For those who are serious slot players or who love to play slots a lot, then I highly recommend that you understand the relevance and logic of Random Number Generators (RNG).
Too often, I hear from slot players that the game of playing slots requires no strategy. This is far from the truth! Whilst it is impossible to have sustainable and consistent winnings, you can mitigate losses. Now who doesn’t want to lose more money than they have to! Hence it’s vital to at least know the basics of slots.
Most manufacturers actually have people who's sole job is to make sure the RNG (random number generator) truly is random. I'd be willing to bet that far more work has been put into slot machine RNGs than random.org. If a manufacturer ever ended up with an RNG that was only pseudo-random, the consequences would be pretty bad for everyone involved.
For those players who play slots occasionally i.e. a social player, say for example when going out with friends and family or playing on the side while attending a major event, then I can completely understand that knowing RNG concepts would be a waste of time. But for other players, you should familiarize yourself with the concept.
Why should I bother understanding slots strategy RNG?
With any game, hobby or passion, it goes without saying that studying the concepts leads to being a better player. And this applies to slot players. The role of Random Number Generators (RNG) in slots is the core principle of determining odds for players. Which, of course, is the whole part of the game for slot players. Understanding the fundamentals of RNG will help reduce losses and will lead to a better playing experience.
What is the Random Number Generator?
The core principle of slot machines, is to provide a random outcome for slot players – very similar to other casino table games. Take for example the game of blackjack. In blackjack the cards are drawn randomly and the outcome is unknown (not only for the player, but to everyone including dealer).
Since slot machines are machines (stating the obvious) the randomness of the outcome needs to be programmed into the logic of the software.
Creating randomness with a mathematical equation is theoretically impossible, because if you can apply an equation it means you can determine the outcome. However algorithms can be created with the following attributes:
- There is no repeatable pattern
- There is a standard deviation such that over a long period of time there is an even distribution of outcomes.
If there is a repeatable pattern, then an outcome can be theoretically determined, this means that there is no randomness to the outcome. If there is no repeatable pattern then the result could be deemed to be random.
If the outcomes are not evenly distributed and the results are skewed in the long term, then this also means there is no randomness.
By fulfilling the attributes of an unrepeatable pattern and an even distribution over the long run, it can appear that randomness is achieved.
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Starting numbers or seeding
All algorithms require a starting number to begin the calculation of randomness. The starting number is referred to as the seed, Naturally if two slot machines are using the same starting number and have the same algorithm applied, then their outcomes will be exactly the same. As the slot machines churn through the numbers you will see that the output between the two machines would be exactly the same. However, without a person comparing the results of the two machines, individually each machine would appear to be generating outcomes randomly.
The starting number can either be chosen on by a fixed logic, such as today’s date. Or it can be based on a true random event such as the radio activity of decaying atoms. Linking a computer software to an external random event can be done, but is more relatively more difficult to build into a system and therefore most systems rely on a fixed logic to select the starting number.
A Random Number Generator is therefore an algorithm generating what appears to be random results. These results have no pattern(s) and in the long term there is an even distribution of outcomes.
RNG and the outcomes for slot machines
In a slot machine, random numbers are continually and consistently being generated, even when no game is being played. The outcomes of the algorithm are always being calculated, thousands per second. These calculations are being performed by the main server in which all the slot machines are connected to.
When a player pushes a button on a machine (which in itself is completely random) the output that was calculated by the main server at that point in time is produced. The results of a win or loss is then determined by the slot machine.
In knowing this, you can then deduce that it is impossible to predict the outcome of playing any slot machine to the second (or rather thousandth of a second). Unless you have the ability to know the algorithm logic and the speed to time pressing the button on a slot machine, it is humanly impossible to land on a determined outcome.
Know the Myths of playing slots
In playing slots it’s often easy to fall into the trap in believing myths about playing slots. Some of these myths refer to how to play the slot machines strategically to maximize your winnings. These myths can be very dangerous to believe in, and could burn through your bank roll very quickly.
Click here to see the Top 5 Myths and Strategies for Slots
Summary
Understanding RNG will help you with strategically playing slots. In knowing how RNG create random outcomes, it’s impossible for anyone to beat the system. Slots is about extending your playing run, and not going for the big win.
Appendix
https://www.wired.com/story/meet-alex-the-russian-casino-hacker-who-makes-millions-targeting-slot-machines/
What an interesting read.
Alex, the hacker in the story, claims he has reverse-engineered programmable random-number generators (PRNGs), allowing him to identify when a slot machine will generate a big win. And, according to the story, Aristocrat admits he was perhaps successful on some of its older slot machines (many of which are still in use at many American and international casinos). Alex claims to have worked as a cryptologist for FSB (the Russian equivalent of the CIA/NSA). If Alex is correct, then all of us should probably be worried about a lot more than just jiggered slot machines.
As computer technology increasingly imbeds itself into every aspect of our lives, we become more at risk of people like Alex (and government agencies with whom they may work) attacking more than slot machines. Every level of government finds it next to impossible to protect their critical computer systems amidst today's rapid technological advances. These vulnerabilities put at risk systems such as electric distribution networks, for example. Might system weaknesses allow an 'Alex' (individual or government entity) the ability to infect the computer controlling a city's traffic lights, shutting them down (or, worse, turning all lights green)? I think we've already seen where FAA computers have experienced problems (whether or not actually 'hacked').
And, our government apparently requires technology companies to provide 'back doors' it can use to access otherwise 'secure' data. This puts everyone at risk if others identify how to compromise security critical to American infrastructure, all implemented so often now with out-of-date technology designed with 'back-door' security flaws.
Administrator
There are plenty of vulnerable RNG's out there.
Rng Aristocrat Slot Machines
He targets older machines. New machines, presumably, have better RNGs.
Note:
That article is getting a lot of traction. It was featured in today's CDC Gaming Reports email news brief. And I saw it on the 360 Vegas twitter.
Administrator
Wiz -
He targets older machines. New machines, presumably, have better RNGs.
The article mentioned 50 Dragons, which I believe is a fairly modern game.
That article is getting a lot of traction. It was featured in today's CDC Gaming Reports email news brief. And I saw it on the 360 Vegas twitter.
Yes, it was an entertaining read but I'm still skeptical of the claims. Furthermore, I think Aristocrat would pay up if it believed the claims to be valid.