Online slots have gained immense popularity in recent years due to their enticing graphics, alluring sound effects, and simple gameplay. The game is highly favored among experienced and novice players alike due to its low stakes and high earning potential. It also doesn’t hurt that you can usually find slots based on your favorite TV shows or movies thanks to the game’s incredibly diverse themes.
Looking for the most popular no deposit slots bonuses is all well and good. But if you ever had the lingering feeling about whether they’re rigged games or not, we’re here to tell you, you’re not the only person who has thought this. Yes, many players are hesitant to put their hard-earned cash into the hands of a virtual platform they are unfamiliar with, for fear of falling prey to a scam.
Concerns about the fairness of these games have sparked heated debates due to the lack of physicality and transparency in online slots. Unlike the slot machines that dominate the brick-and-mortar casinos, when it comes to the online variation of the game there are no physical reels to observe. As such players often wonder if the outcomes are predetermined by the platforms that host them.
Keep reading to find out how to identify if an online casino is reputable so you can experience a safe and fair gambling environment.
Avoid Unlicensed Casinos
Unfortunately, the popularity of online casinos has also given rise to a number of unlicensed platforms that operate outside the realm of regulation, evading the scrutiny and oversight of established licensing authorities like the Malta Gaming Authority. This means that these platforms have free reign to engage in unethical practices that compromise players’ safety and security.
Moreover, as they are not subject to any independent audits testing the fairness of their games, the integrity of the game algorithms, such as Random Number Generators (RNG) and Return to Player percentages (RTP), cannot be trusted. In fact, rigged casino games will typically have an RTP so low that the games are not even worth playing since winning is next to impossible. As such, players who engage with these platforms risk experiencing manipulated outcomes due to unfair advantages for the house, diminishing their chances of ever securing a payout.
In the absence of regulatory oversight, players may also face significant challenges in resolving disputes or seeking justice for unfair treatment. More often than not, unregulated online casinos have no established channels for complaint resolution, and as such, players will be unable to seek legal action or access mediation services provided by regulatory bodies.
Do Your Research
While you can never guarantee your safety, conducting research about an online casino before you sign up is as close as you can get. Start off by simply typing the online casino’s name into a search engine to see if any incriminating news articles come up. This will give you an indication if the platform has ever been in trouble with the law or has been exposed for exercising unfair gaming practices.
Online casino reviews are another great way to gain insight into the inner workings of a casino, as they provide first-hand, unbiased accounts of players’ experiences using the platform. Look out for any complaints regarding payment delays, complications, or even never receiving winnings, as this will reveal the platform’s unreliable payment processes. You also want to make sure that the casino has a dedicated and responsive customer care team should you encounter any issues down the line.
However, when it comes to reviews regarding whether or not the online casino’s games are rigged, it’s important to remember that users who may have lost significant amounts of money will tear down the platform whether or not it deserves it. In this case, we advise cross-referencing third-party reviews to determine whether there is a common thread. If there are only a few clearly disgruntled players, then you should be in safe hands. However, if the majority of reviews are severely negative, pointing to rigged games, then you should avoid the platform at all costs.
Look for a License
Once you’ve done your research and are satisfied with the outcome, it’s time to check if the online casino is in possession of a gambling license. While not all online casinos that don’t have a license are rigged, the odds of the platform offering a safe and fair gambling environment are unfortunately greatly reduced.
Licensed casinos are subject to strict rules and regulations, ensuring compliance with industry standards and player protection measures. They must also undergo regular audits by independent third-party organizations such as eCOGRA and iTechLabs to evaluate the fairness of their online slot games, ensuring they are in line with predetermined payout percentages. These auditing firms also have publicly available reports, which players can access to gain a deeper understanding of the reliability and fairness of the platform.
