Protect Yourself from Online Casino Cheating
When you read casino articles on the web, you will probably notice how they always tell you that online gambling is safe and fair. True, casino web sites in general don't cheat their customers. Why should they when the house edge is already there to insure their profits? Yet the fact is there are casinos out there that really do cheat.
Software Fixing
Casino web sites are totally dependent on gambling software to run their business. All games - roulette, blackjack, slots, video poker, etc. -are played using gaming software that you either download to your computer or run from within your browser. This favors the casinos because advantage playing techniques like blackjack card counting become useless. It also helps players since play is faster and no misdeals can happen.
But a big concern is that casinos can easily "fix" their software in order to cheat. For instance, they can try to manipulate the random number generator (RNG) of a slot machine to make its payback percentage lower than what they advertise on their web site. There is no way the player will know since all dealing is unseen by them.
Bonus and Withdrawal Scams
One of the worst experiences you can ever have at a casino web site is when they refuse to pay you what you're due. Picture this: You see a casino that offers a big sign-up bonus. You sign up, deposit your money and play. After you have met their wagering requirements, you decide it is time to withdraw your winnings. You contact the casino but get no reply for several days. When you finally get to talk to someone, they say you're ineligible for withdrawal due to some technicality with the bonus. Eventually the casino vanishes from sight. Bottom line: You never get your money back.
This sorry tale happens often enough with the "rogue" casino web sites as they are called. Fortunately, word spreads rapidly about them and they get blacklisted in casino review sites. But they can easily resurface under new names to find more victims.
Programmer Cheating
A different type of cheating is done, not by the casinos, but by programmers.
If you like to play video games, you no doubt have heard of and/or used "cheats codes." Cheat codes are not in the manual, but the programmer put them in the game so that all who know the code can gain some advantage by using the code.
Sometime a programmer will write code into gambling program that gives an undue advantage to the player who uses that code. Not long ago, someone did this with a video poker game. While it might be cool to know such a cheat code, it is unfair to other players and to the casino as well.
Cheating and Casino Web Sites Today
Cheating is still a real threat nowadays. Happily, they are not hard to avoid. The surest way is to play only in those casino web sites that have been around for a long time and have a spotless reputation. This may be unfair to newcomers to the scene, but this is your money and you shouldn't take undue risks (isn't gambling enough?) with it.
Always ask about a casino web site before playing there. Keep track of online gambling events and issues at blogs and forums. Visit your favorite casino review site for their latest recommendations. It pays to stay informed, especially where your bankroll and peace of mind are at stake.
