Overview of How Online Slots Are Tested and Certified

Have you thought about the testing procedure for online slots before they go live? We’ve examined two certification reports from a highly regarded testing authority.

Prior to making their debut to the general audience, online slots undergo rigorous testing in independent laboratories. This is to ensure adherence to compliance standards and regulatory criteria. Each slot machine must secure certification from various regulators such as the MGA, UKGC, Gibraltar, Latvia, and Denmark's Spillemyndigheden. Notable testing entities include eCOGRA, iTech Labs, TST, GLI, and NMi.

A number of online casinos and game developers exploit offshore regulation as a loophole to bypass the stringent European regulations, seemingly in pursuit of profit. Commonly used is the Curacao eGaming License, which offers negligible protection for players and exists largely as an alliance between Curacao and the European iGaming market.

Regular players might have noticed a stipulation labeled “You are now leaving the Maltese Jurisdiction”. This statement implies that the game's Return to Player (RTP) could vary greatly, potentially even starting from zero, without any obligation to disclose the exact figure. We advise avoiding platforms endorsing Curacao-licensed casinos, as they're not committed to player safety. On spin-samurai-app.com, we only endorse casinos that hold genuine European licenses.

These certification documents are confidential, thus the specific online slots that underwent examination or the precise testing agency involved will not be disclosed. The essential factor is understanding the methodology of these evaluations and what factors the testing agencies prioritize.

The Test Report

In most documentation we've seen, evaluators focus on two types of files: a config file with a .xml extension and an RNG file with a .jar extension . Additionally, these documents mention the version number and MD5 Hash Sum of the files. The MD5 Hash Sum acts as a unique identifier to verify that the files used during testing are the originals. The configuration file sets up the game parameters, whereas the RNG file is crucial to the game, containing the Random Number Generator (RNG) , which determines the game's outcomes through a mathematical model.

A confidential report highlighted testing that analyzed 1,000,000 data lines supplied by the game manufacturer to check that the RNG functioned both fairly and unpredictably. Exams included probability-based testing (to ensure expected frequencies), randomness assessment (to ensure unpredictability), and evenness evaluation (to confirm long-term balanced outcomes). Observations showed the testing agency revised the RTP from 97.1% listed by the software creator to 96.7%.

The examination aims to ascertain that the following standards are satisfied:

• Ensuring a Random Pattern in Game Output
• The game output must be unpredictable
• The series cannot be reproduced

The tests conducted rely on specific tools that include:

• Chi-Squared Tests
• Central Limits Theorem Tests
• Runs Tests
• Frequency Tests
• Wald-Wolfowitz Tests

What They Look For In Detail

Sections of the testing might be omitted based on the 'physicality' of a game. If there's no simulation of physical actions or skill-based influence on game outcomes, additional testing isn't necessary.

Here are a few of the crucial technical and operational specifications assessed by compliance agencies:

• Games must operate in a just manner, adhering rigidly to official rules and established RTP when applicable.
• Games need to avoid inaccurately depicting 'near-miss' scenarios, which may swap any losing result for another.
• When a game contains visuals indicating a maximum win, it should legitimately offer a chance to attain that prize from one play session.
• Casino games should progress at a pace that allows players to grasp the result from each game cycle. However, accelerated gameplay can be allowed if players can still follow the cycle results.
• Games must not exhibit adaptive or compensatory traits; each play should present steady odds unless game rules indicate otherwise.
• Selecting a game should not result in forced gameplay.
• There should be a mechanism to prevent repeated play commands, such as when a player repeatedly clicks 'play' while awaiting game outcomes.
• All website and in-game button functions should be clearly marked.
• The 'hot' clickable areas around buttons should be distinct in design to avoid accidental gambling actions from nearby clicks.
• RNG outputs must: