If you've ever played roulette, either in online casinos or land-based, probably you've wondered whether it's rigged or not. The honest answer is that roulette wheels and tables are not rigged in legal casinos.
Roulette is one of the most popular table games in the casino industry. Though this is a pure game of chance, players can apply strategies to maximize the chances of winning. Different versions of roulette are available, including French roulette, American roulette, and European roulette. For beginners, the objective in roulette is to predict where the ball will settle after spinning on the wheel.
Often, many roulette players mistake bad luck with rigging. It's pretty easy to understand why many players make these assumptions, especially if they are losing. Moreover, people draw conclusions about rigged roulette because the results are computer-generated. The truth is that roulette and other online casino games are not rigged as long as you use a legit and licensed online casino. Besides, the house edge in online roulette games makes rigging useless since casinos are guaranteed to profit in the long run.
We've thoroughly explained why roulette wheels are not rigged and more exciting details about this thrilling casino game.
What is a Rigged Roulette Game?
A rigged game is where the payouts are altered to favor the casino. A good roulette wheel should be 100% random and nothing less than that. Nevertheless, a wheel may be random but still be rigged. Before going deep into that, let's find out how the developers try to make this game safer and fairer for players and the house.
What is a House Edge in Roulette?
It's often said that the house always wins in the end. This is a fact that every casino player should understand. All casino games, including roulette, have an in-built advantage to ensure the Return to Player (RTP) percentage is not 100%. There's nothing wrong with the house edge since casinos are in business to make a profit. Also, the house edge is like an in-direct fee they charge for providing services. However, it should be noted that the house edge varies depending on the casino game you are playing. Some games have a high edge, and others have low edges.
In roulette games, the casino's edge is provided by the presence of the green zero. This implies that if you wager on the red and black pockets on every spin risks losing money when the ball settles on the zero pockets.
Do understand that the house edge varies based on the roulette wheel you are using. The edge in a European roulette game is 2.7%, American roulette is 5.26%, and French roulette is 1.35%. As you can see, the American roulette wheel has a bigger edge than other versions. This is because the American version comes with an extra zero (00) while the payouts remain the same. This gives the house an extra opportunity to win over players. Nevertheless, you must understand that the house edge is all about time.
How Casinos Curb Cheating in Roulette Games
There are different methods that casinos and developers employ to prevent any form of cheating in roulette and other casino games. Since many operators have invested in building a good reputation, they try to avoid offering games that will jeopardize their license. So, these are different ways that regulated casino sites use:
Random Number Generator (RNG) in Roulette
Whether you are new to casino gaming or an experienced player, you must have come across the term Random Number Generator (RNG). All casino games, except live dealer games, depend on RNG software to determine payouts. This software is based on solid mathematical formulas that ensure every spin is unique and randomly generated. Also, the software works by combining random numbers and algorithms that are built into a machine.
The best way to understand how this concept work is by using a roulette game. Keeping in mind that our roulette wheel has 0 to 36 numbers or pockets, if it makes 1000 spins per second, there is no way of predicting the exact number that it will stop on. The spins continue and only stop when you hit the 'Bet' or 'Spin' buttons.
Casino Licensing and Regulation
The first thing to consider when playing at online casinos is ensuring the site is fully licensed. There are many licensing authorities that are highly respected in the gambling industry. Some of the leading gambling authorities include the UK Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority, and Curacao eGaming. They are committed to ensuring all casinos provide standardized services at all times. Moreover, they have built a good reputation that they can't risk destroying by licensing rogue casinos. In fact, leading authorities like UKGC tests and audits all games that are offered in the casino.
Nevertheless, you should understand that online casinos don't have control over the Random Number Generators. They employ third-party agencies to audit and test to ensure it's not biased or altered to favor the house. The most respected regulatory bodies in the iGaming industry are eCOGRA, iTech Labs, TST (Technical System Testing), Gaming Laboratory International (GLI), BMM Test Labs, and SQS.
