Guide to Casino Random Number Generators
You don’t have to take a leap of faith to enjoy games at a live casino in London, Glasgow, Birmingham, Liverpool, or anywhere else in Britain. Whether you win or lose, you’ll know you had a fair shot. Not only does the UK Gambling Commission license and regulate casinos, but you can’t count on the laws of physics for random and fair play. Whether your game depends on the momentum of the roulette wheel, roll of the dice, or card shuffling, it’s not hard to trust what happens when you can see the action physically unfold before your eyes.
Fortunately, you don’t have to mindlessly hope for the best when playing online. Even though most online casino games are effectively computer simulations, gambling sites use RNGs or random number generators to mirror the real-life odds. Keep reading to learn how these sophisticated algorithms make internet gambling possible.
Random Number Generation Basics
Random number generation can be a complicated topic, even if you are well-versed in mathematics. Yet you don’t need to enrol in a graduate computer science programme to understand the fundamentals. If you prefer, you can be completely oblivious to how RNGs operate and still play to win. Nonetheless, many casino players are interested in numbers, patterns, and the way games work, so it’s definitely worth exploring.
If you’ve spent any time playing online casino games, you’ve probably noticed how much they have in common with video games. The most sophisticated video slots now feature gorgeous graphics, impressive animations, and infectious soundtracks. In addition, all games are made up of untold lines of computer code, but it’s the RNGs that are of interest here. When you play a card game like blackjack at a live casino, every hand is random. That’s because the dealer physically shuffles the deck to mix up the cards. If you’re the shooter playing craps, where the dice ultimately land depends on the laws of motion. Yet what happens in most online casino games are statistical approximations of what might take place in reality, which is where random number generators come into play.
When you play at a trusted internet gambling site, the random number generator ensures that the games are fair and the probabilities mirror real world outcomes.
How RNGs Work at Online Casinos
The whole idea of random number generation becomes complicated if you understand how computers operate. As most people know, computers are programmed by humans. In other words, they merely follow the instructions we give them. Even though that might not appear to be problematic, it does create a major technical dilemma. If computers rely on human for input, the output can’t really be random. Any mathematical formula you could possibly create would be predictable and could theoretically be decoded by hackers. Naturally, programmers have come up with a fool proof solution, which involves using a seed number. This seed number is used by the computer algorithm to produce a random number that determines which card is drawn from a deck of cards, what number a die lands on, where the roulette ball ends up, or the position of a slot machine reel. What happens next is even more interesting. That random number is also used as the seed to create the next random number and the process continues over and over.
If you see a potential flaw in this process, you aren’t alone. While there is a pattern, it’s impossible to decode if you don’t know the initial seed number, which is heavily guarded. Also, the seed number is quite long, with many sites using numbers that contain 219,937 digits, which means hacking is out of the question. When you play at a casino that’s licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, you’ll have assurances that RNGs are fair. Sites not only have their software inspected regularly, but they post their certifications for you to see. You can look for logos from the likes of iTech Labs, eCOGRA, and TST.
Trusted RNGs never rest. They operate even when you aren’t playing. They run in the background and yield new random numbers and seed numbers hundreds of times per second, which makes them all the less susceptible to hacking.
RNGs Explained
- RNGs ensure that every virtual roll of the dice, shuffle of the deck, and spin of the wheel is fair and random.
- Most online casino games as well as the vast majority of offline slots rely on RNGs.
- Random number generators are powered by lengthy seed numbers that can’t be cracked.
- You can count on independent auditors to regularly test RNGs for accuracy and fairness.
- Licensed online gambling sites proudly display their payout rates and test results in full view.
Real World Random Number Generation
You don’t have to play online to encounter random number generators. The vast majority of slot machines found in pubs and live casinos use RNG microchips. Unlike vintage games which relied on players to pull a lever that would set the reels into random motion, contemporary slots use software to generate random numbers that instruct the reels where to stop. Even games that appear to be mechanical, likely have a microchip at their core.
Avoiding RNGs Online
When you log on to a licensed gambling site, you can assume that the software is fair. Yet there will always be at least a few sceptics out there. That’s one of the reasons why many online casinos now offer live dealer games. Unlike traditional internet casino games, which are essentially video games that you can play for real money, live dealer games use human croupiers and a real roulette wheel, cards, or dice. When you play a live dealer game, the gambling site will stream a table from a dedicated studio or the floor of a casino to your computer. It’s the closest thing to being there and you can even chat with the croupier.
How can a computer generate a random number?
How does a slot machine really work?
Random number generation is a tricky subject once you understand that computers are programmed by humans and merely follow the orders they receive. Fortunately, mathematicians have created a workaround. RNGs use a seed number in conjunction with a complex computer program to create a new random number. Next, that new random number becomes the seed that gives rise to the next random number and so on and so forth.
How fair is a random number generator?
Random number generators are generally fair, but it is technically possible to crack the code if you had access to the seed number, which is heavily guarded. Of course, if you could crack the code, you would be able to outsmart the casino. More importantly, casinos are required to have their software and RNGs inspected by accredited third party auditors. Look for up to date certificates from eCOGRA, TST, GLI, and other reputable agencies on the casino landing page.
Does a Random Number Generator make it easier to win on slots?
Random number generators work behind the scenes to approximate the mechanical reels that were popular decades ago. Casinos or game developers ensure that the RNGs are in line with the posted payouts over the long haul. As a slot machine player, you can improve your odds by playing games that are programmed to return the most cash back to players. Make sure that you don’t fall into the trap of believing you can predict the future based on what happened in the past. You should never assume that a game is due to pay out just because it’s been a long while.
What is the most common random number?
When humans are asked to choose a random two-digit number, 17 and 37 are considered to be the most common choices. Of course, any good random number generator shouldn’t have common numbers, as the whole point of an RNG is to create number sequences that can’t be predicted any better than chance would allow. Fortunately, the most common casino RNGs use numbers with 219,937 digits.
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