Are Slot Machines Rigged & Can Casinos Control Slots?

No, slot machines at licensed casinos are not rigged.

We dispel the rumors and myths surrounding slot machines, including proving that these games are not rigged and cannot be manipulated by casinos.

Whether you choose to play games at land-based casinos, online casinos, or sweepstakes casinos, we’ll put your slot fears to bed.

How Do Slot Machines Work?

Slot machines work using a Random Number Generator (RNG) that ensures every spin is completely random.

While the algorithms behind the technology are complex, the concept is simple; the generator produces an entirely random outcome. Imagine each symbol has a number associated with it.

Every time you hit spin, the generator spits out random numbers, producing a random allocation of symbols.

Modern algorithms have been developed even further and attempt to mimic true randomness.  

A Deeper Dive

Random Number Generators (RNGs) are the engine behind every spin, but let’s take it a level deeper.

Modern slot machines use a digital version of a spinning reel. Instead of physical symbols on a mechanical reel, there’s a virtual reel with hundreds of potential positions.

These positions are mapped to physical symbols on the screen.

Every time you press spin, the RNG generates a sequence of random numbers—often hundreds per second—determining the position of each reel.

The software then translates those numbers into a visual result. This means what you see on-screen is the result of a complex algorithm designed to ensure pure randomness.

Other components include:

• Paylines and Reel Weights: Some symbols may appear more or less frequently depending on how the reels are weighted.
• Volatility Settings: High-volatility games produce fewer wins, but with bigger payouts. Low-volatility games do the opposite.
• Bonus Mechanics: Features like free spins or multipliers are pre-programmed with separate probabilities from the base game.

At no point can the casino—or the player—interfere with this process. It’s all determined before the reels even stop spinning.

Regulations and Licensing

The online gaming industry continues to grow in the US and stringent regulations are enforced to keep the legalized markets safe.  Each state has a regulatory body that oversees gambling within its borders.

Without proper regulation, online slots would be a free-for-all. Fortunately, licensed casinos and providers operate under strict laws that protect players and preserve fairness.

Every state in the U.S. with legalized gambling has a regulatory authority, such as:

• New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (for NJ online casinos)
• Nevada Gaming Control Board (for Las Vegas casinos)

These agencies set out requirements for the use of certified RNGs, fair payout structures, proper advertising, and secure data handling. If a casino or slot provider fails to meet these standards, they can face heavy penalties or have their license revoked.

Many offshore and international markets also enforce strict licensing, including:

• UK Gambling Commission (UKGC)
• Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
• Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC)

A legitimate license is your first sign of a fair and secure slot experience. It ensures that every game meets regulatory standards for fairness, player protection, and technical quality.

Are Slot Machines Rigged?

No, slot machines at licensed casinos are not rigged. This is a myth perpetuated by the emotions of winning and losing, and the general trends that can occur from the RNG algorithm.

Even random outcomes can appear fixed. The concept of a “hot” or “cold” streak may appear like a rigged outcome, but a brief period of consistent outcomes is just as random as a period of highly unique outcomes.

Players often mistake the house edge as a means for the casino to rig the outcome.

Ultimately, casinos are not in the business of giving money away and the house edge is merely an advantage of probability, to make sure the casino turns a profit.

So, slot machines aren’t rigged, the casino merely has a statistical advantage.

House Edge vs. RTP: What They Really Mean

Two terms often confused or misunderstood are House Edge and RTP (Return to Player). While related, they describe different things:

• House Edge is the average percentage a casino expects to keep from wagers over time. For example, if a game has a 5% house edge, the casino expects to make $5 from every $100 wagered.
• RTP is the inverse. If a slot has a 95% RTP, it means players are expected to win back $95 of every $100 wagered—on average, over thousands of spins.

These numbers don’t apply to short-term play. In a single session, you could win big or lose quickly. But over time, these figures reflect the long-term performance of the game.

