Random Number Generators in Gambling: How It Works & Why It Matters

Think it’s your lucky day in the casino? Well, luck might have a little bit to do with it. A bigger factor is usually something called Random Number Generators. These are the secret sauce behind each slot machine, determining whether you’re going to win a life-changing amount on a spin or not. With that in mind, let’s dive into the top of casino RNG, so that you can get a better understanding of the math.

RNG tech is one of the ways that casinos – be they online or land-based – can verify that their slots are operating fairly. Online casino RNG fairness is critical, as players have to trust that the games are not rigged. Any good casino is going to welcome an audit if they’re operating fairly, and the way to see a slot is playing reasonably is by examining the RNG.

Regulation – the test of fairness in casino gaming

While we’re not going to take you too deep down in the matrix, just know that the gaming regulators will verify that the RNGs are operating accurately. If so, then the slot and casino are paying out evenhandedly.

In case you’re wondering, a number of organizations specifically work with Random Number Generator audits. They know exactly how to examine the machine to see whether it’s clean or not. Some of the companies involved in this are Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), eCOGRA, iTech Labs, and Gaming Associates, BMM Testlabs.

For the most part, you’ll never have to call these companies yourself (at least hopefully not). If you’re having an issue with a game, you should flag it to the gaming regulators first (wherever the company got their license,) and they’ll begin the audit process. They’ll engage these testing agencies; you won’t have to.

RNG’s are not openly visible to the public, so it’s sometimes hard to know what they’re doing. That can lead to some mystery and wondering, but this is where trust comes into play. Typically, people don’t care when they’re winning. However, when the slot hasn’t paid in a while, there is concern that it’s not on the up-and-up. Here are a few RNG misconceptions.

The machine is hot or cold

Some players might watch and see how a machine is dealing. If someone played for 10 minutes and didn’t win, they might want to jump in, thinking the machine is about to pay out. Other players might think that a machine that’s paying will continue to pay. The true is that a slot’s RNG makes everything completely random, so a ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ slot is a myth.

If a slot hasn’t paid in a while, it’s rigged

Some players will groan and grumble if a slot hasn’t paid in a while. They might say that the RTP (Return To Player) is inaccurate or that the game is rigged. The truth is that’s not the case. There’s simply a mathematical formula running in the background, and it’s programmed to be almost completely random. Someone might sit down and hit a jackpot right away; another player might not win for hours.

The RTP isn’t accurate

Every slot machine has an RTP, which is a mathematical percentage of bets that are returned to the player. Let’s say a machine has a 95% RTP. Theoretically, for every $100 you bet, you’ll win $95 back.

Clearing up misunderstandings around RTP

Some players might end up with $20 or $10 or $33.50 after their $100, and say that the RTP is broken. How it actually works is that the 95% number has to be verifiably proven by the casino – but only in the very long run. For example, at the end of the year, the machine might have taken in $10,000 but would have paid out $9,500. Because outcomes are random, one player could win $9,000, and the remaining 100 players who played the game might only win $500. This doesn’t mean the RTP is broken – it’s just the RNG doing its job as intended.

One of the key pillars of our reviews at Maple Casino is to make sure we’re playing at casinos we trust. We do the homework to make sure that the games are fair, that the companies are licensed, and that you get paid when you win. If you go off-course and try to play at some random sites, who knows what will happen. But if you trust the casino and they’re licensed, then you can trust the RNGs. Make sure you pick a trusted place to play, and you don’t have to think too much about the rest.