The last 20 years of casinos have been exciting. As technology has evolved enormously and the internet world has grown in prominence, most casino players have moved online. The online casino community spans two generations: those who played casino games before the internet and those who have only known online casinos.
These two distinct but connected groupings cause many misnomers. The younger generation is more digitally literate and trusts software over hardware, especially in a real-world casino with the potential for manipulated games or dishonest dealers. With lower digital literacy and more confidence in hardware and human connection, the older generation sees plenty of opportunity for ingenious coders to rig online slot games without the player knowing.
As we’ll learn in this article, the latter view is probably incorrect. A physical casino with the right licensing and accreditation disproves even the formers' claim, but that's a discussion for another article.
Instead, join us as we answer once and for all if online slots are random. Continue reading to learn more.
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The Big Question; Are Online Slot Machines in Ontario Truly Random?
We could drag this point out in some sort of mysterious clickbait, but to cut to the chase the answer is simple - Yes. Legitimate Ontario online slots are truly random.
The key to this statement is the ‘legitimate’ part. Sadly, while the number of shady sites and rigged online slots are few and far between, they will cause much more of a stir than the hundreds of legitimate online casinos and the thousands of unrigged slots out there. However, so long as you can recognise a legit online casino site, you can be pretty sure that the games won’t be rigged.
We’ll dive into the reasons why later on, and explore this in more detail, but the long and short of it is that legitimate online casinos must be licensed by recognised regulatory bodies. In Canada, the main regulator is the CGA (Canadian Gambling Authority). Global popular regulators to look out for are the UKGC (United Kingdom Gambling Authority), MGA (Malta Gaming Authority), AGCC (Alderney Gambling Control Commission), and Curacao.
Now that we’ve provided a clear, straightforward answer to the question, let’s dive in more closely and explore how legitimate online slots can ensure their games offer 100% random outcomes.
What Is A Random Number Generator (RNG) And Why Is it Important?
The fairness of slots all comes down to one genius bit of technology; Random number generators (RNGs). Random Number Generators are computer programmes that generate completely random results in online slot games. Every spin has an unfixed consequence, therefore any outcome is possible.
Slot games employ Random Number Generators to generate random results when spun. These symbols usually appear randomly on the reels. These RNG systems use randomisation to avoid the formation of predictable patterns and do not keep track of previous outcomes as this could bias the algorithm. Due to this, the same number or symbol may appear frequently or seldom. Since there is no tracking, the RNG will produce fair and variable game mechanic results.
To ensure this is the case with absolute certainty, legitimate slot games are subject to third-party testing by unbiased regulatory bodies such as e-Cogra. This, along with online casino licensing ensures that no third-party hacking or rigging of games can occur. In the insanely rare circumstance that it did, this third-party testing would not only reveal this swiftly, but it would destroy the reputation of the online casino responsible, cost them their licence and potentially result in legal action. Put simply, the combination of third-party testing and licensing makes it so it simply isn’t worth it for any casino operator with a brain cell to even consider hosting a rigged game on their site.
If All Outcomes are Random, How Can RTP and Volatility Be Predicted?
So, If the results of slot games are completely random, then this brings up the question of how slot machines provide statistics and metrics such as RTP, house edge, and volatility. This is a good question to ask as this can have many players scratching their heads; so let’s clarify.
Myths abound about slot machines being rigged towards the casino largely because of the misunderstandings surrounding RNG technology and return to player (RTP) and volatility percentages.
Return to Player (RTP) reflects the statistical percentage of the wager the player can expect to achieve over the long term. This figure is calculated over hundreds of thousands of spins, which is why you hear of players 'beating the odds' and achieving a large prize payout. This is because random chance has a stronger perceivable impact upon outcomes in the short term, aka the handful of spins a player makes.
Modern video slots have an RTP of around 96% with the overall range estimated at 94-97%. The remaining 3-6% of the percentage is referred to as the 'house edge'. They say the house always wins, and, in the long term, they do - if they didn't then the casino would make enough money to operate or be viable.
While many slot players understand RTP and house advantage, the term volatility and its impacts are usually more of a grey area. Slot volatility refers to the frequency and size of slot wins. Like RTP volatility is another statistical estimation, and, in its simplest terms; slots with high volatility pay out larger amounts across longer intervals, while those with low volatility pay out smaller amounts across shorter intervals.
Why Choosing a Legitimate and Regulated Online Casino is the Smartest Move
As we’ve enumerated throughout this article, playing at a legitimate casino that holds a current and active licence from a recognised regulatory body is the number one way to ensure you’re playing online slots that are not rigged.
Alongside this, a legitimate casino will also ensure your personal information such as your banking details is safe and protected via firewalls and encryptions. A legitimate casino will also hold your user experience and welfare in high regard. Not only will they aim to bring you exciting promotions and frequent games but will provide you with helpful tools and information regarding staying safe when gaming online.
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