It's a question many players want to ask but don't - is online blackjack rigged? In short, No! However, no blog would be complete without an explanation, and that's where we come in today.
Online casino games often come under scrutiny for being rigged, especially online blackjack, so we're going to try and answer some of the most common questions that get asked and debunk these myths that online blackjack is rigged.
Sometimes, all about picking the right casino. If you don't do your research first and you pick a rogue casino, you could be at risk of playing a rigged game. However, we have the tools and knowledge you need to ensure this will not happen. So, let's take a look.
Are Online Casinos Rigged?
Many people (often those who have never played before) believe that online casinos are rigged.
In general, online casinos are not rigged as long as you choose reputable sites that are fully licensed and regulated. For example, all the casinos we list on AskGamblers are fully licensed. If a casino holds a regulatory license, it is improbable that they will rig their games and jeopardise their license.
However, rogue casinos do exist, so if you're picking a casino not listed on AskGamblers, the most important thing to check is that they are fully licensed and by whom.
Many people (often those who have never played before) believe that online casinos are rigged. By extension, they think online blackjack is rigged, too, so let's look at how you can spot the difference between a reputable and rogue casino.
How to Tell if You're Dealing With a Suspicious Casino Site
Blackjack is no different from other casino games you can enjoy, so once you find a reputable casino, all the games will be safe to play.
However, since we know rogue casinos exist, let's look at some of the things you can watch out for:
Do they have a license?
We touched on this just now, but it is the most important thing you should be checking. If there is no licensing information, that should immediately be raising red flags for you.
Their licensing information is usually displayed at the bottom of their page; you may find more information in their terms and conditions.
You can also click on their license certificate to ensure their license is up to date and has not expired or been revoked.
Check Player Reviews and Forums
Another great way to check if a casino is rogue is by reading player reviews. We have thousands of reviews on our website, and there are more online if we don't have the casino in our directory. If a casino is rogue, there's a good chance that someone has written a review about it.
The same goes for forums, players use forums to discuss casinos, and if there's a rogue one, you'll probably find a topic. You can check out the AskGamblers forum at any time.
Check if the site is secure and fair
If you are playing at a reliable casino, they will have some encryption technology, like SSL, protecting your personal information. If a casino does not have encryption, you do not want to play there, and there is every chance the casino is rogue. You can also play at a mobile casino if it offers more convenience, and the same rules apply.
The casino should also display information about fairness. This can include information about their random number generator or provably fair games.
Check out support
Most, if not all, casinos have at least one support option. The most common one is live chat. It's always a good idea to chat with customer service before you play and if you cannot find any support options, please continue to use the other checkpoints listed to see if more warning signs appear.
Check Payout times
Finally, look at the casinos' withdrawal process, what methods they offer, and how long they take. If something is ringing alarm bells, please continue using the other checkpoints to ensure you are not playing at a rogue casino.
Why Do We Think That Online Blackjack Could Be Rigged?
There has always been scepticism about online blackjack being rigged, and some players are left thinking about how rigged is online blackjack. But the simple answer is that it's not, and the myth has evolved since casinos went online. Mainly because we can't see what we see in land-based casinos when we play blackjack, it's easy to think a casino can rig the game.
Since everything is computerised, it's easy to believe that the casino can program the game to cheat you, but most players have unrealistic expectations regarding blackjack.
Like any other casino game, you can't win all the time, and the casino will have the house edge. Players who often claim online blackjack is rigged are those who haven't won. But blackjack is a volatile game, there will be times you lose, and you could lose a lot. There will be times you win and win a lot, it works both ways, but the house edge means you will probably lose more than you will win.
There's no shock to that statement if you're an experienced casino player; you'll already know that it applies to all games.
If you're new to the game, you can learn how to play blackjack in an earlier blog of ours that you may find helpful.
How Can I Know if My Online Blackjack Game Is Rigged?
Is blackjack online rigged? No. But how can you tell if online blackjack is fair? You can use all the tools and checkpoints we have already included in this blog.
Some players also wonder if there is any way to tell if online live blackjack is rigged. Is live online casino blackjack rigged? No.
However, years ago, there was a scandal when a customer noticed a dealer was cheating by second dealing, where they took the second card from the top and not the top card and is one of the most notorious scandals to date. However, this was not proof of a rigged game but the software provider's fault.
To check if online live blackjack is rigged or any other game of blackjack, you simply need to have your wits about you and use everything we have given you from the blog.
What you must remember is that casinos must abide by their licence, or they risk having it revoked and losing their business. For this reason, casinos will provide a fair game, and the chances of playing at a rogue casino with rigged games remain slim.
If you're interested in counting cards in blackjack to further your knowledge of the game, you may find our earlier blog useful.
Security and Prevention of Rigged Games
If you're picking a reputable casino, security measures will be in place to ensure they're not rigged. This includes the games being audited by government authorities. Casinos can publish this information to give you peace of mind.
Most casino games will be audited by third parties to ensure they are safe to play and generate fair outcomes. This also includes the use of random number generators to determine random results.
Casinos that hold a licence must go through their compliance checks and would not risk their licence by not doing so. You should be able to find information about security and fairness on most casino websites, and if you can - use our checklist above to see if any more red flags are being raised.
Casinos may also hold an eCOGRA certification seal, a London-based testing agency and standards organisation. If you see this seal, it is another good indication that the games are not rigged.
Pick a Trustworthy and Notable Casino
By now, we hope you have all the tools you need to check the safety of your casinos, which should always be your priority.
Picking a trustworthy and notable casino might just be the key to your success because if you win at a rogue casino, chances are you'll never see the winnings.
We have thousands of online casinos at AskGamblers, and we have you covered. We scrutinise our casinos before they're added to make sure they are always fully licensed and regulated. You can browse our directory at any time.
You can also check out our Certified Casinos which are casinos that have received the AskGamblers Certificate of Trust for added peace of mind.