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One of the most important considerations when choosing an online casino to open an account with is the software provider. It is the software, not the casino, that is deemed inherently fair. If the software itself does not have a fairness certification to begin with, there certainly is no guarantee the online casino will be fair. Only after the software is deemed inherently fair, do ongoing monthly payout percentage reports and compliance tests of the casinos' backend operating system hold merit.

It all begins with the software and its source code. Not to get too technical, source code is essentially the unique programming code that is built into the software. This is considered like "gold" to the developers of the software, and is the entire basis behind the proper functioning of the software. Source code can be built into both hardware and software, and cannot be accessed or tampered with by an online casino licensee. The one exception is if the online casino uses its own proprietary software. It is for this reason why many players prefer to stay away from proprietary gaming sites.

In order for a software's fairness credentials to be be deemed legitimate, the software should be submitted to independent testers who will essentially examine every aspect of the software, including the source code and the Random Number Generator (RNG), which is the mechanism that determines game outcomes. In order for an RNG to pass the tests, millions of hands must be played - none of which should be predicted, and the sum of which should meet payout minimums of 92%. The most competitive online casinos today return payouts of 95% and above.

Regarding these independent testers, there are a handful who are truly independent and widely respected within the online gaming industry. These are Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC), eCOGRA, Technical Systems Testing (TST), Certified Fair Gambling (CFG), BMM International and Gaming Associates (Australia).

As for the online casino software platforms, there are a handful of companies who are likewise truly inherently fair. While there are a growing number of software developers coming out of the European and UK market - due to proper regulation - the pioneering and most innovative software developers in operation today are few and far between. These consist of the following:

Online Gaming Software News:

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February 23, 2008 - Online Casino Testing House Opens Shop in UK

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February 15, 2008 - Online Mahjong Software Acquired by WMT