Why Random Results Can Look Non-Random
Casino games at any reputable casino are based on random number generators—meaning whether you will win or lose is 100% random. That being said, so many times when you track outcomes, they don’t look random…why?
In short, humans are conditioned to look for patterns and will do so even when one doesn’t exist. This can result in random results appearing non-random to humans. Read on to dive deeper into the topic of why random results can look non-random.
Humans Survived By Spotting Patterns
To truly answer this question, we need to start with a history lesson. Before casinos were even a thing, and before humans were even advanced enough to have free time for gambling, living was a struggle. Not only did humans spend most of their time hunting and gathering food, but they also were often moving to new locations where food was more abundant. Not only that, but humans used to spend a lot of time killing each other, whether it was for a better hunting spot, food, or just because.
In fact, life was so bleak back then that we argue the only reason humanity survived was one particular skill—the ability to spot patterns and change behaviors as a result. Women noticed when certain berries would kill certain members of the tribe or family, and stopped picking them. Men noticed that meat that wasn’t freshly killed made people sick. Someone noticed that birds flew south for the winter. And the rest was history. Thanks to pattern recognition, we as a species learned not just how to survive—but how to thrive.
As a result, pattern searching is heavily ingrained in our DNA. Not only do we consciously look for patterns when it comes to dating, but our brains also unconsciously look for patterns—doing everything they can to keep us alive.
Therefore, humans will spot patterns when none exist; in fact, scientists have suggested that the human brain will invent a pattern even when none exists because this is how it processes information and ensures its future survival. Your brain doesn’t see the downside of pattern creation—only the upside, which can be a challenge to overcome when dealing with random outcomes.
Does It Not Seem Random? It Is
As we mentioned above, spotting patterns is a pure survival instinct. This means, no matter what, you, as a human, will never understand true randomness—you can’t; it’s against your biology.
Of course, there are other factors that make random outcomes not look random, such as limited outcomes and, in a casino, distractions that make you feel like you did something in order to achieve that outcome.
A major example of this is slot machines. Whether you realize it or not, when you play slots, you are spinning for a 100% random outcome. There is no input needed on your behalf other than to place a bet and press a button, however casinos will work their hardest to ensure otherwise. Fun images, loud music, random mini-games—all of this makes it feel like you are participating in a game rather than just pushing a random number button.
We know this doesn’t sound the most fun, but the reality is that randomness does still create winners. Just look at history and how some individuals are royalty or rich—while some got there by hard work, many got there by pure dumb luck—they pulled the right random number from the universe. So, if you like slot machines, don’t be afraid to play; just know that no matter how much effort you put in, you are only pressing a single button on a random number generator.
Ways to Test Randomness
Wondering if something is truly random? Here are some easy ways to find out.
1. Ask
If you want to test the randomness of a casino or other official establishment, in most cases you can simply ask someone where their numbers come from and how they can be assured. By law, most casinos have to offer this information when you ask, and if they can’t, run.
Do note that laws do differ by country, but in our opinion it is always worth asking first to save yourself time.
2. Frequency Test
The easiest and cheapest test is simply to test the frequency of certain outcomes. For example, to tell if a die is random, you can roll it many times, knowing that the number 3 should come out 1/6 of the time.
Of course, the downfall of these tests is that you need to roll the dice a lot of times to truly know. Of course, in theory, a 6 should come up in one out of every six rolls, but randomness doesn’t work this way. Rather, you will likely need to roll the dice 1000 (or better yet 1200 times) times in order to truly gauge whether or not the outcomes are truly random, and even then there might be some slight variance. That being said, if a 6 hasn’t come up at least 50 times in 1000 rolls, it might be time to ask some serious questions.
3. Use an Algorithm
Here at MintDice.com, we are not mathematicians; however, if you are, then you can easily test randomness using a variety of mathematical algorithms. Even if you aren’t a mathematician, there may be a way for you to use a computer or graphing calculator to make sense of a variety of outcomes. Just don’t ask us for the exact algorithm to use, because we don’t know.
In summary, when results are labeled as random outcomes, they truly are, even if you don’t think so. Your mind is tricking you, not because it hates you, but because spotting patterns is how humans survived for this long. So, before you go all in on your next bet because of a pattern you saw, remind yourself that random means random—no matter what you may think.
