Random Number Generator
Find Everything About RNG in Online Casinos

So What is Random Number Generation?

It is a production of a completely random sequence of numbers or symbols without a pattern so cannot be guessed/predicted. In Casinos, to use their correct title, Pseudo-Random Number Generators are used to achieve this.

Mainly identified with one-armed bandits/slots/Fruit Machines RNG is used in all online casino games but are not purely assigned to gambling. They are found in online Gaming, such as Warcraft, where an outcome needs to be as random as possible or at a time an event has a chance of happening - injury, attack etc.

In online casinos, the use of RNG is for fairness and to ensure that both they and the gambler are not being cheated.

How Does an RNG Work?

So a series of random numbers or symbols are required, a simple task for a computer in this day and age… but believe it or not, they cannot. Computers use algorithms when a random outcome is required, the algorithms are extremely complicated but will need a starting number to proceed – this is called the “Seed” or “Seed Number”.

Once a new number is calculated that then can become the seed for the next set of numbers and so on and so on over and over. It is impossible to predict the next number in the sequence unless you know the original seed number. The normal execution uses a 32-bit word length allowing it to generate a number from 0 to over 4 billion (4,294,967,295 to be exact).

The numbers are massive, with standard RNG’s across the world working with random numbers that have 219,937 digits! If that was not mind-boggling enough imagine that the original seed number was also a random-generated one, how can you possibly predict what is up next! You may be asking that the dice has only has the numbers one to six, why is 219,937 digits needed? Such is the algorithm formula a random integer can correspond to a specific outcome i.e., final number of 1-6-12 .

How Can You Be Sure That You Are Not Being Cheated?

Your experiencing a losing streak or gambler’s fallacy – your head is telling you are being cheated so you try and observe a dealer’s sleight of hand or an uneven spin of the wheel. This is difficult in a brick and mortar casino -in the flesh- so how can you be sure that a RNG is not being manipulated when you could be halfway around the the world?

True in the early days of online casinos some were found guilty of rigging the RNG or the appearance of one, but also was the case of gamblers with inside knowledge. Let us put any fear you may have that the RNG is rigged to bed.

Online casinos today are tested and evaluated by 3rd Party companies who will then award their seal of approval, just ensure you check for the appropriate seals and authenticity before you start gambling. One Such third party company is Technical Systems Testing (TST) not just with Online casinos but brick and mortar too.

TST perform evaluations and audits on:

• Random Number Generator (RNG)
• Game and mathematics
• Ongoing RNG or game payout verification and reporting
• Live dealer casinos, sportsbook or betting exchange
• Lottery and Pari-mutuel system
• Poker system
• Penetration testing and full security

Only when they are satisfied will a seal of approval be awarded/ renewed also look out for Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) who now own TST.

Main Seals of Approval and Official Registrations/Affiliations to Look For

RNG vs. Live Dealer Games

We believe RNG is the fairest and easiest way to gamble but may lack trust as the workings can not be seen as per a Live dealer/game. Live Dealer/Games come at more expense to the casinos so there is a limit to game types and styles, but in their defence, they are accessible 24/7.

It is down to personal preference whatever you decide, but in our opinion, nothing will beat the style and panache of a traditional brick and mortar casino, even though the most difficult option in this day and age.