Randomness is at the heart of many of the online casino games you can play at NetBet Casino. When you spin the reels of an online slot or play a digital version of a table game, the result needs to be unpredictable. In many online casino games, this is achieved using a Random Number Generator, usually shortened to RNG.
RNG technology works behind the scenes and is an important part of how digital casino games operate. But what exactly is an RNG, how does it generate results and what does it mean for players?
This guide explains the basics of casino RNGs, their relationship with fairness and how they differ from concepts such as RTP and volatility.
What Is a Random Number Generator (RNG)?
A Random Number Generator is a system used to produce sequences of numbers that cannot reasonably be predicted by a player.
In an online casino game, these numbers are used by the software to determine game outcomes. Players don’t normally see any of this happening. Instead, they see the result represented through familiar casino graphics, such as reels stopping on particular symbols or cards being dealt onto the screen.
Take an online slot as an example. When you press the spin button, the game uses its underlying software and RNG to determine an outcome. The numbers generated correspond with positions and symbols within the game.
The spinning reels and animations then present that result to the player.
RNGs operate extremely quickly, allowing games to continually produce new potential outcomes without players having to understand the complex technology behind them.
How Does RNG Work in Online Casino Games?
The exact technology can vary between games and developers, but RNG-based casino games generally use software to produce numerical values that are converted into game results.
In a slot, for example, generated values can correspond to particular positions on the game’s virtual reels. Once a spin is initiated, the relevant result determines which symbols appear.
The same basic principle can be used across different types of digital casino games. An RNG may determine which cards appear in a digital card game or which number wins in an automated roulette game.
One important point is that the animations you see on screen don’t usually create the result themselves. They are primarily a visual representation of an outcome determined by the game’s software.
This means the reel appearing to “just miss” a particular symbol isn’t the same as a physical reel slowing down and narrowly missing a position.
Which Online Casino Games Use RNG?
RNG technology is particularly common in online slots, but its use isn’t limited to them.
Digital versions of games such as blackjack, roulette and other table games may use RNG technology when there isn’t a physical dealer, wheel or deck determining the outcome. RNGs can also be used in various instant-win and other computer-based casino games.
The way RNG technology is implemented depends on the game and software provider.
It’s also important to distinguish RNG games from live casino games. A digital roulette game, for instance, may use an RNG to generate its result, while live roulette generally uses a real roulette wheel and ball.
Why Is Randomness Important in Casino Games?
Randomness helps make individual game outcomes unpredictable.
If the result of a casino game could easily be predicted in advance, the game wouldn’t operate as intended. RNG technology is therefore designed to produce outcomes that players cannot reliably anticipate based on previous results.
However, “random” doesn’t mean that every possible outcome has an equal chance of occurring.
A slot may contain symbols with different probabilities, for example. The game’s underlying mathematics determines how those symbols and winning combinations are structured, while the RNG generates individual results within that system.
This distinction is important because randomness doesn’t mean a game has no mathematical structure.
Does RNG Make Online Casino Games Fair?
RNG technology is an important component of many digital casino games, but the presence of an RNG alone shouldn’t be treated as proof that a game is fair.
Casino software can be subject to technical standards, independent testing and regulatory requirements designed to check that games operate as intended. Testing can include examining RNG systems and checking whether game mathematics performs according to its specified design.
For players, this is one reason why the regulatory status of an online casino and its games matters.
You can learn more about this process in our guide to how casino games are tested to ensure fairness.
Can Online Casino RNG Be Manipulated?
Questions about whether casinos can change or manipulate game outcomes are common, particularly among players experiencing a run of losing results.
The important distinction is between properly regulated casino games and software operating without appropriate oversight.
Regulatory requirements, technical standards and independent testing can all provide safeguards around how RNG-based games operate. This can include assessing whether an RNG produces results appropriately and whether the game performs according to its stated mathematical model.
Players should therefore use licensed and regulated casino operators rather than assuming that every casino game available online is subject to the same standards.
It is also worth remembering that a losing streak isn’t, by itself, evidence that an RNG has been manipulated. Random games naturally produce sequences that can sometimes appear unusual.
RNG vs Live Casino Games
RNG and live casino games can offer similar types of casino gameplay while determining results in very different ways.
In an RNG roulette game, software can generate the winning outcome. In live roulette, the outcome is generally determined using a physical roulette wheel and ball, with the action broadcast to players through a live video stream.
Similarly, digital blackjack can use software to determine which cards are dealt, whereas live blackjack features a real dealer handling physical cards or equipment designed for the live game.
Neither format is automatically the right choice for every player. RNG games can offer quick, software-based gameplay, while live casino games are designed to recreate more of the atmosphere and interaction of a physical casino table.
For a closer comparison, read our guide to RNG vs Live Casino: What’s the Difference and Which Should You Choose?
RNG, RTP and Volatility – What’s the Difference?
RNG, RTP and volatility are related to how casino games work, but they describe different things.
RNG concerns the generation of individual game outcomes.
RTP, or Return to Player, is a theoretical percentage describing how much of the money wagered on a game is expected to be returned to players over a very large number of plays, based on the game’s mathematical model. It isn’t a promise of what one player will receive during a particular session.
Volatility describes the general pattern of a game’s wins. Higher-volatility slots, for example, may generally produce less frequent but potentially larger wins, while lower-volatility games may tend towards more frequent, smaller wins.
Understanding these differences can help players make more informed choices about the types of games they prefer. Our guide to RTP, Variance & Volatility: How to Choose a Slot That’s Right for You explores these concepts in more detail.
What Should Players Know About RNG?
Perhaps the most useful thing to understand about RNG is that previous independent outcomes don’t tell you what will happen next.
Imagine a slot has gone through a long period without producing a particular outcome. That doesn’t necessarily mean the outcome is now “due”. Likewise, seeing a particular result several times doesn’t automatically mean it is less likely to appear again simply because it has recently occurred.
Ideas about slots being “due” for a win or becoming “hot” and “cold” are just some of the misconceptions surrounding these games. You can explore more examples and the facts behind them in our Common Slot Machine Myths guide.
This is closely related to the gambler’s fallacy: the mistaken belief that previous independent random events must influence future ones.
RNG technology also means there is no reliable strategy for predicting the next result of a properly functioning random casino game.
Understanding RNG doesn’t provide a way to beat casino games, but it does help explain why individual results can be unpredictable and why short-term winning and losing streaks can occur.
RNG FAQs
What does RNG mean in online casinos?
RNG stands for Random Number Generator. In online casinos, RNG technology is used in many digital games to generate unpredictable numerical values that the software converts into game outcomes.
Are online slot results really random?
RNG-based slots use software to generate unpredictable individual outcomes according to the game’s underlying mathematical design. Games offered in regulated markets may also be subject to technical requirements and testing of their RNG systems.
Does RNG affect a slot’s RTP?
RNG and RTP are connected to the operation of a slot but describe different concepts. RNG generates individual game outcomes, while RTP represents the game’s theoretical long-term return based on its mathematical model. A slot’s RTP does not predict what an individual player will win or lose during a particular session.
When you choose NetBet Casino, you can enjoy a whole range of top-quality slots. Whatever you choose, always remember to bet responsibly. Here at NetBet Casino, player well-being is our number one priority – check out our Safer Gambling tips and tools page for more information.