The Effect of Random Number Generation in Gaming

Everyone who has entered the world of online gaming is likely to have heard the term ‘random number generator’ (RNG). It is a piece of important technology, an algorithm firmly embedded in gaming, and it plays a mighty role considering it is such a small thing.

The RNG technology dictates the outcomes of actions in games, and it can be found in everything from slots to video poker. The purpose, as the name suggests, is to create randomness within gaming. This small, unseen thing dictates so much, but what exactly does it do and how does this little powerhouse affect games?

The Fairness of RNG Casino Games

The big question about random number generators is their fairness, and many people are skeptical about the house trying to alter RNGs to their favor by manipulating this digital brain. For those worried about fairness, it is possible to check for it. The list of operators at GambleOntario is such a resource that studies and reviews online casinos in depth based on everything from how fast a platforms payout is to the fairness and probability of the games on offer. 

Independent regulators test the transparency and fairness of gaming systems, including the RNG. By allowing regulators to do this, casinos can display certifications that their platform has been assessed as a fair gaming one. That’s a huge thing because it adds weight and full legitimacy to their operations.

It is also important to understand that the online casino industry is heavily regulated and any attempt at manipulating games can end up in hefty fines, damaged reputations, and even licenses being revoked. That’s why it is always advisable to only ever touch licensed and regulated gambling platforms.

The RNG Breakdown

A random number generator is designed to bring as much fairness to a game as possible. It’s an unbiased yet complicated algorithm that churns out random number results, which ensures that outcomes are not predetermined.

The RNG is just one function of a casino game, however, and it is not the sole deciding factor in how the symbols will come to rest on a spin, for example. It’s simply a part of a much bigger system of overall game mechanics. 

RNG is not to be confused with RTP, which is the return to player payout percentage. That is the metric, which varies from machine to machine, that sets how much will be paid out based on how much has been put into the machine. This usually runs from 90% to 98% on average—so at a 97% RTP, for every $100 in, $97 is eventually paid out.

Then there is volatility (or variance), which is how often a machine will pay out. Low-volatility games pay out more often but with smaller prizes than high-volatility ones. The RNG, RTP, and volatility are intertwined, however. 

On a slot machine, the random number generator’s output is mapped to the different symbols. It determines where and when a particular symbol will fall on that spin because each of the symbols is linked to a range of numbers (or sometimes, a specific number) within the generator.

The bonus trigger may be linked to a specific combination of numbers and the weighting of symbols in a game is very different too. Standard symbols have a higher probability of showing up than wilds or scatters and the RNG combines all these factors when computing outputs.

Not All RNGs are Equal

There are different random number generators, with the two most common ones being a true random number generator and a pseudo-random number generator. It is the latter that is used in video games, as well as casino games, because it is generated by a computer, whereas the TRNG relies on physical input from the real world.

The backbone of the PRNG is the equation it runs to produce randomness, which means that it needs to be configured. This is done by a number seed, which is the element of the randomness, and that seed number changes every time the algorithm is used. So, the new seed number for the subsequent calculation means that a string of random results will be generated.

While the algorithm is spitting out those random values, there is a chance that the original seed number will come up again, for example. When it does, the calculations will start a whole new cycle and that is why it is called a pseudo RNG, because there are parameters that it works to. It doesn’t provide an infinite output of random numbers.

Where an RNGs Does Its Thing

A random number generator will be employed in almost every area of a casino. The most obvious example of this is in slot machines, but it also appears in video versions of craps, poker, bingo, keno, crash games, and more.

Exactly how the RNG is employed in the different gaming areas will vary quite a bit. For card games like video poker, the action that an RNG controls is the order in which the cards are dealt out in the game. In an instant win scratch card, it will determine where symbols will show up.

What an RNG Doesn’t Do

There is one big myth regarding random number generators and what they influence. That is, they are responsible for causing machines to be hot and cold. Machines are never hot or cold in terms of streaks and cycles. That is because the values from the random number generators are independent of one another.

The previous value has nothing to do with what the next one will be. That leads to another myth that needs to be debunked, which is players being able to predict the result of the next slot machine spin, something that just isn’t possible. The RNG purposely creates as much entropy as possible to ensure that discernible patterns don’t show up.

Do RNGs Appear in Live Casinos?

Live casino games are an area of iGaming that just doesn’t need the input of an RNG because the randomness already exists. The randomness of a roulette spin comes from the rotation speed combined with when and where the ball is dropped. A roll of the die in craps is completely arbitrary. 

Live online dealer games are manual operations and, as everything is covered by multiple camera angles and strict gaming rules followed, everything is fair. It’s just like walking into a real casino and sitting down at the blackjack table, but it’s from the comfort of your own home. 

Are There Strategies for RNG Games?

Trying to figure out what an RNG is going to do so that you can hold influence over it is impossible. The unpredictability is not going to be cracked, because it specifically prevents predictable sequences from happening. So, there are no real strategies for trying to target the RNG side of games. 

But some things should still be focused on when playing slot games. Try out the demo versions first to get a feel for them and always check the return to player percentage and the volatility of the game to see if it fits into your wheelhouse.

As with all forms of gambling, always have a budget when playing RNG games. Stick to it to ensure that the experience is a safe and responsible gaming session. 

Embrace the Randomness

Randomness is the underlying current of gambling, from hoping that the river card in a hand of Texas Hold’em is going to drop in your favor to deciding whether to hold a slot reel. There would be no point, or any experience of gambling, if the randomness wasn’t there, which adds to the human experience.