From Code to Jackpot: The Incredible Journey of Creating a Casino Game

The First Spin

There are plenty of reasons for learning how to code a slot game. Firstly, creating your own game can be a lot of fun. Maybe you already know coding and would like to try it in a different way. Also, it could be because it's a potentially excellent business. The slots industry is skyrocketing worldwide, with a projected market size of USD 8.5 billion by 2027.

Indeed, it's a big number. Yet, it's not surprising if we consider the online casino global market size: USD 65.97 billion only in 2023. So, this could be the perfect moment if you want to take your chances in this business. However, if you're new to this kind of game, you should learn about them first.

It might be a good idea to start with trying successful games like Mystic Wolf, which was developed by Rival. Mystic Wolf is a prime example of special features, bonuses, and free spins wrapped in lavish graphics. Yet, if including so many features in a game sounds too challenging at first, you could start by experimenting with something simpler.

Back to the Basics

The first slot machine was built in the late 19th century by a California-based car mechanic, Charles Fey. The machine, named Liberty Bell, was naturally much simpler than the games we see today. It had a small 3x3 grid, a few symbols, only one pay line, and a laughable by today’s standard jackpot of USD 0.50. 

The unimpressive prize was delivered when a player scored three cracked Liberty Bells horizontally in the middle row. Video slot machines came much later, in 1975. The first one was signed by the Fortune Coin Company. Online slot games and mobile slots like Caesar's Victory did not start to appear until very recently. 

The first draw poker machine was also invented by Fey a few years later. The draw poker machine was based on similar mechanical principles. However, it involves many more symbols and combinations, according to poker rules. It had five reels with ten cards on each, making a total of 50 cards. You may notice that two cards are missing in this deck. Fey removed the Jack of Hearts and the 10 of Spades, cutting the player's chances.

Building Your First Slot Machine

Charles Fey could adjust players' chances mechanically by removing symbols and limiting combinations. Modern games, such as Majestic Beast, rely on a random number generator (RNG) to create their combinations, making them more fair. The RNG is based on an algorithm that "spins" over a thousand numbers per second. So when a player hits" Spin," the RNG delivers a random combination of symbols. 

You'll also need a unique code or plugin for defining the return to player (RTP) rate. The RTP represents how much players will likely receive back from their bets in the long run. For instance, a game with an RTP of 95% will likely return USD 95 for USD 100 in stakes throughout several spins. Luckily, you can buy such codes and plugins on the internet.

It's also important to define the volatility of your game. Volatility regards the frequency of winning combinations likely to arrive. There are three types: low, medium, and high. Low-volatility games deliver winning combinations more often, but the prices tend to be small. High-volatility games land on winning combinations more rarely, but prizes can be much higher. So, high-volatility games are riskier than low-volatility ones.

A successful slot game has catchy visuals, varied symbols, and a nice soundtrack. Choose a theme, pick the symbols, create a paytable for them, and put some music into it. You can find many templates on the internet, so don't worry. All the features mentioned in this section (except for the RNG) make up the "par sheet," and this, too, you can find on the internet. It's even possible to find free par sheets!

Steps

The first step is getting a par sheet. Then, you can use the RNG that comes in your programming language. However, if you want to make a real money game, you'll need to use a CSPRNG or cryptographically secure PRNG. You'll find it in Java, Javascript, Perl, and Unix.

You can base your game entirely on an internet browser if it's to play for fun. There's no need for a server in this case, and it'll work even without the internet. Yet, your game must be on a server if it's being played for money, as it's risky to put a player's balance or RNG on a web browser.

Each type of slot has a different par sheet. For instance, if you want to create a progressive slot, you'll need a par sheet that keeps track of the players' contributions. You'll also find par sheets for MHB progressive jackpots. MHB stands for Must-Hit-By, which defines the minimum and maximum limits of a progressive jackpot.

Endgame

Building a top-rated slot game, like those you see in your favorite online casino, requires skill, experience, and investment. Nevertheless, you can start with small steps and build your first games entirely on free templates. It will give you a glimpse of how this universe works. If you're lucky enough, you can even write a top-rated game yourself. So, get coding!