When reading casino reviews or just browsing the casino website itself you will sooner or later run into the term RNG. It will most surely be mentioned in a paragraph related to fair gaming or similar concepts. If you’re inquisitive, you have probably found out that this abbreviation stands for Random Number Generator. But what really is a Random Number Generator?

Since the dawn of time, people have created different methods for generating random data, e.g. dice, coin flipping or card shuffling. However, generating large numbers of sufficiently random numbers was a hard and time-consuming process and lead to the creation of random number tables, which provided a more effective mean of obtaining random samples. The next step in increasing efficiency was the creation of computational random number generators, which are now used in statistical sampling, computer simulation, cryptography or gambling.

When it comes to online gambling, RNG is used to make sure that reels in slots stop in a random position or that there’s no pattern in the cards you are dealt in blackjack. It’s a computational device that is part of casino game’s software which ensures that all results lack any particular pattern.

But how does RNG work exactly? Basically, RNGs use sophisticated algorithms to produce a sequence of numbers, starting with an initial number that is called “seed number”. This is then repeated continuously with the new number becoming the new seed. The whole process is often called pseudorandom generation as the results are highly predictable if you know the seed number. Because of that casinos do everything in their power to ensure that no one can learn their seed numbers.

Knowing how RNGs operate, you’re probably wondering what’s stopping casinos from rigging their RNG? This is a very important issue and some casinos have actually done that in the past. Because of this, nowadays casinos that want to remain reputable undergo third party audits. There’s a number of companies that deal with testing and auditing casino RNGs. They issue certificates and seals of approvals which let you know that this specific RNG is working properly. You can find a list of such companies in our iGaming Audits section. Look for their seals of approval or certificates before you decide to play in a new casino! If you cannot find them on the site, contact customer support and ask them to provide you with proper information and documentation. If they can’t even manage that, you should steer clear of such casino.

Hopefully after reading this post you will have a better grasp on what is a Random Number Generator, how it operates and why it’s important for an online casino to be certified by third-party auditors. A simple thing to remember, ensuring that a casino uses a fair RNG will do a lot to increase your safety when gambling online.