Playing casino games is made possible by the random number generator (RNG). This algorithm makes it possible to provide gamblers in India with a provably fair chance of winning a casino game without making the patterns predictable.
Without this mathematical algorithm, the casino experience won’t be as exciting as it is today. It will also allow casino platforms to run unregulated games in India which would be disadvantageous for players.
Get to know more about how the algorithm works and what it does to improve your gameplay experience as you browse through Casino Days.
Random number generator: A deep dive
In a nutshell, the RNG is a tool that many casino developers use to make the game work. It’s a complex computer program that creates random number sequences and is applied to simple game mechanics such as shuffling cards, flipping a coin and spinning the reels.
The string of numbers cannot be replicated in any way. These are created as random as possible to ensure that a provably fair experience is maintained throughout the game.
Additionally, the RNG continuously generates random numbers even if the games are not in play which means that it never stops creating new outcomes.
How does it work?
The mechanics of the algorithm is simple. It produces a string of numbers from 1 up to several billions per round. This means that a set of numbers that reaches up to billions are generated every round you play.
For slot games, this means that the numbers are being used on the reels and symbols. Certain numbers are assigned to the symbols thus triggering what would appear once the reels are spun. In roulette, the sequence is applied on the wheel to match where the ball will land randomly.
The algorithm is applied differently on card games like baccarat, blackjack and poker but it applies the same mechanics. Random numbers are assigned to the cards to ensure that a pattern won’t form whenever the cards are shuffled digitally.
Types of random number generators in casinos
There are two types of algorithms being applied in casino games, which are called the true random and pseudo-random number generators. Learn more about them below:
True Random Number Generator (TRNGs)
The true random algorithm uses physical events with random elements to create numerical values. This can be light signals or noise that are abstractly quantified to conjure a random string of numbers.
It’s often an external device attached to a machine. Since card games in brick and mortar casinos use shuffling devices, the hardware is mostly used on video slots and digital lottery games.
Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNGs)
Online platforms operate differently than land-based casinos since the games are played digitally. Cards can’t physically be shuffled and roulette wheels can’t be spun. To solve this, the pseudo-random algorithm is applied.
This complex system generates a seed value similar to how TRNGs are made. However, to combat any rigging attempts from hackers and third-party applications, the seed value is used to create larger strings of numbers to ensure the randomness of the game.
The seed value is created every millisecond to supply the needs of the player and the game. To speed up the process, a mathematical operation is applied to that set of numbers to generate the random sequence.
Cheating and hacking the algorithm
Algorithms aren’t entirely fool-proof and that includes the RNG technology. It’s theoretically possible for hackers to devise a plan to overhaul the algorithm.
However, digital casino platforms have state-of-the-art security systems in place to avoid such scenarios stated above. It’ll take a person with immense skill and mathematical prowess to even manage to reverse engineer the system.
Casino platforms also hire independent companies to test the algorithm if it’s at par with fair gambling standards. This way, the players are assured that the games are provably fair and that the platforms and providers aren’t rigging it for profit.
These third-party service providers not only check the accuracy of the RNG but also conduct testings on poker systems, payout verifications and live dealer evaluations to offer players a fair chance of winning.
FAQs about random number generator
What makes the algorithm fair?
The goal of implementing this system in casino games is to ensure that the outcome is as random as possible. Large strings of numbers produced by the algorithm are used in games like roulette, video slots, poker, baccarat, blackjack and lotto among other casino games to provide players with a provably fair chance of winning.
The randomness of the outcome is what makes the algorithm fair. This eliminates the probability of the casino provider, as well as hackers, rigging the game to their advantage.
Moreover, no person can decode this technology unless they know the exact algorithm equation and seed number that the game uses. The numbers are also generated every millisecond making it virtually impossible to reverse engineer the algorithm.
Do all casinos use this technology?
The only games that don’t use this technology are the live dealer games as well as the game shows that use real equipment with traditional methods to keep outcomes random. Players will also see this since these games are always live.
This algorithm is required for iGaming developers by casino regulators to ensure fair gaming for the players. If the casino platform you are playing doesn’t have accreditations, this might mean that the games are rigged.
Does it differ from the return to player, house edges and volatility?
The random number generator is a systematised algorithm that’s implemented in the game to avoid forming patterns and game rigging. On the other hand, the return to player (RTP), house edges and volatility are terms related to your wagers and the payouts you get.
A game’s RTP is the rate of the payouts that will be rewarded to you with every wager you win while the house edge is the amount that the casino will profit off of your wager. Meanwhile, the volatility of the game is the theoretical probability of you hitting winning combinations.