Luck is at the heart of all gambling games, including online casino games. But how do you recreate luck in a digital world where you can’t roll dice, shuffle a pack of cards, or spin a roulette wheel? When you play at an online casino for real money, the element of chance is mimicked by algorithms called random number generators.
Read on to discover how RNGs work, the role they play, and whether they offer gamblers a fair experience.
What Is a Random Number Generator?
Random number generators, or RNGs, are used for random number generation. A random number generator can work using a hardware- or software-based system to produce a random series of numbers. This random series of numbers can be used for a variety of purposes, including cryptography to protect your data through encryption, video games to produce randomized levels or items, or gambling games to ensure outcomes are unpredictable and, therefore, fair.
How Different RNGs Work
A hardware-based RNG (also known as HRNG) generates random numbers based on a physical source, such as atmospheric noise, radioactive decay, or even lava lamps. These are considered true random results, which is why these systems are also sometimes referred to as TRNG or true RNG.
A software-based RNG generates random values using a software algorithm that works off a seed key. Also known as a seed value, a seed key contains a smaller chain of numbers used to generate random results. This seed key can be produced using a variety of sources, such as the time of day or the movement of a computer mouse. The results produced by software-based RNG are considered pseudo-random numbers.
The Role of RNGs in Online Casino Games
RNGs are critical components of online casino games since they are used to generate random results in these games. These random results are used in different games to produce different outputs. For example, an RNG value in a slot game might produce a specific combination of symbols in an online slot, while an RNG value in a roulette game results in the roulette ball landing in a particular roulette wheel pocket.
Without a random number generator, casino games that are played digitally wouldn’t be able to duplicate the randomness of luck that exists in real life. This means because the broadband suitable for live dealer gambling only started to become mainstream in the early 2000s, gamblers had to wait years before online gambling became possible. It took another decade before mobile internet connections became reliable enough for live gambling services, since 4G networks only launched in 2009.
Are RNGs Fair?
If you enjoy betting on games of chance, knowing what RNGs are and how they work is likely less important to you than another question: are RNGs fair? After all, when you place your wager, you want to know that the RNG driving a digital gambling game isn’t unfairly designed. Like real luck, you want to know that a loss was down to chance rather than being rigged against you.
So, how do you know if an RNG is fair?
Any RNG that’s used in a game at a fully legal and licensed offline or online casino will have undergone tests by independent auditors to show that the results the RNG produces are truly random. Before you sign up to play at any online casino, you should verify that it’s licensed with your local gambling authority and that it undergoes regular audits for fairness. This means that you don’t have to worry about there being any difference in odds when you play at an online casino.
In Ontario, Canada, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) is involved in the licensing and auditing of casinos and casino gaming systems to ensure that they operate correctly and offer a fair experience.
Ultimately, this means that you can’t beat RNGs and that RNGs aren’t open to being exploited.
