Random Number Generator (RNG) Explained

Brad King
by Brad King

Turning Passion into Expert Betting Insights

Updated August 09, 2025

If you are wondering what RNGs are and how they work to provide credibility to online casinos, read on!

Avalon pokies using random number generator
Random Number Generator (RNG) Explained

RNG stands for 'random number generator' and is a computer algorithm built into the game that generates random outcomes. When you spin a slot machine or get dealt cards in digital blackjack, algorithms determine the results instantly. The RNG ensures fairness by making outcomes unpredictable, but some players worry about whether the software is truly random or if casinos can manipulate it.

What is a Random Number Generator?

Random Number Generators or RNGs are computer program that provides results haphazardly. There are diverse kinds of RNGs. Online casinos often use pseudo-random number generators, which don’t require any external information to create a result; only a seed number and algorithm.

Fresh seed numbers are created every instant. This occurs by using the last one or a few numbers, which are then subjected to mathematical calculations such as subtraction, division, addition, and multiplication to produce a new random result.

RNG Makes Digital Casino Games Fair

Several online casinos have an esteemed reputation because of their fair and credible gaming policies. Gamers can now enjoy games and earn huge sums of money because it is impossible to predict the results of online casino games as they are produced randomly.

One cannot estimate the result of any casino game because of the primary principles on which the generator is based. The chief objective of an RNG is to create a number series in a random way, and it works on complex mathematics, which produces new results every time.

Casino Games With RNG

All digital casino game available on reputable online casinos makes use of an RNG, excluding live dealer games, because the games are similar to games played in brick-and-mortar casinos, and they are supervised by a real dealer who functions the gaming procedure in real-time.

It is worth noting that the RNG is not only employed by games in online casinos but also in certain games offered by land-based casinos. For example, video poker machines and slots found in land-based casinos work on similar standards as their online games.

Generally, the casino assigns a value to each symbol present on the reel in slots. For instance, if it is a slot with five reels and ten symbols, the RNG would give a value between 1 and 12 for every reel. The outcome would be five different symbols and if those symbols create a winning combination, you win the round.

Similarly, whenever you play roulette, the RNG will generate a number between 1 and 37, and in deck games, the number ranges from 1 to 52. It is necessary for the RNG to generate numbers that match the type of casino game being played, whether it is a wheel, slot, or card game.

When Does the RNG Decide the Result?

The second you press play, the RNG algorithm kicks in. For example, when you are playing pokies for real money, the result is decided as soon as you push the ‘spin’ button. You should always keep in mind that whichever casino game you play, the outcome created by the RNG is always random.

Figure Out the Algorithm the RNG Uses

The RNG makes use of complex arithmetic or a set of rules, which help it create a sequence of random numbers. These are comprised of seed numbers, which are produced within small intervals of time or more exactly, every millisecond.

This is a source of all the arithmetic operations that are conducted so a new random result can be generated. It is nearly impossible to find out the final outcome of a certain casino game unless you are aware of the accurate algorithm and the seed number used by the RNG.

Testing Companies That Perform Methodical RNG Checks

A few of the trustworthy third-party auditors that perform regular checks to confirm the authenticity of RNG are Technical Systems Testing (TST) and eCOGRA. They are regarded as reliable agencies as they conduct their duties in a specialized manner.

Both the authorities perform RNG checks regularly on both online and land-based casinos. This offers players the needed assurance that they are playing on a reputed platform that has been tested for fair gaming.

  • Assessments of RNG
  • Valuations of game and mathematics
  • Assessments of a live dealer, sportsbook, or betting exchange
  • Current RNG or game payout authentication and reporting
  • Review of the poker system
  • Penetration checking and full security checks

The online casinos that pass all these checks are labeled ‘fair’, meaning that their results are random. The results of such casino games are not subjective to external variables such as the amount of the pay-off, number of credits, VIP cards, and more.

 

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