This page is intended for international readers only. Due to the Australian Interactive Gambling Amendment Act 2016, Aussies cannot play online and we cannot recommend a site to play at.
“Is online blackjack rigged?” This was the question recently posed to me in a Melbourne pub while I was trying to collect my thoughts and enjoy the last few drops of a Carlton Draught. Somewhat caught off guard, I drained the remainder of my schooner, brushed the hair back from my eyes, and lazily turned to regard the speaker.
Featured Casinos
He was a massive bloke. While his face was currently dressed in a smile, I immediately imagined scenarios involving dark alleys, endless bar brawls, and at least one term in Port Phillip Prison. My mind began to race. Did I owe him money? Had I ever slept with his wife? Something very awful was about to happen to me, and I at least wanted to know why.
“What’s that, mate?” I asked. Any moment, I expected him to draw back his ham of a fist and pummel me into oblivion. Instead, he leaned closer. His smile widened but his eyes tightened.
“Internet blackjack. Is it legit?”
He had me. I had foolishly positioned myself at end of the bar and there was no way out except past his murderous frame. He had me and he knew it. This line of questioning about blackjack was the verbal equivalent of a cat batting around a mouse before the killing blow.
Still, I saw no option but to play along with this cruel ruse. If I could keep him sufficiently occupied, maybe a copper would pop in for a drink and prove useful for a change. I mustered what little courage I’d brought with me, looked straight into his eyes, and spoke.
“That’s an interesting question, mate. Buy us a beer and I’ll give you your answer.”
He did, so this is what I told him.
Is Internet blackjack legitimate?
The simplest answer to the questions is: yes, online blackjack is legitimate. That’s not to say that crooked Internet casinos don’t exist, but the majority of Internet gaming sites are fair dinkum. Millions of people around the globe play online blackjack every day, as well as pokies, keno, craps, roulette, bingo, and an assortment of other games. Since the odds are almost always in favour of the house, these virtual establishments can easily make an obscene profit without resorting to underhanded methods.
Common tactics of crooked casinos
The unethical casinos that do exist employ a number of methods to cheat their players. Here are a few of the most common options to watch for:
Slow pay / no pay – When it’s time to collect your winnings, the casino either makes the process as painful as possible or doesn’t pay at all. Another tactic is to confiscate winnings by falsely claiming that the player violated some rule. Trust me, there’s nothing more frustrating than winning big at twenty-one and then being denied your money by a slimy casino operator.
Poor customer service – When players have a problem, reputable casinos attempt to resolve the issue as soon as possible. In the case of unethical casinos, you may find that no customer service contact information is provided, or your queries are simply ignored.
Crooked software – When it comes to rigged online blackjack, this is the most likely culprit. The software has been designed to give the player even lower odds than usual, and in some cases the player never wins.
Finding reputable online gaming establishments
The surest way to avoid rogue casino operators is to simply stick with reputable casinos that are licensed by legitimate gambling jurisdictions and supported by industry watchdogs like eCOGRA. The casinos you’ll find recommended here at BlackjackTips.com.au have undergone thorough testing by our team of dedicated blackjack players, have solid reputations within the online gaming industry and tick all the boxes for running above board.
The following blackjack sites are definitely not rigged and have our tick of approval:
1/ All Slots Casino
2/ G’day Casino
3/ Guts Casino
4/ Royal Vegas Casino
5/ Jackpot City Casino
Beating the odds
I finished my tale at the same time as my schooner and glanced around the pub. Not a damn copper in sight. I wiped my mouth, silently congratulated myself for a well-told-yet-futile tale, and looked back at my captor.
“Is online blackjack rigged? Not a prayer, mate. Those blokes make a killing playing by the rules.”
He regarded me for a second, no doubt contemplating the best way to dispose of my body. Then he drained his pint, slammed it down on the bar, and raised his left arm high above his head. Had he possessed a thunderbolt at that moment, he would’ve looked as intimidating as Zeus almighty.
I should’ve moved as his arm began to fall, but I’m ashamed to admit that I was frozen in fear. After all my talk, I was still no closer to learning his reasons for wanting to smite me. Now it was too late. I screwed my eyes closed and waited for the inevitable darkness to greet me.
His palm smacked against my back like a thunderclap. There was a momentary sting, but nothing more. Confused, I opened my eyes and glanced in his direction. He was smiling again, but this time it seemed far less sinister.
“Thanks, mate,” he said. “You’ve been a big help.”
“Have I then?”
“Sure. The missus has been thinking about signing up for one of those online casinos, and I wanted to make sure that some cheeky bastard wasn’t going to try and cheat her. I feel a lot better about it now.”
I forced a smile. If I had slept with his missus, he didn’t seem to remember it.
“Not a problem. Glad I could help.”
“Bruce said you knew about computers and such. I guess he was right.” He punctuated his sentence by jerking his thumb in the direction of the bartender. Bruce gave a nod as he finished drying off a glass.
I returned the nod and chuckled quietly at my good fortune. He slapped me on the back again, this time with less of an impact.
“Gotta go, mate. The missus signed us up for an aerobics class, and I don’t want to get up a gum tree.”
With that, he turned and marched out the front door, no doubt on his way to unintentionally terrify some poor aerobics instructor. I was still alive, and my knowledge of the online gaming industry might have even made me a new friend. As I imagined what his wife looked like, I waved in the direction of the bartender.
“Bruce, I think I’ll have another.”