Loading...
Pseudo-Random Number Generators: Why Would a Business Trust Its Profit to a Random Chance?
Journal Title
Readers/Advisors
Shablinsky, Irina R.
Journal Title
Term and Year
Spring 2025
Publication Date
2025
Book Title
Publication Volume
Publication Issue
Publication Begin
Publication End
Number of pages
Collections
Files
Loading...
9726_Lola_Melis.pdf
Adobe PDF, 1.72 MB
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Abstract
Slot machines, a cornerstone of the gambling industry, utilize Pseudo-Random Number Generators to introduce an element of chance. This study explores the mathematical and computational underpinnings of PRNGs, specifically focusing on the Linear Congruential Generator and the Mersenne Twister, to understand their effectiveness in casino settings. While the Mersenne Twister has shown superior performance in statistical tests like the Die-Harder suite, the LCG, despite its shortcomings in these tests, still meets the functional requirements for slot machines. This highlights that for casino applications, the quality of randomness does not need to be strong. Instead, PRNGs are employed to balance unpredictability with the casino's need for profitability, demonstrating that even generators considered weak for other purposes can be highly effective in ensuring the house edge. This research explores the mechanisms of PRNGs in slot machines and how the casino industry leverages the balance between randomness and control to ensure profitability, providing insights into this complex balance. This research argues that casinos rely not on perfect randomness, but on controlled unpredictability to maintain profit.
Citation
DOI
Description
Accessibility Statement
Purchase College - State University of New York (PC) is committed to ensuring that people with disabilities have an opportunity equal to that of their nondisabled peers to participate in the College's programs, benefits, and services, including those delivered through electronic and information technology. If you encounter an access barrier with a specific item and have a remediation request, please contact lib.ir@purchase.edu.