Standards
Remote gambling and software technical standards (RTS)
Remote gambling and software technical standards under section 89 and section 97 of the Gambling Act 2005.
Contents
- 1 - Introduction
- 2 - Definition of terms
- 3 - Remote gambling and software technical standards
- RTS 1 – Customer account information
- RTS 2 – Displaying transactions
- RTS 3 – Rules, game descriptions and the likelihood of winning
- RTS 4 – Time-critical events
- RTS 5 – Result determination
- RTS 6 – Result determination for play-for-free games
- RTS 7 – Generation of random outcomes
- RTS 8 – Auto-play functionality
- RTS 9 – Progressive jackpot systems
- RTS 10 – Interrupted gambling
- RTS 11 – Limiting collusion and cheating
- RTS 12 – Financial limits
- RTS 13 – Time requirements and reality checks
- RTS 14 – Responsible product design
- RTS 15 – In-play betting
- RTS 16 – Use of third party software
- RTS 17 – Live dealer studios
- 4 - Remote gambling and software technical standards (RTS) security requirements
- 5 - Annex
RTS 6 – Result determination for play-for-free games
Applies to:
Gaming (including bingo), lotteries and betting on virtual events.
RTS aim 6
To minimise the risk that customers are misled about the likelihood of winning due to the behaviour of play-for-free games.
RTS requirement 6A
Play-for-free games must implement the same game rules as the corresponding play-for-money games offered on the same facilities (that is, the same website). Operators must take all reasonable steps to ensure that play-for-free games accurately represent the likelihood of winning and prize distribution in the play-for-money game. For the purpose of this requirement playing a game includes participating in a lottery and/or betting on a virtual event.
RTS implementation guidance 6A
- The play-for-free game should use the same RNG as the corresponding play-for-money games, another RNG that fulfils the requirements set out in RTS requirement 7A, or a publicly available RNG, (such as those available as standard within operating systems) that may reasonably be expected to produce no systematic bias.
- Where 6A is not reasonably possible, it should be demonstrated that the method of producing outcomes does not introduce a systematic bias, for example:
- if tables of random numbers are used, they should be sufficiently long to support a large number of games without repeating
- the method should represent game probabilities accurately, that is it should not produce a higher than expected proportion of winning outcomes.
- The prize distribution should accurately represent the play-for-money game. For example, where play-for-free games use virtual cash, the virtual cash payouts should be the same as the corresponding play-for-money game, and where tokens are used, the allocation of tokens as prizes should be proportionate to the stakes and prizes in the play-for-money game.
- Where videos are used to advertise a game’s features it should be made clear to consumers where footage has been edited or sped-up for promotional purposes. Similarly, where a non-consumer (for example supplier’s) website is demonstrating a game with higher than normal returns (that is, on a website that is different to the real money gambling facility websites) it should be made clear that it is a demonstration game specifically designed to demonstrate the bonus features.
RTS 5 – Result determination Next section
RTS 7 – Generation of random outcomes
Last updated: 1 July 2024
Show updates to this content
Formatting updated