Are Slot Machines Rigged & Can Casinos Control Slots?

For as long as there have been slot machines, players have questioned their legitimacy. But can casinos really control slots?

We’re going to 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 may appear rather simple on the surface, but there is some complex work happening behind the scenes.

These games utilize Random Number Generators (RNG) to ensure fairness during every single spin.

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.  

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.

For example, casinos in Las Vegas fall under the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The New Jersey Casino Control Commission and the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement regulate online casinos in New Jersey.

These bodies put forth the rules that slot providers/manufacturers, and casinos must adhere to. The regulators also provide guidance and requirements that RNG systems must meet.

Regulatory bodies enforce game testing, examine operator business practices, deal with fraud and cheating complaints, and monitor gambling marketing.

This is all in the name of protecting the integrity of the games, the integrity of the industry, and the safety of the players.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

We live in great times for online gaming. There have never been more protections in place and players have never had greater access to information.

However, 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.