Randomization of Card Distribution

One of the biggest concerns people had and still have about on line poker is that the software is stacking the cards against you to take your money. Poker sites on line don’t work that way. They take a rake from the pot, a percentage of the bet, to make their money. You are playing at a virtual table against other players not against the house. It is not the same as playing video poker or internet casino poker where the site has a hand to play against you. Poker sites gain nothing by who wins or loses a hand or tournament but by hand rakes and buy in fees.

A large part of the software used by poker sites is for card distribution. It is very important to make the game as close to sitting a real table with other players as possible. The cards are shuffled by the program and distributed just as if they where shuffled and dealt by a live dealer. This is done by random number generators that are based on algorithms. These generators are often called RGNs and sites pay top dollar to get the best they can. If a site is even rumored to be “dealing form the bottom”, they know they can lose players and that means losing money. Top RGNs , such as SHA-1, MG5, Card Cryptic V3, and Knuth’s Full Shuffle are used by almost all sites on the net. As newer and more realistic versions of RGNs are marketed, sites update.

Security is a major issue with poker sites and not just to protect real money accounts, transfers and information but to prevent cheating. The only real way an individual can cheat at online poker is to find away to externally control the sites RGN. A great deal of security measures are taken to prevent hackers from being able to do this. There are advanced systems set up to prevent any outside party from accessing the internal software of a site. The security of cards played in an on line poker room are as tight and effective as any land based poker room. In fact, the shuffle its self is more random than shuffling cards by hand or using an automatic shuffling device.

Another measure to insure that sites are fair in card distribution is that they are audited by outside services that are certified. These audits make certain that the RGN’s are in place, work properly and are secure. Two of the best known and trusted independent auditing services in the world, Pricewaterhouse Cooper and BMM International are used by most major sites however, all poker sites use a reputable service and the audits are conducted on a regular basis.

No matter if it is in a land based room or on line, there will always be people claiming that the game was rigged and some may even show a few hands that they feel prove it. It is just in the nature of the game that rumors and accusations like this occur. After all, no one likes lose and no one likes to lose money. As in all things, “Hail Mary’s” happen. If you play poker for any real length of time, a bad beat will get you and not just one. It is part of the game and not because the site is trying to reward a player or steal your money. Sore losers are in ever type of contest and sometimes miracles happen for the other guy, even if it is 2 or 3 hands in a row. It’s just poker, so play your cards and game the best you can and don’t worry about if the deal was fair. At an online table, it is.