Letters to the Editor
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@dataguyx
Online poker rooms make their money by the "rake" a small percentage of each pot, or by entry fees into a tournament.
For example a player pays $11 to enter a tournament, but only $10 is returned to the players in prize money, so with 100 players, the house makes $100 profit and $1000 is distributed among the winners.
In cash games there is a bit more room for manipulation, but it really depends on there being a rogue programer, (which you find from time to time in banks and other financial organizations.)
Anyway, the whole point is that it is possible to develop international standards and the majority of people will not play on sites where there is any hint of impropriety. Companies like Party Gaming, parent company of Party Poker are quoted on the London stock exchange and subject to overview as is any company. Same goes for other major gambling companies.
Probably the chances of running foul of a rogue programer online are much less than the chances of running into a crooked dealer and his accomplice in a bricks and mortar casino.