Hold on — you don’t need a tech degree to spot a trustworthy casino.
This guide gives you the practical steps, checklists and red flags to read a casino transparency report and understand who’s behind an RNG audit.
Read the first two paragraphs and you’ll already know the three things to look for on any transparency page: auditor identity, scope of the audit, and the publication date.
Here’s the thing. Casinos publish transparency reports and claims about RNGs all the time, but the words can be vague. A named auditor like iTech Labs or Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) is useful — but the real value is in the audit scope (lottery vs. slot engines, sample size, cert ID) and an accessible verification method (hashes, test vectors).
If you can verify a certification ID or find a downloadable audit report, odds are higher that the casino hasn’t just pasted a logo on the footer and called it a day. This article walks you through what to expect, how to interpret those documents, and what to do if something smells off.
Why transparency reports and RNG audits matter — fast practical reasons
Wow! Transparency reports are not marketing fluff. They’re the bridge between a casino saying “we’re fair” and being verifiably fair.
A good report shows tests, dates, sample sizes, RNG seeding, and — crucially — how to reproduce or validate the checks.
Anonymized examples: say a slot engine shows 95% RTP in the report — check the test sample and which game versions were included. A single-week test on 10,000 spins is weak; an annual audit with millions of spins and multiple game versions is strong.
Key elements to find in a casino transparency report
Hold on — you’ll want to scan for these five items first. They’re the “I’ll believe you if I can verify” checklist.
- Auditor name and contact (iTech Labs, GLI, Gaming Labs, eCOGRA, etc.).
- Audit scope — what was tested (RNG core, game math, payout rate, progressive pools).
- Verification artifacts — certificate numbers, downloadable reports, test vectors, or hash commitments.
- Dates and sample sizes (how many spins, which builds, firmware versions).
- Remediation statements — what the operator fixed after the audit, if anything.
Comparison table: common RNG auditors and what they typically certify
| Agency | Typical scope | Public report availability | Trust signal (practical) |
|---|---|---|---|
| iTech Labs | RNG core, game fairness, RTP validation, slot math | Often provides certificates; some reports downloadable | High — widely used, searchable cert IDs |
| GLI (Gaming Laboratories International) | RNG, software integrity, system security, jurisdictional compliance | Certificate references; full reports rarely public | High — good for system-level compliance |
| eCOGRA | Fair Gaming, Responsible Gaming audits, game testing | Public seals and test summaries | Medium — strong on consumer standards |
| Gaming Associates | RNG, RTP, mechanical and electronic gaming tests | Certificates + some reports | Medium |
How to validate a casino’s RNG claim — step-by-step
My gut says start small and verify quickly.
- Find the casino’s transparency page or certificate footer and note the auditor name and certificate ID.
- Go to the auditor’s site and search the certificate ID or the operator name. If absent, request the certificate PDF from support — treat silence as a red flag.
- Check dates and sample sizes on the certificate. Prefer audits within the last 12 months and sample sizes in the hundreds of thousands for slots or millions for large catalogs.
- Look for test vectors, hashes or public reproducibility steps. If the operator supplies a hash of a test log, ask the auditor how to verify it — reputable auditors can confirm the hash.
- Cross-check game-specific RTPs in the report with what the casino displays in-game or on their RTP page. Discrepancies deserve questions.
Where the operator’s transparency intersects with player experience
Alright, check this out — transparency is often tied to other operational areas that affect you directly. For example, payment delays, KYC friction and self-exclusion database sync issues can be correlated with sloppy audit follow-through. If a casino publishes an RNG audit but has repeated complaints about frozen funds or KYC mishandles, treat the audit as partial information rather than proof of trustworthiness.
Middle-of-the-article practical recommendation
One practical move: after you’ve verified an auditor and certificate, test a small bankroll on a clear, well-documented game variant and monitor variance against reported RTP. This is behavioral auditing — basic, but effective. If you want an operator that pairs transparent bonus terms with decent auditing practices, check offers and terms on sites linked from operator bonus pages such as bet-mgm.games/bonuses; it’s a simple way to compare published promotions alongside transparency material before you commit more funds.
Quick Checklist — one-page actions
- Locate the auditor name and certificate ID on the casino site.
- Verify the certificate on the auditor’s website or request the report PDF.
- Confirm audit date is within 12 months for software updates.
- Check sample sizes: prefer 100k+ spins per major game or progressive; larger is better.
- Compare in-game RTPs to report entries; ask support about discrepancies.
- Scan for remediation notes and whether the auditor certified corrected builds.
- Keep records: save PDFs or screenshots for later dispute evidence.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Mistake: Assuming a logo equals a current audit.
Avoid: Verify certificate ID and date; treat logos without certs as marketing. - Mistake: Ignoring sample size.
Avoid: Demand tests with statistically meaningful sizes; a 5,000 spin test on a volatile slot is meaningless. - Mistake: Confusing RNG certification with licensing.
Avoid: Check both: licensing authority (AGCO, UKGC, MGA) covers operator regulation; RNG auditors test game fairness. - Mistake: Trusting third-party aggregator text without source links.
Avoid: Insist on primary documents from the auditor or operator.
Mini-FAQ (short and practical)
Frequently asked questions
Q: How often should a casino re-audit its RNG?
A: At minimum annually, and after any major software update or provider integration. For large operator catalogs, quarterly spot checks on new game builds are best practice.
Q: What’s a reasonable sample size for a slots audit?
A: For a single slot title, 100k–1M spins gives meaningful statistics depending on volatility. For a whole portfolio, auditors often use millions of spins across devices and versions.
Q: Is a jurisdictional license enough?
A: No. A regulator (e.g., AGCO in Ontario, UKGC, MGA) enforces operator compliance, but independent RNG audits demonstrate game-level fairness — you want both.
Two short mini-cases you can learn from
Case A — small operator with a glossy PDF: A casino posted a one-page “RNG certified” PDF showing a 96% RTP for “all slots.” On inspection, the cert listed only 3 low-volatility slots and a tiny sample size. Lesson: ask for the detailed report; a blanket RTP claim is weak.
Case B — large operator with verifiable cert IDs: An operator published certificates with IDs that matched auditor search results, a test hash, and a remediation log for a prior audit. The audit included firmware and server-side RNG seeds. Lesson: verifiable IDs + remediation history = stronger trust.
Regulatory and responsible-gaming notes (CA focus)
To be clear: if you’re playing from Canada (Ontario and other provinces), confirm the operator’s local licensing (AGCO for Ontario) and check whether the operator publishes KYC/AML practices and RG tools. Always use deposit limits and session timers. If you see repeated self-exclusion sync failures or KYC breaches reported in local enforcement notices, consider that a major trust downgrade.
18+ only. If you feel gaming is causing harm, contact local resources such as ConnexOntario or your provincial help lines for support and self-exclusion options.
Responsible gambling: set a budget, use session and deposit limits, and employ self-exclusion if needed. This guide does not endorse gambling; it explains how to evaluate fairness and transparency.
Sources
- https://www.itechlabs.com
- https://www.gaminglabs.com
- https://www.agco.ca
About the Author
Jordan Ellis, iGaming expert. Jordan has audited operator transparency pages and run player-facing QA for multiple online casino launches in North America. He writes practical guides to help new players separate real guarantees from marketing claims.