Provably Fair Gaming
Provably fair gaming is a concept that came with crypto casinos. It works more or less like the RNG software and uses algorithms to determine if the game is fair. For example, the task of testing and verifying games is done by players and not an independent third-party authority. This transparency is what many people love about provably fair games. Moreover, the games run on blockchain technology like cryptocurrencies, thus, serving as a ledger where players can keep their eyes on their transactions at any time.
Casinos Can't Access the Game Servers
Another good reason to believe that roulette games are not rigged is that casino operators don't have control over servers. Remember, all games at online casinos take place on the developer's servers. This means that the games can not be rigged, manipulated, or tampered with in any way. Software providers invest in the latest security technologies, making finding rigged roulette wheels at licensed casino sites is impossible. Any developer risks losing their license if they sell games that are open to manipulation. Likewise, all illegal casinos offering rigged games are blacklisted to caution players from using them.
Are Live Roulette Games Rigged?
The biggest concern among live dealer roulette games is their fairness. Is it possible to rig at a live roulette game? There are rigged live roulette wheels, but if you stick to licensed and regulated casinos, you have nothing to worry about. Additionally, it's more complicated to rig live casino games than at a regular roulette table. Everything on a live roulette table happens in real-time. This means that players will watch all dealers' moves, making it hard to cheat.
Furthermore, the games are equipped with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology that translates all dealer moves into understandable data. The best developers like Microgaming, NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, and Pragmatic Play create the best live roulette games. These companies supply games to reputable casinos and cannot risk their licenses by offering rigged roulette wheels.
How Illegal Casinos Cheat Players in Roulette
We cannot deny the fact of rigging cases in roulette games over the years. Nonetheless, you can only find a rigged roulette wheel when playing rogue casinos. While it's possible for casinos to cheat, the options are limited. Also, these tricks can only be used to control where the ball is, but it's hard to determine where it will eventually stop. This implies that even though casinos can rig roulette wheels, they can only manage to move the house edge a few notches higher. These minimal profits are not worth risking compared to the consequences of being caught. So, watch out the following whenever playing at a local casino:
Rigged Roulette Equipment
This is the most common method of rigging used in local and live casinos. There are two ways to rig a roulette table to alter the game outcome. The first option is ball tripping, where the roulette ball is prematurely dislodged and forcibly dislodged in an attempt to control where it will stop. The other way is the use of magnets and rigged roulette balls with metallic balls. The electromagnetic force will control the spot where the ball settles.
Dealer Skills
This method is common in modern-day online casinos. There are roulette dealers who have perfected their skills to the point of landing the ball on any number. Besides, some dealers have ways of spinning the roulette wheel by increasing or reducing the speed.
Rigged Roulette Software
Roulette games are all about random numbers and payouts. It doesn't take a tech genius long to manipulate the software and affect the game outcomes. Since game developers know of this possibility, they invest in advanced technology.
Tips to Consider When Playing Real Money Roulette
We've highlighted tips and tricks you can apply to increase your chances of winning roulette. They include:
- Choose a betting plan that suits your bankroll.
- Play roulette at reputable and legal casinos.
- Take advantage of roulette bonuses and promotions.
- Learn how different betting systems work.
- Look for evidence of a biased wheel before joining any roulette game.
- Choose European roulette because it has a low house edge of 2.7%.
- Always remember to play for fun and enjoy.
Conclusion
Convincing yourself that rigged roulette wheels don't exist is a big lie. Cheating in online casinos has always been there, despite efforts to end it. However, you can relax since cheating cases are very rare. The consequences of rigging a roulette game are tough, as you risk losing your customers and the casino being closed. Moreover, game developers are working smartly by devising ways to end the menace of rigged roulette wheels and other casino games. Independent agencies are hired to regularly test and audit the RNG software for fairness. We highly recommend playing roulette at licensed and regulated online casinos. This way, you can enjoy safe and responsible gambling at all times.
