"Luck" in Online Gambling is Actually a Careful Algorithm

Science, particularly computer science and statistics, is used in many ways at online casinos. For example, the results/outcomes that occur when you play online casino games are, in fact, produced by scientifically designed mathematical algorithm programs called Random Number Generators (RNGs). 

The results they produce are designed to be as random, fair, and realistic as possible, with no discernible pattern. In other words, the chance of you winning is still random, but instead of lady luck producing the results, they are produced by these frequently tested RNGs. 

Let’s dive straight in to discover more about how science is used at online casinos. 

What does RTP mean in online casino games?

The RTP % (Return To Player Percentage) payout rate is the amount of money a real-money online casino game has paid out in winnings – to players –  over a certain period. 

When internationally accredited online casino testing agencies use their scientific software and systems to calculate the average RTP% payout rates in certain games, they tell us exactly which games have paid the most and which have paid out the least. 

RNGs are used to determine the outcomes in almost all online casino games, apart from live dealer games, and they often have average RTP% payout rates of around 93.00% to 98.00%. 

Some RTP% payout rates have been known to be as low as 91.00% or 92.00%, and others have been known to climb up to 102.00% – 105.00% or higher. 

The higher the RTP rate is, the better it is for players. However, just because one online slot may have a 99.67% RTP rate and another has a 92.37% RTP rate doesn’t mean that you are guaranteed to win more in the slot with the higher payout rate. 

Statistically speaking, though, you would be better off playing an online casino game with a higher RTP rate. 

Many seasoned Canadian online casino players will tell you that research always helps. When they play at casino sites in Canada, they will specifically seek out games with above-average RTP% payout rates and avoid playing games with low RTP rates. 

Which online casino games currently have high RTP % payout rates, and how can I find this information for myself?

When you launch an online casino game at a licensed casino site, all you have to do is go to the game’s paytable and look for the latest RTP% payout rate information. 

This exact figure can change from one month to the next, so it might be 94.78% one month, it might be 96.24% next month, and so on. 

Although it’s possible to calculate the average RTP% payout rate for live dealer games over a certain period, the results in these cutting-edge games are NOT produced by Random Number Generators. 

Let’s take a quick look at several examples of actual RTP% payout rates for some of today’s most popular online casino games:

  • John Hunter and the Book of Tut online slot machine by Pragmatic Play – 94.47%
  • 9 Pots of Gold Megaways online slot by Games Global and Gameburger Studios – 94.15%
  • Fishin’ Frenzy online slot by Reel Time Gaming and Blueprint Gaming – 96.12%
  • Fishin’ Frenzy Big Catch: Jackpot King online slot by Reel Time Gaming and Blueprint Gaming – 94.82%
  • Cleopatra 2 online slot by IGT – 95.88%
  • Jumanji online slot by NetEnt – 96.33%
  • Jurassic World: Raptor Riches Jackpot online slot by Fortune Factory Studios and Games Global – 92.05% / WinBooster™ 92.04%
  • Book of Dead online slot by Play’n GO – 94.25%
  • Ghostbusters Triple Slime online slot by IGT – 94.22%
  • Dynamite Riches online slot by Red Tiger Gaming – 93.70%

As you can see, most games from today’s best online casino software providers and game development studios have similar RTP% payout rates. 

Some of the main internationally accredited online casino testing agencies that test the games and publish their findings for the world to see are eCOGRA (eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance), Gaming Laboratory International, and iTech Global Pty Limited. 

Others include Global Lab Limited, Technical Systems Testing (TST), Quinel Ltd, and BMM Testlabs, to name a few. 

How else is science used at online casinos?

A lot of  computer science is also used to generate immersive animated worlds/backgrounds, especially in state-of-the-art live dealer games from Playtech and Pragmatic Play. Examples to check out are MONOPOLY Live, Live Funky Time, Live Crazy Time, and Everybody’s Jackpot Live. 

This impressive technology heightens the online casino experience and makes games more enjoyable. Science is also used in many other ways. 

For example, online casinos use SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption technology to protect players’ accounts and keep their banking details and funds in safe hands at all times. 

Science is also used to speed payments up and make deposits and withdrawals more secure than ever. It’s also used to ensure the website and operating systems/devices the casino can be accessed from run smoothly. 

Science will continue to be used in many important areas of online casinos, especially as software providers and online casino operators look for ways to innovate and stay one step ahead of their rivals. 

Written by Austin Crane

Austin is the principle web director for Untamed Science and Stone Age Man. He is also the web-director of the series for the High School biology, Middle Grades Science and Elementary Science content. When Austin isn't making amazing content for the web, he's out on his mountain bike or in a canoe.

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