Online Blackjack Isn’t Rigged – Here’s the Proof

Things are a bit simpler with live dealer blackjack – at least if you’re just an average player with no knowledge of statistics or computers.

As you probably know, live blackjack games provide a video stream that shows a broadcast of a blackjack table that uses real, physical cards. In that sense, live games are much closer to what you would find at a real-life casino.

This means that you can trust the cards because they’re right there in front of your eyes. All live blackjack tables make sure that the cards are always clearly shown on video at all times. Professional dealers ensure that players are privy to everything they do, ranging from shuffling and cutting to dealing and drawing.

In fact, reputable live dealers make it a point to always keep all of the action visible to players. That’s why the dealers’ hands are always above the table, and it’s why their movements are typically slow, methodical, and focused. Additionally, many live blackjack tables further show transparency by featuring multiple cameras with angles and shots focused on the cards.

However, live casino games also have to undergo rigorous tests by certification specialists as well as gambling regulators. These tests typically involve playing thousands of rounds and comparing the results to the stats provided by the game supplier.

Remember, live casino software providers have to be licensed by authorities in any country they wish to operate in legally. Much like casino operators, their very existence depends on their ability to follow regulations and fairness guidelines.

That’s why it’s important to play blackjack games made by licensed, reputable companies that care about their reputation. For example, long-standing industry giants like Evolution and Playtech would never jeopardise their multi-million-dollar business by rigging games. Simply put, the long-term benefits of a strong reputation far outweigh any short-term earnings they would get by being shady.

Common Myths Debunked

Online gambling as a whole is a fairly modern concept. It hasn’t been around that long, which means that the “behind the scenes” facts of online gambling are still unclear to many players. Besides, punters have always been a suspicious and superstitious bunch.

As a result, there are many myths and misconceptions out there about how online blackjack works or how it is or isn’t fair. Let’s address some of these myths and dispel any doubts you may have:

• The dealer always gets 21: The odds of a dealer hitting a natural 21 (blackjack) on their first two cards are roughly 4.8%, or about 1 in every 21 hands. These probabilities are exactly the same in all types of blackjack, including online versions. Any game that tried to rig the figures would be quickly caught and would never receive a reputable license or certification. This would be a very obvious way to cheat because even a small change in the probabilities would massively increase the house advantage. Any test would easily note the discrepancy between the provided RTP and the actual RTP.
• Online casinos manipulate cards: First of all, online casinos generally do not make casino games. Both live and RNG-based games are usually provided by a software company. In other words, the casino doesn’t even have access to the game’s code or live dealer broadcast, and couldn’t manipulate them even if they wanted to. Secondly, the software providers themselves are also careful about their reputations and licenses, and respectable companies would never tarnish their good name just to give one individual operator a tiny advantage.
• No one ever wins: This myth stands out because it’s actually based on a bit of truth. In the long run, you can’t really beat any casino game – not even blackjack. All gambling games are designed to give the casino an advantage. While you can have luck and win in the short run, the house will always take more than it pays out overall. This is called a house edge, and it exists in every form of gambling ever devised, online or otherwise. Remember – casinos exist to make money, not hand it out to people. However, it’s entirely possible to win in the short term or by using advanced strategies such as card counting. That said, you should not expect to earn money from blackjack. You can win more than you lose, but it’s not a reliable way of making money.

How to Tell If a Casino Is Legit or Rigged

While gambling is a highly regulated business with a lot of oversight, rogue sites and shady casinos still exist. This means that the responsibility of finding safe casinos to play blackjack is partly on you.

Thankfully, that’s not a particularly difficult task. For starters, legit casinos are typically proud of their licenses and certifications and openly display them for anyone to see and review. Secondly, a part of our job here at LiveCasinos.com is to inform players about online casinos, their reputation, and their fairness policies through our live casino reviews. If you’re looking for a safe place to enjoy your favorite games, you can start with our top casino lists.

However, we still encourage players to do their own research. With that in mind, here’s a checklist of common features and indicators that a casino is safe and legitimate:

• Holds a recognized license: Legal gambling sites are always licensed by at least one reputable regulatory body. International casinos and big brands are typically licensed by more than one, further highlighting their reliability. Common examples of reputable regulators include Great Britain’s UKGC and the Maltese MGA. If you live in a country with a regulated online gambling market, you should also ensure that the operator is licensed by whatever authority has jurisdiction in your place of residence.
• Shows RNG or game testing certificates: Both casinos and individual games should be tested and certified by independent testing services such as eCONGRA. These certifications ensure that the math model of every game is transparently shown to players and that stats like RTP and payouts are accurate.
• Offers games from top-tier providers: Respectable casinos are very careful about selecting software providers they’ll partner with. After all, their reputation and future depend on the safety and fairness of these games. We recommend researching the software provider that made the game you’re planning to play. Legitimate providers tend to be open and transparent about their games.
• Lists RTPs for each game: A game that doesn’t openly display its return-to-player rate (RTP) is not a game we would ever trust. In fact, transparent house edge figures are a legal requirement in the eyes of most gambling regulators.
• Transparent terms: Good casinos take steps to ensure an open and honest relationship with their customers. This doesn’t mean that they’re just open about the games’ RTP, though. For example, casinos that hide shady terms and conditions for bonuses (often in the form of stringent wagering requirements) should be avoided, even if you don’t intend to collect said bonuses. Remember – an honest business maintains honest business practices in all aspects.
• Customer reviews: Good word-of-mouth travels fast in the digital age, but a bad reputation travels even faster. A quick Google search can often tell you a lot about how a casino treats its customers. However, we advise caution: the web is also filled with fake reviews, so-called “review bombing” by competitors, and even paid advertisements that pretend they’re legitimate user reviews. Use your judgment to see whether the reviews are actual user experiences or just a bit of shady marketing.

