The number of people who have ever played in online casinos is probably the same number of people who questioned the fairness of the game, chiefly when they lose. Unfortunately, their fears about playing in a rigged game aren’t baseless, as there’s a rich literature of scams and fraud in this niche. This is not to say that there aren’t trustworthy online casinos out there, and licensing authorities play a vital role in overseeing the integrity and fairness of such platforms.
Traditional online casinos are reasonably safe, but crypto casinos are unquestionably safer, thanks to cutting-edge technologies like Provably Fair, but not only so. Crypto casinos are more transparent in their structure, as all results are verifiable, and even the algorithms behind the games can be reviewed upon request, changing the “trust me” approach of platforms to “see it for yourself.”
Learn more about Provably Fair technology and how it’s revolutionizing online blackjack.
The Rise of Crypto Casinos – And What’s Behind It
At its core, Provably Fair is a system designed to deliver mathematical evidence that all results are unbiased, random, and immutable. This system was first introduced in 2012 in a dice game, and nowadays, it’s nearly impossible to find a bitcoin blackjack game that doesn’t incorporate it. Over time, it has become the gold standard of crypto casino games and one of the most relevant features that sets them apart from traditional gambling platforms.
Indeed, top-notch platforms like Bitcasino use this technology as a badge of honor. How does it work, though? Surely, it has to do with codes, cryptography, algorithms, and whatnot, but what is the logic behind it? Simply put, it ensures that all results are predetermined before players hit the start button.
It’s impossible to alter or tamper with it, because the players’ choices actually make no difference; the result was already there before the game started. Once the round is over, players can request to verify the results and the algorithms that led to it. The main point here is that the casino, too, can’t know the result beforehand, even though it has been predetermined.
Sowing the Seeds of Trust
It’s difficult to explain this principle and its functioning without resorting to technicalities. For those who aren’t into complex technical explanations, it’s enough to know about “client seeds” and “server seeds.” The server seed is a long random string of numbers, generated automatically before each game.
This numerical sequence is then privately stored in the casino’s system. The server seed determines everything about the game (including cards dealt), and it’s unlocked once players enter their client seeds, unique codes that identify them as players. When the round is over, players can request to verify the server seed and check if it matches what actually happened during the game.
The Difference Between Trust and Faith
Certainly, there are reliable traditional online casinos available. This market has made significant strides since its inception in the mid-1990s, when the first online casino emerged. Licensing organizations have been established worldwide, creating strict protocols to determine the fairness, safety, and financial stability of their licensees before granting them the right to operate under the law.
However, this process is much less transparent than most players would like. A traditional online casino would never disclose its algorithms and results for verification, for instance. In this context, players must take a leap of faith and “believe” in the fairness of the results. Despite the honorable effort of licensing organizations, scams and fraud are more common than they should be.
Provably Fair uses blockchain technology to take the concepts of transparency and fairness to an entirely new level. Blockchain functions as a public ledger, recording each transaction in a sort of “transparent safe,” where everyone can view it, but nobody can alter it. More importantly, the results are only made public after the end of the round, meaning that players have no way to foresee the outcome.
Fairness Makes No Favors
Here’s a critical distinction that every online blackjack player should understand: Provably Fair guarantees the fairness of the deal, not a change in the fundamental mathematics of the game. Winning a hand at a Provably Fair blackjack game is just as difficult as in any other game. It ensures the game won’t be rigged in anyone’s favor, but the house edge remains the same.
The house edge may vary depending on the type of game and the player’s skill. A classic blackjack game played with a flawless strategy maintains a house edge of 0.5%. The key advantage of Provably Fair here is that players can be sure that they’ll actually have a 99.5% return to player rate, based on the cards dealt.
The technology may be innovative, but in this context, the strategy should not be. It’s precisely because it preserves the game’s authenticity that basic strategy concepts are still crucial. Strategy charts remain as relevant as ever, providing more than suggestions, but the blueprint for optimal play upon any card.
An Unbeatable Pair
Provably Fair translates the cryptocurrency’s ethos to the online casino industry. It’s safe, transparent, anonymous, and above all, immutable, bringing the concept of individual sovereignty to digital entertainment. The synergy between Provably Fair games and Bitcoin casinos is natural and undeniable.
Financial privacy is the most immediate benefit. Traditional casinos typically require payment methods such as credit cards or bank transfers, which means that players must disclose their identity and banking details. None of this is necessary in crypto casinos, where players and wallets are identified by their unique codes. It’s only possible because crypto wallets and transactions are pseudonymous, and KYC protocols tend to be more relaxed in such platforms.
In other words, crypto casinos empower players, allowing them to verify every result for themselves while protecting their privacy. It’s a definitive response to some nagging questions, such as “Is this game fair?” or “Is this casino respecting my privacy?” Unsurprisingly, the cryptocurrency gambling industry has experienced significant growth in the past few years, increasing from USD 50 million to USD 250 million between 2019 and last year. It’s also easy to understand why this technology has become so popular in crypto blackjack.
Basic Glossary for Beginners
It doesn’t matter one’s level of blackjack playing; before joining Provably Fair games, one must get acquainted with some basic terms.
Some of them are already familiar from traditional online casinos, like “house edge” and “return to player.” Still, several terms are not directly related to blackjack itself, but rather to how this technology works. Here is a basic glossary in plain English for first-timers.
- Client Seed: the player’s secret code, used for random number generation to prevent the casino from cheating
- Hash: a unique code generated for each block; the digital fingerprint of a seed.
- House Edge: the casino’s mathematical advantage over the players
- KYC (Know Your Customer): an identity verification protocol applied by online casinos and crypto casinos alike
- Nonce: “numbers used once;” a number that changes on each hand
- Provably Fair: technology that ensures the fairness and randomness of each result in crypto casinos
- Return to Player: a percentage of the total bets placed by players that are likely to return to them. It’s the opposite of the house edge
- Server Seed: the casino’s secret code, shared in hashed form before the game and in plain text after it, for verification
Final Round
Unquestionably, Provably Fair technology represents a new paradigm of play for blackjack and other crypto casino games. It has taken this industry from mere regulation to an era of verifiable transparency, where players have greater agency over their own games and financial privacy. For diehard blackjack fans, it means they no longer need to worry about a game being rigged, focusing on what matters the most: honing their playing skills and, above all, having fun safely.
The natural chemistry between cryptocurrencies and casino games has given rise to a new form of online gambling, empowering players like never before. Together, they are the unbeatable pair that never fails to bring a good time home. It involves incredibly complex technology, but with very straightforward principles that every gambler can understand and relate to.
While the house edge stands as a testament to the game’s authenticity, players can now rest assured that all decks are truly neutral and there won’t be under-the-table moves from the platform to tilt the results in their favor.