Nelly Mcarlton 
We play them every day and enjoy their entertainment. We have fun with increasingly sophisticated sounds, colors, graphics, and animations. And, in many cases, we ignore the work that goes on behind these titles.
We are, of course, talking about online games and, in particular, those that can be enjoyed on main digital entertainment platforms.
To answer the question we posed as the title of today’s article, let’s recap a few interesting points.
Game Engines
Let’s start with the game engine. The one most commonly used to power typical online casino games—such as 5-cent slots that let you play at a very low cost but with real money—is Unity (C#).
The reasons these slots benefit from its use are many; first of all, it is an engine that delivers excellent results. In fact, it can create and run both advanced 2D titles and 3D titles typical of some of the most popular games. It also supports very smooth animation production. And, as if that weren’t enough, it integrates very easily with payment systems.
Given that those slots are paid games, it becomes the go-to engine for many productions.
That said, many casinos—especially when they are used in browsers without any download—prefer alternative technologies such as Phaser and PixiJS, both in JavaScript. Fast and high-performing, they are excellent for fairly sophisticated animations and visual effects. The former is also the HTML5 browser game framework.
Game Logic
Moving on to the backend and game logic, there are several technologies that can serve the goals of online gaming. One of these is PHP, which is still widely used on some casino platforms. It can manage player sessions on the gaming platform and can also integrate easily with existing systems.
Then we find Node.js, the JavaScript server that can handle user requests (think of spin actions or communication with the database), and Python/Django, which is ideal for particularly secure backends that need to guarantee complex data management.
Databases
A fundamental part of online gaming technology is also tied to the database. Here as well, there are several alternatives. One of the most reliable is PostgreSQL, a widely used relational database.
Among the main alternatives we can certainly include MySQL, which is especially useful for managing accounts, bonuses, and statistics. We also mention Redis in this brief overview. It provides a very fast in-memory cache for temporary data stored during users’ gameplay sessions.
The Random Number Generator
One of the components responsible for the correct operation of online games is the Random Number Generator, or RNG. As those who have been frequenting online gaming rooms for a long time may know, this component is useful for guaranteeing game transparency and the randomness of winnings.
One of the most commonly used technologies is hardware-based, with physical generators that are certified and tested by the authorities that issue licenses and concessions, in order to ensure absolute randomness in the game.
However, we also find cryptographic libraries such as OpenSSL: these are cryptographic algorithms for non-hardware (software) RNGs, also certified and verified by the competent authorities.
Recently, so-called provably fair algorithms have also become widespread. They use blockchain technology to allow players to verify the fairness of results on their own—an additional reassurance for transparent, fully informed play.
Security
If the technological picture above already seems sufficiently complex, it becomes even more so thanks to the security layer. This is a fundamental component for ensuring protection for both the player and the gaming platform. And, as such, it is often where operators focus their largest investments.
One of the best-known technologies is SSL/TLS. This is essential encryption for protecting users’ sensitive data and other critical information, such as what is transmitted when making deposits and withdrawals, including the sharing of financial transactions.
Among the other most useful technologies for gaming security is OAuth 2.0, used above all to ensure the best and most secure user authentication when players access their gaming account.
We also mention JWT (JSON Web Tokens), which makes it possible to manage secure gaming sessions without the need to store states on the server.
Payment Systems
We certainly cannot forget payment systems, which we cover in these final lines. The most well-known APIs are those connected to payment gateways, which make it possible to manage integrations with some of the most famous payment systems in the world. For example, these are responsible for the proper functioning of transactions with PayPal or Stripe for making deposits and withdrawals.
On many gaming platforms, APIs supporting cryptocurrencies have also become widespread. From Bitcoin to Ethereum, more and more operators are tapping into the advantages of crypto to give their players additional benefits.
In some cases, it is also possible to find APIs that manage direct integration with banking networks.
