OK as someone with programming experience, slot design knowledge, playtesting experience for a large software company and most of all as a player who has played millions of spins (without auto) and a keen analytical mind I will give my thoughts. Again.
People really need to read between the lines in what Dogboy says and does not say.
He is honest to a point just like the slots are. Just like we all might be if we had a vested(invested) interest in a subject.
I have made many posts in the pasts highlighting the how, where and why of this.
Rigged is such a strong term and implies a player can never win, I don't believe any of the main software providers rig their slots in that way, it would be self defeating, though it sure will seem like they are rigged after a very big win.
The evidence for the slots to be dynamically weighted is overwhelming though I am sure they maintain an overall set RTP but then again that is the problem isn't it?
If anyone who has played RTG for any length of time honestly believes that all outcomes have equal chance on every spin and never change then God help you is all I can say.
If you want to see how they operate then simply play on after your winning streak instead of cashing out (redeposits over a period dilute the evidence) then calculate your RTP from the high point to bust.
You will see that your RTP falls way below anything previously over the same number of spins. There is also a very marked difference in scatter and wild symbol hit frequency.
Factual indisputable evidence which I can produce right here though I would rather not embarrass the RTG casinos concerned because they are amongst the better ones. That sounds odd but at some RTG you will be very hard pushed to hit big wins because the RTP is set much lower to begin with.
When Dogboy says the operator can not directly change the reel strips he is probably being honest but he neglects to say that they have no need to because the whole operation is automated and constant calculations are made through the use of algorithms which in turn dictate the weighting.
I have played many RTG slots where the reel layout on free spins has changed before my eyes. Sometimes in my favour sometimes not.
An example would be Ronin will sometimes have Two Ronin symbols on the last reel sometimes one in the same session.
That is fine and even legitimate but it shows how the weighting is dynamic because after the flip between win,win and lose,lose,lose I can guarantee I have never seen two Ronin symbols during the feature.
I actually think the RTP being altered only by request and through reel strip changes is a bit of a Red herring though or Dogboy disinformation if you like.
It certainly seems disingenuous.
There are times when important symbols simply go AWOL over hundreds of spins across different slots.
The only explanation I can consider for this can be that weighting has been applied to the probabilities of the stop positions and this applies universally to all slots.
In perspective it is like calling heads or tails 10 times correctly but always after such an event calling the next twelve incorrectly.
Or for every unlikely winning streak there is a more unlikely losing streak.
The system balancing itself.
All that said IMO
RTG are as "fair" as any other software out there. In fact I would say their payouts in general are higher than MGS or Rival.
BTW if you think RTG are rigged then you should try Rival, laughable.
RTG are not rogue but Rival certainly are IMHO but it is just an opinion and not directed at a specific Casino, just the parameters the software operates in.
PS
In answer to the question.
Yes they are random but it is the wrong question.
The real question is are they fair?
Well they are at least as fair B&M slots, I will say that.