What Does Provably Fair Mean for Online Casinos?
What is provably fair? How Stake.com creates provably fair games
Provably fair is a verification system that allows you to independently verify a bet's outcome using cryptographic seeds and hashing. This means that neither the player nor the casino could manipulate the outcome of a slot spin or a table game wager.
On Stake.com, provably fair technology is used across Stake Originals and games built on the Stake Engine.
This page explains how our provably fair system works and how you can use it to verify game results.
What does "provably fair" mean?
Provably fair means the outcome of a bet can be independently verified - using cryptographic seeds and hashing - to prove that neither the player nor the casino could manipulate it.
This means you can check how a game result was generated and confirm it wasn't altered afterwards. That makes provably fair different from systems where players only see the final game outcome.
Stake.com uses a commitment scheme and cryptographic hashing for this process. Because the server seed is hashed before you play, it creates a value you can share without revealing the original seed.
Because server seeds are fully transparent, every game outcome is viewable on the blockchain. This allows you to check that it matches the earlier hash.
Blockchains are a unique way of storing data. Unlike a database, they’re decentralised, and data cannot be changed once it’s stored, making them immutable. These traits make them ideal for recording financial transactions and casino game outcomes.
How does provably fair technology work?
Provably fair technology combines a hidden server seed, a player-controlled input, and a nonce. Using complex math and cryptography, the process guarantees a fair, random outcome determined before you even place a bet.
How does Stake.com implement provably fair technology?
Stake.com implements the technology on a wide range of provably fair casino games available online.
This is how combining seeds produces truly random outcomes at Stake.com:
First, the game server creates a server seed and publishes its hashed version.
Hashing turns the seed into a fixed string that cannot be reversed to reveal the original value.
The original server seed remains hidden during play. This creates a commitment before the result is generated.
Your client seed is then combined with the server seed and nonce.
The resulting data is processed using provably fair algorithms to produce the game result.
These cryptographic algorithms make the inputs verifiable. This prevents either side from changing the committed server value after seeing the result.
The provably fair result is therefore not based on a player choosing an outcome. Your seed is part of the calculation, but it doesn't let you predict or control the result.
Stake.com uses certified random number generation in its Stake Originals. The random number generators (RNGs) provide the random input, while the provably fair system lets you verify the result.
We’ve implemented Provably Fair outcomes on all games built on the Stake Engine , including Only on Stake titles.
What are the three components of being provably fair?
The client seed, server seed, and nonce are the three components of provably fair computation. Together, these 3 components form the core of Stake’s provably fair system, creating provably fair randomness that can be independently verified after the fact.
| Provably Fair Component | What is it? | Who controls it? |
|---|---|---|
| Client Seed (you, the player) | A unique value used as the player’s input. You can set it yourself or let the provably fair games on Stake generate it randomly. | Player (you) |
| Server Seed | A random value created by the game. Its hash is shared before play so the original value remains committed. | Stake |
| Nonce | It means "number used once." It changes with each bet or game action. Nonce prevents the same input combination from being reused. | Generated automatically by the system |
How do you verify a provably fair result?
You can verify a provably fair result by comparing the revealed server seed against its original hash.
Our platform provides dedicated tools for calculating results and “unhiding” the server seed. Stake’s Provably Fair Calculator is a powerful tool you can use to verify the fairness of a game.
The verifier includes fields for Game, Client Seed, Server Seed, and Nonce. Use it to verify games you play at Stake Casino or when betting online on Stake’s Sportsbook.
After the game, you’re able to check the server seed against the hashed version you receive to prove the game was fair.
The important check is that the revealed server seed produces the same hash that was committed before play. The calculation must produce the game’s displayed result. When those values match, you can confirm the published results follow the stated process.
Provably Fair implementation and conversions from ‘bytes’ to floats’ are available if you are into additional stats. Stake’s current in-product verifier lets you perform these calculations without needing to understand all the underlying mathematics.
Provably fair vs RNG: what's the difference?
Provably fair and RNG systems can both produce unpredictable results, but they give you different ways to examine those results.
| Provably Fair | Standard RNG | |
|---|---|---|
| Can you verify the result? | You can check the seeds, hash, and calculator after each bet. | You cannot verify the result through the game itself. You must rely on the system and its testing. |
| Transparency | Each result/outcome has a verifiable "receipt” or trail that shows how it was produced. | Verification is performed through testing and certification rather than seed disclosure. |
| Player input | You can set your own seed - your client seed forms part of the calculation. | No player-controlled seed is normally exposed. |
| What is the main purpose? | Lets you independently verify individual game outcomes. | Generates unpredictable game outcomes |
This does not mean RNGs are automatically unfair. RNG is widely used across regulated gaming and can be independently tested. Stake.com’s non-dealer table games use RNG to create unpredictable outcomes. Stake Originals combines RNG processes with provable fairness.
You can learn more about the statistical side of games, including the return-to-player rate in Stake’s RTP guide.
What is a Provably Fair example?
Blackjack is a simple example of how provably fair verification works.
The concept of provably fair gaming might seem confusing at first. Let’s break it down using the gaming process of Blackjack, one of the most popular card games on Stake.com:
The casino shuffles the cards: Stake creates the server-side input and commits to using a hash.
The player interacts: You provide your own client seed, which (combined with the nonce) forms additional inputs for the calculation. This alters the order of the cards in the deck.
A card is dealt, and the bet takes place: The resulting data determines the relevant game outcome (a win or loss for the player).
The deck is revealed: After the result, the server seed can be revealed and checked against the original hash.
Verify the result: You can run the calculation yourself and compare it to the displayed result, rather than trusting it.
This process makes it possible to prove that neither party could have manipulated the bet outcome.
Which games are provably fair on Stake.com?
All Stake Originals, Only on Stake titles, and games built on the Stake Engine are Provably Fair on Stake.com.
These games use the platform’s provably fair system and can be independently verified. This includes Originals such as Dice, Crash, Plinko, and Mines.
The exact selection can change as we add or update games. That means you should not assume every game available at Stake.com is provably fair.
Titles provided by the industry’s leading software providers generally use their own game technology and RNG systems. For example, conventional table games and online roulette can use RNG rather than Stake’s Originals verification system.
The same applies when you search for provably fair slots. A slot from an external software provider does not become provably fair simply because it is available on Stake.com.
Why should I play Provably Fair games at Stake.com?
Playing Stake’s provably fair games gives you a way to inspect the inputs behind supported game results. The process is designed around a simple principle: Stake commits to the server input before play, then reveals it later for verification.
You can independently verify whether the committed value changed after the result was generated. The original hash gives you something to compare against after the result is generated. Instead of seeing only a win or loss, you can check the calculation behind it.
Moreover, we provide the tools and information to help you be Stake Smart. Understanding fairness is one part of making informed choices. Gamble responsibly by staying in control.