F.A.Q.

ONLINE-CASINO-GUIDE.com makes every effort to ensure that we recommend only Casino's and Sportsbooks that operate their businesses in a fair and honest way. All of the sites we have listed have earned our GLOBAL AWARD OF EXCELLENCE only after meeting our very diffucult criteria. The foremost criteria we look for is fairness of operation. Hopefully the following FAQ'S will answer any question you may have, if not, please feel free to E-Mail us at www.onlineguide@uswest.net and we will promptly respond.

GAME FAIRNESS

Casino game algorithms are thoroughly tested. The random number generator used in casino games proprietary software must be tested and found to conform with the results of games found in Las Vegas or Atlantic City with respect to randomness and payout frequency in line with licensing requirements. A typical test of the current versions of the random number generator involves a sequence of 300,000,000 (three hundred million) numbers. Furthermore, random number generators are tested in an ongoing basis to ensure continued fairness.

A typical bet test of each game involves a sample size of between 1,000,000 and10,000,000 bets. If the frequency of winning combinations and general payouts are within expectations, the game is then passed to a Quality Assurance team of engineers who actually play the game using the real game server until they are sure that the game is flawless. Then, based on these tests, the algorithm for each game is determined to be fair. Note: all of this is completed before the software is released to a Casino.

FAQ - GAME FAIRNESS

• How is it determined which cards are drawn (dice thrown, numbers selected, reels selected etc.) for the games?
  • The most important part of any online casino is the specially designed program called the random number generator. This is the program that generates a sequence of numbers that correspond to various card types, dice throws, spins etc. A good RNG is one that generates numbers that are evenly distributed and not correlated, and totally unpredictable. If a RNG is evenly distributed and not correlated each number will be hit approximately the same number of times after a large number of runs. If a RNG is unpredictable, you will not be able to predict the next number in a series no matter how many previously generated numbers are studied.
• What is the seed?
  • The seed of a random number generator is the initial point from which a sequence of randomly generated numbers start. To ensure that a sequence or numbers will not repeat itself if we restart the gaming server, the seed is calculated using as many external factors as possible (e.g. the time of day, system settings, network activity, and many more).
• How do you prove a random number generator is not biased in favor of the casino?
  • Comparing very long sequence of numbers to various statistical distributions tests the randomness of random number generators. ( Please see GAME FAIRNESS for a more in depth explanation).
• Is there any way a Casino can benefit from a biased random number generator?
  • Absolutely not. If a random number generator was biased in any way, players could recognize it and use it to their advantage! Any casino game could be turned against the house if the numbers were biased in any way. With such excellent communication tools as the Internet, expert players could locate the bias and in no time bankrupt the casinos. Therefore, it is in the best interest of everyone make random number generators totally unbiased.
• Is there any strategy implemented in the games?
  • There is no strategy implemented in the games apart from rules and exceptions described in our RULES AND TIPS sections.
• How are the games actually tested?
  • First, with each game, all possible situations are imitated to determine whether the rules are obeyed, payouts are properly paid, etc. Then the random numer generator is added and tests are run with the automated agents. For games, which involve strategy (blackjack, poker, video poker, etc.) the optimal strategy is implemented and for games of chance (red dog, baccarat etc.) a random bet choice is implemented. Depending on the game, between 1 and 10 million bets are run. If the frequency of winning combinations and general payouts are within expectations the game is passed. The tests are conducted on real game servers and only after they have passed all tests are they released for play. Statistics are continuously gathered as the games are played and the results are cataloged (currently over 60,000,000) for blackjack alone!
• Isn't it possible for bugs to exist in the software?
  • Well, we don't live in a perfect world, but every effort is made to eliminate the possibility of a software bug before it is released. In the extremely rare event that a bug is detected, the casinos want to know about it immediately ( it could be very damaging to them as well as the player). Consequently all casinos have a support team on hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or at the very least an E-Mail access.
• So what if a bug exists and I do lose money?
  • Again, contact the support team at the casino, tell them exactly what happened. They have the tracking ability to investigate the problem in short order. It is another of Online-Casino-Guides criteria to monitor how well a casino handles its customer service. Our recommended sites have all passed this criteria requirement for GLOBAL AWARD OF EXCELLENCE AWARD.

If any casino (linked through us or others) is doing anything you would consider not to be Good Business Practice please contact us at onlineguide@uswest.net and we will do anything we can to help. We rely very heavily on our customers' opinions in maintaining a quality site for you.

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