When Bitcoin burst onto the scene in the late 2000s, online casinos saw an opportunity to address a problem. For the longest time, online casino players had been complaining about fairness. There was no way to verify the randomness of games like online poker and blackjack. Did casinos have the upper hand? Could a player cheat the system and win more? Nobody knew. Then, on the back of Bitcoin came blockchain technology and the basis for the Provably Fair system. This post reveals what it is, how it works, and why it matters.
What is provably fair technology?
Provably fair technology is a cryptographic system that online casinos use to ensure transparency and fairness in their games. While most common in crypto and blockchain-based platforms, regular casino providers like Betway also use a form of PFT to randomize their games.
The igaming industry adopted provably fair technology to build trust between operators and players. PFT allows players to independently verify the randomness of every online game.
Let’s say you play a round of craps at an online casino. If the platform uses PFT, you can check whether the outcome was random or if the casino manipulated it in any way. In this way, PFT assures you that you can trust your provider.
How does provably fair technology work?
Provably fair technology is a cryptographic system, which is another way of saying it uses cryptography. The way it works in online casinos like Betway is:
- The casino generates a secret random seed before you start your game. This is called the server seed.
- A cryptographic algorithm like SHA-256 hashes the server seed to encrypt it
- The casino shares the encrypted seed with you before the game begins
- You create your own seed and add it to the server seed. This new client seed adds a layer of randomness
- The casino’s server uses the combined seeds to generate a game outcome
- The casino reveals the original seed after the game
- You use a third-party tool to verify that the outcome was derived from the original seed
Provably fair technology works because hashing is a one-way process. The casino cannot change the seed afterward, which means you’ll know if they manipulated the result.
What online casino games use provably fair technology?
Most casinos apply PFT to games of chance that involve random steps like shuffling cards or throwing dice. Consequently, casino games most likely to use this technology include:
- Poker
- Slots
- Roulette
- Blackjack
- Craps
Crypto casinos use PFT on all their games to build trust and decentralize online security. Because of this, they are some of the most trustworthy and reliable gaming websites in the igaming industry. For regular casinos, PFT is often combined with RNG (random number generator) RNG technology to ensure fairness.
What is the future of provably fair technology?
It’s hard to say what the future of PFT is because of how dynamic the igaming industry is. However, since it is built on the same cryptographic technology that powers the blockchain ecosystem, it’s safe to assume that PFT will evolve alongside cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. If crypto assets become more decentralized and anonymous, PFT’s capabilities should grow in kind. This is great news for players and providers like Betway, who value trust in gaming.
