How are game outcomes determined?
The outcome of online casino games are determined by various random number generation systems embedded in the casino software. Given the fact that most casinos (certainly all listed on this site) license their software from well known, listed developers (eg Microgaming, Cryptologic etc), the casinos themselves actually have no control over game outcomes. In order to demonstrate game fairness, casinos/software developers now have their historical return to player rates audited and verified across all games by the accounting firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Rates are typically verified in the range 96% to 99%, proving returns are just as good, if not better than those offered at traditional casinos.
This varies from casino to casino. Skeptics will tell you that game outcomes are rigged to give the casino a bigger house edge than they would otherwise have. I have also read player claims that at certain casinos outcomes appear random until the ante is upped, then all of a sudden the dealer wins all the high value bets. And to be fair, I would not be surprised if some casinos utilising proprietary software did cheat players in this way – remember there are over 1000 out there and a significant percentage of operators are not honest and/or licensed. However, if we leave aside the less than scrupulous operators and address the legitimate casinos, then the answer to this question is that outcomes of the games are determined by various random number generation systems. Casinos using Boss Media software, for example, employ a Geiger-Mller Tube Detector to guarantee random number generation. Therefore, the number that the roulette ball lands on, the number that the die add to in craps, or