Testing Online Casino Software – RNG and Payout Percentages

June 27, 2011 | Article Category: Casino Software

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After an online casino has passed the inspections and testing of the online casino software provider that has created the game, there is more essential testing to be carried out. This testing should be done by an external company that has no business interest in the online casino software company.

Random Number Generator

The Random Number Generator, or RNG, is often mentioned in the online casino world. While this is something that online casino players mostly take for granted, without testing being done in advance by uninvolved third party members, online casino players are at the mercy of the online casino. This does not mean that an online casino will set out to cheat their players, but simply that they may not do the same rigorous testing that is done by external organizations to ensure that the Random Number Generator is working correctly, and that the online casino game is really a game of chance.

The Random Number Generator is used to determine what spins, rolls of dice, or cards will appear next in any given online casino game. It ensures that the next number appearing is random, and that if there are, for example, two dice, that each one will show a number that has been randomly selected so that the outcome of the game is not pre-decided by the online casino. This means that the roulette wheel will come up with random numbers, the next blackjack card to be dealt will also be random, although within the number of decks that are being used for the game, and so on.

The testers will be looking to see if there is any bias towards any specific numbers or cards to ensure that the next number or card cannot be predicted according to any patterns and that each and every number has the same chance of coming up at any given time. As long as the RNG is working correctly, all online casino players have an equal chance of winning.

Average Payout Percentages

Online casinos usually publish the payout percentages of their online casino games. The average payout percentage is how much the player should be able to win for wagering 100 units over time. This value is different for the various online casino games, and it also varies from game to game.

Part of the job of the testers is to ensure that the information given by the online casinos is correct. This is usually an ongoing process and the more reputable online casinos will have their games monitored at all times, and will have a monthly statement published for their established and their potential new customers to read.

eCOGRA and TST are two of the most well known and reputable online casino software testers.