Casinos, be they land-based or online gaming sites, are often measured in terms of their payout percentage.  Payout percentage is the difference between the monies the casino takes in and the amount they pay out to winners.  One major advantage the online casino sites have over the land-based casinos is their higher payout percentage.  With their reduced overhead of lower building costs, fewer employees and automated systems, most online casinos can offer a payout percentage well over those of the biggest resorts in Las Vegas or Monte Carlo.  In fact, most of the reputable online casino sites have reported payout percentages at ninety-six percent or higher. 

Can these reports be trusted?  If the online casinos were the only data source, then the truth of such numbers could be called into question.  However, all the major online casino sites use reputable, independent accounting firms to verify these reports.  Major firms like PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the Online Players Association and eCogra (e-Commerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance) run monthly reports on how much each site takes in and how much they pay out.  In fact, many sites display seals and logos from these trusted organizations to let current and potential players know that their games are fair, their data is accurate and that their payouts are as good as advertised. 

In terms of fair games, all reputable sites use a piece of software called a Random Number Generator (RNG).  Regardless of the software engine, regardless of the game, these RNGs power all gaming aspects of the site.  Also, these RNGs must be certified by an independent authority to insure that all instances in a game, from a craps roll to a roulette spin to a slot jackpot, occur in a random fashion.  RNGs in online casino sites are similar to those used in slot machines in land-based casinos.  The RNG times each request for a new play to the millisecond (1/1000th of a second) and generates a random number for that play.  The computer-generated slots, dice and cards you see on your monitor are a result of calculations too fast for the human mind to fathom.

Of course, the major consideration for all online gaming sites is that each game has a built-in house advantage.  House advantage (or edge) is the statistical function in each game that insures that the house makes a profit over the course of the game.  While some players may bank large wins (thus drawing more players to try their luck), the vast majority will lose.  In fact, the house edge practically guarantees that the longer a player stays in a game, the more likely that player is to lose.  Land-based casinos use free drinks and table service to keep players at their tables; online casinos use their colorful graphics, loud sound effects and huge promotional packages to keep players in front of their screen.

Please keep in mind that online gaming should be treated as an entertaining distraction instead of a hope for easy money.  Play smart, play within your means, and have fun!