How Casinos Rig Games (And How to Spot It)

Let's address the elephant in the room: Yes, some casinos cheat.

Not all of them. Not even most of them. But enough that you need to know how it works, what to look for, and how to protect yourself and your audience.

This isn't fear-mongering. It's education. The more you understand manipulation tactics, the better you can identify trustworthy platforms and warn your audience about dangerous ones.

How Legitimate Casinos Make Money (Without Cheating)

First, let's establish the baseline. Honest casinos don't need to cheat because they have a mathematical edge built into every game.

The house edge:

• Dice: 1-5% edge depending on casino
• Slots: 2-15% edge (varies by game)
• Blackjack: 0.5-2% edge (with basic strategy)
• Roulette: 2.7-5.26% edge

Example: A casino with 1% house edge on $1 million in bets keeps $10,000. No cheating required.

Over millions of bets, the math guarantees profit. This is why legitimate casinos focus on volume, not manipulation.

Key insight: If a casino is cheating, it's usually because:

1. They're greedy beyond the built-in edge
2. They're poorly capitalized and can't survive variance
3. They're planning to exit-scam anyway

Method #1: RNG Manipulation

How it works:

Random Number Generators (RNGs) determine outcomes in online casino games. A manipulated RNG can:

• Produce "random" results that favor the house beyond stated odds
• Detect betting patterns and adjust outcomes
• Target specific players (especially winners) with worse odds

Real-world example:

In 2017, several offshore casinos were caught using RNG software that could be remotely adjusted. Players who were winning would suddenly experience "bad luck" streaks that were statistically improbable.

How to spot it:

• No third-party RNG audits (or fake audit certificates)
• Refusal to provide game logs or verification
• Statistically impossible losing streaks (we'll explain how to calculate this)
• Different results when playing with real money vs. demo mode

Protection:

Choose provably fair casinos where you can verify every bet cryptographically. No trust required—just math.

Method #2: Selective Scamming

How it works:

The casino operates fairly for most players but cheats specific targets:

• High rollers: When someone bets big, outcomes mysteriously favor the house
• Winners: Players on hot streaks get "cooled down" artificially
• Withdrawal requesters: After requesting withdrawal, your luck tanks

Why this is effective:

• Small bettors have positive experiences (good reviews, word of mouth)
• By the time big bettors realize something's wrong, they've lost significant money
• Hard to prove statistically with small sample sizes

Real-world example:

A now-defunct crypto casino was exposed for having a "whale mode" in their backend. When a player's balance exceeded $10,000, their RNG seed pool switched to a less favorable set.

How to spot it:

• Track your results meticulously (more on this below)
• Compare win rates at different stake levels
• Notice if luck changes dramatically after deposits or withdrawal requests
• Check if big winners ever actually get paid

Protection:

• Start with small bets and track results
• Request small withdrawals before betting big (tests their payment)
• Use casinos with transparent, verifiable systems

Method #3: Payout Manipulation

How it works:

The games are technically fair, but the casino manipulates what happens after you win:

• Delayed withdrawals: "Security review" until you gamble winnings away
• Sudden account restrictions: Limits imposed after big wins
• Bonus voiding: Terms interpreted to cancel your winnings
• "Fraud" accusations: Account frozen with no explanation

Real-world example:

A player won $50,000 on slots. The casino demanded extensive KYC (reasonable), then claimed his documents were "suspicious" (they weren't), then accused him of "bonus abuse" (he hadn't used a bonus), and finally closed his account. He never received payment.

How to spot it:

• Read withdrawal complaints on forums (AskGamblers, Reddit, etc.)
• Check how the casino handles disputes
• Look for patterns of "confiscated" winnings
• Test with small withdrawals first

Protection:

• Withdraw frequently (don't let large balances accumulate)
• Complete KYC before playing
• Document everything (screenshots, transaction IDs)
• Avoid casinos with history of non-payment

Method #4: Game-Specific Manipulation

Slots Manipulation

How it works:

• RTP switching: Advertised RTP is 96%, actual RTP is 88%
• Demo vs. real: Demo mode shows more wins to encourage deposits
• Session-based manipulation: First few spins win, then nothing

How to spot it:

• Long-term results significantly below stated RTP
• Demo mode feels very different from real money play
• Consistent pattern of winning initially, then losing

Blackjack Manipulation

How it works:

• Deck penetration tricks: Shuffle when count favors player
• Dealer peek abuse: Dealer knows hole card, adjusts play
• Card sequence manipulation: Non-random shuffles

How to spot it:

• Track card distributions (should be statistically random)
• Notice if shuffle timing correlates with your winning streaks
• Compare results to expected values

Live Dealer Manipulation

How it works:

• Sleight of hand: Physical manipulation of cards/wheel
• Rigged equipment: Weighted wheels, marked cards
• Video manipulation: Slight delay allows outcome adjustment

How to spot it:

• Watch for unusual dealer movements
• Track roulette numbers (should be random distribution)
• Notice if video quality degrades during crucial moments

Method #5: The Exit Scam

How it works:

Casino operates legitimately for months or years, building reputation. Then:

1. Stops paying withdrawals
2. Continues accepting deposits
3. Makes excuses while draining funds
4. Disappears

Warning signs:

• Sudden payment delays (previously fast)
• Support becomes unresponsive
• Website issues or "maintenance"
• Staff departures
• Removal from affiliate programs

Real-world example:

In 2022, a popular crypto casino that had operated for 3 years suddenly stopped processing withdrawals. They blamed "banking issues" for weeks while continuing to accept deposits. Eventually, the site went offline with an estimated $4 million in player funds.

