You may have heard this before, but the main reason for signing up for a licensed and regulated online gambling site is the fact that all games use a random number generator that ensures fairness and impartial results.
Sure, it may not be the only reason, but it is one of the aspects that makes gaming as close as possible to gambling at a land-based casino. There are some aspects that cannot be replicated online, such as sitting and chatting with other players. However, for the majority, online casinos do a great job of providing an authentic gaming experience that is realistic.
In order to be successful online casinos must make sure that the games provided behave and act in a similar way as if you are playing at a land-based casino. Since there is no real dealer dealing out cards (RNG games) and no real roulette wheels being spun, the outcomes may appear to work artificially by the software provided. This is where random number generators come in.
Random number generators are part and parcel of online casino software, and randomness is the main aspect and function. In this article, we aim to explain why this randomness is so essential and provide a more detailed explanation of what they are.
Why are random number generators important?
Most online casino games are known as games of chance because either luck or chance will determine whether you win or lose. Some may say that games such as Blackjack are not games of chance since the player can influence the outcome. While that may be true, luck still has a pivotal part in the cards dealt out.
In most cases, the outcome of the games is always determined in a random manner. Be it the roll of the dice, the spin of the slot reels or the turn of the card, all of these actions come with random outcomes which you can never in any way predict what is going to happen.
If we take the game of Blackjack again. You have the opportunity to hit or to stand which will in turn impact the results of the games. If you continually make the right decisions, you also have the opportunity of improving your chances of winning. You will never have any influence on the cards that will be dealt out though, you can possibly work out the probability of what is likely to happen. This is obviously not possible if you are playing an RNG Blackjack game version since the cards are shuffled after each round.
The whole premise of online gambling is that results are unpredictable. Players are putting their own money on the line for an uncertain outcome. While this is the very nature of online casino games, it makes them fun to play. The thrill of winning money from playing games of chance is something that we have no direct control over.
The act of randomness is what makes it possible to win at casino games. As you are aware from our previous articles, the house edge plays a big role in ensuring that the casino always has an advantage and is continually making money from each bet. This makes the odds of any game in its favour. Since the results are random, the house advantage can only apply over a large period of time of bets, for the laws of probability to take hold.
It is very much possible for a player to somehow overcome the odds and achieve wins.
This is where random number generators come in. This computer program type does exactly what it says on the tin. It aims to generate numbers randomly. Also known as RNGs, they create a vast number of sequences of numbers when they are active. While RNGs cannot be 100% random, since they follow some type of program pattern or instructions, they are powerful enough in carrying out their purpose, which is to produce random results.
Since RNGs are attached to every online casino game, they cannot be rigged. Furthermore, they are regularly tested and audited for fairness and impartiality.
Do all online casinos use RNGs?
If you are signing up for a licensed and regulated online casino, then yet the games should be using a random number generator. They are also regularly checked by independent third parties. You can normally see a logo of the third party in the footer.
Online casinos use software that imitates the actions of a brick-and-mortar casino, which then display the results in the game. Every time the software needs to produce a random outcome, it communicates with the RNG. Whatever number is created and generated by the RNG is quickly transferred to the software.
Let’s use Blackjack as an example once again. If you are playing Blackjack and you click on the ‘hit’ button to request a card, in a real-life situation the dealer would take the card from the top and deal it out. Since you are playing against software, it will call upon the RNG to provide it with a random number/card.
This is only a very simplified and stripped-down version of how RNGs work. They are far more technical and elaborate than this.
Advantages of Random Number Generators
As mentioned, online gambling is all about unpredictability but if the games provided at online casinos are not fair, then players are likely to catch on and steer clear. Here are the benefits of a random number generator:
Fair and transparent outcome
Since all games use an RNG algorithm, each spin of the reels is independent of the other. This is an important factor to take into consideration as many players think that the longer they go without hitting a win, the more likely the slot game is loose and a win is coming up.
Since each spin is independent of the other, there is no such thing as a hot or loose online slot game. Furthermore, since all games use a computer-generated algorithm, no casino can manipulate the game and the decisions are wholly carried out by the systems.
Faster results
There always seems to be a problem when it comes to traditional casinos, be it a human error or simply double-checking that the results are accurate. With RNGs, the process is much faster and you get instant results after completing each game round. All the bets are quickly calculated and the wins are paid out in a matter of seconds.
No room for human error
We have mentioned Blackjack, but the same applies to every card and table game where the dealer has to deal out the cards and calculate the outcome as well as the wagers. It can be considerably difficult to calculate the wagers, especially if there are many. There is a higher chance of an error taking place when calculations are being carried out by a human being.
The same cannot be said with RNGs, which calculate all the wagers and outcomes quickly.
Can RNGs not be fair?
This is one of the most common concerns that most players have when they are playing online. They worry about the games not being fair and that possibly the casinos are cheating them out of their money.
The main objective of using random number generators is precisely this, to ensure that the games are fair and not rigged. If the outcomes produced are random, then the results of the games will fall in line with their probability.
One way of squashing this claim is to play Provably Fair casino games. There are not that many on the market as yet and they are mostly available at crypto casinos. These games allow you to double-check the results of the random number generator to ensure that the results are fair and that you have not been cheated.
Of course, we are not saying there are no rogue casinos out there that operate in an unethical manner. If anything, there are too many, but they don’t tend to last long on the market. They get quickly found out for a number of reasons.
Some players will quickly catch on that they might not have a valid license or realise that they simply don’t win a round or two. While the house edge does play a big role, it is normal for players to win a few rounds.
As a result, online casinos’ reputation is built on their games being fair and most importantly, being fair to their players. Not many online casino sites will dare mess with the games or the outcomes. The competition is strong in the industry, but if players feel cheated, they will have no problem sharing this information leading to the quick demise of that casino’s reputation.