An online casino software platform is a place on the Internet where players can wager on a number of casino games. Therefore the software platform has to offer a suite of games. Each software platform has its own set of casino games with their distinctive features and catering to a market segment of online casino players. However, a software platform does much more than just providing games. Every action performed by a player at an online casino is linked to some software platform functionality.

First of all there has to be a secure log in mechanism. A user name and password will allow only that player to access the account and prevent others from entering. This mechanism is built into the online casino software. The software then has to maintain the database for the player. The main information concerns the account balance. This account has to be augmented when the player makes a deposit or wins a wager. It has to be reduced when the player places a wager or withdraws funds. Today it is mandatory for online casinos to provide financial and wagering history to players. It is one of the functions of the software to collate and archive this history.

Banking is one of the most difficult and critical functions of the software platform. This is because it entails interfacing with external agencies, which are the several payment processors. The software has to provide secure windows within it to these payment processors so that the player can deposit and withdraw funds from a secured environment. This interface has to be such that it becomes virtually impossible for unauthorized persons to carry out transactions at the interfaces. The software provider uses a host of tools and protocols available to ensure this security and also usually gets the system audited by an expert organization.

Bonuses and loyalty points are an integral part of online gaming and no online casino can survive without offering these. The software allocates the due bonuses to the players’ bonus accounts. It then keeps track of the wagering requirements and incrementally transfers the bonuses to the players’ cash accounts. Similarly the loyalty points have to be credited as the players wager and debited when players redeem them. This is not as simple as it seems because different players will earn and redeem loyalty points at different rates based on the games played and their VIP status.

The final casino software function is to provide information and assistance to players. The best software platforms provide most information up front so that there is minimal need of assistance. The information has to be provided in an attractive way with the use of graphics and animations so that potential players do not move on to other sites. The software also has to ensure that the information is provided in a systematic way as well and that the player does not have to click too many links or scroll too much. The Frequently Asked Questions section is an important source of information and good software providers have a comprehensive section.

Some of the popular and reputed online casino software platforms are Microgaming, Cryptologic, Playtech and WagerWorks.