RNG vs Live Casino Games: What's the difference?

Head on over to an online casino and you will have access to hundreds of different games. There will be more video slots than you know what to do with. You will also find table games like blackjack, roulette, poker, etc. The interesting thing about table games is that they can be offered in one of two formats.

The first format is the random number generator (RNG) format. The other is the live format. Live table games are comparatively new to the industry, having been introduced just a few years ago. RNG table games have been around since the earliest days of video games. The question is this: what is the difference between the two formats?

Perhaps you have tried them both and you prefer one over the other. Maybe not. This post will lay out the primary differences between the two formats in hopes of giving you a bit of insight. We cannot say that one is better than the other, but what we can do is describe them and let you decide for yourself.

RNG games: 100% computer software

RNG games are generated and played 100% by computer software. There is no human involvement from the casino's perspective. RNG games take their name from a specific kind of software - a random number generator - that determines the outcome of every play. To understand how this works and why it is necessary, we need to go back to gambling in the days before computers.

The very first slot machines were mechanical devices that relied on a series of gears, springs, switches, etc. to operate. Outcomes were randomized in the sense that those mechanical parts performed consistently. They were just fluid enough that outcomes could truly be random luck.

In terms of table games, like blackjack for example, all of the cards were shuffled and combined before sitting down to play. The cards were dealt in plain view of everyone as well. This forced a random outcome because neither player nor dealer could manipulate the cards once shuffled and ready for play.

Computer software is unable to mimic either behavior. By its very nature, computer software is just a series of commands. If X happens then Y will be the result. If Y happens then Z will be the result. There really is no way within that set of instructions to create random outcomes. So what's the solution? A separate piece of software capable of generating a random outcome and then feeding that outcome into the main software.

This is what a random number generator does. It is given certain parameters to start with. Let us say it is programmed to randomly select numbers from zero through 100. You can take those 100 numbers and assign them to the slots on a roulette wheel. The moment you load an RNG roulette game, the software generates outcomes for a predetermined number of spins - let's say 50 spins.

All 50 numbers are determined at the start. Each subsequent spin stops on the slot corresponding to the number generated for that spin. What you see on the screen simulates what would happen in a real setting, but it is just a representation of the RNG results.

Live games: Computer and human

Live table games are exactly what their name implies: games being played in a live setting, managed by human dealers or croupiers, using real tables and other equipment. You get in on the action by way of live video, audio, and a computer-generated overlay. Everything you hear and see over the audio and video feeds is happening in real time.

Live games do not rely on random number generators because they don't have to. Let us say you choose to play live blackjack. Just as if you were at a brick-and-mortar casino, all of the cards for that game are combined and shuffled before being put into the shoe. The dealer follows the same rules of play you would expect in a live casino.

Outcomes are still random in live games by the very nature of how they are played. They are also as fair as casino games can be. Live game studios do things exactly the way they are done on a standard casino floor. This is one of the advantages of the live game environment

Licensing a live game studio is very similar to licensing a brick-and-mortar casino. Games have to be inspected and certified on a regular basis. Studio operators have to verify the fairness of their games to remain in operation. Things are a bit different for RNG games.

Some licensing entities require online casino operators to prove that there RNG games are fair. To do so, they must submit the games for scientific testing by an independent third party. Online casinos that market their games as provably fair take things to the next step by proving fairness to customers as well.

Pros and cons of each

Now we get to the inevitable question of whether or not one format is better than the other. We cannot make that decision for you inasmuch as you have your own preferences. So instead, we will offer you the pros and cons of each from our perspective. We invite you to try both types of games before deciding if one or the other is superior.

Graphic presentation

Let's start with graphics. The RNG game is 100% computer simulated. As such, all of the graphics will be computer-generated as well. This can be both good and bad. A modern online casino might only license games with cutting-edge, state-of-the-art graphics. Another might be running games that were developed 20 years ago. It is a mixed bag.

Live games combine computer graphics with live video. Because live games are fairly new, the graphics that go with them are pretty modern as well. The one thing that might throw you is combining computer-generated graphics with live video on the same screen. If a game designer did not put a lot of thought into things, you might find the graphic overlay somewhat cumbersome.

Game view

Hand-in-hand with graphics are game views. In other words, from what perspective do you view the playing table and the surrounding environment? In an RNG setting, you tend to get a single view of the table and nothing more. That view is generally an overhead view.

While there are exceptions in the live game environment, most live games offer multiple camera angles. The main angle is designed to give you the perspective of sitting at the table, facing the dealer or croupier. You should be able to switch angles to either side or even overhead. Some of the better live games feature sports broadcasting-style views and even slow-motion replays of exciting moments.

Pace of play

The pace of play is a big thing for live studio environments. Studio owners want to keep play moving along - just like at a brick-and-mortar casino - in order to keep the bets rolling in. Thus, you are at the mercy of the dealer or croupier. You must keep up or be left out.

You play at your own pace with an RNG game, at least within reason. You might have only 60 seconds to place your roulette bets, for example, but at least there is no croupier urging you to keep it moving. If you are playing an RNG blackjack game, you can take as long as you want to decide what to do with each turn of the cards.

Technical glitches

Technical glitches occur with both types of games. The RNG game has the advantage here because you can pick up right where you left off if a technical glitch kicks you out of the game. The same is not true for a live game. Live games continue on whether you are present or not.

Live games are also resource hungry. So if you're playing them on a mobile device or an older computer, you stand a greater chance of experiencing technical difficulties. For instance, your video and audio might lag behind the graphic overlay, leading to some confusion as to where you are in the game.

The human element

Live games truly excel in terms of simulating the land-based casino experience. Thanks to the human element, you can interact with both the dealer and other players via live chat. You can have actual conversations just as you would on a casino floor. This is obviously something you do not get from RNG games.

You might be an experienced blackjack player who knows how to count cards. This is another part of the human experience. Card counting is entirely possible in a live game setting because things operate exactly as they would in a brick-and-mortar casino. You might not be able to count cards in an RNG game if software is designed to take spent cards and put them immediately back into the deck.

Both RNG and live games provide ample opportunity for gamblers to enjoy their favorite table games on computers and mobile devices. They make it possible to enjoy a good round of gambling even when you cannot get to a casino. To that end, both types of games offer a different experience. You decide which one is best for you.