Can you trust Online Casinos? The decrets of Random Number Generators (RNG’s)
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28 May 2024 •
Reading time: 3 minutes Online casinos have become one of the most popular forms of online entertainment in recent years. Their appeal lies in the wide variety of games available and the chance to win real money. This industry combines the latest technological advances with secure methods for conducting online transactions.
Attracting new players is crucial for online casinos. Therefore, they use attractive and innovative advertising campaigns that we see everywhere. But how do online casino games actually work? Can we be sure that the systems are truly fair?
The answer lies in RNGs, or Random Number Generators. In this article, we will explain the key aspects of this fundamental concept.
The Secrets of Random Number Generators
In land-based casinos, a dealer is responsible for dealing cards or spinning the roulette wheel. This is done in full view of the players, which contributes to the transparency of the game. In online casinos, the RNG system fulfills this role.
The operation of an RNG is crucial. The fairness of each game and the reputation of the online casino depend on it. The RNG system is a complex set of mechanisms. The basis is a system that continuously generates a series of random numbers.
As soon as a player clicks a button to start the game (for example, “deal” or “spin”), the system triggers what is known as a “trigger.” This causes the system to randomly select a number from the series. This number is then sent to the software and translated into the result, whether it is a card, symbol, or monetary amount.
How RNG Systems Work
RNGs use highly sophisticated algorithms. These algorithms, in turn, consist of four essential parts:
- The seed value
- The multiplicative constant
- The additive constant
- The modulo (a kind of counting machine)
Most of the numbers used by online casinos are actually pseudo-random. This means that a value is entered internally and remains constant. This value is called the “seed.” Using the same seed, sequences with similar values are generated. The modulo ensures that everything is calculated correctly.
Ensuring Transparency
Online casinos must demonstrate that their RNGs are truly trustworthy. To do this, they turn to international gambling authorities. These include organizations such as the Malta Gaming Authority, the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, and the UK Gambling Commission.
These entities issue licenses and quality certificates that can be found on the website of each casino. These documents indicate that the RNGs are indeed reliable and that there is no scam involved. Therefore, you should only trust online casinos that display these seals.
In addition, online casino operators must be licensed by the relevant national authorities. In Belgium, this is the Gaming Commission.
Can You Bypass RNGs?
Casino games are based on mathematical, calculable, and objective probabilities. Theoretically, an expert in this field could find a way to cheat the system. However, this can have legal consequences.
An example of this is the Russian mathematician known by his first name, Alex, who used his talent to crack the RNG system of some of the best-known games. His team toured numerous casinos around the world in order to send videos to their headquarters in St. Petersburg. Using the information they gathered, the group was able to bypass the systems and earn up to $250,000 per week.
However, these practices took place in a gray legal area. Alex claimed that he was not violating any laws in force in Russia. Casino operators, on the other hand, claimed that this was illegal and should be stopped.
In the end, Alex was able to negotiate an exit with Aristocrat, one of the game developers whose games he had targeted. In any case, such actions can lead to arrests or fines, depending on the legislation of each country.