Slots are an age-old pastime for gamblers; they spin and think they are in with a chance to win, but luck has nothing to do with it; it’s all in the random number generators.
A random number generator (RNG) is a mechanism or programme that generates a random sequence of numbers to produce an outcome. The numbers and values selected by the RNG are random and have no pattern or predictable element to them. These are programmed into slot machines to ensure that when the players spin, the outcomes are random. They are a key slot machine mechanic in gameplay.
So why do slots use them? Well, they keep the games provably fair and reduce the risk of customer complaints. Because some people think there are ways to beat the slot machines, RNGs are necessary to dispel rumours. After all, you can’t win more money at a slot machine because a dodgy forum told you so.
But this article is not about why RNGs are needed in slots, but rather how they promote fairness in the game.
A Brief History of Random Number Generators
- Coin Flipping – During the Roman era, 753 BC to 476 AD, coin-flipping was used as a form of random number generation and still is popular today. (Heads or tails, anyone?) Although a coin only has two sides, this was a very early example of a random number generator system. Other ancient societies in Egypt and Turkey were also known to use dices as RNGs.
- Assessment of Randomness – In 1938, two British statisticians, Bernard Babington-Smith and Maurice Kendall, proposed a theory of 4 tests to assess the independence of a table of numbers and to assess if it was random.
- First Official Computerised RNG – In 1947, the RAND Corporation developed the first table of random digits using an electronic device. A computer would then count them.
- Book Publishing – In 1955, the company published A Million Random Digits with 100,000 Normal Deviates, which featured the table.
- The Rise Of Computer RNGS 1990s – The nineties were marked by substantial progress towards newer and more efficient RNGS. Worries over security increased because of the popularity of the internet in the late 1990s. RNGS advanced with Lavarand’s lava lamps and HotBits’ Geiger counter, while the Mersenne Twister in 1997 set a new precedent for pseudorandom number generators. PRNGs. By 1998, Random.org had brought randomness online for public use by utilising noise from radio broadcasts and static to generate random numbers. The company still offers random number services to this day.
How do RNGs Work In Slot Machines?
Now we have summarised the brief history of RNGs, we will explain how they work in slot machines. As we have mentioned, these are programmed into slot machines and use an algorithm to determine the values that will be selected. Each second, even when a game is not active, RNGs are creating sequences with thousands of numbers.
As a player spins the reels, the outcome and their fate are sealed. Once the reels stop spinning, the outcome selected by the RNG is displayed through the slot symbols.
Maintaining Fairness Through RNGs: Fact Versus Fiction
There are several ways that RNG technology ensures fair gameplay in slots.
Way 1: Keeps Spins Completely Random
Although people love to claim the slot myth that there is a method in the madness of spinning, there isn’t. The usage of algorithms in RNGs ensures that the upcoming result is different from the last. Your odds do not worsen or improve based on a result beforehand, and when you spin, the result is entirely independent.
Way 2: Number Generation Is Continuous
As we mentioned, the RNG is like a hummingbird: it is constantly on alert and is moving (figuratively) from place to place. So the continuous generation of numbers means that reel positions and symbols cannot be exactly replicated in such a short time.
Way 3: Unchangeable Design
RNG technology is embedded within the slot machine and secured cryptographically. This means there is a key of sorts that protects the information and the system inside the machine, and makes it impossible to tamper with.
Way 4: Third-Party Tests
One of the biggest ways that RNGs ensure fair gameplay in slot machines is through third-party testing. Regulations and rules by licensing bodies require that casinos have machines tested independently for fairness to ensure they are not rigged. Specialist testing will also test the randomness of the machine to ensure no patterns or predictable outcomes are detected.
Way 5: Slot Machines Have No Memory In Them
Unlike computers, slot machines do not have memory software. Not having a memory means they can not correlate patterns between numbers or outcomes. To determine outcomes, they rely on a seed value (the initial number input into the system) and the algorithm to create a result, meaning there is no way to predict what they will select.
RNGS: Key Takeaways
- Everyone has the same chances of winning at the same slot machines.
- RNGS work based on a seed value and an algorithm to determine a random outcome.
- Wins and losses cannot be manipulated in slots; they are based on number selection and luck.
- Slot machines do not remember you or previous outcomes, so past results have no bearing on present ones.
Whether you like slot machines or not, something that can never be doubted is how fair they are.
While players can’t determine outcomes, there are ways to improve their slot game. Use a high RTP slot to get back most of what you put in when you do win. Also, keep an eye on your bankroll, and do not think you can manipulate the slot machine.
