There is a saying in the gambling world – “The house always wins.” This eludes to the fact that games are designed to take a percentage of the wagered funds and reserve it for the operator that hosts the games. All of the prize money comes from the funds wagered by other players. So, it’s irrelevant to the operator whether you win or lose because they get the set percentage either way. However, many interpret this saying differently. For them -” the house always wins.” means that the games are rigged and that the casino controls the payouts.
Of course, this is a valid concern, and players are cautious for a reason. Not all of the operators out there are legitimate or regulated. If you want to have fun on a fully licensed gambling site then play at Captain Cooks Casino, a trusted brand that’s been around since 2003. They have an array of bonuses and support all of the company-used payment options. They also host games from Microgaming, a software provider that’s been certified for fairness.
Still just because an operator is regulated and uses certified software doesn’t exactly answer the question – can casinos control slot machines? So, let’s see whether this is possible, and if you should be concerned.
Is it Possible to Tamper With Slot Machine Payouts?
The answer is absolutely, especially if you are talking about the older models. Many players were fully aware of the possible exploits that could help them earn more money. All they needed was a small device that blocks the scanner which regulates how many coins the machine spits out after a win. By blocking this scanner, the machine doesn’t know when to stop, and it was possible for players to significantly improve their payouts and cheat.
However, as the industry has embraced a more complex software structure tampering with slots became more difficult. The software that is used is also audited for fairness and needs to meet certain standards. All of the legitimate online casinos use that software. If you read feedback of an operator, Casino Kingdom, you’ll see that, among other things, it is accredited by eCOGRA. This is an independent auditor for gambling software that checks if it adheres to regulatory requirements. Now, it’s still possible to cause deliberate bugs and basically hack the game, but you’ll leave the evidence behind, and you can get into trouble.
Can Casinos Control Slot Machines
The short answer is yes, they can. In fact, many brands collaborate with software developers in order to create exclusives for their casinos. This isn’t just for show or to offer unique content. These exclusives allow operators to dictate the RTP or payout rates. Not only that, but the casino will also have access to the game’s code. This means they have a say when the jackpot payout is supposed to occur and they can rig the slot to only give small payouts to players.
This also answers another big question – do casinos control the odds of slot machines? As you can see, it is not for all of them but for exclusives. Still, a licensed casino needs to get the game approved by the regulators, and the RTP of the approved game has to comply with state law.
Do Casinos Control Slot Machines and Their Jackpots
Just because operators have access to the code and can influence payouts, doesn’t mean that do that. There are plenty of reasons for them to avoid tampering with the code:
● Putting license in jeopardy – If auditors discover that someone has been tweaking the odds and payouts, they can instantly remove their certificate and fine the casino.
● Laws apply to developers as well – In order for game providers to keep their fairness certificate and license, they must also adhere to gambling laws.
● Negative press – If players discover that the casino is stealing, there will be a massive backlash. Even if it’s not intentional, operators will have a hard time recovering from bad reviews, so it’s in their interest to stay clean.
However, an unlicensed operator doesn’t have much to lose, so they might be more liberal when it comes to cheating. Also, a casino can still know the approximate time when jackpots will drop. This still gives them the opportunity to contact someone they trust and tell him when to come and play. They can then split the profit. This is still unlawful but harder to prove, especially if the money is split in cash without a trace of a digital transaction.
Bigger licensed brands are more likely to avoid this practice, as they would have more to lose. What’s more, big jackpot winners usually make the news, and they need to report their winnings, so they are closely scrutinized for a certain time. That being said, smaller gambling joints that aren’t in the public eye are more likely to do something of the sort. Finding a friend of a friend that the owner can trust with jackpot winnings isn’t that difficult or too far-fetched in this case.
Conclusion
This doesn’t sound reassuring, but you have to remember that doing these things can significantly harm the operator. It would be very foolish and shortsighted for a profitable casino to do these things. It also shows you why licensed casinos are safer and why regulatory scrutiny is so important.