The past two installments (see below) of this column showed you what we believe is irrefutable proof that Gamblingsoftware.com (GSS), a company that supplies some online casinos with their software, created software that allows these casinos to offer Video Poker games that can be "rigged". At the same time, all of these casinos have the following statement on their Websites:

The odds offered at our casino are equal to what one would find in the world's finest casinos: be it Las Vegas, Monte Carlo, Atlantic City, or Macao. For your protection, all your gaming and financial transactions are recorded and stored on our secure system and are only available for your inspection at any time. Additionally, we make available to you the odds and pay out percentages of each game. Just ask. We guarantee that all of our games keep within the rules of play as established by the Nevada Gaming Commission.

The proof we provided for these rigged games shows that these casinos do NOT " keep within the rules of play as established by the Nevada Gaming Commission." That is clearly a false and misleading statement. GSS is a member of the Interactive Gaming Council (IGC), and one of the sections in the IGC's Code of Conduct says this:

4. Truth in Advertising:
IGC members shall be truthful in all promotions and publish only accurate information about their operations. Gaming and Wagering Operator Member rules, registration procedures and payout percentages will be made available to the public.

Now, how many people would play at a Video Poker game with a pay schedule that implies a 99.5+% return, yet the game is set in such a way that the actual return is much less than that? (See parts 1 and 2 for more details.) And the casinos are, indeed, misleading the player. I recently went to several casinos that use GSS software and on one casino's Website, (aaaonlinecasino.com) found the following statement:

AAA Casino Payoff Schedule

As you'll see, they are implying that their game returns 99.54%. Does it? How is anyone to know?

Here's a screen shot of a "chat" I had with a customer service rep at Alps Casino, another operation that uses GSS software:

Alps Casino "Chat Grab"

In this situation, the casino told us the return on the game is 99.5%. Perhaps it is, but we already know that's not the case at other casinos using this software.

So, what does the IGC have to say about this? Nothing.

I wrote the Executive Director of that organization to ask the IGC to look into this situation and I have not been favored with a conclusive reply. Of course, we all have to remember that the IGC is composed of Internet casino owners and companies that supply software to Internet casinos, so it's probably foolish for me to think that they would take the side of the player, but I was hoping they might.

If the IGC is unwilling to police its own membership, I suppose that you and I have to do it. My first recommendation is to not play at any casino that uses GSS software (there's a partial list on the Blacklist Page of our site) and my second recommendation is to not rely upon the Interactive Gaming Council to help you find honest games out there on the 'Net. It's very obvious to me that the IGC is just another self-serving industry group whose own interests come well in front of any concern they may have for the public that patronizes their membership's casinos.

Do I sound angry? Well, I am. This is my industry, too, but the IGC purports to speak for everyone in it. I hope the next time a U.S. Senate committee calls someone from the IGC to testify, that person is honest enough to point out that the IGC supports members who cheat.

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