I read a post here today where it was mentioned that there are some online casinos out there that change their payouts between their regular mode and their real money mode. It's been insinuated that when players play for free or in practice mode at online casinos that a different payout percentage is used for this play as opposed to when players are playing for real money.

If this is true this is very deceiving and should not be tolerated. I'm not sure whether the licensing countries that allow online casinos to operate would really tolerate this sort of thing. I could be that it's going under the radar but none the less it's just nor right to switch up the payout on slots games from one mode to the next.

As players we should really be getting uniform payouts across the two modes. I'm sure that some players get sucked in this way by thinking that they're doing very well and then switching to play for real money only to find that their accounts are being drained much quicker.

If it's a couple of percent it's probably not the biggest deal but still it's dishonest. I think that more likely though they're paying out over 100% in fun mode so that players are constantly winning more then they're loosing with each spin, etc...

Also if they're doing this on slots games then they must also be doing the same sort of thing within other games like blackjack, video poker and other games that you'd find within their selection of online casino games.

If anyone should have any more information on this to confirm whether it's just speculation or whether there's actually any concrete evidence to show that this is actually happening it would be greatly appreciated!

DM

There is no need to change the payout setting for fun and real games. Each game is programmed to have an advantage for the casino so only rogue casinos would do such a thing. I think it is not a good business decision as well as players would shy away from them once this practice is discovered.

Truthfully although I have no solid evidence to prove any of my observations are actually correct I beleive that what you're describing in your post has some merit and is in fact factual with some online casinos.

I remember in particular a few incidence where I was playing at Casino On Net which is now 888.com one of the biggest online casino operators on the globe. I found that every time that I was playing for fun and then switched to playing for real that something just felt kind of off and the winning streaks would stop.

I think that some online casinos currently operating even do this perhaps though it's done on the software provider level as opposed to the individual casino level and something that each operator wouldn't in fact have the option to change. Like you however I'm in agreement in the fact that it's really not fair to be doing this kind of bait and switching techniques. If online casinos are doing this they should cease doing so before it really comes out and there's some concrete evidence of this sort of thing happening. All in all though if it were really happening you'd figure that there'd be something out there in way of information that's been leaked by one of the current operators of any such software provider that's doing this unless they're completely in the dark about it as operators.

By playing at the more reputable providers such as Microgaming though who are scrutinized by eCOGRA and each operator in the jurisdiction they operate in that you'd be pretty safe and avoid this kind of inconsistency between fun play and real money play.

Cheers,
Wiz

Unfortunately it really is something that you can't know for certain I think as to whether online casinos or their software providers are doing this for sure. You might hear rumors from some disgruntled operators who have left and gone to another platform but it's debatable whether that kind of information would be valid and real for that matter.

Even if they are doing it the reality is that they're doing it to try and convert players to real money players. Understandably why it's not quite above board but none the less I don't really think that it's something that should be too bothersome.

All the best...

Angie Kent

I've never really noticed a difference myself in regards to what you guys are talking about. I beleive that it is indeed possible that online casinos or their software companies are doing this but none the less even if they are doing this there really isn't all that much that can be done about it. Even if they are exposed for doing it. I think that without government regulatory bodies in place and gaming commissions that are operated by the government it's going to be difficult to convey transparency in matters like this!

I agree there's really no need to change the payouts from fun play mode to real money mode and it's really surprising that online casinos would ever do this. I too think though that casinos that do this can be summed up as being rogue online casinos and places to avoid.

I'm not sure that there would in reality be many casinos out there that are doing this but I can't be for certain.

Unfortunately, this is something which can be neither proved or disproved. As mentioned earlier, it can only be "leaked". However, the best judge of it all is player experience. I have played in many online casinos, regularly changing them because of what i felt was a payout pattern developing after playing with the same one over a given period. It's almost like the software gets to know you!

I would definitely conclude there is a difference in payouts from fun and real mode. After all, the casino is there to try to get you to play for real. You won't do that if all it does is show you how to lose!

It's like an advertising campaign for a new product. You are enticed in. Look around. Touch and feel. If you're satisfied, they might give you a free sample of the product. If you like it, you'll buy it probably at an offer price. Once they have you as a customer, they know you will pay full price.

The casino entices you with fun mode. It gives you a free sample (match first deposit, free £50, etc). And before you know it, they have credit card details.

So yes, fun made and real mode really do differ in my opinion. From the casino's view poiont, it makes total sense - but they can't openly admit to it.

Thanks everyone for all your feedback it's great!

Like I figured there's no solid proof that online casino software providers or individual casinos are involved in any such manipulation of the odds between the two modes there's still evidence that points to the fact that they are changing it up... this is all I really wanted to know anyways!

Cheers,
DM

It's a real shame that online casinos have to be deceiptful like this for the sole purpose of attracting new players. In my opinion should most players know this especially new players I think that they'd be very skeptical about playing at online casinos.