Behind the scenes: How sweepstakes casinos develop new games

Jerard V. • Last updated on 20 November 2024

A large, colorful roulette wheel, surrounded by floating casino chips and whimsical numbers.

Curious about the behind-the-scenes of sweepstakes casino games? It’s not a walk in the park! Creating games for sweepstakes is a complicated process that includes many steps before the players can enjoy the final product.

The first thing to remember is that sweepstakes casinos want to make efficient and reliable games, so they usually use cloud infrastructure. That means the game developers use software providers like Microgaming and Playtech to give you the best experience possible.

Other vital aspects of game-making are the game engines (Unity, Phaser, etc.), the choice of a programming language (C++, Java, etc.), and even random number generators (RNG), which make playing games more unpredictable.

As you might imagine, creating new games involves many teams working together. It’s an intricate dance of artists, developers, game designers, and testers to give you the best games possible.

Keep reading for a deeper dive into the intricacies of game-making at sweepstakes casinos.

The journey of creating a game: concept to launch

The journey of creating exciting games for players to immerse themselves in is not an easy one. There are many hurdles to jump over before having an outstanding game. That’s why their work is organized into different stages.

The first stage is brainstorming, where they decide on the game’s main idea, including its type, genre, and style, by researching the market and figuring out what their target audience is into.

However, once they decide, they must also consider practical matters such as the cost and time needed to finish the games. Based on that, they decide which special effects and techniques to use.

After that, they can start working on the art, including special effects and visual components. Do you know the most impressive part? The game artists manually draw most interface components, characters, images, etc. This is followed by work on motion and dynamics through different software programs like Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk Maya, etc.

The next stage is coding, which is crucial for the game to function well as they need to choose the best programming languages like C++, Java, etc., and the most suitable software tools. Generally, when it comes to software tools, they prefer HTML5 because almost all devices can use it, but there are other options, too, like Angular and Vert.x.

You might think it’s all done, but working on a game doesn’t end here. More has to be done to ensure smooth sailing for players. One important thing is testing all game stages to ensure there are no issues and that it’s ready to be released. That way, any potential problems can be spotted and fixed on time.

The launch is the final stage of casino game development. Still, even after the release, the job isn’t completely done because the games need to be regularly maintained and optimized as the need arises. They can also use the players’ feedback to make the necessary adjustments or fix any potential snags.

Another essential step if the game is to become popular is a good marketing campaign. Whether done through ads, game trailers, or presentations, it must be good enough to grab the audience’s attention.

An example of a painstakingly made casino game is Whimsy Games’ Solitaire King, which they developed themselves from start to finish. With their hard work and dedication, they made a fantastic game with a 2D art design of all characters and interfaces. Furthermore, they used the Unity game engine to make it widely available for all devices.

Working together: team roles in developing new games

Developing any game requires solid teamwork and good collaboration. But what are the roles of those teams?

Well, game designers spin captivating tales and create mesmerizing worlds with interesting characters. Furthermore, they are involved in every aspect of the game to make it perfect.

On the other hand, the game artists breathe life into these creations. With their eye for detail, they make astonishing visuals and unique designs that capture players’ imagination.

Programmers, however, weave different magic by creating the fabric of video games through coding. They also test and debug the games, ensuring they run smoothly.

Another crucial role is that of sound designers because, without the right sound effects, some visuals don’t work. Sound designers can usually choose the right voice for a character or the perfect sound effect for any situation.

Then, there are game testers who find issues in the game and fix them. They are a fresh pair of eyes who can see hidden problems other teams might miss, making them all the more important.

Finally, game producers are like ship captains steering their ships in the right direction. They make strategic marketing campaigns, putting the launch of the new games in the spotlight. Moreover, they must see the big picture and ensure the games are cost-effective while overseeing everyone else.

Shaping the future of gaming through innovation and player feedback

The gaming industry is constantly evolving, partly because of the exciting innovations and partly because of player feedback.

Some of the most fascinating innovations are:

Direct-to-consumer strategy – allowing for a direct relationship between companies and players
Industry consolidation – a shift of power balance
Artificial intelligence – for non-player characters, getting more complex
Free-to-play games – free but have ads or in-game purchases
Augmented reality – superimposing digital images over the real world
Virtual reality – 3D simulations accessible through headsets

Talking about player feedback, analyzing it, and making adjustments is an integral part of the game development process. For example, user reviews help developers learn common issues and standout features, while positive reviews can promote the games.

Furthermore, it’s good to use surveys as they allow developers to gather targeted feedback, check their demographics, and understand the different preferences of their players.

Game development challenges: solutions and strategies

While casino games have vast potential, developers must pay attention to safety, fairness of the economy, and regulatory and legal considerations around cryptocurrency and NFTs, etc.

Player safety is one of the big challenges the casinos have solved by using SSL for traffic protection and RNG for randomization and fairness.

They also have to provide users with different payment options, which can be done using a payment processor or an in-house processing unit.

Regarding legal and regulatory considerations, sweepstakes use strategies like implementing no-purchase-necessary alternative entry methods, providing information about how the sweepstakes model works, and using disclaimers.

Sources

Editor’s note

Jerard V. •

Content Writer

Meet Jerard, an experienced content creator and all-around technician. One review at a time, he's here to help you navigate the maze of sweepstakes casino gambling. Always at the forefront of Jerard's efforts is his dedication to producing quality content that's useful to his readers. As a lifelong gamer, he has the ability to quickly discern which games in a casino's library are good or bad, and ultimately give you the best recommendations. Outside of work, Jerard loves to travel around his home country, the Philippines. It's a country of thousands of islands with a very rich culture where there's always something new to learn or explore.