When you play online slot games at BetMGM Casino, in a sense, all you’re doing each time you spin the reels is activating a random number generator. That random number generator, or RNG for short, is what determines whether your bet is a winner.
BetMGM’s guide to online slots briefly explains the impact of RNGs, but it will benefit any slot player to get a better understanding of this element of slot play. A thorough comprehension of the mechanics of slot game RNGs will also help you play responsibly.
While slot machine RNGs ensure that slot payouts are random, that doesn’t mean players have zero influence over their fates in slots. Even in RNG slots at BetMGM, players control several elements of their gambling.
What Is an RNG in Online Slots?
For online slots, an RNG is an algorithm a computer uses to select one outcome from the entire field of possible results following a bet on the slot game. This slot machine RNG algorithm has been written to mimic the random results of a spin of physical slot reels.
Each slot has a unique algorithm, crafted to the individual features, payouts, symbols, and theme of the game. Although the math of these slot algorithms can seem complex to some people, the basic premise is actually simple.
The algorithm instructs the game computer which of the potentially millions of possible results to display unpredictably. There are some limits on those results in each slot.
How RNGs Work in Slot Games
In most slots, your bet has a bearing on how random number generators work. Casino game RNGs draw from a pool of results respective to the bet denomination you chose. Within that set, however, the results are truly random.
Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG)
You might find games that utilize a pseudo-random number generator, or PRNG. In these algorithms, the point of origin from which the algorithm starts is a known quantity.
In other words, while the sequence of the numbers might be random each time the algorithm runs, there’s a starting point that leads to all the following randomly produced numbers. If the seed is revealed, the results of a PRNG can be uncovered.
True Random Number Generator
A true random number generator introduces an unpredictable variable to ensure that the result of the algorithm is absolutely unreliable. Most computer randomization systems are not truly random.
That’s simply because the cost of maintaining a truly random algorithm can be exorbitant. Pure randomness is unnecessary in most applications of number generators, too.
Why RNGs Are Essential in Slot Design
Many people rightfully wonder if casinos can control slot results. Casinos indeed have access to slot game controls, and that’s a reason to only play with licensed online casinos.
When you play with a licensed online casino, you can have confidence that the odds you see are the odds you get. Independent testing by regulators verifies that the casino hasn’t manipulated the RNGs to make it impossible to get payouts.
RNGs keep everything on the up and up between the casino and you. They ensure that chance, not the size of your bet or your standing in a VIP program, determines the result of each bet.
Common Misconceptions About Random Number Generators
There are many slot machine myths and misconceptions, including misplaced beliefs about RNGs in slots. One of the foremost among them is the belief that the outcomes in slots are sequenced.
That errant holding leads to the classic gambler’s fallacy. That fallacy maintains that if a particular result hasn’t come up in an extended time, it must be due to hit soon.
That’s not the case, though. With each bet, each potential outcome corresponding to that wager has the same chance of hitting as it did on previous bets.
Are RNGs Fair and Regulated?
Regulation is your assurance of fairness and security in online casinos. Licensure is the assurance that an app or website complies with online casino regulations.
Those regulations govern, among many other things, parameters for RNGs in slots. They ensure that the RNGs don’t make it impossible to claim payouts or trigger bonus features.
BetMGM is licensed in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. People who are at least 21 years old and who plan to play in one of those four states can register at BetMGM to enjoy a safe and transparent online casino experience.
Can You Beat or Predict an RNG?
Some people have wondered, “Are slots purely luck-based?” in the past. Some have even tried to create systems to predict the results.
You are just as likely to accurately predict what section of the roulette wheel the ball will land in or overcome the mathematics of card shuffling as you are to reliably beat the RNG in slots. Instead of stressing over trying to accomplish the impossible, you could enjoy your slot play and let your slot bankroll management give you that sense of control over the game you want.
BetMGM welcomes you to try your luck with its library of thousands of games. Although you can’t beat the RNG, you can still have a great time and gamble responsibly.
