Online players arrive at internet casinos with the implicit trust that the software does not manipulate the games in a way that would be unfair to the players. It is of utmost importance for online casinos to clearly demonstrate that they are not violating this trust. The eCOGRA's fair gaming guidelines provide a clear understanding of what is expected from online casinos in this regard. When they undergo evaluation by eCOGRA's auditors and receive the Safe and Fair seal, they will be well-prepared to prove their commitment to fairness.
The aim of this section in the eGAP guidelines, as mentioned in the document, is as follows: "Seal holders are committed to ensuring that gambling products undergo an independent, ongoing, and rigorous assessment to ensure that the products continue to operate fairly and in accordance with published rules of the game." Three words in this statement are crucial. "Ongoing" implies that the assessment is not a one-time affair but needs to be repeated at specific intervals. "Rigorous" suggests that the most comprehensive statistical tests available are utilized to determine the fairness of the casino or method. "Independent" implies that the assessor cannot have any financial or other stake in the online casino.
The initial aspect of fair gaming guidelines involves a comprehensive review of the Game Transaction. Online casino games, excluding live and real games, rely on simulation using a Random Number Generator (RNG). The evaluation primarily focuses on the RNG. The assessment entails examining the design and implementation of the RNG before live operation and after any modifications to the RNG source code. This evaluation includes documentation review, source code examination, mathematical analysis, RNG scope determination, RNG period advisory, and other investigations. Regular payout percentage reviews must be conducted, and the actual player return should be compared to the theoretical statistical return percentage. All online casinos provide the option for both free play and real money play. A commonly expressed criticism is that free games have a higher return rate to incentivize players to switch to real money play. However, both versions must be identical in all aspects. Therefore, eGAP mandates that the statistical return percentage for a particular real money game should not be lower than that of its free counterpart. Two tests need clarification. The first is statistical independence. Using online roulette as an example, this means that each wheel rotation is not dependent on previous outcomes. The second test is uniform distribution. For a large number of spins, each number on the wheel should occur with equal frequency.
The second aspect of eGGAP's fair game guidelines pertains to the rules of the game. There are two crucial points to consider, and they are self-explanatory in nature. Online casino games should only be operated in accordance with the specified game rules. The game rules, including pay tables, must always be made available to the player, and any changes to the game rules should be clearly marked with the date. The third aspect is unfair influence, which in simple terms means cheating or deceit. This aspect is more relevant to online poker than online casinos and requires the operator to have measures in place to detect and address collusion and the use of bots.
It is crucial for players to grasp the expectations relating to this section of the eGAP guidelines. Their first priority should be to ensure that an unbiased agency has rigorously assessed and verified the software's compliance. Online casinos that have fulfilled the eGAP requirements will prominently display the assessor's certification. Players must carefully scrutinize the report to ascertain the actual payout percentages. Additionally, it is essential that they refrain from wagering on games unless the comprehensive rules have been unequivocally presented.
