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One of the hallmarks of playing online slots the smart way is ensuring you aren’t being taken for a ride with games that give you absolutely zero chance to win. In such cases, you might as well just write a check to the casino operator, because you’re essentially just donating your money to the company.
Legitimate online slots give you a chance to win on every spin. Regulated online casinos support fairness in other ways by being transparent about your odds and what combination of symbols you need to activate payouts.
The licensing and review process is paramount to why you can trust that online slots at regulated online casinos like BetMGM give you a fair shake. There will always be an element of risk but you know exactly how much risk you take.
How to Inform Yourself of Risks Associated With Online Slots
Regarding online slot play, two facets tell you a lot about how the games work for paying out to players. These are the slot’s Return-To-Player or RTP percentage and volatility rating.
The RTP tells you the percentage of the money that all players wager on the game that it returns to those players. A solid RTP for online slots is 96%, but some games will have RTP percentages that are higher or lower.
A good way to understand RTP is to think of it as a portion of $100. If a game’s RTP is 96%, then, over the long term, it returns $96 out of every $100 wagered on the game and the casino keeps the other $4.
Another important statistic is slot volatility. This is usually a rating, typically either high, low, or medium. In some instances, you will see games rated on a scale of one to five.
That rating tells you how frequently the game pays out and how generous those payouts are in context. The lower the volatility, the more frequent the payline hits are.
At the same time, a lower-volatility game will tend to pay out smaller amounts compared to high-volatility games because of that increased frequency. While RTP and volatility are related, they are not identical.
It’s possible for a slot to have a high RTP but still be highly volatile. In such a game, you may see several spins go by without hitting a payline, but when you do activate a payline, the payout is substantial.
With an understanding of RTP and volatility, you can assess for yourself whether a game suits your playing style. More important, though, is that these statistics are essential to ensure that players have a fair shake to build their bankrolls.
RTP and Volatility Mean You Always Have a Chance
When discussing fairness in slot games, it’s crucial to comprehend that term in the appropriate context. Fairness in this regard does not mean that you are likely to win some cash on every spin you take of an online slot.
Rather, it means that the fate of each wager you make is determined by a random number generator (RNG) as opposed to some biased or human factor in online slots. RTP and volatility tell you the parameters for that RNG.
Essentially, when you spin an online slot game, a computer employs the RNG to determine the result. The RNG result connects to one of a set number of outcomes that the game can offer, which is how that payback percentage can be achieved over time. The game’s RTP and volatility limit what would otherwise be a truly random nature for the game.
Without such controls, it would be mathematically possible to spin in perpetuity without hitting a payline. Instead, RTP means that the RNG is set up so the game returns that percentage of the money to players over time, and volatility dictates how frequently that occurs.
Volatility in part ensures that a slot designed with a 96% RTP isn’t just paying out $96 every time you complete $100 worth of spins. Not only could that get boring, but it would mean no chances for things like big jackpots! But if you were to play the same slot for a long period of time, completing millions of spins, over time your payback would be expected to be closer and closer to that 96% RTP.
Of course, all of this information is only useful if it’s an accurate representation of the game you want to play. When you play with BetMGM, you can have confidence that is the case.
Why Regulation Matters for Online Slot Fairness
BetMGM is a licensed online casino in four US states and the Canadian province of Ontario. That means BetMGM meets regulatory standards in many ways, including fairness in its online slots.
Regulation involves independent, third-party testing of BetMGM’s platform to ensure that the app and website deliver accurate information to players. Legal standards in the jurisdictions that BetMGM operates in provide another level of assurance, though.
Those standards require that BetMGM only offer games from developers who are licensed and tested in those same jurisdictions. Those software providers also undergo independent and regular inspections to ensure that the games meet standards for fairness and transparency.
Therefore, when you check the payout charts on slots at BetMGM Casino, you can be confident that what you see is what you get. Non-compliance with these standards is an issue that regulators take seriously.
Regulatory bodies have the authority to impose fines and even revoke licenses in extreme situations. BetMGM and the slot developers risk the health of their businesses if they offer games that don’t pay out as they say they do or don’t meet minimum standards for fairness.
Because of that, fairness is just as much in the interest of BetMGM as it is in players’ interest. When you play online slots at BetMGM, you can check the fairness box and base your slot choices on other considerations like the game’s theme or whether you want to try for a lucrative progressive jackpot. Slots are supposed to be fun, and it’s only fun if you have a legitimate and legal chance of winning.
Play Fair Online Slots at BetMGM
BetMGM Casino features slots licensed in legalized states – all of the games are reviewed and certified by third parties, and authorized to be offered in the states BetMGM operates. Plus, when you play on BetMGM, you earn tier credits towards MGM Rewards status, which provides perks in physical casinos across the country. Get started today:
