How Fair Play Is Ensured When Gaming At An Online Casino
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The is no denying that playing online casino games of chance is a fun and exciting way to spend a few hours at home. That raises the question, “If it’s so much fun, why aren’t there more people doing it?”
There is an assumption that the answer is the lack of gambling funds and fear of the unknown. The reality is quite different. The top reason is trust. There is a huge population of potential online casino players who choose to stay away because they believe online casino games are easily manipulated and fixed. Honestly, that’s a fair assumption. After all, online casino players see results but not how those results came to be.
What is a Random Number Generator?
A Random Number Generator is a process by which random numbers are generated via a computer programming construct. What’s unique about these numbers is they are unpredictable, follow no particular pattern, and each available number (outcome) is equally likely to occur with each iteration.
In an attempt to keep this explanation from getting too complicated, an RNG program is integrated with casino game software that has been designed to create certain outcomes. Example: An online roulette game is designed to create a single result of 0 and 00 through 36 with each spin of the roulette wheel. The RNG program serves to make sure the game software is not permitted to stop on a predetermined number, which results in the final outcome being unmanipulated and random.
What Proof is There That Results are Always Random?
Gaming regulators like the UK Gambling Commission and Malta Gaming Authority exist for the protection of online casino gamblers in their respective jurisdictions. For that reason, they require online casino operators to only offer games that have been audited (tested) for random and fair results. Absent said audit results, operators are not permitted by law to carry such unaudited games.
ECOGRA and TST – World’s Top Software Auditing Firms
With the audit requirement in place, software developers are required to hire independent auditing firms. The auditing firms are charged with doing electronic testing on submitted games to ensure each game is providing random results with every iteration. Games that pass audits get “certified” as fair. Games that don’t pass audits have to be reprogrammed or tossed.
There are at least a dozen game auditing or testing firms in Europe. However, there are two that seem to rank above the rest. That would be eCOGRA and Technical Systems Testing (TST) Services. Here is some useful information about these highly reputable auditors.
eCOGRA
If there is a gold standard in the online gambling software auditing industry, it would be eCOGRA.
The company was founded in 2003 at the same time the online casino industry was starting to swarm the Internet. The 2003 start date makes it the very first compliance-based company to join the UK online casino gambling industry. Currently, eCOGRA is headquartered in London with smaller regional offices scattered throughout Europe.
Along with RNG testing, eCOGRA is also intimately involved in helping software developers properly calibrate their games for reliable gaming results. Because of the company’s reputation, its game certifications are accepted by every major gaming regulator in the world. If customers see the eCOGRA logo posted on an online casino website, they can rest easy knowing that the website is trustworthy in terms of gaming results.
Technical Systems Testing (TST)
If eCOGRA is the gold standard, TST is not far behind as the industry’s silver standard. TST has actually been involved in the gambling industry since 1993. The company was founded in Australia and currently maintains operations in Australia as well as London, Macau, and Vancouver.
In the early days, TST was recognized as the go-to auditing or testing firm for retail slot developers. Even today, hundreds of thousands of TST-certified retail slots are populating retail casinos all over the world.
In or about 2005, TST got involved with the online gambling industry in the UK. They offer game certifications as well as consulting services related to game source code correctness, artwork, functionality, and other game-specific criteria. As is the case with eCOGRA, TST’s game certifications are accepted by every major gaming regulator in the world.
For Online Casino Players
Caution is always warranted because there are rogue online casino operators that are more than willing to offer “rigged” games. Make sure that you only visit trusted sites like nodepositbonus.cc when looking for a suitable online casino. These partners typically only do business with trusted brands and operators who regularly pay commissions.
If you are looking for a safe place to play online casino games, you owe it to yourself to stick with online casino operators that proudly display the eCOGRA and or TST logos. Of course, there are other testing firms that are legitimate as well. In the absence of any of these logos seek out independent reviews if you suspect a rogue casino.
