Crypto Casino
Torrent Gear
How game engines work
1. accepts/validates bets, 2. receives outcome from RNG, 3. maps it into symbols, features and table payouts, 4. visualizes the game, 5. logs and replicates events for auditing, 6. integrates securely with the wallet and casino platform.
Below is the anatomy of such an engine: from architecture to certification.
1) Architectural models
Server-authoritative (classic)
The outcome of each spin is determined and calculated on the/Remote Game Server (RGS). Client - visualization.
Maximum honesty and control, easier auditing. − Requires low latency and scale.
Client render + server outcome (hybrid)
The server returns the "skeleton" of the outcome (character positions/payouts), the client itself draws animations/intermediate states.
Fast UX, less traffic. − Need strict invariants and signatures.
On-prem RNG (rarely, under special certifications)
RNG on a server validated device.
Offline stability. − Complex certification, increased tamper risks.
Practice: The vast majority of modern slots use server-authoritative or hybrid.
2) Basic engine blocks
RNG layer: CSPRNG/PRNG with seed/stream policy, independent streams for events (reels, bonus, jackpot).
Mapping: from random numbers to symbols/cells (alias/Vose, CDF, rejection sampling).
Paytable and line/cluster rules - JSON/DSL configurable.
Feature framework: modular bonuses (free spins, hold & spin, wheel/trail, expanding symbols).
'Idle → Bet Accepted → Spin → Feature → Payout → Settle → Idle '.
Animations/Timeline-Orchestrates visual events over an already computed outcome.
Audio engine: SFX/music with priority levels and ducking.
Magazine and replay: WORM logs, merkle hashes, replay by '(seed, step)'.
3) Configs and maths
Math Sheet defines:- RTP (base/bonus/jackpot), volatility, hit rate, bonus frequency;
- reel strips/weights, multipliers, probabilities of perks;
- caps (max exposure), retrievers, buy-feature (if allowed).
Format: versioned JSON/DSL with hashes. The engine reads the config at the start of the session, caches and marks the version in the logs.
4) Single spin cycle (step by step)
1. Validate Bet: steak/line/currency limits, balance.
2. Lock Funds: reserve funds/credit.
3. RNG Draws: The "SpinMain" stream generates a sequence of numbers.
4. Mapping: numbers → positions of characters/status of features.
5. Win Evaluation: line/cluster search, multiplier/modifier calculation.
6. Feature Hooks: bonus/response trigger, meter update.
7. Settle: total calculation, return/write-off, transaction record.
8. Emit Outcome: compact payload (symbols, coordinates, animation steps, payments).
9. Log & Sign: write to unchangeable log (hash (chain), seed, math version, time).
Mini-pseudo-code
pseudo function spin(request):
assert limits. ok(request. bet)
wallet. lock(request. user, request. bet)
seed = rng. nextSeed(stream="SpinMain")
symbols = mapper. draw(seed, math. reelStrips)
win = evaluator. calculate(symbols, math. paytable, math. rules)
featureCtx = features. apply(symbols, win, math. features, rng)
totalPayout = win. amount + featureCtx. payout
wallet. settle(request. user, -request. bet + totalPayout)
log. append(hash=merkle(seed, symbols, totalPayout, math. version))
return Outcome(symbols, win, featureCtx. timeline, totalPayout)5) Feature framework
Hooky subscriptions: 'onSpinStart', 'onWin', 'onCascade', 'onRespinsTick', 'onBonusEnter/Exit'.
Combinatorics: cascade/respin chains, sticky/expanding wilds, progress tracks.
Security contracts: the feature cannot change the outcome "retroactively," only use the already specified RNG samples of its stream.
Testability: property-based tests for invariants (non-negative payments, caps, no overflows).
6) Client part
Render: HTML5 Canvas/WebGL (Pixi/Phaser/native), 60 FPS, DPI/aspect ratio adaptation.
States and timings: timeline of animations, interrupted states (turbo/skip), replay playback.
UX patterns: readability of winnings, "reality checks," "quiet mode," availability.
Assets: atlases, LOD, lazy-loading bonus scenes.
Anti-tamper: integrity check, resource signatures, distrust of client code.