Protection:

• Don't keep large balances on any single casino
• Withdraw regularly
• Monitor casino news and forums
• Diversify across multiple platforms

How to Statistically Detect Rigged Games

Here's how to mathematically determine if you're being cheated:

The Chi-Square Test (Simplified)

For dice games:

1. Track 1,000+ rolls
2. Calculate expected distribution (fair dice: each number appears ~16.67%)
3. Compare to actual results
4. If deviation is extreme (>3 standard deviations), something's wrong

Example:

Fair dice over 1,000 rolls:

• Each number should appear ~167 times
• Standard deviation ≈ 12
• Acceptable range: 143-191 per number

If you roll 1,000 times and get:

• 1s: 85 times (way too few)
• 6s: 250 times (way too many)

That's a red flag. The probability of this occurring naturally is astronomically low.

Win Rate Analysis

Track your actual results vs. expected:

1. Note the stated house edge (e.g., 2%)
2. Track your results over 1,000+ bets
3. Calculate your actual loss rate
4. Compare to expected

Example:

• House edge: 2%
• Your bets: $10,000 total wagered
• Expected loss: $200
• Actual loss: $1,500

Your actual loss is 7.5x higher than expected. Possible explanations:

• Variance (possible with small samples)
• Higher actual house edge than stated
• Rigged games

With 10,000+ bets, large deviations become statistically improbable.

The Verification Test (Provably Fair)

For provably fair games:

1. Screenshot the hashed server seed before betting
2. Play normally
3. After rotating seeds, verify the old seed
4. Check: Does hash(revealed seed) = pre-bet hash?
5. Recalculate outcomes yourself

If any verification fails: The casino is cheating. Full stop.

Red Flags Checklist

Immediate Red Flags (Avoid Completely)

• No licensing information
• Anonymous ownership
• No provably fair option for original games
• No third-party game audits
• History of non-payment
• Fake audit certificates
• Unrealistic bonuses (500% deposit match)

Warning Signs (Proceed with Caution)

• New casino (<1 year old)
• Limited payment options
• Slow withdrawal processing
• Vague terms and conditions
• No player forums or reviews
• Unresponsive support
• Pressure to deposit more

Subtle Red Flags (Investigate Further)

• Results feel "off" even if not provable
• Hot streaks always end right before withdrawal
• Different experience at different stake levels
• Bonus terms are impossible to meet
• Support deflects questions about fairness

How Affiliates Should Handle This

As an affiliate, you have a responsibility to your audience:

Do Your Due Diligence

Before promoting any casino:

1. Test it yourself with real money
2. Research thoroughly (forums, Reddit, complaints)
3. Verify licensing (check with actual regulator)
4. Check payment history (do winners get paid?)
5. Test withdrawals before recommending

Be Transparent

• Disclose which casinos you've personally tested
• Mention any complaints or concerns you've found
• Update recommendations if issues emerge
• Don't promote casinos just for high commissions

Prioritize Player Safety

• Recommend provably fair casinos when possible
• Teach your audience how to verify fairness
• Create content about spotting scams
• Remove promotions for casinos that develop issues

The Long-Term View

Promoting a scam casino might earn short-term commissions, but:

• Your reputation gets destroyed
• Players lose money and trust you less
• Other casinos won't work with you
• You can't build sustainable income

The affiliates who last are the ones who prioritize player safety.

Safe Casino Characteristics

What to look for in trustworthy platforms:

Transparency

• Clear ownership information
• Published house edge for all games
• Accessible terms and conditions
• Responsive to questions about fairness

Verifiability

• Provably fair original games
• Third-party audited slots/tables
• Public RNG certifications
• Accessible game logs

Track Record

• Years of operation
• Consistent withdrawal payments
• Positive forum reputation
• Reasonable dispute resolution

Player-Friendly Terms

• No negative carryover
• Clear bonus requirements
• Fair withdrawal limits
• Responsive support

Conclusion

Yes, some casinos cheat. But now you know:

• How they do it: RNG manipulation, selective scamming, payout manipulation, and exit scams
• How to spot it: Statistical analysis, verification tests, and red flag awareness
• How to protect yourself: Choose provably fair casinos, verify bets, and track results

The best defense is education. Understand the math, verify when possible, and trust platforms with track records—not promises.

For affiliates: Your long-term success depends on promoting trustworthy casinos. Short-term commissions from shady operators aren't worth your reputation.

The best protection is choosing provably fair casinos where every bet can be verified cryptographically. Platforms like PureOdds combine provably fair verification with low 1% house edge, giving players both transparency and fair odds.

For more on evaluating casino programs, see our guide to casino affiliate red flags and learn about RTP and how it affects player experience.