[Cryptography] Real-world crypto/PRNG problem: Bridge

[Patrick]

Jerry Leichter wrote on 08/23/2016 04:37 AM:
...
> However the initial state is determined, it could be recorded, with
> its SHA256 checksum published at the beginning of the tournament, and
> the full initial state published at the end.  This would allow anyone
> to check that the deals were fairly generated.  (These are overkill,
> but given that it's a program doing the work - why not?)

Back in 2006 that's exactly what thegoldcasino.com (now defunct) did,
calling the feature "PhatHash".  They would hash the state of a fresh
10-deck shoe and publish that hash before dealing a round of Blackjack,
then publish the entire original state of the shoe after the round was over.

They didn't bother doing this for Texas Hold'Em, since those games are
just between players and the house has nothing to gain except the rake,
unlike Blackjack where the house can actually win money from other players.


-- Patrick