We all love casino games but have you ever wondered how these games have random and fair outcomes? If not, read this article as I am going to explain the types of algorithms used in casino random number generators (RNGs). Read on!
Mersenne Twister
Mersenne Twister is among the most common RNG algorithms in online casinos. Basically, it is a PRNG, which means a pseudorandom number generator.
While Mersene is popular for its high-quality randomness, it generates numbers from a seed value using a series of bitwise operations and shifts. Slot machines, video poker, and online roulette specifically use this algorithm for players to trust the random outcomes.
Linear Congruential Generator (LCG)
If you understand the formula of LCG, you will understand how it generates random numbers in online casinos. The formula is:
Xn+1 = (aXn + c) mod m
In this formula, X represents the values of the sequence that contains pseudonumbers. A, c, and m are constants. So, this formula makes LCG a simpler and much faster algorithm for casino games.
However, experts at Lebanon Casino say it has a shorter period compared to Mersenne Twister, a more complex and longer-period algorithm, ensuring high-quality randomness in games like roulette, slots, and video poker.
Lagged Fibonacci Generator (LFG)
LFG is an RNG algorithm that focuses on the Fibonacci sequence and extends it to generate random numbers. LFG is a longer-period algorithm with excellent statistical properties and more streamlined implementation.
However, this algorithm has a few downsides. For example, it is very sensitive to initialization and can have correlations between generated numbers. At the same time, it is not suitable for cryptographic purposes and can cause problems in the outcomes of casino games.
Thus, it may not allow players to have the ultimate entertainment in online casinos. Third-party testing services like eCOGRA and iTech Labs evaluate LFGs for their effectiveness, accuracy, and error rates. If the algorithm passes the benchmark test, then a license is provided to the online gambling site.
Fortuna Algorithm in Online Casino Games
Have you ever heard the term “CSPRNG?” It stands for a cryptographically secure pseudorandom number generator, and most licensed casinos use these algorithms to ensure 100% randomness and earn players’ trust.
But how does it work? You are obviously here to understand the algorithm’s mechanism. Right? Well, it collects entropy from different sources and uses it to generate random numbers.
Remember, the operations through which the algorithm undergoes are incredibly complex, and that’s the reason licensed casinos, such as those from MGA and Curacao, have random outcomes.
Reseeding in a more secure manner is what makes this algorithm safer for online slots, poker, roulette, and even arcade games. Still, we think that even this algorithm has some loopholes preventing it from generating 100% random sequences of numbers in RNG-based casino games.
For instance, if a cybercriminal comes to know about the entropy sources or uses them for prediction, then this algorithm will indeed compromise its randomness, and players will fail to win games. That’s why we always urge players to play at eCGORA-certified and MGA-licensed gambling sites.
Final Words
The beautiful themes, awesome reels, symbols, and random outcomes you see in online casino games have complex operations in the backend. Algorithms perform these operations.
There are many of them, and each has its own benefits and downsides, but none of them is 100% random unless and until tested by iTech Labs or eCOGRA. So, again, we must say, play only at licensed casinos.
