Online slot games are now credible avenues to wager and gamble freely and conveniently. While the wide range of selection and the hefty bonuses may appear appealing, some punters may wonder if the technology behind such games allows fair play. Unlike live slot games that are typically manual or machine-operated, online slot games run fully as software. This gives room for programming and internal calibration to take place—against or in favor of the player.
This issue may hinder other punters from entering the online space. While there are instant payout casinos in the online space, some gamblers may feel safer trying out live ones. Though there are real cases where games are rigged and scams take place, do these instances fairly represent the entire online slot gambling landscape?
That being said, let’s take a deeper look into the technology and processes behind online slot games and see whether they are fair.
Random Number Generator
While physical and online slot games may starkly different in terms of how they are presented, they also differ in terms of how the outcome is decided. This difference, however, does not mean that the latter is unfair.
Unlike slot machines in physical casinos, online slot games are powered by a random number generator. Behind every online slot game is software that keeps on choosing random numbers. This random number generator can generate up to thousands of numbers as each second goes by. Such numbers may be anywhere from 0 and around 4 billion.
Every number gets linked to a particular outcome on the slot machine’s reels for every single spin. The number that gets generated whenever the gambler taps ‘spin’ ends up leading to the linked outcome.
Simply stated, the process works this way.
- Players tap the spin. By doing so, a random number gets generated.
- The program behind the software analyzes the number and finds out where the reels must stop spinning.
- The reels stop at the designated point. The game then analyzes the spin results.
- The game then notifies the player of the result.
A random number generator is random. Hence, previous records of losses or wins will not affect the succeeding spin. A different result would indeed be generated if the punter taps the ‘spin’ option a second later or earlier. However, it is impossible to tell whether the results could have been better or worse.
Blockchain-powered slots
While the presence of a random number generator ensures that an online slot game is fair and square, blockchain technology for crypto casinos also makes this even better.
There are specific cryptos that have been used for online gambling. Because such crypto casinos are backed by a decentralized network, it is safe to say that no one may modify the outcomes of the game.
In such cases, transactions within the chain cannot be altered. Hence, results and outcomes are guaranteed.
Return-to-Player (RTP) rates
RTP rates can also solidify the fairness of a particular slot game. While the random number generator makes sure that outcomes are random, RTP rates make sure that a certain percentage of the money that a player spends gets returned to them eventually.
These rates are typically used for slot machine games. While this ensures that players receive a portion of what they placed in, RTP rates also make sure that the casino gets a share as well. In the end, an online casino is still a business that has profit in mind. With RTP, punters know that they can get a fair share of the game while the business also legitimately benefits from the game.
Game testing
On top of all of these technologies, online casinos also need to undergo testing to ensure fairness within their platform. In some cases, there may be a testing company that would validate whether the RTP is indeed true. Such a company may do so by testing and retesting the game tons of time and comparing the results with the RTP in theory. If the figures end up matching, the testers may conclude that the game is fair and unbiased.
Testing can be done not just for pre-licensed games but also for existing games as well. These are conducted to ensure that virtual casinos offer fair games throughout their operations.
Licenses and auditing
The credentials of the casino itself will also significantly affect its offerings.
Legitimate and fair online casinos need to undergo the scrutiny and rigid process of being licensed and audited. For licensing, there are reputable regulating bodies, such as the Malta Gaming Authority, that give a license to qualified casinos. The process of receiving this license is quite rigid. Hence, players can be assured that casinos with these licenses are indeed legitimate and provide fair offerings.
The same can be said about auditing as well. Government and third-party authorities scrutinize these companies and see whether their games are fair and whether random number generators are indeed true to their name.
The bottom line
While there are real instances where slot games are rigged and scams take place, legitimate and legal online casinos are scrutinized by authorities and armed with technologies to ensure that their offerings are fair. The above conditions just show that fairness and legitimacy are two things that online casinos, government authorities, and third-party bodies take seriously.
This case is especially true for slot games that are operated by random number generators. If the casino has truly undergone rigid scrutiny in testing, licensing, and auditing, players can rest assured that the online casino’s offerings and games are indeed fair.
On top of that, legitimate online casinos also have security measures in play to address the pressing realities and threats of cybercrime. Because virtual casinos involve actual money, such sites and platforms may be sweet-smelling and attractive to cybercriminals and threat actors. Hence, going beyond the fairness of the game, legitimate virtual casinos also take cybersecurity seriously to ensure that their players are protected from fraud and scams.