Is Online Poker Rigged?

Online poker is a game in which you can lie. Bluffing is an essential part of online poker. There is however one scam that has made the rounds online, in forums and in articles. It is the fact that online poker rooms have been rigging their game for actions. This means that they have made it so that players’ hands connect with flops and turns. This makes them more likely to invest in money and increases the pot size.

Bigger pots mean bigger rake. This is great for poker sites. If they make more money, why wouldn’t they want the poker sites to rig the action?
The Poker Sites Are Not Worth Much, But They Have Everything to Lose

In cash games, the only area where there is an incentive to rig games for action is tournaments and sit-and-go’s. Because tournaments and sit and goes have a fixed fee that the poker rooms are paid for every player who buys in, this is why. Since tournaments attract a greater number of players, rigging is not able to increase the revenue of the poker room for all its games. You don’t want to ruin your reputation just for trying to increase the lowest part of your income.

Additionally, each cash game hand is subject to rake caps. This means that the pot doesn’t matter what size it becomes after a certain point. This means that they are not motivated to take additional action if it does not increase their income.

Let’s be safe and assume that the poker site was greedy enough to rig their games. They’d quickly realize that this is not an easy task.
Rigging Is Almost Impossible

To deal the cards, poker sites use a random number generator (RNG). The cards arrive randomly so if you mess with the RNG, it could cause large discrepancies in how the cards are dealt. These discrepancies will be easily noticed because thousands of players keep detailed poker track software records.

Any type of inconsistency, even small ones would be discovered and a big scandal would quickly erupt. Players would lose trust in the infringing poker site. This would ultimately result in a loss of significant revenue for the site. It is important to have consumer confidence when playing online poker or gambling.

A poker room does not want to be in danger by targeting certain players for specific outcomes. It’s absurd to think of rigged poker games as a possibility. Rigging to win is probably a lie that someone invented long ago in order to justify why they couldn’t win online poker. It seems like something is seriously wrong. I’m the greatest player in the entire world, even though I keep losing! In the end, it comes down to our human ego.
Where can I find the proof?

Over 10 years of playing online poker, I have yet to see any real proof that suggests that it is rigged. I decided to make sure it was safe and did a Google search. It was quite funny to see that a 2004 article was ranked first in the search results. When I read the article, I knew that my search would probably be a waste. I kept going.

After following numerous links and searching major forums, I found nothing but people complaining that the games are rigged. Each case seemed to be the result of someone being unlucky and taking a lot more bad beats than usual. I found no evidence that anything extraordinary had happened.

Trust me, I’ve been through as much as I can over the years but it never felt like the odds were against me. I ran $20,000 over my expectations and that didn’t stop me playing. I will immediately call B.S. until a credible source proves that online poker sites are rigging the games. I will sue anyone who claims they have been a victim.
What about all those times it “felt” rigged?

Sometimes live poker feels rigged for me. You must remember that no hand is ever that far ahead of the others most of the times. Pre-flop, AA loses close to 20%. These losses can add up to make it seem rigged.

People have the problem of feeling attached to things and feel they own them. This can lead to feelings such as entitlement and a feeling of injustice in the world. There is no justice in poker. You are not more likely to have a good run today just because you had bad luck yesterday. This is the gambler’s fallacy. Most people who claim that poker is rigged do not have the skills to play poker. They simply use it to excuse why they are losing.
Even if games were rigged for more action, it might not hurt your win rate

How would it look if there was more action in the games? Hypothetically speaking, if flops connected more often with hands, it would encourage more players to participate and put more money into the pot. You’d get more draws, strong hands, pairs and stronger hands. The games would also be more exciting for everyone.

But let’s not forget about the elephant in a poker room.

Who would gain from more players taking part and going to the streets later in life? All common sense would tell you that more skilled players will be favored by larger pots with a wetter flip, turn, and river. This would most likely make it harder for recreational players to earn more money and push them up the food ladder faster. Trust me. This is what the poker room does not want.

The opposite is actually true. Online poker sites such as gacor138 want losers to stick around longer, pay more and keep depositing more money. Artificially increasing pots favors players who are able to adapt quickly and may eventually lose their money.
Online Poker: These are the Things You Could Do Wrong

I do not lose sleep over rigged games and other forms of “cheating” in a poker hall. But there are some things that are legitimate reasons to be concerned.

Black Friday 2.0
Online poker is not only a matter of voting. There are very few things we can do to stop the political forces surrounding it. There is precedent for governments attempting to impede our right of online poker. There was first the UIGEA in 2006 and then Black Friday. The mainstream powers will hopefully recognize poker as a game that requires skill and allow us to move on from the restrictive restrictions.
Hacking of accounts
This has happened quite a few times, including a case against Doug Polk several years ago. This is a common problem in poker rooms. It is possible that your funds will be restored even if you lose your money overnight to a low-life hacker.
Solved: The Games
As game theory improves and is better understood, there is a possibility that the majority of poker players will no longer be able to lose. This is already happening for sit-and-go’s. Because of our ICM knowledge, these games have become difficult to beat over the years. The format has seen new life thanks to new formats like Jackpot SNGs, or spin & go’s.
Unbeatable Bots will be Invented
Poker bots have proven to be capable of beating top pros in isolated matches. These programs can only be used in heads-up games and are unlikely to work in full ring games or 6-max. But, we have to wonder if the days when we can rest assured we aren’t playing on tables full bots are over. I worry sometimes that the charts I have created for my book may one day be used against myself (lol).

Which Poker Sites Can You Trust?

In my opinion, trust is a bad word to use when choosing a poker site. My online poker bankroll I consider an investment. There is no way to be 100% secure. Black Friday is a perfect example.

However, the chances of an online poker site stealing your bankroll are almost identical to the chance of being in an airplane crash. Online poker has been played by millions over the last few decades. Only a small number of these people have actually been victims. Many people got their money back even after Black Friday, the most notorious poker scandal of all time.
Online Interactions: Use common sense

You should approach any game that affects your bankroll with care and discretion, regardless of whether it is rigged. Avoid unknown and small poker sites that are new or have a poor track record in payouts. I only recommend playing at large, reputable poker sites that have a track record of legitimacy.

I am a Bovada and Ignition player who has kept up to $10,000 on both the site and on Bovada. I didn’t worry about losing it and slept like an infant at night. It is important to keep only what you need to play the current stake, and to cash out any excess. A large percentage of your money should be kept in an offline account. This is smart bankroll management.
Conclusion

Over 20 years of hearing people complain about their bad poker play at “rigged” poker sites, it is time for people to stop whining. Unfortunately, people who are new to online poker may not recognize the real cause of their complaints and mistakenly believe that there is some truth behind all the noise. Please stop blaming others if you’re in this category.

If you’re still unsure, call any of the major poker sites to ask about the integrity and fairness of their games. They will happily explain the RNG and answer any other questions. Online poker sites offer great customer service. If you don’t feel like you are being treated with kindness, it’s time to move on. It’s similar to buying a vehicle. If you have a negative feeling when you go in, you can walk right out.