Are Virtual Dice Rolls Truly Random? 

If you’ve been following the online gaming space, you’ll know that there is virtually no game that cannot be played online. This includes games that require dice. From casino games like craps to Dungeons and Dragons, you can have all the fun you want on the internet. 

But how do you roll the dice, which is such a major part of these games? In most cases, virtual dice are used to determine the outcome and operators claim that these dice are just as accurate as they would be in real life. But is this true?

Gaming Online

This issue is more relevant than ever before as stats show that online gaming is on track to outperform land-based gaming in the next few years. There are several reasons for this. First, there is the issue of privacy. Many of us don’t want to hand over our sensitive details online, even if it is to play our favorite game. And when we use blockchain-powered platforms, we’re able to enjoy more privacy. Online gaming sites that take crypto often allow players to simply connect their digital asset wallets and start playing, with no name or ID required. This has added to their popularity and as Caroline writes, 99Bitcoins online casinos without KYC are some of the most loved sites these days. 

Then there is the issue of convenience. Not everyone wants to physically go to a casino or gather a bunch of people to play a DnD game in a single location. We have busy lives and with the ease of playing and gathering online, many of us would rather enjoy games from the comfort of our homes. This means that moving forward, virtual dice will be used just as much, if not more, than physical dice. Which makes the question of their randomness even more important. 

How Virtual Dice Work

So, how do virtual dice work in the first place? They are based on a technology called Psuedo-Random Number Generators (RNGs). As the name would imply, these randomly generate numbers in any given scenario. A good example would be websites online that let you ‘toss a coin’ i.e. will randomly tell you whether the imaginary coin landed on heads or tails. This is also based on PRNGs, which essentially generate a number that determines the outcome. For dice, the PRNGs can be programmed to generate a number between 1 and 8 (or multiple numbers if several dice are used). Whatever it comes up with will be the number that the player gets and this determines their game. 

Because a lot of gaming relies on random outcomes like a roll of dice, roulette wheels, card shuffles, and so on, online gaming sites leverage RNGs. This simulates the randomness of real-life scenarios while also assuring players that they are not being cheated. For as long as gambling establishments have existed, there has been mutual suspicion between them and the players and the rise of online games hasn’t stopped this. PRNGs are, thus, used for the benefit of both parties as the technology is developed by neither.

Are They Random?

The true ‘randomness’ of virtual dice rolls is a complicated issue. As we’ve said, they’re based on PRNGs, which themselves are not completely random. You see, these generators are designed to mimic the properties of true randomness. At the same time, they are based on a set of initial values called the ‘seed’ so technically, someone could figure out their system if they knew what this set of values were. So, does this mean that virtual dice rolls are ineffective?

Technically, no. While they are not absolutely random, they come very close to perfectly mimicking true randomness. In fact, some would argue that they are closer to true randomness than physical dice. This is because the outcome of a physical dice roll is impacted by many factors like wind, human effort, and so on. But a PRNG is not impacted by such things. They have been used for years at this point for online gaming and it is generally accepted that the outcomes will even out in the end and they are generally safe and effective to use.

Conclusion

If you play games online, chances are that you’ll use virtual dice at some point, so it is best to be well-educated about them. These dice are based on PRNGs that form the basis for many digital iterations of our favourite games. As we’ve explained in this article, PRNGs are not 100% random as there is a system behind them that can be predicted technically. At the same time, a PRNG being exploited is extremely unlikely and if anything, they have proven to be a very reliable option for online gaming sites and those who use them. 

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