Roulette has always been a game that relies on chance, so now that the majority of roulette is played online, how is that element of chance accounted for? As with most online casino games roulette uses the Random Number Generator (RNG) system.
RNG makes online games of chance such as roulette and slots authentic. When playing European roulette the odds are about 2.7% and for American roulette, they’re around 5.3%, and so the online roulette versions need to offer those same odds. When you play roulette at a casino website such as 32red or Genting Casino, the odds of winning depend on the Random Number Generator (RNG) systems that are used by the casinos. You’ll find that most online casino websites offer similar odds for the different games that use RNGs.
What’s a Random Number Generator?
In order to produce random numbers in games, RNG needs to be included in the gaming software. In land-based roulette, the wheel is the random number generator. The laws of physics will ensure that the wheel will come to a halt, but there is no way of predicting on which number the ball will land when the wheel comes to a stop. Similarly, when you roll a dice, you get the random result of the throw of the die. In both situations, you can see for yourself that the results are random. When people play roulette online, however, they need to know be sure that the numbers will still be picked randomly. RNG provides that reassurance.
In order to generate random numbers, RNGs use advanced formulae. There are two different principles used to achieve this. One principle compares an event with a random expected result, which compensates for any biases in measurement. However, this principle is seldom used in RNG systems for online gambling. The most common system used requires the principle where algorithms are used to create long sequences of random outcomes.
As RNG is vital in order to make sure that the games are authentic, it’s also important that the consumer can have faith in the RNGs being used at online casinos. There are independent bodies that carry out statistical tests to analyse online casino histories and reports from these organisations on the authenticity of the casinos are important for a casino’s reputation. In other words, a reputable online casino will ensure that their RNG systems provide an authentic player experience; otherwise they’d soon be out of business.
RNG in online roulette
Putting RNG systems into the game of roulette is relatively simple as the game only needs one number to be generated on each spin.
In French roulette, the pockets are numbered from 0 to 36 and the software needs to produce an integer between those numbers. Multiple digit numbers are used by the random number generator algorithms; these are then reduced down to fit the numbers on a French roulette wheel – that is, from 0 to 36. Using this system, online roulette games randomly identify where the ball will stop.
The use of RNGs in online roulette means that the player can trust the game to be authentic. An additional benefit from the casinos’ point of view is that no roulette ‘strategy’ can be applied online in order to win. A player has no way of telling or predicting where a ball will land next. When a player places their bets at an online roulette table, they will only have luck and the player odds on their side. There’s no room for cheating – either on the player’s or casino’s side.
Online casino gaming is big business. Ten years ago, online gambling revenues were around $7.4 billion, but by 2015, revenues should exceed $40 billion. In other words, casinos will do everything to maintain their reputations and provide players with transparent game play and security. RNGs play a vital role in helping online casinos retain and expand their customer base.
