Playing slots is a favourite pastime when it comes to gambling enthusiasts. But often the question has been asked – “Are slot machine rigged?”. The answer is not as simple or black and white as you would like to be.
This article will provide you all the information you will require to understand how to win some real money at slot games irrespective of the house edge.
Are Online Slot Machines Rigged?
It is a true fact that if you ask gambling enthusiasts about the frequency of their wins at pokies, most of them will ascertain that they did not. Now, that does tilt the scales towards the answer that slot machines are indeed rigged.
Are slot machines designed in such a way that the player does not win? Is that even legal? The easy answer is that slot machines are programmed such that most of the real money players lose, while a few lucky ones win in order to show off the jackpot wins.
To make sure that the house edge gets the casino a constant supply of profits, each slot machine is programmed to provide payouts less than what is fed into it. This advantage could be something as less as 2% to something as big as 10% depending on the slot game.
Casino slots might be rigged to an extent, but you can still get a lucky win or two for sure. Licensed casinos would not be able to keep games which are not Provably Fair in their catalogue.
How Slot Machines Are Rigged?
Slot machines have complicated functionings that need to be understood in order to know how they could be rigged. Here are all the details.
Understand Slot Machine RTP
RTP or Return to Player is the most essential part that players need to understand before playing slot machines for real money. Every single slot game has a different RTP that is specified by the software provider.
For example, the RTP of the NetEnt game Starburst is 96.09%. This means that for every $100 you bet on this game, you have the potential to win back $96.09.
This does not ensure that you will get $96.09 back for every $100 that you spend on a slot game. It means that $96.09 will be returned to every person who will play Starburst. This will include wins, losses and all.
Regardless of what you win, the casino will get their house edge of $3.91 on every $100 bet. Thus, slot machines are indeed rigged in the favour of the software providers and casinos. You can win enough, but there is not guarantee of much wins in the long run.
Understand Random Number Generators
RNG or Random Number Generator is the mechanism via which slot machines work. This makes human intervention in a slot game an impossible feat. This also ensures that one or the other slot machine gamer will get a jackpot win or two. But, all this will happen randomly.
The RNG system cannot be manipulated or cheated. A pattern might sometimes be discerned but that is all.
Why Slot Machines Are Rigged?
In a nutshell, slot machines are rigged such that the casino gets a good house edge and does not need to pay off too many slot gamers. This does not however indicate that you cannot win anything from slot machines.
How Are Slot Machines Legal When They Are Rigged?
Well, slot machines are still legal, even though you might consider them rigged. If every house advantage that a casino has indicated a ‘rigged’ casino game, then all the games in the catalogue would be illegal.
How Can You Tell Which Slot Machines Are Rigged?
The following are the tips and tricks that will enable you to tell which slot machines are rigged:
- Choose only those slot games which have high RTPs. Some examples to get you started are Blood Suckers by NetEnt (98%) and Rags to Riches by Cryptologic (98%).
- Select the volatility that fits you. Low volatility slots offer frequent but small wins, while high volatility slots offer just the opposite. Medium volatility is ideal with average yet frequent wins.
- Ensure that the free spins you collect from the online casino have a low wagering requirement. Less deposits and wagering requirements of about 20x will do.
Are Casino Slot Machines Rigged?
Yes, they are rigged. But that is to provide a house edge to the casino. You can still win a fair amount from slot games.
F.A.Q.s
Are slot machines random or programmed?
Slot machines are random to ensure Provable Fairness.
Is there a way to tell if a slot machine is going to hit?
No, since slot machines function via RNG mechanism, there is no way to tell if a slot machine is rigged.
Can slot machines be controlled?
No, slot machines cannot be controlled via human intervention.
What triggers a jackpot on a slot machine?
Jackpots are triggered randomly on a slot machine using the RNG system.