If you have been around the online casino space, you heard many statements about rigged games, stolen data, or “secret strategies” that guarantee a win.
Like most rumors, some hold truth, some do not. But how can you tell the difference between what is a myth and what is true? It is always important to review the facts yourself. Let’s clear up some of the most common myths floating around and help you separate fact from fiction.
Online live-casinos 101
Before we dive into the mythical land, let’s first discuss the live aspect of online casinos. Online casinos are always changing, and a compelling new development is the option to play live, just like in a real casino, with other players and the dealer. A live casino game can be great for those who think regular online casinos lack the social aspect of real-world casinos, as they play out in real time with real people.
The question for most with this is: how accurate and reliable are live casinos? With screen lag and questionable shuffling, how do they stack compared to not having a screen between you and the dealer? Well, connection speed and stability are factors that are constantly improving across the world.
Yes, the early days could often have many issues, but the casinos on their end really invest in maintaining the best possible connections for their users. And as for the dealers themselves? Well, rather than a physical casino having an audience of 10, online casinos host lobbies with sometimes hundreds of people. So only the best and most reliable croupiers get employed to run these sessions. All eyes are on them after all.
Myth #1: Online casinos fix the games
Are online casinos rigged? In short, no. At least we can say that a fully licensed online casino will never be rigged. It can certainly seem like it at times, especially if you are on a bad losing streak, but unfortunately, that’s all it is, a run of bad luck.
Casino game developers, alongside the casinos themselves, have to adhere to strict RNG (random number generator) guidelines when developing their slot machines for them to be able to legally operate. This ensures that there is no fixed outcome, no pattern to follow, and no chance of foul play.
Myth #2: Your data isn’t safe with online casinos
You may have heard some things online about websites not protecting people’s data enough and letting it fall into the wrong hands. This may be a very real online threat for many industries, but it certainly does not apply to licensed online casinos.
These sites operate fully legally, and leaking your info into the wrong hands would not only be immoral but also highly illegal. Of course, data breaches do happen, unfortunately, but all legitimate sites have security protocols in place to mitigate this risk.
In a lot of cases, some of the most secure systems available are implemented by casinos because they deal directly with finances. If you have any worries about this, have a read of the site’s privacy policy to get an idea of how they will handle your data and how they plan on protecting it.
Myth #3: Online casinos are less secure than land-based ones
This is a myth that is passed around a lot online: online casinos are some sort of wild west where your money is just floating in the cloud unsecured, while the land-based casinos hold money in impenetrable vaults that would make any theft mission impossible. Of course, this is not the case; licensed online casinos are perfectly safe to use, and they implement encryption to keep all of your data safe.
There are dangerous online casinos out there that may try to scam you, though, which is why you must seek a licensed one. But generally, they are just as safe, if not even safer than land-based casinos – you aren’t walking around a floor with cash in your jacket, waiting for an opportune pickpocket to strike.
Myth #4: You can beat the system
You may also hear a lot of discussion online about how you may be able to beat the system and win every time. Hollywood films once again have often perpetuated this. Again, however, this is a myth.
Of course, some casino games do require a certain amount of skill to play, like poker, and the better you are, the higher your chances of winning each round are. But when it comes to online slot machines, surely they have to pay out after a certain amount of time, right?
Myth #5: Slot machines pay out on a schedule
Some people believe that if you are on a bad losing streak, then that specific slot machine is due for a win and that they should keep playing until that win happens.
This is not the case because the aforementioned random number generators that licensed online casinos are required to use work on a spin-by-spin basis, meaning that the odds stay the same every spin. No matter how many times you have spun it in one session, the payout chances will always be the same.
So, what’s actually true?
Online casinos aren’t the Wild West some people make them out to be…but they’re not all squeaky clean either. Stick with licensed, regulated sites that have actual oversight, and you should be safe.
