The Role of RNG in Ensuring Fair Play in Online Slots

The role of slots has had a strong impact on online gaming, even more so than in brick-and-mortar casinos. Now, any adult with internet access can enjoy his or her favorite game whenever they feel like it.

Behind the scenes, Random Number Generators (RNGs) are essential to these games, guaranteeing that each spin is both fair and unpredictable. RNG algorithms are what allow the otherwise deterministic processes in modern computers to produce something unexpected. Still, many people are left wondering how this technology works, and what it does to ensure fair play in gaming.

Understanding RNG Technology

An RNG is a piece of software that outputs unpredictable (or at least, very hard to predict) sequences of numbers. They come in two varieties: true random number generators and pseudo-random number generators. As the name suggests, true RNGs are far more chaotic and unpredictable, and often work by measuring bits of real-world data, such as the air pressure at a specific location.

Pseudo-RNGs, on the other hand, produce their numbers entirely through algorithms, often starting by reading chunks of memory from various parts of the computer’s operating system (especially parts that are likely to change frequently and be hard to control), then running the data through an algorithm designed to make the outcome hard to predict from any given input, as well as highly variable. There are quite a few different algorithms that do this, and much debate online about which method produces results that are closest to true randomness, but they all work in fairly similar ways.

An important factor in the generation of random numbers is that past outcomes don’t influence the probability of future ones. If the last number an RNG generated was a 5, then the next number should neither be more likely nor less likely to be another 5 as a result of this. A lot of work goes into ensuring that the RNG algorithms don’t result in a given number “running hot” and coming up a lot… and likewise, the developers of these algorithms have to ensure that they are also not likely to avoid repeating numbers, which would result in another number being more likely after the algorithm produces a string of 5s.

This is pretty challenging, but fortunately, a great deal of work has gone into creating algorithms that achieve this. Of course, that’s great news for the developers who want to create fun and engaging slots as it allows them to make games that produce extremely unpredictable results without having to worry about measuring atmospheric pressure or anything like that.

Busting Myths About Online Slots

There is a lot of false information about slots. Many myths are still prevalent and persistent in the gaming world. A common misconception is that slots will have hot or cold phases where they either become far more likely to pay out or go for long patches without a win. Neither of these factors is true.

The outcome of a slot game is decided by the RNG algorithms mentioned above, and a lot of work has gone into ensuring that the numbers produced by these systems are not either hot or cold and, in fact, cannot be predicted by looking at past values at all. The perception that there are streaks in their behavior is actually due to the way humans perceive random numbers and look for patterns in things, even when there aren’t any present.

This behavior in humans is likely due to the benefit that can be gained from finding a pattern that does exist. If you really could predict when a slot machine was more or less likely to pay out, then you would be able to adapt your approach to better fit with this, while seeing a pattern that isn’t actually there doesn’t put you at a disadvantage. Your chances of winning are no worse if you mistakenly assume the machine is obeying some pattern than they would be if you accepted that the outcomes were unpredictable but decided to place a bet anyway.

Fairness and Transparency in Slot Games

That brings us to another aspect, that of fairness. If slot machines did have a tendency to enter hot or cold streaks, then a player lucky enough to find one that was running hot would obviously have a better time playing it than one who came along once the streak had been exhausted. This would obviously be deeply unfair to the player who came second.

Fortunately, by ensuring that the outcome of each game is independent of any other, the game developers are able to offer a fair experience to everyone. It doesn’t matter how many other people might be playing the same online slot game as you, or how well they might be doing. Your chances of winning are unaffected.

Nowadays, slot machines have what is known as an RTP rate or Return to Player. This figure represents the expected amount of money that will be given back by that particular type of slot game if played over a long enough period of time. It should be noted, however, that each individual spin is highly variable, and it can take a long time for the actual results to even out to something close to the expected RTP.

This is particularly noticeable in high volatility slots. Think about it: if the return to player is 95% and on your first spin, you win 100 times your wager, then you’d have to play another 100 times without winning before the outcome of that session became even close to the expected RTP. When people talk about RTP, they are only describing the general trend of that game over a large number of plays. Shorter sessions can vary significantly.

How RNGs Impact Player Experience

As we have seen, RNG technology is therefore crucial to shaping players’ overall gaming experiences. It guarantees that each turn on a slot machine is independent of all that came before it, which is a large part of what makes these games so fun!