Why Some Players Think It’s Rigged

For better or worse, the opinion that online blackjack is rigged is not uncommon. Many players adamantly believe that even highly respected casinos and games are being dishonest despite the evidence that shows otherwise.

The reasons behind this vary from player to player. Let’s address some of these common concerns:

• Losing streaks feel unfair: Long winning streaks are statistically quite improbable, but they do happen. Similarly, losing streaks are uncommon, but they still happen. If you play blackjack long enough, you’re eventually going to have a series of losing games that might make you feel like something is off. It’s important to remember that luck is very important in blackjack, even though it’s a game of skill. You could play perfectly and still lose. It’s not really your fault or the game’s fault – it’s just random chance.
• Not understanding house advantage: We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – every casino game gives the casino a small but crucial statistical advantage. This advantage practically ensures that every player is going to lose more than they win. While some might consider this unfair, you should remember that legitimate casinos are transparent about this innate advantage. It’s typically displayed in the form of RTP. As such, we encourage every player to understand what RTP is, how it works, and why the house always wins in the long run.
• Misunderstanding basic strategy: Blackjack is one of the very few gambling games in which players can directly influence the outcome. Basically, the 0.5% displayed house advantage assumes that you’re playing perfectly and that you’re always making statistically optimal decisions. These optimal decisions are called basic blackjack strategy, and they’re essential for every serious blackjack player. If you don’t use basic strategy charts, the casino’s house advantage will be much bigger because you’ll end up losing more than you have to. If you need help with figuring out the optimal way to play, our blackjack calculator can help you get the most out of your time with the game.
• Chasing losses: Casino money management is another important aspect of gambling strategy. One of its most basic principles is to never chase losses. If you’re losing more than you want to lose, it’s probably best to take a break.

Tips to Avoid Shady Sites

We’ll finish our guide off with a few handy tips on how to spot shady casinos and blackjack games that you should avoid.

• Don’t rely solely on bonuses – We love a good casino bonus as much as the next player, but they’re simply not the most important factor when it comes to finding the best gambling sites. The generous offers and big numbers might seem enticing, but they’re secondary to features such as licensing, certification, privacy policies, and customer service. You can read more about how we rate and review live casinos here.
• Google the casino’s name before signing up – If you don’t really trust online casinos all that much, you’re not alone. Casino players tend to be quite vocal about their experiences – especially if they’re negative. As such, a quick bit of research about any platform can tell you a lot. Moreover, reviews by trusted third-party sites can reveal a lot about a casino that’s not immediately obvious to the average player.
• Stick to well-known brands – If you’re not confident in your ability to recognize a trustworthy casino site, the safest course of action is to just stick with big, acclaimed brands. Although they don’t always have the best offers, they’re typically reliable because they have a lot riding on their reputation as a brand.

Final Verdict

As casino fans ourselves, we definitely understand that the gambling industry doesn’t necessarily have the best reputation – for good reason, unfortunately. However, rigging blackjack games is simply not in the casino’s best interest.

Look at it this way: casinos make money because games are designed to give them a statistical advantage. Although small, this advantage is the foundation on which business empires and multi-billion-dollar brands have been built. In contrast, rigging a few blackjack tables would be very short-sighted and a terrible financial decision.

If you don’t trust casino operators (or us), you can at least trust that they want to make money. Rigging blackjack tables would put any gambling venue’s licenses, reputation, and future at risk. It’s simply not in their best interest to do so.

However, you shouldn’t just blindly trust them either. Make sure that any gaming platform you use and every blackjack game you play is licensed, certified, and reputable. Take steps to stay safe and be careful who you trust with your hard-earned money. Finally, manage your expectations – gambling is a losing game in the long run, even if you’re amazing at blackjack.

As a final note, we’ll remind you that informing players about casinos and live dealer games is what LiveCasinos is all about. Our live casino reviews and live dealer game reviews can tell you all about the web’s best sites and live tables, including whether you can trust them.

FAQ

• Is blackjack at offshore casinos rigged?

Not necessarily, but players should still be extra cautious about casinos that aren’t licensed in their country or state. Whether offshore or not, casinos should still be licensed with at least one reputable regulator and ideally certified by multiple third-party organizations. If you ever need to take legal action against a particular operator, doing so against an offshore operation will be much harder, which is why offshore casinos carry additional risks.

• Can live dealers cheat?

Theoretically, yes. However, we’ve never seen it happen, and we’ve played hundreds of gamers from dozens of providers over the years. Most reputable live dealer tables pointedly display the cards and the dealer’s hands at all times. Additionally, cheating would simply not be in the provider’s or the casino’s best interest.

• How do I know if I’m being scammed?

The only way to truly know you’re being scammed is by playing thousands of games and making sure that your returns don’t match the game’s displayed RTP. If you ever suspect that a game is rigged, we recommend getting in touch with the game provider’s regulator and/or any companies that have certified their products. They have the knowledge and resources to perform these tests.