How fair is online poker?

While it’s hard to put a precise figure on the exact number, it’s fair to say that every single day millions of people try their hands at online poker. In fact the growth of the industry since it first appeared over two decades ago has been phenomenal. But while it does have many devotees, including players from the casual amateur to the hardened poker pro, it’s thought that a great many potential players are reluctant to take the plunge.

There are a number of reasons for this, some justified, others less so. But the success of the biggest and best sites is surely evidence enough that there are legitimate sites waiting for players who want the chance to play in a totally above-board way.

 

The first concern that many people have is that without a physical pack of cards being dealt, how can they be sure that clever computer programs aren’t ensuring the house always have the biggest advantage.

 It really is random

The answer is a device called a random number generator, or RNG for short. This is essentially a computer algorithm that is constantly producing a completely random series of numbers which can then be converted into a particular card being dealt. It’s a piece of software that’s used across everything from poker sites to online casinos. So, for example, the places that the reels stop on an online slot, are also determined by its RNG.

To ensure that the outcomes truly are random, the sites are subject to frequent and rigorous checks by the relevant authorities whose jurisdiction controls the licensing of the sites.

So the very first thing to look for on any poker site is where it is based and who has issued its licence. Most of the highly reputable sites have headquarters in places like Gibraltar and Malta and operate under their particular laws. This is information that should be prominently displayed on any site that is legitimate.

Security is key

The next important aspect of any poker site is just how safe and secure it is to play on. This security can take various forms including how confident you can be that your personal details, including credit card and other banking information, are protected from hackers. You also need to be sure that when you’re playing poker for real money it is safe too. So, take a little time to search out the site’s security and privacy policies that will give invaluable peace of mind that sufficient encryption is in place to keep all your personal details secret from hackers.

Admittedly, there have been examples of hackers in the past getting past the firewalls and other protective shields. But each time this happens, the top quality sites tend to step up their levels of security. In one of the most famous examples of hackers infiltrating a site it was a disgruntled ex-employee of Absolute Poker who broke through the defences in 2007.

Allegedly just doing it to see if it could be achieved, it was estimated that they made up to $700,000 in illegal winnings.

When news got out it’s fair to say that the reputation of Absolute Poker took a significant hit from which it took some time to recover. It’s this fear of a loss of reputation that it the chief motivating factor that makes online poker sites determined to stay whiter than white.

Look for the site’s policies

With large amounts of money changing hands, often anonymously, the leading sites also have to be on a constant lookout that they’re not being used for money laundering. So many use advanced identification systems to check the identities of their players and to look for collusion that may well be suspicious. Again, a site that widely publicises its policies on this kind of activity is one that is to be trusted.

Another real issue for legitimate sites comes in the form of the fraudulent claims for the very generous bonuses that some offer to attract new members. As many of these are, in effect, free money, it’s not surprising that they’re open to abuse. It’s even been estimated that the use of multiple accounts by fraudulent users can account for up to 15% of lost revenue. But, when the system is not being abused, the genuine granting of bonuses is a key way that a bona fide site can show off its fairness from the outset.

Three things to check

It’s often said that, for all the complexities of looking into whether a poker site is fair, there are three main elements to look for. Surprisingly, what the site looks like isn’t one of them. Making a slick looking and appealing site is relatively easy with the right skill, but other elements are hard to fake.

The first is the sheer number of players on the site. Unless it’s absolutely legitimate, there won’t be very many. After all, the connected world we all live in means that bad reputations spread like wildfire. Secondly, a reputable site has probably been going for a few years.

Thirdly, and without doubt most importantly, it will be subject to independent auditing from an organisation like eCOGRA as this is your guarantee that the highest standards are being followed.

Hopefully this has given you some useful tips to reassure you that your online poker is fully legitimate. Now it’s time to put your skills to the test!

 

 

Mohsen Daemi
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