Random Number Generators: The Technology Behind Digital Casino Games

Unpredictability is a key part of casino games, and something that cranks up the excitement. It is straightforward how randomness plays a part in classic table games. The physical science plays a part in where a roulette ball lands, or how you throw a pair of dice. Card based games are random, but constrained by the number of cards left in the deck. Before they become predictable, the dealer will reshuffle the decks to reset the decks.

But in digital casino games, some users may feel the results are fixed, or follow a pattern. After all, you cannot see the deck being shuffled in a game of video poker. And some players may hold their doubts about online roulette, as who is to say the casino hasn’t rigged the games? Well, the licensure says so. Licensed online casinos and developers can only provide games that have been fully tested. The games at licensed casinos are provably fair to play, and that is because they use Random Number Generators, or RNGs.

The Need for RNGs in Digital Casino Games

On real life roulette wheels, the ball spin, centrifugal force, and friction all play into where the ball may land. The next card in a game of blackjack or baccarat can be anything, depending on deck penetration and how many cards were already played. Even in craps, science plays a part in which dice face will finish upside on the table. But in the digital versions of these casino games, algorithms and software are needed to emulate this randomness. In games such as video poker and slots, virtually all of which are played on digital machines (except for a rare few antique one-armed bandits), the slot algorithms need to be tweaked to bring completely random results.

Random Number Generators are programs which generate completely random results, preserving the randomness of the games, and the game integrity. They generate patterns and sequences of numbers with no pattern at all. They guarantee that the results are not fixed. Plus, the outcomes are unpredictable, just as you would have with a pair of dice, a shuffled deck, or a roulette wheel.

The Science Behind How RNGs Work

Online casinos use psuedo-random number generators, the fastest programming to create randomised results. They use a starting value, called the seed, and apply a mathematical formula to create a sequence of numbers. Though technically speaking, the process is not completely “random”. Psuedo random number generators must use a formula to derive their “random” numbers, and the process is deterministic. By that, we mean that at some point, the cycle will end and the numbers will repeat.

These formulas are tested by third party auditors, such as eCOGRA, who then determine whether the programs and formula are fair enough for gaming. Before you start thinking that you can hack the system, we will say this. The formulas used are extremely intricate, forming long sequences in extremely rapid time. Sure, the cycle does theoretically reset at one point, but we are talking about millions of spins in the future. Even using the Monte Carlo method to simulate millions of results will not “hack the system”. Plus, RNGs work continuously.

Even while you aren’t playing, the numbers continuously generate in the background. Theoretically, if you had the formula, you would also need to figure out the precise millisecond when the numbers align and the RNG can be successfully predicted. This is virtually impossible for outsiders, nevermind how sophisticated their trackers or methods are. RNGs are not technically fully random, but are deterministic.

How RNGs Ensure Fair Play

RNGs are designed to produce random sequences in the space of milliseconds and appear fully random. Yet if they were completely random, the house would not be able to definitively make a profit. Just think about it, if the games were completely random, then how would the casino make a house edge? They must have an edge, and the formula is tweaked so that while the results are near impossible to predict, you can be sure of one thing. Over the course of countless games and rounds, the casino will make its money back.

However, this does not really affect you, as you are not likely to play millions of rounds at a time. The third party auditors must test the RNG programming of each game the casino wants to launch. These games are sent to independent auditors, who run countless simulations on the games. This way, they can more or less gauge the probabilities of winning at the casino game, and determine the RNG. They then release their findings, in the form of a percentage, called RTP. The Return to player, or RTP, is a percentage that is always under 100%. This is because the casino always has a slight edge.

An RTP of 95% means that theoretically, the RNG game will pay you 95% of the money you stake. In theory, you will lose at all of them, as the odds are stacked in favour of the casino. But that doesn’t mean you will always lose playing casino games. Casual, and even frequent players for that matter, have just as much chance of winning at digitalized games as they do at real life casino tables.

Difference Between RNG and Real Table Games

RNG games may emulate randomness, but that doesn’t mean they are completely the same as table games. Specifically card games, as in digital card games the decks are continuously reshuffled. This is a no go for any card counters. You cannot calculate running count or assess true count in a game of blackjack, because the cards are always reshuffled. If you are planning on card counting in blackjack, your best bet is playing at live dealer games, with real decks of cards. The same goes for any poker player who is counting cards.

It doesn’t really affect any other casino game strategies. You cannot predict the spin on a roulette wheel, unless you bring software to track the timing and accuracy of the throws, or collude with the dealer. Neither are legal though, and can result in you getting banned from the casino.

Misconceptions About RNG Games

RNG games are made to appear completely random, but due to their programming, they are not. The house does need to have its edge, but they don’t do this by specifically fixing outcomes against your bet. The RNGs do not change based on how much money you are playing with. For example, it doesn’t matter if you bet $1 or $5,000 on a digital roulette table. The outcome doesn’t take stake into account. The results are continuously, and always, randomised based on the programming formula.

Another misconception is the randomness in gamble features or bonus games. The results are not predetermined, as this is illegal. If your game has a gamble feature, you can rest assured the result is completely random. The casino is not offering you a dead hand before you make your decision.

Another myth is the one that a player can figure out a pattern or strategy to beat the house. These results follow a gigantic cycle, longer than any one player can see to the end alone. Plus, the results are not fixed when you press the play button. Instead, the game continuously runs the sequence, even during breaks, making it impossible to beat the system successfully.

How RNG Technology Shapes Future Casino Games

Casino game developers, specifically ones who make slots, use any technological developments to enhance games. As the formulas and methods available become more advanced, they can create games with more features, extended ways to win, and other extras that make the games more player-centric. They can combine popular features or mechanics such as cascading reels, multipliers, expanding symbols, and many more, to make each game feel unique.

Nowadays, developers use more advanced algorithms, such as quantum RNGs, to push the boundaries of what’s possible in digital games. They can also create more realistic animations and gameplay, bringing classic table games to life with real-life game scenarios. The future is bright for online casinos, and as technology improves, we will only get more lifelike and personalized gaming experiences.