Why it is important to store game logs and reports

Short: logs = trust, license and money

Game logs are a technical "black box" casino. Without them, it is impossible to prove the honesty of the outcomes, the correctness of payments and compliance with the rules of responsible play. Regulators require logs as the basis for reporting; payment partners - as evidence of transparency; analytics - as a source of product optimization and anti-fraud. Well-built logging reduces the risk of fines, downtime and disputes - and increases conversion through trust.

What exactly needs to be logged (kernel)

1. Gaming events

`round_id` (UUID), `game_code`, `game_version_hash`

timestamps (UTC), bet, win, balance before/after mode/phase (bonus, free spins), jackpot ('jackpot _ pool _ id')
technical statuses (success/rollback/repeat)

2. RNG/RTP and versions

seed/initialization information (without disclosing secrets), RNG module hash theoretical RTP and actual RTP by period version control: build hashes, release id, deploy card

3. Payments and cash

deposits/conclusions/cancellation / chardzhbeki, statuses of AML/KYC/KYT segregation of means (client/operational / dzhekpot-puly)

bank confirmation bundle

4. Marketing and bonuses

bonus activations, wager-coast, contribution of games to play traffic sources (affiliates), agreed creatives

5. Responsible Play (RG)

deposit/bet/time limits, timeouts, self-exclusion behavioral triggers and support interventions

6. InfoBase and Admin Actions

RBAC/MFA, escalation of rights, access to the administration of information security and privacy incidents, detection and response time

Why logs are important to business and regulators

Licensing and compliance: confirmation of RNG/RTP, change-management, segregation of funds, RG and AML.

Claim defense: An accurate reconstruction of a disputed round or payout in seconds, not weeks.

Antifraud and compliance: identifying "mules," bonus-abuse, collusion, cashing schemes.

Incident management: evidence base for IR/BCP; less downtime, faster recovery.

Product analytics: hit-rate, volatility, bonus conversion, player behavior - without bias.

Reputation and payments: "paper trail" for banks and providers - less blocking and manual checks.

Immutability: how to make yourself believed

Write Once Read Many-Cannot be edited/deleted during the retention period.

Crypto signatures and hashes: SHA-256/512 manifests for files/parties, signing reporting packages.

Schema versioning: controlled data migrations, schema registry.

Event idempotency: unique 'round _ id', protection against duplicates and "holes" in retraces.

Time zones: we log in UTC, display locally - less disputes and breaks.

Accesses: SSO/MFA, personal accounts, admin journal, regular RBAC revisions.

Shelf life: guidelines

Game and payment logs: 5-7 years (in a number of jurisdictions - at least 5).

RNG/RTP and versions: game lifetime + 5 years after withdrawal.

Information security/privacy incidents: at least 3-5 years with case closure date.

Bonuses/marketing/affiliates: 2-5 years, depending on local advertising rules.

💡 Always consult your specific license/regulator requirements and corporate retention policy.

Data Architecture and Quality Control

Pipeline (simplified):

1. Collection of → events of games/payments/admin panel in the tire (Kafka/analogues).

2. Storage → raw data in WORM (S3-compatible + Object Lock) + column DWH for analytics.

3. Normalization → reference books (game, provider, currency, jurisdiction), deduplication, type validation.

4. DQ-контроль → completeness/uniqueness/consistency/timeliness; alerts and auto-backfill.

5. Models → GGR/negative, RTP, bonus cost, jackpot pools.

6. Signature and release → 4-eyes, hash manifest, electronic signature, delivery to regulator (API/SFTP).

Mini field dictionary (fragment):

`round_id`, `player_psid`, `game_code`, `game_version_hash`, `bet_amount`, `win_amount`, `bonus_flag`, `jackpot_pool_id`, `rtp_theoretical`, `rtp_actual_period`, `kyc_status`, `self_excluded`, `tx_id`, `currency`, `created_at_utc`.

Reports that are collected from logs

Finance/taxes: GGR/Net, customer funds, provider shares, withheld tax.

RNG/RTP: actual RTP by game/version/operator vs theoretical; corridors.

Jackpots: pool balance, deposits, winnings, resets, bank confirmations.

AML/KYC/KYT: SAR/STR, CTR, threshold events, crypto payment chains (if applicable).

RG: limits, timeouts, self-exclusion, interventions, appeals to help.

Information security/privacy: incidents, vulnerabilities, penetration tests, notifications of subjects.

Marketing/affiliates: wager coast, ROI campaigns, creatives, complaints.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

We log "for the view": there are no key fields → it is impossible to collect a report.

Solution: a single glossary of data, contract schemes, completeness tests.

No WORM and hashes: the regulator does not believe the data.

Solution: Object Lock/immunity + cryptosigning uploads.

Different time zones: discrepancies in amounts and slices.

The solution: store UTC, normalize currencies and date-time.

RTP "walks" due to rounding: incorrect range mapping/precision.

Solution: fix accuracy, unbiased mapping, unit math tests.

Holes and doubles at retreats: no idempotency.

Solution: unique keys ('round _ id'), dedup rules, reprocess queues.

There is no trigger → payout for the jackpot.

Solution: links' trigger _ event _ id '↔' payout _ tx _ id ', bank confirmation.

Weak access control: general accounts, no MFA.

Solution: SSO/MFA, personal logins, admin log.

Check sheets

Mini Event Chart Checklist

'round _ id' is unique and idempotent
Money amount fields - decimal with scale; currency - ISO code
'game _ version _ hash' and release id present
Timestamps are in UTC, with milliseconds
RG/AML/KYT flags are logged and associated with case IDs
There is reference to 'jackpot _ pool _ id' and event type (trigger/payout/reset)

Operational readiness

WORM-bucket is ON; retention policies approved
Signature/upload manifest configured; 4-eyes check
DQ boards: completeness/uniqueness/timeliness "green"
Reporting channel (API/SFTP) passed canary test
Redundant scenarios (IR/BCP) tested by drills

For player-operator dispute

By'round _ id'in <60 sec> rate/outcome/payout logs go up
The game version and build hash are visible at the time of the round
RTP/game corridors for the period are normal or there is an investigation
Player/ADR communications tied to case

How much it costs and how it pays

Costs: storage (WORM + DWH), event bus, DQ monitoring, schema support.

Savings/income: less fines and downtime, faster licensing of new markets, higher apruv for banks, less chargeback/fraud, faster analysis of claims, more precisely, product analytics.

FAQ

Is it possible to store only aggregates without "raw materials"?

No, it isn't. For retro auditing and disputes, it is the primary log that is needed, not the summary.

Is CSV once a month enough?

No, it isn't. Most markets require daily/hourly telemetry and real-time monitoring readiness.

Logs - personal data. How about privacy?

Alias' player _ id ', restrict access, encrypt at rest/in transit, apply DPIA and retention by role.

When to delete?

According to the retention schedule and only after checking for open investigations/disputes/audits.

Storage of game logs and reports is the foundation of the licensed business in iGaming. Unchanging logs, clear diagrams, data quality control and automated reporting turn regulatory responsibilities into a competitive advantage: you coordinate releases faster, pass checks easier, argue with players less often and work more reliably with banks and providers. Invest in logs - and they will pay off many times over with reduced risks and increased trust.