Blackjack is a popular casino game, both in real-world and online casinos. However, many players have concerns regarding the fairness of online blackjack. In this post, we'll examine the aspects that influence the perception of rigged online blackjack and how to ensure you only play fair games.
🎯 Key Takeaways
- Online blackjack uses RNG technology to ensure fair, random outcomes and prevent card counting.
- Licenced and regulated online casinos are highly unlikely to offer rigged games due to strict audits and oversight.
- Unusual patterns or missing licences can be signs of rigged online blackjack, so it's important to check casino credentials.
- Trustworthy casinos offer transparency in their terms, licensing, and customer support, ensuring a fair gaming experience.
|
Table of Contents |
Â
A Closer Look At Blackjack Gameplay
Online blackjack is played at online casinos. Online blackjack is played against a simulated dealer, whereas live dealer blackjack is live-streamed to your device with a real dealer and other players. It is common for even experienced players to conflate these two terms, so it's important to remember that when we refer to 'online casino' and 'live casino' blackjack, we are referring to two very different gameplay experiences.
Online blackjack uses random number generation rather than a real-world deck or decks, preventing card counting. However, outside of the computerised interface, the game plays the same as traditional casino blackjack; players may use general play strategies to decide whether to hit, stand, or double down if they wish.
How Online Blackjack is Played
- Load the game on your preferred device, including mobile ones.
- Select your stake in the bet selection window. To start the game if playing solo, click play whenever you like.
- Both you and the virtual dealer get one face-up and face-down card. The aim is to have a higher hand value than the dealer. Players can go bust and forfeit the round if their cards total more than 21, while achieving this total in your first two cards (an ace plus a royal or 10) means you've achieved a 'blackjack' or 'natural' and will automatically win the round.
- The player takes their turn first. They can hit (receive another card) or stand (end their turn). You can split or double down if available. A playing card's value is its number. Every blackjack royal is worth 10. An ace's default value is 11 but will switch to 1 in instances where the player would have gone bust.
- The blackjack dealer must hit with 16 or lower and stand with 17 unless stipulated by house rules. Dealers reveal their face-down cards after moves. The player defeats the dealer if their total cards are higher. The next blackjack round begins after the results are announced and rewards are made.
Random Number Generation and Online Blackjack
Every online blackjack game is randomised using Random Number Generator software (RNG). This software makes thousands of unique outcomes each second, meaning that games have no predictable pattern which could be exploited by either the player or the casino. In the case of blackjack, online blackjack is technically safer and fairer than traditional casino blackjack, where cards might be inefficiently shuffled, and savvy players can use card counting strategies.
RNG software on its own isn't enough to ensure fairness, however, because, though very unlikely, the casino or software provider might tamper with the software to produce non-random results. This is why major software studios allow independent labs to examine their games to assure randomness and fairness. Popular auditors include eCOGRA, iTech Labs, and GLI.
Licensing and Regulation Dispel Many Myths
Online casino licences matter when addressing rigged games. More specifically, an online casino with one or more licences from reputable gaming regulators is unlikely to offer rigged blackjack games.
This is because online casinos invest a lot of time and money to get a gaming licence. The regulator will assess the online casino, investigate its background, and test it to grant a licence and continue to do so at regular intervals. Licensing fees are expensive and require annual renewals, meaning that rigging games and potentially losing reputation and licensing just isn't worth it for online casinos.
Common Concerns about Online Blackjack
Many players remember the early, unregulated days of the internet, so it’s natural to question the fairness of online blackjack.
Our brains tend to form patterns even when none exist, making it easy to assume table games have a bias. This misconception, known as the "gambler's fallacy," can arise when the dealer wins multiple blackjacks in a row or when you repeatedly miss a key card. However, such fluctuations are common in the short term, with true variance emerging over hundreds of rounds.
Myths also circulate about methods to "beat the system," but all fair games are random. Some players may be more sceptical of online blackjack than live dealer games, but as we've seen, RNG software often ensures fairer results by eliminating human error.
Signs of Rigged Vs. Fair Blackjack Games
Of course, we’re not denying that there are scam sites and rigged games out there, but these are the minority and not the norm. Still, it can be reassuring to know how to spot rigged games, and luckily the criteria are very simple:
Recognizing Possible Rigging in Online Blackjack
-
- Unusual Patterns and Results: Random chance games should not have any predictable result pattern. Although the same few cards can show up over 10 spins and even the same winning hand can show up twice in a row, a game with a clear trend over the long run is most certainly rigged.
- Lack of Licensing/Regulation and Customer Support: As already mentioned, becoming licenced involves time, money, and effort. Consequently, if a casino maintains a current licence with an acknowledged body such as the UKGC, MGA, AGCC, or GRA, you can feel reassured. If unsure, you can personally get in touch with the regulator listed on the website to verify that their licence has been kept current. Alongside this, reputable online casinos will always be transparent regarding terms and conditions. They will also have easy-to-access customer support options, with an email and phone line at a bare minimum, but ideally, a live chat support option.
- Negative User Comments and Feedback: Although the Internet age has many negative aspects, it leaves nowhere to hide when it comes to learning people's actual ideas and experiences. Customer evaluations and comments will let you know if a site is rigged or runs predatory operations.
Though rare, if you believe a website or a hosted online blackjack game is fraudulent, you can report them to several gaming authorities by completing a basic form. Apart from this, authorities such as the UKGC have easily available records of recent transgressions and their outcomes.
Ensuring Fair Play in Online Blackjack
We’ve already touched upon the ways that you can make sure the online blackjack game you’re playing is fair and legitimate. In summary, reputable websites will provide total openness regarding their licensing, accreditation, testing, and so forth. They also offer a well-run customer care system, promote responsible gaming and provide easy access to associated resources.
You can usually trust your gut instinct when it comes to a site's legitimacy. If a site has up-to-date licensing, great customer support options, a games library showcasing a range of top developers, and transparency regarding terms and conditions, then you’re at the right place.
The Role of Licensing and Regulation
The online casino industry cannot function without regulatory organisations. Shady dealings and questionable methods in the gambling business have been reduced to a minority because of the work of regulators. The regulator is responsible for conducting thorough tests on an entire site like Prime Casino and keeping tabs on licenced locations to make sure they stay in line with regulations.
The most prominent UK regulator, the UK Gambling Commission, requires all sites licenced by them to supply games that comply with their testing approach through certified test houses and are driven by random number generators. In addition to the UK Gambling Commission, other respected regulators include the Malta Gambling Authority (MGA), the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC), and the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA).
A Summary of Trustworthy Online Blackjack Games
To summarise, you can tell if an online blackjack game is trustworthy if the following is true:
- The site that hosts the game has up-to-date licensing and regulations
- The game has been subject to third-party testing
- The game has been created by a recognised and well-regarded developer
- The game information such as its maths model and rules is clear and easy to find
- The site hosting the game has positive player reviews and operates transparently
- The game plays reliably on both mobile and desktop devices
FAQs
Is online blackjack truly random?
Online blackjack uses random number generation (RNG) to ensure random outcomes. These are third-party tests to ensure fairness.
Can online casinos manipulate blackjack outcomes?
Reputable online casinos adhere to strict criteria and high standards to gain licensing by recognised regulators. Manipulated games would result in the loss of a licence, reputation, severe fines, or legal action.
How can I know if an online blackjack game is fair?
Fair online blackjack games have been third-party tested and audited. They will be from recognised developers and hosted at licenced online casinos.
