How Randomness is Guaranteed at Online and Land-Based Casinos

[Betting Forum]

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As more players discover the wealth of online gambling products available, they may wonder what systems are in place to guarantee that awards are awarded randomly. In this guide, we’ve dissected the most popular online and land-based gambling options, and how their Random Number Generator (RNG) systems and return-to-player (RTP) rates impact game outcomes.

Randomness is Integral​

While all gambling activities rely on luck and chance, games, and products are designed with varying theoretical rates of payout toward players. These are often reliant on RNG processes, which randomly generate sequences of numbers that are translated into how digital slot reels land or table game outcomes unfold.

Depending on how volatile these processes are and how payout rates are encoded into game designs, the theoretical chances to win will be impacted. At online casinos, payout rates will be advertised in the settings menus of games so that players can expect a certain level of consistency.

For example, if we were to play roulette online, we’d consider higher payout games such as European Roulette over American Roulette. By doing a simple RTP check, we can trust that the game will theoretically pay out more. In land-based gaming, it can be more difficult to find this information for select games, but the games still rely on the same technology.

Slots and Table Games​

Land-based slots in the US typically have RTP rates between 92% and 96%, though it is possible to find games that have RTPs as low as 80%. What makes it especially difficult for land-based gamblers to navigate is that the same slots can have varying RTPs based on the location and machine.

Online slots, on the other hand, have an average RTP rate of around 96%, with some slots having payout rates as high as 99%. These games’ RTPs won’t vary from site to site and are independent-auditor verified, so players can expect that their favorite titles will be consistent.

Table game RTPs will not vary considerably between land-based and online versions, as these RTPs are built into the games' rules. No matter where these games are played, the RNG systems will ensure that each outcome is random and cannot be influenced by player decisions.

Draw Games and Scratch Cards​

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Whether purchasing scratch cards or playing the lottery, the land-based RTP rates for these products are significantly lower than their online counterparts. Physical scratch cards tend to have RTPs between 60% and 70%, while national draw games have RTP rates as low as 45%, with the profits typically going toward state arts councils and education programs.

Land-based lottery games don't always use RNG systems to define payouts, but simply offer a reduced percentage of their earnings as cash prizes. Online scratch cards, on the other hand, can have payout rates as high as 96%, while online bingo can have RTPs of 85%. This is because the games are privately run rather than state-run.

If there's anything to take from this information, it's that casino games at legitimate operators will always be random and consistent. It's wise to check game RTPs before playing, though, to gauge how consistently rewards can be distributed.