It’s also important to consider volatility and hit frequency:

• High-volatility games = bigger but less frequent wins
• Low-volatility games = smaller, more frequent wins
• Hit frequency = how often any win (of any size) occurs

Understanding these terms helps players choose games that fit their style and risk tolerance.

Can Casinos Control Slots in Real-Time?

We’re happy to bust this myth right now. Land-based and online casinos have no control over slot games.

The casino games are provided by game development companies that design, develop, and produce the software.

These providers, such as NetEnt or Yggdrasil, do not give any back-end access to the software. The casinos merely host the games at their facility or on their websites.

As previously mentioned, online slot games have a built-in RTP that cannot be tampered with or manipulated.

That means popular myths such as “loose slots during peak periods,” “machines detecting your play,” or “optimal number of spins” are just that – myths.

So, how can you be sure of this?

This is where the role of the independent tester comes into play. Auditing organizations, such as eCOGRA and Gaming Labs International, routinely test online slots and their software providers for fairness and technical quality.

These independent testing labs monitor and examine the RNG algorithms to make sure they are providing genuinely random outcomes and that players have a fair chance of winning.

Independent Testing Labs: Who They Are and Why They Matter

Even with regulation in place, players need another layer of assurance. That’s where independent testing labs come in.

These third-party organizations are not affiliated with the casino or the game developer. Their job is to test slot games to ensure they are fair, accurate, and truly random.

Major testing labs include:

• eCOGRA (eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance)
• Gaming Labs International (GLI)
• iTech Labs
• BMM Testlabs

These labs check for:

• True randomness in RNG outputs
• Consistency with advertised RTP
• Fair payout distribution over time
• Software integrity and security

When you see a game certified by one of these labs, it means it has passed rigorous, technical testing and continues to be monitored for fairness.

Many casinos display these seals in their footer or game info sections—look out for them!

Tips for Recognizing Fair Slots

The regulated and safe gaming industry is absolutely prolific. That means you can benefit from being able to find fair slots with ease. To aid in your search, we’ve provided our best tops for recognizing fair slots.

Research the RTP

It is very easy to research the RTP of a slot. You can just search for the slot online and get the details from a trusted source, such as the Gameville slots section, or you can often just check on the casino website since the RTP is often provided.

The RTP is quite important in determining fairness. After all, it is hard to trust a slot that has an outright unfavorable algorithmic return.

Knowing the RTP (Return to Player) of a slot helps you understand what kind of return you can expect over time. Here’s how to find it:

1. Check the Game Info (ℹ️ Button)

Most online slots have a small “i” button or menu icon in the corner of the screen. Click it to open the paytable and game rules—RTP is often listed here.

2. Look on the Casino Website

Reputable online casinos often publish the RTP for each game directly on the slot’s description page or under the “Game Info” or “Game Rules” tab.

3. Search on Google

Just type in the slot name + “RTP” (e.g., “Sweet Bonanza RTP”). Trusted sources like slot review sites or even the developer’s official website (like Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, etc.) will usually have it listed.

4. Visit the Developer’s Website

Many slot developers publish technical details for each of their games—including RTP ranges—on their official sites. This is especially helpful if you want the most up-to-date info directly from the source.

Look for Trusted Software Developers

There are so many software developers that have proven to be trustworthy owing to years and years of excellence.

You can easily check the history of these slot developers which will reveal if they have won any awards, which licenses they hold, and which other trusted organizations they may be partnered with.

Choose a Reputable Online Casino

A great way to ensure that you only play fair slots is to simply ensure that you can only choose from a pool of fair slots.

This is easily achieved by only registering with reputable online casinos. These are operators with a long-standing history of excellence which you can verify through online reviews and basic research.

Reputable casinos will be fully licensed and only support slots provided by licensed and independently tested software providers.

Using Gamesville to Determine Highest RTP and Volatility

Did you know that Gamesville is run by big gamers? That’s why we have a lot of options to help users along the way.

