Casinos are a great way to relax, get a drink, and have fun. But what is the truth about casino games? Are they rigged? And if so, how are people winning when all the odds seem stacked against them?
We’ll tell you everything you need to know in this post. You’ll find out how casinos make their money by rigging their games, but also why there’s still hope for you! We’ll also give some tips on how to spot rigged games to protect yourself from an unpleasant experience.
So, whether you’re a seasoned gambler or just starting, this article will tell you the real story behind casino games.
1) Understanding Casino Games: Probability, RTP, House Edge
The key to understanding a game is understanding how the house makes money (or loses money) on you. Some basics about casino games allow you to know why the house wins and/or loses money when you play.
Casinos make money by paying out winnings and collecting rake, both of which depend on an astonishing number of factors. This is why casinos hire mathematicians to calculate the right formula for each game.
We’re going to focus on three of the most important factors:
- THE HOUSE EDGE: This is a percentage of the initial bet that the house keeps, so 1 – House Edge is what you get back in winnings.
- PROBABILITY: This is the chance that a certain outcome will happen, typically expressed as a percentage.
- REMOTE-OUTCOME RETURN TO PLAYER (RTP): This is how much you get back if the rarest outcome happens. So RTP = 1 – (Probability * House Edge).
2) What is a rigged game?
Let’s start by looking at what a rigged game is. A rigged game is when the casino operator has manipulated the odds to such an extent that you can no longer win in the long term, regardless of how well you play.
Most people think all games are rigged, but that’s not true. Even though they’re designed for the house to win, they are still fair and can be won with skill and/or luck.
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3) Are Casino games rigged?
3.1) Classic Card Games:
Most classic card games are not rigged, but it’s worth knowing when they are and when they aren’t: The game isn’t rigged if there aren’t any hidden decks or cards, and the dealer doesn’t peek at your cards.
3.1) Roulette:
Roulette is not a rigged game in both European and American casinos. Here’s why:
- The game has only one wheel, which cannot be manipulated to affect the outcome.
- The game is deterministic (you can predict the game’s outcome at random), so there’s no need for a “house edge” in roulette.
- There is no possibility of gaining due to non-randomness: the casino simply takes your bet and gives you your original stake back.
- You can’t gain an advantage by following probabilities because the wheel is random and there are no other variables.
3.2) Slot Machines:
Slot machines are rigged, but only to a certain extent. They are programmed to give quite a bit of money away to keep people playing them. It’s not a coincidence that they’re designed so that people can win sometimes; it’s part of the psychological game they play with players.
Slot machines have an RTP of between 92% and 97%, meaning that the house has an average profit of between 4% and 7% per play. So, for every dollar you put in, the house pays out between 92 cents to 96 cents on average.
Rigged or not? Yes, if you’re playing in a rigged slot machine
3.3) Online Casinos:
Online casinos are not rigged for the most part. However, there are a couple of games to watch out for:
- Progressive jackpots: The casino needs to rig how the jackpot is paid out for this to work. It’s not all that hard, and it’s a very successful way of encouraging people to play.
- You must be careful with games like roulette or blackjack. Even though they seem fair, casino operators can change the payouts to make them look more profitable.
- Make sure you play games with an accurate RTP and a maximum payout.
4) How do casinos rig their games?
There are a few ways in which casinos can rig their games, but the most common methods are:
WINNING-IN-DEPTH: This works in every casino game, where there is no house edge. The casino matches any win over a certain amount (say $500) and gives you your original bet.
CARD-COUNTING: This is when you predict the next card in a deck, so you can bet more or less depending on what’s left. This can be done in games like blackjack, but it’s very difficult to do, and most casinos will ban you if they catch you.
PROBABILITY OF A CARD BEING DRAWN
SHUFFLING: This is when the deck is manipulated to ensure that a particular card comes up more often. Of course, this works especially well with marked cards.
Casino workers have to be aware of the different ways to get an advantage over the player and how to spot them. Casinos have secret guides on how to spot cheaters and card counters.
WAITING FOR PLAYERS TO PLAY THE MOST PROFITABLE GAMES: Despite having a vast number of machines, in the long term, casinos tend to make much more money on a smaller number of games. They are experts at identifying which games are most profitable and will wait for skilled players to come along and play them before pulling them out of rotation.
Conclusion
Casino games can be confusing and very misleading, but that’s because they are designed for the house to win. They are not rigged, but they can be affected by some factors. And while you don’t have to believe us, remember that it’s your own money and you’re free to leave any time.