Randomness is integral to casino games. Winning or losing casino games like slots depends largely on luck. The roll of a dice or spin of a wheel has a random outcome, and no one can be certain what it will be. The whole point of gambling is that the results are unpredictable. The excitement comes from risking money on an unknown outcome. Even in table games, where skill can make a difference, players have no way of knowing what card a dealer will deal with next.
Randomness makes wins possible
The randomness of games is what makes it possible for players to win. The house has a built-in advantage called the house edge. This means it will always win over the long term. The house edge in every game is the cut the casino takes out of the total bets. Blackjack is one of the games with a low house edge. The casino takes 1.5% of bets as profit, and players receive 98.5% of the total bets in payouts if they win.
When playing mobile casino games, players have the opportunity to overcome the odds. The fact that the results of individual games are unpredictable means that they have the opportunity to win. The reason they are unpredictable is due to the use of a random number generator (RNG).
What is a random number generator?
A random number generator is a casino technology that does exactly what its name suggests – it generates vast sequences of seemingly random numbers. RNGs are designed by reputable, licensed software providers. An RNG doesn’t need any external data or numbers to produce the output. All it needs is an algorithm and a seed number. It produces new seed numbers every millisecond. The RNG does follow certain patterns or instructions to do so but for all intents and purposes, the numbers are random.
How do casinos use RNGs?
Without giving all the technical details, RNGs basically recreate the randomness of games that occur naturally in land-based casinos. The symbols that appear on each spin of a video slot machine use an RNG.
Video poker machines use them to determine which cards to deal with. When players play a game like blackjack in a land-based casino and decide to hit, the dealer deals the next card from the top of the deck. In an online casino, there is no physical card deck. The RNG provides random numbers to casino softwares. The number it provides determines the card the player will receive.
Are RNGs fair?
When they keep losing, online players may feel that the games are unfair. Managing a business successfully requires convincing players that their fears are unfounded. The main reason casinos use RNGs is to ensure that games are fair and results of games align with true probabilities over time.
In theory, casinos can manipulate the numbers and ‘rig’ games in their favor, but they have no real reason to do so. Even when they have to pay out winning players, they will still make money over the long term due to the house edge.
Third-party testing
The reputations of licensed online casinos are important because there is so much competition in the industry. They are likely to make more money over the long run if they have a reputation for being fair. Licensed and regulated casinos have their software tested by third-party companies.
Third-party companies test to ensure that games are not influenced by outside variables. They also ensure that the machines meet the minimum payout percentages. These percentages are set by federal and/or local authorities and gaming commissions. Inspectors will randomly check machines for compliance.
RNGs are complex machines that create numbers as random as programs can produce. They will stay that way unless crooked individuals mess with them. Third-party testing helps to ensure that they keep operating fairly. RNGs ensure that online casino games have the same odds as physical casinos.