7) Integration with casino platform
RGS: API spins/bonuses/freespins, sessions, signature verification.
Wallet: debit/credit, idempotence, currencies/denominations.
Promo: free rounds, tournaments, missions (via callouts and idempotent callbacks).
Telemetry: gameplay events (for showcases/recommendations/tournaments) - separately from aud-logs.
Compliance: disabling buy-feature/auto-spins by jurisdiction, minimum RTP/speeds, de facto GLI/eCOGRA/BMM standards.
8) Performance and scaling
p95/p99 latency for 'spin' and bonuses; short path criteria without external RPCs.
RNG pools: non-blocking streams, no races/lock contention.
Cache/serialization: compact outcomes (character/line bitpacking), compressed logs.
Horizontal scaling: stateless game services + sticky sessions with bonuses.
Degradation: graceful suspend markets/feature in case of external failures (data provider, wallet).
9) Testing and certification
Unit/Property-based: invariants (cap, non-negative payoffs, correct array bounds).
Math sims: ≥10⁷ - spin 10⁸; RTP/frequencies/tails, confidence intervals, robust runs at ± δ to the scales.
RNG batches: NIST/TestU01/ χ ²/KS/wound (offline).
Soak/Load: long sessions, parallel bonuses, network degradation/repetitions.
Replays: playback of "rare" cases by seed/step.
Certification: RNG package/mathematics/logs/versions; reproducible sides and hashes of artifacts.
10) Safety and integrity
Server-authoritative outcome: calculation before animation.
WORM/merkle chains: impossibility of "tweaking" after the fact.
Crypto signatures, anti-replay tokens.
Seed/stream policies: isolating feature streams, disabling reuse.
UX transparency: near-miss does not distort probabilities; buy-feature - separate RTP pools (if legal).
11) Editors and tools
Slot Editor: visual assembly of reels/fields, pay tables, triggers.
Feature Graph: operator nodes (wild, multiply, expand, respin), timeline preview.
Math Lab: simulations, reports, heat cards of winning distributions.
Localization: live edits of texts/currencies, previews of long lines.
Build/CI: assemblies with fixed dependencies, signatures, release of patches without changing mathematics (content updates).
12) Differences from "universal" engines (Unity/Unreal)
Less physics/AI, more determinism, financial transactions and compliance.
Your own state framework and feature, strict logs, wallet, RNG and certification requirements.
Often they use Unity/HTML5 only as a render layer, leaving the game logic on the server.
13) Typical bugs and anti-patterns
'% N' mapping (modular bias) → only rejection/alias.
A common RNG stream for different features → hidden correlations.
The customer decides the outcome of the tamper/dispute/certification →.
There are no deterministic seeds → it is impossible to replicate bugs.
Mixing telemetry and audit logs → a weak evidence base.
Animations/UX that affect the result → violation of the honesty invariant.
14) Checklists
Architecture
- Server-authoritative outcome, stateless services
- Version math hash configs
- Feature framework with hooks and invariants
Safety/Integrity
- Seed/stream policy, independent streams
- WORM logs, response signatures, idempotency
- Near-miss/animations don't change probability
Performance
- p95 spin
- Non-blocking RNG, compact outcomes
- Degrade/Suspend scripts
Tests/certification
- Batteries RNG + simulations 10⁷ - 10⁸
- Replays by seed/step, soak/load
- Certificate package: RNG, math, logs, versions
Integration
- Wallet: lock/settle, idempotence
- Free rounds/API tournaments, callbacks
- Geo/jurisdictions: phicheflags of restrictions
15) Where slot engines go
Data-driven design: live tuning of timelines/visuals without changing mathematics.
Multimodal content: video/show formats synchronized with events.
Tournament frameworks and meta-games: missions/seasons over the core.
Federated analytics: aggregated characteristics without raw personal data.
Default security: hardware roots of trust, transparent audit interfaces.
The slot engine is a combination of deterministic game logic, cryptographically stable randomness, strict discipline of logs and fast visualization. Successful teams build modular feature frameworks, keep the outcome on the server, provide replays and certification, and on the client - clean, fast and affordable UX. This approach makes the game honest, scalable and easy to develop - from the first build to the hundredth release.