If you head over to the Gamesville Slots page, you can sort the slots that we list by RTP, Volatility, and Max Win.

Of course, we don’t offer real money play at Gamesville, as we’re not an operator. But you can play all of the slots we have in demo mode for free money.

This will give you a leg up when you move to the real money world because you’ll already know how the game works.

When you’re ready to play for real money, head over to our online casinos page to select a top casino to play at, or visit our sweepstakes casino page if you’re in a restricted state!

Top 5 Proven Fair Slots

There are thousands of slot games that are well-established as safe and fair. All five of these popular games have been proven fair and can be enjoyed at WOW Vegas for free.

Sweet Bonanza

Produced by one of the most prolific game providers, Pragmatic Play, Sweet Bonanza is a global phenomenon. This slot is found in the “Popular” section of just about every top online casino in regulated markets including Canada, Europe, United Kingdom, and America.

Mega Joker

This slot isn’t always the easiest to find because it so heavily favors the player. Mega Joker is highly trusted because it boasts an astronomically high RTP of 99%.

It also happens to be produced by NetEnt which continues to be one of the most reliably consistent providers of online slots.

Rich Little Piggies Meal Ticket

Slot players widely trust low-volatility slots. This is because the games payout frequently.

It won’t necessarily be the largest wins, but the wins tend to land quite often. Rich Little Piggies Meal Ticket is an immensely popular low-volatility slot game.

Genie Jackpots Megaways

This is a Bonus Buy slot which means it features a special mechanic allowing you to instantly access the game’s bonus feature by staking more than the standard maximum limit.

Bonus Buy games like Genie Jackpots Megaways are trusted because of that guaranteed access to a game mode that typically offers more ways to win than the base game.

White Rabbit

Another popular feature of highly trusted slots is the “Free Spins” mode. Free Spins are a feature triggered within the base game of a slot that provides an allocation of spins that require zero wagering.

This is the game feature that often produces the biggest cluster of wins. White Rabbit is one of our favorites because the reels can be expanded during Free Spins.

How Players Can Protect Themselves

Players can protect themselves by choosing licensed casinos, verifying software providers, and checking independent reviews.

The following guidance will go a long way towards keeping you safe when choosing and playing fair slots.

How to Verify Casino’s Legitimacy

The simplest and fastest way to confirm a casino’s legitimacy is to check for a genuine gambling license.

Regulated online casinos will provide the licensing details, and most will even provide a button that directly links to the regulator’s verification page where the casino’s license will be confirmed.

You can also head to the regulator’s website and search for the casino’s license, thereby verifying the casino’s legitimacy yourself.

If you want to see if a land-based casino is legitimate, you can simply check with your local regulator.

Avoid Unregulated Casinos

Stick to licensed online casinos provided by genuine operators that are proven to be fair and legitimate.

Not only does regulation best ensure a safe and fair gambling environment, but it also means that you have real protections against fraud or technical faults.

Regulated casinos use game providers that are also licensed and independently audited. So, you can be assured every single spin you make is 100% legitimate and fair.

Check for Player Reviews and Forums

Fellow players have plenty of insights that can help you find fair slots. Review sites and forum chats contain first-hand experiences from players.

This is where you’ll be able to learn from the mistakes of others and hear about dangers before they arise.

For example, players may warn others about a casino with poor withdrawal practices or identify a slot operator that doesn’t produce games with decent RTPs.

Equally, you can find positive insights within these communication channels too.

You can hear about jackpot wins, learn about casinos offering great casino promotions, and find out how certain slot games work.

Conclusion

As long as you play within a safe, regulated market, the slot games will not be rigged and will always be free from manipulation.

Casinos cannot control the outcomes in any way and the outcomes are entirely provably fair through independent testing.

Simply choose to play at well-established and trusted casinos with games that are proven fair, and you’ll have a fair chance of winning on every single spin.