I don't think the game is rigged....but what do I know, I am a naive novice and I have been the person to come from 10,000 points behind to claim first or second place without dumping cash through micro transactions into this game.
My girlfriend and I play together and constantly help each other find what we need and we to produce the raw materials for eachother for greater success in commercial building manufacturing. We give each other the item we need for building upgrades, launching VU disasters and rebuilding, we help eachother with cargo ships and air deliveries, etc.
Then we have the club that we are in....everybody uses the chat frequently to buy and sell the things we need.
And of course there are the golden tickets... I'm sure you're aware of their potential. I used them when I was a loser who Transformed into a winner on the last day of a contest.
We all can't be winners, and even the best of the best with the most experience and skill don't always get first place. Sometimes beginner's luck trumps skill, knowledge, expertise and experience...like it has with me. I don't expect to win every time. And with millions of people playing, I'm sure I'll lose more than I win. In the end, it's just a game and I'm happy to have the entertainment.