The concept of randomness often feels mystical, especially when it comes to online casinos. Players might wonder if the cards, slots, roulette wheels and dice rolls they see on their screens are truly random – or if the odds are cleverly stacked against them.
In this article, we’ll explore the facts behind JustCasino randomness. Are the results you see completely fair? Or is the house always rigged to win? Let’s find out.
What Is an Online Casino RNG?
RNG stands for “random number generator”. Online casinos use RNG software to produce the random results for all games. Whether you’re playing slots, blackjack, roulette or craps, the outcome relies on the RNG.
Specifically the RNG generates a long string of numbers between 1 and several billion. Each number corresponds to a certain game outcome – for example, in roulette, numbers 1-36 correspond to the numbers on the wheel. The RNG cycles through billions of number combinations per second. When you click “spin” or “deal”, whichever number the RNG has landed on determines the result.
Crucially RNGs are designed to operate unpredictably. The string of numbers should not follow any patterns or cycles that players could try to decode. RNGs are rigorously tested by third-party agencies to prove they satisfy randomness statistical tests.
Common Myths and Misconceptions
Given the technical complexity behind online casino RNGs, several myths have emerged around how fair and random they really are:
- Myth 1: Online slots pay out more if you wager higher amounts
Reality: Slot game outcomes depend purely on the RNG. The amount you wager does not impact the results or payout percentages you receive. Higher wagers simply mean higher stakes per spin.
- Myth 2: Online slots get “hot” or “cold” over time
Reality: An RNG cycles through billions of number combinations per second. Results are in no way affected by previous spins or influenced by whether a game has recently paid out a large win or not. Each spin is completely independent.
- Myth 3: Online blackjack dealers can manipulate cards
Reality: As with slots, blackjack depends solely on the RNG for shuffling cards and determining which ones are dealt out. Dealers have no control over card sequences.
Testing RNG Effectiveness
To ensure fairness, most regulated online casinos must have their RNGs certified by a third-party testing agency. These include firms like eCOGRA (eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance) and Gaming Laboratories International.
Testing labs analyze the mathematical randomness of RNG outputs by running complex statistical tests. These include:
- Chi-square analysis: Checking if certain game outcomes occur the appropriate number of times
- Gap analysis: Looking for irregular gaps between number sequences
- Poker analysis: Testing if card distributions are appropriately random
- Permutation tests: Assessing if all possible outcome combinations occur
If RNGs pass these stringent tests, they are certified as fair and random. Players can check if a casino holds certifications from testing agencies – this helps provide assurance that games are not rigged against you.
When RNG Outcomes Feel Unlikely
While certified RNGs are mathematically proven fair, unlikely outcomes can occasionally occur that feel surprising or “unrandom” to players.
For example, you might witness an unlikely blackjack scenario where the dealer pulls five 21-value hands in a row against players. Or a series of bizarre roulette results where the ball lands on “8” five times consecutively.
These outliers spark suspicion around RNG fairness. However over an infinite number of hands, all possible combinations of outcomes are expected to occur at some point, no matter how unlikely they feel at the moment. This is the nature of randomness.
In Conclusion
While RNGs may feel mystical, their randomness has been rigorously tested from a mathematical perspective. Certified casinos provide assurance that games are fair and not rigged against you as a player.
That said, unlikely short-term outcomes can still occur. Understanding the principles behind RNGs helps unravel their secrets – and know whether game results are truly random or unfairly manipulated against you.