How does the random card generator at the internet poker sites work?

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Paradise is by no means giving out the algorithm they are using to shuffle the cards. This is a very general description to help ensure us that they have devised an algorithm that will keep the cards random. To further drive the point home they mention their generator is "based on the Berkeley prng using a state table size of 64 longs", however they certainly make no mention of what part of their rng differs from the Berkeley prng.


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Yes, that is true. An aside: My experience of 'Computer Science meets Marketing' is that when they say "based on" they really mean "it is" with maybe some very minor midifications. If they actually did extend, or significantly modify, the algorithm, then I would have expected them to hype it up. But that's just my pessimistic view of corporations. You are right though, the exact algorithm is not presented. I am one of those that believe security through obscurity is not really security.