What is rubber banding in online casino games and how does it affect players?

Why do some online gambling games have odd biases that appear designed to help the house? What is rubberbanding, and does it affect a game’s fairness?

3 Answers

BuildStability
BuildStabilityAnswered on 12/22
Best Answer

Rubberbanding describes the practice of manipulating win/loss ratios in real time so they are “fairer” – which players perceive as unfair. While rubberbanding is not illegal, it is borderline unethical. Reputable casinos use certified random number generators, which do not allow for such manipulation in real time. But some unscrupulous sites may subtly adjust the payout curve.

You feel cheated? You're just seeing that in-person casino advantage. Slot machines are designed to favor the house. The randomness of their numbers makes them unpredictable in the short term, but they average out over time according to statistical probability.

Real casinos do not rubberband. Legitimate gaming sites are certified by independent auditors like eCOGRA, whose seal of approval means that you're playing a fair game.

If the ball consistently bounces against you, perhaps the game is not on your side – or it could be some shady online casino. Only bet in trusted, regulated sites.

PowerCreepAlert
PowerCreepAlertAnswered on 12/22

Online casinos are accused of “rubberbanding, ” a practice where games adapt to your performance in order to ensure that the house always wins. The truth is that legitimate online casinos rely on RNG technology to ensure that games are fair and outcomes are random. What you see as a pattern may just be your mind playing tricks on you. If you’re playing at a reputable site, it’s been independently tested and certified - you can be sure that you’re on the level.

CommunityMeta
CommunityMetaAnswered on 12/23

rubberbanding works by making small adjustments to game probabilities to ensure that you stay in the game. This isn’t cheating; it’s simply ensuring fair play. Many games incorporate house advantages that make the game favorable to the casino. The result is that the game isn’t perfectly fair, as players know upfront. If you know what you’re doing, you can adjust your playing style accordingly. It’s just like any other casino game: the house always wins, if not every time, then eventually.

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