RNG vs Provably Fair Systems: What’s the Difference?

Online gambling has long ceased to be something mysterious. People are used to slots, live casinos, crash games, and instant betting directly from their smartphones. But one question remains relevant even for experienced players: how honest are digital casinos in general?

When a person presses the Spin button, everything happens in a split second. Somewhere inside the system, a random result appears – a win or a loss. Especially now, when the popularity of fast payout casinos has grown so much that players are waiting not only for fast payments but also for maximum transparency from the platform itself.

That is why in recent years, the difference between classical RNG systems and the so-called provably fair technologies has been increasingly discussed. However, further probing reveals that they are not all that similar.

What is RNG, and why is it used almost everywhere?

RNG is a Random Number Generator. Almost all traditional online casinos operate on this system. When you launch a slot or play digital roulette, the program generates a random number that determines the outcome of the game. RNG, in fact, is the backbone of online gambling in today’s time.

It is important to understand that RNG does not mean “twisted results”. The large casinos with licenses are examined by independent auditors such as eCOGRA or iTech Labs. These organizations perform tests on the algorithms and ensure that the outcomes are truly random.

But there is one caveat here. The player still has to take the casino’s word for it. Reliability is the main concern of licensed casinos, and they rely on audits and regulation. But the user cannot check a particular spin or a bet on its own. The system is a closed system. For many, this is enough. RNG has been in the industry for decades and is considered a standard. But gambling has completely changed the players’ attitude towards transparency.

How provably fair systems appeared

When Bitcoin casinos started to grow, there was a problem of trust. People sent cryptocurrencies to unknown sites without banks, without chargeback, and often even without full regulation. The casino needed to somehow prove that the results of the games could not be faked.

That’s how the concept of provably fair appeared. To put it quite simply, provably fair is a system where the player can independently verify the integrity of the result after completing the game. Instead of just saying “trust us”, the casino shows mathematical confirmation of the randomness of the result.

It is usually based on three elements:

• server seed,
• client seed,
• cryptographic hash.

Before starting the game, the casino generates a special hash, a kind of digital fingerprint of the result. You can’t change it later. Then a custom seed is added to the process, after which the final result is generated.

After the end of the game, the player can check whether the total matches the initial hash. If it matches, it means that the casino did not change anything during the game.

What is the main difference between RNG and provably fair

If you take away the technical details, it all boils down to one thing – the trust model. This is a common misconception that many people have; however, with provably fair comes the best odds to win. That’s not so. The RTP and house edge may be the same.

Provably fair isn’t a casino’s way of being generous. It makes it more transparent. That is why the audience especially liked the technology. People who are used to blockchain and decentralization perceive closed systems much worse.

Advantages and disadvantages of RNG

The classic RNG has obvious advantages.

1. It is simple for the average user. The player simply starts the game and gets the result.
2. This type of system has been regulated for a long time. Casinos vary in size, and large casinos are licensed and inspected regularly.

In addition, most popular gaming providers use RNG specifically:

• NetEnt,
• Pragmatic Play,
• Playtech,
• Evolution.

But there are also disadvantages.

The main one is the lack of transparency for the player himself. It is impossible to check a specific spin. Everything is based on trust in the operator and the regulator. This is normal for traditional gambling. Not always for the Web3 audience.

Pros and cons of provably fair

The main advantage of provably fair is obvious – transparency. The player gets the opportunity to make sure that the result has not really been changed. This is especially important in crypto gambling, where anonymity and independence play a huge role.

In addition, the very idea of provably fair fits perfectly into the blockchain philosophy:

• open systems,
• verification,
• user control.

But this model cannot be called ideal either. Most players are not interested in checking the technical aspects. Many will see the “probably fair” icon, but they will not click the tool to verify. Not everyone wants to work with cryptographic hashes. Also, some provably fair interfaces are still “geeky” enough not to be appealing to the masses.

Why are casinos so actively promoting provably fair

For casinos, provably fair has become not just a technology, but a part of marketing. Transparency is a market differentiator in an industry with many dubious projects for a long time.

Players started to selectively look for platforms that would offer them a chance to at least be able to check the integrity of the system, if they could. This became crucial in the era of Telegram Casinos, anonymous gambling, and instant betting. In fact, the provably fair helped the gambling industry look more serious and technologically advanced.

What will happen next?

Most likely, the industry will come to a hybrid model. Traditional casinos will continue to use RNG because the system has already become the standard in the market. But transparency elements will appear more and more often – especially in blockchain gambling.

Provably fair will also continue to develop. Interfaces will become simpler, and checks will become more automated.

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