A recent Market Research Future study valued the global casino market at $309.54 billion. Looking ahead, the market could expand by a CAGR of about 6.48%, resulting in a market volume of $511.6 billion.
This once niche sector is clearly drawing the attention of multitudes across different sectors. Interestingly, Statista expects online gamblers to reach 210 million by 2025, further highlighting how casinos has become popular.
Gambling games, as you may know them, are mostly based on chance. But how exactly do they ensure fairness in outcomes?
As much as you might be familiar with the fun of spinning reels or hitting 21, not everyone truly understands the mechanics behind the games.
After going through this article, you will learn that the algorithms upon which these games function aren't really mysterious. So, without wasting any more time, let's set off.
Understanding random number generators (RNGs)
Behind every seemingly innocent slot game is a core program called a random number generator (RNG). This is the engine that makes everything tick.
Every millisecond, the RNG cycles through billions of number combinations. When you hit 'Spin,' the RNG immediately stops at one of those combinations, which corresponds to a certain outcome on the reels.
The exciting part of this process is its independence on past spins. It doesn't care if you had similar outcomes in a row or in the past hour. Plus, each symbol on the slot machine has a different probability of appearing.
There are basically two major types of RNGs:
- True RNGs, which depend on external factors to produce randomness
- Pseudo-RNGs, which take advantage of mathematical formulas to create sequences that mimic random behavior
This technology has been used in slot games since ancient times. Even when things went digital, it wasn't abandoned.
As such, MarketsandMarkets claims the global true random number generator market could hit $3.81 billion in 2025 and expand to $7.71 billion in 2030. That will be a whole 15.1% annual growth rate!
Is there any difference when it comes to blackjack?
If you've played blackjack for some time, you know quite well that the game doesn't just depend on chance. There is some skill involved, even though cards are shuffled.
But if skill is involved, how do the best casino sites, ensure randomness? This is where digital shoes come in.
A digital shoe is simply an electronic dealing shoe that automates the card dealing process and can track cards dealt. Besides improving the accuracy of outcomes, this technology enhances game security and speed.
Here is how it works:
- It scans and identifies each card as it's dealt.
- It may use features like:
- Optical character recognition (OCR) to read card values and suits.
- Barcodes or other markings potentially on the cards themselves.
- Sensors and algorithms to track the cards and ensure accurate dealing.
- The shoe then transmits the data to a computer or monitoring system for analysis.
In physical casinos, card counters can track which cards have already been played and use that to make better bets. But online, the algorithm resets the deck far more often, sometimes after every hand.
What's more, casinos use game telemetry to watch how you play. If you're playing online and always hitting on 16 or splitting 8s like a pro, the system can log that.
The system does that not to cheat you but just to keep the game fair.
Why is fairness important in this sector?
As crucial as fairness is, it's quite unfortunate that, according to ENV Media, 74% of players don't know how it's controlled. On the other hand, more than six in ten players think playing at specific times can affect outcomes on different platforms.
In the gambling industry where scams are quickly becoming common, you don't want to participate in a compromised game. In fact, if you realize an operator rigs gaming outcomes, you may never interact with them again.
This is why technologies like RNG are handy. The good thing is that bodies like eCOGRA and GLI help ensure that RNGs work properly.
So, to be sure that a casino offers unbiased games, check whether it has a license or not. But again, fairness does not mean 50/50 odds. Casinos operate on a business model that ensures the house always wins.
That's why you have not failed to see a game without a return-to-player (RTP) rate. For instance, if a game has an RTP of 96%, it returns $96 for every $100 wagered.
Final word
Although gambling games are purely based on chance, some operators may want to rig the process for their own gain. That's why it's important to be vigilant.
And this begins with understanding how technologies like RNGs work. To avoid falling prey to scammers, you also want to be sure that a platform's RNGs are approved by respective government bodies.