staked over a very long run. That is the house edge, and it is how the business works. In one session, anything can happen, but across many sessions the average goes one way.
So "the casino cannot rig the game" and "I can win" are two different statements. The first, where it is true, protects you from cheating. It does not change the odds you are given.
Where players really lose out
#If the spin itself is not the problem, what is?
- The RTP version of the game. Some industry websites say a studio can offer the same game with more than one RTP setting, and that the casino picks one before the game goes live. We could not confirm this with a studio or a regulator, and eCOGRA's FAQ says RTP does not change after release. Treat it as unproven, and check the figure in the game's own info screen at the casino where you play.
- Bonus terms. Wagering, maximum bet and game limits decide what a bonus is worth. See welcome bonus: what to check and how to read wagering requirements.
- Withdrawals. Limits, identity checks and delays are common complaints. They are not about the spin, but they decide whether you get your money.
- Casinos with no licence, or with a licence that is hard to check. If nobody tests the games or can be asked about them, you cannot know. See what does a casino licence mean.
What to check before you play
#- A licence. Is it listed on the regulator's own register?
- The game info screen. What RTP does it show? Write the number down.
- The bonus terms, if you take a bonus. Read them before you accept.
- The withdrawal rules. Limits, checks and times.
- Your own limits. Set a budget and a time limit first.
In short
#- In a tested slot, a random number generator decides each spin. The studio sets the RTP before release.
- The UK Gambling Commission forbids "compensated" games that change the odds during play. This is a UK rule, not a world rule.
- A fair game still keeps a share of what is staked. It is not a promise to win.
- The real risks are the RTP version (unproven), bonus terms, withdrawals and unlicensed sites.
- Check the licence and the info screen. Set a budget and a time limit.
Play with care
#Gambling is for adults aged 18 and over. It is entertainment, not a way to earn money, and it can be addictive. Play only with money you can afford to lose. Set a deposit limit and a time limit before you start, and stop when you reach them. If gambling stops being fun, talk to someone you trust. Organisations such as GambleAware offer free, confidential help (GambleAware serves people in Great Britain, so look for a service in your own country). Gambling rules and what is allowed differ by country. Check the law where you live before you play.
