Provably Fair Vs RNGs—What Are the Key Differences?

Cryptocurrency casinos use the provably fair algorithm method to determine the outcome of games, while fiat casinos use random number generators (RNGs). Most online casino players at least know this much, but pound for pound, how do these two algorithms square up in the ring?

Most online casino players that understand the difference between these two algorithms prefer to play provably fair casino games for a few reasons other than they can bet using cryptos.

• Provably Fair Algorithms Produce Publicly Accessible Results
• RNGs Produce Private Results Monitored by Third Party’s We Have No Choice But To Trust

In this guide to Provably Fair algorithms Vs RNGs, we will first look at how the provably fair algorithm sequence of events makes it so secure. We will then finish with how RNGs work and why they are a little more mysterious as we need to rely on 3rd party companies and their integrity.

Players Can Verify Results Manually or By Using Software

You can verify the results of every hand, roll of the dice, or coup in the roulette wheel thanks to the design of the provably fair algorithm.

When you start your games, for example ‘Blackjack’, it creates an encrypted ‘hash’ using a random algorithm. Inside the hash are the results for each hand, or more commonly for every hand for the entire sessions. There could be up to 1,000 hands already prepared and more lined up if needed. That means for each hand, the game has already decided the sequence of every deck of cards from top to bottom for each hand.

Once you end your session on the blackjack table, a decrypted version of the hash becomes available. You can either manually check the results or you can use software that will verify the results are in the algorithm compared with the same outcome for each hand you played.

This same sequence of events occurs for video slots, roulette, and any other cryptocurrency casino games you play.

Results of Every Session Create an Immutable Blockchain Record

Blockchain tech prides itself on immutable records, so once it is on the system, there is no way to manipulate it or change it.

As soon as you begin your session, the encrypted ‘hash’ creates an immutable record on the blockchain ecosystem of the crypto being used. It records this record on a ‘public ledger’ so anyone can access it. That said, the ‘hash’ record on the ledger for your current game remains inaccessible until your client-side seed (your browser) decrypts it by sending an ‘end game’ command.

Depending on the blockchain tech being used, the reverse encryption sequence is different. On the Ethereum network, it uses a smart contract. That contract remains encrypted until the game fulfils the digital contract terms and conditions. With provably fair games, completing the terms requires you to end your game by making your ‘hash’ redundant and decrypting the record.

As a result, only once your session is over, the ‘hash’ containing your results is there for all to see on a public ledger. As this information is now public and the game is over, there is no way to cheat, which is why no one has an issue with these results becoming public knowledge.

Now you probably think this all sounds like bait for hackers, and you would not be wrong because this algorithm has no shortage of cyber code cracking nerds continuously looking for ways to break it down.

However, due to the way blockchain code functions, these hackers all fail – an honour cryptocurrency casino love to point out and one that continues to frustrate the hacking community!

Easy to Verify the Integrity of Each Game Publicly

Each cryptocurrency casino game has its own ID, so any third-party (including you) can run a piece of software collecting the lifetime results, or for a set period, on the blockchain ecosystem each ‘hash’ came from the game you want to decipher results.

That means if you have the knowledge, you could create a pay-out percentage report for cryptocurrency casino games at your cryptocurrency casino.

In short, anyone with the know how has access to public ledgers, and this is a massive deterrent for online casinos. In the same way that there are cyber nerds trying to hack these algorithms, there are also plenty of nerds that like to run these games through the mill looking for discrepancies.

What this means is that cryptocurrency games are reliable, and their integrity is second to nine because no online casino will want to get caught cheating, which would cause a loss of integrity.

RNG Games Private Results

Explaining how random number generators (RNGs) is a lot less complex than provably fair casino games.

You must rely on the licensing authorities in your jurisdiction to hire the right third-party algorithm testing experts to certify that the results produced by each game are fair and accurate. There really is nothing more you can do.

If you are playing casino games with fiat currency, always make sure you play at a licensed casino where possible. FYI – We consider the Malta Gaming Authority as the best licensing authority out there. Meanwhile, for game integrity, playing at a non-licensed cryptocurrency casino is not much of an issue if you know how to check the results of your games.

RNGs Use ‘Constant Shuffles’

The only other actual difference between RNGs and Provably Fair casino games is the way they produce their results. Some online casino players prefer the ‘constant shuffle’ algorithm RNGs use.

Millions of sequences of games results run in the background when you are playing your casino games. The only time this sequence stops is when you make an action. In a game of blackjack, this would be the cards in the virtual shoe constantly shuffling until you press ‘start’, ‘hit’, ‘double down’, or ‘split’ at which point the shuffle stops at which point the result it stops on presents itself.

The same applies to slots, except you will need to wait until the reels stop. That means on a video slot game, the RNG already decided the outcome before the reel spin began. The only reason the slot spins is just for entertainment value.

As for hackers, casinos use firewalls, advanced security software, encryption experts, and highly trained IT teams to deter hackers from accessing their RNGs. If a hacker succeeded, he or she would have millions of hands in a ‘constant shuffle mode’ to unravel to predict the next result, making it pretty much impossible to hack!